THE INFAMOUS WAIT: What I've observed on two visists: When the weather is nice, the line starts about 40 minutes before opening. If you really want to be sure you get into the first seating, arrive 30 mins early. When weather is iffy, I suppose the line is shorter. ATMOSPHERE: Decent ambience, but not great. Too dark, almost no windows. Very loud. Strangely, it appears the kitchen staff wears SD tees, but servers wear whatever. Weird, seems backwards. Coffee is served from vaccuum pots, many of them, all staged at the bar, and when fresh coffee comes out I've seen it added to the existing bottles, solera style. This is not only a horrible way to serve coffee, it's tacky. Hodgepodge of chairs, obviously just whatever they could pick up cheap. This place can really wear you down. When I left this loud dim hectic room on my first visit, I escaped to a sunny calm stroll home. Contrast was striking. If you want your brunch to be refined and soothing, it would be better to find an intimate coffee shop or a little neighboorhood cafe. Or you could take an outdoor seat on the patio, but it really didn't look very nice. SERVICE: When it's this loud and this busy, you can't really expect great service. Would be nice if my coffee cup could be kept full though, especially when I'm seated at the bar. This the only place I've ever eaten where I had that experience of seeing plate after plate come out of the kitchen, and wondering when mine was coming. I actually started to wonder if my order was forgotten. Kitchen staff hustles, but there's at least one server who seems to be perpetually hungover, or just way too laid back. FOOD: Biscuit: Fine, competently done, but no real wow factor. Seemed just a tiny bit dry, and homogenous in texture, but perfectly acceptable. Jam: Could have been Smuckers, or something from a Sysco bucket. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing right about it either. Cajun Scramble (special): Slightly weird consistency, almost a bit like a fritata. Nothing about it was extraordinary. It was completely palatable, but I could make this at home. Potatoes: Now we're talking. Little wedges, seemed to be oven-finished, as if they were fried and then popped in the oven for a while? Not fantastic, but SD gets points for not serving the same ol' thing. Toast: Blah. Could have been Franz. Turnovers: Dense, not as light and flaky as some might prefer, but they suited me just fine. Compote filling was okay. Highlight was the dairy filling. Hard to be sure what it was, because it was all migled in with other flavors/textures. Possibly cream cheese. Pancakes: Decent, but like most of what I ate here, I could make pancakes almost this good at home. PRESENTATION: Needs some work. Cream and jam served in truck-stop vessels, butter in foil-wrapped pats, paper napkins. On one of my visits, my server managed to get some of my breakfast on the table. I don't even know how he managed to make such a mess. Not a huge deal, but I mention it because it's typical of everything about SD: not terribly polished, lacking grace and refinement. PRICE/VALUE: I've never been able to eat more than $18 worth of food here. Serving sizes range from fairly-typical to large. The turnovers I had on one visit were not only the best thing on my plate, they were also the best value, at $3 each. That's what I'd expect to pay at a carry-out bakery or a cart. Overall, it was cheaper than a "special occasions only" place, but spendy enough that I wouldn't make a habit of eating here. RESTROOMS: Well placed, easy to find, away from kitchen and diners. OVERALL: Everything about this place says "we're generally competent, more or less". Worth the wait? Absolutely not.
(3)
Denise H.
Came here for brunch on a Saturday while visiting Portland. I'm a big fan of Cajun food so I definitely wanted to check this place out during my short trip. Free street parking wasn't too bad to find around the neighborhood. This place gets really busy so try to get here early or come on a weekday if possible. Unfortunately I'm only visiting this weekend and came around 12pm on Saturday, probably one of the worst times to get there. My friend and I waited ~45 mins for our seats at the bar which was less than the 1 hour wait estimated by the hostess. However, we also probably waited about 45 mins to get our food after ordering which seemed abnormally long. I got the cathead sandwich which was a fried chicken breast sandwiched between a homemade biscuit and covered in sausage gravy. I heard the fried chicken was amazing so I definitely wanted that, but not a big fan of waffles so this seemed like the best choice. I thought it was one of the juiciest fried chickens I've ever had, especially since it was white meat! The spices were really flavorful without being too salty and the meat was very tender. I probably missed out on some of the crispiness because it was drenched in gravy, but the gravy was good so not a big deal. I'd probably order it on the side next time. The biscuit was fluffy and delicious as well. It comes with a side of roasted potatoes or plain/cheesy grits. I got the cheesy grits, but these were mostly neglected since the chicken and biscuit/gravy were so good. This dish is enormous and I barely ate half, probably could have shared with another person and still been super full. My friend got an omelette with vegetarian sausage, tomatoes, and other veggies with roasted potatoes. He liked it, but I thought my dish was way better :P Definitely try their unlabeled hot sauce! I also put some of their jam on my biscuit which was really good as well. Loved my food, but think it did take longer than usual to come out. I would definitely come back for more next time I'm in Portland!
(4)
Ian O.
Went for dinner and it was not to busy. However, I would not wait in a long line for this food. It was good but average at best. Our waitress was very good though.
(3)
T.J. W.
I was born and raised in the south. I have lots of southern food. I just want to say that Screen Door does southern food better than southerners do southern food. I had the fried chicken with mashed potatoes and collard greens. It was heavenly. There was so much flavor and the gravy was AMAZING! My wife ordered the shrimp and grits, best we've ever had. So that was just dinner. Dessert was plain ole SEXY!!! We ordered the layer cake. So amazing that we went back 2 nights later just for the dessert! Only words to describe it is plain ole sexy!
(5)
Marybel M.
I have been here twice in the last month and both times have been incredibly delicious! I had fried chicken with mashed potatoes and cole slaw. The portion was large and the food was decadent. Pure butter in the potatoes and a super creamy and light cole slaw dressing. The chicken was perfect, not oily or dry. So yummy! The dessert was a lemon blueberry layer cake and I nearly died. Tasted like it had cheesecake! The cheesecake flavor was from the cream cheese frosting.
(5)
Andy D.
I've hatched a plan Yelper's. Diabolical, but yet it may work. Firstly, I rent a Ryder Truck, fit it with a few cots and Marvin Gaye CD's. Then kidnap the Chef and two servers from "The Screen Door" and ship them off to Orange Beach, Alabama. Once there, they can stay at my place, I have the idyllic beach house, they can watch the Dolphins. But, the chef and his staff will soon be put to work, and soon the restaurant I buy there will have huge lines, outstanding service and EXCELLENT food! Could work! Actually, this place rocks, what with a billon reviews and all good, what the fffff can I write about. I'm from the South, the Chicken and Waffles are above and beyond.
(5)
Mitch H.
The rumors are true. Amazing food, atmosphere and service. Be prepared to wait a bit, but sooooo worth the time. Mimosas and bloodies are brilliant. Can't go wrong with the fried chicken and waffles!!!
(5)
Christopher S.
Has the BEST! Chicken & Waffles you can get anywhere in Portland, but be prepared to wait an hour to get a seat plus 30min for your food. If the wait doesn't bother you....You're in for a treat! Enjoy! :-)
(5)
David R.
This place is BUSY!!! If you go here, plan on waiting a while for a seat. Have a couple of cocktails and B.S. with your friends while you are waiting. They are good, attentive but very busy so don't expect super fast service. These guys are busting their ass to serve everyone so be patient! The food - I was impressed, I used to live in the south so I am very used to good southern food and they didn't disappoint. We had a couple of appetizers, fried okra and pimento cheese. The fried okra had a corn meal breading with a bit or horse radish kick. The horse radish was a neat twist on an old classic and pretty tasty. I think that they were a little heavy handed with the breading though. I suspect they are batter dipped instead of dusted per usual so it probably can't be avoided. The pimento cheese was strong and sharp just the way it is supposed to be. The sesame crackers they serve it with are really really good. This is a great appetizer! My wife had a pecan crusted trout served with creamed spinach and roasted root veggies. Wow - truly amazing trout and I'm not a big fish fan but they worked magic. The creamed spinach was probably the best I have ever had. I would love to have the recipe, I would make it weekly. The root veggies were roasted perfectly fork tender and were left unmolested so that you could taste them. I had the buttermilk fried chicken with mashed potatoes. The chicken was incredibly tender, I don't know how they get it so tender. The crust on the chicken was super crispy and tasty. They really cooked it perfectly. The mashed potatoes were really nice and creamy. The greens that came with my meal were absolutely perfect too. They were cooked and seasoned exactly the way they should be. We sat out on the heated patio which was still a little chilly but fine. We ordered coffee and our cups were never empty. The service is absolutely amazing seeing how busy this place is. Definitely go here to eat. It's worth the wait!
(4)
Brandon H.
Some delicious southern food. Get there and try it out!
(4)
Jacob M.
The food and drinks here were divine and full of amazing flavored, but the waitress was just irritated by us and had no patience for any questions. Definitely would recommend for the food alone though!
(3)
Kat M.
Popped in here for breakfast with my little sister after reading some of the reviews. This place was awesome. I had the bananas foster french toast and my sister had the chicken and waffle. We shared and left with plenty of incredible chicken for lunch. I will stop by this place again when I come back to Portland!!!
(5)
Jezebel B.
I would love to say how great the food is but I never got any. At 11:30 I put my name on the wait list, told it was going to take about 30 minutes to get me a seat. I checked in at noon, I checked in again at 12:15, at 12:30p they finally seated me at the end of the counter. The wait person at the counter came over and gave me a cup of coffee. There was barely enough milk in the pitcher to cloud my one 6oz cup. But that is okay because that was all I got. After placing my order (garden grits and a side of praline bacon) I read my phone for a bit, and then a bit more, then I started watching the kitchen to see if my food would come up. At 1:15pm, almost an hour after I had finally been seated. I told them to cancel my order and walked out. Don't eat here unless you have all day to wait.
(1)
Ashlee L.
Stopped by here when we realized we were too late for a food truck cluster outing. The place looked packed from the outside which made our hungry tummies nervous, but we happened to get two open bar seats, no wait! No hostess to be found anywhere either. We shared hush puppies that came with a chili sauce which I liked way better than the honey butter I've had with them at other places. The SO got a burger (bartender recommended over the pulled pork) which actually had two patties on it! I had a poached pear salad with an amazing moscatel vinaigrette. Had to look the dressing up and now I'm a huge fan. Was shocked our bill was only $25. The first bartender was less than friendly and had I seen the mulled wine on the chalk board specials list before leaving or had he mentioned it when I asked about drinks, I would have ordered it. For that, minus a star.
(4)
Cyrus L.
Now everybody knew that as soon as you walked through the goddamn door... you were gonna get some chicken. It's no secret that Portlanders and Screen Door chicken are quite fond of one another.
(5)
Lindsay F.
Had the shredded pork sandwich and the fried chicken appetizer. Amazing! Food is decently priced. Will return
(5)
Inessa V.
hate waiting in lines? get there about 30 minutes before they open for dinner to get in the "first seating". then order anything. really! i have tried at least 2/3rds of their menu and nothing has let me down. i really like the collard greens, shrimp and grits, mac and cheese, pork shoulder and gumbo. the service has always been prompt, attentive, polite, friendly and accommodating. you really can't ask for more (especially in a city where helpful service isn't always in its nature). brunch? i am sure it is great too, but i avoid brunch in portland... because i really hate waiting in lines. hope you enjoy your dinner!
(4)
C M.
I'm from the south and this did not disappoint. I haven't had sweet tea or fried chicken livers since I moved to Portland and was pleasantly surprised. The fries chicken was what I would expect from back home. We went at 845 and only had a 30 minute wait, not bad considering the restaurant very busy, as we had driven by earlier and, like usual, saw a line winding around the block.
(5)
Tara C.
Awesome food and drinks. I highly recommend the pork belly appetizer and the shrimp and grits! I can't wait to try other menu options. Don't let the lines or occasional long wait times discourage you. The are busy for a reason.....it's damn good!
(5)
William B.
these guys are fantastic! Great service...friendly and professional and highly skilled. They are the only ones I'll take my cars or trucks to
(5)
Derek B.
Had the two piece chicken and waffles and it did not disappoint. It was flaky, golden brown perfection. The sweet potato waffle was delicious. I'm a bigger guy and the two piece was just right. Most people would be satisfied with the one piece though. The decor was like a 50's southern diner. Pretty good music choices. I got there early and there was no line to speak of. Overall a great dining experience
(5)
Kate R.
Best breakfast in the city. Get there early and order the specials. I would recommend sitting outside if possible since it is very loud inside. There are plenty of vegetarian options although I hear the meat is very good.
(5)
Shannon M.
Fried chicken, gravy, mashed potatoes & greens - all delicious. It's a bargain at $15 because the portion is really two meals so you're really only paying like $7.50 so if you don't think it's a deal, then your fat ass should go to a buffet. Fried okra was ok. I spent my summers in Tennessee growing up, so I've had better but that's just one dish of many that they have and yes, it's worth the wait. I've heard their catfish is great but haven't tried it - wasn't on the menu when we were there. Had brunch here also - delicious. Catfish head biscuit with added eggs - amazing. It is the best place in town hands down for southern comfort food.
(5)
George P.
We love the Screen Door! We had visiting family that were a bit sceptical. We showed them the menu and raved about the place. But the possibility of a wait over an hour for breakfast? And standing in line before it opened....for breakfast?? Fortunately they went along with the gag. And weren't disappointed. Now fair warning (in case you haven't caught on yet): If you're in a hurry, don't go here. You won't be happy. There is usually a wait for a table and a wait for the food to come. If you have the time to wait for a table (there's a coffee place next door -- grab a cup, read the paper and RELAX), you won't be disappointed. This isn't fast food, either. Takes time to actually cook real food rather than microwaving something from a package. Oh, yeah, the food...... Chicken and waffles -- you either have a breakfast for 2 or 3 or a big breakfast with leftovers for lunch and dinner. Unless, of course, you can eat an entire waffle and 3 chicken breasts. Cooked to perfection with a crispy crust and juicy meat. And the sweet potato waffle is quite yummy. I'm an Eggs Benedict fan. Someone else in the group beat me to it, and we had agreed that we would all get something different so we could compare. Their Eggs Benedict is perfection. I elected to have Eggs Sardou. Good decision. Kind of Benedict-like, but not exactly. English muffin, artichoke heart (this is a heart of a fresh artichoke, not something from a jar or container). Poached egg, and a creamed spinach sauce topping. The sauce is chopped spinach with a cream sauce. You can actually see and taste the spinach, not the usual greenish sauce. Grits and cheese -- not cheesy enough for my tastes, but I would be content with a slab of cheese and a knife and fork..... Hot chocolate was steamed milk with excellent chocolate. It has that distinct steamed milk taste, so if you don't like that, don't try it. And the coffee? This is the Pacific Northwest. Bad coffee would a felony. By the way -- don't get the idea of leaving a "representative" to stand in line with the rest to catch up later. If the entire party isn't present you won't be seated. Pretty fair approach, I think.
(5)
Tracy T.
I've been to Portland numerous times but this was my first time here at Screen Door. The hubby and I came for dinner at 5:20pm and there was already a line up. I ordered the 3 side dishes for $13.95 +$1.00 for the catfish. I had Mac n cheese and red beans and rice. Delicious!! Hubby ordered the fried chicken and collard greens. Out of this world!! Crispy skin and juicy meat. This is the BEST fried chicken I've ever had. We each had 2 beers and originally ordered the fried chicken livers (but they forgot) which worked out because we were stuffed. We will be back for sure...and we're bringing friends!
(5)
Yvett R.
-sigh- What can I say about Screen Door that hasn't already been said before? It's delicious! We went here last night for my birthday dinner. From all I'd heard about this place, I was quite excited to try the chicken and prepared for the wait. We got her
(5)
Chase W.
I was visiting Portland and met a friend here for Brunch. I was aware of the high ratings this place had before I agreed so I was expecting some good brunch. I have never seen a line form so fast before a restaurant had even opened. Although having gone a couple other places in Portland that had some silly lines, I was beginning to think that was the norm in this town. Anyways, after a long wait we were finally seated and we placed our orders. Now seeing as this place was southern I ordered corn bread, I really love corn bread! The food came and the shrimp and grits I ordered was good, definitely not great as were the other dishes we ordered. The most disappointing thing was the corn bread, it tasted like sand it was so dry. If you are going to claim to cook southern food you better be able to make a simple staple like corn bread. A jiffy box tastes better than this place. The service was good over all but the food is HIGHLY overrated (not worth the wait). I found Roost to be a much better brunch place in Portland.
(1)
Mare S.
Shrimp and grits were great! Catfish was amazing. Jambalaya, corn bread and mashed potatoes - not so hot. Literally not hot at all. Cold. Good but a little over-hyped. I will try again for sure.
(3)
Kevin D.
Great food. Service is great. They are always packed and the wait can be over an hour on a regular basis. They have a great bar there or if it's too crowded then you can always wait across the street at the matador.
(5)
Angela H.
My favorite food on the planet. This is where I go to eat the BEST FRIED CHICKEN EVER. And the service there is amazing!!
(5)
TU B.
THE BEST BRUNCH PLACE EVER!!!! Order ANYTHING and you won't be disapointed. We're from San Francisco, and were visiting Portland. Highlight of our trip!
(5)
Jamie G.
BEST SOUTHERN FOOD HANDS DOWN. great for date night or even just dinner out with the family or casual, great breakfast too! i absolutely loved it. classy joint most def
(5)
Brennan D.
LOVE this place. Actually this was one of the first places i ate when i moved to portland. Very good southern food. The catfish was amazing and the mac n cheese was crazy good. Just need them to make buttermilk pie and then i would come to this place on the regular. when i went it was crazy busy but we still walked in and got a booth which is great.
(5)
Crystal M.
So I went to this restaurant on a vacation to Portland. I asked the waitress for her recommendation. She told me there staple was the fried chicken waffle OMG. I've never thought of these two ingredients together. It was super good. It was also HUGE three chicken breasts on a large homemade waffle with maple syrup. Yum yum yum.
(5)
Nicole F.
My boyfriend and I have been frequenting the Screen Door ever since we first discovered it. I am relatively new to the area and I love going out and trying new things. My boyfriend looks up reviews online often, so we like to randomly select restaurants who have created a buzz for themselves. After looking over the menu, we agreed to put the Screen Door at the top of our list for places to try. We were warned that there was often a wait for seating and that it wasn't uncommon for there to be a line out the door. We arrived about an hour after the restaurant opened for dinner, around 6:30 pm. The host was very friendly when greeting us and warned us that there was going to be about an hour wait. Considering how long it took us to get there and the fact that we had both been looking forward to eating there, we decided to wait. While waiting, I took a quick look around. The waiting area was tiny and a bit cramped, but there was enough seating for the most part. I looked at the bar and noticed that the bartender was not only very friendly with the people seated in front of him, but he was also very quick with making the drinks. Signs of a good bartender. I decided to head to the restroom and passed the kitchen on the way. You can actually see into the kitchen and watch as the chefs prepare your meals! I stood and watched for a moment, observing all of the various foods being brought out the the hungry patrons. Everything looked so neat and orderly in the kitchen, and the food being brought out looked absolutely beautiful. It was very obvious that the cooks take their "food art" very seriously. I continued on the the restrooms and noticed that there were several newspaper and magazine clippings on the walls. I stopped and peeked over them for a moment, taking notice to the various rewards and high regards that the restaurant had received. I was surprised to see that one of the article actually mentioned getting some products that they cooked with from Mount Vernon, WA, my hometown! It was a pleasant surprise. As I made my way back to the waiting area, I noticed that even more people had piled in. My boyfriend and I gave up our seats to a family-we didn't mind standing for a bit. We weren't standing long as not even ten minutes later, we were being seated. I was glad to be seated so much sooner than we had anticipated. We were sat up at the bar, where we were met by the friendly bartender/waiter. He handed us our menus and within minutes had our orders in. My boyfriend is a vegetarian and is a complete sucker for good homemade mac 'n' cheese, so he ordered two of the side order of the stuff and I ordered catfish with andouille sauce and a side of fries. We watched the cooks at work in kitchen and were surprised with how quickly our orders were brought out. His mac 'n' cheese was heavenly, complete with baked cheese on top, and my catfish, which was brought out very hot and crispy, was divine. We had a side of cornbread brought out, which was a little on the dry side, but aside from that, everything was perfect. The waiter was attentive, without being pushy or bothersome, and the food was excellent. The only qualm I had was in how small the restaurant was. I like the fact that with smaller areas comes more attention to detail and service, but it made for a very loud, sort of crowded eating experience. Other than that, I don't have a negative word to say about the place. Total, we spent under $25 for the both of us to eat, and eat WELL. Since then, we have been back several times, my boyfriend getting his usual mac 'n' cheese, and me, being more adventurous, trying new things each time. On our most recent visit, a couple next to us ordered the fried chicken. Again, my boyfriend is a vegetarian, but he leaned over to me and whispered "That looks so good, I might consider trying it!" Now that is a big deal, considering he WILL NOT touch meat. Never has, probably never will. I know what I'm ordering next time! Kudos Screen Door, you are by far the most consistent place we've had to date! Great job, keep it up.
(5)
Jessica K.
Breakfast was amazing! Told 45 minute wait, more like 20. Loved the chicken & waffles. And I got praline bacon, cheese grits and biscuit & gravy. All great. So good we went back for dinner. (No lunch cause there is so much food!) Dinner was also a 45 minute wait that was about right. But the food was more hit or miss. The catfish and dip was outstanding. The greens were good but not great. The potato hash wasn't cooked through and lacked flavor. I got red beans and rice that lacked flavor. A pork chop that was really delicious. And Mac and cheese that was really good from a restaurant but not as good as homemade. The corn bread was meh at best. Our waiter was really terrible and inattentive. I'm glad we went to breakfast first cause the dinner wasn't good enough to justify the wait for us.
(4)
Rona L.
HOLY chicken and waffles! Can food be holy?? Because if it can't...Screen Door's fried chicken and waffles come as close to it as possible. I'm not a big fan of pancakes or waffles. I'm usually a savory breakfast type of gal, but the sweet potato waffle that accompanied my fried chicken was perfect; a soft and fluffy inside encased in a wonderfully chewy exterior made this waffle delicious even on its own. But it's not...it gets better...it comes with fried chicken! 3 huge pieces of chicken, piled high on the waffle, held together with a knife. It's like Screen Door is daring you to try and finish. And as hard as I tried, I could not do it for fear of having to call a forklift to take me out of the establishment. The fried chicken was perfectly fried (can I get a side order of the fried chicken skin??), so juicy and tender (despite not having any bones), and seasoned to perfection. Get this alongside a spicy bloody mary (did I mention it comes with a pickled okra?!) and you have the perfect brunch meal. The weather wasn't particularly great on the day that I went, but regardless, there was a one hour wait and people standing outside the door. I'm glad that I persevered, though, because it was definitely worth the wait. Go to screen door, wear your fat/stretchy pants, and be ready to eat.
(5)
Sheri J.
Came here for dinner with my family because of all the great reviews on yelp and now i understand why people raved so much about this place. We had really great service and very kid friendly! The hostess was so considerate and checked with us twice before seating. She also helped our waitress deliver our food and offered to take 1 kids meal back because it looked like it would of been too much for the kids. Our waitress was very kind and friendly and always available when we needed her. I ordered the screen door assorted plate. I loved every single side dish i ordered. The beat salad which wasn't on the regular menu was my favorite. The fried chicken my husband ordered was phenomenal! My son's mac and cheese was so creamy and delicious! If we are ever in Portland again, we will be back!
(5)
John O.
Had one night to eat in Portland and decided to base my selection on the reviews in Yelp for Screen Door. As fellow Yelpers stated, there is nearly always a wait to eat here. Thought we'd kill some time by grabbing a drink at the bar. I was impressed at the selection of "authentic" southern drinks (mostly bourbon based) - including Mint Juleps, Sazeracs, Old Fashions....etc. I opted for the Old Fashion (w/ rye) and was quite impressed ($7). It was a proper drink. We were seated after about 20 minutes (pretty quickly). I was impressed by the breadth of the offerings on the menu , from apps to main dishes. Much to the chagrin of my date, I opted out of the fried chicken, instead going for the smorgasbord on the menu -- the "Screen Door" -- which is 3 items off of the menu and a side of corn bread. I selected the fried catfish, collard greens, and jambalaya (~$14 I believe). The one thing about southern food is that it's not rocket science and not too hard to screw up . The catfish was very good (think 4 or 5 solid large pieces of fish), the collard greens w/ ham was good as well, the jambalaya left a little to be desired. All in all, the food was good and I would come back to try some different offerings on the menu. Service was mediocre, but at least the food came out quickly and was hot. Dessert menu sounded outstanding, but I was completely stuffed after filling my gut with plenty of heavy southern food.... All in all, I'd recommend this place for those looking for a little taste of the south in the PNW.
(4)
Ryan B.
I went here the other day for the first time for some breakfast. They open at 9am so I decided to arrive 15 minutes early to try and get closer to the front of the line of people waiting as I was sure it would be busy given the reviews on Yelp. The restaurant is a little small inside and the decor is very unique and because of it's size it was quite loud. But the food and the portions sure did make up for all of that! I ordered the Chicken & Waffles and boy was I in for a surprise. It was four giant pieces of boneless chicken breast fried and put on top of a waffle that took up almost the whole plate! I have had chicken and waffles in Louisiana and these were just as good if not better than I remember. The chicken was very crispy and peppery & had just the right amount of a spicy bite to it. The waffle was made with sweet potato and complimented the chicken just right! Every one at my table had something different and we all had plenty of food to take home. And trust me the food is so good you will not want to leave any behind. I'm not usually one for loud or crowded places, or places where I have to wait longer than twenty minutes to be sat but let me tell you their food gets a 10 on a scale from 1-5!
(4)
Scott W.
Best restaurant in Portland..hands down! Sweet tea, best fired chicken I have ever had, hushpuppies..enough said. Our server had 0 personality or kindness. Always felt like we were bothering her. But I will call her an anomaly for now.
(5)
Jando S.
Screen Door is one of the best restaurants in Portland. They do Southern food right and serve one of the meanest brunches in the city. Whenever I find myself back in PDX, I always make time to eat here. With the popularity of Cajun cuisine (what is up with that?) in Portland at an all time high, I would declare Screen Door the best of them all. It's probably dumb luck but throughout my visits, I've yet to experience a bad meal. All of the food is locally prepared and sourced ("organic" for you Portlandia wannabes) and extremely fresh. That alone has hipster palace written all over Screen Door, but I promise their constantly evolving menu is worth a sample bite. The Trout Pecan / Trout Orleans was flaky and delicious. Full of flavors and crusted just perfectly, this dish was perfect sitting on a bed of seasonal veggies, which in my last couple of times were on sauteed spinach. Their jambalaya was also decent, though the andouille sausage is known to be a tad dry at times. Though I'm not a huge fan of hush puppies, they do a good job of reproducing a golden crust version here. I can do multiple helpings of their pulled pork / pork belly, as well as their buttermilk fried chicken, which takes awhile to receive (and there is even a warning on the menu). None of these items are available for less than $11, which means all of this can get spendy quickly. Brunch seems to attract the crowds and most items on the menu are less than $10. I love their oyster eggs benedict and their farm grits, a bowl of cheddar grits topped with egg, provolone, and ham. The biscuits and gravy is solid, but not earth shattering in the biscuit breakfast world. Don't feel like platters? Try the pimento cheese and bacon sandwich, which comes with eggs and grits. No restaurant is perfect. There have been notable service snafus (usually wrong orders) amongst friends and the wait for dinner and brunch can be brutal. The prices aren't exactly wallet friendly either, though brunch is still less expensive than dinner. Ultimately, there aren't too many places like Screen Door in Portland. The food is delicious and the service has always come through for me. Though the prices are a little higher than most, at the very least Oregon doesn't charge sale tax.
(5)
Alex G.
Nothing really to add. Great breakfast food. Growing up in the south, this place makes me feel right at home. Delicious grits, great poached eggs. Was really nice that they let us substitute veggie sausage for ham on one of the dishes so I could share with my old lady. Chicken and waffles are awesome. I have never had a Belgian sweet potato waffle and I am never going back. Biscuits and gravy are pretty good, close to as good as Pine State. Two VERY small complaints -- just suggestions even, nothing major. 1) the portions are TOO big. I would rather have a smaller plate of food and pay less for it. But damn if it is not all delicious. 2) the wait is long and the service is a bit slow. I know that is totally a product of having an insane brunch rush and the servers/kitchen being understaffed rather than them being bad at their job, but hey, the brunch is great but it shouldn't take 2-3 hours. Love screen door. Best breakfast I have had in Portland. Genie's comes close, but in the end can't compete.
(4)
Milo V.
First, if you come, be sure to get here early, put your name in, THEN go home and shower, then do some shopping, then come back. The average "20 minute" Waite here is realistically 60 minutes +. Then, once you get a table, they won't take your drink order for another 20 minutes, and they don't know how to come back for refills. Great food however but totally terrible experience and not worth your time.
(1)
Olamide A.
All the great things I've heard about this place, I suppose I need to go back during dinner.... I ordered breakfast vanilla bean brioche....it was neither vanilla bean nor brioche... (had the waiter check and he swore it was....there's no way it could've been though)...the eggs and potatoes (not so seasoned..) were just ok. The waiter kicked my partner's chair while walking past TWICE and then spilled syrup all over his pants. Not sure if he was just aloof or if he did it on purpose....but it seemed intentional. Food was edible but certainly NOT amazing
(2)
Lawrence W.
My first chicken and waffles. This place is cute, and pretty packed for a Tuesday brunch. Interesting decor. Homestyle yet hip. The waitress was very friendly. The food was great! I recommend trying the praline bacon at least once. The chicken and waffles was excellent. It sounded strange at first, but it went well together. The chicken was crispy and juicy, the waffles were flavorful (sweet potato, I think). The catfish and cornbread were just ok, tho. Would come back again.
(5)
Erica M.
This remains one of my favorite restaurants in Portland, hands down. The service is always great, and the food is always delicious. All of our out-of-town visitors want to go here now, too. It's the ONLY restaurant we go to and think we underpaid for the quality and quantity of food. Hint: the fried chicken is amazing. My husband eats it...and he doesn't like fried chicken. BUT the pulled pork is the way to my heart. And always try the special sides! Yum!
(5)
Paula T.
Screen door is a favorite place .. Love the food but really wish they had a little more room for reservations.. the policy on reservations makes it hard to celebrate there
(4)
Aldwin C.
I had appetizer size fried oysters and shrimp n grits. yum. I will definitely be back the next time I visit. casual atmosphere. price is right, teens to low $20's. come early since they don't take reservations. I hear they're popular with weekend brunch.
(4)
D R.
This place is decent. I haven't had a problem with their food, but a friend of mine who was a chef was unimpressed with his order, the one time he went. I've gone here maybe a handful of times and haven't found anything to rant or rave about. I'm not sure what all the fuss is about, or why the line is always to the corner or beyond. I guess i've heard a few people blab about enjoying chicken and waffles, and how that's not available elsewhere in Portland? (I've never had chicken & waffles in my life, however.) I have to say it's overrated. But decent!
(3)
Susan B.
Rich and wonderful breakfast at the Screen Door. I came in right before their afternoon closing and had the biscuit, gravy and eggs breakfast. This meal was stick to your ribs filling and well worth the trip. I'm taking the fried chicken and waffles to go for dinner....can hardly wait. Highly recommend this spot and will return for the brisket.
(5)
Shaun M.
It's always hard to review a place that had such high recommendations going in. The food was very good, the service was good and the prices were fair. If I had gone in and had no expectations, I would have been impressed. With that being said, I had pretty high expectations based on reviews and I can't say it quite lived up to it. I wouldn't have any hesitations about going back, but I wouldn't seek it out like I would other places I've been too.
(4)
T. K.
Never a disappointment, other than the massive wait. Delicious food, attentive service, and great ambience. Bravo Screen Door!
(5)
Mr. M.
Visiting Portland for the second time, and this is one of the best stops yet. I used to live in North Carolina, so I have a good feel for authentic soul food. The chicken and waffles were absolutely phenomenal. The chicken batter had a great black pepper flavor to it, and the waffle was fluffy. Everything came out piping hot. We are talking three whole chicken breasts, so bring an appetite. Also, try the breakfast corn dogs. They were great! Good coffee and very good service as well. Can't wait to come back.
(5)
Brandon T.
The wait was rather long but the food was decent and it came in HUGE portions. I will recommend the hushpuppies even though everyone else has already done this. The jambalaya is also pretty good but it surprisingly didn't have much sausage or chicken in it (maybe 4 or 5 pieces) and it was barely spicy so I am taking a star off because it is hard for a dish to stand up without its essence. Had I read enough of the other reviews then I would have known not to get it. The best i can do now is recommend that you get something else, such as the fried chicken which looked simply amazing as a stared at it from across the table.
(3)
Maggie R.
Amazing place!! Food is decadent as can be, but worth it : D Service was great. We lucked out and didn't have a wait at about 10:30 a.m.
(5)
Kristina M.
Not really one for "hyped up" Portland touristy places so it took me 2 years to finally come here. My own regret was not coming sooner!!! It's nice to come on a weekday night when there aren't lines really long. We were seated immediately and had quick service. My friend and I both got the screen door platter that comes with 3 sides and cornbread and we had a total of 6 menu items to try. Their farm fresh salads are always a hit as well as their fried chicken and gumbo! Best gumbo I've ever had. Perfectly portioned for a great deal of southern cuisine. Definitely worth coming again!
(5)
John T.
I've been here so many times and every time it has been a great dinning experience. the dish that you shouldn't pass up is the chicken and waffle. it's so filling i don't think it was meant for one. maybe it is if you can handle three pieces of chicken breast for one meal. Those who aren't a fan of white meat like myself will be surprised how juicy it is so don't worry. My last visit the pecan bacon wasn't as great as before, i'm hoping it was just an anomaly. food has always been good and the service is always entertaining for me. so yeah one of my favorite spots regardless of the wait.
(5)
Pough K.
fried chicken and waffles.... and that's about all i get.
(4)
Gilbert N.
Vintage Hotel excellent service and the wine hostess gets 5 stars.. Free wine tasting love it ..Old Guy
(5)
Donna B.
I have eaten here 7 times. Although I would not wait for an hour or 2 to eat here (I don't wait anywhere) I understand why people do. By and large the food is well prepared, delicious, priced well, service good. Love the shrimp and grits. Fish-- delicious-- not overcooked, crispy. Seasonings are correct on everything we have had--including salads. Desserts fab. I wish I could eat here at least once a week. Whenever anyone comes to visit-- we take them here. They love it. If you are a waiting in line kind of person-- wait. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Beth T.
YUM had the plate where you get to choose a bunch of different things because it was my first time here - portions are huge plan to take leftovers home. Never had catfish before - it was awesome! also you're missing out if you don't order the mac & cheese, just sayin'
(5)
Ray I.
Delicious! Came here for a Saturday brunch. Called in a half hour ahead for a table for 9 and was ready by the time we rolled in. Portions were HUGE! I had the Fried Oyster Breakfast Po Boy. Lots of oysters - fresh and fried, fried onions, bacon, and a fried egg on French Bread and a side of Roasted Potatoes. I had a bite of the chicken of the Fried Chicken and Waffles. Again. Huge huge portions. Chicken was very juicy. Also tried the praline bacon. Anything bacon is amazing, if it needs to be said... Food did take a little bit to come out, but it's well worth it. Service was great! Street parking only. Might need to park a couple blocks away especially when it's busy.
(5)
Tim R.
Me: Hello Food Comma Food Comma: Hello Timothy Went here for brunch and this place is as good as advertised. Might even be better. They have a great selection, good prices, and the wait goes by fast. They were swamped on the Saturday we went but my group of 4 was still seated in 25 minutes. We went to a coffee spot a block away to kill time, Spunky Monkey House Of Coffee. Here is what I tried and what I thought: Fried Chicken & Waffle - 12.95 This thing is huge and delicious. Might be the best fried chicken I've ever had. Nice and tender inside and well spiced on the outside. A lot of flavor in the spices. BISCUITs & GRAVY (Buttermilk Drop Biscuits w/ sausage country gravy and 2 eggs) -8.95 Another huge portion that was good and worth clogging up my arteries for. Even though the food comma got me and I was not able to clean my plate like I usually do, this visit was a success and I can't wait for another one. Soooo many more things I want to try here.
(5)
Beth G.
I went here for the first time this past Tuesday with some business partners. The reviewers are right about this place. The food is crazy good. They open at 5:30. We arrived at 5:35 with a party of six, and we were shown to one of the last open tables. So if you don't want to wait, get there early or wait until after the peak dinner rush. Just make sure you come hungry because the portions are pretty huge. Our waiter was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. He made a great beer recommendation for me, and we also trusted him to order our appetizers. We shared the fried oysters and the hushpuppies. Both were excellent. Three of my dinner companions ordered the friend chicken, I had the chicken and dumplings (special that night), another in our party ordered the cod (special that night), and the other person we were with had the brisket. We spent most of the time we were eating passing each others plates around so everyone could have a little of everything. The fried chicken was probably the best I've ever tasted. It was a little peppery, super cripsy, and the chicken just melted in your mouth. The chicken and dumplings were fantastic as well. Those were some of the best dumplings I've ever had. Everyone agreed that the cod was cooked to perfection. It had just the right amount of breading on it, and it wasn't at all greasy. The brisket was also very good, but would rank the lowest of everything we ordered. The only reason for that is because everything else was just so amazing. We were way too full to even try dessert. It did take a little while to get the food, but I didn't feel like the wait was overly long. Everything was obviously made from scratch and made fresh that day. The people making this food clearly have a passion for what they do. I would certainly come back here again when I'm in town, and I would recommend checking it out.
(5)
Brandon H.
I've been to Screen Door once, and honestly I just wasn't that impressed. My partner and I both hail from the South, so we're pretty familiar with Southern cooking, both high and low. Screen Door's cuisine is a Pacific Northwesterner's imagining of what Souther cuisine should taste like. It's fine, it's just not (a) authentic and (b) worth the wait. I don't understand how this place gets so many five-star reviews, but they're very lucky to have such a loyal following. Try it and decide for yourself, but whenever I want Southern food that's both authentic and imaginative, I go to Delta Cafe.
(2)
Sara C.
I've been here three times now, and the food never disappoints. My parents are lifelong Southerners who have traveled and dined all over the South, and conceded that this was the best 'Southern food' they'd ever had! Personal favorites are the pimento and cheese, hush puppies, fried okra, mashed potatoes, and of course the mac and cheese. I don't know how you can have a bad meal here. The first time we ate here we came in on a Sunday at 6pm, and were seated immediately.Service was fast and friendly. Second time we came in was at 7:30 on a Saturday, so we waited for almost 2 hours for a table. Be prepared to wait! Also if you're planning on eating here for dinner I would recommend not eating very much during the day. You need to have room for the dinner you'll have here!
(5)
Cheryl D.
We finally made it here for brunch. Thankfully our BIL and SIL arrived more than 30 minutes before their 9:00 AM brunch opening to wait in line. We were late and they indicated they would not seat your party till we were all there. We rolled up about 10 after 9 and it was an hour wait out the door. We got one of the two last seats available and checked out the menu. Holy CRAP, the Waffle and Chicken looked amazing but we had read the reviews and we knew it was way too much food for us. I ordered the biscuits and gravy with a side of grits and the hubby ordered the cat head biscuit with fried chicken and gravy, sammich style.. It was amazing, we brought so much food home, it was crazy. The one miss were the potatoes hubby got with his breakfast, they were undercooked and cold. The coffee was hot and bold and the rest of our meals were not hot but warm. Overall delicious but I would not wait an hour or even 20 minutes for this meal, we love food, but aren't happy about waiting to eat it. It is just not that important to us.
(4)
MaryBeth D.
So ubber exited for chicken and waffles... I was in no way shape or form let down by this dish.. My friend Susen told us that it was plenty big enough to share and she was not kidding. You get a very large sweet potato waffle topped with 3 very huge deep fried chicken breast, and it was simply amazing. We also shared a dish of cheesy ham grits that was so delish and to top it off we also could not resist sharing a side plate of pecan praline bacon, this was so sinful. The place fills very fast and you must arrive 30 minutes prior to opening if you wish to be seated, keep in mind that they will not seat you until your entire party has arrived. The staff is very helpful with questions and very attentive in filling coffee and water. If you love authentic delish southern food weather for brunch or dinner this is a must....
(5)
Alise B.
Mmm oyster Benedict pumpkin pancake hot spiced cider+whip cream
(4)
J K.
Amazing! We both do not eat meat, but there are so many options for vegetarians (and even a few for vegans). Their mac and cheese is the best I have ever tried, and if you get the screen door plate you can mix up sides and make a whole dinner from them with a side of cornbread.
(5)
Matthew S.
Fantastic food, great service, and amazing drinks. The layout is great, ambiance is perfect. I wish they had more vegetarian options but what they do have is excellent!
(4)
Henson O.
Wow, talk about chicken that melts under the weight of the knife! So juicy and so good! The first time I came here, however, was for brunch, and I wasn't impressed. I got the chicken and waffles, and it is a lot of food. I couldn't finish it! I was overwhelmed with too much chicken, and it was good chicken but not GREAT chicken. Same story with the waffle. I would've rated the brunch 3.5/5 including the price, wait, environment, service, etc. Dinner is a different (AND BETTER) story though. I touched the chicken with the knife and it started sliding through. That's how soft and juicy the chicken was! Also, it was FRESH FRESH FRESH out the fryer. The chicken was so temperature hot that I couldn't chew! I kept burning my mouth because I kept trying to eat it! Needless to say, I never quite learned my lesson in waiting for the food to cool down and walked out with a burnt tongue. Get in mah belly! The chicken had a nice kick, but didn't have the flavoring of any kind of hot or spicy sauce. As far as flavor goes, the spiciness stood out the most. I kind of wished it had a bit more flavor to it, but I guess that can be taken care of with the array of hot sauces on the table! With 18% gratuity included for our party of 6, I paid $17.XX.... More than what I usually pay for a meal since I'm used to hole-in-the-wall places in California, but all-in-all, a great and delicious meal. It's worth it, but for a poor college student like me, this will be a rare treat. TIP***** if you're going for dinner, get there around 5pm - 5:10pm. You'll be near the front of the line and will get a seat right away when they open the doors at 5:30pm. Waiting 20 minutes for the doors to open beats waiting 1+ hrs waiting for a table to clear.
(5)
Prairie D.
i recently ate here not long ago had the fried chicken , hush puppies and a desert, all the food was great, i found this place looking for the "best fried chicken" in Portland, and it was sure in my top 5, i only wish they had whole cut chicken rather then boneless breast... it took a while to be seated cause the place was packed but hey its good grub so the have lots of customers, service was great...
(4)
Stephanie S.
If I could give this place more than 5 stars I would! The food was seriously amazing. We started off the breakfast with Bloody Mary's. These were probably the best Bloody Mary's I've ever had. You could tell that these were made in house and had the perfect amount a spice. For a breakfast starter (because why not?!) we had the breakfast hush puppies. They were literally to die for. The hush puppies were so light and had bacon/sausage in them. Plus it came with maple syrup to dip in...yum! I had the mushroom omelet, which was very tasty. I got the cheesy grits to go with it and they were so yummy and probably the best grits I've ever had. I also tried some chicken from the chicken and waffles. The chicken was so incredibly tasty i considered going back just for that. I also tried a little piece of the praline bacon. So delicious, but very rich so kind of hard to eat all of it. I came here to eat at around 11:00 on a Wednesday morning. The wait was only like 15 minutes, so not bad at all. I would definitely recommend this place, it was so delicious and probably one of the best places I ate at in Portland.
(5)
Keith L.
First stop on our Portland road trip and I have to say, this place went beyond my expectations. Fantastic service, "quick" wait time (45 min on a Saturday night) and the food was beyond compare. Would definitely come again. We split Screen Door Plate and left stuffed. Catfish, wings, and Mac + cheese, all prepared to perfection. Great start to this trip.
(5)
Rachel R.
Behind the Screen Door, nothing is as it seems. "The wait will be about 20, sweetheart..." He says. Charming. We wait contentedly. ...You dirty teases. A short wait at an uberpopular brunch spot seemed too good to be true. It was. We were promptly seated, then waited for an hour. Water was scarce, and we periodically received thimble-fulls in order to tide us over while we panicked. Sometimes the waitress even gave us a pitiful, "you're going to die here" glance as she passed by. So once half our party died, the food came! Let's talk about the goods: - Praline bacon waffle, whipped cream: Order a cornucopia of this. Don't talk to me about your coronary problems. I don't want to hear it. - Sweet potato waffle: Irrelevant next to the praline bacon waffle. I couldn't even draw my eyes away long enough to get a visual. - Biscuits and gravy: Actually an aquatic terrarium of gravy built to house red-eared sliders on various sandy biscuit islands. Sausage is dispersed throughout as a 6-month food supply. Turtles not included. - Fried chicken: Too savory and spicy to sensibly pair with sweet breakfast fare. Centaur-sized portions. Before seeing our dishes, Screen Door seemed overpriced. Turns out, there's just enough food to feed a small mountain village. Legend has it, if you eat an entire entree by yourself, you will either live forever or die immediately. Next time: don't show up starving; order half as much as you think you need.
(3)
Emily G.
I was in Portland for a night (as unfortunately, I often do) and I was looking for a place to dine solo. Maybe the great benefit of eating all by yourself (queue music) is that you can get a table quick or sit in the bar without any wait. The not-so-great thing about dining by yourself is that you are alone and nobody loves you. Aaaaanyway. I took a seat at the bar and started my evening with a Hot Toddy, that hot Christmasy drink with bourbon and cinnamon. The drink was strong but it had a good flavor and provided the warm and fuzzy comfort that hot alcoholic drinks usually provide. I glanced at the Southern inspired menu and decided to go for the fried chicken. This ain't my Atlanta, but I do love fried chicken, even at 10pm at night. The dish had some awesome highs and lows. The crisp on the breading was great and thick, so much so that it would completely slide off the chicken in large chunks. The chicken on the inside was succulent and at the right temperature. I thought the portion was a little too much (I would prefer half the size for a little less of the price) considering that fried chicken does not reheat very successfully. I also noticed how much fatty parts the chicken had, enough for me to dissect and try to cut them out to eat mostly chicken and not straight up faaaaaat. Secretly, I wanted it to be served on top of a waffle with Louisiana hot sauce and honey, but hey, I don't make up the menu. The mashed potatoes served underneath were simple and tasty but nothing particularly remarkable. The collard greens needed to be cooked a bit longer and have more flavor- I usually squirt some lime juice to give them a better taste. I think those two sides can definitely improve quite a bit. My bartender server was a pretty nice dude and chill. I think he appreciated not having to stop by my table every time to see if I was ok, and I appreciated the same. As I sat there with my imaginary friends, I kept looking into the kitchen and admiring their assembly line. There was no yelling, no stress, no panic. The expediter kept his cool and made sure everything came out with the same quality and look. I definitely appreciated such a well-ran kitchen like that.
(4)
Annie T.
Of course I did the chicken and waffles here... But honestly the line wasn't worth the wait. I'm more of a Country Cat kinda girl for this style of eats.
(4)
Cameron M.
The chicken and waffles meal is amazing and will last you for days. Everything else that I've had is fantastic too. Love the vibe. I'd go to Screen Door all the time if it weren't for all the other people who want to go to Screen Door so my only knock on it is that it is so popular that there is often quite the wait. Not much of a knock, especially since they serve free hot coffee and you can sometimes snag an indoor bench, but that's all I got!
(4)
Shala T.
Amazing!!! Worth the wait!!!! The 30 mins will go by fast and you would so happy that you waited!! EVERYTHING is good!! You literally can't go wrong!!!
(5)
Michael S.
Food was fantastic; service was a bit grump, but we were a large rambunctious group - so what do you expect?
(4)
Cynthia G.
Went for brunch, the food was not as consistently amazing as dinner. Hubby's meal (lemon ricotta pancakes) was delightfully tasty while mine (oyster benedict) was just okay. Still a good place to get your grub on, but alas no longer perfect.
(4)
Stasia B.
I am re-viewing our experience at the Screen Door. My small family and I parked nearby the Screen Door, with the song 'Somebody That I Used To Know' playing in the background. Parking seemed easy to find despite the fact that this place didn't seem to have its own parking lot and many people were entering in. A short walk later, we were entering through the 'door' into this restaurant, which was full to maximum capacity. Faces were friendly and the feeling was warm. Upon greeting the hostess, we were asked if we had a seating preference. We wanted a booth and less than 10 minutes later we were being escorted to a booth near the open kitchen area where a wall of what looked like pickled items were displayed. Quite nice. Water was poured for us, shortly after seating and the water server was cordial and told us she would let the server know that we only were there for dessert (even though the meals looked divine from where I was sitting). Upon looking over the dessert menu and spying the half-eaten cake at a nearby table, we decided on the chocolate caramel layer cake with homemade brown sugar ice cream. The order for our dessert went to our server and was delivered quickly without a hitch. The water lady brought crayons for my son who was busily drawing in the candlelit atmosphere which seemed to have a comfortable volume. Our cake was reasonably priced for how huge it was and we enjoyed it very much while watching the table nearby receive the same cake with a candle on top. They were there for a birthday, it seemed, and though a song was sung just one table away, the volume stayed reasonable and no one in the restaurant seemed disturbed. The kitchen was open to the room so you could plainly see the cooks and wait staff seemed relaxed and enjoying themselves, which was comforting. It was also extremely clean and well put together - a nice atmosphere for sure. $8 was given to cover the cake which was quickly received. We left a $2 tip and started to make our way across the crowded, yet nicely organized, dim lit room toward the front door. The whole experience was seamless and the meals on tables we passed looked delicious. The vibe was great and everyone seemed happy and pleasantly satisfied with their meals. We left satiated and with a to go box with extra cake in it. We would definitely check it out again. Friendly place, kid friendly, yet adult-savy. Very much enjoyed.
(5)
Howard L.
There isn't much that I can say that hasn't already been said. The biscuits and gravy are delightful. Most of the staff are friendly and fast. My only complaint, of course, would be the lines.
(4)
She C.
Worthy of every star, Screen Door delivers on all gastro-related fronts. We arrived at 10ish on Sat. morning and only waited 25-30 min. The Creole bloody was served promptly and just the right amount of spicy. I savored as best I could my Heirloom tomato Benedict, but it was so tasty I basically inhaled it. My man's plate was clean of his brisket hash about the same time, so I didn't feel too gluttonous. Our server was attentive and all smiles... very refreshing. So many enticing options on their menu, I will definitely be back!
(5)
Tracey J.
yum. every time.
(5)
Shannon L.
I was starting to feel that most of the foods I was eating in Portland was really just overrated... until Screen Door. Everyone kept raving about the fried chicken here, which is totally valid, but they should be raving about ALL the food. The Fried Chicken ($14.75) is not as herby as other places (which I also like) but there's a lot of flavor in the oil. It's fried perfectly because even the white meat is very tender. The sides included collard greens and mashed potatoes. Collard greens were not chopped up but left in big leafy pieces and also cooked perfectly. The stems were very edible with no resistance. Mashed potatoes were well, just really mashed and smooth potatoes, but the gravy was the more chunky standout item as it was ham based. Now I really did not want my husband to order the Pork and Beans ($14.75) because whenever we get pork (any part but the ribs) at Southern restaurants, it is most of the time dry, even if just a little. This piece of pork shoulder was so tenderly cooked that I could break it apart easily with just my fork. I thought the sides of hock stewed beans and spicy slaw would be on the side but the pork and spicy slaw actually rest on top of a thin layer of large beans on the plate. It all works perfectly when eaten together. And I was pleasantly surprised that the slaw was actually spicy... it offsets the sweetness of the molasses nicely. Macaroni and Cheese side ($5.25) is a portion for two mainly and is a better take on a the homemade style. I'm not sure what cheese they use but it is white and creamy, and stays creamy for the entire meal. The top has been covered in some cheddar and baked to a nice crispiness. As you can see, the prices are very reasonable for this kind of food, especially considering how outstanding the quality and taste are. Seating is available at the patio, bar, or dining room. Ambiance is a bit on the darker side. Perfect for a date or small group.
(5)
Cathy Q.
THE BEST BRUNCH I'VE EVER HAD...!!!!! Even though we waited a little more than an hour and half it was well worth it and I would do it all over again!! The chicken and waffles and the pecan bacon was my fave.. AWESOME WAITER!!! Think his name was BEN
(5)
Jason L.
pretty simple. Lots of hype and long lines, but solid and delicious breakfast. The $13 bucks you spend on the Chicken and Waffles turns out to be three meals.
(5)
Lauren L.
We visited some friends in Portland and they told us about this place. We did have to wait an hour to get a table but it wasn't too bad. There's an awesome little coffee shop next door that can tide you over while you wait. We were seated out on the patio. As it was a beautiful, warm day, it was a perfect location for brunch. We all ordered ice tea and then, because everything looked delicious, we got a breakfast "appetizer" of sausage corn dogs. For the main meal, I got an heirloom tomato scramble which was excellent. My boyfriend got the biscuits and he loved every crumb of it. We'll definitely be back when in Portland, although we'll shoot for earlier in the morning to avoid some of the wait time.
(4)
Lisa k.
If I could title this review, it would read: "Overrated". I wonder if I have the same taste buds as these people who do the 5 star reviews??!! Maybe my taste buds are not phased by the hype. But if people love anything...it's stuff that's overrated. Anyway, for what it's worth.... Here is my 3 star review in the sea of 4 and 5 stars. Three starts indicates A-Ok, according to Yelp..but to me it's more like...Meh...ok. I guess if there was a rating for 2.5, it would be around there. It was my birthday yesterday and the hype of this place got the better of me. On one's birthday, it's really nice if everyone is amazed by the deliciousness and experience. Well, I guess there is always next year...elsewhere. Let me say this, if you want good food (and I should have just gone here in the first place) go to Country Cat. That place is...sigh...so good (which reminds me I need to go and review them after this). Like another reviewer said about the Screen Door, it is southern food without a shred of southern hospitality. Well, our host was nice. He made it seem promising. Our wait wasn't too long either...like a 1/2 hour. However, our server was very efficient. She was so efficient, in fact, that she rudely didn't allow one of my co-diners to finish what she was saying before answering. She wasn't unfriendly...but she wasn't warm. Very efficient though...like a cold robot. The hush puppies were good and so we were hopeful. I enjoyed the pimento cheese and crackers, probably more so than the rest of my guests. I got a mint julep and it was nice and strong. The food arrived quickly, which surprised me, and the plates were big. What sold me on going here was the sound of a pecan encrusted trout. I was able to switch fingerling potatoes for a more mashed variety. I was bummed that the seasonal veggies were squash and zucchini...as I have been eating so much of that shit from my own garden (but that's not their fault). I took a bite of the mashed potatoes and they were pretty meh and then a bite of the fish. I figured it was just under salted. I threw some salt on it...bite...meh...salt...bite....meh...just a bit more salt and some pepper...and still...bland. Pretty disappointing for a birthday meal. My other co-diner got the fried chicken and she said it was good. But I didn't hear the "Yumming and MMMmmming" that she did with the fried chicken at Country Cat. She wasn't too impressed with their greens either. My other two co-diners got the screen door plates. Not a whole lot of yumming it up coming from those two either. I tasted that cornbread and it was dry, bland, and kind of weird tasting. I was told the rest of the items, like the jambalaya were not very good. Nobody seemed particularly thrilled about any of it. Didn't stay for dessert. Was almost embarrassed that I chose this place and that no one was really impressed. I did look at the dessert menu, and sadly, it was different than the one I had looked at online a couple days previously. Nothing really grabbed me so I went without a birthday dessert yesterday. Oh well. I think one voiced opinion from the least foodie of my co-diners sums this experience up pretty well, "Eh, it was alright but I don't think it's good enough to go back."
(3)
Athena L.
HOLY BACON! FRIED CHICKEN GOODNESS! This place is bomb and I'm so sad that I've waited so long to try their infamous chicken and waffles. The chicken is AMAZING! It's so crisp and seasoned to PERFECTION! The chicken itself was moist and tender. Insert heart eyes emoji here. The waffles that accompany the delicious fried chicken were amazing as well! They're SWEET POTATO waffles! Yum! The bacon is a must! It's covered with caramelized pecans, cayenne, and brown sugar. I mean, what more could you ask for? The fried oysters were good, but nothing spectacular. A definite must try if you're in the area! Beware of long lines! Totally worth it. :)
(5)
Rachel S.
AS A SIDE NOTE: MY FRIEND WHO SPILLED HER WINE CALLED THE SCREEN DOOR TODAY TO FOLLOW UP REGARDING THE SERVICE WE RECEIVED LAST NIGHT. THE OWNER AND THE MANAGER HEARD HER CONCERN, EMPATHIZED, AND APOLOGIZED. BRAVO SCREEN DOOR, BRAVO!! Southern food without the Southern hospitality! I arrived before my dinner guests on a Friday night and was greeted by the only smile I saw on an employees face all night...the host. He took my name, number in party, and told me it would be a 30 - 45 minute wait when I arrived at 6 PM. I wasn't surprised by the wait, and once my girls arrived we grabbed drinks and headed outside to wait and chat. Unfortunately, one of my girls accidentally spilled her $8 glass of house red...all over herself, her purse, and the bench we were sitting on. I went to the bar and explained what happened. The unsympathetic bar tender got me a dry towel from the back of the house, and that was that...he did not offer to refill her glass of wine that had barely been sipped. My girl drove home to change and we were seated for dinner moments before she returned. Once we were settled at our booth, I asked the unfriendly waitress, Jillian, what the policy was when a customer accidentally spilled their wine. No, I couldn't let poor service go. I was told that it depended where it happened and which employee was dealing with it. ARE YOU KIDDING ME, I THOUGHT????? Before becoming a teacher, I worked in the biz, and I can tell you, that if a customer of mine spilled a drink I did everything in my power to minimize the embarrassment and without question, would replace the drink. I can't remember an establishment I have ever been to that would not strive to do the same thing. Shame on you Screen Door! Dinner I have to say was very good. I had the catfish, slaw, and mac, a traditionally southern supper. The slaw could have been tangier, but it was still very good. The cornbread was nothing more than edible. My girls had the pork chop, catfish, beet salad, mash potatoes and gravy, bean salad, and the arugula salad. You can choose sides and order additional sides as well (obviously by the amount of food on our table). Hands down the back of the house did a very good job preparing the meal...they have talent. The portions are much larger than in New Orleans and the entrees are reasonably priced. They carry Abita beer...which having just relocated back to my hometown from New Orleans is a nice touch. The service was underwhelming. Jillian was accurate and efficient, but that was it. No smile, no chatting up the menu, no sense of grace. Nothing....flat line. I thought about checking her for a pulse. A positive I must mention is that the place attracts a multicultural crowd unlike any other restaurant in Portland. That made me very happy. Would I go back? Maybe, because I love southern food and there isn't many choices in Portland.
(3)
Gil S.
simply awesome! amazing food at reasonable prices without the bullshit. my kind of a joint.
(5)
courtney f.
If you are looking for the best fried chicken in Portland, look no further. Don't get me wrong.... I am a true Southerner, and have sampled some of the best fried foods anyone could ever crave. AND, I understand that some folks like their fried "cheekin" a little sweet, or a little a vinegary, but if you want consistency and perfection of moistness in yo fried chicken, this is your spot! Also: service is great, everything else on the menu is delicious, and get there by 5:15 and jump in line if you don't want to sweat the wait! This place has become an institution in Portland Southern cuisine, so everybody loves it, brunch or dinner!!!!!
(5)
Angie T.
Came there with my boyfriend on a tuesday, it was crowed but we didn't have to wait. Our server was awesome. He actually ran after us when we were walking to the car because I forgot my box of leftover food on the table. Had the screen door plate and a side of apple and orange salad. It was yummilous! I wished the sweet tea was sweeter, but that is only trivial because there's sugar cubes on the table which could be easily added in.
(5)
Erin W.
I was warned about the wait for weekend brunch, and it was no joke...holy crap, this place is popular! Anyhow, the food and cocktails (specifically, the praline waffle with melt-in-your-mouth candied bacon and crisply fried chicken) were worth the long wait of about an hour and fifteen minutes for a two-top. Also noteworthy is how friendly the employees are. The hostess remained pleasant in spite of being stationed in a sea of eager people who were anxious to get a table and irritated by the wait. It was nice to have self-serve coffee during the linger time as well as access to the bar...the wait wasn't so bad with a gin fizz my hand. Our server, Evie, was also a delight...my boyfriend and I split a single plate and took our time with the meal. I appreciated that Evie didn't rush us all in spite of the huge crowd waiting for an open table and the fact that our bill came to a whopping $12.
(5)
Les W.
Oh my !! I got the Screen Door plate - a sampling of 3 items. I had the catfish, jambalaya and local organic green salad. WONDERFUL!!! MY sister got the low-country shrimp and grits it was delicious. I'm not a grits fan but I would order this item on my next trip. Went there for brunch and got the chicken and waffles, and yes-it's as good as everyone says it is. The wait time can be long for a table (30-45 min) and there is not a lot in the area as far as other retail establishments to kill the time but still-I would go there again and again! So worth it !
(5)
Tet W.
What can I say! This place is flat out the best when it comes to brunches. I went away from my usual cathead chicken sandwich and potatoes and went with the classic eggs Benedict with potatoes. It was wonderful and full of flavor. It was much lighter than the fathead sandwich which is very rich and the biscuits, fried chicken and sausage gravy can be quite heavy so I was in the mood for something lighter. The eggs were poached perfectly and went well with the seasoned potato wedges. There is sooooo many wonderful choices to choose from. You can virtually choose anything on their menu and you can't go wrong! It's only been 1 day and I'm already excited to go back to try more of their fabulous breakfast choices. Definitely a top choice of mine and if you've never been here, make sure you come about 20 minutes early as people are lining up early to get in first thing when they open. Also make sure you keep your party small and that everyone is there or you won't be seated. No reservations are taken at this popular establishment so expect long waits if you come after 10am. Can't wait to be back for more!
(5)
Roxanne C.
My favorite restaurant in town! I can't decide if I like brunch or dinner better.
(5)
Aaron H.
Fried Chicken.....Damm good stuff, Infused Vodka's go well in my Bloody M....Great place to take friends from out of town....
(4)
Casey H.
I was very excited to dine here. Chicken in waffles are a passion of mine, and people kept telling me this was as good as it gets in Portland. The line out the door every time I drove by seemed to reinforce that assessment. Finally, my wife and I decided to brave the wait and dive in. I have to say, it wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Good, but not great. The wait was 45 minutes, which is absurd--the food has to be excellent to justify that, so perhaps I was setting the bar too high. Once we were finally seated in the cold, drafty outdoor area (which was not equipped with enough heaters to fight off the cold), we ordered chicken and waffles, the pecan salad and a fruit bowl. After 25 minutes of shivering, it arrived. Let me say this--I appreciate a big portion size. But this was absurd. There must have been 3 lbs of chicken breast (no dark meat?) piled on a single, lonely waffle. The portion was enough for 3 people, and the ratio of chicken to waffle was all wrong. The waffle was delicious, but the chicken itself was a bit too salty. The breading was nicely spicy, but it fell off the meat at the gentlest touch and quickly became water-logged. The salad was tasty but over-dressed and covered in too much cheese. The whole restaurant seemed to be an homage to excess. This is fine, but please don't confuse quantity for quality. I would have preferred half the food and for it to be delicious.
(3)
Elisabeth B.
Regarding their brunch: I am in love. Sooo in love. I literally get a high just thinking about the food, ha. Currently my top choice restaurant for brunch. :)
(5)
Claire T.
Super long lines.... however, its worth waiting for. So freaking delicious.
(4)
Chris B.
Best burger and fried chicken in Portland. You cannot be disappointed in this restaurant and while wait is longer, it is no worse than any other great food in Portland. Worth a wait for sure
(5)
Lilly R.
This is my go-to restaurant for out-of-town guests! I don't even normally like fried food, but I could eat Screen Door's chicken tenders almost every night of the week. Last time I was there, we had Ben as our waiter, who was so incredibly friendly and warm. Order the Screen Door plate (any three sides off their menu) and you will not be disappointed.
(5)
Anna Marie C.
so who knew that southern food would be so popular in the pacnw? years and years ago, i lived in atlanta for a month... and thank goodness it was only a month, because otherwise my arteries would probably be filled with lard by now. so, the short of it is that i do love southern food. and granted, i only had a month experience with it... but i think i made the most of my time. so enter screen door. while i do not love to wait for my southern food, this place may just be worth it. the shortrib special was so ridiculously moist and tender, i literally did not need a fork to cut it. perfectly seasoned. it almost makes me want put my shrimp allergy to the test for their shrimp and grits. so go. early. late. or just plan to arrive 2 hours before you're actually hungry.
(4)
Anthony L.
Literally the highlight of my trip to Portland. Had the Cormeal Friend Oyster Eggs Benedict. This was the best Eggs Benedict dish I've ever had in my quarter century of life on this earth. Just having this dish would've earned them 5-stars, but no! There's more! I also tried the chicken and waffles. Now I must say, being a Los Angeles native, Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles set the mark and trend for the amazing combination. However, dare I say, and I'm sure I'll be getting some flack when I say this.... The chicken and waffles from Screen door tasted better and Roscoe's. (Ducks for cover - lol) Honestly, when you have something that good, with the sizeable portions, I'd fly back to Portland, brave the rain and vitamin D deficiency just to have either of these dishes again. 5-stars!
(5)
Katie O.
I lived in the south for 4 years, so I became accustomed to southern food and drink. This place didn't really impress me. The sweet tea wasn't that sweet, and the food wasn't very flavorful. My friends pretty much echoed my sentiment, though I was told the brisket wasn't too bad. But come on. When the best part of the meal is the cornbread side, something is really wrong.
(2)
Ken N.
Holy fried goodness. Believe the hype. This place gets crazy crowded and the chicken is damn good. We arrived aroundly 6PM on a Saturday evening. The wait was 35 minutes. Within 10 minutes, we overheard the wait jumped to an hour. FOOD: *Fried Chicken - 2 HUGE deboned buttermilk fried chicken pieces. The skin was extremely crunchy with a nice hint of black pepper. The meat was flavorful but not as tender as I was hoping. Still very good though. Came in so hungry I felt like I could eat 10 chickens but 1 piece of chicken did me good. Substituted the collard greens for sweet potato fries which were average. *Screen Door Plate with Fried Catfish, Jambalaya, Mac & Cheese - This was a little disappointing. Catfish was average. The jambalaya was the most disappointing side dish. Mac & cheese was good. Screen Door, I shall see you again the next time I am in Portland. You can count on that.
(4)
Nick R.
I feel that it is only logical that my first Yelp review should be of my favorite restaurant in Portland. Having said that I would like to expound upon the magnificence that is Screen Door. THIS PLACE IS CRAAAYY. Best fried chicken in town. Like, THE best. Rich, peppery, and a portion size that would satisfy a lumberjack. Not to mention the Chicken n' Waffles which come with THREE breast sized pieces. Sure, portion size isn't everything. But this chicken is so good that I eat it when I'm already full, cold, and straight from the fridge, like a fiend. I could even eat an entire meal consisting of the fried crumbles mixed with their silklicous mashed potatoes. OK, enough of that. Luckily, I have tried other menu items. The brisket is delicious and comes with some of the best fried shoe-string onions. The beef comes slathered with a particularly sweet BBQ sauce and might not fit the fancy of those who dislike sweetness. I am also a big fan of their Shrimp and Grits. The grits are well cooked and come with some prawns covered in a DOPE pork belly sauce. Mix all of that with the ring of basil/pesto and you have yourself a winning combination. The side mac n' cheese is legit but not so spectacular that you could turn it into an entree. Their collards are also very enjoyable (full of meat) though, they tend to be on the sweet side, which may be a turn off for some. Also, this is a place where we are always pleased with their daily specials. Finally, the desserts are out of this world. My two favorites are the Banoffee pie (Bannanas, whipped cream, caramel) and the Grasshopper (a chocolate pie with home-made mint whipped cream). Even when dinning with a party of two, we always seem to get at least two desserts. DEAL WITH IT. The atmosphere is great; homey, southern, jovial, and intimate. The staff is super friendly and will take the time to be present with you (answer detailed questions, be personable, etc.) even when they're slammed (which is often). This place has it all. And what they do, they do well. SCREEN DOOR 4 LYFE!
(5)
Daniel P.
Awesome! I'm sure this has been said a million times, get the chicken and waffles (for the love of God share it) and the praline bacon. We waited for about an hour to get in on Sunday morning but it was definitely worth it. Its heavy food, but nothing will cure a night of drinking like a bloody mary and chicken+waffles.
(4)
E M.
Great food but long waits. Usually a line out the door so in the rainy months bring an umbrella and dress warm!
(5)
Gary H.
Great for a breakfast outing. Line is very long at times.
(4)
Mark P.
This hip and trendy east side eatery is consistently rated as having one of the best brunches in the Rose City, and the chicken and waffles are nearly as infamously legendary as The Reggie over at Pine State Biscuits. So we checked it out this morning, hoping that it would live up to its hype. It did. It was a typically overcast November morning in Portland, and the place was packed, as expected. We helped ourselves to hot cups of coffee and waited outside, amongst the hipsters and dog walkers, enjoying the scene and the hot coffee. After about thirty minutes we were ushered inside, and kicked things off with a couple of Bloody Marys. They were good - a little on the spicy side, which is exactly how I like them - and contained pickled okra in addition to the standard olive spear. That's how you know you're in a Southern-inspired kitchen, boys and girls. The chicken and waffles were every bit as good as advertised: the chicken was served piled atop the deep, fluffy sweet potato waffle, three very generous portions of white meat whose buttermilk batter was crispy, crunchy, and packed full of flavor (and a little heat, courtesy of black pepper and a bit of cayenne). Moist and flavorful, the fried chicken was probably the best in town (sorry, Pine State). And the waffle was amazing - airy, a little chewy, and a little sweet, the perfect accompaniment to the chicken. Be prepared to share, or bring home leftovers - the portion is huge. My girlfriend ordered eggs benedict and cheddar grits, and both were delicious. The grits were nice and creamy and tasted like mac 'n cheese. This is a good thing! I rarely give 5-star ratings, but Screen Door deserves one. The wait staff were all very friendly and personable, and if you are waiting outside for a table, they will come and find you. They are cheerful and never make it seem like a hassle. But even if they were aloof and ornery, I wouldn't care - the food is that good. This is the perfect place to bring out of town guests who want to experience a slice of the cool and hip Portland breakfast scene. I have no doubt we'll be back!
(5)
Phong D.
I can't believe that it took me this long to check out Screen Door. OMG. I think I must've had the best fried chicken here. It took forever to prepare but was totally worth the wait. The batter was the right balance of thickness, crispness, and flavor. It complimented and made the chicken better, like Robin to Batman. Another delightful surprise was the Mac 'n Cheese. Again, hands down the best Mac that I've ever had for its orchestration of high-end cheesy flavors. I was tempted to ditch the spoon and eat out of the bowl like a trough. Make sure to arrive maybe 30 minutes before opening to get a good seat inside. There will be a line!
(5)
stacy k.
best fried chicken ever! i dont even usually like fried chicken, but wow its soo good! the wait here can be super obnoxious though, i suggest going late on a monday or tuesday night. buttermilk ranch salad is good, but most of the other sides ive tried are all kind of lack luster and under seasoned, which maybe is on purpose since the chicken is so perfectly seasoned, it could take away from that.
(4)
Mari n.
I have day dreams about my next rendezvous with Screen Door. The best food in Portland. The dinners and seasonal menu never disappoint. The Brunch is delicious, but only served on Saturdays and Sundays. The cocktails are delicious and unique. The servers are attentive and professional. This is what I would call refined, but hearty southern cooking. Mmmmmm.
(5)
Laura S.
So after extensively browsing 45-50 restaurants for my birthday dinner, we decided on Screen Door. It had items we both would eat, was not terribly expensive (actually, it was very inexpensive) as to not break our poor state worker banks, and had great reviews. We showed up right at opening at 5:30pm. The pre-opening line was huge. By the time it was our turn to be seated, our choices were to wait approximately an hour for a table, or sit at the bar. The bar it was! This wasn't a bad thing, I actually enjoyed watching the bartender make drinks and try to guess what they were. I have no idea what 90% of the concoctions he was mixing were, but they looked great! Next time I will have to try one or two, but tonight I stuck with my Sweet Tea, which was excellent. All of the male wait staff had met the minimum beard requirements for Portland. Each had sufficient growth, about a months worth if I had to guess, and they wore it with pride. I don't know why I found this extremely awesome, but I did. Every host and server we talked to was friendly and well informed, not stand-offish or snooty in the least. My friend and I debated on appetizers, and settled on Hush Puppies. They were very good, but slightly dry. I used the sauce, but after a few pups slathered in it, I lost the taste for more. I ordered the Screen Door Plate, my picks were the fried pork-chop, catfish, and mac & cheese. If you order one thing at the Screen Door, order the mac & cheese, it is just pure sin baked into a ceramic bowl. The catfish came with a mustard dipping sauce that was great and the pork chop was alright with it's accompanying gravy. The only problem with this meal was the sheer quantity of food. I ate about a third of each of my items before becoming so full I had to box the rest. Seated to my left, my friend thoroughly enjoyed his brisket, which he said was fantastic, but a little spicy because of the sauce. He had requested mashed potatoes instead of the potato salad, and was very happy with the switch. In addition to his meal, he ordered a side of Texas toast, which looked fine, but only had half of eaten. He ran into the same problem I had, too much food, too little space in stomach. I only wish we had not been so terribly full, I wanted to try the chocolate raspberry cake bad. Oh well, this gives me a reason to return!
(4)
Emily L.
Best friend chicken and waffle ever! Don't forget biscuits and gravy. MMMMMMM. Everything was delicious.
(5)
Laura B.
Have not gone yet, but wanted to be the 800th review. My daughter loves it.
(5)
Jason G.
Yes. I hate this place because now I want to try everything on the menu here, instead of trying different places in town. Screen door has messed up my whole routine. I had a Po Boy. I hadn't had one in ten years since I left Champaign, and I was holding off on it until I found a great place. This was worth the wait, I don't need another Po Boy ever again. Covered in little delicious fried onions and delicious egg, this Po Boy was amazing. There were plenty of specials, and every third plate that came out had chicken and waffles on it. Those looked pretty delicious too. You'll probably wait to sit down, but it very much worth the wait. I don't think I could recomend any other breakfast place in PDX over this place. Incroyable!
(5)
Elizabeth C.
It's already been pretty much established here on yelp that Screen Door is the bomb, but I guess I'll throw my hat in the ring, too! We made sure to stop in during our recent trip to Portland, since I haven't had much Southern food in my life and wanted my introduction to the cuisine to be at a great place. We came on the 4th, thinking that people would be at cookouts and whatnot, but the place was still hopping! That's a true testament to how much people love this restaurant--or maybe they were all just celebrating America by eating the most American food possible! Thankfully we did not have to wait too long, and I definitely noticed that despite the crowd, the hosts and servers seemed super on top of it. We got iced tea, sweet tea, fried okra, brisket with cole slaw and baked beans, and a side of mac and cheese. In a surprise touch of Southern hospitality, our server never let our tea glasses go to empty, and we were not about to argue with that! The fried okra was very good, and goes very well with the sauce accompanying it. The mac and cheese is about as indulgent as you can imagine it: covered in melted cheese and smothered in buttery, creamy sauce. The star of our meal, though, was definitely the brisket plate. The cole slaw was delicious, the baked beans were the best I've ever had, and the huge hunk of brisket (10 oz!!) was so tender it just fell apart at the touch of my fork. I will say I was confused by the huge mass of crispy fried onion strips on top--I liked them, but there was just so much of it--but the whole experience was a party for my taste buds. By the way, I thought I had an impressive appetite before I ate here--I was wrong. If you think you can eat a lot, prepare to be humbled by Screen Door. I only got through half of my meal and half of our sides before I had to call it, but hey, that means awesome lunch for the day after! So Screen Door definitely delivers: great hospitality, great food, and great atmosphere.
(5)
Shasta L.
Long wait to get seated and long wait to get food. Overall, I like the atmosphere of Screen Door and the food was great, but not so great that I would go out of my way to eat here again. I got the Chicken and Waffles, which I was pretty happy with. As others have mentioned, the fried chicken is excellent, but I am neutral on the waffle. I like nice and crisp waffles, but this one was on the softer end. I tried a little of the praline bacon waffle, which was interesting. Probably wouldn't order it again though, but I am intrigued by the novelty. Really happy that I got to try this place, since I have heard a lot of good things about it. But for me, the wait really killed my mood and the food wasn't good enough to redeem my impression of the place.
(3)
Melissa M.
I can't remember the name of my dish but it was excellent. It had golden beets and potatoes in a smoky sauce. I subbed the 2 egg option for fruit to make it a vegan brunch entree. The bloody mary was really good but not unique. I tasted the bananas foster and it is too die for, but huge so prepare to share. It is also too sweet to just eat that.
(5)
Danielle B.
Portland foodie heaven exists here. This was probably my favorite meal of my Portland trip and coincidentally the most filling as well. Furthermore, if it hadn't been one of the last meals of the trip, I could've possibly eaten more of this deliciousness. My bf and I shared the screen door plate (which is basically your choice of 3 sides + cornbread): -beet salad: this is what I want to eat everyday for lunch. Fresh ingredients, not over or underdressed -crispy fried catfish: There is a $1.00 surcharge for this one but it was worth it. The catfish was breaded well and the fish was flaky and cooked well. -squash soup: I'm a forever squash soup fan. This wasn't too dense or light. Good flavor development. -cornbread: this was the single thing of the night that was disappointing. I'm not sure if this was a bad batch, but it wasn't moist like cornbread should be. I dug my fork into everyone else's dish on the table: -Mac n cheese: ooohhh myyy cheesy goodness. This is diet-breaking worthy. It is very rich (as any good mac n cheese should be) so you can share it and save room to try everything else. -Buttermilk fried chicken: possibly the juiciest, most perfect chicken ever. Yes, I've hyped it up. Yes, it will live up to the hype. When (not if, but when) I return, there is no doubt that I will get the chicken. -Fried oysters: I mean they are fried oysters so you can't really go wrong. Looking back, I didn't do the best job of ordering, but at least I have friends who share. Of everything I was able to try I am able to conclude that SD does Southern food justice. The service matched the quality of the food. Our waiter was attentive and even cracked jokes when he came to check on us. It's hard to laugh with your mouth full, but it happened. My only wish was that I had the capacity to order dessert. The table next to us did and it was tempting to reach my fork over (just to try a bite!). Absolutely no exaggerations were made in the content of this review.
(5)
Pingle I.
What a great breakfast, I ordered an omelette and boy it was good and tasty. It was a nice, big omelette too. The chicken from the chicken and waffle is seasoned quite well and was such a filling breakfast. The atmosphere is great and this is a place I would love to eat again.
(4)
Philip B.
Wifey got the bananas foster French toast. Her half portion was even too big. She seemed to like it greatly as the bread was cut thick, but soaked in the love juices. I got the chicken and waffles. OMFG! This was a nice crispy waffle topped with your choice of 1/2/3 breaded chicken breasts. The chicken was cooked perfectly and was crunchy, not greasy, and seasoned to perfection. -1 chicken breast - Don't be stupid, you will regret this choice -2 chicken breasts - A lot of food, but I had no regrets on this choice. -3 chicken breasts - Damn fat ass, you really like this I'm not biased, but I would just take the option for 1 breast off the menu. If you can't eat 2, then share with a friend as Portland is a friendly city. We also got an order of the praline bacon which was like eating a dessert bacon...during breakfast. This is phenomenal. We came on a Tuesday at around 9am and there was no line. I'm sure their dinner would be good, but my impatience hinders me. This place is slightly pricey, but you are paying for quality, which is what you should expect and what you WILL get.
(5)
Mi P.
Great food! nice atmosphere... Always like to eat here, but hate the wait... usually not more than 30-40 mins, but the food is worth it
(4)
Amanda S.
Yum yum yum! Best fried chicken around. Also the drinks are great, especially if you have wait in line to get a table....
(5)
Tim L.
I'm always looking for a great beef brisket and theirs is the best I've ever had. Everything was delicious and the service and atmosphere are great as well.
(5)
Joyce N.
This is definitely the place to be seen. The food is good too.
(4)
Shannon B.
I have had both breakfast and dinner here! The food is seriously worth the wait! Plan on going early and having to wait for a table. Both times I was with a group of people and we all got different things so we could all try everything! The quality of the food is impressive and I highly recommend the wait!
(5)
Mary S.
I've always wanted to try this place but what I hesitant about is the wait. So I went solo, bellied up and got in within 5 minutes. Their Oyster Po Boys were great!!! If you love oysters like I do, get it!!! Their pecan bacon is different but very tasty! It's very decadent so one was enough for me (I eat 3 pieces of regular bacon normally).
(5)
Tyler A.
Ok I am a huge fan. the 1.5 hour wait however, man, that is tough! Despite the long wait, I go back because I am a glutton for punishment. There is little you can do to improve on the ginormous chicken and waffles. I have tried many of the other brunch items here (none of them disappoint) but I keep coming back to the C&W. There is nothing like it. Down a few spicy bloodies while you wait (hopefully it's a sunny day so you can drink on the side walk), then when you're good and drunk and hungry, go in for the kill. You can share the dish because it's seriously enough to feed 3 but then you wouldn't have the left overs for later. Besides, I don't share. If you want to eat what I am eating, then you should've ordered it, ya bastard! I have yet to venture there for dinner because really, this type of heaviness after 3pm might kill a girl. But I think I might have a death wish soon to venture over for dindin.
(5)
Jael J.
So I've visited Screen Door twice and now feel prepared to write a review. I thought the place is cool. It's a fun environment and I like the the setup. The wait staff is friendly but honestly I wished they were more attentive. On neither occasion did the food wow me. However, other members of the party were definitely wowed. They couldn't get over the taste of the fried chicken. Luckily, I haven't had to deal with a long wait. I think the longest was the first time I went there and that was 35 minutes, which to me is not a big deal. I don't know what else to say, I really wanted this place to be amazing and I just left less than impressed. That being said, I will most definitely return to see if I'm wowed and I like the atmosphere.
(3)
Hillary H.
This is one of my all time Portland favorites! I just wish we had the time to go.. it is usually packed and the waits are crazy! Check out the seasonal local sides... YUM!
(5)
Christina S.
Came here for the first time for my birthday for brunch and received red velvet pancakes! Great service and amazing food. So much good food like the pumpkin fritters, eggs benedict, and biscuits and gravy. Can't wait to try the dinner! EDIT FOR DINNER SERVICE: Glad I gave Screen Door a 5 star review the first time around, because they totally deserve it. I cant believe I am saying this because brunch is my favorite meal, but I think that the dinner here is even better than the brunch! The catfish, fried chicken, hush puppies, and collard greens are my favorites on the menu. Also they must put something highly addictive in the mashed potatoes because you can never just have one or two bites! The drinks are also amazing. The price for the amount of food you get is totally worth it. I am more of a quality gal and I will always go here any opportunity I get.
(5)
James C.
I would give this place 10 stars my very favorite place to eat in Portland the atmosphere is always fun the service is great and the food is amazing huge portions, priced just right, that why. This place is busy everyday of the week and generally has a cue outside before they open
(5)
Debbie L.
Picture this... streetcar from the Pearl, bus to the east side and a few blocks over to Screen Door. Then.... we walked in and immediately felt at home! Seated right away, ordered a hefe and dinner. "He" ordered the Pork and Beans which he loved by the way. I ordered a platter of deliciousness that began with a local choosing of apples, raisins, nut brittle, greens and dressing. Side that with homemade mac n chz, sweet and tasty coleslaw and warm cornbread and butter. I truly did not want to leave. We were done so it was less embarrassing to go home than to curl up in the warmth of Screendoor Restaurant. I highly suggest a visit to this dining establishment! by the way... the wait staff was awesome!
(5)
Jeff R.
There is no question that the food is consistently great at Screen Door, but what knocked my socks off was the length the staff went to for us tonight. We had come to the restaurant before seeing a movie at the Laurelhurst. When we got there - bad luck - the place was slammed - a full house had walked in just as they opened the door. Things got delayed and we finally asked the waiter to hold our food until after our movie. We would pick it up to go. When we came back, they could not have done more. They asked me to wait while they made some of the items we had ordered over again - they even re-did the french fries! 'We don't want to give you inferior food,' they assured me. Wow! And I was already a devoted fan. Thanks Screen Door. No question. You are the best there is.
(5)
Chelsea W.
Amazing Southern food! The service has always been delightful, and the staff is very knowledgeable. If you go for a visit, note that unless you get there right at opening, you'll have a wait (like an hour). The good thing is that they will take your name and you can go down the street to get drinks at Matador. The mac and cheese is delicious, creamy & smooth. And the catfish is my second favourite entree. Though you will never go wrong with anything they make.
(5)
Tanaz P.
Praline bacon=sex in yo' mouth! This place delivers some serious goodness on a plate. I'm sure the 1000 plus reviews can attest to that, or the insane line to grab a table and munch. What makes this place stand out: Mile high chicken n waffles done right. Mmmm bloody marys. Seasonal vegetable hash with parsnips and celery root. Fried oyster eggs benedict with dreamy holledaise. Pulled pork scramble, yeah I said PULLED PORK SCRAMBLE! Variations of french toast that made me sloppy in a VERY grow-up kinda way. Praline bacon; Fuck you screen door for introducing me to that. Stellar service. So ummm yeah...I'm hooked.
(5)
Emily L.
My fondness for food and drink is sometimes usurped by my absolute loathing of lines, and waiting in them, and seeing them....and summarily, the crowded, loud dining quarters that inevitably follow. It's for this reason that I see this place every day, with its line wrapped around the goddamn block....and I keep walking. I'd rather eat food that will kill me from a Plaid Pantry, than wait in line for an hour to eat delicious food. Perhaps this is why all the reviews discuss overeating here? Maybe Screen Door is a restaurant of geniuses..."We'll make those a-holes wait until they eat $20 more food than they would normally consume.....and everything will taste great, because they're fucking starving!!!" *evil laughter* *strokes cat* Someone is probably wearing an eye patch in this make-believe scenario. So, reread it, and imagine an eye patch. That being said, go ahead and qualify me as a "crazy bitch" and surmise that there is always a line because the food is good, and in a city of a million tasty eateries, this one hardens the gastronomic nipples enough for them to wait in the lines week after week. Every time a friend comes from out of town, they want to eat here...because inevitably they've read about it on Yelp, or a friend raved, or it was published somewhere....so I've been forced to brave the lines on a number of occasions. I will say, when forced to wait, and in a line, and eat around a room full of talking, chewing people.....the staff was ridiculously attentive (and not just for Portland....by normal standards as well), and the cocktails were certainly made with love. And by "love" I don't mean "DNA"....although, probably if I made mention of my loathing of lines. For real real, not for play play.....I have no cause to actually hate this place. Fucking go here. Do it. Cultivate a hunger. Meet a nice person in the line. Have a delicious cocktail. High-five your server. Life is all about the silver linings.....unless you're at Lloyd Center on a weekend. There's no silver lining for that. No. Just no.
(4)
Chad N.
One of the best places in Portland. The fried chicken is amazing...but don't be afraid to explore the menu, it's all great!
(5)
Joseph M.
If you're looking to get the most bang for your buck and/or just want to eat one meal for the day, Screen Door would be the place to go. The wait was about an hour when we got there, but there is a coffee shop right next door where you can go and chill out while you wait. Both my girlfriend and I got the chicken biscuit with gravy, which was both delicious and enormous. The chicken and gravy both had some very nice heat that lingered and the biscuit was flaky and buttery. I barely touched the fried potatoes that came with it and still just managed to finished the rest. And for reference, while we didn't get the chicken and waffles, I saw more than one plate come out, which contained THREE friend chicken breast on a massive waffle. I honestly don't know how someone would finish even half of that, but if I'm back in town someday I may just have to give it a go.
(4)
H O.
Great food at a great price. Only drawback is the wait. You must try the fried chicken for brunch.
(5)
Rachael M.
I have come here 4 times now, and each time had a perfect breakfast. Chicken and Waffles has been my favorite so far! The chicken is seasoned perfectly, and fried up deliciously crispy. Served on top of a sweet potato waffle, that even my sweet potato-hating dad loved. I only could get through about half of it, since the portion was as big as my head! But, it made for an amazing lunch later in the day. I went again yesterday and tried the banana foster french toast. AKA the best french toast you will ever eat. The bread was so light and fluffy, it just melts in your mouth. And the bananas are amazing. All I could think about all day was how great the whipped cream on top was.. a bite with all three really is like heaven. Delicious heaven. I don't even care that I have to get there 45 minutes before it opens to get a seat right away, and that it's always loud and crowded. The servers are friendly and knowledgeable, and the food is the best in Portland.
(5)
Ben B.
one of the best things you can do when you come to portland. every bite is a parade in my mouth...
(5)
Kim K.
So. Much. Food. I ordered the praline waffle that came on a plate larger than my face and with a waffle that might have been even bigger. It was insanely rich - could only eat 1/4 of the waffle. A few friends ordered the friend chicken/waffle. That plate was even larger! The food is delicious - especially if you like intensely sweet/savory food. As I live in the south, I wouldn't say this in full-on southern cooking, but a wonderful southern meets Portlandia fusion.
(4)
Alli H.
Hi delicious food, please let me eat you. This was my last meal after an extended awesome trip to Portland. We took it out, which made my day because the lines were ridiculous (and I had a red-eye to catch). My friend and I had a variety of food but I especially loved the mac and cheese. The chicken was good but every time I order fried chicken, I remember that maybe I just don't love it that much. However, once i pealed off the fried part, the chicken was super fresh and very well cooked.
(3)
Michael V.
Southern cooking is their thing. The wait for a table is long at any time of the day apparently. I grew up with this type of cooking, but it was pleasant to have it with an urban spin. The fried chicken is their specialty, and I highly recommend it. The butter lettuce salad was amazing, but anything in addition to the entree will have you carrying home leftovers. The portions are HUGE.
(4)
Akiko I.
- Locale Destination - It's on E Burnside St and NE 24th Ave in Portland, OR. Neighborhoods: Northeast Portland, Kerns It was very dim for the dinner time, so it was very hard to take pictures. Decor is sorta hippie and cozy. Open kitchen. They have a nic
(2)
Chris K.
Food was great. Southern cooking done right finally. Fried chicken was excellent. Pork and Beans was awesome. A big slab of pork shoulder sitting in a bowl of large white beans with a little spicy coleslaw. We tried 3 desserts and the 1 with layers and apples we thought was the best. I can't wait to try it for breakfast.
(5)
Holly M.
One of the best places in Portland. You have to try it.
(5)
Melanie N.
Delicious Bloody Mary (with pickled okra and seasoned salt garnish) - CHECK 4 breasts of fried chicken on a waffle - CHECK Delicious Southern goodies to make your mouth water and your arteries groan - CHECK CHECK This is my favorite brunch spot in Portland. Amazing selection of great southern inspired dishes, and you'll never leave hungry. Be mindful this place gets packed for brunch on the weekend so be prepared to wait. They often will let you order drinks while you wait (see aforementioned Bloody Mary) but there's also a great coffee shop down the street called Heart. Be sure to ask for a Ginkgo Leaf design in your Almond Milk latte. ;-)
(5)
Celine D.
Note : I am most likely going to give it 3.5 stars, but leaning more towards 3 stars just because I don't get the hype. I am usually not a big fan of this cuisine, neither do I ever have the balls to try it. So, with that being said, I was pretty fast to judge the Southern cuisine as something I would never try. I wish I had taken that back. This restaurant is located in the midst of a very quiet neighborhood, but the hustling and bustling of the place is quite amusing, especially on a Saturday night. Upon arrival, the place was obviously packed. People were waiting inside, people were waiting outside, people were waiting near the bar, people were desperately, patiently waiting to taste what the restaurant has to offer. My wait time for 2 people was estimated about 45 mins, but I'd say that I waited no more than half an hour. Was the wait worth it? Not exactly. The boyfriend and I shared the cripsy buttermilk fried chicken and the special of the night, which was the shrimp in New Orleans Sauce. Fat overload. I am pretty sure I'd gained 5 pounds after that dinner. The fried chicken was good, however the sauce may be too peppery for my liking. It was deep fried (d-uh) with crispy layer of skin and the juicy chicken breast reveals itself. I did not finish my portion of the chicken. I, however, did love the mashed potatoes that was included. So soft and creamy................. The shrimps were alright. I think we were too hungry, to the point that we devoured everything in 5. It was very buttery and loaded with a layer of oil. Bread was included for dipping into the sauce. Overall, I feel that this place is rather overhyped. I would actually come again if I am craving for fried chicken, other than that, I'd skip it.
(3)
Sarah C.
The food was alright, not "the best ever" as other reviewers have stated. Definitely overpriced. Our food became cold within minutes due to the drafty dining room. As did we...they really need to turn on some heat! Our server was pretentious and screwed up our drink order, probably because it's a little loud in the dining room. Their policy of not taking reservations or seating complete parties is ridiculous. Especially considering the price point of this place. For this reason (and the potential lines) I do not recommend this restaurant for any sort of special occasion.
(3)
Catie H.
best southern food I've had in Portland. it's annoying to me when places don't take reservations and the ilnes are always long but if it's what you're in the mood for, it's worth it.
(4)
Lilly T.
Came here on a Saturday night to a 1.5 hour wait for a table for 3 people. This place is SO popular and crowded but the wait is worth it. Believe the hype! This place serves up homestyle, comfort food at its finest! I tried the fried chicken and it was crispy, juicy and buttery from their secret batter. It had the perfect amount of salt and surprisingly wasn't greasy. They have delicious jambalaya and fried catfish as well. Definitely worth a stop if you're in PDX.
(4)
Janet M.
Over a thousand reviews?what on earth could I add to all that? Well, this. While the food is good, the hype is silly. There are a lot of good places in Portland. I believe this is one of them. We had a good meal, but we have eaten good meals at many places.We made an effort to eat here tonight because I was tired of seeing it on my welcome to yelp page and hadn't been here. I felt left out. The line situation is ridiculous. We arrived at 5:10 on Sunday and were second in line for their 5:30 dinner seating.We planned well and we took their recorded message about when to arrive seriously.I'm glad we did. Hubby kept grousing "this better be worth it".Really we were far better off than the people who arrived at 5:30. I bet they waited an hour.It was cold tonight. We had a pleasant server who kept our water and teas filled. We consumed a variety of food including chicken tenders, pimento cheese, sampler plates with mashed taters, gravy, grits, collard greens, pork chops,and a beet salad with yummies in it. (Princess chose this because it had her three favorite things in it:goat cheese, beets, and avocado).Hubby's pecan crusted trout with fingerlings and green beans was spot on. My special pork chop with brussel sprouts and sweet potato puree was well put together and my only complaint was the puree reminded me of baby food. Cornbread was deemed "ok". Dessert was for one an orange buttermilk pie. It was noted the crust wasn't delicious but the contents were tasty. Another dessert consumed was a pear huckleberry cobbler, the biscuit topping was not sweet and a little heavy.I actually think the sides and main courses are where Screen Door shines. I'd skip dessert next time and eat more veggies. We'd go back...but we wouldn't wait in line all that long.I like Southern comfort food as well as the next person but there are a number of places to get it. (Podnah's, Delta cafe....my house).
(4)
Amy L.
Having spent most of my life in Kentucky, southern food is pure comfort. This place has a great low-key comfortable vibe. The waitstaff is always super friendly and helpful. And the food is a Northwestern-interpretation of southern standards which actually blends the best of both worlds really nicely. I love that they have a rotating vegetable menu, which I normally order the Screen Door plate which allows you to choose three sides including their vegetable specials - and fried catfish is a side, who doesn't love that. Most things I've tried here has been great - the hushpuppies are the best I've had period. Other good things are the catfish, collards, red beans and rice. I don't normally order fried chicken out because that seems like something you make at home - but I had some of someone elses and it was divine. The only disappointing things have been the mac&cheese was underwhelming and the cornbread, while having a great texture and taste, is more of a Yankee-style sweet cornbread It's good but when I want southern food, I want southern cornbread too. If only I didn't live so far away! I can't wait to try brunch here.
(5)
Cara W.
The fried chicken is worth the wait. Yum!
(4)
Benny F.
Great menu and great staff. This was easily one of the best all around restaurant experiences I had in Portland.
(5)
Noah P.
Fried everything, is tasty. Fried onions can be ordered as a side for a buck, superior to many haystack onion rings in the area.
(5)
Ashley M.
I'm from the south and was excited to try Screen Door and try the infamous fried chicken. After waiting almost two hours, we were sat. The waitress was friendly, but obviously stressed out because of how busy the place was. She did an okay job of keeping our drinks full for the most part. It took about an hour to get our food. I was pretty disappointed in the chicken and found it on par with the fried chicken you can get anywhere in the south. Nothing spectacular, but not bad. The cornbread and mashed potatoes were also okay, but once again nothing special compared to what I grew up with and what I am capable of making at home. My friends from different parts of the country really liked the food, so perhaps this is a better choice for those who haven't grown up on Southern food. Portions are huge, so I suggest you split with a friend. All and all, food was okay but not worth such a long wait.
(3)
Myranda M.
Pleased as pie with this place. Wait was a little long but the coffee while waiting made up for. Had a cajun scramble that was aok and my man had a the pork sandwich (he loved it). Portions were great and there's a lot more I want to try when I head back to PDX.
(4)
Brett M.
I only went here once with a friend on a weekday night and even though I've heard about the excessive wait times, we were able to be sat immediately because there was only two of us. We had the Crispy Fried Buttermilk-battered Chicken which comes with w/ tasso ham gravy over mashed potatoes and collards. We also had additional sides of Macaroni & Cheese and Smoked Chicken & Andouille Jambalaya. Everything we had was incredible and I must say this is the best southern food I've had in the Portland area!
(5)
Chad R.
The only line in Portland that I'll wait in is for brunch at Screen Door. Boneless fried chicken on a biscuit smothered in gravy with a side of pecan bacon is a nap or a heart attack waiting to happen. And I'll gladly take my chances at both.
(5)
Opie C.
The only con is that the venue is too darn small & you have to wait for an hour if you don't get there at least 30 minutes before it opens! The food is spectacular though....
(5)
Jennifer J.
Stopped into The Screen Door on our way home to Seattle from San Francisco on New Year's Day, and we loved it! There was a bit of a wait (approximately 25 minutes) but we didn't mind, the buttermilk fried chicken and hot toddies were worth it! Delicious food, we will absolutely be back next time we are in Portland.
(4)
Jeannine R.
90 minute wait to be seated (full disclaimer-host had told us it would be about an hour and the crowd out the front door confirmed we'd be cooling our heels for some time) and then another 50 minutes before food was served once we'd placed our orders. In a city of great brunch places, not even a spectacular thumbs on the food ... And the food IS very good ... warrants this investment of time. #halffoodiedaymisspent
(2)
Cat N.
Thank you YELP for leading me to a winner! By far the best fried chicken I've had to date! Perfect crisp, not too oily, and love the locally grown sides they got here. I came here during the dinner time, and really wanted to try their chicken and waffles. Sadly, I didn't know they only served it during brunch -_- STILL GOT THE CHICKEN THOUGH! It was just the two of us, and my friend and I shared a fried battered buttermilk chicken entree, a beet salad, and the mac and cheese dish. We only ordered one entree because we were planning to eat more at another joint afterwards. BUT BOY DID WE STILL GET STUFFED. Everything was really tasty, rich, and FILLING. Fried Chicken- the buttermilk batter is AMAZING. Now I've also had the infamous Roscoes Chicken and Waffles before (and that is also real gooood), but the seasoning here just suited my taste better. Very light, crisp, and buttery in all the right places! Beet Salad- I was expecting a full blown comfort menu here, but was really happy they served organic and fresh greens too. The beet salad was great! Real refreshing, and def a good add to balance out your hearty meal :) Mac and Cheese- This was highly raved by other yelpers, but I honestly thought it was just okay.. It was too rich for my taste. Wished I had gone for the jambalaya instead. As for the other tidbits: Atmosphere- it was a really chill and lounge-y vibe. lol it was probably because the lighting was REALLY dim. I felt a lil blind after leaving 'cause my eyes were so adjusted to the dark. Nice "candlelit" dinner if you want to take a date though lol. Service- the folks here were all real nice. great service! Screen Door is one of my top recommendations for those visiting Portland!
(5)
Kelly K.
This is one of our favorite restaurants in Portland! The seasonal menu is always very good as well as the stand by's.
(5)
A A.
I've been waiting to come here again since last year. This place is fantastic simple as that...every dish was raved about, and it's just done right. The vege biscuits and gravy is insanely good (i know, who cares I want the fried chicken...calm down people...if the vege gravy is this good, I'm sure everything else is as good!). I felt bad i couldn't finish my dish, but who eats 4 biscuits covered in gravy with eggs? no wonder we're fat. the staff is friendly, and you will wait. who cares, one of those few breakfast places that deserves recognition for going above and beyond. can't wait to come again!
(5)
Scott R.
Fantastic. Best Southern food in Portland. The chicken & waffles fed 2 of us for 2 meals. Waits can be rough, especially for Portland, but well worth it.
(5)
Emi K.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOh my goooooooooodness!!! My friend was visiting me and decided to do a little reunion in town with another old friend. What a wonderful opportunity to one of the most spoken restaurants in town! We went in and we had to wait for about 45min, but definitely worth it! The atmosphere of the restaurant is fun and exciting. The waiter was on top of everything, was at our table quick, taking orders quick and also had the patience for the individuals that did not speak English. Their beers on tap were all amazing! And.... the fried chicken.... crunchy, spicy, juicy, pure deliciousness!! The Screen Door Plate allows you to get 3 different dishes on one plate, and their mac & cheese, jambalaya, cornbread, and cat fish were all superb! I also got a pulled pork sandwich, but it was half filled with calslaw, and made it the whole sandwich lighter and amazing! OK... I am just saying that it might be on of the best places to eat in town! All the food sounds heavy but they are not at all.
(5)
Andrea T.
After a decently long wait to seat the two of us, we were greatly anticipating our first bites! We had already determined what we were going to order and wasted no time doing so. My husband had the fried chicken with mac n' cheese instead of the potatoes. I had the brisket with mac n' cheese instead of the potato salad. They give you a lot of food! The mac n' cheese was the best thing on our plates! I would have been happy just eating that! The fried chicken was good but different since it was boneless. The brisket was good but I have had better. My green beans were delicious! We opted to get dessert and had the orange cake. That was delicious as well. Short recap: GET THE MAC N' CHEESE!!!!!
(4)
Lucy H.
Why does Portland have so many good places to get biscuits, gravy and fried chicken? This place is no exception, the cathead biscuits and gravy are amazing! I also got a side of eggs and sausage and these were both perfect too. There's always a wait if you go for weekend breakfast/brunch, but it's definitely worth it. Just bring a light snack to munch on while you wait.
(5)
Scott U.
There will be a line. Got there half an hour before opening on Sunday and there were 10 people queued up. Huge portions no matter what you order. The food was excellent. I had the Bananas Foster French Toast. It was probably a bit sweeter than I wanted, but what did I expect? Even as good as it was, something to give a bit of surprise to the dish (sweet with spicy maybe? a touch of cayenne?) would've made the rampant sweetness more complex instead of a predictable sugar fest. My breakfast companion had the Fried Oyster Benedict and enjoyed it. I understand that busy places are trying to move diners through to make more space, but our waiter was just on the edge of pushy with checking up on us toward the end of our meal. For that, I couldn't recommend this place as a spot to catch up and have a conversation with someone. It's also a bit noisy. That's a shame, because the best meals are the ones you want to linger over and enjoy company.
(4)
Wen-Chi Y.
after living at Portland for 4 years, we finally made it here. We arrive 10 min short of 2p, however, the hostess was nice enough to tell us she will see what she can do since they close at 2:30p. So arrive early... and there will ALWAYS be a line! I had Waffle & fried chicken. It was GOOD!!!! The portion is rather large so I packed half home for later. Good place, good value!
(4)
Lora D.
Zee Best!
(5)
Chuck M.
Yeah. Hype and wait list overshadows the product, otherwise 4 stars. Walk down the street to Eastburn for equal quality and immediate seating. This was only for brunch. Dinner could be a totally different story. Would go back for dinner. Good ambiance.
(2)
Megan G.
Came here on a Sunday morning with family. The dining facility is too small for the high demand of people wanting to visit. They need a bigger venue and expresso. I knew this place was suppose to be really good because of the yelp reviews and the big crowd outside. The wait is terrible and the dining atmosphere makes me feel claustrophobic. The hour wait was not too bad with a cup of coffee and don't let the rude employee in-charge of the wait deter you away. The waiters are really kind and offer exceptional service. The food is high quality and the portions are massive.I recommend sharing otherwise you fall into a food coma. The sugared bacon is from heaven and i loved it.
(4)
Jennifer M.
My boyfriend and I love sharing plates so we can try lots of different things. He usually hates fried food, but I talked him into sharing an appetizer of the chicken strips since we heard so much of the fried chicken. Oh man...we both could have eaten the whole thing on our own. That was some of the best fried chicken I'd ever had, and the dipping sauce was great! The shrimp and grits were okay - the shrimp were delicious, the grits were bland and kind of flavorless. Cornbread was definitely worth getting. And since it was just the two of us, we didn't have to wait very long to get in. I'd definitely go back next time I'm in Portland.
(4)
Madie N.
Let me just tell you, it was worth the wait. My mom and I came into Screen Door about 20 minutes after they opened and it was already a packed house! We were informed we would be waiting about 40 minutes. Over the course of that 40 minutes, we were smashed against the wall in our little wooden chairs as families, couples, and singles piled through the small hallway to get their names on the waiting list or wait in line at the bar. Then our names were called! We were escorted to a small little table in the middle of many other tables. It was a cute, country place. Looking at the menu, I already knew what I wanted thanks to the online menu pdf ;-). The Screen Door plate with organic baby carrots, fried catfish, and mac n cheese. Mom decided to go with the famous fried chicken with collard greens and mashed potatoes. We both ordered sweet tea to drink (which was VERY sweet and we needed lemon to kill a little bit of the sugary goodness). We waited an additional 35 minutes for our food to arrive. The did put a disclaimer on the menu about the wait for food, though. Something about how good food takes time, so y'all need to be patient. And, oh, I was patient. Finally the food!!! I snapped a quick pic for yelp and then I dove in. Mac n cheese was heavenly. So cheesy and savory and absolutely delicious. Those baby carrots were also delicious. I couldn't get enough of the mint-butter goodness that soaked all the veggies. Catfish was real good. A little too crunchy from the frier, but delicious. I dipped those babies in the remoulade on the side and put some of Lousiana's Pure Crystal hot sauce on top. Yummmmmyyyyy. Mom's collard greens were so frickin good. They soak the greens in vinegar and ham hock and it makes a really nice flavor. The mashed potatoes on her plate were also amazing. She said her chicken was so good. It was so flavorful, savory, tender, crispy, and it melted in her mouth. She said it was probably the best chicken she's ever had. At the end of the meal, we were so so so stuffed. I am so glad we stopped to check this place out on our trip to Portland.
(5)
Nancy V.
My boyfriend and I went there for dinner one night. It was super busy, we sat my the kitchen. It was my first time eating there. It seemed like everyone was enjoying their food, so that's a good sign. Our waiter was very nice and on point. I got the fried chicken dinner, the portions were way huge. The food was so delicious. I couldn't finished so I asked for a box to take home. As I was packing it into the box, I accidentally tipped it over and the food fell onto the floor. Our waiter came over and cleaned it up. I thought "well there goes my leftovers" but he totally surprised us by getting me a whole new plate of fried chicken to take home!! This place is awesome! I would go back.
(5)
Calvin L.
If you go on a weekend, you better plan on getting there 30 minutes before they open. Everyone on Yelp is raving about the Chicken & Waffles, so I tried a bite from one of my friends. Awesome! No way you're going to finish it, but AWESOME. NY Strip Steak Benedict ($13.75) Bomb diggity. The steak was very tender and the Benedict part made the dish what it is. I got the steak medium rare, which tasted amazing over the Benedict. I would definitely get this again! Crispy Fried Chicken Strip ($6.50) Pretty much Chicken & Waffles without the waffles and less chicken. Great alternative if you can't scarf down the entire Chicken & Waffles alone. The is long, but it is worth it! One of the best brunch places I've EVER had!
(5)
Caroline Q.
From the positive reviews on Yelp as well as one of the A&E's pick in this year's Diner Guide of the top breakfast restaurants in town, I finally tried Screen Door and it far exceeded my expectations. As many have mentioned, arrive EARLY. My father and I arrived at 8:40AM, 20 minutes before they opened and we were about #15 in line, of about 45 (and it was pouring down rain). As we were eagerly awaiting the front doors to open, I realized that this place must be good as the line continued to grow and the rain continued to fall. Once we were inside, we were promptly seated and served coffee and water. With so many wonderfully tasting options, my dad and I did more of a family style when we ordered, so we could try more than one item. I ordered the fried chicken and sweet potato waffle and he ordered the 'big breakfast' with 2 over easy eggs, potatoes, apple pork sausage, and substituted the toast for a biscuit. We also ordered a side of the praline bacon. First, I tend to lean towards sausage over bacon, and wow, the praline bacon was some of the best bacon I have ever eaten in my life. The combination of sweet and salty is perfect. The bacon is also a bit thicker cut than normal and moist. Secondly, you must try the fried chicken, amazing! Very crisp and flavorful on the outside and moist and chewy in the inside. Add a piece of the sweet potato waffle and fresh maple syrup and you realize why you waited in the rain for breakfast. Thirdly, for your typical, eggs, some sort of meat, potatoes, and toast, the 'big breakfast' definitely will exceed your expectations. The apple sausage links (2) were quite flavorful, the red potatoes were seasoned perfectly, and the eggs were just like my dad likes them. I would say the only downfall of our entire meal was the biscuit. It was a tad fluffy, cake-like for my liking. It was like a biscuit angel food cake in the way it was prepared as far as looks and how it tasted (yet obviously not sweet like angel food cake). I like my biscuit more flaky and creamy. Our service was fabulous, as our water and coffee glasses were never empty. The coffee beans are from Stumptown and did not disappoint. If you wake up on a Saturday or Sunday morning wanting a delicious breakfast that you will continue to talk about the entire day and keep you full for a while (as the portions are quite large, you will most likely have left overs) try Screen Door, it won't disappoint.
(5)
Markus H.
The tales of this fantastic shop are all true. Deal with the 30 minute wait because your entire body will thank you later. Our table of three split the fried chicken cathead biscuit with gravy, which came with incredibly flavorful cheese grits, chocolate chip pancakes with potatoes and bacon, and the cajun scramble with bacon, potatoes. Every dish was plate clearing good but the portions were so large none of us could finish everything. The flavors were bold and delicious. Everything was prepared with fresh ingredients and pride. Truly a wonderful brunch experience. I can't wait to come back for dinner.
(5)
Laura H.
Really, really delicious REAL southern food done right. Nice lazy Sunday, southern "feel"...I was born in and lived in the South for most of my life, and I can vouch for the authenticity and soul that comes through....the fried chicken is some of the best that I have ever had. I also strongly recommend trying the shrimp and grits....Right on!
(5)
Kristina K.
My porch thermometer read 103 yesterday. "I reckon, I'm not cooking dinner tonight. Let's go out," I said to my honey. In celebration of the Southern weather Portland has been receiving, I suggested we dig into some Southern Fried Chicken. I searched Yelp for "Fried Chicken" and Screen Door came in at Number 1 in the results. We arrived at 6:00PM on a Tuesday night and and the place was buzzing. After a couple of minutes, we could feel Screen Door's air conditioning unit struggling to keep up. Thankfully, the first round of diners finished around 6:15, and we were promptly seated by Christopher, the host. Christopher may come of as snobby, but he runs a tight ship. Understandably, he would have to with the hungry diners flowing in and the line growing exponentially out the door. Our server helped us pick out the Corn Griddle Cakes and was friendly and swift, not frantic. Together with her cohorts, they made the place run like a smooth machine. After we received our healthy unhealthy portion of Fried Chicken, we realized that we regretted not ordering Macaroni and Cheese. We were having neighboring plate envy. I am not the only one. I know you get that feeling. The server said it would not take long and soon enough, a bowl of our own arrived to the table. Our nearly complete Southern dinner, minus dessert, consisted of Fried Green Tomatoes, Corn Griddle Cakes, Fried Chicken, Pulled Pork Sandwich and Macaroni and Cheese. Screen Door has the best Fried Green Tomatoes I've had in my life! The order came with four slices of very crispy, Fried Green Tomatoes topped with a shrimp remoulade. The recommended Corn Griddle Cakes were sweet, fluffy and dotted with fresh corn kernels. The infamous Fried Chicken arrived as pieces of boneless chicken breast and thigh, both juicy and flavorful. The chicken was encased in a thick, crispy and peppery breading. The two pieces rested against a smooth pile of mashed potatoes and were accompanied by ham gravy and collard greens. The Fried Chicken was kept dry and crispy throughout the meal. I like Country Cat's Fried Chicken, but Country Cat's gradually lost it's crunch and became soggy from sitting on top of the collard greens. I appreciate how Screen Door placed their collard greens in a bowl, separate from the chicken. The Pulled Pork Sandwich was piled high with coleslaw and tangy pork bits and sided with well seasoned french fries. We're glad we added the Macaroni and Cheese to our table. The al dente noodles were enveloped by creamy, savory cheese sauce. It was really, really good. As each dish arrived, the room felt like it was getting warmer and warmer. The A/C was not getting a break that night. The temperature, the wait out the door and the loud restaurant chatter were all worth it. It's just part of the Southern charm, when it's all about the Fried Chicken.
(5)
H O.
+: Wholesome atmosphere that is just as comforting as the food. -: Ridiculous wait. !: Although the fried chicken isn't as good as Country Cat's, get the fried chicken and waffles just to make a spectacle and order a side of praline bacon to complete the
(4)
Paige W.
First of all: Portland Yelpers are the shit. I was going to be in town for business and had only a few hours to explore, so I asked for brunch recommendations -- and I was happily assisted by several helpful, friendly Oregonians. And Screen Door was at the top of nearly everyone's list. Southern food...in the Pacific Northwest? Sure. That makes sense. So a friend and I trekked out to this quirky-hippie-indie-I-am-so-not-cool-enough-to-Âbreathe-this-air lil' neighborhood of Portland and put our names on the long, long list of people waiting for a table. A quick glance around revealed a simple interior with pretty bare walls, exposed brick, a clattering open kitchen and tightly clustered tables -- populated by beautiful Pacific Northwesterners absolutely stuffing their faces. "I'll join you soon, Screen Door patrons, and I will show you all how to eat," I proudly said to myself. "I am a Chicagoan, and we are all fat kids." Then we waited approximately seven hours. But this is a place worth hunkering down to wait for; just ask any of the other 6,000 people there with us. Really, just one iced Dragonfly Chai (BY THE WAY, I recycled the cup, Portland) and one unassailably cool vintage shop later -- we were seated in a booth on the far end of the dining room. And there, at the top of the specials list: Breakfast. Corn. Dog. Sweet mother of god. It screamed at me to be ordered, and I cannot resist the siren call of a breakfast novelty. Plus. It was $2.50. That's practically county fair pricing. So. The breakfast corn dog, then, plus a bloody mary and the farmer's scramble. Served with grits and a buttermilk biscuit. Because that's not obscene or anything. The BCD, as I will now call it, was heaven on a stick. (As I knew it would be.) A homemade pork and apple sausage, lovingly doused in cornmeal and deep fried. Served with a side of Grade AAAAAA maple syrup, hot damn. My second course (why do I do this to myself?) actually made me glad I'd had the BCD, because it really wasn't that great. The eggs were strange, though the flavors were nice. There were some great local vegetables sauteed and thrown in, but...nothing too memorable, obviously. I think I blame the goat cheese folded into them for the odd texture. The biscuit was nothing to write home about, though there was a dish of fabulous jam on the table that made it at least postcard-worthy. The grits were a DELIGHT, though. Enough butter to stop the heart momentarily, and a great consistency. I could have bathed in them, though I wouldn't have gotten very clean. Finally, the bloody mary. Can I get an amen? It is so easy for restaurants to screw these up. But Screen Door really came through with a flavorful, spicy drink (the server said it was typically a 4, and I kicked it up to a 6) that doesn't have that bite-back vodka taste. Garnished with pickled okra and rimmed with a seasoned salt, it topped off the entire meal with a nice kick in the mouth. Heartily recommended to any Portland resident or visitor, though if you're staying downtown and don't know the area...the Burnside bus dropped me off in the ass middle of nowhere, and if Google Maps and some very friendly strangers hadn't guided me back to civilization, I might have been hit by a VW bus and left to die in the pleasant Pacific breeze. So there's that.
(4)
Julia C.
It seems senseless to review a place with practically 200 positive impressions. None the less, go here, drink a bloody mary and split the incredible chicken and waffles with someone you enjoy immensely. The sweet waffle, the crisp-crackle skin surrounding the perfect piece of chicken, and maybe a side of grits. This food touches the soul. This food is love.
(4)
Chris V.
Had dinner here last night for the first time so I had to try the fried chicken. The serving size was big but not over the top. The fried chicken was cooked perfectly and the batter was crisp and peppery. The greens and mashed potatoes were also delicious. My wife tried the screen door plate which is a selection of three side dishes. She had the vegetable hash, English pot pie, and beet salad. She said all were good but the salad was her favorite. The specials sounded really good, too as well as the rest of the regular menu so we will be back for sure.
(4)
Kimby T.
loved it. fun, cute, fernet, outdoor patio seating, would love to go back!
(5)
Cindy L.
Southern comfort food for brunch? Yes please!!! After reading several fellow yelpers' reviews about this place, I absolutely had to check it out when visiting Portland. Luckily, I was able to go on my last day visiting the city and I'm so happy that I was able to go I went on a Tuesday so there was barely a wait....less than 3 minutes. This was music to my ears since I've heard that Screen Door's patrons have waited over an hour and a half for brunch. We ordered one of their well known specials, fried chicken and sweet potato waffles, as well as bananas foster french toast. The latter was essentially dessert for breakfast - it consisted of griddled brioche soaked in rich vanilla custard with cinnamon, bananas, and whipped cream. Needless to say, we had filled our "dessert" quota for the day after that dish. As for the fried chicken and sweet potato waffles...oh boy, excuse me while I wipe the drool off my face as I write up this review. It was one of the best chicken and waffles that I've had in awhile. The chicken was incredibly juicy with a beautiful, crispy, and flavorful coating of skin and the sweet potato waffle was a yummy medium of sweetness to balance the savory chicken. I highly recommend this dish if you're a fan of chicken and waffles because it will definitely hit the spot! Overall, this is definitely worth trying! Even if you're not a huge chicken and waffles fan, you're guaranteed to find an item on the menu that will suit your tastes. The staff are very nice with helpful recommendations depending on your tastes. Enjoy!
(5)
Don B.
In 2011 there was a tragic butter shortage in Norway. People were freaking out. Seriously. I think I know where all that butter went. Well, okay, I have a hunch. You see, I think it must be all stashed away in the Screen Door walk-in. Why do I think this? Well, what else could make the food so down-home good here. Want to know how good it is? Read my prior reviews. I keep coming back to try new things and really, to see if there's anything on the menu that could prove my adoration for this restaurant to be blatantly off-base. And every time I come... every time, it's fantastic. The breakfast - delicious. The dinner? Surprisingly good. The ability of the staff to keep such a well-oiled machine in motion -- to fit so many people in to such a standard sized restaurant, to keep the turns moving fast, and to do it with a smile (in the face of hangry, unreasonable and sometimes abusive clientele). I mean, you really can't go wrong with any meal at Screen Door as long as you follow the simple rules: 1. Plan to wait... a while. If you have a large group - call in advance and have them put your name on the list. 2. Don't come hungry. See #1. You're foolish to show up starving to what you know will be on average an hour wait. 3. Wear stretchy pants. Don't say I didn't warn you...
(5)
Teresa T.
For a celebration, 2 other friends and I went to try out the Screen Door. I'm glad I did and am waiting for the next cause for another trip! Unfortunately the restaurant doesn't take reservations but fortunately we arrived 30 minutes before when we had intended and were seated in just under 20...on a busy Friday night. The restaurant was already very full and the big open dining area does make it pretty loud. So I wouldn't say this is a very romantic place but hey you're here to eat good Southern Food but let sparks fly! We started with fried oysters and the shrimp and grits. I'm not a fan of shellfish but my table mates seemed to really enjoy the oysters so they were a hit. The shrimp and grits were alright in my book. I would have wanted a bit more flavor from the shrimp since grits are such a bland food. I ordered the Screen Door Plate with mac and cheese, the seasonal salad, and the fried pork chop. All of which were very delicious. The mac and cheese was great and was the perfect portion for my cheesy-carbs craving. The pork was well seasoned and fried to golden yumminess. My salad was a welcome fresh addition although the dressing was a bit under-seasoned. The accompanying cornbread was a huge chunk but nothing extraordinary to write home about. One table mate got the fried chicken and of course I stole a piece to try. It was so delicious..I still think about that chicken. It was flavorful (if not a little salty) and crispy perfection. My other table mate got the Screen Door Plate also and we maximized dishes by getting the Jamabalaya, red beans and rice, and collard greens. All were solid Southern dishes done well. If you're looking for a major remix of classics this isn't it. It's just good, honest Southern food. Overall this is a great place to meet friends and eat good food.
(4)
Matthew T.
Seriously amazing food. Weekend brunch is also awesome, but be prepared to wait.
(5)
Eric M.
Is there such thing as to much food, I don't think so! Got the chicken and waffles and boy was it good. 3 huge pieces of chicken on sweet potato waffles boom. My gf got veggie omelette and it was a perfect omelette with not to much egg, more about the filly. The best part about the meal was a homeless man got my leftovers. #screendoorgivesback
(5)
Katie C.
My husband and I decided to check it out for Sunday brunch. Taking other brunchies' advice we arrived 20 minutes before they opened and yessir, there was a line. They opened on time and we were seated right away. Despite how busy it was our server was very attentive and friendly, never failing to top-off my coffee. I ordered the farm grits which were excellent in their cheesy goodness; my husband enjoyed their traditional benedict, and we shared the praline bacon. So damn good! Bottom line: totally worth the wait out in the cold. Do it!
(5)
Brett B.
I had the largest breakfast of my life here and enjoyed every bite (I was also set for the day, as my stomach couldn't take another bite). The fried chicken and biscuits are delicious.
If you come for brunch I guarantee you will full for the rest of the day..AND this place really is worth the wait. My bf and I shared the chick and waffles and the fried oyster eggs benyy with some cornbread on tha side. Their portions are huuuuge so be ready to eat and please don't waste it! Love the 3 stack boneless fried chicken-- heavennnnnn. My cousin ordered the bacon praline waffles and, yes I got a taste of that too. If you come to Portland you gotta try it. Definitely worth the wait and fun to come with a group. Ohh.. and to the gentleman taking down reservations on 1/26/13, you were great. You were patient with everyone and thank you for being so nice and calling us when it was almost time for us to be seated. I really appreciate it!
(5)
Chrissy N.
The wait is long, but the food is worth it. We got the fried chicken and waffles (of course) and one of the specials which had a giant split biscuit, topped with fried chicken and smothered in sausage gravy. We arrive right during the lunch time rush around noon and waited for approximately an hour and a half. I'm great we waited since the food was worth it. Mighty, mighty tasty! The service was not spectacular, but I understand since they were super, super busy. Our host, a tall gentleman with dark features, was very friendly and all-business. I like the atmosphere. This was my first visit when the bf and I visited Portland..and from now on, we'll be sure to make it a place to visit when we're in Oregon.
(5)
Emee P.
One of my absolute favorite restaurants in Portland. My favorite thing to get is the shrimp and grits; favorite drink is the blackberry-lemon margarita thing, can't remember the name but it has "Texas" in it, I think. Just go.
(5)
Alison M.
Our friends suggested Screen Door for dinner and Matt & I have never been. I love trying new places, I looked over Yelp reviews and we arrived around twenty minutes early on a Saturday to wait in line for dinner. That was not enough for indoor seating so we ate out on the patio that had heaters and is semi enclosed after waiting another 20 minutes to be seated (obviously it is winter in January, it was tolerable but not comfortable), I guess they stagger the seating of the patio tables right at opening. I was driving that night so I had decaf coffee, Matt got a couple beers on tap. The table shared pimento cheese (great) and hush puppies (fine). I had the fried chicken which was moist & peppery. I was prepared for a huge portion by eating little that day but could only finish half, but if you have read any of my other reviews you may notice a common theme: I am not a big eater. Matt had the brisket, I had a slice and it was tasty and fatty. My dining companions enjoyed their meals. We skipped dessert. The prices here are reasonable and the service was as expected. After moving from downtown Portland to the suburbs my tolerance for long lines and crowded restaurants has gone down quite a bit, I guess I am a reservations kind of girl. I enjoyed my dinner here but it is unlikely I will ever brave the wait for brunch.
(4)
Shannon K.
Sorry Portlanders, but I am starting to think that many of you don't truly know what a good brunch place is. Uh-oh, I said it. Will some secret brunch police be coming to my door the moment I hit "post?" Have I somehow ostracized myself in my new city and now no one will talk to me because my name and picture will be posted up on some sort of underground hit list for people who don't like the famous brunch spots? Well, if this is how I go out, then I'm fine with that. At least I will have said my piece. I knew there would be a wait. Fine, no issue with that because I knew what I was getting into when I showed up here. So I'm not writing to complain about the wait or the decor or the service because if the food is good, none of that matters to me. When I go out to brunch, I eat the simple foods. The staples. The foods that any brunch spot should be able to execute better than I can at home. I had scrambled eggs with a side of grits and veggie sausage. It was all just okay. The eggs were fine, nothing special (and yes, you can make scrambled eggs amazing if you know what to do), the grits was just plain (though to be fair, there isn't much you can do with plain old grits) and the sausage was super dry. I know it was fake meat, but I've been to places where they cook up the sausage in such a way that it comes out moist. This was not. And the price for all of those foods together was too high. I could have done this myself at home and that is not why I go out to brunch. My husband had another brunch staple: pancakes. I don't understand why we can't find decent pancakes in Portland yet, but the consistency was way off. It was like eating flat pieces of dense cake, and that isn't what a pancake should be. It should be light and fluffy. There are suppose to be bubbles in the batter when you make pancakes so that they turn out fluffy, and maybe they beat the hell out of their batter until the bubbles are gone. I don't know what it is but I feel like photocopying the pancakes section of my Alton Brown book and distributing it around Portland restaurants so that everyone knows the basics. And our coffee was...wait, they don't have anything but regular coffee. No espresso of any kind, just coffee. This is the second place breakfast place in Portland I have been to that does that. To be fair to the first place, they are tiny and cannot fit a machine in there. But this huge and incredibly popular establishment does not do any sort of espresso drinks? I don't get it. So, we went. We ate. We weren't happy. We couldn't drink our regular drinks and we paid too much. At least I can say that I've been here.
(2)
Paula W.
What do you mean, there's a 1-1/2 hour wait to be seated? It's only 9:45 on a Sunday! Yep, the wait is long here when you come with a large group. And yet we all hung out in the sub-freezing (yet dry) temperatures just for a chance at those chicken and waffles. It was actually more like an hour forty-five, but we probably would have hung out even longer. Our server Klyde was so fantastic we gave him a standing ovation at the end. This group goes out monthly in search of great brunch food and this was by far the best service we've had in almost two years of monthly gatherings. One of the perks of going with a group is that you get a chance to try several things (yep we're good like that). And fortunately we all ordered different things so it was like a smorgasbord of flavor. After watching several nearby diners order the chicken and waffles two of our group placed one order to share....and still took a box home. Here's my take on the items I taste tested: Chicken and sweet potato waffles - the chicken was juicy on the inside and the crispy coating was absolutely perfect. And the waffles? Get outta here! Corned beef hash - now this is what I call hash. Big chunks of corned beef mixed with a small amount of potatoes. Even the wheat toast was amazing. Praline bacon - my first thought was 3 strips of bacon for $4.50? But oh my, were those bacon strips worth every penny. And to be honest, I couldn't eat more than half a slice. Texas migas - if a chile relleno, nacho, and an omelet had a baby, this is what it would taste like. Enough said. It's a good thing I don't live closer, I think this could become habit forming.
(5)
Courtney C.
Mmmm, best place ever. When I first discovered this place, I went 3 times that first week. Great comfort food, big portions. The staff are always nice, there is often a wait but if you go right when they open during the week or closer to closing time on the weekends, it's not so bad.
(5)
Mackenzie J.
I dream of cooking for these people! I was excited to come here because I am from the south but can not get any southern food in Utah unless it is from my own kitchen. My expectations weren't that high, mainly because it seemed like such a laid back atmosphere and very inexpensive compared to most other sit down restaurants in Portland. We arrived around 9:30 a.m. and it was super busy. We put our name on the list and were told about twenty minutes. I was not annoyed at all, this is how it is in the big city for a good meal. We were thankfully seated outside where it was more laid back and quiet. Service was timely. They had breakfast cocktails, such as mimosas which I ordered. I got the chicken and waffles but was excited about trying my husbands biscuits and gravy. I was so stunned by the Chicken and waffles, especially for the price. It came with a giant waffle and not one but three large fried chicken breast topped with a little powdered sugar and a side of maple syrup. There is no way I could have finished even half of it, but it was delicious and beautiful. It was definitely the best value on our week long Portland trip. I will definitely be back, over and over again. When there is something like this up in Portland, why even dream of going back down south?
(5)
Megan F.
If your ok with standing in line, then your in for a treat! Screen Door is a wonderful place to get southern food. Try their fried chicken, Eggs Benedict or for that matter anything on the menu and your sure to walk away a happy eater.
(4)
Aaron G.
Always have had great service and great food. Catshead special is my favorite. Fried Chicken, biscuit, and gravy. I have not tried for dinner yet...but want to! BTW my wife says the Bloody Mary's are awesome!
(5)
Jess P.
Just adding to the choir of those in love- Screen Door is fantastic. Though, the wait dissuades me from going more often.
(4)
Ryan P.
FANTASTIC southern food. I went to college in the South and lived there for about 4 years and I do not remember coming across anything better than this. The wait is long but its worth it, put your name in, grab a local beer or custom cocktail and then enjoy some fine southern fair. I recommend the fried chick or the shrimp and grits. The chicken is boneless and incredibly tender and juicy. The shrimp are very fresh and i believe an order comes with four very large shrimp. as for side you cant go wrong with the greens or mac and cheese.
(5)
J M.
It's been a year since our last visit to Portland, and the Screen Door once again did not disappoint. We started with a draft IPA, Vodka Lemonade, the chicken tenders with honey mustard dressing and another side of pure honey, and a summer squash and vegetable soup. Yum! what a way to start a meal. As for the main course we had the beef brisket with a side of potatoes, and the daily pork chop special with seasonal veggies. They were both prepared to perfection. The pork chop was delivered a few minutes after the brisket (the chef had dropped the first one on the floor when plating it). The server brought a complimentary bowl of gumbo to make up for the wait. We finished off the dinner with a berry shortcake. The berries were fresh and the shortcake was light and not too sweet. Our server was friendly, attentive, and even took our drinks off the bill for the inconvenience of the late entree (that was unexpected!!!). Screen Door...We LOVE your atmosphere, food, and service...you've got it goin on!
(5)
C W.
Best friend chicken ever. I'm visiting from Harlem and the chicken and waffles here blew me away. We also got biscuits and bacon which were good too.
(5)
David O.
RiverShore Restaurant, Oregon City is one fantastic "hidden" secret. One of the few restaurants on the Willamette River that gives beautiful views as well as fantastic food. We had dinner Friday night, July 10th and Heidi our waitress was fantastic - as all of the waitresses we've had at RiverShore have been.... We had their RiverShore Salad with bay shrimp and their Blackened Salmon burger....foood is always excellent! Dave & Diane
(5)
Gareth W.
Wow... Taste explosion doesn't begin to describe this restaurant. There was a little bit of a wait, but it was totally worth it. The hush puppies and praline bacon are both incredible, and the pulled pork sandwich was perfect. Definitely have to come back here.
(5)
Anna W.
Although the food at the screen door was great, the wait and price aren't worth it. The food is typical southern cooking, nothing fancy. It reminded me of any fish joint I would go to back in Oklahoma. The cooking is home style and you do get a lot. It is very expensive for what would be an $8 meal in the south.. the line to get in wraps around the side of the building every day, so if you are going get there a half hour befpre they open.
(3)
K U.
This place isn't the cheapest place to eat, but it's a reasonable price. Their food is amazing. I LOVED their fried oysters. Their breakfast is also pretty good.
(5)
Casey K.
Screen Door is truly a Portland institution. I recommend the buttermilk fried chicken and basically all of the sides! The customer service is great and they work with amazing speed (the wait isn't that bad).
(4)
Stacy S.
First of all, the atmosphere of this place is really great. I like the urban rustic vibe, and it fits well with the type of food they serve. The service was good, and the staff was very friendly. We started with the fried okra, which was okay, but I wouldn't order it again simply because it wasn't mindblowing. My friend got the shrimp and grits, which she thought was fine, but she's had better elsewhere. I got the fried chicken, which was pretty good, there was a lot of it, I didn't even eat half. The mashed potatoes and gravy were surprisingly amazing, I ate more of those than I did the chicken, and the collard greens were pretty good. I think that we weren't hungry enough to get the appetizer, and maybe that's why we had trouble finishing our meals. Overall, I really like this place, and would definitely recommend it to anyone wanting a delicious meal in a cool spot.
(4)
Linda M.
This is the place to go for some good southern comfort food. However, be prepared to wait for a table. My hubby and I arrived here at 6PM on Saturday (the place opens at 5:30) and the restaurant was already jam packed and there was a crowd of people waiting outside. We were seated after waiting for 40 minutes and let me tell you if was completely worth it. We tried a number of items from the menu but the one dish that stood out was the lowcountry shrimp and grits. The mac and cheese was tasty as well. Not only was our food extremely good, but waiter was superb (I wish I could remember his name). This place was loud and bustling (in a good way) and we couldn't have asked for a better dining experience.
(5)
Kyle V.
Amazing! get the screen door plate with the 3 sides. my pork chop was perfect. the macaroni and cheese was super tasty, if not incredibly filling. i was slightly disappointed with the taste of the cornbread, but everything else was perfect. the wait can be long at busy times, but it's well worth it.
(5)
lisa D.
Went here during the heat wave when it was 105 degrees outside. Their AC was stuggling to keep up but it wasn't unpleasant. Being from out of town we went here with some friends who now live in Portland. First off the drinks; bf had the porch swing lemonade and I had the scarlete ohara, both perfect for a hot day. Appetizers: fried ocra and hushpuppies, both excellent. Dinner: based on popularity on yelp I went for the fried chicken and was not disappointed. It's boneless, which I was skeptical about but it was AMAZING. The bf had the shrimp and grits which he liked but wasn't blown away by. Bottom line, definitely somewhere you should give a shot. Now I'll be craving this yummy fried chicken from across the country until our next visit to Portland.
(5)
rich j.
Ate here once (so far) and will definitely be back. Extensive menu filled with brunch items that sounded delicious (and seemed to satisfy the large party I was with). Personally I had the Bananas Foster French Toast which was great. Others in my group tried the chicken and waffles and some variations on Eggs Benedict. All thumbs up. The only "issue" was something of a wait, but then I was among a party of 10 on a Sunday, so not dinging them too hard on that. I think smaller parties were getting in and out in reasonably quick time.
(4)
Toby M.
These people are dirt bags. I call asking for a reservation. They tell me seating starts at 5.30 no reservation. Be here with your party or you won't be seated. We show up on time, with our COMPLETE party. Turns out they open the doors before 5.30 (thanks for not telling us that), and if you're ahead in line with an incomplete party they'll hold a table indefinitely until they show up... forcing everyone else to wait in their pathetic waiting area. So we were told it was an hour.5 wait with several huge tables empty and unsat when we finally gave up hungry and disappointed. I don't care how good the food is if the service is this bad. If you want southern cooking, Id suggest the Irving Street Kitchen in the Pearl.
Finally!! I made it to Screen Door!! Well worth the wait at that... I had called here around the 5th of January and asked if they do reservations. They will do reservations, but it's only from 5:30pm-6:00pm and it has to be a minimum of 6 people. You cant be sat until all 6 people arrive. I really cant blame them, with how busy they were. The food here is fantastic, let me get that out right now. We started off with some fried Okra. I've had it before, but didn't think much about it. They served a heaping pile of to us with a dipping sauce that was tangy and complimented the Okra perfectly. Instant Okra fan. Looking over the menu, I decided on the BBQ Brisket, served with Onion straws, potato salad and green beans. The Potato Salad was absolutely Delicious. It tasted like it had a slight hint of horse radish to it, taters were cooked to perfection and on my next visit I'm going to order an extra side of it because I can! Green Beans were amazing. A small side dish was served that had green beans swimming in juices. It had an amazing bacon flavor to it. I really was in heaven. BBQ Brisket was clearly the highlight of the dish. Topped with onion straws and an outstanding BBQ sauce, the combination of the two were a home run. The meat was tender enough to use your fork to cut it. I inhaled my food, while most of everyone was having standard conversation, I had my face in my plate. The portion sizes are very fair, and the price matches perfectly. Although the quality does exceed the price I must add. I've paid the same price for similar dinners many, many times and never had a tasty southern treat like I did here. Each aspect of the evening was amazing. Service was great, our waitress was on top of keeping us happy, we were able to laugh, talk and be loud without bothering other tables around us, it was exactly what we were hoping it would be. I cant wait to try out the breakfasts! Thanks to Screen Door for a great time. Looking forward to coming back soon!!
(5)
Heather B.
Oh my gosh! Ate here tonight and had the fried chicken for the first time. I almost died it was so good! We left with 6 left over boxes...guess we overestimated our eating power! Side note...we arrived 15 minutes before they opened and by the time the doors opened the line was HUGE! Get there early!
(5)
Heather H.
to recap --- 1. get here early, or don't and dress to stand outside for an hour 2. take advantage of the free coffee while waiting - it's stumptown and delicious 3. get excited about the huge southern portions that await you once you are seated 4. plan on leaving with a take-home box unless you're superhuman amazing brunch - great (spicy) bloody marys - nice waitstaff (which is surprising with how busy and crammed it gets int here). go tomorrow. go often.
(5)
Shelly H.
We went to this place for brunch on a recent Portland visit after 3 friends/family members suggested it. We waited approximately one hour for a table for 4. We went with another couple and each ordered something different from the Brunch menu so we could sample a little bit of everything. Here are the dishes: Eggs Sardou - Creamed Spinach, artichokes, hollandaise, eggs over an english muffin served with roasted potatoes. This dish was just perfect. It was rich, creamy, wonderful. The portion was just right for the amount of creamy this dish packs. *5 stars* Praline Bacon Waffle - Their fabulous praline bacon, chopped up and put in a waffle served with whipped cream and syrup and a single strip of praline bacon on top (if you don't order this waffle - you MUST at least order a side of this bacon). This dish solved my age old breakfast problem of choosing between sweet or savory. *5 Stars* Chicken & Waffles - I have a hard time ordering this dish because I believe we have the absolute best at DW Bistro in Las Vegas but someone at our table ordered it. It was OK - Fried chicken was good but I wanted a little more flavor from the sweet potato waffle - something was just missing. *3 1/2 Stars* Brioche Vanilla Bean French Toast - Good french toast - but it's just french toast - not too much to rave about here. *3 1/2 Stars* Stone-Ground Cheddar Grits - I love my grits salty, creamy, and buttery. The cheddar was a perfect addition and did not overpower the girts. I added just a touch of salt and they were perfection. *5 Stars* Overall, it is worth the wait and I look forward to returning on another visit.
(4)
Erin K.
It has been far too long since we visited! From the 1 hour wait at 6pm on Saturday night, I can see that it has maintained its popularity. We were lucky enough to have reservations for a party of 6 (they only take 2 sets of reservations a night, for parties of 6 or more) so we skipped the wait. They really have the place packed tight and I believe that they added another row of tables since the last time I visited, which is fine, because they can seat quite a few people at once. It is quite loud though, so if you are a bit hard of hearing (like me), it's a little difficult at times. I ordered my "usual" the Screen Door plate, this time with collared greens, mac and cheese, and fried cat fish and it was amazing! So much food! I hardly made a dent in it and enjoyed a large second dinner the next night too. I love that the cat fish isn't greasy, the mac and cheese portion is HUGE, and that the collards are fully of hammy goodness. Their cocktails, that center around whiskey, are awesome. The Rhett Butler is my favorite, it is strong and spicy and 2 go down way too easy.
(5)
Mickey T.
This place rocks! The food is excellent as is the service. We have been there several times during the lunch hour and there is usually a group of 8 or more of us. I call to give them heads up and they always have the tables set with utensils, water, and menus. I highly recommend this place. The staff is exceptional and the owners are very friendly as well.
(5)
Darwin T.
--------------------------------------------------Â--------------------------------------------------Â------- TL/DR: Get here at 9 am, grab a free coffee, and enjoy. The service and quality of the food is better than the taste of the food. -------------
(4)
Susan L.
I cannot believe there are so many folks visit this restaurant. This is the worst breakfast I ever had... The Bananas Forster French Toast is just plain sweet. nothing more! Yogurt + fresh cut fruit are normal, nothing special there... The asparagus scramble isn't too attractive either... Maybe we ordered the wrong food.... I do see a lot of fried chicken waffle got ordered, but the portion is freakishly big, everyone ended take away...
(1)
Lisa H.
If a Southerner or you've spent time in the South and you go here expecting a least a small taste of the South, you will be disappointed. This is definitely Portland food with a Southern theme. I really wanted it to be real Southern comfort food because that is one of the things I miss. The food tasted good and the service was friendly and attentive, but I wouldn't really put this place high on my list. I've eaten here twice and was greatly disappointed in the food. Not because it didn't taste good, it just wasn't even close Southern. I guess I'll just have to wait until I visit relatives to get the real thing.
(2)
Cristie M.
You're going to be too full for dessert, and that's a cryin' shame. But here's the solution: after dinner, get the ban-offee pie to go. An hour after you get home, eat the pie in your pj's. Bliss.
(5)
CA H.
Been there twice and had the chicken both times. It's great chicken hands down, but personally I think it has too much pepper in the seasoning as do the collards and the gravy. But it's crispy, juicy and there's plenty of it. Next time though, I think I'll try the shrimp and grits. Saw someone else eating that and it looked great. The rest of my family loves this place so it seems to be just me who has an issue with the pepper taste.
(4)
Tami B.
I really have a hard time waiting in line for breakfast. I occasionally make the exception for the screen door on the weekend because they serve ever so delicious food (banana foster french toast people!)and each time I get a server with great personality. I really like the atmosphere but always feel a bit guilty if I linger for one more cup of coffee because I know there are people standing outside waiting.
(5)
David J.
Good southern food. Portions are huge. Long long lines- the place is crowded and very noisy. Online menu doesnt always match what they have available. Have had the fried chicken half a dozen time- always perfect but enough for 2 people. Beef brisket has been good as well. Hush puppies were awesome
(4)
Ruthann V.
Sunday night dinner last night and the place was hopp'n! I had heard of this restaurant (how could you not!) and expected it to be busy...it was. My daughter and I grabbed the last two seats at the bar so we wouldn't have to wait to be seated. I had the burger and she had the fried chicken. The food was outstanding! The menu is decidedly southern, and the ingredients fresh. the kitchen in partially open so you can see them work their magic. We will be back Soon!
(5)
Esther K.
The first few bites are like, NOMNOMNOMNOM! where your brain stops functioning because there are flavor olympics going off in your mouth and the only sounds you can utter are those of a paleolithic cavemen "ooog! ohhh! mmrm!" -- but then the food starts to taste a little too rich as it piles into your stomach. And then you go, nom.. nom.. nom... at a slower and less rabid pace. It's still delicious but you need a sip of tasty beverage in between every few bites. I felt like at first, the fried chicken was jumping off the plate and down my gullet by itself, but the flavor of the breading is a bit salty for my taste so the flavor was overwhelming before I had put a dent in the generous portion. Though, I'm pretty sensitive to salt, so this is probably just me being lame and not appreciating a really great recipe. Oh, and like everyone says, don't come here if you're not planning on ordering the mac and cheese. If you don't order it, people will shake their heads and pity you for being so foolish. I don't care if you're lactose intolerant and have a gluten allergy. Eat it anyway because it is worth the forthcoming troubles. It is creamy and flavorful and moist and filling and it makes your insides feel warm and safe. And who doesn't want to feel warm and safe?
(4)
Lisa W.
Went out for date night tonight and tried Screen Door, the food was amazing! My husband had the chicken and I had the pork chop they were both so good, the sides were incredible too. The only down side I could see was how spicy the chicken and pork chop were. It was fine for us but we like spicy, if you couldn't handle spicy then it could be a problem. I could see how the wait could be crazy on the weekends but if it is a really good restaurant what else would you expect?
(4)
Jenna L.
We decided to treat ourselves to an actual sit-down dinner since we had been stuffing ourselves with nothing else but food truck food the whole weekend. We had to wait for a while, but the line out the door means that the place is worth it, right? :) They had so many delicious looking things on the menu - we got the shrimp and grits as an appetizer - it was really good, it had pork belly inside too which was amazing. Really good sauce in the grits. For our entree though, we both ended up getting the 'Screen Door Plate' - our choice of 3 of their sides or organic greens, with cornbread. We both got the mac & cheese and the red beans and rice, but for our third, my friend got the fried catfish, and I got the fried pork chops. Everything was SO GOOD, but sooo filling and rich. We could not finish it all, we were not champs. The mac & cheese was amazing. We had tons and tons and tons of leftovers :)
(4)
Andria N.
One of my favorite restaurants in Portland. You cannot go wrong with breakfast or dinner here! My all time favorites are the pulled pork, shrimp n' grits and a Dixie to drink!!!
(5)
Rob T.
The Screendoor has some of the best southern cooking in town. I particularly like the pulled pork sandwich, it is traditional vinegar and hot pepper based and very smokey. Definitely go early in the evening to get a seat much quicker, takeout is good but make sure you get there in time, they seem to be conservative in their estimates. The service is usually good, despite the crowd. Off-nights during the week are less hectic and the brunch is tasty but again, busy.
(4)
Chelsea A.
Dee-lish. Seriously; the Pulled Pork Sandwich, pulled pork.... pulled pork I can sing ode's to. If I was Shakespeare I would develop a sonnet for. They have a fried oyster appetizer, awesome. Sweet Potato fries, who doesn't love those? The Screen Door has all the food that you would expect from a southern restaurant, and is actually up to par with most of the places I've been down south. Yum, yummy food. Next I will have to tackle their breakfast.
(5)
Red G.
Simply fantastic. The "Screen Door Plate" allows for creating just the right personal combination of meat & veggie, heavy & light. I enjoyed every mouthful -- the corn bread alone was worth the trip. Not only was the food great, Screen Door scores points for knowledgeable service, upscale indoor dining, casual outdoor patio and a selection of locally-grown/organic produce. A very popular restaurant for good reason.
(5)
Nick V.
Brunch on Saturday morning? This is the best place on the east side to go, hands down. Be prepared to wait, grab some coffee as you do, and chat for the hour or so you will wait. Get a side of PRALINE bacon! If you like fried chicken, get the chicken waffles. All options for waffles and French toast are delicious. The wait staff is courteous, the place is kid friendly, ensuring that I have had here has been excellent.
(5)
John C.
Excellent place for the best in traditional Southern cooking. Great drinks and large portions. A must visit.
(4)
Raman G.
Food coma at its finest. Damn this place was amazing. A little long of a wait but Heart Cafe is a block down so you can enjoy a great coffee or latte and wait until your table is ready. Took us about 45 min but it went fast. Food is simply amazing.
(5)
Lea M.
The bacon here is crazy sweet (nuts and brown sugar) but the chicken and waffles was way too good to pass up. Sweet potato waffles and perfectly fried chicken, there's no going wrong here. The service was great and attentive and the coffee was always checked up on. Parking can be a bust since it's street parking, but we were lucky to come in on a Thursday morning and had no issues with lines. The dinning area inside is spacious and the interior design is cute with all their pickled jars scattered all throughout the dinning room. If you're a C&W junky, this is the spot for you!
(4)
W M.
Chicken, Waffles, Mac N Cheese, Praline Bacon, Random IPA....Awesomeness.
(5)
Ceasar P.
What we had Praline Bacon - candied thick piece of bacon with a crust of pralines. Great smokey bacon flavor up front. I was surprise of how muted the sweetness was, but definitely the right amount. The pralines provide added crunch. Chicken and Waffles - Chicken was a tender piece of breast which was pounded flat. It was seasoned and spiced well. Good flavor and just a tad bit peppery. Crust was nice and flaky. It was was paired with a sweet potato waffle. The waffle was crispy on the outside fluffy on the inside and spiced with what seemed like cinnamon. Vanilla French Toast - it was pretty under whelming. Just French toast with vanilla bean. Had good flavor but if it's your first time I suggest getting something else unless you are a French Toast connoisseur. Hush puppies - these were delicious! Nice and crispy. The jalapeños added a mild spicy was to it which was paired with a molasses type syrup.
(4)
C K.
Love this place! The wait is a bit long so make sure you get there early. The fried okra was very tasty.
(5)
Shannon H.
If 801 reviews averaging 4.5 stars doesn't convince you - I don't know what will.... The food is amazing and worth the wait. You will wait in line, there are no reservations accepted (supposedly), a group passed us stating they had a reservation - maybe you just need to know the right people here. Service was stellar - definitely southern hospitality. I will be going back!
(5)
Jan L.
I know a lot of people like the place, but I didn't like my whole cold waffle and fried chicken dish. I wasn't warned the fried chicken was HOT/SPICY. I sent it back, and didn't eat, basically. I tried friends' dishes but wasn't impressed. Two people like the place; my partner and I don't care to go back.
Believe the hype... this place is awesome! Have only been for there for dinner so far, but I can't wait to go back for brunch. It's amazing how this place can make southern comfort food in such a "Portland" way. Loved the fried chicken, mac and cheese, fried catfish, cornbread! Definitely expect a wait (an hour for a group of 4 on a Friday night). But the great thing is that they called our cell phone when our table was ready - so we went down the street for a cocktail.
(5)
Jav V.
I finally made it to brunch. I usually don't feel like dealing with it, but we were up pretty early so we gave it a try. We probably waited for about 30 minutes at 0930, which I thought was worth it. I really wanted the chicken and waffles, but I decided to save my chicken eating for dinners at Screen Door. I had biscuits and gravy. They were good, but not the best I've had. The potatoes were really good and the praline bacon was amazing. Definitely give it a try. The cheese grits were good too. We sat at the bar and the service was great. They seemed to be going through the waiting list at a decent pace, even as we were leaving, it wasn't too ridiculous.
(4)
Erin E.
Ohhhh yum. Dangerous, fattening yum. Fellow vegetarians - don't be scared off by the meat-heavy menu. There may not be any meatless entrees on the dinner menu, but they do have a small list of veggie sides and a rotating menu of vegetable specials. If you have the same small-plate approach to restaurant dining that we've adopted, you will have more than enough to eat. My boyfriend and I ordered five sides to share: Macaroni & Cheese, Hushpuppies, Cornbread, Portobella Tart and Broccoli & Cauliflower Gratin. The latter two were from their specials menu, but the others are all regular menu items. Everything was delicious. Everything was also rich as all get out. In hindsight, five items was a lot of food - we could have ordered four and been just fine. I probably would have eliminated the Cornbread, because for us it was just a little too much bread (when combined with Hushpuppies). Very friendly and helpful service. I'll be back again in six months, when I've finally worked off the calories from last night's sins...
(5)
Ann N.
Best dinner ever!!!! I seriously never ate so much at one seating! My bf and I were double dating on a trip to Oregon and it was totally worth it to go here for dinner. At first I was disappointed that we couldn't get to try their breakfast food but dinner blew me away. -we started with hush puppies. First time trying it and hopefully they all taste like the way the screen door makes it! Good enough size for 4 people and the sweet sour sauce was just right - each couple got the fried chicken plate but I replaced my collard greens with more mash potatoes and my friends got Cole slaw (which was so tasty and light). The plate was perfect for two people! -our friends and I were both getting sides so we did the the screen door plate (3 sides and slice of cornbread) it saved us like $2 and got cornbread and butter. We got the jambalaya, mac&cheese, and sweet potatoes fries. ALL of it was amazing! The jambalaya was a bit dry for me but it was still flavorful. Mac&cheese was my favorite! My bf doesn't even like general mac&cheese but he loved it last night. -after that huge dinner I even got dessert. I got the mocha toffee cake which is devils cake with chocolate ganache and whipped cream. I was so full already but it was so good I couldn't stop eating! The cake was moisted and thick. My friend got the ban-offee pecan pie? And it looked good. - our server was one of the best servers I ever had. He was honest and fun. Our food came fast and he checked on us periodically. When I asked him if he tried the cake, he surprised me by saying he hasn't yet since it was new on the menu and didn't comment on it anymore which I thought was awesome cause he was honest and didn't want to make stuff up. And he was so patient with us! We came 30 mins before closing and ended up staying an hour after closing. But he was so chill and joked with us the entire time. Anyways he got awesome tips from our table
(5)
Cory B.
Great food! I had a fried green tomato salad that was to die for. Been several times and will go back for sure.
(5)
Tony S.
The best chicken waffles I have ever tried. It was totally worth the long wait. The customer service was on point as well
(5)
Jas H.
Been here a few times and its always worth the wait. Get the hushpuppies!! :) And the screen door plate lets you try 3 different things at a reasonable price too. Yum! The catfish is really good, and the fried chicken? MmMMMm. Last time I went there, they had fried chicken liver as well, and the portion of it was pretty huge considering it was 1/3 of the screen door plate. Was not dried out like some places do it, and not overcooked either!
(5)
Siri Sadhana S.
Excellent brunch, of course. The veggie hash with cheddar grits, virgin Bloody Mary, and coffee is great for vegetarians. The hour and a half wait is great if you're a foodie and Green Bean Coffee next door is a good place to wait. Enjoy.
(4)
Steve H.
I don't even want to know how many calories these dishes are, but they were delicious! We ordered the banana French toast (4.5-stars), the praline bacon (4-stars), the biscuits and gravy (4-stars), and the chicken and waffles (3-stars). Location was good, service was excellent and food was very strong. This place is a must if you visit Portland. So glad we went on a long hike afterwards!
(4)
Avni B.
Like everywhere else good in Portland, there is a significant wait for brunch. Le sigh. I came here for a late brunch after a hike so I fortunately didn't have to wait too long! I ordered a whole bunch of sides and SO glad I made that decision. All of the sides were perfect and tasted amazing!! Cornbread: amazing Gravy: so goood Fried chicken: extremely flavorful and juicy, ate the leftovers (cold) later in the day and it was STILL amazing!
(5)
Joel N.
Fabulous, ever so slightly over prices southern. Get here fast for tasty bites.
(4)
Kelly H.
Oh, Screen Door, I fall in love with you all over again every time I visit. I recently was here for dinner on a Thursday night for a celebratory dinner with my sweetie, and a few weeks before that on a Saturday for brunch. This place has never once failed me. The food is always epic, the service is good, and with a coffee or a cocktail in hand and good company the wait will be over in a flash! I had a mushroom and leek bread pudding from the seasonal sides list and it was phenomenal. So was everything else we ordered! Save room for dessert, or take some to go because it's soooo good. I see a lot of people have checked that this is a good place to dine with your kiddos. Yes, the Screen Door is very accommodating of children, here's my caveat: the wait for a table and also for the food is going to be long, and the dining room is full and a bit noisy. There are no kiddie menus (but the mac and cheese is perfect for them!), so you just might want to save this one for date night.
(5)
Ann V.
This is one of the best restaurants in Portland, in term of food as well as service. I and the Foodie group members had Sunday brunch here twice and a Sunday dinner. Both time for brunches, we arrived before the restaurant opened; there were already long lines. It was the same for dinner as well. Screen Door offers delicious farm to table down-home Southern cooking. Fried Chicken and Waffle - three huge pieces of battered boneless chicken breast over a sweet potato waffle (8 inches in diameter). The chicken breasts were coated with peppery flour and deep fried. They were spicy but very good. There were maple syrup and butter for the waffle. There were also slices of oranges. Both time, the portion was very generous. I took home the fried chicken and had them on salad for dinner. This is a MUST order when come to brunch at Screen Door. Traditional Egg Benedict - was one of the best cooked egg Benedict with hollandaise sauce, came with red potatoes or muffin. The portion was generous. Banana Foster French Toast - delicious, very rich and sweet. The portion was very generous. Corn Dog-homemade fresh and delicious corn dogs. Fritters - homemade delicious and piping hot sweet fried round doughs. Mac and Cheese- good crust on generous individual portion, very tasty and cheesy. Crispy Fried Catfish - this was more fish and chips style. The Cat fish fillets were coated in seasoned flour and deep fried. It came with a dipping sauce (remoulade). Coffee - delicious endless refilled of coffee for brunches. I've been to Screen Door three times and have never had bad service; the waiters were efficient and very attentive to our needs. Screen Door is a go to restaurant for casual dining and a must visit restaurant for visitors.
(5)
astacia c.
Friendly hipsters! Imagine that! Best bloody!
(5)
Marissa H.
Sunday morning ~10:30am & the place was jammed...I mean, elbow-to-elbow, fight my way to the bathroom, I'm glad they sat us outside so we could escape via the side-door..that kind of full. And worth it.... The staff definitely seem to have a chip on their shoulder. The "too cool for this gig" attitude but guess that's also to be expected in Portland (? Although it's the only place I've encountered such attitude). Food: 4 of us but I only tasted 2 dishes. Breakfast cornbread which was a special - pear compote atop a nicely grilled piece of cornbread Vanilla Bean Brioche French Toast w/ bananas - subtle vanilla flavor but awesomely fluffy bread not overly cooked. Good reheated the next day too! ;) Although I didn't try them, the chicken & waffles are HUGE! 3-4 pieces of fried chicken atop a fluffy waffle, maple syrup on the side. It looked amazing & so thought my companion. Stumptown coffee for all. We left full & happy - guess that's what brunch is for
(4)
Triple C.
Great southern cooking in the heart of Portland! Best or among the best I have ever had of the following dishes... 1. Mac and cheese. Super cheesy with a nice toasted cheese layer on top. Most steakhouses can't do it this well. 2. Beef brisket. Best I have ever had. Tender enough to cut with a spoon. 3. Crusted fish. I just though the fish was ok. Maybe a higher quality fish would taste better. Great crust though. 4. Fried chicken. It's de-boned which usually means dry but it was super moist and Crispy on the outside. Really tasty and it might be the best chicken I have had. We loved it so much, my wife and I came back the second night for the same dish! 5. Banana cream pie. Holy c**p! Best banana dessert ever. Don't miss this place if you are in the Portland area! Long lines so get there early!
(5)
Christopher R.
As if this establishment didn't have enough praise, I'm going to go ahead and tell you that it's one of the best restaurants I've been to in Portland with plates under $20. I recently dined here with a some coworkers, and we all shared various menu items to get a feel for their food on the whole. No one was disappointed. Quite the contrary, in fact. Their food is prepared with care (the chicken literally melts in your mouth), the portions are large, the prices are incredibly reasonable, and there's a good reason why you might have to wait a while to get a seat. In case you're wondering? Yes, it is well worth the wait.
(5)
Jeanine W.
I came to Screen Door on my way to Seattle from southern Oregon, and despite the detour from the wait, I'd still say the food was worth every minute. Around 6 on a Thursday night, the place was poppin. They only allow reservations for parties of six or more, so if you want to avoid the wait be sure to get there early. At first the super chill and helpful host told us it would be 35-45 minute wait for a party of 3. It ended up being more like an hour and fifteen minute wait. And since we were in three, a few parties of two were seated us before too. Noted in case I make a second trip. This would be a five-star review, but the wait was a little bit off-putting. But the food was pretty amazing to mostly make up for it. While it might seem like a typical place for a younger crowd, there were a solid amount of older couples there too. With dim lighting and a rather loud atmosphere, this could be a fun place to catch up with a group of friends or even a more casual date. The food was a whole new take on "southern". None of it felt too heavy or greasy, and I still felt relatively health at the end of my meal. I ordered the roasted beet salad as an appetizer, (their side salads are on a seasonal basis and on a separate menu), and with citrus, arugula, avocados, goat cheese, pistachios and honey tarragon vinaigrette, it was the hardiest appetizer salad I've had in awhile. The side salad I recently had at Cheesecake Factory would look like nothing next to it. But that's a different review. Our table also ordered hush puppies, fried chicken and the pecan crusted trout for myself. The hush puppies were perfect, and the fried chicken was perfectly juicy even though it was fried. My pecan trout was seriously like no other fish I had ever had before. The breading was just enough for the flavor, but not so much it felt weighed down. With a kind of mustard sauce over spinach and fingerling potatoes on the side, it was just the best after a day on the road. Despite how packed the restaurant was, our waitress seemed like she had a radar for unfilled waters. As dehydrated as I was, she legitimately appeared whenever I needed to be topped off. Her service was genuine and enough to make me a really happy camper. Ambiance: 3...Casually intimate, but the wait was a bummer. Service: 5...Never going thirsty. Taste: 5...Redefining southern. Value/Price: 4...Pretty much standard restaurant prices but probably enough for two meals. Overall: 4.5 stars.
(5)
Corrie H.
Screen Door so doesn't need another review, but having just waited 1.5 hours for a delicious meal, I feel I have earned the right to write one anyway. We, of course, had a waffle with chicken. The chicken was epic--meaning that the portion was freakishly generous, the peppered batter was delicious, and the chicken itself was sooooo moist and tender. I will dream about this chicken. It was the best fried chicken I have ever had. The sweet potato waffle was very nice, but, whatever, waffle. I was way too busy eating chicken to care. Well, I say I was way too busy eating chicken, but really I mean that I was way too busy stealing chicken, because it rightfully belonged to my husband. I ordered a ricotta griddlecake special. It was fine, but it was not... stunning fried chicken. Also Not Stunning Fried Chicken were the bacon sweet potato biscuits (they were interesting, but not amazing). Also Not Stunning Fried Chicken was the gin fizz (ditto). My husband's bloody mary was very nice, though. The service was so friendly and quick--I don't know how they manage to be so pleasant in such a madhouse. And a madhouse it is... the tables are crammed together, and you barely have room to move your fork. The indoor waiting area is so crowded that you have to walk sideways to get through. But the decor it pretty and minimalist, and the music is happy and quirky, and everyone seems to have a good time. So, you are wondering if it was worth the wait. Well, for the chicken--yes. For everything else--no.
(4)
Heather J.
I don't know if this is really an objective, comprehensive, review, since despite the fact that I've eaten here about 8 times, I've only ever ordered one thing: chicken and waffles.The praline bacon is a nice addition. It is sooo good. Deliciously good. But this should not be consumed by one person alone. This is a two person meal, and even then you will leave feeling overly stuffed. And maybe have leftovers. So, if you're willing to wait an hour you are in for a treat, but then the rest of your day will be a wash because you will need to go lie down. That's a four star for me, but it might not be for you.
(4)
Katherine C.
I came here for brunch today, and although we waited about 1.5 hours for two people, I think it was worth it. I had the Smoked Brisket Hash and my friend had the Migas...we also split the Bacon Praline Waffle. The Brisket Hash was awesome. It also came with a Horseradish cream but I'm not big on horseradish so I got it on the side. The hash was also huge, definitely enough for two meals. The Migas was also very tasty and the Praline Waffle was delicious. The waffle came topped with a piece of praline and brown sugar, YUM! I've been for dinner too and enjoyed everything we had. Next time I'm getting the fried chicken, it looked really tasty.
(4)
Sandi B.
Great gourmet comfort food, exceptional wait staff, especially with a large group, however, not the greatest experience with the staff member at the door. We felt a bit like wanna-be celebrity groupies, being "managed" by the bouncer. Minus the "too-cool-for-you" door screener, we had a good experience. The food was southern with sophistication.
(4)
Joseph H.
Oh my gooodness! If you're looking to spend some of your life's calories on some heart stopping magic, this is it! Granted, they've got non-greasy fare like the catfish and plenty of rotational garden greens that they term "local organics." Most of the time, the magnetic pull of the SD's Fried Chicken hooks on its tractor beam of herbs and spices. The colonel would be proud, this chicken is two white breasts crisped over a heap of mash potatoes. If I have the strength in restraint I can pull off a nice second meal from the event. If you bring friends this will be an easy task as your table will probably fill up with hush puppies, sweet potato fries, collard greens, and it's all top notch grub. Your friends from the south will like it, but what's the point? It's just good food, and a stand out in the fantastic foodie world of Portland.
(5)
Emily S.
"What have we always said is the most important thing?" "Breakfast." "Family." "Oh right, family. I thought you meant of the things you eat." I think... I know this is a big statement... that Screen Door is my favorite spot in Portland for breakfast. The praline bacon is what did it for me. I'm not usually a big bacon lady, but I could eat a whole plate of it. I've come here a few times, both with friends and the aforementioned family. It's a fun place to bring out-of-town guests. I haven't actually ordered off the regular menu because the specials always sound so good and I haven't been disappointed yet. The food is not overly fancy and they use quality ingredients in interesting ways. Last time I had a scramble with crab in it and it was good enough to make me stop listening to Mr. S and his mom argue about how much money we spend eating out... Their dinners are great too. Again, the specials are always amazing. Their pulled pork sandwich got rave reviews from my mom and the Screen Door plate is always a good choice if you can't decide what to get.
(5)
Bobby l.
Awesome place! Like extra large servings? If so, this is the place for breakfast/brunch! After an hours wait, I got to order an fried chicken biscuit and booooyyyyyyyyy was it a extra large serving! The gravy was awesome and their sausage, like their serving size, is extra extra large!.
(5)
Aimee A.
This place is perfect for a brunch spot. They have coffee ready and waiting for you as you walk in. The wait is a bit long, but well worth it. We ordered th Fried Chicken and biscuit special with a side of yummy grits, as well as the highly recommended Fried Oyster Eggs Benedict. A great place, great food and awesome service. Looking forward to visiting again.
(5)
Avitania B.
I generally have low expectations of anything Southern food related. Greasy, overcooked, with bits of ham hock thrown in? Sure. Whatever. That is, until Screen Door changed my mind. The meal started with the hush puppies, which we ordered with a side of the remoulade. Those fried balls of goodness made my carb-starved heart smile. For my entree, I ordered the Screen Door Plate, which consists of your choice of three side dishes plus a piece of cornbread. First, the macaroni and cheese. Whoa. I don't know how they make it, or what crack they use in the sauce to make it so amazing, but I could live off the stuff. I could swim in it like Scrooge McDuck swims in his vault of gold coins. I also chose the fried pork chop, which was unlike any fried pork chop I've ever had. It had just the right amount of crispy fried coating: not greasy, with smoky spices. Rounding it out was my third side, the creole black eyed-peas and rice. It was quite spicy -- not the "hot" kind of spicy that makes your nose twitch (I'm looking at you, Sriracha), but a slow, smoky, cumin-y smolder that makes you want to listen to Percy Sledge on a rainy summer night. I wish I hadn't been too full for dessert. I'm definitely making my way back here the next time I'm in town. It'd be sacreligious not to.
(5)
Misha J.
The Screen Door is, without a doubt, one of my favorite places to eat. It's one of our go-to places to take visiting friends and family and we've yet to have a disappointed guest. They convinced me that fried okra isn't supposed to be slimy and hush puppies aren't dried up balls of blah. The fried chicken, brisket, jambalaya, and fried pork chops are favorite entrees. I have an aversion to meat that is still on the bone so the fact that the fried chicken are breasts and not a combination of breast and leg is a huge plus for me. What I really love about this place are the side dishes. My father once dubbed me the "side dish queen" growing up because I would eat entire meals of just sides. There are quite a few spots in Portland that make killer brisket, fried chicken, etc. but fall short on the side dishes. This is not the case here. The mac n cheese is amazing. The seasonal veggies are always fantastic. And you can order the Screen Door Plate with just sides! Service has always been great and food comes out fast, even when it's packed. Prices are reasonable for the level of service and amount of food you get-- we almost always have left-overs. I have never driven by this place during operating hours without seeing a huge line outside. We try to get there right when they open or later in the evening on a weekday. The one time we were told there was a 1.5 hour wait, we took our guests across the street to the Matador for drinks as the bar/waiting area of the Screen Door is a bit cramped.
(5)
kathy m.
We drove down from Seattle just to eat here...well, that and our son was in PDX for the afternoon and we wanted to see him. Everybody in our family loves southern cuisine and we had heard lots of good things about the Screen Door, so we had to try it. Having been warned about limited seating, we arrived about fifteen minutes before they opened and there was already a line. By the time they opened the line was snaked around the corner, but everybody was seated (with a few tables to spare). Our server was one of those amazing pros who seems to be able to read your mind and anticipate every little whim you might have. Our waters were always full, we ran into a friend of our son's and she brought us another chair, emptys were removed and replaced with fulls before we even knew it. But incredibly well-executed tasty food is the centerpiece of this business. They don't skimp on anything (from quality organic super fresh ingredients to portion sizes). I ordered the appetizer size shrimp and grits and a roasted beet salad from the fresh vegetable menu. The fresh vegetable menu is really a nice feature. Southern food tends to be, well, you know, kind of fattening, and their fresh vegetable menu is a healthy little oasis in middle of a vastly tempting array of offerings. Unlike the other members of my group I was very comfortable when I left. My husband ordered the fried chicken, ate half of it and was still moaning that he had eaten too much. Nobody had room for dessert. Everybody LOVED the freshness and flavor of whatever we ordered. My husband (who is pretty hard to impress) was shouting out "Wooo, that was some good fried chicken!" all the way home. We are already making plans to come down Portland for no other reason than eating brunch at the Screen Door!
(5)
C'Hardoney M.
There is always a crazy wait to get into the Screen Door for a reason...everything you will eat here will make your tastebuds do a happy dance. My husband and I dine out alot, it is one of our hobbies. A friend recommended the Screen Door a year ago and I thank her constantly for pointing us in this direction. Usually a long wait (well worth it though). Cool setting not to crammed and seeing the kitchen is neat. Pretty good service, food sometimes takes a little bit but good food has to be prepared. It's a little spendy but it's perfect for a special date night! Incredible Food! Hushpuppies for an appetizer is a favorite choice of ours. The chicken, Beef brisket, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese all delicious. What is really something to talk about is the rice and beans. They are the best my husband and I have ever had. I lived in the south and Screen Door's rice and beans hit the spot! End your night with the red velvet cake, even if your full get it to go (Trust Me). I always leave with a smile on my face and a happy tummy! In my opinon the screen door is one of the best places to eat in Portland.
(5)
Ellie B.
This place always seems to be bumpin'. We put our name on the list for Sunday night dinner and got a call about 45 minutes later that our table was ready. I got the broccoli cheddar soup to start and it was great. Very thick and cheesy. For my meal, I got the Screen Door Plate - your choice of three of the organic veggie items or sides. I got the mac and cheese, a mushroom thingie, and a pear salad. The portions were good but I definitely had some leftovers. The mac and cheese was my favorite part. I couldn't pass up dessert so I got the ban-offee cream pie. It was wonderful.
(4)
Jacob V.
Scrumptious
(4)
Kody L.
The first thing that caught my attention when I entered Screen Door was the number of small children waiting for a table. Who are these parents patient enough to entertain a 4-year-old during a 45-minutes wait for a table -- and then sit through a whole meal with them! Anyway.... Like I said, the wait was, well, waiting for us as expected. Getting there at 6:45 pm gave us 45-minutes of drinking wine from the bar. I would say there were several empty tables around 8:30, so go at that time if you want to avoid the wait. We started with the fried okra, which were excellent. Usually when I get fried okra at a restaurant it's mostly batter and small bits of the green stuff, but these were hearty chunks. I split the pecan-crusted trout and buttermilk fried chicken with my dinner buddy. They were both delicious, but nothing can beat that chicken. It was moist and crunchy; sweet, but salty all at once. It was perfectly done. The trout was also great -- this place really knows their batter for fried foods. I can't imagine finishing a whole plate here. In addition to the main courses, the plates included roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes, and collard greens. So much! I really wish I had room for dessert, but this time I had to pass. Next time you're mine, pecan pie!
(5)
Adam S.
One of my favorite breakfast restaurants in Portland... the service is awesome. The portions are big. I enjoyed the french toast, the scrambles, Benedicts and of course the chicken and waffles. I have had chicken and waffles before but the spice of the breading plus the sweetness of the waffle makes this an awesome breakfast. I also like that it is boneless. Also good bloody mary's... can't forget those for a morning pick me up. Dinner is no exception to the great food and service. The service was as amazing as I have had in restaurants that charge $100 plus per person. The chicken on the dinner menu tasted different but was equally as good. Since when did Portland become a place to go for fried chicken? The wait for breakfast is LONG, so be prepared... but it is SO worth it.
(5)
Emily W.
the healthy portland version of southern cooking. and delicious. my favorite: the fried okra appetizer. and the screen door plate. and the rhett butler cocktail. yummmm.
(5)
Olivia T.
If there's such a thing as an useless review update, this will be the one. It's useless to update this review because nothing has change since my last visit to Screen Door. Fast and friendly service to 18 hungry yeeps even during mad busy brunch time on Saturday morning... *nod* Scrumptious three huge pieces of chicken and waffle... *nod nod* Hot and strong delicious coffee... *nod nod nod* Does this place deserve another five stars?... *nod nod nod nod*
(5)
Henry A.
Perfect weekend brunch. Get the praline bacon!! I try to order something from the specials menu...they are usually spot on with yummyness. Expext to wait 20 minutes to 45 minutes. A lot of people know about it. It really hits the spot...great hangover cure. You might need a nap afterwards. I would give it 5 stars but they don't have fried okra which i love...or hushpuppies.
(4)
Kristen M.
Screen Door is one of Portland's staples for eating brunch. (FYI: they're also known for their dinner, but get more of a wrap for brunch since it's only exclusive on weekends) This Southern-influenced restaurant knows what's up when it comes to feeding masses of hungry Portlanders and visitors. Notorious for? - FRIED CHICKEN AND WAFFLES: Do you love fried chicken? Do you love waffles? Well you can order this dish and end up having it last you for two meals. Or if you like to be nice, you can share. I just say this because your dish is monstrous. With that, you get three pieces of delightful fried chicken which is very MOIST if I may add. And the waffles? If you love sweet potato, they make their waffles a sweet potato version. And this compliments the dish in the whole Southern essence that it is. You can't go wrong ordering this dish at all!!!!!! - BLOODY MARY: I've never really been a Bloody Mary drinker until I had Screen Doors! I love how peppery their drink is. So simple and garnished with an olive and okra (to give that Southern essence). One of my favorites in my book! It's just as notorious as Tasty N' Sons Bloody Mary. (Which one is better? Depends on your taste palette). - OYSTER BENEDICT: If you are a fan of eggs benedict, try their oyster version because it's quite delish! Served with a side of hash and fresh fruit. The hollandaise sauce is so rich and the oyster adds a bit of salt. You get this rich dish that is quite heavy - in the end your taste buds are thanking you that you ordered this dish. The oyster comes in a scramble version if those of you don't like benedict. - BANANA FOSTER FRENCH TOAST: If you have a sweet tooth and you like your breakfast sweet, then you may like the french toast! Make that the Banana Foster version! You can totally taste the rum-caramelized within the bananas. The French toast come in 4 colossal sized pieces which is accompanied with fresh fruit as well. I couldn't finish this dish either so it'll be nice to share as well. Or have two meals if you want to be greedy. I've never had a disappointing brunch here. I've actually had ordered what they are notorious for and love every single dish! And the service is phenomenal. You are well taken care of over here. Place is hustling and bustling. One of these days I have to try out their dinner fare. FYI: they open for brunch at 9 AM. And people start lining up around 830 AM. Plan accordingly. (Or send one person to hold your place in line and sleep in a little more and get there when it's closer to 9.) And parking is located on the street or neighborhood streets. Come to Screen Door and check out the definite "YUM" factor!
(5)
Lauren A.
Best Mac and Cheese I have had in Portland so far. And the cornbread is lovely. The jambalaya in my opinion is not flavorful. I really wanted to like it. Maybe I will return for the Mac and Cheese and cornbread.
(3)
Brandi B.
After a gazillion other reviews, I'm prolly not gonna add much to this thread, but I've got two cents to throw in anyway... We've been here a couple of times, both for brunch. And it's really good food (and yep, I'm southern, and I still think it's good even though I make better grits, blah blah blah.) What kills me about brunch at Screen Door is the FREAKISHLY HUGE PORTIONS. We don't take home leftovers. And I'm not complaining about the prices, I think they're quite reasonable. But for the love of Pete, I'd happily pay the same amount for smaller portions and not waste so much freaking food: both times we've been here we've eaten maybe half of our meals before giving up. They do have a "build your own" breakfast option, but take a biscuit the size of an infant, and throw in not one but TWO huge sausages per order, and if you happen to like a bit more breakfast variety, you're gonna get a mountain of food. Didn't you get that lecture about starving kids in China, SD?
(4)
Grace E.
Any place that dare serves fried green tomatoes on their menu is alright by me. Screen Door is where its at. We waited a bit to be seated, but no matter, that just enhanced our need to feed ourselves with the scents and smells of all that deep fried cooking. I had the fried green tomato sandwich, and it brought tears to my eyes it was soo damn good. It's a Good thing I don't live in Portland or else I'd be eating there every morning. YUMMM!
(5)
Cheyenne M.
Such good breakfast, good dinner. Most everyone has said what I intended. However, I have been here several times, and I have to implore you to not bring your children here! It is not the right space or food for kids and this is the one place I have had trouble with this in Portland. I would not bring my kids here.
(4)
Hannah M.
Hands down the best fried chicken in all of Portland. If that's not enough of a reason to come, try the sweet potato fries (which I usually don't like) and the grits. Get here, walk to Starbucks or a bar during your wait, and by the time you get back your table should be ready. So go tonight, because I went on a Friday night, and only had a 30 minute wait. It should be better every other night (except maybe Saturday, which it is...).
(5)
Jennifer B.
I should have written this review a while ago. I had originally gone to the Screen Door for a friends birthday in March. He's a boy, he likes fried chicken, so I figured it would be a good combination after one of my friends told me about it. The day of, I knew we were going to have issues because we had a party of 10, on a Saturday night. We got to the Screen Door before it opened and joined the loooooooooooong line waiting to get it. When we got to the front, we were told that there would be over an hour wait for our large party. You know, its ok. We were all kind of drinking anyways, so we head to a bar to wait for our delicious food. They call us in about 75 minutes, telling us our table is ready so we head over. At this point, we had been drinking for a while. We order our food and are speaking in a rather loud, drunk sort of way. When the food arrived (which it all came at once, I was surprised), we all took bites at the same time. Never, has food calmed a rowdy drunk crowd as this fried chicken has. Dear sweet lord in heaven, this chicken was amazing. Usually I do not eat chicken as it kind of grosses me out, but this chicken was boneless, incredibly juicy, and freaking delicious. All 10 of us made some sort of orgasm sounds as we had our first bite. This food is amazing. The potatoes, the gravy, the catfish, the biscuits, really everything was amazing. The food is definitely worth the wait and I have been back many times, the most recently being back for breakfast to enjoy the chicken and waffles (It's so big, two people can share it!!!). You need to eat here. It will complete you. It's even better if you've got about an hour or so to get absolutely drunk before eating here. Makes the wait more tolerable.
(5)
Alison B.
Amazing chicken & potatoes. Next up: trying them out for breakfast :)
(4)
Bettie P.
over-rated and i dont get why the long line. Pine State Biscuits has much better chicken.
(2)
Martin S.
Screen Door has been on my to do list while in Portland for a little while. All you locals raving about the virtues of this little gem and it's delectable offerings made it a must do and again my yelp brethren and sisters you have not failed in marking the path to great things. I have one thing to say to Yelper Ciara G. The quest has ended. I have found the best gravy ever!! Book your ticket. But seriously. My son and I ordered a few things we knew we couldn't finish but wanted to get a taste of. We started off with the praline bacon. Really nice, nutty, sweet, salty. What more could you want? We also had the Pimento / cheese biscuits and a breakfast corn dog. All of which were pretty cool and delicious. For our mains I got the chicken and waffles with a side of gravy and the boy had fried oysters eggs Benedict which I saw on the menu and had serious doubts about because in my experience eggs and seafood have always been a bad thing. This was not the case this time. Although not my favorite thing it was pulled off well. The chicken and waffles were great. A mountain of three breasts piled on a fluffy waffle seemed to mock us knowing there was no way we could kill this tasty beast. Boxes were asked for food was taken home. I'll be back again the next time I'm in town and feel like I can wait a good 45 Min's to an hour for a table ( check the latest Portlandia) Until then Cheers!
(5)
Michael H.
The food here is amazing. The collar greens so delish, the fried chicken to die for. I think they have a great taste combo. The establishment was a bit loud and our waitress was very very serious. The place looks for simple and relaxing earth tone colors. I know i def plan to eat there again.
(4)
Jen T.
Staffed by young, earnest,, enthusiastic knowledgeable foodies, The Screen Door was the highlight in a week full of standout meals. This is 6 weeks later and I still remember the deep fried mac and cheese appetizer with bbq ribs. The Fried chicken dinner with collard greens and the seasonal heirloom carrots side dish. The only thing I can't remember is dessert, I remember that it was good, but I am not really a sweets person. The menu didn't have a single item I wouldn't order. There were several intriguing specialty drinks, I went with the back porch lemonade- tasty! I loved the seasonal supplemental menu with additional apps, entrees and sides. And clearly, I loved the staff!
(5)
Michelle H.
Wait be damned, Screen Door, you win. Breakfast is truly where it is at. Even with a group of 15, the wait was just shy of 90 minutes. That's impressive for a place that boasts a massive wait regardless of party size. The self serve coffee is the perfect liquid crack. What coffee do they have? It's definitely my favorite of breakfast spots. There was absolutely no need for sugar or cream. There isn't much waiting area that's covered. I don't even want to think about the sweet drowned rat look I'd be sporting on a normal Portland morning. Is the food worth it, though? Absolutely. Service is truly genuine and awesome. The server joked about the largeness of our party, had no problem handling the shouts of cocktails and various breakfast dishes, and split our checks without even asking. Seriously, that gets you an even bigger tip when you do it of your own accord, and spare the eye roll and autograt. We're good tippers, honest! The entire menu rocks. The specials make choosing something to eat more than a pain in the ass. It's not like I can easily split two entrees here. The portions are enormous. You don't sacrifice quality for quantity. I've never seen a gut busting $13 dish that tasted as fresh and flavorful as the ones on the table. I am truly impressed. While I went for the fried chicken and waffles, I was equally torn by the root vegetable hash and asparagus and goat cheese scramble. Apple rhubarb hand pies and breakfast corn bread? Damn it, that menu was phenomenal. The fried chicken was still as awesome as it was for dinner. Is three chicken breasts overkill for one sweet potato waffle? Absolutely, but I'm never going to complain. I still had no problem shoveling it in, and taking one home. The sweet potato waffle was light and crispy. I thought for sure that fried chicken grease might turn it into a soggy mess. Not so. Andrew's breakfast po' boy killed it. It was bursting at the seams as much as it was bursting with flavor. And I'll just say it now: BEST BREAKFAST POTATOES. EVER. I thought Mother's held that title, but I think that ship has sailed. I'm actually kind of glad that Screen Door has a most ridiculous wait for breakfast. It means I won't eat here every weekend. I really don't want to work out more than I already do.
(5)
Isabel B.
Screendoor is one of those places where the line to get in goes all the way around. So what's all the hype? Only one way to find out. Luckily boyfriend and I only waited for 20min before seating. We got there at 10am on a Sunday. Right before the brunch rush. I decided on the Garden Grits. Boyfriend ordered fried chicken w/ sweet potatoe waffle. My plate was colorful w/ spinach, mushroom, and cheese! Grits have never tasted so GOOD! The fried chicken? Perfect! Not greasy, moist and tender w/ the right amount of pepper. Sweet potatoe waffle was fluffy w/ hints of wheat. A delicious meal washed down w/ fresh squeezed grapefruit juice. Portions are large. Two people can definitely share a plate and be content. And that's why folks wait 30min to an hour to get in.
(5)
Ace C.
I looooooooooooooooove this place. I only have good things to say about this place. Every time I eat here I fall more in love with the food. I'm from the South and this is the closest I can get to food back home. The place is has a full bar, indoor/outdoor seating and an open kitchen. I'm a big fan of their chicken and waffles, macaroni,, jambalaya, red beans and rice and the list could go on. I'm sure a few of the reviews will complain about the wait, but it it's well worth it. I would miss the birth of my first child for a plate of chicken and waffles. This is one of my go to places when friends come into town. This is my go to place for brunch. This is my go to place for a hearty dinner. THIS IS MY PLACE! If you see me there I'll be the guy with his head down focusing on his food.
(5)
Erin O.
The short and sweet of it is, you can order something called a Cat Head Biscuit. HA. Hilarious. The wait (even for saturday brunch) was completely reasonable. Very vegetarian friendly. Yum. and one more time.... Cat Head Biscuits. *giggle* This place may in fact deserve 5 stars, if the next visit is as good as this one, I'll upgrade.
(4)
Richard V.
Seems unnecessary to write a review of this place. The constant line might be an indication that it's pretty good and well known. The brunch is really tasty and the desserts are to die for, but I've never been there for dinner. I feel like I have to hold back a star because my family is from New Orleans. This makes me an expert and anything that isn't located there could never be authentic and is therefore inferior. I'm a dick. P.S. They make a mean milk punch.
(4)
JW R.
The staff of Screen Door are absolute champions. For a place that (apparently) doesn't do reservations, they handled our 18 top like private dining pros. They had a line of tables for two ready and arranged to seat them last, to give our party the maximum amount of time to consolidate without screwing any other brunchers out of a seat. Efficient, elegant, the perfect compromise. But you're probably not contemplating getting 18 functional alcoholics up and out of bed from all over the metro area at 9am. So I have to consider that in my review, no matter how incredible this particular performance was. So it all comes down to: Would I return on my own? No. The chicken was really good, but it doesn't belong on a waffle, especially when it's a sweet potato waffle (Portland: stop using sweet potatoes for baked goods. Sweet potatoes are never EVER okay.) The biscuit I tried was meh (not the cathead, the other one). And as good as the chicken was (imagine the absolute best chicken strip you've ever had, increase the size by three times) I didn't need three of them for $13. I absolutely hate waiting to get seated, and arriving before a place opens doesn't really make it okay that you get seated right away. I'm not going to hold their popularity against them, and they service is worth a star. But I can't call Screen Door as good as it gets.
(4)
Cam T.
My darling Ms. Door, may I call you S.? I know your dance card is perennially filled with devoted admirers driven to vain attempts at separating themselves from the pack. I know that your charms are unparalleled, defying valiant attempts at purple prose. I know that you are a sweet southern lady that makes a mean cocktail. I know that your prowess in the kitchen has driven people to meowing in delight over cat's head biscuits, savory gravy, succulent crunchety fried shi-cken & then curling up into a ball to savor their food coma. What I didn't know is how truly charming & winsome you are. You're the belle of the ball that stops to talk to the shy awkward wall flower. You're the kindly American beauty that reads to the blind. You're the lovely lady that always has a kind word to say to the crotchety old curmudgeon harumphing by himself in the corner. You took on 18 hungry, unruly, enthusiastic yeeps for your coveted brunch & kept on bringing tables forth for tardy stragglers without batting an eye nor dimming that twinkle in your eyes. And for that & all the rest, you have my heart to add to your legions of fans.
(5)
Marcus C.
I guess I can see what all the hype is about. We went there on a night where the line didn't go all the way out to the street. The food was wonderful! Good ingredients. Definitely want to go back for more!
(4)
Lillian H.
better get there by 4 to make the first cut. this place is just insane awesome. the chicken just tears apart to easily and does make a difference that they debone everything. I would fly to Portland just for this place.
(5)
Sunni W.
First night I got to portland for a 21st bday weekend my cousin who lives here took us out. They got the fried chicken, which I also tried of their plates. I got the trout pecan which wasn't nearly as good as the chicken but was still good. We also sat by Steve Buscemi when we came here (Random). Lol
I had the fried chicken and waffles for breakfast. The chicken was dry. The seasoning was too peppery to be enjoyable. Waiting over an hour to sit down at the bar. My bloody mary was watery. This place is over rated. I really wanted to love it. I drive by the long lines wanting to warn the people waiting on the sidewalk in the cold....
(2)
Rachael J.
Yum. That really sums it up. Very warm and cozy atmosphere. I had heard you can expect a wait here but I went on a Sunday night and didn't have any problems. Very friendly service. Such a tasty menu it was very hard to make a decision! Lucky for me they have a Screen Door Plate which allowed me to sample any 3 of their extensive list of mouth watering appetizers or local organic mini plates served with a slice of cornbread and honey butter for only $13. Deal. Butternut squash bread pudding = heaven in my mouth. Best food I have gotten for my money in a while. Can't wait to go back and have another Screen Door Plate so I can sample more from their weekly local organic menu. Have I raved enough yet? I could go on... and on... Mmmm brunch....
(5)
Barbara W.
Whatever you do, please don't tell my husband how much I miss this place since we've moved out of Portland. I mean, he's southern...AND he's a great cook...but oh, how miss the Screen Door. Their fried chicken is spectacular (and enough for a second meal to take home). The breakfast eggs benedict with spinach...ooohhhh....The Chicken and Waffle has got to be one of the most glorious visions of tasty food excess I've ever witnessed. Definitely check the specials board for new and wonderful goodies. Once they had creamed spinach, and after having it, I always checked the board hoping it would return. And there's nothing better to wash down a gluttonous southern feast than a hurricaine...or the classic, a SoCo and Coke. So when's the next time I'll be returning to Portland for a visit? Sometime in July/August? (insert visual of sad tear running down my cheek here...)
(5)
Catherine F.
We FINALLY went to dinner here; we've been regulars for weekend brunch for some time. (Thanks, Cam, for the inspiration.) Ah. Sweet satisfaction. The trick to getting seated immediately appears to be to show up in the last 30 minutes of a Sunday night -- thanks, folks, for feeding us! Fiending for their juicy, crisp, spicy, savory fried chicken, but didn't want to leave feeling like a beached marine mammal -- the perfect solution, of course, was to split one fried chicken plate and one Screen Door plate: three local/organic dishes plus cornbread. I chose the celery root and parsnip gratin with andouille bread crumbs, the roasted beet salad (with arugula, avocado, pistachios, grapefruit, and citrus vinaigrette), and the concord pear salad (with black mission figs plumped in balsamic vinegar and honey, frisee, endive, watercress, toasted almonds & manchego cheese in a cider vinaigrette). Delicious! And aren't you proud of me for choosing such healthy options? The chicken, of course, was perfect. Mashed potatoes, savory porky collard greens, crumbly moist sweet corn bread -- perfect. The hubby almost didn't share -- I distinctly heard a growl from his side of the table when I reached for my half. The hubby even went for the peanut butter pie (after making lame reference to current Salmonella peanut butter epidemic), which was a tad rich for me, but very very tasty. The cocktails were lovely. I had the Rhett Butler, which had perfect Southern Gentleman manners (with a hint of roguish bourbon charm). The hubby didn't share his. Service: impeccable, as always. Friendly and personable, but not cloying; fast and efficient, with great suggestions at the right moments. Some of the least stress-prone servers in Portland. I'm still glowing with satisfaction.
(5)
Jenna F.
UPDATE: I have tried new menu items and may I suggest you do not overlook the breakfast corn dog. No, no, you read that correctly - breakfast corn dog. It is delicious and not at all what you might be imagining. The sausage inside is in the breakfast sausage family and the breading is more like corn pancake batter. They serve it with this perfect molasses sauce (which by the way is perfect for me because I hate maple syrup) that is the perfect compliment. It's like a really large pig in a delicious blanket.
(5)
Jeannie J.
With the same trepidation one encounters when introducing the boyfriend/girlfriend to the parents, I took my father to the Screen Door this morning. Now dad is a Southerner, and is very particular about his grits, fried chicken, and gravy. I've told him about how wonderful the food is so many times that he decided it was time for a road trip from Olympia. He was ready to be here by 9 to make sure we could be seated without a wait. I assured him that 10 would be fine. Well, I was completely wrong about that! We showed up around 10:15, and the list was already on the second page. The place was packed. Dad was wringing his hands and pacing around (nothing a cup of decaf and a xanax couldn't fix). I was able to find a couple of seats for the wait. Dad was busy looking over the menu, and watching the amazing stacks of food coming out. He still wasn't sold on the whole deal. Time for a mimosa (me this time)! We were finally seated, and we ordered our cat head biscuits and gravy. Dad wanted grits and extra gravy. The food arrived, dad sprinkled his Tabasco, and went to town. He pronounced it the best food north of the Mason Dixon line, and totally worth the drive and wait. The owner/hostess came by to check on us since she knew he made the drive to try their restaurant. He asked what time they opened for dinner, and told her to wake him when it was time. He was just going to be outside camping out taking a nap in his sleeping bag. It was that good. At the end of the meal he could hardly breathe.
(5)
Greta D.
I cannot rave enough about the the buttermilk fried chicken over sweet poato waffles and a side of praline bacon. yummerz. I tried my friend's bananas foster waffles and was in heaven. This is the best brunch place in Portland. Worth the wait.
(5)
Liz G.
I'm not all that familiar with Southern food. The boy, on the other hand, is from the south and starts salivating at the mere mention of fried chicken. Gabe's ROTD the other day reminded me that we'd been meaning to go here, so we saved our appetites all day and headed over for an early Sunday dinner (no waiting as long as you're willing to eat dinner at 5). Everything on the menu sounded deliciously fattening, but we settled fairly quickly on the fried chicken and mashed potatoes (him) and the Screen Door plate with fried catfish, mac and cheese, and collards (me), along with some hushpuppies to start. YUM!!! All of it. He mentioned that traditional southern fried chicken is greasier and with bones, but thought the less greasy, boneless version was a welcome improvement while staying true to the southern style. He also thought the sweet tea should have been sweeter, but I thought it was sweet enough. We somehow managed to save room for some pecan pie. It was good, but definitely not the star of this place. It was actually the only dessert that caught our eye, so I'd say fill up on the good fried stuff and don't worry about dessert. We also liked the atmosphere. Our server was a little bit awkward, but super friendly and polite. The unique combination of noise and table spacing made eavesdropping possible or avoidable, whatever you're into. There was also some conversing between tables, and admiring of others' orders (the meatloaf looked tasty! And I don't even like meatloaf). Now my only concern is making sure this doesn't become a regular stop.
(5)
Esther A.
best fried chicken? best fried okra? best hush puppies? great service? yes to all of the above. HUGE ass portions, nice cozy atmosphere, even though it's really REALLY crowded, didn't seem like it. we all had the fried chicken, shared the jambalaya, shared some okra and hush puppies and an order of corn bread. needless to say, we were all STUFFED. the portions are HUGE... the fried chicken is just delicious! and it was even better the next day! we had a 45 minute wait, but after a few drinks at the bar, we were just happy and looking forward to fried chicken. i will definitely be back! next time, no cornbread. for some reason, it tasted SO gross. i'm not sure if that's how it tastes, but it tasted of flour and no corn. not good at all.
Screen Door is my favorite "yes to everything" restaurant. Yes to their specialty cocktails--they're refreshing and inventive. Yes to fried chicken--it is the best in town. Yes to appetizers--they are worth it, even if the portions are so huge here you don't need them. Yes to dessert. The staff is wonderful and the food is fantastic. Their local rotating sides are phenomenal. I would give this place ten stars if I could. Try them for breakfast too. The portions are ridiculous, so you can split an order if it feels too pricey.
(5)
Henry P.
I just had the fried chicken dinner and it's a must if you like fried chicken. I can honestly say it's the best fried chicken that I've had so far. The meat was juicer than what I'm used to (KFC, Popeyes, Church's) and the crunch of the batter was what sold me. There's a crunch in every bite even if it was soaked in the mashed potatoes and gravy. I wasn't a big fan of collard greens to begin with so it wasn't something that changed my mind. The Mac and cheese was rich and decadent and gets richer as you continue on with your meal. It's also a must try and can be shared with three or four people because it was overwhelming for two who had already ordered the fried chicken dinner. The portion is generous for the price and you will surely be full by the end of the meal. I'll be back for brunch this weekend!
(5)
Jason S.
The Pictures don't do this place justice. Chicken and waffles is 3 large fried chicken breasts on a sweet potato waffle with a steak knife stuck right through them to keep them together for you. The breading is thin and crispy and slightly "peppery". Very flavorful. My friends and I came here for Sunday Brunch and all four of us decided to order the Chicken and Waffles with a side of Maple and Praline covered bacon. Officially I expected to like the bacon better, but it was just good, not great. Bacon wasn't crisp. The fried chicken was the best I ever had. Long wait at the door but well worth it.
(5)
Michael J. Smith S.
My wife and I decided to treat ourselves to a Southern Food breakfast a couple of months ago and I was excited on the drive over. Since I moved here in 2005 I had heard much about it and most folks would suggest this place whenever I'd whine about the lack of "soul food" in PDX. We arrived before brunch closed down on a Sunday around 2:15pm The service is "A-Ok", tasty Stumptown coffee from the bar while you sit on a bench by the entrance waiting for a table to open. Diverse clientele in almost every way; age, male-female ratio, ethnicity etc. dressed in typical Portland, low-key thrift shop style. "A-Ok" in this regard and at this point I was "feeling" this place and believing ALL of the hype. My wife ordered the fried chicken brunch with a side of fruit and I ordered a tofu scramble.....after placing the order I was still extra pumped! Then the food came, huge portion of chicken, the scramble, fruit and more coffee, I couldn't wait to try the chicken and my wife shared one of the pieces (servings are too big for most people) and I took my first bite. Man oh man was i disappointed....very dry, very salty and over seasoned with pepper. The tofu scramble was "ok" and the potatoes average, but I was so crushed by the lack of flavor with the chicken I really didn't notice. The tofu scramble and potatoes at Byways in the Pearl are both a few steps ahead of what we had here and with the same outstanding Stumptown coffee. I've had lots and lots and lots of soul food & creole food in my life at home from mom and dad, from relatives and friends as well as restaurants from L.A, Oakland, New Orleans, St. Louis, DC etc. I've enjoyed Southern cooking and cajun food from Louisville, Kentucky to San Antonio, Texas and beyond. While widely popular here in PDX, the food here does not hit the mark with any of these past culinary experiences. I was really disappointed and my wife could tell the minute I took my first bite. Too bad, great service, nice people and clientele but the food just didn't do it for me.
(2)
kristen l.
Go for Saturday and Sunday brunch. I waited an hour to get in and it was worth every second in the cold! They do have coffee for you as you wait which was wonderful. Or a full bar for those that need a little hair of the dog! I ordered the Chicken and Waffle and my husband got the Chicken cathead Sandwich. There was enough food between us for 4 VERY hungry people. You will be taking food home! I was happily surprised to find that the chicken was all boneless skinless breasts! Makes eating it a liiitle easier. They DO turn tables quick, between the hostess being on top of the waiting list and the bussers cleaning and rearranging tables it is always busy in there. The nice thing is even with all of that around you, you never feel "rushed" by any means.
(4)
Doc O.
Worth waiting 2 1/2 hours for. Hasn't anyone heard of eating a snack before you leave the house? Do that before coming here on a weekend morning........ Outstanding food here. They still got praline bacon? Damn good stuff.
(5)
michael b.
Always a top pick for the City of Roses brunch lineup. They claim to have a Southern flare but I would not consider it Southern. The food never disappoints though. Most recently had a fried chicken sandwich with fresh biscuit and sausage gravy. Hard not to like that! The only issue with thus fine eatery is the wait for a table. Almost always a 20-45 minute wait....but worth it most of the time. A definite recommend
(4)
Matt R.
Well my review is simple. If your that successful and your food is that good. Why wouldnt you open at 6 or 7? 9am? Really? Guess I will never get to try it out. Quit being cool and give the early birds an opportunity to be in and out. FYCNWN.
(1)
Catty C.
Oh mah gah! Holy moly this place is good! We went here for brunch and were particularly inrigued with the idea of "Pecan maple encrusted bacon" since the SB (Sweet Baby) loves his Bacon. Wow, super delish. I had a Fried Green Tomato BLT, SB had Fried Chicken and Waffles and SP (Super Pal) had a scramble. All of the food was amazing but this is not the kind of place you could eat at regularly, the food is super rich and heavy. Lots of frying etc. Because the thing is, I am sure they serve salads but when you are at a place like this you are not going to be able to resist the bacon, fries or grits, it just doesnt work that way. We will definitely be back on our next trip to Portland.
(3)
Liz M.
We went with some friends, and it was great! I was expecting it to be really fancy and over-priced, but it turned out to be quite reasonable and very tasty. There are several vegetarian options, and something called the Side Plate, where you pick three of their sides (out of about 10 options). That was really tasty: I had some a fantastic breaded pork chop, macaroni and cheese, and mashed sweet potatoes. I would have licked the plate, but I refrained. The drinks were tasty too, I thoroughly enjoyed my first mint julip there. The ambiance was relaxed and comfortable. Even though I went on a Friday night and the place was full, it wasn't really loud, which was nice.
(4)
Mike G.
Came here on a Monday night expecting to find a line but finding none with one of my Southern Boy friends. We shared the pork belly dinner, and three Southern Sides of corn hash, grits, and collard greens with bacon and hocks. Started w/ pimento cheese and ended w/ pecan pie in pure heaven. Strongest recommendation for great service, nice atmosphere, strong drinks, and a hearty meal that drew my friend's praise. Definitely coming back to try more!
(5)
Coach K.
Wow this place should be illegal cause it's soo good. Ordered the Chicken and Waffles and it could probably feed a family of 4. It was spicy, juicy, and everything was perfect about it. I couldn't even find C&W like this in the south. Wow very good place!
(5)
Karen F.
Fried chicken was delicious. Huge portions so it was hard to leave room for dessert. Wish I would of ordered the chocolate cherry layered cake. If the waitress takes it home to eat it must be good!!
(4)
Sandy A.
Two eggs, grits and bacon. Yum! Stumptown coffee and a taste of my friends fried chicken and waffles! Enough to feed 2 or 3 people! So good. The hostess was very sweet :)
(4)
Kelsey G.
The fried chicken is absolutely the best I've ever had in my life. And the corn bread! Can't even stop....
(5)
kasi R.
We got there before they opened, we were told to. The door opened and the line slowly came in. Knowing if you seat everyone at once you would over stock the kitchen and the bar and make for bad service we waited with smiles on! There was two large parties in front of us so we didn't expect to be seated but be hold there was room at the bar and being that we were a party of two it was prefect! It was my birthday and I heard this place was known for southern soul food and I grew up eating some good home made soul food! I order my drink a tasty back porch lemonaid. yumm It had rum lemonaid and sage very crisp and lite it wasn't full of rum and no taste but it had a kick that slowly creeped up on you. We ordered the hushpuppies.. I would love to eat those again! delish making the expectations for dinner even higher! We both got the fried chicken dinner.The first thing I tryed was the greens you know your in the right place if they have great greens and these greens where soooo good I couldn't stop to taste the rest of my plate until I ate them All! and I did!! Now for the chicken, I cut into a chicken breast that was bonless and flat not use to that but was still open minded the skin was still on so there was flavor but a little salty and under seasoned I expecting a little hint of pepper and paprika ect. no bland but ... The gravey had all the spice I wanted so I asked for extra gravey and devoured it I also had a side of cajun cat fish I have had some of the best cat fish so realy was expecting a spicy fried cat fish and got bland bland mildewy cat fish! yuck! I pored this hot sause over it and try to finish but couldn't The mash potatoes where ok .The corn bread was chewy overly mixed and the cake with pb filling DRY DRY DRY yuck! The crumbled the first bite left me with only one thought GOT MILK! The service was top and the bar tender was awesome! He really knows his stuff! I think we got such great service because we sat at the bar he checked on us lots and kept my water glass full! I gave a 3 star for the bland seasoning and the baked goods. it had nothing to do with the service at all or the drinks. p.s on the way out I noticed the party that was a head of us barly had sat down and had their drinks in front of them go there with a small party or just with one other!
(3)
Spencer T.
Everybody's saying it's worth the wait, but that's not how it worked out for my friends and I. We arrived before they opened to get in line but once we entered we had to wait. They had to seat smaller groups of people, in line behind us, instead of us. Finally they told us that if we waited another 20 minutes they would know if we could be seated an hour later. I say "finally" because we'd been waiting for more than 50 minutes at that point. So we had waited for 50 minutes (or more) and were told if we waited another 20 we might be seated an hour later. Delicious. I may not have tried the food, but after waiting so long and being left with a gamble I didn't really care to. I'll only consider going back if my party is very small. 2+ hours of waiting is silly. I'm happy the place we ended up going to was great, and got several hundred dollars from us.
(2)
Cierra P.
We arrived at Screen Door after seeing all the great reviews. There was an about hour wait for a table, but since we were on vacation and weren't rushed, we decided what the heck. Waited an hour (in the rain) when we were finally sat. Great place, packed with people both at the bar and tables. The kitchen is exposed, which is pretty neat. The restaurant have jars all over with preserved veggies. The coffee was amazing (they serve unlimited Stumptown!) and we also ordered the Bloody Mary which was top notch and spicy. The service was a little slow, but I imagine it was because they are just so darn busy. It took maybe 35-40mins for our food to arrive after ordering. For our entrees, we ordered the fried chicken and waffles and the Catshead biscuit sandwich. Chicken and waffles were delicious (and quite a lot to eat) 3 large chicken pieces piled high. I added the house hot sauce to give them an extra kick. The Catshead was even more delicious! The biscuits was fluffy, served with a piece of fried chicken and topped with creamy-good gravy. I would absolutely recommend both dishes and this restaurant. It was well worth the wait, but we weren't on a schedule or anything.
(5)
Rich J.
Sorry, but I really don't know what the fuss is all about with Screen Door. Long wait times to get seated for good, but NOT great food. I grew up in Virginia and spent a lot of time in the Carolinas and parts of the South and I'm very familiar with Southern food. Delta Cafe is better. Probably won't go back. Somewhat overpriced. Service was great though, I have to admit and the drinks were decent.
INCREDIBLE. Only thing is it's best to arrive 30 min before they open. There's a coffee place next door to grab a drink while you wait in line. It's hands down some of the best breakfast/brunch food you will have.
(5)
Craig G.
Best fried chicken ever! Just do it!
(5)
Suhasini J.
Big portions and bigger on taste! The only thing which I wish would improve is the wait time. Be prepared to wait for an hour at least.
(4)
Bob T.
Got here around 6:30pm. No wait for sitting outside. 30 minute wait if we wanted inside. We sat outside. Bloody Mary had good flavor, nice and spicy but barely tasted the alcohol. Chicken strips were good, crunchy and moist. Mac and cheese was really good. Lots of cheesey flavor. Cole slaw and collared greens were both pretty good as well. I thought the jambalaya was on the salty side. Rib eye steak was okay. Ordered medium rare but got medium well. Really wanted to order the chicken and waffles but they don't serve that during dinner. =(
(3)
A V.
The Jambalaya in Disneyland tastes better. The Creole Jambalaya itself didn't have much chicken/seafood/andouille in it. It was small pieces of everything mostly rice. Maybe i'm expecting too much b/c i've always had homemade Jambalaya. My BF wasn't impressed by the BBQ brisket either. Although he did enjoy the hushpuppies. No parking only street parking so you gotta walk a bit because there are lots of cars parked on the streets nearby. It was muggy and rainy that day yet it was hot inside the restaurant..trying to replicate the south perhaps. Indifferent service by waitress but I don't think that applies to every other server there, this lady was a zombie. Gave me a dirty water glass that had lipstick on it from the previous customer which was fixed right away. When the nice lady with the water pitcher poured more water into my glass I saw white stuff floating in my glass. If I lived in Portland I wouldn't go back maybe brunch is better? Sorry screen door but you didn't live up to the hype.
(2)
Annie N.
I have been to Screen Door for breakfast a few times and dinner twice. it was awesome. The owners are very cool people and the staff is generally happy. The food is FANTASTIC and the service is excellent. YUM.
(5)
Shane P.
One of my favorite resturants. I've been quite a few times. If you haven't been, go - just not if you're on any kind of diet.
(5)
Paul B.
probably my favorite restaurant in pdx right now. only issue is the crowds, but as long as you know that going in, you're ok (for example, some people may not be into standing outside at 8:40am on a saturday in order to get in for the 9am brunch opening). this week I was there for dinner around 6:30 and the wait was about 15-20 min. however, the food is awesome, the staff is great, the drinks are solid... there's nothing bad to be said here.
(5)
Kimberly F.
when we arrived there was a huge crowd of people outside and we knew we had to wait. normally, we don't like waiting long for food, but since we were on vacation and not sure when we would return to portland we decided to wait. tip: while waiting, head over to heart and get some coffee. once we were seated we browsed the menu and settled on the chicken and waffles (sweet potato waffles) and the po'boy made with their housemade andouille sausage. when the food arrived it was unbelievable how much food there was. there was wayyyyy too much food for two people. the chicken was piled high on top of a waffle and the po'boy needed to be smashed down in order to fit it into anyones mouth. in short, portions are huge. the chicken was moist and boneless. i didn't care too much for the breading on the chicken, it was more like a large chicken tender. i prefer the more classic fried chicken. the sweet potato waffle was on point. the po'boy was good, one thing i wish was different was the tomato jam... i wish it were a bit sweeter. it would have then complemented the spicy sausage a bit better.
(4)
Barbara R.
I can only echo what others have said; it's worth the wait. I have been twice for dinner and while there is no ambience to speak of and it's quite noisy, the food is fabulous. I couldn't stop thinking about the fried chicken the first time I went and it was every bit as good as I remembered. Best fried chicken ever and I'm not a fan of fried chicken. The mac and cheese was also delicious and everyone at my table was thrilled with their food. And the portions were large and reasonably priced.
(5)
Ben D.
I had the no reservation and wait outside 30 minutes before opening system they have here. So I hate to admit that this place is worth the wait! The hush puppies were a bit bland but all the rest was stunning! The crusted fish dishes are to die for.
(5)
Maxene A.
Worth the wait! -that's easily said by all, when all is sober! This is the perfect sunday funday brunch start-off or better yet, BEST PLACE to start preparing for another night of melting the walls or killing that hangover! Start your time clocks because an hour wait is a given during peak 8a to noon seating. Get your name on the list and head down to Grand Central Bakery and grab a coffee and head back til the time dwindles down... Skip everything on the menu and order the Fried Chicken and Waffles, and a Bloody Mary! DO IT I say!! The fried chicken at Screen Door is rated top honor in many ways that I have previously read but cannot recall, but the fried chicken is coated in a fantastic crunchy coating with generous amounts of black pepper and spices adding to the amazing contrast of the fluffy sweet potato kind, enough said!!! O and did I mention the friend spicy goodness is stacked 3 high!! THAT'S LEGIT business and they know their business. HIGHLIGHT: you'll wait, order Fried chicken and waffles, drink a bloody mary.... relax, you have passed phase one: the long line!
(5)
Travis M.
Great food and good portions. Biscuits and gravey were some of the best I've had.
(4)
Brigitte O.
Delicious comfort food. The sweet potato fries were so delicious. Also thoroughly enjoyed the salad as all the ingredients were fresh just like we used to make from the garden. Also got BBQ brisket which was tender and rivaled my favorite BBQ place back home. Parking is street parking in the local area but we didn't mind the walk because this part of Oregon is absolutely gorgeous. Stopped here to eat on the way to California from Washington for a good meal on the road and was not disappointed. Would come again!
(4)
Allen C.
During my visit to portland, this was my favorite restaurant because...Chicken and Waffles. I've been missing out. I've never had chicken and waffles before until I ate at Screen Door. Its an amazing combination. I can't really compare it to other chicken and waffle places but all I know that this place place had really good chicken and waffles and the other dishes we had were good too. -Praline Bacon: Bacon with maple syrup, pecans, brown sugar and cayenne. This dish was really addicting. I wasn't blown away when I took my first bite because I was expecting crispy bacon. I love my bacon crispy but for some reason I kept eating it and wanted more. The bacon had amazing flavors. It was perfectly sweet and salty. I couldn't stop eating it. The pecans added a very nice crunch the bacon and all the flavors worked well together, nothing overpowered the other. -Mac & Cheese: Amazing mac & cheese. It had a nice crispy top and it was nice and gooey in the inside. Very flavorful and delicious. -Chicken and Waffles (2 pieces of chicken): Broooooooo, my life has changed. I dream about the time I had chicken and waffles here. The sweet potato waffles were perfect. It was crispy and wasn't too sweet and complimented the chicken well. The chicken was absolutely perfect. It was seasoned perfectly, perfect crispiness, juicy, tender, and just mouth watering. The syrup wasn't too sweet. The chicken and waffles here would probably one of my "last meals on earth". Just be careful and don't order two pieces of chicken unless you starving. I decided to get two because I was starving. I was put into a chicken and waffle induced coma afterwards. I slept the 15 minutes back to our friends house and couldn't move. My only complaint was that the service was kind of slow. The waitress didn't know the beers well enough. She brought back the wrong beer and took it away and I had to reorder a different one. The food took a while to come out and I was disappointed at first, but now that I know how good it is I am willing to wait a LONG time for those chicken and waffles. This is a HIGHLY recommended place. Next time I go to Portland I need to make sure I visit twice so I can get chicken and waffles, KO, and then go again to try another dish.
(5)
Rebecca G.
Screen door, you've never disappointed me. Every dish I've had has been worth eating, and much better than bland.
(4)
phil w.
This place was just perfect for me. Sit outside on the warm evening and enjoy a slice of excellent comfort food. If they're offering fried okra that evening, do yourself a favor and order it. It's fantastic. I was actually quite amazed at the size of the servings. I'm a big eater, and I'll say this is a big meal. My buttermilk fried chicken was so good that it rightfully put me into a food coma mood. My girlfriend ordered the screen door plate (choice of three sides) and I couldn't believe how much food that was. I would definitely be back when I stumble into Portland again.
(5)
Eric S.
The Screen Door rocks! This funky little eatery on East Burnside in Portland is incredible. I eat here every time I'm in Portland, and am regularly blown away by my meals. From brisket to hush puppies, to pulled pork and buttermilk fried chicken tenders, the food here is straight from the south! Plan to get to this joint early, as the line goes out the door and around the corner (especially on weekend nights). But believe me, it's worth whatever wait there is!
(5)
Rachel S.
The screen door has some of the best food in Portland. We got there right before 5 and there was a line all the way down the street. Luckily when we didn't have to wait after the doors opened because there were enough tables for everyone that was in line. Anyway the food was great! So delicious and flavorful! I ordered the 3 side meal with cornbread and my boyfriend ordered the fried chicken. So yummy. It was all a little carb and cheese heavy but that's what you get when you order this style food. We knew what we were in for! Again it was delicious
(5)
Rich H.
I'm not sure I even need to write this because their business is doing so well, it might not even matter. You should go here if you get the chance for brunch on the weekend. NOTE: portions are huge, you should consider sharing ANYTHING you order. Our table highlights were the Apple Fritters, Corn Beef Hash (best I've ever had) and the Po' Boy with extra napkins. Best breakfast I've ever had with flavorful and original recipes. Wait staff was great, waited maybe an hour to get the table.
(5)
Denise C.
Amazing! Awesome. Yummy. Can't say enough about this place. Food and service are great. Prices are affordable. Portions are HUGE. We are always to full to eat dessert. Last time we went we started with dessert. You should try it. Dessert rocks! Go early or late to avoid the wait.
(4)
Gene B.
I'm always jealous that PDX has so many great breakfast spots and my hometown SEA has so few. When a place has serve yourself free coffee at the counter, you know you're in for a wait. It was well worth it. We lucked out and scored a booth with a good vantage point of looking into the kitchen, well actually the whole restaurant can look back into the kitchen. I ordered the corned beef hash, but kept 2nd guessing my choice as I saw order after order of chicken and waffles come out of the kitchen. Oh well, next time. The hash was terrific, big cubes of corned beef brisket with perfectly seasoned potatoes, onions and spinach ( a first for me in hash, but it worked) to add some color and texture. It was huge and a great deal. Service was great, which was quite a feat considering how jam packed the place was.
(4)
Mike R.
Heirloom tomato salad - top notch. Fried chicken - fantastic. Long lines? Yeah, esp. at brunch, it's one of those places, lots of people want to eat there, but not just because lots of people want to eat there, because it's REALLY good. Consistently good (three visits from out of town over two years).
(4)
Stevio x.
Dinner was good. If your comfort food is one that's deep friend, you're going to love it here. The menu is almost overwhelmingly broad, but you can always do as I did and order the Screen Door Sampler. Good way to limit the breading and fried process for much of the DELiCIOUS food. Our waitress was terrific.
(3)
Allison P.
Delicious! No need to say more than past reviewers. We ordered chicken tenders to start and those are hands down the best chicken fingers I have ever had. Main dish was pork shoulder plate, super tender and those gigantic beans are so good! Also got a screen door plate, we chose fried cat fish, salad, and jambalaya. Everything was so good and the portions are huge. We ordered a lot on purpose so we can have leftover for lunch :) 2000+ reviewers can't be wrong, go there, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Kelly M.
There's nothing better than Portland brunch... And the last few times I've been to Screen Door, I did not have to suffer the customary wait that accompanies most good breakfast places! What a relief to be able to walk right in, start sipping coffee and order some grub. The vegetarian biscuits and gravy were excellent and they had many appetizing scrambles to choose from. (Many yelpers have noted the steep(er) prices of the Screen Door, but it seemed par for the course for breakfast prices).
(4)
John A.
Great southern cooking. We started off with the hush puppies and they was great. We also had the pork belly appetizer that was a special and it was to die for, paired up with pears and polenta. But now to the best, they have the best fried chicken in town. Two good size boneless chicken breast great flavor and the two sides was mashed potato and cole slaw both very good. My friend got the pork chop and it also was good. I recommend this place and it's worth the wait in line.
(5)
Cora L.
The food and cocktails are amazing but the wait, given the restaurant's current popularity, is unreasonable. At 8:45 pm recently the wait was 45 minutes. At 5:00 pm once, the wait was 2 hours.
(4)
Carrie M.
Cute, funky and really pretty large with the back patio and bar in full swing as it was the Saturday morning i visited. I would have been there right at the 9 am opening except that the Burnside Bridge decided to pop up and let a paddle steamer through. By the time I got there, around 9:25, it was already on an hour-long wait! But wait I did, and it was really more like half an hour. And SO worth it. I hate waiting in line and having a mediocre meal but this one was memorable, bordering on singular. I had a delicious fried oyster Benedict -- four nice sized fried oysters, perfect Hollandaise sauce, crispy bacon as a bonus meat and toasted english muffins, A far too large serving of yummy oven roasted potatoes and I washed it down with a spicy bloody mary. My dining companion, who I met in line, had the tower stack of perfectly fried chicken and waffle, and we shared. She had coffee, asked for a shot of bourbon, and was brought a small tumbler full! Size matters, even with perfect food, and this was take-some-home sized. Friendly, cheeky service. It's worth a bit of time in line.
(5)
Zenia R.
abundantly delicious food, had the brisket, it was perfect. should have gone with my classic Manhattan but had the Rhett butler instead, it was so so
(5)
Anna V.
Finally at Screen Door. And yeah, the seriously incredible fried chicken and sweet potato waffles were worth the wait. Creole Pecan Pie - 'nough said.
(5)
Andy C.
Fantastic food (the fried chicken is AMAZING), great service. The only challenge my wife and I have when deciding to come is how long the wait is! If you haven't been here, you need to go.
(5)
Sabrina P.
Tried to go here on a weekend, but it was so packed we held off until a Monday morning - no line! For the amount of hype this place gets, I wish the food lived up to the expectations. Ordered the fluffy biscuits with gravy, bacon, and scrambled eggs, and my boyfriend got the praline bacon waffle. My biscuits weren't soft or fluffy, and were actually a little hard. My boyfriend's waffle was delicious, but too sweet for my liking.
(3)
Anna C.
Go here for mouthwatering and delicious fried chicken in a loud, family friendly environment (think lots of toddlers) with larger portions (emphasis on why the entrees are a bit more pricey). The wait is long every night at every time but you can order drinks while you wait. Worth the trip, but take your family/friends not a date and leave the vegetarian gluten free at home.
(4)
Rian H.
This is probably my favorite restaurant in Portland. Every time I come here I am not disappointed. When I first came I was a little wary about being vegetarian at a southern style restaurant. There are no worries with their weekly rotation of vege-friendly organic selections. I always order the 'Screen Plate' which gives you the option of 3 sides from either the menu and weekly organics along with a huge slab of cornbread. I always want to come back here to see what's new for the week. The servers are always friendly, helpful and very laid back. The only problem is this place gets packed quickly, so be prepared to wait!
(5)
Mark W.
Oh how I love The Screen Door...... Yes, there's always a wait, but it is soooooo worth it. In the past three years, I think I have had almost everything on their menu. If you're going for the first time I would order hush puppies for an appetizer and fried chicken for an entree. The are the best I've ever had anywhere...and I've eaten a lot of Southern food. Fantastic!!
(5)
Marty X.
Hells yes. Great for meat eaters AND vegetarians alike. The service was friendly and accommodating, the food bursting with flavor, and the entire experience a delight. The prices were also reasonable. This is the type of brunch spot that makes you feel good about your life, even before your breakfast is delivered. I ordered a mushroom scramble, thought it was the type that didn't have eggs but I guess I didn't look at it very well. Well, my mistake was MY GAIN because it was absolutely incredible. I really want to know how to make a scramble like this. My Mom had a tremendous dish of banana-pecan-maple french toast. I love that they dress the FT for you rather than just giving you a cup to dress yourself. I love the view of the bustling kitchen. I love you, Screen Door.
(5)
Wiley G.
Don't remember what I had, but it was excellent. I remember my breakfast being more like $9, and it didn't even have any meat in it... Still well worth it.
(5)
Jim A.
I walked out of here repeating one thing to myself. The only thing I could think was "Don't puke. Don't puke. Don't puke." I had just (over) eaten the BEST damn chicken and waffle of my life, and didn't want to lose it on the sidewalk. I could go into more detail, but what else could I say that the other 100+ yeeps haven't already said? You need to know one thing about Screen Door. It's a Portland must. If you are coming in for a visit you should do everything within your power, including selling your first born or even offer up your wife's services to a millionaire, to come here.
(5)
Patricia W.
Excellent! So full.....must nap now.
(5)
Orian I.
Brunch time Portlander and yes we do love our brunch! I've decided any place that doesn't have a wait is not worth it's muster. that being said. holy mouth gasim. yes, there was a wait but thankfully not raining, sat on the little porch sipping on marys and chatting. inside hustle and bustle with the smells wrapping me up like cocoon. ordered the fried oyster Benedict, praline bacon and chicken and waffles. First of off..seriously large portions that chicken and waffles could have served 4 not even kidding. I think all bacon should taste like that, perfectly salty and sweet. I was making porno sounds and rolling my eyes back into my head as a noshed on that right oyster benny. seriously? that's the best thing I've put in my mouth(that's what she said) the chicken was slightly hot awesome, crisp batter paired with that sweet potato waffle was a delight. The service was impressive fast, funky and fun. exactly what I'd want. All in all it was a quintessential brunch must.
(5)
Matt K.
Came back to Portland to help my cousin move into her new condo. Where to eat, she asked...SCREEN DOOR!!! This time we had the Sticky Buns (we got the last order), Fried Chicken and Waffles (have eaten this for 3 meals now), Bacon and Chard scramble (eggs were so fluffy and flavor was great), and of course the praline bacon (need i say anything about this?). My opinion has not changed about this establishment. I will be coming back EVERY time that I am in Portland visiting. My only disappointment is that there isn't one in the Bay Area in California. =(
(5)
Jennifer T.
Wow, from top of the line to very disappointing - maybe it was an off day. Well it must have been, because the fried chicken was so overcooked that the ends of the chicken breast on all three pieces were hard as a rock, and dry and tough inside. I was SO disappointed! The waffle, too, was haphazardly made, and nothing like the crispy, hot and melting inside like I first had it a few months back. Sigh. The husband had a good meal with biscuit & fried chicken & gravy - he didn't mind the overcooked chicken at all. And he really liked the gravy!
(2)
Richard L.
Finally found some good food in pdx and by far the best. So far I have tried the dinner beef brisket, shephards pie, and shrimp with grits. Being a huge food snob and critic, I have nothing bad to say. Food was amazing and unexpectedly good since many restaurants failed me in pdx. Another side note, I had a lot of coworkers (about 20) from the south who agreed this was one of the best southern food they had. Kudos to Screen door!
(5)
Danny S.
3 words, 1 reaction: Buttermilk Fried Chicken and HOT DAMN!. Thank you, have a nice day.
(5)
Sonya F.
We almost left because the place was packed and we were told it was an hour wait but we decided to stick it out and boy were we glad! The most amazing southern cooking I have had in the Northwest. I am originally from the South and was a little skeptical but they "put their foot in it"! We had catfish and it was excellent! The fried oysters were some of the best I have ever had hands down. They didn't skimp on the seasoning. The Mac & Cheese will knock your socks off and you must get a piece of that Red Velvet cake. You will have to get it to go because you will be much too full. Great food, great portions, decent prices. We will travel back to Portland just to eat here again!
(5)
Giovanna M.
OMG. This is my new favorite restaurant. I spent some time in the south, and came to really enjoy the good home cookin' I experienced there. So imagine the treat I got when I ate here. So delicious. So well thought out. Organic, local food is what they prepare here. I love that! DRINKS: The Porch Swing Lemonade is just beyond amazing - the muddled sage was a new twist I'd not experienced in a drink before. I liked it. A lot. I tasted the blackberry drink my husband ordered (it's got tequila) and that was good too. But I'll stick with the tricked out lemonade. FOOD: Their catfish is sheer perfection. I don't think I've ever had it done so beautifully. The Collard Greens were the best I've ever eaten and would loved to have had seconds. The mashed potatoes & gravy were very tasty! AMBIANCE: The staff is super sweet and friendly. The decor is modern rustic, slightly bohemian. I really liked the vibe, from the aesthetics of it as well as the people and flow. Dang, even the other patrons are awesome! The ladies bathroom was clean, however it's a one-person room, so you may have a little line. Try not to wait 'til the last minute to go is my best advice. You will probably have a bit of a wait, but both times we came it was under 15 minutes and they'll let you drink while you wait. They'll even offer you water. But order your alcohol from the bar, and bring it back to where you're waiting. We ate here twice in our week-long visit. I wish I could have more right now. I tell you as I sit here writing this review another week later, I'm salivating at the memory of how awesome their food is. I can't wait to move to Portland; I am sure I'll be a true regular in no time at all.
(5)
Priscilla T.
The line is ridiculous, but the food is delicious. Ordered the Chicken and Waffles and the Pork Belly Benedict. Both were delicious and came in good portions. Loves this place and it's a must go, just make sure to arrive a bit earlier because the wait time can take quite a while!
(5)
Rachel C.
Landed here by a karmic sign... Street parking, typical in-neighborhood dining logistics. Waited a really long time for a table, waited equally as long for my drink as well as food. Had the porch swing lemonade... That was good. The Orchard salad was delicious but no light fare... It was rich and a little heavy for a salad... Plus I added the praline bacon (why not?!).. So kind of my fault... But the flavors were great. Atmosphere was typical Portland grub spot, chill and yummy. I'd go back sometime...
(4)
Catticut P.
Screen Door doesn't really need another positive review, but yeah, their fried chicken and waffles was a game changer for me. You could share this between 3 people, easy. Their fried oyster Benedict is an excellent runner-up, but they really need to work on their Bloody Mary - or this could just be a difference of tastes. Other than that, well worth the wait, the space is open and welcoming, and it's understandable why this place is Portland's most happening brunch spot. Oh, and get there early on Sunday to start the queue, unless you have a really good book.
(4)
Alysen P.
40 min. Is well worth the wait! Very yummy drinks and food.
(5)
Ben W.
Waited about 1-hour this morning for breakfast, we considered going somewhere else to eat just because of the long wait, but we decided to stick it out and we are glad that we did! This was my first trip to Screen Door and it definitely lived up to the hype. I ordered Fried Chicken & Waffles, and my girlfriend got the Fried Oyster Eggs Benedict, both were great dishes! The fried chicken was amazing! I think next time we will try to show up earlier and hopefully avoid the long wait.
(5)
Carrie R.
My husband and I decided to check this place out after reading so many positive reviews on yelp. We were not disappointed! When we arrived this past Saturday around 7 pm the place was packed. For a table of two it took about 45 minutes. It was well worth the wait because the buttermilk fried chicken & beef brisket was the best we have ever had. In fact even the side dishes were incredible which was creamy mashed potatoes & gravy, bacon potato salad, and bacon and green beans. Do you see a bacon theme here? It was a lot of food (enough for a small lunch portion for both of us the next day). The best part was sitting at the bar counter and watching the chefs in the kitchen and also watching the cocktails being made. The atomsphere was warm and friendly and this is a great spot for large groups to eat out at. I love the surrounding Portlandia suburb that we had to park our car & check out. If I could live anywhere in Portland, it would definitely be within walking distance of Screen Door. This is on my very short list of favorite restaurants that Portland has to offer. There are so many other dishes that I can't wait to go back and try...
(5)
Gad F.
Huge portions even for the appetizer plates and a very long line at the door even in the pouring rain. Bring an umbrella even if no one else does. I think the huge portions are the key here. Very reasonably priced for the HUGE portions. Did I say huge? The food is fine but not great. The chicken seems to be the best thing on the menu and it has a nice crunch but is pretty heavy-handed on the pepper. It is fun and the service is hurried but friendly. Try the chicken and bring a HUGE appetite.
(3)
Scott P.
Wow! Simply amazing. And the price was very reasonable. Fun, creative drinks. Amazing food. Appetizers through desserts. Wow. Don't miss the specials board! We did, but maybe that was good. Already too much great stuff to pick from on the menu. Well worth the 1 hour wait! And, it was helpful to have a drink in hand and some nice weather to hang out in until our table was ready. Food was quick to arrive after ordering. In general they do not take reservations, but if you have a group of 6 or more, give them a call... if they don't already have a couple big groups scheduled they may take a reservation.
(5)
Carolann L.
All I can say is--wow. We walked quite a bit to get to this restaurant, not knowing the closest the MAX would take us was the Lloyd center. We got there and were seated right away (we got lucky, as soon as we sat down a huge line formed) and took a glance at the menu. I got the fried chicken, which was boneless white meat cooked to perfection, and my husband got the pecan trout in this tasty mustard sauce. The food was brilliant and we had great service. Atmosphere was really nice and relaxing. Would love to go back!
(5)
Carsolina W.
I ordered the shrimp and grits and they were very runny. Also the Macaroni and Cheese was not great. I feel like a lot of non southerner's amp this restaurant up....As a true southern gal I was not impressed.
(2)
Jim S.
WHY would you change your fried chicken recipe??!?! (Play "Price is Right" sad music) We hadn't been back to PDX for a couple years and stopped in to Screen Door last night. I was horrified to find that the fried chicken is now boneless and the batter is much more peppery than it used to be. Still good, not what it used to be. 45 minute wait at 8 pm on a Tuesday. No thanks.
(3)
Stacy M.
We went with a large party on a Saturday morning and the service was great. The waiter was laid back and organized. I had a breakfast po-boy and it was delicious. The only down side was that it was so much food I couldn't finish it all!
(5)
Aaron S.
decent food...long wait. my husband's eggs were a little overcooked.
(4)
Jennifer J.
While I LOVE the food, I don't like the fact that if you get there before your group, even if there is an hour wait for a table, they won't put you on the list. I hope they wise up with that one, or I'm going to start saying that I'm alone, and then when I get seated say "Oh look! A friend of mine is here, what a coincidence!".
(3)
J A.
I love this place. I agree the wait is a bit much, but who cares once you get your meal! Not a place for a private dinner since it can be packed and always is...but again, the food is worth it.
(5)
Jessica P.
What can I say? Hands-down the best meal I ate while in Portland. Arrived right at 5:30 on a very rainy Monday night. The last four-top had just been filled so we had a thirty-minute wait. No big deal. Great music, nice lighting, helpful staff, menus to check out while you waited. When we were seated we already had drink orders in mind, so I tried my first-ever mint julep. I'm sure it was marvelous but now I know I'm too prissy for bourbon-based drinks! Our server was super-helpful and answered all of the questions that my group had. Two of us opted for Screen Door Plates, one had the special (chicken wings) and the last had... something meaty? Anyways, I built my own Screen Door Plate from the list of vegetable specials (which changes all the time based on what's fresh- see a huge sample of what you might encounter on their website). I had creamed kale (amazing), roasted carrots and sunchokes (amazing) and butternut squash bread pudding (amazing), served with a big slice of cornbread. If Daily Grill almost turned me into a carnivore, the food at Screen Door probably could have converted everyone in a twenty-block radius to vegetarianism. We were way too stuffed for dessert (vegetables have never been so filling) but next time I would take it to go and eat it for breakfast the next day! I can't recommend Screen Door enough, especially for vegetarians.
(5)
Elena G.
The Screen Door lives up to its hype. The food is tasty, the service is good, and the atmosphere is original. Aside from having to wait 45 minutes for a table one time, and then waiting well beyond a normal amount of time for our food to arrive, I don't have any complaints. Just make sure you try to make reservations, or be prepared to wait on a busy night. I gravitate toward the Screen Door Plate, which gives you the chance to try three of their sides. Of the sides, I highly recommend ordering the jambalaya, the mac & cheese, and something from their local/organic vegetable sides. The pulled pork sammy is pretty damn good as well. Be prepared to feel like a pig, because these plates aren't small, and slowing down doesn't feel like an option. The best appetizers are the fried chicken tenders and the fried okra. I always opt to eat outside, on the small corner patio. The inside gets a little loud, so dining outside is a bit more enjoyable and intimate. They have some great candlelit picnic style, wood tables and benches. If you like Southern cuisine be sure to give Screen Door a chance.
(4)
Angie Q.
We waited nearly an hour to be seated for brunch and it was worth it! I ordered a fried chicken biscuit sandwich with gravy and potatoes with a side of praline bacon. My friend ordered a andouille sausage scramble. We both thoroughly enjoyed our meal! Given the biscuit wasn't as good as Pine State's, both the fried chicken and gravy were better! And the praline bacon was amazing! I will visit again!
(5)
emily r.
Yes yes yes. The 1.5 wait was sooooo worth it today (new years day). Our server was amazing, the food was killer, and the coffee was freeflowing. I wish I could eat the decorative pickles.
(5)
Joey Y.
I was about to write about how amazing their fried chicken was. How I never tried fried chicken that was so tender, juicy, and buttery as Screen Door's. And how their mashed potatoes melted in my mouth before they even reached my tongue. But I'm not going to write about their food. Why? Well, read the rest of 700 reviews. So in order to pitch in this conversation, I'm going to write about something that might save you time when you go here. I arrived here at 4:55 in order to save seats for my family (3 adults, 2 children, 2 infants). The guy told me it was going to be at least an hour wait. Ok. That's reasonable. I waited and waited. After an hour, the guy comes back and ensures me that I'll get seated within 20 to 30 minutes. Fine. I can wait. Around 6, four people came in and wrote their names on the list. Within 15 mins I was seated with my family; and at the same time the party of 4 was seated ALONG with another party of 5. SOOO. Go here around 6:30ish and you can find seats quickly. FYI, I went here on a Saturday. I'm giving them 4 stars not for the wait but for the service. The waitress (I think she was very stressed out or something) was very pushy and passive-aggressive. I guess that happens when you table has 4 kids but don't make it so obvious.
(4)
RJ L.
Incredible fried chicken, incredible everything. Even my drink was mixed perfectly. There are very few places that I would say are worth a wait upwards of 90 minutes, and this is one of them.
(5)
Kay R.
Worth the wait to get in. Just trust me with this. It's absolutely amazing. Delicious. Orgasimic :)
(5)
Kimberly V.
No offense to the Southern transplants who love the dish, but cole slaw is gross. Let's take a vegetable notorious for causing flatulence and slather it with a rancid-flavored cream to make the eater even more gassy, maybe throw in a little nausea, too. That's a great idea! Now pass the pipe. But after my pulled pork sandwich experience at Screen Door, where the cole slaw is spread onto the moist pork bits to elevate the taste to Elvis-like greatness, I must admit that I was uninformed. Mistakes were made. I did not have gustatory relations with that side dish in the past, but now I am open for negotiation with cole slaw as long as it's made like it is here. Seriously, what doesn't Screen Door cook well? Veggies? Seasonal side dish menu. Starches? Corn bread and potatoes in all sorts of forms, all of them amazing. Desserts? Don't be mean to the ice cream! To sweeten the pot, they have a fabulous wine selection and one of the friendliest waitstaffs I've ever encountered, in Portland or any place. On the one occasion my order got lost in the brunch shuffle, the meal was comped and the bacon waffles were still the food equivalent of listening to Boston with the volume turned up all the way. Screen Door - it's more than a feeling.
(5)
Jacob G.
All these reviews make this place sound good, so I went here on a Saturday morning. It took a while to be seated as the place was busy as it should be. I totally recommend the bananas foster french toast, as it was pretty damn good. It was a pretty big portion, too. Maybe I was really hungry but it was tasty. I'll go here for dinner one of these days but all I can say is that it's good brunch food.
(4)
Brent F.
I should have gone here sooner, but finally I got to enjoy the screen door Sunday brunch that I've heard so many raves about. The bloody mary was spicy and strong - the way it should be! The portions were LARGE. The staff was ON IT. And the chicken and waffles looks like a cardiologists dream. (Not my speed, but looks good if you're into that.) I like their open kitchen and the warm feeling of the space. Very Portland and very inviting. : )
(4)
Janet H.
A great place to feed your soul. Large portions of yummy good food! I want to try breakfast there the next time I am in Portland
(4)
Katie D.
If you asked me my favorite restaurant in Portland, I'm not sure but the Screen Door is definitely high on the list. It's one of the few places I return time and time again because it's so dang good! The staff is great...are they all co-owners or something because they all seem so friendly and happy and proud of what they're accomplishing there. The menu is small, but everything on it is delicious, and there are daily specials to choose from. My favorite is to get the plate of sides..it's so hard to choose from the 20 or so sides they have, whether I want cajun rice and beans, delicious mac n cheese, greens, or maybe some froo froo organic local produce. I went there for brunch and it was amazing as well. I got some sort of mixed drink called a brandy milk punch which was the tastiest brunch cocktail I've ever had.
(5)
Sinoun S.
Super portion for your money..bit of a wait..but I'd say its worth the wait..Had your basic macaroni,restarant style..there fish special of the day..it was def. Filling
(4)
Fatina S.
food was good and the waitress was very attentive. i was craving catfish and i was very satisfied. only thing was that i remember noticing the piece of cornbread that the party next to us had on their plate prior to us receiving our food. i swear on everything that i got the left over cornbread they had, that kind of through me off, but the rest of the food was ok
(3)
Adrienne I.
If I had enough money I would eat here every night. By far the BEST fried chicken I have ever had and I dont take fried chicken lightly!
(5)
Chris B.
Redonkulously good.
(5)
Dennis S.
If you like great, southern comfort food, there is no better place. The wait, a little ridiculous maybe. But that speaks to it's popularity; it's worth the wait. I had the fried chicken and loved every bite. I also loved the macaroni and cheese and collard green sides. The service was good, even though we were sitting at the bar. I think this would be a great date place: the wait gives you time to talk, the food is amazing and a great conversation starter and then there are decent dessert places nearby if you don't decide to stay and try one of their's.
(5)
Michelle S.
REAL Hollandaise. To me that is a HUGE issue. I asked for a taste before looking any further than Eggs Benedict. Our server was nonplussed and back in a snap with a dollop of REAL Hollandaise. From there it just got better. I had the Eggs Benedict with bacon and OYSTERS!!!! The oysters were deep fried in a crispy, light, crunchy, corn meal breading. They were perfectly cooked and worked beautifully with the rest of the Benedict. My dining partner got over medium eggs, (PERFECTLY cooked) with sausage milk gravy and beautiful biscuits. Huge portions. Great attention to service. We sat next to the kitchen where I was able to observe the making, by hand, of each deep fried breaded chicken breast, and mound of eggs that was ordered, cooked, and delivered with speed and good natured staff. The only down side was the potatoes. Bland, small red new potatoes. Not bad. Not great. I want to go back there again, soon! Oh & BIG PLUS is their doggie boxes are GREEN recycled and compostable paper. Good work!
(4)
Thilo W.
I absolutely loved the food at this place. Went there the other night and we had the following: Hushpuppies -- a good version with corn kernels, but a bit dry Fried oysters -- wow, great -- perfect cornmeal crust Mac and Cheese -- very tasty, well-cooked pasta and a crispy top Shrimp and Grits -- very good, wish there were more grits Pulled Pork Sandwich -- this was truly great, the best version I have had, the fries with it were superb as well Side dish platter -- very good greens, beets, and corn fritters and came with a very tasty cornbread as well Peach pie -- an individual pie about 5 inches in diameter with a very nice vanilla ice cream, great pie crust. Blueberry/Lemon layer cake -- This is the best layer cake I have had in a long while, deeelicious! Overall, great food in a very busy setting. Don't be in a hurry since service can take awhile. It is, however definitely worth the wait.
(5)
Abe I.
I wish to come down with some sort of malady restraining my freedom of movement, in which case I would have that special privilege of the infirm to make random & time sensitive requests. To appease at such a time of distress, I would have to take the opportunity to order out for a to go order of Screen Door mac and cheese. To die for. Seriously. You must go. I must go, again. If you choose to eat out, then you should not be disappointed. It is not cheap by any means, but you will get what you pay for. An excellent selection of Southern food that did not fail to please a good friend of mine, a harsh critic from the South, as well. The southern themed drinks are not to be passed up.
(4)
Jeff M.
my friends always recommended this place if I ever visited the Portland area.. and it did not disappoint.. BEST fried chicken n mash potatoes n collard greens I have ever eaten.. had to wait a good 45 mins but boy was it worth it.. will def be back!!
(5)
C G.
I LOVE the Screen Door. Everything I've had is delicious, from the hush puppies, mac&cheese (DEVINE!), butter lettuce salad, etc., etc., etc. Highly recommended, but be prepared to wait in line for a table!
(5)
Andrea V.
How do you say something that hasn't been said in the previous 692 reviews? One of my new faves. Dad loved it, although it turns out he still doesn't like okra, even if it's deliciously fried and served with perfect remoulade. Turns out I love Screen Door's okra more than any other in town. Delish drinks. Get there close to opening time, or you'll be waiting. Screen Door goes on my list of solid favorites.
(4)
Brady R.
THis place is great! I had the Brisket Hash with horseradish sauce for breakfast. It was awesome! I had 6 people with me for Saturday breakfast and it was crowded. But, the service was great and super-friendly. They got us our meal and kept us full of coffe and water. I am from Eugene, but can't wait to get back to screeen door!
(5)
Ricardo C.
Trust the reviews! I'm a HUGE breakfast person and this place is officially my favorite breakfast place. The pancakes are SUPERB! I've been to so many breakfast joints in the northwest looking for a place like this. The wait is long, no doubt, but it was worth the 45 minutes I spent standing out in the cold! I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!!
(5)
Adam R.
The concept of chicken and waffles is beyond me, seems like a very strange combination. Where does the syrup go? Regardless, as Alissa R (who only knows the greatness of the biscuits and gravy because I shared with her) pointed out "this place gets it right." Heaping amounts of great food and enough variety to satisfy the most finicky eaters. If possible, order one item and share it with someone as their servings can easily fill 2 people. Either that, go nuts and have some awesome leftovers for later. 4 stars instead of 5 since the hostess and server were both rude, hostess more so. We waited 30 minutes and didn't complain once, don't take out your anger on us because its busy.
(4)
Coral C.
MMMMMMMMMMMMM. Met up with a couple friends from out of town to check out Screen Door. I had heard a lot of good things about the place, and was not disappointed. We rolled in around 12:45 or so, and as anticipated, there was quite a long wait list going. The hostess said it would be around 45 minutes, but again, we knew there would be a wait, so we just hung out and caught up with our friends. However, we ended up being sat in about 25 minutes, so kudos to that! All the food was really good, my only reason for 4 stars is the service was a little spotty. The food didn't come out together, my partners waffles being dropped at least 5 minutes after the first plate of pancakes was. Had to flag the server down for more syrup and coffee/soda refills...but no big deal. It's a mellow kinda place, and we got mellow kinda service. More please :) MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.
(4)
Krista T.
Will it shock you to know that I'm a wee impatient? No? Ok, then. Screen Door is one of the very few places in PDX that I will actually wait to get a table for breakfast. It is THAT good. They are open for breakfast on weekends only, hence the massive crowd huddled outside. They've got a pretty big space (and outside seating for the few summer months here) so waiting and seating always moves surprisingly quick. When looking at the menu I suggest you ignore the fact that all signs point to excessive calories, thunder thighs, and very, very full stomachs. It is down home cooking and its fantastic. I actually never understood chicken and waffles until Screen Door. I get it now. I had also never even know about something called praline maple bacon. Let me just go ahead and repeat that for you: PRALINE MAPLE BACON. Its like a bacony, breakfasty dessert. Genius. I also recently stopped in for dinner. It rocked since there was no line or wait and the food was just as awesome! Come hungry since they don't hold back on the portions.
(5)
Michelle C.
Screen Door, you had me at praline bacon. This place is just off the hook! The service was exceptional, and the food was just fabulous. We are still raving about our first recent experience at Screen Door. I intentionally did not over eat on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day only to save my calories for Screen Door the day after. And OMG, it was so worth it! The fried chicken and waffles were better than Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles! And I loved me some Roscoe's up until I had my first tasting at Screen Door. These waffles weren't just any kind of waffles. They were sweet potato waffles! The fried chicken was phenomenal... it was just the right amount of crunchy, peppery fried goodness that coated the most moist and tender chicken. We also had the brisket hash and the apple bacon cheddar biscuits, which were all freakin' delicious. We also ordered the praline bacon, but unfortunately they forgot to bring it out. But by the time I realized they forgot it, I was so stuffed that I couldn't imagine putting anything else in my mouth. So it worked out well, but I am still disappointed that we didn't get to try what I initially wanted to visit Screen Door for. I am looking forward to our next Portland trip just to visit Screen Door again for the praline bacon and other tasty menu options.
(5)
Mary M.
I have consistently had amazing food and service at Screen Door. The wait can get a little long, but in my opinion worth it. Our 1 year old had a total meltdown there and we had get breakfast to go. They were completely understanding and comped our meal, which was above and beyond. We will continue to recommend this restaurant to locals and visitors as one of Portland's must go places.
(5)
Mike D.
I have eaten here a few times for both breakfast and dinner. Ya gotta try the chicken and waffles. It's bomb.com . Pretty much everything on the menu is great. They have a cool bar with some interesting drink options. The restaurant is very popular and small so it can be a wait at times. For dinner they take reservations, but on weekends and for brunch you just have to wait it out. Because of this, if you don't have a reservation I would suggest a party of 4 or less. Big groups are going to be hard to for them to serve well and accomodate because of the size of the restaurant. They have always done a good job and have great options for good hearty southern food. Trust me the chicken and waffles is the way to go! And the Mac and Cheese is great too.
(5)
Sally Q.
I can't remember the last time I had fried chicken just because I tend to stay away from fried foods, but tonight I made an exception. I had there Monday special, fried chicken wings with a side of rice and red beans and corn bread. The fried chicken was really tasty, the beans were good, but the corn bread didn't have enough of that corn taste to it. The atmosphere was pleasant, romantic even. The service was pleasant and we were seated quickly since we arrived a bit late in the night. I definitely recommend eating here if you're in this part of town. I'll be coming back for more!
(4)
Michael S.
First time here place was packed with groups we had a party of 2 sat down quick food was so good I was double fisting the utensils had the fries chicken amazing!!!!!!!
(4)
Z Z.
Screen Door has been on my list for a long time, ever since I first heard about the organics menu. This is the perfect place for my husband and I to visit as he loves Cajun/Southern spicy food and I love organic/locally grown/vegetarian options. We waited until my folks were in town who also love Cajun/Southern food and I am happy that we did as everyone loved their food! Both my husband and my mom ordered the jambalaya. The both really loved it, in fact my husband commented several times during the meal how good it was. He does not do that often so, that automatically places Screen Door high up on my radar. I did not taste the jambalaya but from what both my mom and husband said it was decently spicy, had a nice smoky flavor to it and the sausage was actually good. The portions were fairly large, neither of them finished it. Both my step dad and I ordered the much talked about Screen Door plate which is any three side dishes or any three items from the organics menu along with a piece of corn bread. My step dad got the catfish, the cucumber salad, and the melon salad. He enjoyed everything, he did mention that the catfish was quite crispy though but aside from that he did not have any complaints. I ordered the cucumber salad, the melon salad, and the summer squash salad. Everything was delicious and the portions were all quite large. I couldn't finish everything. The cucumber salad was light, had a nice sweetness to it, and the ingredients all meshed together well. It had different kinds of tomatoes, a bit of shredded cheese, and cucumbers of course. I am not sure what else is in it, the most recent organics menu isn't online yet but it was all fresh, tasty, and quite good. My step dad enjoyed it, he said it was different than what he was expecting but overall he enjoyed it. The melon said was completely different than what both my step dad and I were expecting but it was fantastic. I think I expected the normal chunks or melon balls type deal but this was completely different. It was slices of both watermelon and another type of melon that had a bit of salt on them. I wasn't super excited about the sea salt but it did draw out the flavors a bit more which was nice. I loved the bits of fresh mint that were on the salad, that was my favorite part. The summer squash salad was one of the more interesting/unique dishes I have had in quite a while. It was strips of squash, zucchini, and tomatoes in this light cheese sauce. Now, normally the words light and cheese sauce do not normally go together but somehow they pulled it off. I am not sure what all of the ingredients are but it was nice...it wasn't thick like some cheese sauces are, this was quite nice, not heavy at all. I enjoyed it, it was really great. My husband rarely gives restaurants five stars, so last night when he declared Screen Door five stars I was more than happy to both agree and write the review right away! Screen Door was really fantastic, I can't wait to go back. I would especially love to go back and sample to mac and cheese on a day when I wouldn't get a disappointed glance from mom about the amount of calories I was ingesting! Because we all know, thinking about the fat/calories in mac and cheese ruins it for you, right????
(5)
A P.
This place is pretty good. Nice atmosphere and good food. I've had both dinner and brunch here and everything has been great. The Eggs benedict is the best i've had in town. I believe this place buys local so there are always different specials of sides and dishes. The outdoor seating is really nice too. Good luck getting brunch on the weekends now though, cuz half of portland is already waiting.
(4)
Mary Sue D.
First of all, I am not so into Southern food... typically. I think of it as deep-fried junk that no one can stand to eat without being battered (ahem unripe green tomatoes?). But, I think my feelings are starting to change. The first time I came here I got the Screen Door Plate, which for $13.75 lets you pick three items off their side or local plate menus. This is an awesome deal, because included on the sides are pork chops, catfish, beans, vegetables galore, and that isn't even what is listed on the local menu (heirloom tomatoes, sauteed sweet corn, squash)! It is a HUGE meal. So, last time I tried the collard greens (which I must not like in general), the mac and cheese (meh), and a veggie (can't even remember what it was...). I remember my fellow diners thinking the food was fantastic, but I didn't really get it Now I have been transformed... Last night I tried a bit of everyone's from my table: the brisket is INCREDIBLE, the fried chicken is probably the best I have ever had, and my trout was delicious. We also started by splitting a beet salad, heirloom tomatoes, and a peach salad - all fantastic. This is a great restaurant - price, service, food - all worth consuming food not worth eating without being dumped in a pot of hot oil. (Okra, I am looking at you!)
(4)
Ben M.
The food? Ridiculous (as in good). Um, whatever! Seriously good food and very reasonable prices. We went for brunch and everyone at my table had amazing food and good service.
(5)
Katie W.
Be prepared to wait - but the wait is worth it! Great southern food :) So many good things I wanted to try on the menu~ I had the fried green tomato BLT and my boyfriend had the fried chicken piled high on top of waffles (I can't remember the official name). But both were oh-so-good! Tons of people, great energy, and you leave with a happy stomace~ Only one criticism...for a southern restaurant their Sweet Tea is not that great~ Tasted like a Lipton to me :p
(4)
Bob S.
I think this place is always busy no matter what time of day. I've never not waited to get a seat. Its worth it though. Definitely on my top 10 restaurants in Portland. Trust me Breakfast/Brunch is a tasty tango for your taste buds. Service is OK but the food is great southern style.
(4)
Colin B.
Oh my god, a real southern restaurant. A place to get authentic fried chicken and okcra. The food here is to die for, if you like southern food you won't be able to stop coming here. Its right down the street from me too, I'm screwed. Especially recommend the screen door place, mix and match and make your own.
(5)
kaitlin p.
Never have I been to a restraint with so many Yelp reviews, and now I understand why. This food was more than worthy of a positive yelp review, although mine will inevitably be drowned out amongst the rest. Nonetheless I must give my quick two cents about the quality, natural, untainted deliciousness of this little quaint restaurant we walked two miles to find and then waited in the long, but quick line out the door just to get seated. It did not disappoint when it started with a local beet salad, followed by our fantastic meal. I ordered the burger, my classic go-to (when I know the meat is quality farm-raised beef) it was amazing with a crispy charred crust and perfectly juicy on the inside. The French fries were nothing special, and compared with the mac and cheese, jambalaya, and mashed potato sides I got a bite of from my dinner mates, they didn't hold a candle. The few bites I got of the fried chicken and chicken tenders might have been the single greatest, juiciest chicken I've ever eaten. Props to this restaurant
(4)
Michael O.
From Texas and just passing through....I gotta say this place is LEGIT! I had the pork shoulder and my gf had the fried chicken. Damn this food is great. Only down side was how long it takes the kitchen to prepare them. But in retrospect the food is well worth the wait. Some ice in their water wouldn't hurt either. They serve regular room temperature water when you sit down. Not sure if that's a Portland thing or not.
(5)
Coleen C.
Let me start this review by saying I'm not from this area and this is a 4.5-star establishment. Our beautiful Portlandia host and hostess put us up for a few nights and we had the pleasure of buying them breakfast at Screen Door, among other places. We arrived not early enough (8:45?) on a Saturday morning and the place was jam-packed, cram-packed, what have you: it was very crowded. I thought, "Ah crap... this is going to be one of those places like Clinton St Baking Co (in NYC) that suck, but the locals blow it up like Christmas!" Wrong. This place is off the heezy. I never associated Portland with sassy Southern cooking, but there it is. We LOVED it, and it's one of the places people talk about long after they return home from their Portland trip. On to the food: *Fried Chicken and Waffles - usually, my husband gets this dish at Roscoe's in Long Beach, so there was some skepticism. The plate had so much fried chicken, all of it deliciously prepared, tender and juicy, stabbed through the center with a knife (to attach it to the waffle). The waffle was crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Perfect. The only tragedy here was that there was only one waffle. Boo! We could've actually done with slightly less chicken and more waffle. *Brioche Vanilla Bean French Toast - Perfectly prepared French toast, a winner. You know how some French toast is a little stinky, a little too egg-y? Not this one. It's the right combination of bread, egg and sweet and it was so easy to clear that plate. *Praline bacon - holy moly, this bacon is tasty, but really bad for you. Probably about a million calories and sweet. Even a decadent person can only have one piece before regret starts to set in. More of a novelty side order for the whole table. Moral of the story: get there early or late because your ass is gonna have to wait for a table, especially if you have more than four people, you need to prepare. The food and service is worth it, so just set your alarm and skip the shower!
(4)
Christy H.
Just had my mind blown with one of the best breakfasts ever. No joke. This place is amazing and that is why you will be waiting at least an hour if not longer to grab a seat. Get ready to have a heaping plate of food that will leave you needing a to go box for some sure left overs. The plates have heaping mounds of things like fried chicken in between a heap of gravy and biscuit, thick chopped corned beef hash with spinach, mushroom and stout-creamy mustard, eggs benny, biscuits and gravy (mushroom or sausage), chicken and waffle, breakfast sammies......etc. Everything they do here is good. Hands down. The chicken is piled high on a few dishes adding to an abundance of southern flair. You can get some tasty bloody mary's or an order of champagne while you wait for your table. Coffee is also self-serve while you wait. Nice to warm you up on a cold morning if you are waiting outside. They have an awesome dinner menu as well with more fried chicken and sides of greens or grits. You really can't go wrong with this place. Dinner was great. I think the breakfast was even better. Yummy yummy in my tummy tummy tummy. Totally worth the wait. If you haven't been here you just might me missing out on the some of the best food in town so go check it out!!!
(5)
Clarence E.
It's a Christmas Miracle! I live in Seattle but come down to Portland every couple months. I've been trying to eat here ever since a friend kept going on an on about their fried chicken and waffles. Alas, It was never meant to be. The line has always been crazy long. Until last weekend. I stopped in Christmas Eve morning, because everywhere else was closed, and what the hell!? It was open and no wait whatsoever! The food was great. I had a ridiculously huge sandwich of biscuits, gravy, and fried chicken. I'm no food critic, but it was so, so, so good. The chicken was perfect. The biscuits where light and huge in size. On the other end of the spectrum, my friend is one of those hard core vegans that complains about everything. He had some sort of vegetable concoction and also concluded that it was about the tastiest breakfast he'd ever had. I probably won't be back ever again, because of the ridiculous, never ending line. But, if you're patient or can manage to wake up at a decent time it's highly recommended to check out.
(5)
Jeremy E.
Always come when I am in town... fried chicken is a must.
(5)
Jasmine L.
There's a good reason why this place is always packed and there's always a line... the food here is exceptionally tasty! We came here for brunch and got the candied-pecan bacon, biscuits & gravy, eggs benedict and bananas foster french toast. The candied-pecan bacon was excellent, my only issue was the bacon was a little soft and I prefer bacon to be more well done, but other than that the flavor was really intense and it tasted like candy. The biscuits and gravy was awesome - the biscuits were flaky, moist and warm and the sausage gravy had a nice spice to it. The eggs benedict, which is my favorite brunch item to order was nearly perfect - the only thing I would have liked was for the hollandaise sauce to be hot (it was cool so brought the quality of the dish down a bit). And the bananas foster french toast I wasn't that big of a fan of and I thought it had an awkward taste. Regardless of the french toast, everything else was super tasty and the service was great!
(4)
Sean M.
Shit man! Why didn't anyone tell me about this earlier! Sweet potato fries, mash with gravy, cornbread, and two huge chunks of boneless fried chicken for $20. Geezus man! This place was fantastic. Wait out the door though. About an hour so be prepared. Especially if cold or rainy. GO HERE!
(5)
Jessica W.
This is one of our very favorite restaurants in Portland. It is the place we take our friends out to eat, as well as our out of town guests. I have tasted nothing on the menu which I would not recommend. Both dinner and brunch are well worth the visit. The crispy fried buttermilk-battered chicken is the best I've had, so at least one person at the table should order it (this goes for both dinner and brunch). The mac & cheese is yummy as well. The one downside of this place is the extreme wait. Pretty much always expect to wait up to an hour. Screendoor is in an area with other restaurants however, so you can put your your name in and go elsewhere for pre-dinner drinks and/or appetizers. Once seated, the experience is great and I also leave eating more than I should - the food is so good, I can't stop!
(5)
Phillip B.
Wife and I made the trip to visit some friends in Portland for the first time. Came straight away after arriving at Portland International. Screen Door is located in a cutesy spot, just a bit out of downtown Portland. We walked up sometime around 11 a.m. and the place was swamped. No worries, we're enjoying catching up while helping ourselves to some complimentary coffee. We finally get seated and it's a bit cozy, but I like that intimate type of atmosphere. I'm really not a big breakfast...eggs and toast kind of guy. Most breakfast spots give the same reiteration of eggs/sausage/bacon/bread. In other words, nothing new; no interesting element; no twist, et cetera. Not with Screen Door. When you think of your classic foodie spot, this is it. They've got Texas Toast, bacon & hock collard greens, and piemento cheese! C'mon maaaaaayne! I ordered the Fried Chicken Cathead Biscuit, as well as the Prailine Bacon as a side. The plate comes out and there is a giant hunk of savory fried battered chicken sandwiched between two homemade buttermilk biscuits and covered in country gravy. It came with homefries spiced just right. See picture: tinyurl.com/ct6yayl The prailine bacon was unbelievably good. It had the perfect combo of salty sweet and was one of those times when something is so good you savor it. The waitress could not have been any nicer and put the proverbial cherry on top of the experience. This was such a great way of starting off our trip to Portland. I would emphatically recommend this spot if you visit "Bridgetown."
(5)
Mark B.
One of my absolute favorite restaurants in all of Portland! Lucky for me, I live a mere 10 minute walk away from this bustling, yet cozy, neighborhood jewel. While the service isn't always "with a smile", you can usually always count on attentiveness, at least, with not TOO much attitude.
(5)
Chad C.
I've been meaning to go here for some time now, and a friend was finishing up a volunteer gig close-in SE so he and I headed over, after having read through Yelp and Google for what was nearby. The wait ended up being about 35-45 minutes (we spent a bunch of time in the car after we got there because I was fixing his stereo; long story). This place has a really great ambience, a bit noisy but not loud...it never got on my nerves, and I'm really quick to get irritated. After we were seated, the server came by promptly with some water, and was more than happy to talk about the weather, what drinks we were interested in, knew the specials in detail...and was just so friendly! I'd been wanting to try a Hot Toddy for a while (I've never lived, apparently) and when I discovered it looked kind of like TheraFlu and tasted mostly not-alcoholic, she was genuinely disappointed. We were so enticed by the description of the specials my friend and I just ordered both, along with sweet potato fries as an appetizer. The specials were a braised bone-in pork chop on a bed of vegetables with some sort of sweet sauce and a bowl of rice and beans topped with fried chicken. The fries were sweet potato fries - amazing! And our entrees were beyond any human capability to describe. The pork chop...Oh, the pork chop. Every bite of this was moist and delicious. Seriously, the next time I come here, I may ask to substitute a second pork chop for the vegetables. While the beans and chicken were equally fantastic, my friend said he didn't care for the rice, but the pork chop...this was truly something to write home about. I'll probably mention it in my autobiography. Did I mention the server was beyond friendly and genuinely happy? I will definitely be going back to this place. Gave it 4 stars this trip because of the wait, next time I'll be making reservations (if they take them)!
(4)
Dice K.
Fried chicken was great! Nice service. I'd have to come back to try their desserts. Also, there're lots of interesting restaurants and pubs right around the corner on 28th street. Have to remember that for my next visit.
(5)
Melanie F.
this place was super busy on a sunday night at 7pm. hot damn...i guess it must be good. got the pecan crusted trout and substituted the fingerlings for creamy grits. YUM. the sauce for the fish was a dijon mustard butter sauce. REALLY GOOD! and it comes with some greens too. very visually appealing, and even more appealing to my tummy :)
(4)
Laura G.
Screen Door is one of my favorite places to eat when I'm in Portland. The weekends require an early arrival or the risk of a long wait if you want brunch, but the sacrifice either way is well worth it. The concept is simple, the drinks are strong, and the execution is fantastic. My favorites are the waffle with bacon baked in + praline-crusted bacon. I like bacon, okay? The cat head biscuit sandwich, chicken & waffles, and biscuits & gravy are other fantastic choices. Be prepared for portions that are bigger than your head, but you won't regret strolling out like you need to loosen your belt a notch. The one suggestion I would make is to avoid sitting at the bar, if you can help it (or if you can put off eating for that long). The only reason for that is because the bartenders do double-duty with the drinks and with distributing food, so the service might feel a little slow.
(5)
Miriam M.
my god the pecan bacon
(5)
Kyle G.
Got there at 9AM and the line was already around the corner. didn't get sat until 10am but the wait was worth it. The atmosphere inside is very comfortable and the food was amazing! Be warned when you order, you better be ready to eat a LOT! Chicken and waffles included THREE WHOLE chicken breasts on top of a full Belgian sweet potato waffle. It was dam good :)
(4)
Eric M.
This place rocks. True comfort food, prepared perfectly in a lively setting. The fried chicken is to die for. It is ultra moist, crunchy with a peppery finish. The brisket melts in your mouth it is so tender. And when the check came I was pleasantly surprised...$78 for all 5 of us (including 3 beers). This was probably the case because we shared 3 entrees, a salad and a few other sides. Our group of 5 showed up on the Sunday evening before Thanksgiving at about 6:30 pm and had to wait 45 minutes. This gave us time to scope out people's orders and we all knew we had to have the chicken. By the time we left there was no line at all. The only drawback is the calorie count. I would hate to know that number!
(5)
Ann m.
The food here is really wonderful. I've eaten here twice and both times had the Screen Door Plate which is a choice of 3 menu items and cornbread. The jewel of the menu for me is the local/organic vegetable sides and of course the mac and cheese. I also really loved the fried okra starter. Come hungry and early as the place fills up early and the waiting list is long after 6:30 each evening!
(5)
J L.
Decadent and delicious. They do not skimp with the portions here. Had the egg/grits special and chicken n waffles.
(4)
Rowan H.
I'm originally from the South, and I absolutely love this place. The food is so good (I recommend the fried chicken and the pulled pork sandwich). Sometimes they have homemade ice cream that is insanely good. THEY HAVE SWEET TEA. LET ME REPEAT. THEY. HAVE. SWEET. TEA. To anyone not from the West Coast, this is a big deal, because it is very difficult to find sweet tea at a restaurant. When I go there I drink glass after glass of it, but the servers dutifullyrefill it constantly. Brunch is also very good, although I don't recommend the biscuits and gravy, because they have these bizzarre square biscuits that I cannot for the life of me understand. This is one of those places that I will just keep coming back to again and again. The only problem is that its a bit pricy for my college student budget, but when I want to take a girl out to a nice dinner, this is where I go. (I'm under 21, but you better believe that when I turn 21 I am going to try the drinks here, because they seem pretty awesome.)
(5)
Emily W.
Charming little diner that really just snuck up on us (not literally) as we cruised by on the bus for some AM exploration. We were in need of some morning fuel the Screen Door fit the bill! The staff was super friendly and the food was very good. The praline bacon was worth the triple bypass I will need one day.
(4)
Ed B.
The Screen Door ROCKS. We went here last night for my partner's birthday dinner and had a fabulous experience. The food was sublime, the service was excellent, and the prices were affordable. I honestly could not believe how hopping this place was on a Tuesday night. We arrived just before 8:00pm, and there was about a 15 minute wait on the sign-in sheet. Right after we signed in, several more groups arrived, pushing the wait time to probably 20-30 minutes for those groups. No worries, though, as we ordered some drinks and perused the menu while waiting. I got a Scarlett O'Hara (Southern Comfort, cranberry, and lime), and my partner ordered the Texas Black Gold (tequila, blackberry puree, and lemonade). Both were tasty and STRONG. We were seated at a tiny 2-person table in the middle of the busy floor, but I didn't feel squashed at all. The service was truly superb - friendly, attentive, and responsive, without hovering or being in your face. The vibe you get from the employees is that they are really enjoying themselves, which makes the dining experience all that much better. My water glass was never empty, even though I had insatiable thirst last night for some reason. We started off with an appetizer of mildly-spicy pimiento cheese spread with crackers. Dinner for me was the buttermilk fried chicken, which was divine. The chicken was moist, bursting with flavor, and not the least bit greasy or oily, and was served with a peppery tasso ham gravy on the side that added perfect kick. The mashed potatoes and the collard greens for the sides were just okay. My partner ordered the pecan-crusted trout, which was also absolutely delicious. I am not a fan of trout, but this was prepared so well that I scarfed up the sample bites that I tried from his plate. The portions are huge - neither of us could finish our meals. I agree with some of the previous reviews that the chicken could serve as a meal for two. Instead we just had our leftovers boxed up and now we have something tasty to bring to work for lunch. We saved room in the dessert compartments (which as anyone knows are completely separate from your main dish compartment) of our stomachs to split an order of the chocolate cake. The cake was served with fresh vanilla bean ice cream and a gorgeous drizzle of raspberry sauce... as stuffed as we already were, we somehow polished off this plate as well. As we headed out the door after paying our very reasonable bill (about 50 bucks including a generous tip), the manager (owner?) approached us and asked how our evening was. He seemed more earnest than just the "how was everything" forced-smile query you often receive at other restaurants. We gushed about how much we enjoyed everything, and he chatted with us for a moment before we headed out. All in all, it was a wonderful evening and I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Gordon M.
Two words: Fried Chicken! As of this writing, I've been to Screen Door four or five times for dinner. I actually had my birthday dinner here last year with six friends. The staff is very friendly and helpful, and not afraid to share their opinions on their own favorite dishes. While I've dabbled with the menu quite a bit on each visit, I finally decided to try the fried chicken. The chicken is boneless, with a corn flake crust. Light, not oily, and served with this delicious spicy gravy on the side. The serving is quite large and perfect for two. They also make a really nice Sazerac (rye whiskey and bitters), which is a traditional drink from New Orleans and very well done here (unlike versions I've had elsewhere in Portland). The wait can be horrendous if you don't arrive early. I usually like to get there about 15 minutes before the place opens for dinner and then I'm assured a timely meal. If you like southern style cooking, then you should try the Screen Door.
(4)
Deez N.
Recently brunched here a trip through Portland and loved it. The place is pretty big and busy so there is a wait, but things do keep moving. I had a good view of the kitchen from my seat and everything looked so amazing, fresh, and quality coming out of the kitchen. The most amazing thing anyone at our table got was the fried chicken and waffle. The fried chicken alone is awesome. They do something great to the batter and it's a little spicy and the chicken is perfectly cooked. They present it with three pieces piled on a sweet potato waffle with a knife stuck through the top, through all the pieces, and into the waffle. It's served with maple syrup and is a big portion. Fucking yum. One thing I'm deducting a star for is the biscuits. I am a biscuit kind of girl and was really disappointed. I like a biscuit that melts in your mouth and is crispy/flakey on the outside moist on the inside and ready to melt butter. The biscuits at Screen Door are kind of dry and flavorless, square cut out from a pan, and not butter melting temperature. It was like a lukewarm buttermilk bread.
(4)
B B.
I'd give this place 3.5 stars, but since they were pretty friendly people, I'll bump 'em to a 4 star review. Crap, it's been too long since I ate here, I can't really remember what I liked about the restaurant. I remember water spilling and it being promptly cleaned up. I can't remember if we spilled it or if the waitress did. I remember being talked to by at least 2 different tables nearby (real friendly atmosphere). I remember a REALLY long wait to get a table and tons of people waiting outside. And I remember eating lots of comfort food with tons leftover to take home. Oh, and we started with hush puppies, and then I think we all went for the Screen Door Plate, which lets you pick three items. While the rest of my party picked light veggie-type dishes, I went for two orders of crispy catfish (heh heh, wanted to get my money's worth), and some seasonal zucchini. It was lots of food.. But let me tell you, I also remember eating the leftovers the next day and it tasting real good. Yes, even the crispy fried catfish. Would definitely go back, but hopefully on a day where it's way less crowded like the Super Bowl or Christmas.
(4)
Rachel R.
Have only been for brunch, but that was really quite amazing. Definitely recommend the chicken and waffles and the Bloody Mary. The chicken and waffles were huge, chicken wasn't dry at all. Bloody Mary was the perfect amount of spicy. Only thing to be aware of is the line... It goes out the door.
(4)
Dahlia S.
Bottom line at the top: best fried chicken I've ever had. -- First dinner out in portland and it was amazing!! Thought we'd cruise right through because it was raining but the line was still super long and people were prepared with umbrellas. Sat at the bar and had the fried chicken (super peppery and crispy and yummy), and the screen door plate with Mac and cheese (good crust but the rest was too bland), the best cornbread and butter EVER, lentil off the special menu, and a goat cheese salad also off the special menu. Wayy too much food for two but so worth it.
(5)
Andy V.
Great experience for breakfast and soooooo muchhhh foood. The chicken was piled high and the waffles were hot and toasty. Fried chicken was crispy without being too oily. We also had the tofu omelet. I was a bit skeptical with the meatless option, but it was still rather tasty. Top it off with a bloody mary and a double of vodka and it was great. Our server was also a very nice fellow. Be prepared to wait in line though, because it gets packed fast.
(5)
Ryan H.
I recently handed out a five-star love-fest to Simpatica and I felt it only right to lavish some praise on an almost-perfect competitor. As a matter of fact, had I been to Screen Door first, it may have received the coveted five-banger. As a tyke, I developed a lust for country gravy, as my Oklahoman grandmother (yeah, my REAL grandma, Laura) made it a few different ways and it was always on the dining table, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Savory, peppery, thick, consistent, and adaptive to whatever meat she decided to mix in - most often a pork variation - Grandma Edith's gravy brought her Baptist co-brimstone-ers to the trailer park mid-week because they couldn't wait until Sunday. This affinity demands that I order the biscuits and gravy or whatever dish features gravy at every breakfast restaurant I initially patronize. So it was at Screen Door and unless I'm waterboarded into trying something else, I'll order it again and again. Their mildly dense corn meal based biscuits were a perfect, never soggy, vehicle for the sauce which featured huge, and I do mean huge, chunks of country sausage. The size and quality of the sausage is what clearly sets this gravy apart, and above, from others in town, including Simpatica (who still gets five instead of four because bison ain't no biscuit, baby). Really, the only reason Screen Door gets four instead of five is because our server, though a total sweetheart, repeatedly forgot requested items, coffee was slow, and our food took forever to get to the table. Yeah, it was super busy...it's called Saturday at 10:30 in close-in SE. Screen Door...my Grandma Edith is smilin' knowing that her skinny little grandson isn't living in a gravy-less world.
(4)
Nanielle T.
I think screen Door is one of my new favorites. I recentley went there with a group of friends and the wait was long but worth it. I had the eggs benedict and my boyfriend had the fried chicken and waffles-which really tastes surprisingly good together. The service was pretty good for how busy the place was and there Hollandaise sauce is heavenly. If you're a bacon fan, try the prailine bacon sooooo ....good! I really like this place and can't wait to go for dinner sometime. If you do go just so you know... it's definatly not low fat.
(4)
Susie J.
So, we decided to start trying a restaurant we haven't been to at least once a week. Why did we have to start with this place? It's going to be hard to talk my husband into trying something else. I can hear it now " Why don't we just go to the Screen Door?" I started off with the Texas black gold. Tequila, blackberries and lemonade. The husband loved it too. The people that work there are amazingly nice and welcoming and you want to be their friend and just hang out with them. I had the pick 3 sides plates with fried catfish, sweet potato fries and an amazing salad. He had the fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy and collard greens. All of the above were some of the best I've had anywhere in my whole life and I'm from the south and I'm old enough to be your mama. I also got cornbread with mine. ditto. Actually maybe it will be me saying let's not try anything new. Let's just go back to the Screen Door.
(5)
Ann K.
Date Visited: Sunday 4/13/08 (Brunch) Before the restaurant opened at 9 a.m., there was a swarm of people waiting to get in. We had a group of 12 or so and had a reservation (I think, so when our host got a table and the rest of us started to just streamline in, I could tell some people weren't so happy we were being seated before them. With a line like that, the food has to be really, really good...right? I thought it was okay. I ordered the Tofu & Egg Scramble. It came with your choice of potatoes or cheddar grits and white or wheat toast. I made the mistake of wanting to try grits for the first time. In one word or sound...EWWW. The tofu/egg scramble was pretty good and I'd probably have it again. The coffee was really good. I guess they use Stumptown Coffee (I say that as if it means something personal to me though it means absolutely nothing). The toast was good. Service, all things considered, wasn't too terrible. They came around to fill up our coffee cups on a regular basis, so that kept us content. However, it seemed the food took a really long time. However, we did have a large group of people and we got in just as a bunch of other (smaller groups) got in and just had to deal with our food when they could prepare it. Not sure if I'd take my Meetup group for brunch here, but I wouldn't rule it out either. They had a decent amount of vegetarian and/or vegan options on their brunch menu, so you never know. If I do, I'll update this review.
(3)
Meghan H.
Food: southern-fried goodness Service: always efficient, and the food comes out fast Alcohol: they got it, even for breakfast Fave dishes: chicken 'n waffles, biscuits 'n gravy with eggs (or other dishes with 'n in the name) Warning: do not sit outside until after May 1st, or until the tree out front stops dropping its little pollen-coated pods into your food and coffee.
(5)
Paul S.
Praline Bacon... Get it. Trust me on this one. Worth every calorie and cholesterol point. The southern fare is done up right with a bit of a northwest flair. Chicken and waffles, biscuits and gravy, etc etc etc They brew Stumptown coffee and have it out for you while you wait. Not overly saturated with butter and fat but not a plain salad healthy either. It's great for a meal to settle in your stomach after a long night out. Portions are on the slightly larger than normal size but sometimes that's just right. Expect a bit of a wait at the door but it's worth it.
(5)
Tabitha R.
I'm not sure I even need to review this place ... seems everything I could say has been said. Yummy ... yummy ... yummy. We've been twice - once for dinner and once for brunch. Both were delicious. I highly recommend this place ... and it's worth the wait.
(5)
Frank Lee F.
Dave (one of the owners) is charming - calm under pressure, warm and gracious, and knows how to serve up (an abundant plate of) food to satisfy my soul. Maybe it's the mint julep or old fashioned, lubricating my experience each meal, but I see god a little every time I dine here. Have to pace myself cause it's easy to order too much, and everything tastes so good it's hard to stop once it's in front of you. Butter lettuce salad started a love affair with radishes... low country grits with shrimp make me drool (a common theme here, I see)... sweet potato mash, one of the best burgers in portland, beautiful seasonal specials - a tribute to local foods. This is the place I go, and take special folks, when I need a serious recharge or want to bank on a great meal. My only disappointment - I never have room for dessert. Guessing they're spot on as well. Someday I'll find out for sure.
(5)
Laura N.
I have a southern relative whom we all call Grandma Mamie. To be honest, I have NO clue how we are related to Mamie Garner, because she is most certainly not my granny, but we all just role with it. Every so often we'll visit Grandma Mamie. We'll watch as she lovingly scrapes a single tablespoon of tater-tot casserole into a Tupperware container. We will marvel at the strength of her gastrointestinal tract as she thaws, cooks, and refreezes a pork roast until the poor little piggy just sits up and squeals to be put out of its misery. And we will ogle her ever-growing jar (homemade, no less) of bacon grease. (Note to non-Southerners...do NOT attempt to throw this "essential cooking ingredient" out - what will happen will be a complete blur, but the reaction will be swift) 2004 was the last time I saw Grandma Mamie and at the time news reports were flooding in of this so-called "Fat Virus." Grandma Mamie was a big proponent of the theory (big being the key word...) "Bring it on," she said, "I have a lot of skinny friends I need to sneeze on." In my daily life, I run quite happily on a menu that essentially consists of air and tofu, so a trip to Screen Door is like a journey directly back to Grandma Mamie's double-wide. I ate hush puppies, brisket, cornbread, and collard greens - all while sipping on a mint julep. I almost couldn't help but throw in phrases like "I shoulda could," "precious and dahlin," and "y'all." Grandma Maime will be so proud.
(4)
b t.
Hands-down my favorite spot in all of pdx! The fried chicken and waffles for brunch is amazing and the low-country shrimp and grits is the best in the world! Sure, you may have to wait for a hour+ sometimes, but it is worth it.
(5)
Amy A.
This place is fab. Nice service, casual, great atmosphere-classic "portland urban comfy." The "local organics" list is chock full of great options. Everything was delicious! My dinner partners had the carolina bbq (just thinking about the vinegar tinged dish is making me salivate right now...my poor keyboard is drowning in my drool. Gross, but true.) and the ribs-ribs so tender and moist, I think I'll ditch my current dinner plans and go there...right...now.
(5)
Mark B.
I'm just saying fried chicken breast is NOT my fried chicken. Gimme a leg, a thigh, wing, I might even eat a back if I my dog was starving(I own no dog). Yes, I ordered it (Fried Chicken) expecting some pieces of chicken but I got a 2 fried chicken breasts. I can say it was decent, the pepper was there, the moistness was there, the breading was a little hard, but overall decent. I'm trying to find Fried Chicken nirvana in Portland and I'll need to keep clucking along... We went on a Friday night (2 of us), got seated in less than 10 minutes, great time. The butter lettuce salad was bomb, I could have had two of those and gotten up happy. Normally you go to a nice place and they have every color of lettuce in a salad but green, however this one was exactly as I wanted. Crisp, bleu cheese (my second favorite cheese), bacon and some dressing. I'm a southerner at heart, the sweet tea was unsweet, I'd hate to see the unsweetened tea or better yet, it probably was that thing they called water also on the table. My wife's catfish was good according to her, to me the batter could've been better but it was fried not too hard and not too soft. Service was around a B, the wait for food was like 20-30 minutes, and when the server was asked about it, she said yes it is taking long. Where am I, Burger King? Could she check on it, no.... Other than that she was pleasant. I like the menu and may go back to give it another spin. This should probably be a 3.5 stars but I only can select the half stars when I've had 4 more drinks.
(4)
Jes P.
I initially went here for Breakfast (I drug myself out of bed at 8am on a Saturday to get into line before the doors opened) and didn't think it was worth it at all. There are MUCH better breakfast spots in town (Pine State Biscuits, Mother's Bistro, etc). And breakfast is important to me. My problems with the breakfast relate to my Southern persuasion: 1. It should be said that nobody in the South actually eats fried chicken for breakfast- this is a total NW creation and spin on Southern food. My friend ordered the Sweet Potato Waffle and Fried Chicken. They were both pretty tasty, but 3 MASSIVE fried chicken breasts for breakfast is an insane portion (there were leftovers for days). Anyway, I just don't want anyone thinking this is usual Southern tradition or fare. 2. The Cheese grits were AWFUL. I have never in my life not eaten my grits. Hell, I like instant grits, but these grits were atrocious. I was so dismayed that I got up early and waited in line for horrible grits, I think it overshadowed the rest of my meal. The waitress insisted they used Tillamook cheese, but I had just made cheese grit casserole for my derby party not long before, using Tillamook, and it was no where near that color or flavor. Anyway, she didn't offer to remove it from my bill but I insisted. However, since that time I have gone back for dinner and find it much more enjoyable. The dinner options are delicious and original, particularly the local organics menu. And the cocktails are delicious. My one negative for dinner is the service. The bar service can be a little slow (we had a 20 minute wait on a 2nd Mint Julep) and the food always comes out a bit staggered. Plates are brought 1 or 2 at a time so it seems one person is always waiting for 5 minutes while the rest of us eat. Regardless, the service is friendly and well intentioned so I will continue to frequent this place for dinner. But I would say the wait for breakfast isn't worth it. June 3, 2008 Update- I am upping this place to 4 stars because I love the dinner SO much. It is currently one of my faves- YUM!
(4)
Lemonjelly L.
Ooooof. I could not turn down the opportunity to try the chicken and waffle. Oooof. Four fried chicken breasts on a waffle. Oooof. I ate one. I gave away the second at the table. The third was breakfast at the airport. The fourth was lunch at the airport, wedged into a small loaf of sourdough bread. And it sure as hell beat the best airport food that SFO could offer. A small group dined there easter sunday. We were sat within 35 minutes. Of all the meals, the fried oysters benedict and the chicken and waffle were the impressive ones at the table. The breakfast corndog was good, but totally upstaged by all the other food. Everyone loved the gin fizz. "Propa!" seemed to be the word at the table on the gin fizz. Extra props for uber nice people sitting around us. I was caught by another diner with my "omg" face looking at his praline bacon and he responded by handing me a slice.
(4)
Dennis K.
This is the most flavorful and tender fried chicken I have ever had. The hamburger is also amazing. I think everything I've tried here is good: soups, desserts, drinks, etc. It is a homey/rustic environment. The tables are packed in close together.. The atmosphere is open and noisy. The lights are dim. Prices are very reasonable for what you get. If I lived in Portland I would come here once a month. Be prepared to wait in line a couple of hours.
(5)
Brad W.
The Quick & Dirty: - Awesome food - Crazy fast service - Great decor - Eclectic East Portlanders all around The Details: My girlfriend and I had Easter Sunday late brunch at The Screen Door and were blown away. The decor is really cool and totally East Portland, as is the clientele. I had the Fried Oyster Benedict with a Creole Bloody Mary and she had Eggs Sardou with a Mimosa. I absolutely love when a restaurant puts a tasty twist on breakfast, like they do here. The Oysters were perfectly salty and crispy, as was the bacon atop the benidict. Coffee was hot and always full and the food arrived almost as fast as our drinks were prepared. I'd go back and recommend it to anyone that loves a good breakfast that's beyond the old staples of pancakes and eggs. Two very enthusiastic thumbs up.
(5)
Sheila Y.
K...everything I ordered this Saturday literally rocked my world...Fried Oyster Benedict was mind blowing....Maple Pecan Bacon was trans-formative...and the Biscuit rivaled that of my all time favorite Brunch spot in Boulder (see Lucile's above). My spicy Bloody Mary had just the right amount of kick to tingle my tongue and heat up my stomach. It definitely impressed this Seattleite that they served bottomless Stumptown when I walked in and to be honest the wait was not that bad. And let me tell you...the wait is soo worth it. Service was attentive and super sweet. We never felt bad for actually being customers (take note Seattle). Also I just basically felt a great vibe off the clientele. There is something about Portland that makes me fall in love with it everytime I go.
(5)
T. C.
I was astounded to find a place up here that had fried chicken and waffles. Having spent four years in LA, I immediately recalled memories of the original thing from Roscoe's Chick'n n Waffles...sounds strange, but amazingly yummy. This place isn't Roscoe's, but it is darn good. They give you three HUGE pieces of fried white meat chicken strips on an enormous sweet potato belgian waffle. The whole thing is dusted with powdered sugar and held together by a knife plunged through those honking huge pieces of chicken on top of the waffle. It takes some maneuvering to assemble the dish properly As my sister and I have discovered through many trips to Roscoe's, you have to pour the syrup onto the waffle, then lay the chicken on top of the waffle, then pour gravy (which you have to order on the side) over the chicken. Then dig in! (oh, very importantly, chicken and waffle go in your mouth at the same time) Their chicken here is great...they might be lacking the juicy dark meat chicken that you can order at Roscoe's, but it is fried perfectly, not at all greasy, plus they make their batter a little spicy so it's got this incredible kick to it. I was only able to finish a piece and a half of it before my stomach protested. They had a special of ham and asiago biscuits that morning (deee-lish!!) which were absolute perfection, not too greasy, but flaky and flavorful. They didn't require any butter or anything else. Their coffee is bottomless. Their eggs fluffy. Their potatoes are big and chunky slices but roasted and crispy on the outside. How can this not be the perfect brunch place? Be prepared for a wait however since it seems that others have also realized this fact as well!! Overall, this place gets a solid four and a half stars. The only reason I took anything off is because my heart will always beat for the original Roscoe's.
(4)
Rajesh K.
I have tried to come here for brunch couple of times only to be disappointed by the long queue on weekends. Instead I tried this place for dinner on a weekday and I was able to get seated within 15 minutes. I have to admit I love screen door. The fried chicken was so good I have had dreams about it. I mean what was i eating before. Damn the perfect crunchiness of the fried skin and the moist chicken was unbelievable. The mac n cheese is another such dish. I mean wow so cheesy and tasty unbelievable The food portions are HUGE and I was able to save the leftovers for dinner the next day. Man writing this review is making me want to go back now. I will try my luck again this weekend to see if I can get in early for brunch.
(5)
Chris M.
Wow! This breakfast is with the wait! I had the Cats Head sandwich with the roasted potatoes. Perfectly fried chicken on an amazing homemade biscuit with gravy. Our table shared some of the delicious praline bacon with a hint of cayenne that was to die for! The waiter was very friendly and knew his menu very well. The Bloody Mary was delicious, and my wife and niece were blown away by the chicken and waffles they had to split! I definitely recommend this establishment to anyone looking for a great southern home style meal!!!
(5)
Nathan L.
Great service and amazing menu selection. Prices are surprisingly reasonable for the quality and portions of such wonderful food. The only downside like any good spot is the long wait times. Get here early and be prepared to wait in line before they even open.
(5)
Larry H.
This is a relatively new restaurant that took the place of a furniture store that no one went to apparently. The interior looks dim and muted, which is nice with the candles. They have a pretty full bar that makes decent drinks, but the food is crap for the price you're paying. If you get the appetizer of shrimp and grits, you get 3 bland measly shrimp and passable grits for $8.95 which is a huge scam. The fried green tomatoes at a little under $6 were 6 small slices undercooked with a bland cornmeal crust and served with a remoulade that tasted like 1000 island dressing. Again, friggin' tomatoes for $6, ridiculous. The smoked pork sandwich for around $10 is really just braised pork with almost no flavour whatsoever. The cheeseburger, also around $10, cooked medium rare tends to be well done, although the fries were decent. The seasonal seafood might be good on some nights, but when it's the most expensive thing on the menu, you expect quality and not undercooked potatoes and tough fish. The chef at this place is either just a schmuck or his cooks are crap, but as the chef it reflects badly on him if he can't control the quality of his food through his staff. Really, being a chef is all about preparing good food, but it seems like this place passed on quality food to concentrate on decor. Unfortunately, this place is a restaurant and not a friggin' lounge. Altogether an unenjoyable experience that left my stomach hungry, as well as my wallet. It'd probably be a good idea to get the furniture store back.
(1)
Cindy T.
1 hour wait. Food came out fast. Portions are HUGE! I thought that I would be a savage and eat everything especially since I was so hungry waiting. I could barely finish half of my food. Definitely 2 meals worth of food. Inexpensive but impressive quality. I ordered the catfish biscuit sandwich (fried chicken as big as a catfish head on a biscuit covered in gravy with side of grits or roasted potatoes). Fried chicken was crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Biscuit was fluffy in the inside and crispy on the outside. Perfectly balanced by the gravy for dipping the chicken and potatoes in.
(5)
Jon R.
Well it's official: Screen Door is huge on Yelp. And with good reason. I had the best fried chicken I've had in my life here. But I've got some facts to back it up. I have Wii Fit which weighs you on a daily basis. Returning from Screen Door I weighed myself: I HAD GAINED 4.6 POUNDS! Well that was mostly the food-baby, because the next day after taking care of some morning business I had lost 2 pounds! That's right 2 pounds of you-know-what (3.5 Courics). So my net gain from my Screen Door meal was 2.6 pounds and 100% worth it. This is some of the best comfort food I've ever had. Their mac n cheese is phenomenal, I've only had better at Cafeteria in NYC. Also they had some interesting Mint Julep type cocktails, I tasted a real Gin-ny one which was bitter and yummy (but I'm mostly a beer guy). I can't wait to come back for breakfast. And please no one read this because the lines here are brutal.
(5)
Holy-foo' X.
This review is based on multiple group take-out experiences @ Screen Door. After we finally brave the crowds to experience brunch on the scene, then I'll reconsider and write again to determine whether or not this truly is "As good as it gets" 5 star. First, I and my entire group absolutely love their catfish. And their pan-fried chicken. The pullet of course is SO hyped I thought a let-down was probable, if not inevitable. Alas we got a huge order of it, and it was devoured instantly, as were the creamy, buttery taters and chicken gravy. Damn, how is it that ANYONE south of the Mason Dixon line lives past the age of 35, eating such victuals, even occasionally? After multiple trips through the south, and long before I discovered the Screen Door, I came to recognize southern cooking not as regional cuisine or even "really, really good" regional cuisine, but a gift from the heavens, bestowed on humanity for the ages. Screen Door does a very nice job bringing we in the PNW a very reasonable interpretation of that divine gift... If lovin' Screen Door's brisket is wrong, I don't never, ever wanna be right. Like crushed velour, it tickled the senses, tickled the palate, then tickles your fancy. This is precisely the sort of slow cooked mastery that enables you to savor the meal hours, and perhaps even days later. Take a nice hot shower, or steam sauna, and you'll experience the meal anew, erupting through your pores.... I also loved Screen Door's vinegary, spicy, ham-infused Collard Greens. I for one am someone who never tires of eating his greens! SD's dirty beans and rice are also top notch. The mac n cheese, while good and even note-worthy, suffers from the saturation in the market we now see; EVERYBODY has what they think is off-the-chain mac-n-cheese. Very hard for anyone to separate from the pack and distinguish themselves w/this dish--- though my personal favorite @ the moment remains Pepper Box, w/the chorizo. Lawd a-mussy! Screen Door's pulled pork and deep-fried pork chops are odd dogs out on the menu. Didn't care at all for either.... there are natural human limits, vaguely understood and forever unseen, but known by all of us instinctively to protect us from certain lines that just should never be crossed. Will I get much resistance, or flak, for stating outright that deep-fried pork chops are just NO... not just a skirmish on the frontier, but a flagrant violation. It's sort of reminiscent of recent, very disturbing news stories about how numerous other countries are fully immersed in experimentation, cloning human-animal hybrids. Some lines you just DON'T cross, capisce? It's like tampering in God's Domain.... allow me to step AWAY, so the coming thunderbolts don't deep-fry me, too! ;p Someday soon we'll be coming by for that unbelievable brunch I've heard and read so much about. In the mean time, thanks so much to the Screen Door. Gotta go out, now, Christine McVie style 'n' sh*t... b/c Screen Door, what's to say but that you make lovin' fun.....
(4)
Ryan F.
We went to Screen Door to celebrate our friend's birthday. We had never been there for dinner before but we have always enjoyed there breakfasts. We got there at 6pm on a Friday night and shockingly enough we got seated outside on their porch within 5 minutes of arriving. We started off with some fried okra which was crispy and delicious. The flavor of the okra wasn't over powered by the crispy batter used. For dinner my wife had the fried chicken with mashed potatoes and collared greens. The chicken was crispy and had a nice little peppery kick. The potatoes were tasty and the greens were very authentic. I had their screen door plate which was a side of cornbread with a choice of 3 of their sides. I had the catfish, jambalaya, and their mac and cheese. The catfish was crispy and in a very light and flavorful batter. The jambalaya was delicious and my friend who is from the south said that it was very authentic to what she enjoyed as a child. Finally, the best for last, the macaroni and cheese was simply amazing. The type of macaroni and cheese that makes you want to lay down and take a long nap after enjoying the cheesy goodness! We will definitely be returning to Screen Door!
(5)
Scott H.
The cathead biscuit and chicken was worth the wait. Would have been 5 stars had the home fries been hot on the plate with everything else. All in all, worth the wait to get in. I will be trying the bananas foster on the next visit.
(4)
Thomas M.
I can't believe what I have been missing out on for so long... I finally had dinner at screen door, when the line for Laurelhurst was 1.5 hours long (like it usually is), I said screw it I will try something else close by, and I sure am glad I did. I thought this place was just known for its awesome breakfast where hipsters line up 30 deep outside or fried chicken and waffles. But the dinner here knocked my socks off. I had the brisket with mashed potatoes and green beams. AMAZINGLY good, I have found a new replacement for Bernie's and Podnah's for some great BBQ. I also had the Bourbon flight which was a very reasonable $11, where I was served 3 shots of excellent and expensive bourbon. I will return very soon.
(5)
Hilary F.
My new favorite alternative to flying home to Alabama! Wow! This place is awesome! Once I got over the pain of paying too much for Southern basics (what my family always called 'poor country food') I fell in love with the place. The sweet tea is awesome and very accurate. The shrimp and grits were perfect and the cornbread (though it doesn't seem to be cooked in a cast iron skillet) was very moist and NOT sweet (which is a good thing). I actually paid money for banana pudding, don't tell my Grandmother!
(4)
Brandy S.
Ok. I think the fact that I have eaten at the Screen Door 3 times in less than two weeks should say something about the variety and quality of the menu. Not only do they have an outstanding selection for meat and vegi eaters, but they also have a rotating seasonal menu that changes every week. Overall: what more can a girl ask for than a roasted vegetable soup and french fries?
(5)
Amy S.
I'm only giving this place 4 stars because of minor cons which I will explain first. Followed by the much more important pros. This place is packed, and therefore very noisy. It's good for kids and families which I enjoy because I'm a single mom, but... it's very noisy. If you go there with a date, sit next to them so you can talk to each other. The server went over things really quickly, made me feel rushed, but at the same time I appreciated the quickness when my son was crying and we needed to get out of there asap. He was on it. We tipped him for that. Now the pros. The food is delicious. It's my new favorite BBQ and Southern food place since Delta Cafe is now kinda far away for us. I thought everything was very fairly priced for how organic, local and amazing it was. Plus, the portions are huge. You don't leave hungry. And now, I'm going to finish my meal from home, since a temper tantrum shortened my meal. :) I will absolutely be back. The menu rotates, and I bet everything is awesome.
(4)
Korin W.
Screen Door is delish! The menu had so many great options, my date and I decided to both get the Screen Door Plate'. The SDP is your choice of three sides or local organics. My SDP consisted of the jambalaya, sweet potato fries, and the local organic honey crisp apple & mixed greens salad. My date's SDP had the mac n cheese, fried catfish, and chili. All sides were absolutely yummy!! My favorites are in order as follows: catfish, apple honey salad, jambalaya, sweet potato fries, mac n cheese, and the chili. We also had the cocktail that has sweet tea vodka along with blood orange juice in it...I could have had 5 of those :) The atmosphere is great! Not too big of a place, and lots of tables, as well as a big enough bar to comfortably sit and have dinner. We went on a Saturday night and it was packed, but we only waited about 10 minutes for a table. Our waiter was lovely and the service was great. I can't wait to go back for brunch!
(4)
Jim W.
Can't go wrong with a place that has Praline Bacon on the Menu. My onlly complaint? It is not open for breakfast during the week days ... and when I go on weekends - I've gotta get up early to beat the crowds. Can I just go sit in the kitchen and eat? I can't wait to go back. Can you open a location in every city I visit? I hate chain restaurants in general - but I'd love to walk through your door more often.
(5)
Matt S.
I wish I could give Screen Door a 5-star review. If not for the owner, I would be writing a horrific review; one that rants and raves about some of the most terrible service I have received in this fine city. The night we came to Screen Door, the service was so terrible that everyone in our party of four was shaking within the first 15 minutes. It appeared that our server simply disliked us from the moment we sat down. And throughout the duration of our visit, the server yelled at us for ordering incorrectly, scolded one of our out-of-town guests for not knowing one of the local beer labels and then spent the rest of the time ignoring us. The next day, I called the owner and explained everything. She was more than gracious and offered to make things right. I can't say enough right things about her. She very much understands how guests need to be treated and for that, I will continue to come back to her restaurant. I understand that every establishment can have a bad egg here or there, I just hope that Christian (not Chris, as we were abruptly instructed before even saying his name) was dealt with for his terrible behavior.
(4)
alvarei a.
Amazing food an the crappiest coffee you can ever find. But that's a common rule in the US... Also the wait on a Sunday morning is ridiculous. Go sign up for a table and go run some errands and come back.
(4)
Tasha D.
My friend and I did the Portland thing and stood stoically in the rain waiting for Screen Door to open on a Sunday morning for brunch. The wait was long, cold, and wet. Once we were let in, we were swiftly seated (which makes sense since we were the 3rd party in line), and immediately served beverages. We then ordered our food, and I was absolutely impressed with how immediately packed the entire dining room was, and with how well the staff and kitchen handled the influx. Food and service flew by with amazing precision. I went a la carte for my meal because I live dangerously. The eggs and bacon were wholly acceptable; the cheese grits rocked my world. The coffee was not so good (bitter), which I was surprised about since Portland is sort of the home of expensively tasty coffee. My friend ordered some fantastically complicated french toast, but ended up wishing she'd gone the savory route instead. I have to say, the piles of fried chicken on top of waffles, staked through with a massive knife, looked very impressive. And like about enough food to feed a family of four for a week. (This is why you're fat).
(4)
Paul Y.
This might be my absolute favorite brunch spot in Portland!! But be prepared to wait for 45 minutes to an hour or more on a Saturday or Sunday. I have tried so many things on the menu here and have liked everything so far. My favorites are the chicken and waffles, the cathead biscut and chicken with gravy, and the brisket hash with horseraddish cream sauce. They don't skimp one bit on portions size, or flavor. This place is one of my brunch staples!!
(5)
Kerri H.
45 minutes after I placed my order, the kitchen realized that they didn't have one of the ingredients. I told them to go ahead and make it anyways. The mushroom/egg scramble sadly lacked from the lack of roasted peppers and would have benefited from carmelized onions, garlic, anything to pep it up. In fact, it would have been much better had they just cooked it until it was dry. As it was, it was a wet and sloppy mess. My dining companion's pancakes were rather leaden, as they had been held back while my food was being prepared, but the potatoes were excellent. Our waitress apologized no less than five times for this and other mishaps during brunch. At that point, you begin to expect that they'll do something to "make it up to you." No such luck.
(2)
Lynn W.
My husband I count Screen Door as one of our fave places to eat! While it might be a wait to get in, the arrangement they have with the bar down the street allows you to leave, grab a drink and get called when a table is ready. Food is always delicious, atmosphere is cozy and fun. It can be a tad loud at times but this is a minor inconvenience when compared to the delicious eats that await you! We almost always order the 'screen door plate' where you can choose three sides; I always have a hard time deciding but usually I go with the Catfish, mac n cheese and greens. Hush puppies are to-die for!! Nothing I can say that hasn't already been said about this place, it is fantastic EVERY time we go there. This place is nothing but consistent with it's delicious food and efficient staff, somebody clearly knows how to run a restaurant.
(4)
Jen C.
Bustling brunch spot that's always packed and serves up huge portions. Great food, the portions are literally ENORMOUS, so keep that in mind. A friend told us the biscuits here were really good, possibly better then Pine State, so knew I had to have them! So I ordered that with the friend chicken and wow was it a lot of food! The chicken was extra crispy, which I guess it to be expected since its Southern food. Chicken also seemed a little well done for me too. In any event, it was a heavy breaky for me. Husband got the fried chicken and waffles and they were really rich. Come here when you want to indulge.
(3)
Joe S.
The wifey and I have been scouring PDX for the perfect breakfast and right now Screen Door has the crown. Their standard menu was amazing and well executed and their daily specials were interesting without trying to over think it. I can't wait to drink too much, be hung over the next day and soothe with Screen Door.
(5)
Mel B.
Saturday night in the rain. Wait: about 25 min. Service: Good, not overly friendly. No warm fuzzies, but I can appreciate service without a fake smile, as long as it's efficient, and it certainly was. Food: Great! Shrimp and grits app: delicious! I haven't had a lot of grits, but if they always tasted like this, I'm sure I'd be asking for them a whole lot more. Four large prawns for the appetizer and a good size for the price ($9). As we were patiently waiting for our table, we took some time looking over the menu, and the specials for the day. I quickly picked the short rib pot roast and was on my merry way until the host crossed it off the chalkboard. Damn! Our waitress recommended the slow cooked pork shoulder and thank god she did. It was amazing. Fork tender and oh so good. We added an order of buttered carrots and those too were just amazing. Why not 5 stars? We were a little disappointed with the corn bread. How can a place do shrimp and grits and pork shoulder so well, but screw up corn bread? I don't know, but it was dry and flavorless. Go figure, because the hush puppies were delicious. Their mac and cheese was good, but not great. We love trying new places when we're out here visiting, but we'll make this place a regular spot. It's just that good.
(4)
Bay Area F.
I love restaurants that give you the option to order lots of a la carte options. I did the make your own breakfast and ordered a biscuit, veggie sausage, veggie gravy, grits, and fruit salad. I will detail the magic that was my breakfast: * biscuit: perfectly flaky, buttery, but not greasy - must order * veggie sausage: above average - not a must order * veggie gravy: BEST I've ever had, it was mushroom, which most veggie gravy is and had just the right amount of pepper. It came in a gigantic tub, which I thought was excessive, but what do you know, I finished it all and wanted more! - must order * grits: pretty good, creamy, but still light and flavorful - not a must order * fruit salad: very good, grapes, pears, grapefruit, and pomegranate, not a must order, but definitely a good addition to what was otherwise a pretty heavy meal One of my friends ordered a pimento cheese and bacon sandwich and he loved it. The other made his own breakfast too and also was very pleased. We also shared winter squash and ricotta beignets tossed in cinnamon sugar with powdered sugar, which was a special and were very good, not too sweet or greasy, reminiscent of hush puppies - almost a must order, but not quite. I would love to make it back to Screen Door for dinner some time. This is a must visit place in Portland.
(5)
Amanda M.
The fried chicken was fantastic! The wait was long, but the staff was wonderful. I will definitely be back.
(4)
Caroline R.
My favorite brunch spot in town. I don't mind the wait because I know it will be sooo worth it.
(5)
Ngoc-Diep P.
Alright Alright, I was not the biggest fan of Screen Door's corn bread that comes with the screen door plate. However, I need to give a shout out and say, excellent job!! It has improved compared to a year ago. Last night was my 100th time or something like that at Screen Door and the corn bread was not dried out and nasty. The honey butter to put on the bread was UH-MAZING!! It completely compensates for any residual lack of goodness the cornbread may have! WHOOOO HOOOO! Love this place!
(5)
JG H.
The food was fine but some of the employees were totally rude, I don't want to misrepresent what I didn't like about the experience. I was just taken by surprise since I've usually found the restaurant nothing less than great, food and service. The service though... Well I think maybe the host and the woman behind the bar might have been hungover or something. We were seated at the bar, the host misrepresented it as the only place to sit. Did I mention that my wife is 9 months pregnant? It would have been nice, given the open availability, others seated at the same time were offered a table, to have a choice. I asked our server/bartender about the pork cheeks. She grabbed her cheeks as if to say these are what cheeks are and stares at me. I'm thinking, "why is this woman so angry," I had ordered drinks while I waited and tipped pretty well already, I was courteous too. Then the host comes by and admonishes us to move over so he can fit more people at the bar. Did I mention that my wife is 9 months pregnant? I looked over and thought, "why doesn't he offer us a table" (like the one five feet away that is open) if he doesn't like the way we sit at the bar. The worst part is that we don't get to go out very often these days and we were hoping to have a nice night. Instead of having a special night with my wife we had our night hijacked. The bearded gentleman that was also behind the bar (bar-back?) was great, really nice guy.
(2)
Kat M.
As two people hailing from VA, we are skeptical of places claiming to make exceptional southern food in the Pacific Northwest exists. Well Screen Door does it! We ordered the special appetizer for the night: braised pork belly over spoonbread. Had great accompanying flavors: apple, fennel & butternut squash. Delicious. I got the Screen Door Plate: Fried catfish, mac&cheese, and from the seasonal menu a roasted beet salad. Although I wasn't sure if I'm into catfish I went ahead and tried it. Still not thinking fried catfish is for me but it was well made, nice cornmeal breading which wasn't too heavily fried. Quite possibly the best mac&cheese ever (I don't take that lightly either). Creamy cheese sauce inside with a crusty cheese top (see the photos from others). Beet salad was nice, liked the goat cheese/pistachio combo, nothing special though. Nice balance to all the heavy food though. The other meal ordered was the beef brisket. The 1st photo on here is the beef brisket - it's topped with thin crispy onions, yum! This was fantastic! I heard the horseradish potato salad was pretty tasty too. My partner reported the sweet tea being just as good as his granny's homemade. If you appreciate southern food, are in Portland, and can handle the extensive crowds and wait then make it a must!
(5)
Melissa T.
Love this place because service is great and they are so accommodating for special orders.
(5)
Calvin Y.
You know that feeling when you get when you're so full that if you eat another bite you'll burst? How about the feeling that follows it where you know if you don't order dessert, you know you'll live with a burden of regret that you can never live down? Welcome to Screen Door, where their food is so good and big that you'll just eat and eat. And then eat some more. I recommend their Beef Brisket -- the tender beef brisket which is swimming in their barbecue sauce is to die for! Their collard greens has chunks of pork hock and bacon and it is super flavorful. I ended the night with their Peach and Blueberry Pie with the Buttermilk Ice Cream a la mode. The Buttermilk Ice Cream is what sold me -- the tanginess of the blueberry and peach is neutralized by their delicious Buttermilk Ice Cream. If you want a table, then expect a wait. Since we were flexible and were willing to eat at the bar, we were seated immediately. At the bar, there were three servers helping us and they were all lovely! Thank goodness I don't live in Portland because I think I'd eat here everyday and gain loads of weight!
(5)
Amado L.
Brunch at the Screen Door is never a bad idea. Our group of 18 descended upon the small but lively restaurant like a touring company for Cirque du Soleil but with only slightly weirder costumes. Despite the size of our group, service was still pretty top notch. There was only one time when I felt the coffee refilling was remiss, but my cup runneth over the rest of the time. I almost had the Chicken 'n Waffle again but was thankfully swayed to trying one of their Cat Head Biscuit sandwiches, opting for one with Bacon, Cheese 'n Egg. It was huge and I could finish only half of it before relegating the rest to the to-go box. I'd also ordered their Breakfast Corndog because, well, it's a corndog dammit so I've gotta have it. It's not enough to warrant a decrease in star rating, but the corndog was slightly disappointing. I prefer my sausage tightly wrapped (wow, that sounded kinky) and Screen Door's version was a little loose. Of course, it probably didn't help that I was eating it all proper and all with a knife and fork rather than chowing it down street fair style. The maple syrup with which it was served was interesting. I had expected some sort of mustard, but the syrup added a sweetness one wouldn't expect from a corndog experience. Overall, a great brunch with very cool Yeeps, whose tirades included every topic from strip clubs to food cart innovations to tourist deaths. And no other group of people can make a discussion about Tonya Harding reason enough to lose one's appetite.
(5)
Ron T.
Good lord almighty! I need more room in my tummy. I must have recently awaken from my food coma. It was a little bit overwhelming for me. The other reviews are dead on when they said that the fried chicken is the bomb. It definitely is. I ordered the fried chicken cat head biscuit with gravy and potatoes. I thought I did order for myself but it looks like I can share it with another person. Our battalion of 18 people came in prepped by coming in early and the staff was more than welcome to accommodate us. They were fast and efficient. I believe there was already a line even before it opens. It feels like a Black Friday morning but instead of shopping for socks and whatnot, we were getting our food on. Real, good, delicious food. If you are coming in for the dining experience, I would suggest coming in early or you need Moses to part the sea of people waiting.
(5)
Kari M.
Just got back from having a lovely brunch with some of my fellow yeeps and I must say they put up a 5 star performance. We had 18 people show up (10 to start and 8 more trickled in). They were extremely accomodating, saving a few extra tables for the stragglers and then adding an extra one last minute for our final two. They definitely went above what most restaurants I have been to would do for such a large group considering there was quite a line outside of other people and they don't take reservations. The food was as usual, delicious. The portions, ginormous. I think they should rename the chicken and waffles breakfast "chicken mountain" because that's what it looks like. I don't think a single person actually finished the food that was set in front of them. I had the bananas foster french toast, and I didn't quite make it halfway through my plate before my tummy was waving the white flag in defeat. Screen door 2, Kari 0.
(5)
Robin S.
I love the Screen Door! I took my boyfriend here last night for his birthday after hearing rave reviews from multiple friends. The Screen Door has a nice open and simple feel to it. It was pretty empty when we arrived, a little after opening. We were so involved in our delicious food, we didn't even notice how packed it got around us until we left. The staff were very attentive, helpful, and nice. The food was amazing!! I had the fried chicken which I could not stop thinking about after we left. I was sitting at the Rose Garden, watching the Blazers spank our opponent saying "gosh that chicken was sooo good." If I am ever pregnant, I think this may be the food I will crave. The chicken was so moist and not terribly greasy for being fried. My BF got the Screen Door plate with catfish, mac n cheese, and coleslaw. I tried everything but the catfish and it was all very good! BF also said the catfish was very tasty and fresh. He was quite impressed with the food and kept saying "great choice!"
(5)
Karen M.
It's 5pm and I'm the midst of the praline bacon sweats. We strolled out of Screen Door a little before 2 after getting there 11:30 ish. Yes, there was a long wait but if you're with good company (one of whom produced peanut butter M &M's from the depths of her purse to tide us over)and have a bloody with pickled okra in front of you who cares? Was warm enough to wait at the picnic tables anyway. We were some hungry girls by the time we plopped down. To wit: apple cinnamon coffee cake, a breakfast corndog, two orders of praline bacon, a blue crab omelette, fennel sausage-yukon gold-brussels sprout-poached egg hash and a wild mushroom scramble. My friend ordered the hash before me and got the last order (damn, maybe the best taste of breakfast I've ever had). Mind you there were only three of us and one was a tween. She wanted to get cheesecake to go after all that. The force is strong in this one. We all ordered off the specials menu after an ad hoc committee was formed and the decision was made that we could eat off the regular menu next time (next week?). Malted waffles? Yes, please! Farm grits? Drool. General consenus among those of voting age was that Screen Door should be open everyday for brunch so BlackBerry pics of food could be taken and transmitted to the minor whilst she is at school. Ah, the joys of having finished 6th grade already! But everything was outstanding - super friendly staff - running around like crazy but keeping their cool. And the kitchen looked like they were barely breaking a sweat - now THAT impresses me. No one freaking out on each other, orders coming out at the same time, no knife throwing (yes, I've seen that happen, it stuck in the wall) - just total...flow. Mom o' tween summed it up best "next time I'm wearing sweatpants." Non-binding resolution across the age brackets was that there would be much working out this week to compensate for what was, truly, gluttony. Oh lawd, here come the corn dog sweats.
(5)
Wayne R.
This is also one of my favorite places to eat. REALLY good southern style home cooking. The only downside to this place is that it is almost ALWAYS totally packed. Brunch is BRUTAL if you get there later than 10am. I think they take reservation for groups of 6 or more. Everything I have had to eat here has been great. The service is slightly slower than average, but completely understandable since they are so busy. Completely recommended.
(4)
Francis C.
I came for breakfast, so this is a rating of that experience: The food gets a very solid good rating; but OMG - do not come here for breakfast. Especially if you have kids/family or come in the winter. You'll almost certainly be stuck waiting outside due to the fact they have a tiny hallway to wait in. And the average wait on weekends is 1-2 hours from the few times I went. I saw one group of 4 wait 3 HOURS one time for breakfast food. That's 100% totally unacceptable. As for the food, I had the biscuits and gravy breakfast - and it was above par. You could tell a lot of care was put into the food; but the general experience of a weekend morning completely ruined it. Lots of jostling and rushed people around. Every table is packed and every server running around like a frantic chicken. I want to start a movement in Portland - it's called the 'We're not going to stand for 2 hours outside your stupid restaurant and get food we could cook up at home in 10 minutes' movement. It's a pandemic around Portland and it's time it stopped. I simply won't go to restaurants that make you stand outside forever and wait. What is this? Communist Russia where we all get to stand in lines to get food? If I can't call in and make a reservation - I don't go to them. There's far too many great breakfast places without lines around Portland to put up with this garbage. Where are those places? Well, I'm not telling you because I like being able to go there, get a seat as soon as I walk in, get lots of leisurely coffee refills, sit at a nice warm environment on a rainy winter day, get my food in 15-20 minutes, and can sit and read a paper or chat with friends. Not the hap-hazard swing-by every now and again service, getting knocked about by people coming and going because the tables are too smashed together, and feeling constantly rushed to get up and get that table to the next guy. So go out people and stop being lead around by the foodie crazes and find great places without lines. It's all hype. Really, Portland is a foodie town - there's hundreds of other places out there to enjoy just as great an experience. Just don't start coming to my favs. :)
(2)
MK R.
Coming from Texas, I was not really expecting Portland to do justice to Southern food...boy was I wrong! This place was soooo good! We arrived at 5:00p to stand in line in the rain for dinner before the restaurant opened. We were one of the 1st in line so there was no wait for the table when it opened. My only wish is that they open a similar restaurant in Dallas! A trifecta: great food, great service, and great prices! Screen door, Oh How I will miss you! My order: Screen Door Plate All of these items were seasoned and cooked to perfection. 1.) Thin-sliced fried Pork Chops 2.) Crispy fried catfish w/ remoulade 3.) Cup of Gumbo soup
(5)
jennifer s.
After hearing a girlfriend talk on & on about this place, we decided to take them up on it and see what all the hype was about. I have to say I was not impressed. Mainly due to the tiny waiting area, not taking reservations & a very limited menu. It's cramped, not kid friendly & just not a great dining experience for me or my family. I would not go back.
(2)
Mats A.
Simply awesome southern food! We arrived around 7pm on a Friday and the wait was around 30 minutes but it was worth the wait. The fried chicken with mash, gravy and greens with tasso was just incredible. The chicken had just the right amount of heat, super moist and a good super crispy crust. Service was really fast and good. We will definitely come back here.
(4)
Puanani L.
I like it. A lot. Now I know why all the folks exiting the place look so blissed out. I thought they were just being smug because they were smart enough to come early and get a table. This may be part of the reason, but the bliss definitely comes from the food. We have been twice now, once for brunch and once for dinner. Both times we left completely fat and happy. Our first dinner experience was heightened because we got the last table in the house, the cozy booth in the corner. Yeehee! My sweetheart and I ordered a bunch of sides to share, little ramekins filled all sorts of deliciousness. It kept us primed for dessert, did I mention they have Banoffe Pie?? Banofee Pie and I have thing. Shh. Don't tell anyone. Go. But go early, like before they open, lest you may have to do The Bliss Walk in front of a crowd of envious future diners.
(5)
Steven K.
I write this review still buzzing from the tremendously delicious dinner shared with my cousins, this evening. Wednesday evening, the night before Thanksgiving, and our table for 3 required a wait less than 10 minutes. Sam, our waiter was bright eyed, friendly, and patient. My meal was the 'Screen Door Plate' which for $13.95 offered a selection of three plates from the sides / local organic selections, along with cornbread and honey-butter. I chose the plum and fresh fig salad, the catfish, and macaroni and cheese. My cousins had the buttermilk fried chicken with collared greens, and another Screen Door Plate of hash with chanterelles, and two other dishes. The food came to the table after a short wait, even though the restaurant was pleasantly crowded. Each of our plates were presented beautifully but simply. The portions were also very generous. Each of the dishes were delectable. The bill for the three of us for the three dinners and two drinks came to about $50.00. Wow. With a warm, dark maroon ambiance that was inviting and unpretentious, excellent service, and most of all delicious local and organic food, combined with large portions that are very reasonably priced, I easily give Screen Door a 5-star review. I will be coming back here again soon for their brunch which I have heard is equally as pleasing. Thank you so much for this wonderful meal. You have made my evening! _S
(5)
E D.
Our favorite restaurant in Portland! Everything we have is awesome. Had Sunday brunch recently and our food got delayed behind a large order. They ended up giving us a significant discount which was very nice of them. We did not ask for this and we really didn't mind waiting for the food at this place. The fried chicken is worth waiting for too! Does not take reservations and a line forms at opening, so come about 15-20 minutes early. Good size place so they can seat a good sized line.
(5)
Jennifer A.
This has been on my wish list forever. Finally waited outside on a chilly Portland morn, with a hot cup of coffee to try the recommended fair. crispy Chicken and Sweet Potato Waffle, with a side of gravy filled us up quick. Daily special Bacon Praline Pecan French Toast definitely satisfied my sweet tooth. Our waitress was fantastic too.
(4)
Jen J.
Best fried chicken I have ever had! (And it's saying alot because I love fried chicken and eat it about once a week....both at restaurants and fast food chicken joints) First, the wait for seats were RIDICULOUS! We waited for almost an hour for a table for three on a Wednesday night around 7. This is a good sign and points to the desirableness of the food, but nonetheless the wait was painful in that tiny hallway (especially considering it was raining outside and most shops had already been closed, which prevented us from walking around while waiting). Service was quick and efficient after we sat down. We had the smoked and cured plate for an appetizer....oh my! If you love pickled anything, you will love this little plate of curious items. I had the beef brisket, which was smothered in sauce and had rich flavors. My coworker had the fried chicken and chicken tenders. I tried the fried chicken...best fried chicken ever. There may have been a little too much crust for me, but the meat was incredibly tender and not at all dry. Delicious! All the portions were huge, which justifies the slightly higher price. It was definitely worth the wait and the drive for us (from Vancouver, WA).
(4)
Stanley T.
Oh so close to five stars! We arrived at the 5:30 PM opening time and got seated right away - they filled up rather quickly. So many yummy sounding choices on the menu, but I was on a mission for fried chicken. We started with the hush puppies - crispy, not oily, exterior and moist, steaming goodness within. They came with an excellent honey mustard sauce, but they were so delicious I couldn't stand to adulterate them. Ronda ordered seared scallops and a roasted beet salad. The scallops were perfect and perfectly presented on a bed of marinated artichoke and steamed spinach. The salad was fresh and lightly dressed, with generous wedges of roasted beet. I ordered the fried chicken (of course). I was disappointed to learn that it would come boneless (I really enjoy primal gnawing) but have to admit that this was some of the best chicken I've had in a long time. Half a breast plus a thigh, crispy (again, not oily) coating with moist meat inside. Certainly five star stuff and very close to perfect. The mashed potatoes and gravy were just fine. The greens were good, but not nearly to the standard of those from Russell Street. Not realizing I would be getting a vegetable side, I ordered the Brussels sprout and rainbow carrot side. This disappointed me. The vegetables were fine, but they came bathed in a creamy dressing that just didn't do it for me. The food seemed a bit slow to arrive (in comparison to the tables around us) but not too bad - service in general was good. We had no room to try desserts but after reviewing that menu we made mental notes to order less food next time to indulge at the end. So, if I hadn't ordered the Brussels sprout/carrot side, this would have been a five star review. Hardly seems fair, does it? What can I say? I'm a hard ass.
(4)
Aaron R.
Some of the best food in the city! Been there a number of times and never had one less-than-spectacular bite. My only constructive feedback was that it gets a bit loud, but they have the best fried chicken, greens, and fried green tomatoes in town... and although they're not uber-cheap, you get every dollar's worth. Plus, their breakfasts are great on the weekend...
(5)
Jens J.
Bursting with good food, positive vibes and happy people! There was a wait, but like the maître d' said - patient people are awarded a booth! And we were! It was great too that if you were waiting by the door, they made sure that you still had an opportunity to get a drink. Service was crisp and error-free from start to finish. Loved the shrimp grits and the hush puppies appetizers. Also got lots of pleasure from the Rogue Dead Guy Ale! A bonus too that our plaid-shirted waitress asked if we wanted fresh glasses for our second round of ales. As expected the signature fried chicken was perfect, which both JP and I ordered. The smoky taste of the gravy that came with the mashed potatoes evoked in me an image of a crackling campfire. The pecan pie was very good, but it came with a little dollop of whipped cream, not the vanilla bean ice cream advertised on the menu. I do have one suggestion: ditch the sickly sweet poppy seed dressing that comes with the hush puppies. I was much happier using the shrimp grits as my dipping sauce.
(5)
Chrissy S.
Screen Door, I love you. Let's get married and have Buttermilk Fried Chicken Babies. Let's ride off into the sunset on a sea of fresh peppery Shrimp and Grits. You have won this Southern gal's heart. And to you i pledge my unending love of okra and black eyed peas. The food. Not the band. I'd never pledge on Fergie. You are instant Prozac and your Rhett Butler cocktails make my toes curl. And all the big bad ass cooks I know back in Alabama and Louisiana would not only save you a seat at their table, but also applaud your biscuits. And so do I. XOXOXO Chrissy
(5)
Alex W.
One of the best places to go in Portland for breakfast and that is saying a lot! Unfortunately they don't take reservations but if there is a line (as there often is) there is a cafe next door to spend your time in. The eggs sardou is my favorite, a play on an eggs benedict where the poaches eggs sit inside artichoke hearts on top of creamed spinach and biscuit. But everything I or my friends have tried has been pretty amazing, and with a list of new specials every week there is always something new. I also always get a side of the praline bacon. Crumbled pralines pasted onto a strip of bacon with some brown-sugar syrup. At first I thought it sounded pretty strange but once you try it you'll love it. One of my friends even fantasized about filling a bathtub up with praline bacon and eating his way out! Deliciously rich, a side consists of only three pieces but well worth it. And of course there are the bloody mary's. I never would have thought to put okra instead of celery in a bloody mary but it is a terrific idea!
(5)
Josh B.
This place seems to get is right every time. I look forward to a good experience every time I go. Along with breakfast, I have went here for dinner a few times and thought it was equally as good. Some place, back in that open kitchen, someone cares about the product that comes out. This is an awesome example of why we all should support more local businesses... (what if 25% of all the IHOPs you seen were a locally owned place serving food like this....) Do not fear the lines... The food is great!
(5)
Randall H.
With how busy this place was on a Sunday afternoon, I was really impressed with how friendly all of the staff were! The wait was almost an hour with a line around the side of the building, but it was so worth it. The atmosphere was upbeat and fun (even though it was pretty crowded), not to mention the food was AMAZING! Everything I had heard about this place was spot on. I'd highly recommend it to anyone willing to wait for the best!
(5)
Ashley G.
Everything I've tried here is phenomenal!
(5)
Richard S.
Southern Fried Chicken and Waffles ROCKED !
(4)
alexa c.
I absolutely LOVE Portland. And I LOVE eating Portland even more!! I had heard about Screen Door for quite some time from my friend so we of course had to add it to my Portland Food Tour. I'm not sure how I didn't manage to grasp that it was southern food in advance, it was only once we arrived that I picked up on it. Sometimes southern food can be limiting for us veggietarians but not in this case. . . . The specials menu was very tempting, especially the squash frittata. Once I got wind of ALL the ingredients, the decision was made! Three different squashes, leeks and cheese? It's on!! Naturally I ordered a Bloody Mary! It seems that I will always have at least three drinks in front of me at any given moment in Portland. The three usually consist of 1) water 2) coffee and 3) a Bloody Or Mimosa. ANOTHER AWESOME aspect of Portland, the bevie options are plentiful almost anywhere you go! And wonderfully delicious! The service was great, we loved our waitress! The bartender was adorable and don't think for one minute I wasn't checking out the kitchen staff! Cuties!! All in all, a good experience. Comfort food in a comfortable setting, Just what the doctor ordered.
(3)
Ally E.
Oh, Screen Door, Oh, Screen Door... Fried chicken, fried catfish, and buttery greens, creamy mashed potatoes, oh my goodness oh my goodness .... sorry, I had to pause and daydream a bit. Now that I"ve wiped the drool off the keyboard, let me continue. I would eat at Screen Door every day if my arteries and the crowds outside would let me. The trick, I've found, is to get there right after they open up for dinner, or maybe even before, and then there's no nasty stressful waiting to interfere with your meal. Obviously, it's delicious. The menu is seasonal, staff are friendly and funny, the decor makes me smile as I lean back in my chair (to give my stomach more room to grow). And the prices are really, really decent. God, I love this place.
(5)
Caroline N.
Southern food, meet brunch. Brunch, meet Southern food. The weekend brunch here is on point. Those chicken and waffles... noms. I love the shredded sweet potato inside the waffle, and the chicken is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. 3 boneless pieces, seasoned to perfection! It's a huge portion, so I would definitely recommending sharing with someone because based on experience, it doesn't taste as good when you get your leftovers to go. Lately, however, I've been ordering off their specials menu because there is always something that catches my eye. The pork sausage scramble that I had over the summer was one of the best scrambles I've had - the eggs were still wet and the sausage was really good. I've never had to wait over an hour because I'm always there 45 minutes early. You do this, and you're in on the first round of seating. So get your butt out of bed and get there early, I'd rather wait 45 minutes earlier in the morning than get another half hour of sleep and wait 1.5 hours to get in. The service here is top-notch, everyone is very friendly and attentive, and my coffee mug is always refilled before it truly needs to be. Hats off to Screen Door!
(5)
Gloria P.
Maybe I ordered the wrong thing. Sigh, I really really really wanted to like this place because it was one of the first top-rated restaurants that popped up on Yelp but when my friends and I went my experience was really just... mediocre. We went on a Thursday night for dinner, and two of us ordered the Screen Door plate (comes with choice of 3 sides, and cornbread) and my friend ordered a hamburger. I chose mac&cheese, the garden salad, and their chicken & sausage jambalaya as my sides. My friend chose the potato gratin and garden salad and something else.. I forgot. But the food really was just okay. Everything tasted good 3 bites in, but then like 6 bites later.. It was all too heavily seasoned and salty and.. blah. And the cornbread was kinda dreadful. It was really dry and crumbly and bleck.
(3)
Vesper H.
Opposite experience from most reviewers here.... really did not think the food was all that. The flavors were bland, and the fried chicken was just so so...
(2)
Jean P.
Screen Door is my go-to place for southern food. Food and drinks are consistently good as is the feeling of gluttony after you've finished your meal. The stand-out plate awards go to: Fried Chicken w/mashed potatoes (seriously, eat this now!), and really any variation of the Screen Door plate - though I always opt for catfish with a couple of rotating seasonal sides. Come hungry, come thirsty, worry about your cholesterol levels tomorrow.
(4)
Evan V.
Came here after seeing a friend's picture of a giant knife securing a piece of fried chicken to a waffle. Even though that's what got me in the door, we went for dinner instead of brunch and I was not disappointed. A NW take on Southern comfort food, I really couldn't ask for more being born and raised here in the NW. Everything sounded good on the menu, but even though it was a tough choice, in the end, you really couldn't beat the Screen Door Plate. You get to choose from three house sides or "local organics" accompanied by a slice of cornbread. The local organics change from week to week, but the house sides stay the same. Of these house sides, which none have disappointed after multiple visits, two are a must: 1) The macaroni and cheese: Comes baked in a bowl of heavenly cheesy goodness and 2) The crispy fried catfish: A nice light coating with just the right amount of spiciness (which is a lot coming from a guy who hates spicy food!) and a fish that is like no other, lots of unique flavor. One warning, this place is so good, the line starts forming before they open and the place can fill up fast, so come early and come hungry!
Twice I have been to Screen Door and yet this is the first time I'm writing a review. Shame on me! The proper punishment must be for me to go back and eat until I can't eat any more! First, the service is always good. And depending on what time you show up to eat, the wait isn't always so bad. And the food? Fantasmically orgasmically- I mean, really really amazing. The portions are fantastic and everything is made from scratch. Because I went there for brunch, I had a salad and french toast (both well-made), though a few other stronger-stomached patrons took on what I will take on during my next visit: the chicken and waffles. That stuff looked unbelievably monstrous (in a delicious way).
(4)
Jan B.
Last night was the first night we went here. And boy oh boy can these folks cook some kick ass grub. We had the fried oysters, chicken and cat fish yes lots of fried goodness, but being our anniversary we had to splurge. I do have to say, everything from the Texas black tea (purred black berries with tequila) was worth the wait and the price. Not a place to go to every week on a budget but a place for special occasions and good company. To top it off we had to go back for the brunch menu this morning. Something to be said about having to go twice within 24 hours, but that just goes to say how awesome everything was. Come check this place out!!!!!!!!!!
(5)
Kristina A.
Screen Door has always been one of my all time favorite restaurants. Since moving to the south from the PNW, I can now say it's not only one of my all time favorite restaurants, but it's also one of the the best VEGETARIAN FRIENDLY southern restaurants I have ever been to. I can't tell you how many restaurants get rave reviews in the south that have absolutely no veg-friendly options other than a salad. Screen Door takes the very best that southern cuisine has to offer and puts a decidedly PNW spin on it. I miss it terribly and make a point to visit every time I'm in Portland. There's always a line, but it goes by fast if you're with good company and have a drink to hold you over. You definitely don't want to show up ravenous, or you'll be cranky before the line moves inside.
(5)
Sophie P.
AMAZING food and service. I had the fried chicken and it was heaven. It is worth the wait in line to eat here. Looking forward to coming back the next time we are in Portland.
(5)
Camille Y.
My sunny Saturday afternoon spent at Screen Door's breezy outdoor patio ruined brunch for me, because nothing else can now compare. I'm a huge fan of brunch, and Screen Door served up the quintessential brunch experience in my book: gleefully decadent, classic Southern comfort food doled out in recklessly large portion sizes (probably nothing on the menu under 2000 calories), fabulous and cheerful service, homey/cozy-hipster ambience, and yes -- long waits. However, not only is it well worth it to enjoy a crazy epic meal at the most perfect venue ever, it's simply part of the experience of kicking back on a leisurely weekend morning with some top-notch company and a coffee! (Or, you know, a mimosa.) We had the fried oysters benedict and the cathead biscuits, and while both were deliciously food coma-inducing, I'm haunted by the damn chicken and waffles I saw being scuttled out of the kitchen. The towering stack of fried chicken ridiculously held together by a protruding steak knife through the middle was so huge, they may as well have just put a whole chicken on top. Sheer ridiculousness. My hands down favorite brunch of all time. A must visit when in PDX and for fans of brunch!
(5)
Di Yin L.
Truly excellent fried chicken. Comes deboned, and flavorful. Juicy, delicious brine. Order early, as they run out.
(5)
Evan H.
Love this place! Great, fresh southern style cuisine--outstanding drinks and desserts, too. Brunch is phenomenal, as well. You really can't go wrong at Screen Door. Just know that you're likely going to have to wait...and that the wait will be worth it.
(5)
L M.
freaking fantastic. lives up to all the hype. worth the wait on the long line. not very vegan friendly. I'm a vegetarian and could find ample selections. great service.
(5)
Holly D.
I see the line out the door every time I drive by. So we planned to get there just before they open to make sure we didn't have to wait long. It worked. Our two year old guest had a big bowl of oatmeal which was devoured surreptitiously. Two orders of chicken and waffles complete with the expected maple syrup. I had the grits. A bit salty for my taste but everyone else said their meal was great. I am a southern food snob so am very hard to please in this cuisine.
(4)
Theary K.
This place does not need anymore reviews or stars, but I want to post a review here so my friends can know about it because this place....is...awesome. A must visit if one find themselves wondering the God Father of Hipster-town that is Portland, OR. Beards, Bikes, Tats, Dark Frame glasses w/food truck galore, great coffee, and finger-licking good southern soul food. Who would have guessed that one of the best chicken and gravy is found up north in the west coast. Because it is so awesome, expect a wait :)
(5)
Kelsey M.
We waited an hour and a half in the freezing cold to get in on a Saturday morning... which then turned into a Saturday afternoon. I was pissed. There is no way any food could make up for an insane wait like that, I don't care how good it is. Oh, how wrong I was. The food was something really special, and yes, I'll eat my words (ha!) and admit that it was worth the wait. I would even be willing to wait again, and for longer, because it was that great. I got the Breakfast Po'Boy. It was so tall I couldn't bite into it, and I had to smash it down with my hand. It barely fit on the plate. All the spicy cajun flavors blended together so well, it was like a big bayou party was happening in my mouth. I experienced a sudden and overwhelming urge to travel to Louisiana. Now THAT is what I call a good sandwich/breakfast/culinary creation. I'm not an expert on southern cooking, but my tastebuds told me that this must be southern food done right, something that's probably a rare find in a place so far away from the Southeast.
(5)
Kathleen Y.
My friend flew in and we decided to go to the screen door for a late lunch. There was a really long wait and we had the option of sitting inside or out, but the hostess ended up seating us inside because it was freezing outside. After being seated, our server was very prompt. We ordered the eggs sardou benedict and breakfast cornbread. The portions were big definitely needed to share. The benedict was really good. It had a poached egg on top with artichoke and spinach on top of a half muffin x 2. Perfect for sharing. It also came with a side of potatoes. The cornbread breakfast it was pretty sweet and a perfect compliment to the savory benedict. Good dessert to end off with.
(4)
Adrian L.
Been twice. Enjoyed everything I tasted both times. Once I had a wonderfully filthy martini that was perfectly made, and once I shared a bottle of great wine. Everyone complains about the wait, which I thought was not bad at all, but I'm used to San Francisco, so there's that. We were sat within half an hour each time. The catfish is incredible, and whatever cajun mustard sauce they serve it with is good enough to just drink by itself. Really everything is great, If going for the first time, I highly recommend getting a screen door plate and trying out some of the starters and fresh local options.
(5)
Katrina W.
I was all ready to voice the same complaint about The Screen Door that I have about The Funky Door -- namely, the audacious absence of the key architectural feature after which the given establishment models its moniker. How. Ever. I have been informed that there IS, in fact, a screen door, back by the restrooms somewhere. Not exactly good enough for me, but I suppose if I'm going to be a stickler about the [Insert Adjective] Door formula, it will have to do. Having had a not-so-great experience here for dinner with my parents, I returned for breakfast with friends, and with the perspective of peers instead of parents, the noise was not too terrible after all. I still don't know that the place lives up to either the wait or all of the hullabaloo, given the wide array of great breakfast spots in town, but I have raised my star rating from 2 to 3. Maybe next time I'll crawl another star up the ladder, but for now I'm leaving it at just OK.
(3)
sharon m.
i went to screen door twice when i lived in portland... the first time i went was during brunch when my bf came to visit. They served huge, wholesome portions that screamed southern cooking. I was sad they didn't serve cornbread during brunch ...but I ended up going there again during dinner with a couple friends a couple days after. Everything was yummy, except the cornbread was toooo southern (aka not too sweet). It was still good, but I like my cornbread sweet and grainy... oh well. Screen door, you totally won me over. I miss you already.
(4)
Albert L.
Was it worth waiting in 32-degree weather for 2 hours starting at 5:20 pm after having walked all the way from the Pearl District (and flown all the way from San Francisco)? YES. Two words: fried chicken. Three more words: fried pork chops. Many more words: mac 'n cheese, fried oysters, fried catfish, pork shoulder This is place is the real deal. The fried chicken was some of the juiciest fried chicken I have ever had... and it's white meat! Breast meat. Two large, juicy, fried breasts, from what must have been a very busty chicken. Georgia Brown's in DC was my favorite upscale low country restaurant, but no longer. However many years it'll be until I eat at Screen Door again, I'll be eagerly waiting all that time to try the chicken and waffles.
(5)
Malyssa C.
During my visit to Portland with the bf, this was our absolute favorite restaurant! And trust me, this was a trip that was full of eating and drinking! We arrived around dinner time, and there was quite a crowd of people, but we didn't wait too long before we were seated since it was just us two. We decided to go with the Buttermilk Fried Chicken with collards and mashed potatoes and the Screen Door plate (a trio sampler of your choice of sides + a cornbread) with the jambalaya, gumbo, and mac n cheese. Holy. Moly. The portions were super generous, but we had no problem with that! Everything was so delicious! The chicken was perfectly fried and all the sides definitely exceeded our expectations. We forced ourselves to finish everything because we couldn't let one bite go to waste! Definitely a must try, and you can bet I will be back again! The wait seems to be consistently long, but they have a bar upfront if you'd like to order something while you wait.
(5)
Gio A.
What can I say? The food and service exceeded our expectations. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Julie F.
This restaurant is undoubtedly very popular. People were lined up more than half an hour before opening time. I love Southern and Cajun food. Too bad there isn't a place like this in L.A. I ordered the buttermilk fried chicken with mashed potatoes, gravy, and greens. The chicken was very moist but a little too fried. I cut away many fried pieces of the skin. I can only imagine how many points my cholesterol shot up today. I was curious about the mac and cheese and ordered a side. It was creamy, tasty, and cheesy. It was a generous portion and I could only eat a few bites and took the rest to go along with some of the greens. Portions are generous and the food is very attractive. The next table had chicken and dumplings, gumbo, and jambalaya. The server said a popular menu item is picking four sides as an entree. It would be hard to choose!
(4)
Alison W.
We were so excited to finally go to screen door. We waited about an hour and a half to get seated, which we knew would be the case. Once we were seated we got our menus, and ordered. We all got the chicken and waffles because that's just what you do at the screen door. They were alright, tasty, and it didn't take long to get the food once we ordered, but it is definitely over rated for the price and the wait.
(3)
Gordon M.
The wait was about 45 mins but they have complementary coffee available. The ambiance was casual but there was a mix of Sunday Best and Not too worried about it that all equally fit in. The wait staff was prompt and able to answer any of our questions and helped by making a few recommendations. First were the Breakfast Hush Puppies we asked about when we saw all the other tables munching on them and the Praline Bacon. All of the food we saw in the room looked incredible and hefty. You could share if you wanted. I ordered off the specials menu - Mushroom Omelette. I loved every mushroom morsel so much I only let my gf have 1 taste. Screen Door is well worth the trip and/or wait. Expect a wait and enjoy the coffee.
(5)
Nikee W.
I figure it takes me a year to finally get in here for some fried chicken, whats another 20 minutes in line in the rain? Fried oysters, fried chicken, perfect mac and cheese. I ever liked the collards! Next time, we are going for breakfast.
(5)
Al S.
Screen Door plate and the banoffee pie are a must.
(5)
Liz J.
There's a reason you have to wait so long for a table. The food is de-lish! I had a cajun omelette and it was fantastic. The place was a little crowded, and a bottle of hot sauce was busted right behind my chair, but the staff was very quick to clean up the mess. I had a bite from all of my other friends' dishes, and everyone seemed to be pleasantly surprised with the quality. When I have out of towners visiting, I'll make sure to take them here.
(4)
Alea L.
Delicious food, delightful staff. 5 star on drinks, apps and food. Make sure to come early or dress warm to wait in line. There is a reason this place always has a line out the door.... amazing. Fresh ingredients. Such a warm cozy atmosphere. I had the butter milk fried chicken, so good. I only couldn't finish it because I was full off the amazing creamy tomatoe soup, possibly the best soup I've ever had. And the muscles. I've never tried muscles before but my friends convinced me and they were great. The drinks are also on point. Our server was Jesse. He was a real gem. Ask for him!! And thank you Screen door. We will be back.
(5)
Michelle K.
I live a couple buildings away from Screen Door, which is great -- it's always fun to watch the crowds milling around from 9-2 on a sunny weekend. It's even better when I go in there! Attentive service, free coffee while you wait, and a constantly rotating menu of local products. I invariably get the Fried Oyster Eggs Benedict -- the sauce is the best I've ever had and the batter on the oysters is corn-filled but not cloying. Yum! Get there on the early side if you don't want to have your heart broken when your favorite dish has run out.
(4)
Barbara D.
Where's the Screen Door? I got take out here and although the trout was yummy, the portions were small. The veggie menu was tiny, greasy but GOOD. I had some cauliflower cheese & potato mix and gritz/potato cake thingy...not bad. A little too hip-hoppy for a brunch joint on a Thursday evening for me though.
(3)
PDXtransplant -.
Good: - Great service - Highly unique ("southern fried") breakfast menu So so: - The scramble was good, but not exceptional and not unique from others in Portland. - The Cinnamon roll must have been microwaved and quickly became harder than a hockey puck. - Is this just hipster spin on a greasy spoon? I'd gladly go back and I'd like to try some other items on the menu, but I guess I was expecting more based upon the reviews.
(3)
Alissa R.
Mmm Mmm Mmmm Mmm Mmmmmmm! Helz yeeeeah. Finally a breakfast joint that gets it RIGHT! Yeah, you have to wait but I can finally say without hesitation, ITS WORTH IT! Cotton-eye Joe would be Proud! I quick glance at the menu should sell you immediately but if it doesn't (and I think you need psychiatric help) Go inside, grab a free cup of stumptown goodness and re-read the menu. Goat cheese scramble - yum, Mushroom scramble - yum, Bananas Foster Waffles - yum, Cheddar grits - yum! They even have their own version of what Pine State calls the Reggie exept is Bigger and Better! No, for reals... WAY Bigger and Better. To top it off, I experienced what I believe to be the best Bloody Mary in town. The hostess was a bit of a seating nazi, and the waitress copped a little bit of a tude when we asked for separate checks (you would think she would ask when the group of seven of us sat down but I guess she didn't find it intuitive). However, I can overlook all of that because the food (and the speed at which we go it) was spectacular.
(5)
Elaine N.
Oh Screen Door, you are an evil temptress. The highly acclaimed fried chicken and waffle alone could feed a party of four was perfectly share between us ladies. The cheesy grits and ham tasted absolutely delicious like a grilled cheese (plus ham) sammy. Want something light? Go for the Alabama scramble with fresh fruits and tasty biscuit. I did not forget about you carnivores. Get them hash with scramble eggs and tortilla to fill that belly. Your southern cuisine is good, very good, and you're going to make me gain extra pounds just in time for winter.
(4)
Sarah C.
My boyfriend eats like 5 times the amount of food a normal person does, and he is a cheap ass bastard. I am a food snob. This is our go to restaurant. Everything is always outstanding and plentiful and affordable. I always get the screen door plate because I love the seasonal local veggie menu and I can't seem to stay away from that thin fried pork chop. I think it's battered in crack.
(5)
Stephanie L.
Go with 3 people for brunch. drink a mimosa (or coffee) while you wait... its worth it. Get ONE order of chicken and waffles. add a sausage corn dog or two (meat on a stick for breakfast!) wish you had room or the awesome grits, sausage gravy, biscuits, praline bacon waffle, or crab benedict. come back next weekend with the intentions of trying another item ..and yet somehow order the chicken and waffles again...you just can't say no. ok by "you" I mean "me" but you'll see what I mean.
(5)
Rachel A.
The lines are ridiculous, but they make it worth the wait. I went this morning and split the breakfast corndogs with friends to celebrate National Corndog Day. Then we split the praline bacon. Then I had the shrimp and grits. And the server didn't even treat me like a crazy lady for ordering more than I could possibly eat. In fact she, and everyone there, was as nice as can be. If you've ever doubted that Portland is the best city in the world just take a trip to the Screen Door.
(5)
L C.
I love this place. The chicken and waffles are delicious
(4)
Rick K.
Best Fried Chicken I have ever had...that is all!
(5)
Jennifer C.
Years later and I am still thinking about how good this food is. Praline bacon need I say more? The eggs benedict here is fantastic. I remember there always being a lot of hungry people standing in line but always satisfied faces leaving. My husband loved coming here for the chicken and waffles. I always had left overs for the next day.
(5)
Samantha R.
"Throw yo hands in the ai-yer. And wave 'em like you just don't ca-yer. And if you like fish'n'grits, n all that pimp shit, errybody lemme hear you say 'Oh Yae-yer' " Yeah, Outkast basically reviewed this restaurant in this song 12 years ago... The food was tight ass tight. I tried a lot tonight, and not a single piece of it was disappointing... In the appetizers: the fried okra is something I've never had before...but I would definitely have again! It strikes me as something that Oprah would rave about in her magazine as if she discovered it, and after hearing it America would love it and it would become the next potato skin. The crawfish cakes were amazing. They were the perfect combination of actual seafood meat and breading...it was more crawfish than cake, and let me tell you--me likey. The shrimp and grits were pretty sweet too. How many of you don't ACTUALLY know what grits are? Well...they are like cream-of-wheat cooked with a flavor mixed with something else...in this case, shrimp. Perfect trifecta of appetizers to start the meal. I got the weekly special of chicken and dumplings, and my family got the fried chicken with mashed potatoes/gravy/collard greens, and the creole jambalaya. The jambalaya was one of the best I've had (especially when firing it up a notch with the hot sauce) and the chicken was cooked extremely well with a perfect breading crust even withOUT the secret herbs and spices...the dumplings were out of this world though. Chicken. killer. Broth. KiLLeR. Dumplings. HUGE and KILLER. Me? Dead~~ Polished it off with a little peanut butter pie. Basically a decadent peanut butter cup that greased the way to rolling ourselves out the door. Oh did I mention the drinks? Porch swing lemonade...don't listen to them about the sage--this is an imposter Mojito in disguise. The hurricane? Strong as ever...delish. Glad to see there's some good southern food in Portland. East Burnside is the place to be...make sure you show up early, because the place was packed. Next time I wanna try the breakfast...chicken n waffles baby!
(5)
Jordan K.
I'll just say this. If you like fried chicken, at all, even a little bit, you must immediately plan an excursion. This will change your life. The good way, like you want. Trust the anonymous guy on the internet, have we ever steered you wrong?
(5)
Chris L.
Although I wasn't wearing pink sunglasses looking like Trevor Horn of Buggles I still felt comfortable here. In a sea of hipsters (more so the diners than the workers), I sat there enjoying some of the best grits in town (not soupy like the Tin Shed) and great gravy and biscuits. A long wait but worth it.
(4)
Donte P.
I waited an hour. The table next to me was having a familial breakdown, involving a son on drugs, a mom's enabling ways, and a dad who "couldn't take it anymore." And even with that the brunch I had was completely pleasant (as was the service) and this place is one I'd visit again. The Fried Chicken Cathead Biscuit Sandwich was a nice choice on my part, although it looks incredibly daunting with all of the breading involved. The key to finishing was to put a biscuit half to the side to take with me, and going easy on the breading. The chicken was tender and juicy, the breading and gravy flavorful. The one letdown there was the grits. They were cheese grits, and the cheddar completely dominated (not in the good way). They were also a bit on the watery side. Another note for you is to try the breakfast corn dog. Instead of a hot dog it's a breakfast sausage. It's a nice take on the corn dog, but get one to split, as it's definitely a bit intense with the amount of salt and grease.
(4)
Daniel P.
SUPER SIZED ME! WOW! It was a 90F day/night and we decided to step into the oven for what turned out to the be a week of B-day dinners for my wife. It was our first time to SD after hearing fabulous reviews for months about the "to die for" fried chicken and brunch. Hands down this was the best fried chicken I have had. First of all it was HUGE! We had already attempted to consume a few appetizers - hushpuppies that were worthy of the visit alone - perfectly crispy cooked accompanied by this creoley mustard that we all fought over...and finally asked for a second cup of so we could all take turns trying to lick the last goodness out of it. Butter lettuce for around $7 seemed a bit much until they backed the produce truck up to this platter sized dinner salad. It must have been at least two heads of perfectly fresh lettuce with yummy blue and bacon. There is another meal unto itself. Simple salad done way well. Add some of the best shrimp & grits I have ever had and we were done & stuffed and way happy before the main meals even hit the table. We all almost jumped back from the table when the fried chicken arrived. It looked like an entire chicken on a plate it was massive - steaming hot, uber crispy and perfectly seasoned with secret herbs and spices. YIKES! We wanted to asked for a bucket right then and there! Did I mention it was 90F outside and ...maybe the same inside. HOT STUFF! None of us could resist and had to start picking at these birds. OMG! There has to be some sort of crack in these things, because we could not stop eating them even though every part of sanity and our waist lines were crying out like babies for us to stop the madness. We had to keep going. Thank god the server came by and asked us how things were going so we could beg him to take the fried chicken away...it is evil (good)....my precious. Ate an entire other meal from the leftovers - and it was nearly as good cold the next day. I was sad when it all ran out... must have more soon!
(5)
Kitty P.
It's all true. I won't repeat the other reviews. Or be redundant. It would have been nice if they'd prepared me for the size of the portions though. It made my heart scary! Like the chicken and waffles, it was a goddamn tower of chicken. Tender, moist, boneless, engorged breasts heaving out of heavenly crispness. We got there at 9:30 am on a Saturday and only waited 1/2 hour...and they do set you up with coffee for the wait. Nice! I especially appreciated that, though it could feel like a flurried madhouse of brunch craziness, the servers were all on their A-game, calm and did everything one could ask.
(5)
Jenny C.
I luv their grits! Great service- We waited over an hour to get our table for four during Sunday morning brunch- but it was worth it- next time, I am going to avoid coming at peak hours- what was great about the wait was that they let you drink coffee outside while you wait.
(5)
Abby M.
I waited awhile for a girl's breakfast here, both literally and figuratively - it took us gals at least a month to pick a date and I think it was 45 minutes on a Sunday late morning before we got seated. But it's weekend brunch, so I'm not really complaining. Fun atmosphere meets Southern cooking in a fantastic way here - we tried the Fried Green Tomatoes and weren't disappointed, although we were too full from our grits and such to try the coconut cake. I would go again. And again. The waiter even laughed at our jokes.
(4)
Cindy I.
Another great southern cuisine restaurant. If I hadn't had Bernie's fried chicken first I would have thought it was excellent here and it was very good but I still tip my hat to Bernie's for the fried chicken. But my husband had a plate here of all sides and he said it was excellent and liked them much more than the sides at Bernie's. So I know we will be back. It does seem more popular than Bernie's so be prepared to wait. The staff her was very attentive and seemed to enjoy working there. They will call you if you want to go down the street to a bar while waiting for a table.
(4)
Jonas T.
Long line but the food is worth it. Everyone is so friendly here. The chicken and waffles is huge. Share it. My favorite is the praline bacon. Salty and sweet is a nice combo. Get it. JONASAPPROVED!
(5)
Jomae S.
My husband and I had brunch here this morning to celebrate our wedding anniversary. I had the fried oyster benedict and he had the eggs sardou, both unique dishes that you don't find on many menus which is what attracted us in the first place. The portions were healthy so definitely bring your appetite and the food was absolutely delicious. The staff was extremely attentive and food and drinks were served promptly. We have been to Mother's Bistro and Meriwethe'rs for brunch also and we feel that Screen door had better service and food than both!
(5)
Violet B.
the wait was longggggggg once we got the food it was worth it though. the food is the best part. not something i will eat very often but the chicken and waffles were crazy. seating is so cramped i wish they move to a bigger space.
(4)
Kathleen B.
After reading the reviews, I thought: maybe the fried chicken will be good, but fried chicken is fried chicken right? Wrong. Their fried chicken was to die for. Service was good--we showed up about 20 minutes after opening and didn't have to wait to be seated. I recommend the side door plate where you can pick three side dishes to make up your meal.
(5)
Mandarin Y.
Finally got the chance to try this place on my birthday and it was soooo gooood. This place is the real deal. I've been looking for a good and authentic Southern style cuisine restaurant in Portland and I found it. We went all out . For appetizers we ordered : - Deep fried oysters (so fresh and tasty) - Deep fried okra (yummy) - Shrimp and grits (melt in your mouth) - Deep fried chicken livers (this was one of their specials, so decadent) As for the entrees, we ordered: - Buttermilk fried chicken (fried to perfection) - Smoked and barbecued beef brisket (very tender). The portion sizes are also pretty generous which makes it ideal for sharing. Also their sides are delicious and done right. I highly recommend getting there early for dinner (even on the weekdays) and waaaaaaaaaay earlier for brunch because this place fills up fast.
(5)
Felicia P.
I must admit, I was very skeptical when my friend told me that our mutual friends took her to a "soul food" spot in Portland. You mean I can get southern cuisine like my grandmama's in Portland, OR? No way. Yes way! My meal of collard greens, red beans and rice (with cornbread), and mac-n-cheese (the best I've had, ever!) was more than tasty. It was, in fact, delicious! When one patrons a restaurant that prepares food from one's culture and/or homeland, expectations are usually low. So, when a location is found that has that "homemade-like-grandmama-mama-and cousin Tiffany" taste to it, you are thrilled, as I was/am. I look forward to visiting the next time I'm up north, except next time my order will include the fried catfish--which is one of my favorite dishes, but I didn't order it due to being 'skeptical.' My friend, however, did order the cat and it was perfectly and lightly breaded and seasoned.
(4)
Porsha M.
I'd give screendoor an A on the food, E for effort on the ambiance. I went for dinner, had the creole jambalaya (beware if you're not one for spicy food), and a vodka concoction involving mint leaves and lemonade. I was sure that my entree couldn't be topped...until our server broke out the red velvet cake. Nearly fell out of my chair from it's gooey richness. I'll be going back for sure.
(4)
Reg B.
best soul/southern food ever! i could live and die on their ribs.... it would def be my last meal... be prepared to wait... always a line, but worth it...
(5)
Matt W.
Okay, I have to edit my previous review. We have now been there twice for brunch and really enjoyed it both times. If you aren't in the mood for traditional soul/southern food (and are just looking for a great meal) its a great place to go. The line is long, prices are comparable to most brunch places in Portland, but the Chicken and Waffles (the fried chicken isn't really 'southern style' but fantastic nonetheless) is a great value - you end up with 4 huge pieces of chicken and a huge delicious waffle. The chicken makes a great chicken sandwich for the next 2 or 3 days.
(4)
Natalie B.
I want to give the Screen Door five stars. The food and service were perfect. I had dinner there with two friends and we all tasted one another's dishes making approving noises with our mouths full of delicious food. Our server was charismatic and super personable. BUT, we were seated outside, in a tent with heaters. I suppose that could have been ok, but its cold out there tonight and we were at the tail end of the tent, the flap was pulled up and servers were using it as a door from the kitchen. It was a little too chilly. So, if its a cold night, ask to be seated inside - where its cozy and the atmosphere is more festive.
(4)
Kristen E.
Get there early and wait in line before they open! Delicious meal. Best fried chicken I have had in years. Our group had mac and cheese, sweet potatoes, grits, and sea bass as well. We all loved our food.
(5)
Cindy Y.
i have been here twice and the first time was awesome. Waited an hour, had great fried chicken, left full and def wanted to come back. Second time went a little differently.. still waited an hour (expected), i wanted the fruit cup plus the fried chicken, mentioned to the waitress that i was allergic to melon and she told me that the cups were freshly made so they could make mine without melons. that's when i thought, SWEET, COULD THIS PLACE GET ANY BETTER? definitely spoke too soon. this guy brings over my cup, and it looked divine, i dive into it, only to find a couple strands of hair on a mango. i send it back, i know it happens, no big deal, i just want another one. (note: no apologies or sense of shock from waitress). The second one comes, it looks even better with more berries .. and freakin', there's a WHOLE WASP in the middle of the cup. um, NOT COOL. and again, no apologies whatsoever from anyone in the restaurant. i know stuff happens and things like hair happen, but a wasp? really. like REALLY? I didn't mind that it happens, but an apology would have been greatly appreciated screendoor. i was legitmately shocked that there was no shock from the waitress either. i've worked in the customer service/restaurant/hospitality market and ... i was rubbed the wrong way. fried chicken was still freakin' delicious though. i'd sadly have to say that i won't be going back. they seem to have gotten a little cocky and forgot their manners to say sorry when they serve you hair and a wasp in your food.
(3)
Giggly C.
Yummy fried chicken. The dinner portion is more moist than the appitizer. I love the changing menu insert... I get the screen door plate with a side of fried chicken. So good.... Grits are surprizingly good- hubby likes it with shrimp which adds more flavor.
(5)
Jes R.
How could you improve Screen Door? Accept reservations for Sunday brunch for small parties! The food is the best in town. The wait staff is prompt and friendly. The prices are acceptable. The only downfall they have is the long line that greets you at the door. The good news is that they have coffee for while you wait.
(5)
Ryan G.
My friend Jon took me and my girlfriend to the Screen Door when we visited Portland. This place had comfort food written all over it right when we walked in the door. They have several good locals beers on tab that were pretty pretty tasty. So to the food. I totally recommend the fried chicken dinner, it was totally amazing. Great food, great service, great beer, and reasonable prices. Check it out.
(5)
James M.
Oh this place is goooood. Nice atmosphere, perfect for hangovers, thank god :) Best part? The server was on the fucking ball! about filling my water glass so that I never ran out. Bravo, my friend, bravo. The food was a perfect hangover squasher. My only peeve has absolutely nothing to do with the restaurant. There was this women who was sitting next to me, she ordered a huge platter of food, gigantic potatoes, two eggs with spinich and hollandase sauce, something else that I can't remember and a side of the straight from HEAVEN Praline Bacon (can you believe it!?). She then proceeded to eat and egg and a half then she paid for her food and LEFT leaving an almost ungodly amount of food completely unthouched. If there is anything that is more distasteful to me on this earth it is the wasting of food. She could have gotten some togo boxes, but she decided to waste it. WTF is wrong with people? The rest of that food could have fed me for an entire day. I hope karma kicks you in your wasteful butt women who's name I don't know. Grrrr. Other then that I looooove this place, kick open the Screen asap! :)
(4)
Jason L.
You have wonderful food. You reminded me of all the days I've spent in Texas, South & North Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia and others. Only you were in Portland. So, it was like good southern food - without all the Republicans. How could I not like you? You have so many southern staples but bring a very creative twist. Your atmosphere is nice and you have a great outdoor area - when I forget about all the cars whizzing by me on Burnside. But hey? What are ya gonna do? Of course, I do wish you work with me on keeping my Men's Health figure but, it is southern food so I did get what I expected, a lot of fried things and HUGE portions. But, again, you did save me the Republicans so, I'll take my winnings. Can't wait to return.
(5)
Josh W.
Brunch here isn't just good - it is epic! After a rousing night of revelry, my companions and I took a long and arduous trek to the Screen Door. It was said that one who gazed upon its bounty and lived to tell about it would be forever victorious. Those who brave the wait are rewarded greatly. Soon enough, a tower of fried chicken, impaled with a mighty knife atop a sweet potato waffle, was set in front of me. Thoughts of King Arthur swept over me. A heavenly glow shone upon the dish as I grasped the hilt... Huzzah! To the King! A tale of glory, indeed!
(5)
Sierra R.
I have been here three times, twice for dinner and once for brunch. The food and service is good, but the portions are ridiculously large and pretty expensive. I would rather have smaller portions and a little lower price. Other than that, this is an enjoyable spot. Be prepared for a long wait at weekend brunch...45 mins +. While the food is pretty good, it is not THAT good. There are a a lot of other good spots for brunch in Portland that are cheaper and have a minimal wait.
(4)
Alex C.
What can I say about screen door that hasn't already been said? Best southern food in Portland? That goes without saying... But I will anyway. The food is amazing. The fried chicken plate is as big as my face! The braised and glazed pork is delicious and tender. I haven't had anything that wasn't great from here. Best hot sauce in Portland. Each table comes with a little bottle of house made hot sauce that is actually hot and has a great flavor that doesn't overpower the flavor of the food like tobasco would. They don't sell it tho.... As I understand from conversations with the waiters, this leads to bottles being stolen off the tables pretty regularly. To business owner: please sell the hot sauce to us!!!
(5)
Lilia P.
Pros: Well seasoned fried chicken, mac and cheese Cons: Extremely long wait to be seated, long wait for food, bland and blah tasting catfish, dry salty cornbread My husband was raised in the South and this was quite disappointing. It was definitely not worth the wait.
(3)
Mike I.
This place is busy, and popular and loaded with hipsters. If you can get past all that they serve up truly remarkable food. The chicken and waffles were top class. The breading on the waffle was spicy with just the right amount of kick. The waffle was really good too, but just a bit overshadowed by the chicken. Super big portions too. Really hard to finish it all. The praline bacon was insanely good and rich. Bottom line: if you are willing to wait for it you will get a great meal.
(5)
Aaron G.
We were excited to try this place and had no problem waiting for a seat. The problem was that not only did we wait for 45 minutes to be seated but we then had to wait another 45 minutes (after we ordered) to be served our food. It was particularly annoying when a larger party that was seated after us was served their food before us. That extra 45 minutes after we ordered our food made us agitated and ruined our experience. The waiter was irritated when we asked about the status of our order and he couldn't have cared less. Food was OK...not for the hassle though.
(2)
Amanda I.
This is my favorite restaurant in town! The food is local and delicious! There is always a wait but you can take a walk around the neighborhood while you wait. I have been here quite a few times and always leave full and satisfied.
(5)
Mike C.
Have you been to Roscoe's in LA, well this place is exponentially better! Gotta love the free Stumptown coffee why you are waiting to be seated. Fried chicken and waffles plus a large bowl of organic fruit. LOVE IT.
(5)
Lisa H.
Best fried chicken I have ever eaten. Although the wait was long, I can easily say it was worth it.
(5)
Mark P.
The perfect place to stand in line for breakfast.
(2)
Lynne S.
I've been trying to think of a way to accurately describe the food at the Screen Door for a while now, but that's just it--no description can really do it justice. If you're hesitant, consider the following: The fried oysters are everything that fried oysters should be but never are--crisp, oyster-y, exquisitely cooked perfection. The fried chicken is gorgeous, with deep crenellations like miniature canyons--juicy and insanely delicious. The only implement I used to eat my braised pork shoulder was the accompanying spoon, a testament to the fall-apart tender meat that peeled gently away, landing in the waiting arms of a glorious molasses-based sauce and hammy beans. The collards are waiting for you in a bath of broth that makes them tender and oh-so-tasty. The cornbread seems too savory, until you add the sweet cream butter to top the whole confection. And the mint julep packs a punch, but proves a great backup dancer to the whole performance. And a performance it is. You'll be asking for an encore, guaranteed.
(5)
Candace G.
worth the wait everything is amazing i love the french toast and the biscuit and gravy!
(5)
Luis C.
Great food! It is a bit of a wait, so recommend getting there right before they open for dinner. But it is worth the wait.
(5)
Cathy S.
The food was terrific! The service was satisfactory. The room was very very crowded and noisy. I would go back but I would try to find a quieter time. Update 5/9/2014 I have gone here every Thursday night at 8:30 pm for several months now. The food is consistently fresh, delicious, new items on the menu which are a creative dish from seasonal vegetables. The waiting room is always full but it is usually a short wait. I still find the tables very close together. I don't overhear other's conversations but I personally wouldn't have an intimate conversation with my partner there. They are friendly and very happy to help us split a dinner, the portions are large. One of us usually takes a small 'doggie bag' home. The wine list seemed good, the number of beer offerings seemed average. We love this place, take friends who love it too.
(4)
Darby M.
All I can say is YUM. Will be back here again. For sure! It is small so the tables are very close together, and the wait can be long, but the food is worth it!
(4)
Oregon D.
Love, Love, Love the Screen Door! Get there early! Line up 30 minutes prior to opening if you want to be seated in the first group. Otherwise you will be waiting around a while.
(5)
Jen I.
I come to Portland once every couple of months to visit friends. I've been doing this ritual for 2 years straight. Every time I come there is a brunch spot that is a staple to their weekend routine. The first place was Mothers. Excellent. Loved it. Perfect. The only drawback, it's on the other side of the river. My friends got lazy, so the place then became Holeman's. Divey, smokey and sub par food (but dirt cheap!). It took me a couple of trips to realize they only came to Holeman's for the bloody mary bar. Once that trend died down (dear god it took a year!!) and some people moved again, I was told, this past weekend, The Screen Door was a must. A couple blocks from where I was staying, it was a great location to boot. The wait was to be expected. Saturday morning around noon, a party of 4 took about 15 minutes, which wasn't so bad. The place is packed and the space is awash with the sounds of chatter and silverware hitting the plates. I was warned of portion sizes. Ok, I'm used to getting more food then I can eat. It IS America where excess is everything. BUT... I wasn't prepared for the 4 boneless chicken breasts stacked on top of a sweet potato waffle. Who says no to Chicken & Waffles? It seemed like about 5 lbs of chicken. I barely got to eat any of the delicious sweet potato waffle (belgian style) as I was so busy with the fried chicken. The coating was spicy and crunchy. The leftovers made an excellent drunk midnight snack, cold straight outta the fridge. I sampled my friends plates and can vouch for the breakfast corndogs (get a serving to share as a brunch appetizer, you can't go wrong!), the vegetarian biscuits and gravy and the cathead biscuit bacon sammich (don't worry, cathead means the biscuit's the size of a cat's head...not anything gross you're thinking about). We decided, almost immediately after finishing eating, that we needed to come back Sunday to get something different. Sunday, the wait was more like 30-45 minutes for our party of 5, but it was still well worth the wait. Even in the rain. Breakfast corn dogs, were yet again, a must. The Sausage Biscuits & Gravy were excellent. The cheese grits were awesome and cheesy (and you could taste the cheese!!) and the Bacon Praline Waffle was off the hook. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this place. The wait for a table on the weekends should be expected, but trust me, it's worth every minute. I've posted pictures. I love looking at pictures of past meals that were so good to me. There was no gravy fallout and for that, I am grateful. I'm amazed for "Southern Cuisine" the fried items were far from greasy!
(5)
Rachel S.
I was only in Portland for two days and determined to get the best meal possible. I succeeded with an evening at Screen Door. Granted, I live in Louisville, KY. But this place blew the southern food I'd had at home away. I ordered the Screen Door plate, where you get to choose three items: I chose crispy fried catfish, macaroni and cheese (OMFG!) and the arugula, roasted beet, goat cheese and avocado salad. The plate that arrived could have fed a family. The catfish was light, crispy and delicate--delicious! Macaroni and cheese was my favorite food as a lass, and this was cream-of-the-crop sharp cheddar crust, creamy and al dente pasta greatness. The salad provided a light palate cleanser for a potentially gut-busting meal. I might have liked a bit more dressing on my salad as it didn't appear to have any, but otherwise the meal was perfect. The table next to us shared a gigantic hunk of chocolate cake--maybe next time. The atmosphere was warm, lively and had nicely subdued lighting. It was the kind of place where you just walk in the door and you know you are going to have a rockin' meal. I am a food snob, and this place soared to the top of my list of restaurants--anywhere.
(5)
Brad C.
I think the only word that could describe how much I enjoyed my brunch at Screen Door would be AWESOME. Sure waiting outside to get in sucks but the end result is so tasty I would of waited longer for it. When seated I instantly turned over my cup for some stumptown and started looking over the menu. I had already read it over a little while waiting outside but just to be sure I needed to see if I missed anything. I wanted to try the Chicken and Waffles but I figured I could get those at a lot of places so I went for something I had never tried. I went with the Fried Oysters and Bacon Egg Benedict, I knew anything with bacon was going to rock but I had no idea fried oysters in the morning was so excellent. My fiancee who was with me ordered the Fried Chicken Cathead and Biscuits. Good lord that thing was gianormous! One of the largest portions for breakfast I have ever seen. A wise one once said "with great size comes great taste" and they were dead on! Another person at our table ordered a very tasty tomato, fresh basil, goat cheese scramble. If you aren't a meat eater they do feature a good selection of vegetarian options... it is Portland how could they not. All in all awesome, with gianormous portions that are excellent at a super price.
(5)
Edward J.
I don't care what people say about the price and the long wait, this is probably one of my favourite restaurant in town. As a vegetarian, I am telling you, I am not missing out on the southern comfort experience. Screendoor offers weekend brunch, lunch, and dinner. They have a full on bar, patio seating, a restaurant dining hall. It can get really noisy in there! Okay, so apparently the pork roast is really really amazing. The fried chickens are excellent. As a vegetarian, I enjoyed the other amazing stuff. The Mac and Cheese is one of the best I've had in years. The quality of the cheese and macaroni noodle, man, to die for. Fried green tomatoes? YES!!!!! Cornmeal covered. Fried Okra? OH MY GOSH, SO GOOD! The salads are amazing too, the cold chilled squash salad is sweeten with sliced apples. I also highly recommend the tomato with basil and balsamic vinegar, a classic. AND YEAH, to top all of this off, get a Mint Julep. Bulleit Bourbon with mint and cane sugar on the rock. It doesn't get better than this! PS: they've also got great iced sweet tea! PSS: Get the Screendoor Sampler, you get to pick three sides. Okra, catfish, green collard, corn cob, mac/cheese, ...etc. you pick them!
(5)
Dan D.
Excellent food. Excellent service. Long wait but totally worth wait. If you order the chicken and waffles, be prepared to take it home with you.
(5)
christina v.
My first true Southern food experience. I was not a big fan of Southern food because I'm not a big fan of fried food. This place really makes me think twice about Southern food. I love the food here. The Pork spare ribs was marinade with a very special sauce of root beer bbq glaze. The pork spare ribs was delicious; it had a mixed taste of spicy & bbq sauce. Delicious... The meat was sooo tender, it just slips off the bones. I love the crispy fried buttermilk-battered chicken; the meat was very juicy and tender; never going back to KFC. The macaroni & cheese was fantastic, very creamy and yummy. I also had Spring Strawberry & Pluot salad, very fresh,crispy salad; They don't overload the salad with dressing.
(5)
Duane C.
HOLY FRIED CHICKEN AND WAFFLES BATMAN!!! After an impromptu drive up a nearby hill to watch the sunrise at 6am this Sunday, Sarah said, "We should go to Screen Door one day." To which I responded, "Well let's go this morning for breakfast." So we went back home grabbed a few things, checked the internet for directions and we were on our way. Screen Door didn't open until 9am and we made it out to Burnside and 24th by 8am so we stopped at the Starbuck's just down the street to grab something hot to drink. It's a good thing we got their early. We've heard that the line can be major so thankfully we drove back to park closer to the place and got in line at around 830am which was perfect. There were maybe 10 people ahead of us. I peeked at the menu and immediately saw "Shane's breakfast corndogs" and "Fried Chicken Cathead Biscuit Sandwich". NOM! The door opened promptly at 9am and we were ushered in. The first thing you notice is the delicious smell of the place and then the full bar...very nice. After looking at the menu and seeing that they also had Fried Chicken and Waffles I was torn. Cathead Biscuit Sandwich or Fried Chicken and Sweet Potato Waffle. Needless to say we will be going back to try other things but at that moment I had a desire for something smothered in gravy so I picked the sandwich. The sandwich comes with your choice of potatoes or grits. I opted for the potatoes wanting to give my plate a balanced landscape. Our neighbors to the table at my left said everything on the menu was good and that the Fried Chicken and Waffle was a hefty serving. Thankfully, I also took that into consideration when deciding on the sandwich. Our neighbor to my right however went big and ordered the chicken and waffle. When it arrived Sarah quickly grabbed my attention and urged me to take a picture. Our neighbor was kind enough to let me photograph four monstrous pieces of boneless fried chicken stacked one atop the other on a gorgeous sweet potato waffle with a steak knife down the middle to keep it from falling over. WOAH! My mouth watered. Shortly after that our food arrived and while not as vertically stunning as my neighbor's plate the Fried Chicken Cathead Biscuit was still impressive. A whole boneless fried chicken breast rested on top of a massive biscuit, was then smothered with sausage gravy and then topped with the other half of the biscuit. To the side was a healthy serving of home fried potatoes and a side of ketchup. Sarah had the biscuits and gravy with eggs and she and I both commented first on the gravy. It truly made a statement with its chunks of sausage spread throughout the perfectly seasoned gravy. I typically add a little pepper and sometimes salt when needed but this masterpiece needed neither. I sliced a piece of fried chicken, dipped it in the gravy to get a little extra coverage and then my taste buds were off to the races. BLISS! The crispy batter had the perfect amount of salt and spice and the chicken was succulent, cooked through and not at all dry. Not wanting to give the potatoes a backseat to this flavor joyride, I popped one into my mouth without ketchup at first to get the full effect of the seasonings. Wow, very nicely done Screen Door! Potatoes were cooked through and seasoned well. The potatoes were cut fairly big but still had the right crunch on the outside while the inside was nice and fluffy. We were happy and content. We even had food left on our plates to take home. Now although I noticed the full bar upon walking in, I chose to stick to a cup of Stumptown coffee (my favorite). Sarah on the other hand bravely ordered a Bloody Mary. It was garnished with an olive and pickled okra which she happily reported was delicious. The drink she says was a bit on the spicy side but she enjoyed it nonetheless. Next time, I will be sure to join her in a drink and have a Mimosa seeing as I am not a fan of Bloody Mary's in general. Overall the food was great, the service awesome, the drinks tasty and effective and the price very affordable. The biscuits and gravy with eggs, biscuit sandwich, egg and biscuit for the little man, Bloody Mary, and refillable coffee came to just $32 before tip. Awesome! As mentioned before, we will be going back for more. The regular menu and the specials just beg to be conquered. Of course as always, don't take my word for it. Go out and try the place. A hui hou!
(5)
CeeCee P.
Screen Door is more like a 3.5... but I rounded up because despite the crowd, our server was helpful and our wait time for a table at 7 PM was about 25 minutes! Now that that's out of the way, we can talk food!! Overall, my cajun experience at the Screen Door was OK... I tried the fried chicken, and yes... the chicken very moist on the inside and wonderfully crispy on the outside, but it just tasted like fried chicken. The mashed potatoes were a nice addition, but I'm confident that I can live without the collard greens... We also tried the jambalaya and I think that the spices (in terms of both seasoning and heat) were lacking... the flavors of the andouille sausage and chicken did help the dish. Though the main entrees disappointed me, my favorites from the evening (and perhaps a reason I'd return) are the side dishes... I LOVE sweet potato fries... ok, maybe that was too much... I love sweet potato fries!!! so delicious! these fries were perfectly sweet and salty and definitely not greasy. I also liked the mac && cheese... the cheesy baked goodness totally nailed my mac and cheese cravings... It was good to try Screen Door, and though I'd like to say that I will revisit the place, I'm not sure if side dishes would justify another trip.
(4)
Catalina D.
Excellent southern comfort food. Absolutely ginormous portions, so come hungry! The drinks are good and I especially liked the shrimp with grits. Pleasant service and comfortable environment.
(4)
Kumiko M.
It's been a while since I ate there, so I can't really remember the exact dishes my friends and I had. But I can remember that it was delicious. I've never had true Southern food before, and it was a great introduction to true comfort food! It's not that expensive for what you get. The waiter was really friendly and helped us out with our decisions. All I know is that the next time I go down to Portland, the first thing I'm doing there is grabbing a seat at the Screen Door!
(5)
Brian F.
Very good breakfast, we has corn beef hash, and crab cake benedict. Great service food was awesome. I will return again.
(5)
Stephanie J.
Alright... If I think pambiche deserve a 4.5 star then this place get a 3.5 stars. Came here w/ great expectation since it has such a high yelp review. Got to say this place is a- ok. Group of us walked out without much impress. So for group of 4, we ordered the famous fried chicken, jambalaya, screen platter where can make 3 side dishes, and BBQ brisket. So here is what I think... For their famous fried chicken. Its not too famous in my opinion. The skin was cripsy... The dipping sauce was good. But for 2 piece of chicken, mass potato and small cup of collared green, I really dun think it worth $15 bucks. To me that is just expensive. The jambalaya... It was not bad. There is a hint of spiciness, but nothing too spicy that a normal non-spiciness person can't handle. When I was trying that, I can't help to think the jambalaya paste from cheesecake factory taste better than that. Their BBQ brisket was ok too. Good sacue and the meat was soft. I must agree with one of the yelpers review that if u like their side dishes than maybe it's worth it to order their side dishes alone. Its worth it.. I seen the portion. It decent. For the 3 side dishes platter, we ordered the some kind of fried fish, pork chop and sweet potato fries. All 3 were pretty good. They are busy... That is for sure. I dunno... For that much high yelp review I thought it didn't meet my expectation. O well... At least I tried it.
(3)
Nicolette B.
This is at the top of the list for when my other half and I go out to eat a good meal, which we do probably more than we should. I think it's pretty much impossible to get a dish that isn't, at the very least, good and most of what is offered is beyond exceptional. This is true for either breakfast or dinner. In fact, the chicken and waffles is to die for! I did not understand this dish until I ate it at the Door and now I dream of it. I could say the same about their burger, brisket, mac and cheese, on and on and on..... The staff is also very friendly and helpful. Having the kitchen open is also neat, especially if you get a good enough seat to be able to see. We have also sat at the bar, which I was hesitant to do, but it was actually a very nice experience, chatting with the tender and being helped even quicker than normal. Although I'm not a huge fan of the cornbread, there is little about The Screen Door that is not quality. Five stars for sure!
(5)
Rebecca H.
Another visit 5 years since my last. Same good food, same crowds and lines, same hour wait from order to table. In my previous life I didn't care, just drink through the wait! Now as a mama to a one year old, just get my food so I can feed my kid and get her home before bed! Waited in line for 530 opening, left at 730. Good thing my kid is a rockstar and was a cute non screamer through 98% of it. I just won't go back til she's older and can tolerate waiting. Screen Door won't miss me, they have enough business.
(3)
Jacob H.
Love the food so much here. The all-sides plate is my personal fave, though you can never go wrong with chicken n' waffles. Be forewarned though: This is some heavy-assed authentic faire; so if you over do it you WILL learn that comfortable bowel movements are a privilege, and not a right. Just sayin'. But yes. If someone asked me for a recommendation for places you have to eat at in PDX, it would be here, Gino's or Beast
(5)
Chirag Y.
We stopped by this place while visiting Portland. I would say this is an average brunch place. The line is WAY TOO LONG. I don't know what the hype is all about (not a Portland native so can't say). I wish I would have came back for lunch or dinner to try the cajun/southern food items. I would say that the portion sizes are HUGE, especially the chicken and waffles. I have def not seen that size in any brunch place in CA. I also ordered the madamme croque which was surprisingly really good.
(4)
Tina B.
My kids took me here, the food was awesome. The wait was long, but worth it.
(5)
Tabitha T.
Great food but almost not worth the wait. Huge hype! Get in and try on a not so busy day.
(3)
Priya C.
Best fried chicken ever. Perfectly crispy on the outside, tender, moist chicken on the inside. Though inconsistent quality of other dishes, especially the jambalaya and gumbo. First time I tried both dishes, they were fantastic, the second time they were severely under-seasoned =/ Overall great and worth the wait!
(4)
Shayne T.
Long line prior to opening but some pretty good food. We got the Chicken & Waffles and Eggs Benedict today. Can't wait to try other menu items.
(4)
Carlee K.
Decent bloody mary's, greasy food. This is a hangover spot, don't go for fresh delicious food.
(4)
Denise M.
This place, if hasn't already, will be one of Portland's landmarks. If you haven't tried it, you must. The service is the best... friendly and attentive. When I asked the server what was in my dish, he found out for me and explained that the smoky flavor was not from bacon *shudder* but from roasted corn, I was quite relieved. I had the scallops appetizer for my main dish with sides of corn bread and broccoli casserole. The portion size was perfect and allowed me to indulge in dessert. I chose the Old Fashioned Balsamic Raspberry Pie with buttermilk whipped cream... it*was*heavenly! I have never experienced such a perfect combo of sweet, tart, and creamy. I savored every rich, delicious forkful. When I finished, I was tempted to lick my plate... but I resisted and left wondering why I had never been introduced to that most perfect treat before. Go to this place, you will not leave hungry.
(5)
Erick R.
Wow! Expect at least a 30 minute wait, but damn... it's worth it! Go for brunch and get the Chicken and Waffles! It's a huge serving of fried chicken and possibly the best waffle around, easily shared by 2 people!
(5)
Jodi H.
Recent Dinner and Brunch experiences were amazing. I'd give this place 6 stars if I could! Everything was great - but these are the things that stood out: Fried Chicken Fingers, Pimento Spread, Macaroni and Cheese for dinner. For brunch - the regular French Toast (we got a half order as an appetizer) Fried Chicken and Gravy with a Biscuit that they said was as big as a cat's head - and I would agree, it is actually bigger than either of my cat's heads! The only downside is the wait since they don't take reservations, but I'm willing to wait for this food. There aren't many places where I'll wait beyond 15 minutes, but this is one of those places! I can't wait to go back (even if I have to wait) - maybe this weekend??
(5)
YW T.
Recommend: chicken n waffles, banana foster French toast, bacon prailine waffles Portions are HUGE. The chicken breast was moist and tender and the batter was crunchy with a little kick. One of the best fried chicken I've ever had. The banana slices on the banana foster french toast were perfectly sauteed and the sauce was amazing. It would be even more perfect if the bread was a little crispy on the outside.
(5)
sarah M.
so so good. the collard greens...well, I could eat like 3 servings. i love this place.
(4)
Sara B.
Portions = HUGE Food = so friggin good, I ate til I was hurting The only down side is that I can't afford to eat breakfast out every day. The fried chicken and waffles are fantastic and there was enough chicken left over for lunch and dinner. Bonus!
(5)
Paige H.
I was surprised at how quickly we got seated, I guess the lines are just for brunch, but I thought the dinner food was super tasty, and really liked the appetizer servings and the local/fresh menu insert. My only complaint, all of the desserts had nuts in them, even the one that I ordered that didn't mention nuts at all in the description, has almonds on top. Kind of spoiled my buzz honestly, as someone allergic to nuts, I don't like to have to ask every time, I think common allergens should be included in the descriptions.
(4)
Rob S.
If you have to complain about anything, it's because you have to wait forever to get in. Seriously, it's like standing in line at Disneyland for a ride...long, boring and the minutes seem to slowly tick by. When you finally get on and the ride is over, everyone starts high five'n and talkin about how it was so worth the wait. If you haven't figured it out....it worth the wait! Hang in there and you and anyone around you will be high five'n...probably much later though because you'll be to full and carrying left overs!
(5)
LizzieJ B.
Love Screen Door! The food is delicious. The BEST macaroni and cheese I've ever had (still dreaming of it), exceptional mashed potatoes, delicious collard greens! My mom loved the fried chicken! The service is wonderful: friendly, welcoming, on-top-of-it! The restaurant has lovely decor and is casual, clean, special. They clearly take pride in everything they do. I highly recommend trying out Screen Door!
(5)
Michael C.
I ordered a hamburger at this place...and I must say, it was one of the best hamburgers I have ever had. OK...it wasn't as good as one I had in Omaha NE, but given that I was in Omaha, and hamburgers and steaks are all they eat there, it isn't a fair comparison. Anyways, the hamburger was fantastic. Honestly, it's kind of hard to describe what a great hamburger tastes like. But given Screen Door's practice of sourcing from local & organic producers, I must say that whatever they are doing works miraculously. The Screen Door was one of several restaurants I ate at on a recent trip to Portland that contributed to convincing me that the Rose City is one of America's hidden gems when it comes to eating out.
(5)
rachel p.
the ambiance is great, it's portland's very smart take on southern. somehow they managed to turn a big rectangular box into a cool airy dining room. it feels down home cool and the service also reflected this--attentive, timely and friendly. so the good stuff...chedder cheese grits, spongy biscuits and a west coast twist on southern fried goodness. typically when i eat southern my california girl stomach can't deal, but this place treated me right. i admit, i went decidedly california on them and opted for the frittata with chard, some yummy melty cheese and truffle oil. it was AMAZING. i thought i died and went to truffle heaven. the grits were good too, and though i prefer biscuits flaky, these were still delicious. my girlfriend got the porcini mushroom scramble with hotbox tomatoes. also quite good, thanks to those seriously organic, local, bursting with sunshiney flavor tomatoes. the coffee is from stumptown. arguably the best coffee in the world. i don't know why seattle gets all the credit. i can't wait to visit portland again!
(5)
Katie M.
Oh my goodness. I had passed Screen Door a few times so I finally decided to check it out the last night a friend was in town. How could I not love a place that has sweet tea, hush puppies, mac and cheese, pulled pork sandwiches, sweet potato fries, and a separate extensive organic/local menu that changes weekly? I haven't been for brunch yet, but I will definitely have to go.
(5)
Trinh T.
The southern style brunch here is amazing!!! Grits, buttermilk biscuits and gravy, fried chicken and cajun scramble.....some of these breakfast dishes are a "heart attack on a plate" as a local P-town friend so aptly stated. In addition, the prompt and friendly service, casual, log cabin-ish setting with available outside seating to boot, makes this a 5 star kinda place for brunch in my book.
(5)
Dr B.
Finally, sweet iced tea just like Mom's. This is a welcome addition to Portland, and it feels much more authentic than the Delta to me. My only complaint is that when I want biscuits, I don't want Alabama biscuits. Yech.
(4)
Kyle J.
With a friend in town, I had to take them to Screen Door. Went in for dinner on a Wednesday, skipped the wait and sat at their quaint bar. The decor is simple, but it really works with the southern no-fuss atmosphere. An open kitchen shows the chefs hard at work. We shared the fried chicken liver appetizer, and not being a liver fan myself, I was still very impressed. For the main course, I ordered the BBQ beef ribs special. WOW! So well prepared, the meat fell from the bone and was so tender and juicy. The house BBQ sauce was great as well. It's not hard to find good BBQ, but it's rare to find great BBQ. But most of all, I still dream of the corn bread!
(4)
Eric H.
I am not a Portland native but this place is one of 2 places I really like to go when I'm visiting. Everything I've tried was excellent. The place is mad busy but the staff is very efficient and friendly. Expect to wait to be seated. First time I was there I waited 30 minutes (that's when they're not busy) second time there was a line down the block (father's day might had something to do with it and it rained). Bring an umbrella or wear a water repelling hoodie. Portland gets a lot of rain.
(5)
LYNSEY L.
I. LOVE. SCREEN DOOR. For real - we go here 2 or 3 times a months and never get bored of it. When we try other places we always say "Its okay, but its no Screen Door". When people come from out of town, Screen Door. The food is amazing, and they have a "local organics" menu that is ever changing, plus nightly specials, and a changing dessert menu as well so its pretty impossible to ever get bored there. The prices are great (you get a ton of food, I have never been able to finish though I have wanted to because its so tasty), and the service is brilliant. After visiting 2 or 3 times the staff already remembered us by name and now greats us with hugs and smiles, and asks us our honest opinion about new menu items. Please please try the screen door, you will not regret it - its a gem!
(5)
Scott N.
hands down some of THE best southern cuisine i've had outside of the south. real fried chicken, grits, greens... mmhmmm. and to boot, NO TABASCO IN SIGHT!!! crystal sauce on every table. i mean, it really doesn't get more down-home in the pacific NW. kudos, y'all.
(5)
Melissa L.
some of the best eggs benedict i've ever had. yeah the wait for brunch on weekends sucks, but it's worth it. service is meh. but the food again, is worth it. i went with a group of "foodies" and everyone was satisfied with their food. i find myself craving it often. definitely my favorite place for brunch in portland. sorry cricket : /
(4)
Angelyn N.
Delicious cocktails. Delicious catfish. Delicious greens. I'm a Southerner, and it's the closest I can get to home. No other place in Portland even comes close. You will likely have to wait, but it's worth it. Sit on the patio when you can, it's awesome.
(5)
Justin C.
I can't think of a better way to have started my day trip to Portland than with a stop for breakfast/brunch at the Screen Door. My only regret is not making it there 15 minutes earlier, to avoid the massive line ( flickr.com/photos/wedoit… ) which was wrapped around the restaurant waiting to get in, and caused me to just barely miss the coveted first seating of diners (they open at 9am). Even though I had to hang out at the bar ( flickr.com/photos/wedoit… ) for a bit and wait, I didn't mind too much since they had free coffee to pour yourself while you stand and chat with the people around you, trying to figure out how best to fulfill your appetite. There are quite a few specials here each weekend, so be sure to take a look up at the board to get the full descriptions (if I remember correctly the smaller menu handout only has a blurb). The hostess here was super nice, a trend I enjoyed for most of my time in Portland, and when she saw I was just by myself she managed to squeak me past a few other people who were ahead of me and sit me at her "favorite table" (although I'm not entirely sure why) right as the first person was leaving from the initial seating. The people dining in front of me seemed to be really enjoying ( flickr.com/photos/wedoit… ) their meals and the servers definitely seemed like quite the characters. I love it when people actually appear to be enjoying their job instead of just acting like you're another number and more money in their pockets. By this time I had already had a couple cups of the free coffee at the bar, and I was pleased to find out that the never ending cup continued once you sat down, so I had another while I waited to place my order. I already knew what I wanted, although I have to admit after seeing plate after monstrous plate of chicken and waffles come out I was really tempted to go in that direction, and if I ever get the chance to come back that's going to be at the top of my list. The prices here are so fantastic, especially when you consider the portion size, that I found it hard to stick to just one thing (which if you know my dining habits you would realize is virtually impossible regardless). Up first was a plate of brunch's finest stars combined into one amazing serving which they called "Fried Oysters Benedict." It consists of cornmeal fried oysters with poached eggs and bacon over English muffins, topped with hollandaise, and served with potatoes (or cheddar grits if you choose) and is pretty damn intimidating once you have it set before you ( flickr.com/photos/wedoit… ). I can assure you, if you are fortuitous enough to order this you will leave a happy person. It was one of the single best dishes I've had anywhere, regardless of course or time of meal, as each ingredient stood out so well on its own, but combined to form fantastic bites when eaten together. The eggs were poached perfectly, and provided that wonderful yolk spillage you would expect, softening up the biscuits just right. The crispness of the bacon was a great contract, along with the fried oysters, neither one too overpowering to wash out the flavor of the egg. The potatoes acted nicely as a backdrop for the main part of the meal, sort of a palette neutralizer in between bites, allowing you to fully appreciate all the flavors. Unable to settle for just one type of bacon, I decided to also have a side order of the house specialty "Praline Bacon," which I highly suggest for anyone dining here at any time it's offered. This stuff is just too damn good, and even though I already had bacon on my other plate, I kept coming back to this one ( flickr.com/photos/wedoit… ) because of the ideal pairing of sweet and salty. I'm not sure how they cook it to get all the elements so cohesive, but it was pure magic. I also wanted to try one of the daily specials, so I had a single serving of one of "Shane's Breakfast Corndog's." They take a sweet sausage, fry it like a normal corndog, top it with powdered sugar and serve it with maple syrup on the side to dip in ( flickr.com/photos/wedoit… ). I had no idea what this would be prior to ordering it, I was sold on the name alone. Although it was a bit too sweet for me, I still really loved the creativity, and I ate about as much as my quickly filling stomach could handle. Screen Door is definitely a Portland experience you should not miss, especially if you're only here a short period of time. The people here are great, as is the food, and best of all it won't hurt your wallet on the way out. My total bill for more than one person should ever eat only came out to $26 including tip.
(5)
Bev L.
Who doesn't love comfort food, right? After a long, tiring drive down from Seattle, our first stop was at the Screen Door for dinner. A bit of a wait at 6pm - about 40 minutes or so, but to be expected for such a popular place. We started out with the hush puppies and fried green tomatoes. The hush puppies were light and flavorful, and the tomatoes were very good and something we had always wanted to try. For our mains, my husband ordered the beef brisket with 2 vegetable sides. He enjoyed the brisket, but didn't find it to be specatular and noted that the veggies were just "ok." I had the Screen Door Plate with a thin, crispy pork chop, grits, mac & cheese and cornbread. Cholestrol city! The pork chop was perfectly cooked although underseasoned. Loved the mac & cheese and grits. Just what I would expect - yum! I really debated between 3-4 stars but after much discussion and thought, had to go with three stars for the following "misses." The heavily touted cornbread was dry. Really, really dry. Same for the humongous slice of red velvet cake. Sahara desert dry, and unfortunately, quite tasteless to boot! We managed a few bites with lots of vanilla ice cream but then just gave up. I'd like to give the brunch a whiril next time we're in town, but not sure that I'd make an effort to stop for dinner. Not bad.. some items quite good, but too many other places to choose from.
(3)
Bobby A.
HOT DAMN!!!!! I was doing the Great Pacific Northwest road trip and of course had to stop into Portland so I checked out fellow Yelpers had to say on great eats in this area and Screen Door came out on top so naturally of course I had to go check it out. I came in at 10:30am and there was already a crazy line-up outside. I gave my name to the hostess and because it was just me, I was able to get a seat at the bar, but it was a good 40 minute wait. Not that I minded, I got to people watch and look over the menu. FYI: if you're looking to get a table for 2, waits are about 2 hours by 10:30am on a weekend. When I was finally seated, I ordered up a Bloody Mary, it was spicy and tangy to perfection with a pickled okra to boot. The bartender who also took our orders does a stellar job. The people here work their asses off and it was easy to see why given the crowds. But the crowds are huge because of one thing only: the food. Of course I ordered the fried chicken for my first time here. And some monstrous piling tower of three large chicken breasts, perfectly spiced, breaded and fried with a giant knife pinning it together on top of a sweet potato waffle showed up. It was fried food heaven. There was no way I was ever going to finish off such a huge portion. This is dinner for a couple or a small family. Thankfully, there was another lone diner seated beside me at the bar and she was having their super-fluffy French Toast. We got chatting together and she said she was a regular and always has the fried chicken but wanted to try something else today and so I proposed a trade, I gave her a piece of my chicken and I got to try that awesome French toast This is definitely Southern cuisine done right. I saw omelets with oysters, Bourbon sauce bread pudding, and a ton of other stuff I wished i could have tried. If I lived in Portland, I'd be here all the time. Great food, good prices and amazing service. Try this place first before you go anywhere else.
(5)
Kourtney N.
Portland loves the Screen Door and I'm pretty sure all of the other reviews cover the great food & the inevitable long wait for Sunday brunch. Our table happily devoured our biscuits & gravy, chicken & waffle, special heirloom tomato benedict, jambalaya omelette and the heirloom tomato and summer squash scramble. All tasty and large portion sizes. I wanted to add my review to the masses because we had exceptional service--which isn't as common as it should be in Portland. When we sat down, we were greeted with a special plate of fresh lemon ricotta fritters with an incredible berry dipping sauce because they 'heard we had a long wait.' And then when my friend's Benedict was taking longer to come out than the rest of our dishes, they brought her some fresh fruit (and not just random fruit thrown together but a nice size dish with blackberries). Our server Kayla took good care of us the entire time and happily split up the bill before we even requested it. So go put your name on the list, wander next door for a cup of coffee and know that great food & service will be at end of your wait!
(5)
Courtney D.
Open screen door to authentic fried chicken If you're hankering for the best fried chicken this side of the Mississippi, head on over y'all to the Screen Door. The name alone echoes the vibe since you feel like you're eating in someone's southern home. Their fried chicken was like no other I've tried with it moist buttermilk batter, yet it didn't taste greasy at all. Many places overcook it, so the chicken ends up dry inside but not here. If that wasn't tasty enough, the chicken comes with mashed sweet potatoes, which I've never had before. Your mouth will be watering during the entire meal, trust me. The only drawback about this place is the cost. Most items are priced higher than your average barbecue. The fried chicken platter will set you back $14.75, but then again, it's way above average in taste. Tip: Order the sweet tea to wash it all down.
(4)
H M.
2100 hundred reviews and 4.5 stars is no joke. Yelpers must be on to something, no? With the weather fluctuating between 30 and 40 degrees and this place literally down the block from our place, we thought some good ol' Southern food would be just what the doctor ordered. Although, I can't say I know of too many doctors who'd recommend crispy fried buttermilk battered anything! Food here can be described in one word: Yummmmmy Order the screen door plate. Savor the deliciousness of the cornbread and the mac n cheese. And remember to leave room for dessert...you'll end up in a food coma after your finish, but you'll kick yourself if you don't. Screen Door, I look forward to gaining weight with you.
(5)
Tasha D.
Can't get enough of this place!!! We drove and hr to get there while on vacation in the area. We did have to wait an hour to get seated but I'll tell you what... I'd do it again! The chicken and waffles are bomb! We had the praline bacon also. My boyfriend had the cathead breakfast sandwich and ate the whole thing! If your patient and want good food this is your place!
(5)
Jennifer D.
I came here after reading all the amazing reviews on Yelp. We arrived at 5:45 PM on a Monday evening (15 minutes after opening) and there was already a short wait. I have to admit I don't eat meat so I can't comment on the fried chicken. My husband said the fried chicken was pretty good. We ordered the beef brisket, fried chicken, mac n cheese, fried cat fish, corn bread, and beet salad. My husband said the fried chicken and beef brisket were both pretty good. I had the corn bread, beet salad, fried cat fish, and mac n cheese. I think the best dish was the mac n cheese. It's definitely one of the best mac n cheese I've ever had. It's so cheesy but not too salty...it was delicious. The fried cat fish was way too salty for my liking. The corn bread was not good at all. It was very dry and bland. I am not sure if I will ever wait in line to eat at this place but if there isn't a wait I'll probably stop by.
(3)
Michelle M.
Nutshell: Food - Good. Service - Good. Kitchen etiquette - Questionable. A group of friends and I, total of 5, decided to try Screen Door after the rave reviews. We expected a long wait because we were a larger group and it's a popular place. Our wait was approximately an hour and because we had so much time, we already knew what to order. Therefore, right when we sat down we ordered our food. Time passes by and the wait gets excruciatingly long. We notice that a group of 4 who came after us got served. Odd. Then a LARGE group of 10 who also came after us got their food. The waitress thanked us for being patient and tried to buy us off with 2 small plates to snack on. However, after an hour wait there was no formal apology that either the waitress or the kitchen screwed up our order/queue. If a mistake was made, that's fine but OWN IT. Restaurants can be crazy but that does not mean etiquette goes flying out the window. If it were the owner and his wife, would the staff had acted the same? Pretending nothing happened and throwing the food their way after a 2 hour wait? I would hope not. The food is not sprinkled in gold, nor orgasmic nor heavenly. It's just tasty food. I had a much better and normal human experience at Tasty N Sons and I imagine there are a hundred better brunch places in Portland. The hype for this place is ridiculously off the charts.
(3)
Jimmy S.
Darn good food at an extremely reasonable price. The wait was a bit outrageous but overall, I'd say very enjoyable.
(4)
Shane L.
I haven't been to another spot in town that is so consistently excellent as this one. Food, drinks, service, long lines. They have it all. Go in a small group, during the week, and get there early to avoid a long wait.
(5)
Kimmy W.
The most amazing meal we had in Portland. We came on a Sunday morning and of course there was a wait of course - 30 mins goes by pretty quickly when they let you order coffee and people watch. My husband and I knew to get the chicken and waffles - the best in the world. The chicken was spiced and dipped PERFECTLY. It came out hot, crispy and deliciously juicy... we still talk about it to this day. The waffle was also perfect - soft on the inside but crunchy on the outside. I also got the hush puppies cuz they sounded yummy but I shouldn't have - the chicken and waffles was more than enough for us to share and I had no room for the puppies. Perfection... but you new that already from the 2000 other reviews. Great, now I'm starving.
(5)
Macy T.
The food and drinks were really good, however it took forever to get it, probably our bad for going on a Sunday morning, they had a lovely selection of tea and coffee for the people waiting, but did not make it very clear that you would be charged for that, I think the idea of that was wonderful but the prices were a bit steep. However over all if was a good experience! I just won't go back on a weekend!
(4)
Jason T.
It was my first time in Portland, and I saw this restaurant was highly rated on yelp. I intended to dine here for breakfast but kept arriving too late. Finally got to try the food out -- the wife & I had dinner there. my first time trying some legit (to me) Louisiana cookin! I thought it was delicious! Ordered the Bbq brisket -- the meat was r super tender and not chewy at all. The sauce was the right amount of spice and sweetness, rather than other places where it's too overpowering. The onion strings were nice and crispy, so they didn't feel like they had been cooked and left out. The side dish was some kind of greens with bacon in it. And I was pleasantly surprised the "slaw" meant "potato salad" to this Californian (I thought it meant "coleslaw " Wife had the Screen Door Plate: cornbread, Mac & cheese, collard greens, and jambalaya. Loved everything but oddly wasn't a fan of the cornbread! I know -- I'm crazy. It's personal preference that's why I didn't ding the star ratings :) If I ever find myself in Portland, I will definitely be back.
(5)
Prisilia P.
Our favorite restaurant for the entire trip! Food portions are huge! Everything that we tried are really good. We ordered foods for to go, since the line is very long and we don't feel like waiting. Plus, parking is a hassle in this area. We got the crispy fried oyster, beef brisket, screen door plate(mac and cheese, pork chops and catfish) and pecan pie. I don't usually like oyster, but Screen Door's oysters are delicious! pciltraveldiary.blogspot…
(5)
Brook W.
One of Portland's iconic breakfast spots. The food and bar are amazing. Well worth the wait, even though that can easily extend to an hour or two. Two tricks to avoid the wait: 1) get there at 8:30 (they open at 9) and get in line for the first round of seating; or 2) show up whenever, put your name on the list, go wander around the neighborhood or visit the antique shops just up on Sandy until about 20 minutes before your wait time is supposed to be up. First-time visitors must try a Spanish coffee and Portland's best fried chicken and waffles (get it praline style for extra awesomeness).
(5)
Lana T.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Ok, just had to get that out, that's how excited I am about this place. A group of us went out last night for Rachael's birthday. Adam and I arrived tired, and not very hungry. After browsing the menu, we saw the perfect thing! The Screen Door plate. It's your choice of any 3 sides, or plates off the "local/organics" menu (a smaller, rotating daily menu of exactly that..local/organic dishes) for $13.95. We got mashed potatoes, quinoa salad, and fried catfish. It came with a piece of corn bread too, which I liked more than Adam did. It's definitely a steal if you do it right. The friend Catfish was on the sides menu, and alone was $8.95. The potatoes were heavenly, and the catfish divine. I tasted a bit of everyone's food including mac and cheese, braised greens and fried okra. Everything was DELICIOUS. YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMÂMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.
(4)
Brandi M.
KILLER breakfast. Killer. Best gravy I have ever tasted. Had Screen Door's version of chicken and waffles exactly one week after having Thomas Keller's version at his Bouchon restaurant and both were phenomenal albeit very different takes on the legendary dish. Haven't been here for dinner yet... Only down side is that they open late for breakfast and the line is so dang long. But who can blame people for waiting? It take serious guts to open for breakfast at 9am. SD can get away with it.
(5)
Molly M.
Went here couple months ago so I am writing this from memory. That fried oyster, oh my gosh that fried oyster. I need to get some back in my life. I have never had one that tasted anything like this before. SO FRESH! That batter did not make me feel like I just gained 5 lbs from eating it either. Lightly battered but with soo much flavor. I highly recommend trying it. We also tried the chicken and waffles. Please NOTE: this will feed about 2-3 girls!! Their portion is HUGE, i mean, geez now I know why people in the south are more....endowed. Chicken was tender and juicy, not at all dry. Yummy waffles. The wait really is not that bad, it can look intimating but seemed to move pretty fast for us. Seeing as how it is one of the top rated restaurants in Portland for tourists, we were worried that getting a table for 8 ppl was going to be tough, as they do not do reservations. It did not take as long as what the host had told us. Funny because we actually went to get our nails done at the little nail shop down the street, and they called our name while we were doing our nails. We had to put our name back on the list but even then, it did not take long at all to get, yet another table lol....oops on us. Their service is great! Go try it!!
(5)
Meana K.
I've been a few times now. Each time I've been, I've waited no more than 5-10 minutes. Just gotta time it right -- be there before they open for dinner or show up for a late brunch. Over 2,000 reviews, I'm sure one or two people mentioned the fried chicken is fantastic so I won't start there. The banoffee pie is definitely worth saving some room for. For me, it's not a 5 star restaurant because I don't love everything they make. The grits are only okay. The mac and cheese is not among the best I've had and it's actually a bit overwhelmingly heavy/rich. The bloody mary is good. The collards are really good. The burger is pretty good. The brunch items I've had were great (except the potatoes were a little dry). Their kitchen is busy and while I'm sure they strive for consistency, it's not always achieved. So why 4 stars when the food isn't always perfect here? Let me tell you about the service. The staff here are so easy going, friendly, and attentive. You feel welcomed despite how busy they always are. 5 star service. It's part of the Portland experience and I enjoy it. And the fried chicken and banoffee pie alone are worth 5 stars for me.
(4)
William H.
Blah blah blah, we all know their fried chicken is great, and the mac n cheese is probably still the best I've had in Portland (at least it won't dissappoint). What keeps me coming back is the other things on the menu are excellent--it's just not the fried chicken. Pork Belly--Get it. In any preparation. Sweet potato fries. I was skeptical when someone ordered it, but they were the best sweet potato fries I have had in some time--crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, you actually taste sweetness and flavor of the sweet potato. I would skip the shrimp and grits. Had them twice and the shrimp was fishy both times and the second time the grits were bland (needed more salt). That also goes for the cornbread and butter--an afterthought. This place is also relatively cheap for the amount of food and quality you receive. I would probably give it 5.5 stars. Service is always excellent, they do get backed up so you might have to wait a bit longer for your food.
(5)
J. B.
Seriously...AMAZING! My hubby and I shared the fried chicken and sweet potato waffles plate...and we agreed that it was worth the wait (over an hour to get in-YIKES). I kept wondering how it was possible for one person to eat 3 fried chicken breasts plus a waffle as big the plate, but I saw many ordering it just for themselves (it's no wonder heart disease is the #1 killer in the US-sorry to be a buzz kill, but really guys, c'mon...)! At any rate, it was great tasting, service was awesome and you can taste the love in everything they make. Just do me a favor, folks...after this coma inducing food fest, drink a lot of water and get some exercise. It's what your mother and doctor would want you to do...
(5)
Erin L.
The Mac n cheese is so awesome here. Tried the fried pork chops, and jambalaya and fried chicken. All worth getting! If you're ever in Portland, you definitely need to try the screen door.
(5)
Dan T.
The food was amazing, surpassed my expectations. Will definitely go back next time I'm in town!
(5)
Jesica F.
There was a line when the first time I came to this restaurant. I have to wait 30 min. to get in. And Of course I get the waffle fried chicken since that's their signature dish. I have to admit it that it was good. If you like fried chicken then you will like this place!
(5)
Laura C.
For my mom not to crab about the slow service, means she was really enjoying taking the whole thing in. For my mom to gush means the food was excellent. The 20 minutes it took for the best mac and cheese I have had in a very long time - to reach my table was well worth the wait. The cold slaw, jambalaya and chicken strips with honey dijon mustard was also worth waiting for. The prices seemed a tad steep, for being such a casual place and casual fare....but the portions were huge and I ended up with quite a few leftovers to take home for lunch the next day. My suspicion is that they hold off serving you until you're hungry enough to eat most of what you ordered. I love the area, and the free parking, but I would recommend getting there when they open...around 5:30, because you'll be waiting an hour just to get a table, if not. The decor is really unique because it's simple Southern; neither or which screams Portland Hipster. They even have a wall lined with pickled veggies...not that I'd partake, since I was there for the fried food. I'd heard about this place from numerous friends - all of whom love it - so we knew about the wait (and was prepared for it) and that we would not be disappointed.
(5)
Kathleen B.
The meal: Fried green tomatoes, dipped in crunchy corn-mealy batter and fried crispy. Topped with cool, salty shrimp salad. Mixed plate for dinner (I recommend this: you get to try lots of stuff; Mr. T and I both got this and shared dishes): catfish fried in the same corny batter, fresh and salty and heavenly when dipped in the tangy side sauce. Collared greens, slow cooked so they are silky and tender and salty. I was fishing through the sauce, looking for any leaves I missed, when I looked up to find the host offering me a spoon. At first I didn't get it; then, with utter embarrassment, I realized he was delivering another utensil for me to sop up the rest of the collared greens. I was enjoying myself too much to blush too hard. Mac'n'cheese; I am now a believer that this dish can be elevated to the divine. The red beans were also surprisingly delicious, nothing like beans and rice I'd had before. (And giving new meaning to Sir Mixalot's line "red beans and rice didn't miss her.") Next time we'll try to save room for dessert, but it's hard to do! Great service, fun, open dining room with a view to the open kitchen, which I love! Great cocktails as well.
(5)
Krista G.
Finally made it here on Sunday for Brunch. They offer up coffee to help ease the wait and it's a great place to people watch while you wait and wait and wait. Once seated about an hour later we all ordered up different things so we could share. Someone got french toast, another got pancakes, another had the frittata, and I had the fried chicken on a biscuit. After tasting everyone's I knew I had the best dish. Although I do enjoy Sunday brunch every now and then I really think dinner here is better. Sometimes when restaurants get too busy the food shows it was rushed, but I'm glad I gave it a whirl.
(4)
akzidenz g.
3.85 stars the fried chicken was the best ive tasted anywhere. even beats nawlins! ingredients were fresh, but the fish special the waiter recommended was just not very tasty. we dared ppl to eat it. hehe. the jumbalaya was aiite, ive had better. the hush puppies tho.....they were good. would definitely return and take my friends here from out of town. that says alot.
(4)
April C.
mmmmmmm, butter.
(4)
Lisa S.
If you like fried chicken and you admit it and you like waffles --- like really really good ones -- you'll love this place!
(5)
Spencer D.
Best Fried Chicken EVERRRRRRRRRRRR. It's a big plate...I recommend splitting it, unless you're so hungry that you could eat...well...a giant chicken breast and thigh deep fried to crispy perfection.
(5)
Ross M.
If I could take away a star for the line and feel justified, I would. I've only been here three times, despite how much I like the food, and the line is the only reason. Oh well.
(5)
Regenia B.
I love the food! Just have to wait!
(4)
Kristen C.
I think I've been spoiled by all the chicken & waffles spots I have in the Bay Area, so I thought this meal was just OK. It was also February and they sat us outside on their patio so that could have added to the overall experience.
(3)
Danette R.
I have to say I wasn't in love with Screen Door, and that was mostly due to the experience, not the food. We initially were told there would be an approximately 45 minute wait. I'm no stranger to waiting for tasty food, and based on both the reviews and the sheer volume of people outside, this was to be expected. Unfortunately, it was closer to an hour and a half later as we were FINALLY debating just bouncing that we got called in (for our enormous... party of two). Once inside, the food was a delight, the mimosas not shy. And while our server was friendly, I was a little uncomfortable with his comments about previous guests... apparently some customers shortly before us had been rude and given him some attitude. While I get that this can be upsetting, as someone who has worked in food service and is also a human being, I didn't feel like this was something he should be talking about to the other guests? You go in the back and bitch to your coworkers, you don't come out and talk shit to the other diners. We did the standard, "Hi, how are you?" "Good, how are you?" with our server, and he responded with some comments about guests with attitude and how he hoped we would go over better. It was obviously a joke, but it definitely made me feel like maybe we would do something to upset or offend him, and would be next on the proverbial chopping block? I later heard him regaling the story to the table of guests next to us, so it wasn't a one-off comment, but a guy looking for validation from the wrong people. Again, the food was good and not expensive, but there are lots of good or great breakfast places, that are not expensive, that don't require an hour and a half wait in addition to awkward service. All and all, I would probably head elsewhere for breakfast.
(3)
Jocelyn A.
A lot has been said about this place, but most of the emphasis seems to be on brunch. Since I am not a fan of standing in line for 1.5 hours with a bunch of hangry people, I decided to check it out for dinner instead. I am here to report that this was a fantastic decision! We arrived about 35 minutes prior to dinner service on Labor Day. There was already a sizable line formed, with around 30 people ahead of us. Once they opened the doors, 5:30 pm on the dot, the staff was quick to get tables seated. We easily got a table during the first seating - they squeeze in a lot more people than you would think. We sat outside on the patio, which was lovely, except for the fact that I had someone else's dog sitting right underneath my seat during the entire meal. Every time I moved the dog would would get startled, or start licking me. I think it is just too close of quarters to allow pets on their patio. For the meal itself we decided to try the "screen door plate", which includes your choice of three side dishes and corn bread for $14. We both selected that option, so that we could try as many things on the menu as possible ;). First let me say that these "side dishes" are very large. This provided us with a ton, A TON, of food! We had two of the seasonal specials (sweet corn griddle cakes and stewed flageolet beans), mac n cheese, jambalaya, collard greens, and catfish. The catfish is an extra $1, but it is a 6 oz portion, and is more than worth it. Our favorites were the jambalaya and the catfish, but all of it was delicious (except for the corn bread, it tasted old). As if that wasn't enough, we shared the blackberry cobbler for dessert. It was topped with cornmeal biscuits and peach ice cream. It was a perfect way to end the meal, not as over the top as it sounds. The service was wonderful as well, we will return.
(5)
Shannon C.
The wait was way too long, not worth it. The food was alright, not amazing, definitely not worth the hype
(3)
Vincent R.
Great place. The food is good. Not enough vegan options, but the vegetarian options are good. Very down home style food. Always a line though. When you order a chilled bottle of champagne, you have to request an ice bucket, that's weird, but that's okay because the place is fabulous. Def check it out if you like down home southern cookin'
(4)
Ngocly L.
There was a long line outside the restaurant before dinner time. They filled up the restaurant quickly, but couldn't seat everyone in line. The wait was 45 mins to one hour for a table. We opted for takeout because we didn't want to spend up to two hours for a table and food. We waited for one hour to get our food. The hostess was really helpful and attentive to our wait. She made sure we got our beer quickly to accompany the wait. She frequently checked up on us to ensure we were doing okay and kept us posted with the status of our order. We ordered the crispy buttermilk-battered chicken and thin-sliced pork chops and dined at the nearest park, which was about 10 mins (walking distance) away. The chicken and pork chops were savory and delicious!!! We had nothing to complain about our dinner. We did not regret waiting and having takeout at all, because we saved time and experienced a little bit of the epic Portland life - just how we wanted to end our last day in Portland!
(5)
Jenn S.
Since I've now been here twice, I will average out my experiences instead of bogging you down with two reviews. First time: Dinner on a Friday over the summer. The place was packed and it smelled like heaven. We waited for a good amount of time to be seated but they offered us drinks during the wait. There was a blackberry something or other that was pretty much better than life itself. There were 5 of us and we were seated right in the middle of the restaurant. Our waiter was wicked fast with his attentiveness and despite how packed it was, we never felt neglected. And he was hilarious. One of the fastest talkers I've ever seen in the food industry. And that's saying something. Great experience, amazing food, a true summer delight. Second time: Brunch on a Saturday. Wow. The line was enormous. We decided to wait it out because of how great dinner was the last time around. We drank coffee and waited outside because it was just too packed inside. Every time someone opened the door, the flavors wafted out and enticed us and then as the wait time grew, it teased and tortured us. There were only two of us this time around and we ended up waiting for close to an hour. Ouch. We were starving. Our server was right there though. She also was very attentive despite how crowded it was. Our food finally came and it was not the blow-me-out-of-the-water breakfast I had been salivating for. I had the blackened tofu scramble and my boyfriend had the cajun scramble. My eggs were a little runny and both of our potatoes tasted like they had been sitting there all morning. But it definitely didn't suck. He had a bloody mary that was spicy and delicious and served with a pickled okra! Yum. Don't know if we'll come back for the brunch but we certainly haven't ruled this place out.
(3)
Alice B.
Huge fan of the fried chicken dinner and porch swing lemonade (sage, yum!) Unlike a previous reviewer I actually enjoy the corn bread with the deliciously sweet butter. This place gets pretty crowded and sometimes the service can be a little slow but there's always an interesting scene to soak in while you wait. I enjoy the open kitchen and rustic-modern decor. I have brought several friends visiting from out of town and they have all really enjoyed their experiences at this restaurant. Overall I really like Screen Door.
(5)
Jennifer N.
I have an obsession with brunch. So, whenever I make a trip somewhere..I always try to find the perfect brunch place. Well, Screen Door definitely did not disappoint me! We drove down to Portland from Seattle on a Sunday and our first stop was Screen Door. We arrived around 11AM and put our name on the waiting list, which the wait was around an hour and a half. If we waited there for an hour and a half I would probablyyy not be so happy with the food because it takes a lot for me to justify such a long wait. They don't take your phone number or anything, so you do actually have to keep track of time. They told us to come back in an hour, so we left the area and went to Powell's Bookstore! :D Although you definitely need more than an hour to explore Powell's...it was a great way to kill time! That made the wait feel like nothing because by the time we got back we only had to actually wait for 15 minutes or so. We were seated and I instantly took a look at the brunch cocktails. I ordered the Rum Apple Cider...it tasted pretty good although I realized I'm not a HUGE fan of warm alcoholic drinks. My friends ordered the Gin Fizz and Bloody Mary - both were really tasty. For our brunch entrees we ordered the following: Smoked Brisket Hash: It came with two eggs - which I ordered them over easy and broke the yolk over the hash. Ahhh perfection. It was delicious! Perfectly seasoned and a hefty amount of brisket, which was cooked to perfection. Fried Chicken & Waffles: HUGE portion. Chicken was nice and crispy and paired well with the waffle. Seriously though, the portion size was enormous. Basically three chicken breasts. My sister took most of it to go. Fried Oyster Benedict: What a unique combination! And it was executed pretty well. They put the oysters on the side so it doesn't get soggy from the hollandaise sauce. The texture of the oysters were good, but could have used a bit more seasoning. Something was missing to bring all the flavors together. Overall it was a great brunch experience! Don't be discouraged by the wait!
(4)
Angelene G.
Best fried chicken in Portland! Absolutely worth the wait and won't disappoint.
(5)
Mike W.
Best Sourthern food in Portland. Period. Know that if you come here for brunch, the wait will be about an hour long. While you wait you have access to the bar and you can order bakery items to snack on. If you have been to Pine State and love the Reggie Delux then you need to come to screen door and have the Cathead Biscuit Sandwich. It's better! The gravy is plentiful and the side of cheesy grits will make sure that you cross the line into a blissful food coma. Also, try the praline bacon. For drinks, the upgrade to the double on a mimosa is worth the price because it's really about triple what you get in a regular mimosa. They are happy to substitute other juices like grapefruit if it floats your boat. The hot spiced rum apple cider is pretty sweet but that's just the way I like it. It boils down to this: Is the food really worth the wait? YES! 1000x's YES!
(5)
Tiffany L.
Shrimp and grits was amazing! With 4 jumbo shrimp and some pesto to mix it in! the bf got the fried chicken! ooh YUM you can not go wrong. Worth the wait! they make simple dishes exquisite! genesis blend of red wine! Pretty good service~
(5)
Ashley L.
This place is ok. The wait is long and after then take your food then the wait is long for your food. The customer service is great bu t the wait is just too long. Waited 2 hours.
(3)
Stephanie D.
We eat here every couple of months and it is ALWAYS fantastic. My friend from New Orleans says that "Screen Door does southern food better than the south does southern food", and I couldn't agree more. I am someone who will not order a chicken entree from any restaurant but this place is the exception. After a dozen visits, I have had everything on the menu. I always get the shrimp and grits for the appetizer (as well as 1-2 salads and chicken livers if they have them) and the fried chicken for the main course plus a dessert. The shrimp and grits are the best I have ever had and I could say the same for the chicken livers. The fried chicken is boneless yet still so flavorful. The breading is perfectly seasoned and the mashed potatoes are killer. I could eat the potatoes by themselves but the gravy is also delicious. My boyfriend loves all of the salads and anything on the seasonal menu. The Screen Door platter is perfect for anyone who wants to try several different things. Screen Door continues to be one of a handful of restaurants that we always take out-of-towners. It is impressive to even some of the most discriminating palates.
(5)
Don S.
Some of the best southern food I've had! Their boneless fried chicken melts in your mouth! Mac and cheese is amazing! Get their early, everyone else likes it too! Worth the wait though!
(5)
Huntting B.
So much foooooood. Chicken and waffles are great. All white meat chicken but still tasty and not dried out. Way too big a portion for one human being The huevos rancheros were a hit as well. The corn bread was slightly sweet. Hearty. Small grains of corn. Nice with honey... Though they were missing the butter requisite in SC style corn bread. The breakfast corn dog was very tasty. Sweeter corn crust than the bread. Well cooked and rather large. The sausage wasn't very flavorful but was very tasty. The hot chocolate was incredible. A must get if you like hot chocolate. Would definitely come back. We arrived at 840 and were two away from having to wait for the second seating... We were also the last to get to order so our food didn't arrive till 10:15. I would highly recommend you get here at 815 for the first seating.
(5)
Mrs. B.
My friend was raving about this place and told me we had to eat here. This place did live up to the hype. I was surprised how delicious the food was. We ordered chicken and waffles and the bacon cinnamon rolls. I wish I could go back for seconds. I really can't add much to this review that hasn't been said already, you just have to try it for yourself. Just get there early because the line is super long.
(5)
Veronica C.
Yum. This place was amazing. We got there at 5:10 pm on a Sunday (they open at 5:30) and there was already a line. We ended up waiting about 45 minutes but was totally worth the wait. The food was delicious and fast. My only negative thing to say about this place would be our server that he had. He wasn't the friendliest and had really long hair and I kept seeing him swipe his hand in his hair and that kind of grossed me out. But as long as he didn't touch my food, it was delicious.
(5)
Priscilla O.
My friends and I were in Portland for a wedding. A couple friends recommended screen door and looking at the pictures...we had to go! We arrived at the restaurant around 8:30 and was told that the wait was an hour. We got a couple drinks at the bar and hung out around the patio till my name got called. My friend and I ordered the screen door plate, where you choose 3 "sides" and make up your own dish. While our SO's got the fried chicken plate. For my plate, I chose the fried catfish, gumbo, and mac n cheese. The food did take awhile, it was around 10pm when we started eating. But, every bite was so freaking fantastic. I had about half my plate left over, and it was still awesome the next day (I ate it for breakfast...shhhh). I had a bite of the fried chicken as well, and they know how to do it. It was crispy yet juicy. It's very well priced considering how much you get. Service was nice and the ambiance was very cozy. I highly recommend giving this place a try if you haven't already. Just expect to wait a bit, but know it'll be worth your time.
(5)
Rebekah H.
From the south and decided what the heck. The BEST sweet potato fries I've ever eaten. No lie. Mac and cheese was killer as well as the pork belly starter. Cornbread and mashed potatoes were definitely not the greatest.
(4)
Brittany F.
We were originally told that the wait would be an hour and half for brunch on saturday and about 15 minutes later they had a table ready for us! We ordered the brisket hash and the bananas foster french toast. The has was so good, it was super savory but the eggs and potatoes brought it back to breakfast, I would definitely get this again. The french toast was insanely sweet and the portions were huge! We ended up splitting the dishes so we each got a perfect amount of savory and sweet. Don't order the french toast if you don't plan on sharing with something savory, it's crazy sweet and decadent for one sitting. Next time I go I'll try to plan it on a cool day though, no AC and that many bodies got too sweaty for me.
(5)
Kevin C.
OMG. Best bloody mary I've ever had, and HUUUGE and delicious chicken and waffles. Unless you're a veg, get the chicken and waffles, I don't know where there is better. The batter has a kick to it, and the waffle is something special too. Just slather that maple syrup all over and dig in. Unless you're a beast, you'll have some leftover for tomorrow and it tastes even better then.
(5)
Stacie S.
Omg! The best food ever! Can't go wrong with anything you order! And the staff is super nice! Nothing else to say except awesome!
(5)
David H.
Excellent southern food with a Portland flair. Meaning their fried chicken is not greasy, but crunchy and moist. Also, their grits and shrimp is what to order for a buttery cheesy frolic in flavor country.
(5)
Peggy N.
This place is The Best! It's busy for good reason! Not only is the food fantastic--good ole Southern Comfort--but the staff is extraordinary! We took my disabled sister there for dinner; they got us right in--without having to wait--which would have been agonizing for her. The service was wonderful, the wait for our food worth it! Thanks again for the extra-special consideration--we will definitely be back!
(5)
Lola C.
Uhhh, f yes! Went there last night. Arrived at 5:15 and there was already a line, which quickly grew. We were seated by 5:32. Server was friendly and very efficient. The space is super Portland. Table jammed together, retro feel, pickles etc on shelves lining one entire wall, open kitchen, Bobbie Gentry on the iPod. Love it. Started the meal with a Mint Julep. Tasty. Apps were hush puppies and fried green tomatoes. I lived in the South for 6 years and these were the best of both that I'd tasted. Dinner was fried chicken and brisket with a full side of cole slaw. Fried chicken IS worth the hype. Light, crunch, not greasy, boneless, melty in your mouth goodness. Mashed potatoes are rich with butter and light. Greens: meh. Not a greens fan. Brisket is delightful, especially when forked in my pie hole with a big scoop of cole slaw. Potato salad is full of bacony goodness. Dear Lord make it stop. We cleaned our plates and even looked at the dessert menu. Just. Couldn't. Do. It. Next time for sure.
(5)
C T.
After three unsuccessful attempts to eat at Screen Door, my friend and I finally made it in!!! How did we do it?? We actually got there a little bit early before it opened at 5:30. The funny thing was that there were already people waiting both outside and inside their cars. I had the beef brisket and my friend ordered their fried chicken. After trying a piece of my friend's fried chicken, I didn't want to eat the rest of my brisket. The brisket was very tender. The only downside was the sides. Something about it didn't taste right... maybe it was just me? I will definitely come here again one of these days... but will have to come early, because the place packs up fast!
(4)
rudy L.
whenever i come here i always know i'm gonna have a great meal! the waiter that normally serves us is an AWESOME guy and is on the ball! oh ever had pecan pie? the have it here and its as godly as it gets!!!! and for all you fried chicken lovers out there, this is the place to come to!
(5)
Fleurdevie C.
Fantastic southern food right across the bridge in Portland. Went late on a Sunday night (around 8 when they close at 9) and had the "screen door plate" of catfish, collard greens and macaroni and cheese. I also had a great cocktail called the Scarlett O'Hara (soco, cranberry and fresh lime). Everything there is reasonably priced and delicious.
(5)
Annelise K.
What a scene! A line out the door for 9AM opening on Sunday, and a bit bewildered about reservations: having reservations does not get you out of the line. We were sternly warned not to be 15 minutes late, but I think we spent 15 minutes in line before we were identified & seated. The server was great--attentive, not intrusive, kept me jacked up on the coffee--thank you! The food was fine. My broccoli scramble did sport some fancy extras (broccoli-walnut pesto, vinegary tomato topping) but still wasn't Wow--it was good, though. The winter squash/spinach fritata--a bit dull. The biscuits & gravy, both veg & non--really good. The migas--really good. The brioche French toast--wow!! really super good. The portions are HUGE, the room is pretty noisy & friendly. The prices are decent. I'd like to come back for dinner, and the freakin' TOWER of fried chicken served on a waffle--I'd like to share that with 2 or 3 friends next time I come for brunch.
(3)
Nathasha S.
My second time back and I fell even MORE in love with this place. This time we tried brunch! Although we did have a hefty one-hour wait time, it's definitely worth it. The star of the meal: **Fried Chicken & Waffle - honestly, the sound of chicken and waffles doesn't really whip me into a verbal frenzy, but oh was the fried chicken perfect - cripsy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Not to mention it was a sweet potato waffle, not too sweet, soft and just yummy. **Praline Bacon Cinnamon Roll (a special item) - oh, was this delicious. Two cinnamon rolls with bacon bits rolled in inside. It was wonderful, not too sweet. Overall, I really enjoyed their brunch and would recommend them to anyone! :)
(5)
Dwight P.
frying food in oil and adding a lot of salt to it, doesn't make it soul food. The food was also very salty, and since it's "soul food", I felt the waiter could have shown just a little southern hospitality. Some of the food was good, but for as long as we had to wait to get in, it wasn't worth it.
(2)
Wayne C.
This place is amazing and worth the wait for the food. Simply amazing!!!
(5)
Jessica B.
Sunday morning breakfast! Be prepared to stand in line. It's worth the wait. You can have coffee while you wait and when you get to the table your cup will never be empty. Amazingly fast and efficient servers. They have the best biscuits and gravy in the world and I have their specials and loved ever one of them. This place needs to be on your to-do list for Portland!
(5)
Jay V.
Awesome food and menu. Looooooong wait for a Sunday brunch. However, it gave us time to catch up with friends that we haven't seen in a long time. Server was very nice and helpful. I'd go back there again, but hopefully wouldn't have to wait as long, unless I had more friends that I haven't seen in a few years. Especially, since I don't know anyone else in Portland.
(4)
Per H.
Great southern cooking meets the NW. Super friendly staff and a great experience. The wines are pretty basic, but priced accordingly.
(4)
Kayla G.
Amazing. The first time I went here I waited at least an hour to be seated, and I didn't even care. I had the fried chicken and it was amazing. SO flavorful. The collard greens they served on the side were the first I'd ever tried, and they were so good that I learned how to make them and cook them at home about once or twice a week now. My boyfriend got the brisket on one occasion and it was delicious, but after you've tried the chicken it's possible you won't want anything else. I've tried a few different cocktails since the first time I've been there, and I've liked them all. They make a decent whiskey sour, which I'm pretty picky about. The only reason that it didn't earn a full fledged 5 stars from me is because of the mashed potatoes that came with my meal. They seemed like instant potatoes to me. Not a lot of flavor and pretty smooth and runny. I don't know if they make them from real potatoes or not, I'm just not really into them at all. That being said, I still salivate just thinking about this place and can't really talk about it without getting a hankering for it so I better quit while I'm ahead.
(4)
Adam F.
My family was in town for the day and I decided to treat them to some southern food. I had never been to Screen Door, but heard multiple people rave about it so off we went. Looking back, it must have been sheer luck that we didn't have to wait long for our table. Shortly after we were seated, a line started to snake around the building. We were served by a typical-looking Portlander. Waxed mustache, v-neck shirt from Threadless, and some acid-wash jeans. Check, check, and check. He was attentive and made sure our water was topped off throughout the meal. The food was pretty good. I'm from the south and have had my fair share of real southern cooking. I think this was as close to the real thing as Portland will get. We ordered the catfish, collard greens, corn bread, and some other appetizers to share. The catfish was slightly overcooked and the collard greens were a little too mushy and sweet for my taste. Also, my family enjoyed savory cornbread rather than sweet, which is what was served. All in all, not a bad meal, but I felt it was slightly overpriced for what it was. Will I be going back? Maybe, but I wasn't blown away as many people apparently were.
(4)
Trina K.
Brunch here is amazing! Portions are huge, food is tasty, and the line is long. I had the fried chicken and waffle. I keep thinking about how good it was and I want to go back!
(5)
ryan n.
This place has delicious BBQ and southern cooking... the mac and cheese was delicious as a side, as was my BBQ brisket with green beans and onion strings. Their grits were also very good. Be forewarned though, there can also be a very long wait here... I almost want to take a star off for having to wait nearly an hour to sit down and eat.. but that seems unrelated to the quality of the restaurant itself so I won't.
(5)
Ben Z.
Fried Chicken: It is not exaggerating when they say this is the best fried chicken I've ever had. The chicken was super soft, coated in a perfect amount of batter and seasoned perfectly. The server actually spilled water on me accidentally and I still gave it 5 stars. I think that puts it in perspective. When it's good food, there's little else to complain about. The wait was about 1.5 hours. Plan ahead.
(5)
Lerma S.
I super love this place food was amazing and service was excellent i wish they have this in seattle
(5)
Jennifer C.
Wow...this place was packed and I know why. Decent prices with HUGE portions and a whole lot of fried food. Probably a foodie's dream. We enjoyed our experience here and we would probably come back to try other things. The only downfall was everything was so fried and oily. We felt a little sick after and our faces screamed out oily murder. Now, this might not be a bad thing to most so that's just a preference thing. The fried chicken with collard greens and mash. DANGGGGGGGGG girlllll, hella big chicken! It was almost the whole animal on the plate. The batter was just okay to us because we've had better elsewhere. It was pretty oily and fatty, but the meat was SUPER tender. The gravy was meh. We also had the platter where we can choose 3 sides. We got the mac and cheese, sweet potato fries and the fried catfish. DANGGGGGGGG girl, hella fried stuff. The mac and cheese was the BEST part of our meal. Yummy crusted cheese on top and gooey cheese inside. The fries were good, nothing special. The catfish was okay, nothing special. We also tried the fried oyster starters and it was yummy! Good to share with 3-4 people. All in all, good experience and good atmosphere. I'll open this screen door again.
(4)
Diana L.
Worth the wait, which was only 45 minutes on a Sunday morning. CHICKEN and WAFFLES- chicken was tender and lots of crunchy batter. It was seasoned with a lot of pepper but it added a nice kick to the sweet potato waffle and sweet syrup. I will dream of your chicken and compare it to all others. PRALINES and BACON WAFFLE- Maple praline bacon sitting on top of the waffle was the best part, would've got just a plate of the bacon if I knew how damn good it was. BISCUITS and GRAVY- the gravy was so creamy and then you get these big chunks of salty sausage, so good. Add Tabasco and bam!
(5)
Katy R.
This is hands down one of the best home cooked meals you can get at a restaurant. It is a little crowded, and their hours are weird, so make sure you get there BEFORE it opens, a LONG line forms. But I have to say this is one of the best kept little places in Portland that make Portland! The staff was friendly, people were nice, even waiting in line. BEST FOOD can't go wrong! And the servings are LARGE!!! So expect to take some home! Love this place,l highly recommend it to anyone new or seasoned in the area!
(4)
Shaedyn M.
My family was visiting from the south and wanted to go out to eat, leaving me with the final decision of where to go. They have big appetites and aren't looking for my regular healthy stuff, and I remember hear about this place over and over, so I knew exactly where to take them. The wait looked extremely long, but I called them to warn them that we were coming and she put our name on the list. If you have a bigger party, I recommend doing this! We were taken past everyone to a table immediately. The service here is incredible. It is a PACKED place, and yet we felt like we were the only ones. There were so many weird requests on our orders and the waitress took it all so well, and had an amazing personality! When the food came, everyone was so excited and didn't want to wait for me to take a picture before they dug in. My dad, who is usually super picky and wary about anything I suggest, pretty much died with how good his Chicken and waffles were, but he was about to order 5 more of his Praline Bacon Waffle. Everyone around the table had a bite, and I would order one next time I went too! My grandparents were also impressed with whatever they got. Which is saying a lot. I couldn't decide if I wanted the biscuits and mushroom gravy or if I wanted the Blackened Tofu and 3 Egg Scramble. The customer service wins again and I settled with a small side of biscuits. The scramble was sooo good, and I really liked the potatoes on the side, and the biscuits and [mushroom!!!] gravy wasn't my favorite, I prefer cakier biscuits, but it was still delicious. The Benedicts won around the table, though. The fried oyster benedict had all good reviews, and I've never even heard of it before! I did get to taste the Eggs Sardou, and it was such an amazing combination with the artichoke hearts and spinach. YUMM. This is a great place to go for that hearty breakfast. Everyone deserves some Praline Bacon Waffles. Everyone.
(5)
Lisa T.
We got there around 830pm on a Saturday night and the wait was it was about a 40 minute wait. We had Mac and cheese & hush puppies for appetizer. The Mac and cheese was thick and delicious!!! Hush puppies are just hush puppies. We also got the fried chicken with mashed potatoes and pork shoulder. The fried chicken was so crispy and moist! My favorite fried chicken everr!! The pork shoulder was really tender, I didnt like the beans it came with though.
(4)
Jason B.
Great establishment with great food! I originally heard about Screen Door on one of the Food Channel networks. They raved about their fried chicken and collard greens. They did not disappoint! The food was really great and I definitely recommend getting the fried chicken, collard greens and their mashed potatoes with ham gravy. The wait is a bit much, which is why I'm giving 4-stars. The service was excellent, just a hard place to get a meal without waiting 45-60 minutes. No complains though!
(4)
Freddie L.
The best French toast! It melts in your mouth and everywhere you look there is something pickeled.
(5)
Megan D.
Okay I LOVE this place! My boyfriend and I had brunch here while visiting Portland and will definitely be back once we move to the area. My boyfriend got the chicken and waffles! I mean, one of us had to! :) They serve you 3 pieces of chicken atop one delicious sweet potato waffle. I will say that it would be fine with only 2 pieces of chicken, since the chicken to waffle ratio is a bit off with three pieces. Buuuut nobody should really complain about more chicken. I had the braised pork shoulder hash which was seriously phenomenal. I'm not much of a breakfast food person but this was just amazing. It had potatoes, pork shoulder, chiles, red mole, an avocado cream sauce all serve with two eggs and two flour tortillas. We also got the side of chicken strips with the honey dipping sauce. So good! Absolutely cannot wait to eat there again. I'm sure their dinner menu is just as good.
(5)
Amelly L.
Went there for dinner. My husband and I were told it will be 30 min wait. We waited for an hour. Then we were seated in the patio. It was 28 degrees in the patio. Our server Erika took our order and we saw her once more when she brought the check that we had to ask someone else for. The food arrived 45 min after we ordered. No server approached our table for an hour. It was so cold in there that we eat our food in 10 min to eat while the food was warm. The hostess kept closing the door between the patio and the restaurant. The little warmth that we would get from the restaurant was minimized with her closing the door. Frankly I think it's so rude that they even have the patio option available when in there is 28 degrees. The food is not that good for me to ever go back. There are plenty other restaurants in Portland that serve that food quality.
(1)
S M.
A group of friends and I really enjoyed this place. Food is awesome and good service. The wait was about 30-45 mins for brunch but definitely worth the wait.
(5)
Jeff R.
I love shrimp and grits. Sadly every single time I've had them at Screen door it was more like Shrimp and the shits.
(1)
Savy M.
I was super excited to come to this place. Not much to look at at first but with the hole in wall corner family style restaurant this place has lots in store for you. I'm not much of American or southern style foods I prefer Asian eats but I applaud this place for their tasteful plentiful hearty meals that will surely keep your tummies full for the whole day! The chicken was a delight with a kick of spices that made my mouth flip! And if yall knew me spices and extra spicy food is my thing so to be able to taste a kick just satisfied my taste buds. I'm also not a bacon person but their pecan praline bacon was mouth watering. It was worth the wait considering the line was out the door when we arrived. Busy place! Parking was a bit difficult. I recommend this place if you are ready for a big meal and good atmosphere you have to check this place out!
(4)
M W.
Yep, there is a reason they are lined up outside the door. It's noisy, crowded, and some of the best food I had in Portland. You can tell that these guys have a Chef...not a cook. We had the bacon, potato and corn soup, then ordered from the seasonal menu. I'd suggest the House Sampler to try three different sides. We liked them all. The carrots with roasted poblano chilies tossed in a cumin, cilantro and lime vinaigrette were awesome.
(5)
Stephanie G.
We visited during the prime time of Saturday night dinner. We were hungry, almost hangry because we only ate breakfast in the morning and saving our appetite for this well acclaimed restaurant. Well worth the one hour wait, but should have came earlier! Otherwise, it was nice to walk around the hawthorne district area. Due to my hangry-ness, I refused to share with my husband and try another dish - thinking that the portions were only enough for one person who already ate lunch. The fried chicken hands down was delicious! I still think about the crunchy, crispy outer layer. However, unless you can handle eating two HUMONGOUS pieces of crunchy chicken goodness, I would recommend sharing it and trying another dish (especially if you're only visiting PDX). In retrospect, I should not have been so greedy and gotten the brisket to share. That was one regret I had since I didn't foresee the portions being that beastly, though my husband and I were both very happy having our own fried chicken plates. Thankfully since we didn't eat lunch, we were able to down it and happily go home. I was a fan of the hotlips pear soda - complemented well with the hearty meal. :)
(4)
James C.
YUM. I am a transplant from the South, so this is a welcome treat. They serve the huge breakfasts from my childhood with a Portland twist. The tofu scramble is delicious. There are not enough vegan options here. Vegans need to be very careful when ordering the veggie sausage, since they contain egg whites. The servings are GIGANTIC (probably too big) but no one is complaining. Be prepared for a huge wait during weekend brunch. Go early.
(3)
Art Y.
Owners were originally from Louisiana and true French speaking cajuns. The interior is a little tight and quite old and quaint. Waiting period: there is a line if you arrive at the peak dining period. If you are here for dinner, come after 8P and you should not have to wait. Service: Nice, friendly, and unpretentious servers. I like this very much. Foods: Quite authentic cajun foods. Friend okra, fried catfish, grits, etc.. Tasty, fresh and worth the money. I will return!
(4)
Erika S.
The line outside almost discouraged us from eating here BUT we stayed and waited and BOY am I happy we did. We waited at the bar patiently while my BF drank an IPA and I had sweet tea. When we were seated I was facing the kitchen and watching the production that went on in there was very entertaining but also very telling of the food they served here. The kitchen is NO JOKE. It is a well oiled machine and the servers/sous chef/chefs were cogs that just worked really well. We ordered the pork belly for starter and the fried okra. OH EM GEE. The okra was delicious and even if you didn't like okra you would eat this one BUT the star was the pork belly appetizer. uhm.... I was speechless because I wanted to eat every single bite of this thing - it was accompanied by a slaw made of apples and cranberries which made it over the top and beyond perfect. For entree we shared the fried chicken and the mac n cheese. I am speechless. The chicken is cooked to perfection. The batter was crisp and perfect and the chicken was tender and juicy inside. The collard greens were on point, the mashed potatoes were buttery and melts in your mouth and the mac n cheese... don't even get me started with it. First of, I don't really crave or like mac n cheese all that much BUT this mac n cheese - I crave, even as we speak. It is baked so the cheese on top is a bt crunchy and burnt in a wonderful way and the inside is a cheesy goodness. The pasta is cooked not al dente but not soggy soft. Just perfect for mac n cheese. We loved this place so much we were tempted to come back the next day to eat brunch but we really wanted to try different places so we opted not to. We will definitely return when we are back in Portland.
(5)
Casey M.
Great food for the price. I came here with some 3 other friends during a busy breakfast rush. Awesome self serve coffee for the wait. The portioning is great for the price. Will definitely be back.
(5)
Mike R.
My favorite PDX restaurant, and the one place my kids want to go when they come home from school. I would love to give you a full menu review, but the first time there I got the fried chicken and have never tried anything else. It literally is the best fried chicken in the world. I was initially bummed when instead of bone in pieces of chicken, they brought boneless skinless breasts. However, it was so moist, I soon forgot about the bones. The portions are big enough to share and there are lots of great sides to go with it. Get there early if you want to get seated, they usually have a line at the door when they open.
(5)
Omar N.
Great place for a filling brunch! Be prepared to wait, but there is a reason the place is so popular. A filling brunch for two was around 30 dollars with drinks, making this a reasonably priced meal. Don't be turned off by sitting at the bar, it offers a great view of the kitchen and great service to boot.
(4)
Una M.
Ate New Years brunch here. Food was phenomenal and we enjoyed our 30 minute wait by walking along burnside.
(5)
Lisa H.
Yes!!! Food here is indeed delicious. Service is great. Vegetarians and meat eaters will both find wonderful menu items. If that's all you need to know, stop reading now. If you want strategy and my opinions, keep on, and I'll give some advice as I see it. Wait times are long so consider going with a party of 2 or have a wait plan with your big group. Some more detailed options: Brunch 1. Go early (8:30am to wait in line for 9am open) for weekend brunch. 2. Just suck it up and wait in line. This may mean 1 hour or more. (Plan for it. Go to a nearby bar for a drink. Or bring a book. Chat with your friends.) Dinner 3. Go for dinner late night. I have been seated late on weeknights without waiting. 4. Go for dinner at opening. You'll have to arrive early to make sure you are in the first seating. 5. Go whenever and just plan to wait. About my favorites: Catfish head is my regular brunch choice Seasonal/special fresh veggies are always delish! Fried chicken entree also great Dessert - banoffee pie Leftovers: Portions are large and I always bring food home. But, I love that! Then I get to have 2 more meals! Don't want leftovers, share an entree with a friend. Or share some sides/seasonals.
(4)
Melissa L.
I have never been to such a great restaurant with the most amazing atmosphere. Our waitor Ryan and out host Ben were simply amazing. I have never been happier with such service. The food is so good! The battered chicken is delicious and I will most definately come back to screen door. Missing Ben and ryan already.
(5)
Christina U.
FRIED CHICKEN! This place has set such a wonderfully high standard for fried chicken, I don't think i'll ever find a place to top it. There have been so many times when places just don't live up to their hype, but Screen Door is not one of them...the fried chicken is flavorful, moist and deliciously crunchy. You will not be disappointed with it! My mouth is watering just thinking about it right now.... Their menu has many delicious item, but their stand out dish is definitely the chicken, so i'll just leave it at that.
(5)
Sebastien N.
Solid, stick to the ribs food southern cooking with the best cornbread ever. Best veggie items I've had in this style of cuisine. Our server was top notch with a perpetual smile (wish I could drop your name--guy in glasses and curly-ish hair?). Warning: The portions are epic. Like mythological creature epic. Like its a Sisyphean feat or Herculean Labor. Like slaying some organic collard green hydra...also known as leftovers.
(5)
Keke M.
I'm in love with this place!!! We can't leave Portland without eating here. The atmosphere is relaxing, the people are friendly and the food is amazing!! I love that specials are made from local ingredients. :)
(5)
Edna H.
Our experience at Screen Door was excellent. The food and service was great. There was definitely a wait to be seated but that's expected when dining at a good restaurant. The Bloody Mary was delish, the Fried Oyster Egg Benedict, the Fried Chicken and Waffle as well as the Praline Cinnamon Rolls are great dishes to share.
(5)
Evelyn R.
I came here this past Sunday during my visit to Portland with my boyfriend. We looked up the best restaurants and The Screen Door popped up. It happened to be right down the street from out hotel also. Once we got there around noon, there was a wait but it wasn't too bad. I couldn't wait to eat, it smelled so good in there. The Cajun/breakfast food combined with the coffee was heavenly. Once we sat down after about 20 min, i ordered the fried oyster Benedict with cheddar grits. Omg, best tasting food I have put in my mouth in a long time! Everything was so flavorful, and that homemade hot sauce they had was phenomenal. My boyfriend got the chicken and waffles and I had a taste and it was equally as amazing. You can tell they use really great ingredients. Overall, awesome place with awesome food. It's a great deal too. Good food, huge portions and all under 30 bucks for us. I will definitely be back on my next trip to Portland.
(5)
Erik L.
Really good food. Long wait any hour of the day, but it's worth it on occasion; plus if you're waiting outside you can buy a drink and relax on the patio. Perhaps a bit overrated, but that by no means takes away from the quality of the place. Fried chicken is out of this world, as are the shrimp and grits. Great hush puppies as well. AMAZING mustard greens, mmmmm. Service is really great, prompt and patient. The atmosphere is pretty cool, hip with a southern flair (jars of pickled goods lining the walls etc). Definitely recommended.
(4)
Brett N.
Why 4 stars? Because it was just craziness. --- --- --- We had to do it. We were in Portland. We braved this line, and we braved it well. Starring at the Portlandia bungalows as we waited was worth the experience alone. I swear, Fred Armisen has to have been on this street a few times. It's everything you think of when imagining PDX. As for the food, I'll say this. I've definitely had better chicken and waffles. I've never had bigger chicken and waffles, though. It's not even close. The only contradiction to the theory that bigger is better, is that it was disproportionate. I like an even distribution of C & W. This was 48 tons of chicken, on top of an eggo. I mean... I guess I can't complain about too much fried chicken (what am I, Al Qaeda?) but my OCD wonders why they give people more chicken than an average man can handle. I'm sure they routinely fill up entire dumpsters full of leftover, untouched chicken. I feel like this review has gotten off-track. I might have a contact-buzz just from reviewing something in Portland. At any rate, I'd love to go back and try something else. The place is great, the people are awesome, and anytime you have that many people waiting in line, you have to figure that the restaurant knows what it's doing.
(4)
Kim F.
Seriously, the Screen Door does not need any more five star reviews and I can't add anything that hasn't already been said. Flat out, the best fried chicken EVER!!! My new favorite spot!!
(5)
Valerie K.
Went here again, about a year later. As usual, super long wait. We look a walk around the neighborhood. If you go here knowing that you're going to wait, then it's fine. If you're expecting an immediate table, you'll be disappointed. Anyway, I ordered one of their benedicts. Yum. Wow. I thoroughly enjoyed every bite. Their bloody marys are also really good. This place is definitely a must-go when we're in Portland.
(4)
Brooke G.
There is something so comforting about comfort food, isn't there? I love Screen Door, especially, because of the slight kick that their comfort food dishes boast. Fried chicken, macaroni and cheese...you can't go wrong. But, I've enjoyed the catfish, salads and po'boys, too. Because it's Portland and Screen Door is awesome, they also have a gluten-free menu available for those who need it. I love their accommodation!
(4)
Isabel N.
Amazing! My favorite restaurant in Portland!
(5)
Nick W.
If you've found out the restaurant exists and have taken a look at how almost no one has given this place anything but 4 or 5 stars... I imagine you've been convinced already. As you can see by the 4 stars above this review, I obviously agree. So instead of gushing about the place I'll try and be informative. Wait on a Sunday at noon: Just over an hour. Bloody Mary: Garnished with an olive, spicy pickled okra, lemon, and cajun spiced salt around the rim. Somewhat thick, somewhat mild. Fried chicken cathead biscuit sandwich: Phenomenal, gut bomb, fried chicken and gravy goodness. Grits: Meh, nothing too great, their homemade hotsauce did a lot for them. Service: Top notch. Check: Surprisingly not painful.
(4)
Allen L.
i've had a lot of fried chicken in my life. From all over the country. Including my brief stint in the South. And this place ranks as the best fried chicken I've never had. The competition isn't even that close to be honest. The jambalaya was good not great. The cayenne pepper was a bit overpowering. I'm assuming it was an off night. The best character of the restaurant is that there is no wall between the kitchen and dining area. It is a VERY nice touch. Gave the dining experience a nice communal feeling.
(5)
Vania K.
I love the Screen Door! I love Roscoe and Sarah even more for waiting in line for 30-45 minutes while we were getting ready and getting lost on the way here. Our group of 6 came to the Screen Door around 12:30pm on Sunday and thanks to our lovely friends of friend who patiently waited in line much earlier, we were seated in less than 15 minutes! The place was loud... it's one big hall with tables squeezed together, leaving just enough room for the frenzied servers to navigate ever so skillfully through the maze of tables. Our server was funny, thoughtful and semi-attentive (he was super busy, I'll give him that). You can't really go wrong here, but if you're trying to decide between sweet or savory (one of the biggest decisions in life), I'd strongly recommend going with savory. I wanted to order the chicken and waffle, but I'm not a huge fan of waffle and THREE chicken breast seemed a little excessive (does that mean three chicken died for my meal?!). Instead, I opted for the chicken strips and the brioche vanilla bean french toast. Oh, I also forced James to split a side of bacon with me. For $2.50, you get bottomless Stumptown coffee. This was actually not as good a deal as I thought, partly because they were so busy that they only swung by once to refill my coffee (and my water sat empty *pouts*... okay, I'm done whining, I swear!). The chicken strips ($6) came with a honey dipping sauce. No, not honey mustard, it's literally a small cup of honey, and that flavor combo actually worked! The chicken strips were AMAZING. Peppery, flavorful, juicy, crunchy, piping hot, all-white meat chicken, with just enough breading. The brioche vanilla bean french toast was a-OK. The presentation was great, but the french toast didn't really taste like vanilla and it was too doughy, not all the way done. The screen door bacon was thick and crispy, just the way I like it, but a bit over the top. I ended up scraping the pecan off of the last bacon strip because I firmly believe in leaving no bacon behind, but that praline pecan coating was overwhelmingly sweet and heavy toward the end of the meal. Roughly an hour or so later, we all waddled happily out of the Screen Door. It had been a while since I last overate this bad and all this pigging out only cost me $20 before tips. I thought it wasn't bad at all and I would absolutely come back for those chicken strips.
(4)
Henry Y.
Great food and absolutely stellar service. We arrived close to 9pm on a busy night and both our server and hostess were incredibly nice. The hostess even helped us with getting a baby stroller folded and out of the way put in the back! The server was neither overattentive or underattentive but what I'd call perfect. And very genuine. The food and ambience were just great. I had the fried chicken with mashed potatoes and collard greens, while my wife had the screen plate (3 sides) with the fried catfish, sweet corn fritters and stewed beans with eggplant. Huge portions and fantastic quality and flavor! And very reasonably priced. This is a winning combination in any book. We would certainly come back, especially to try dessert which we sadly had no room to try on our first outing.
(5)
Rob H.
This place was great. I got a pulled pork sandwhich and my pal got the pick three sides deal. Also got some fried chicken. My sandwhich was delicious. Pulled pork was delicious. Fried chicken was perfect, though I wasn't quite as big a fan of the sauce as him. I couldn't stop eating it all and left no room for my ice cream desert later.
(4)
Hulk I.
Great fried chicken and excellent oysters. I still love KFC. Chicken was a bit spicy but very tender and juicy.
(4)
Nettsy V.
Hands down best fried chicken and Mac n Cheese! FYI the portions here are large. Awesome food and great service! Get here early if you plan on having breakfast here.
(5)
nisa c.
Overrated! I really don't understand the big deal about this place. The food was good.....nothing over the moon. Service was alright. But why is this place so packed!? Its a mystery! The Mac and cheese was delicious but the pulled pork sandwich was too spicy! The prices are great....but really almost a five star rating? It really makes me question the palettes of all those cool hip Portlanders.
(3)
Jay R.
Good but not sure that the wait is worth it anymore
(3)
A. B.
Their biscuits and gravy is so amazing and the mac and cheese at dinner is probably one of the best in town. Gotta try it!
(5)
David J.
These people know what they are doing! Southern food at it's finest and the service is top notch! The fried green tomatoes and fresh, crisp salad were excellent starters! The fried chicken is a must MUST have! The Mac N Cheese is truly southern and the veggies are so fresh!!! One of the best farm to table restaurants I we have visited. Definitely a must if your visiting PDX.
(5)
Joel T.
Screen Door is amazing. I've been twice and loved everything I've eaten. I'm a huge fan of southern comfort food and this is some of the best I've had so far. Excellent fried chicken, mashed potatoes, red velvet pancakes, and much more. The bacon praline cinnamon rolls are to die for. They sell out EARLY though. The portions are quite large so I'd recommend sharing a few dishes and taking a box home. The dish I was most excited about getting on my first visit was the fried chicken and waffles. I quickly changed my mind after seeing the guy next to me ordered them. The plate held one waffle with 3 large fried chicken breasts stacked on top with a knife through the middle holding it all together. I'm a big meat eater but the proportion of chicken to waffle looked kind of ridiculous. Everyone I saw eating then took at least an entire chicken breast home with them. The wait is usually out the door and around the block so have a snack beforehand and go grab coffee or a beer while you wait. I plan to go back again soon to indulge myself again.
(5)
Harley L.
This is the best food in Portland. The fried chicken is better than any I have ever had. The wait isn't a big deal as it gives you time to check your phone, or watch a movie.
(5)
UJ W.
Yes the food was fabulous and the service was excellent too. I'm just not sure that any meal is worth waiting in-line over an hour for. Is there something innately wrong with taking reservations? Or if reservation seem like a bad idea it would be great if they could think of a better system for waiting in line - texting while you go somewhere else... possibly somewhere else to eat while you're waiting.... since you'll be so hungry by the time your table is ready. I've only survived the line at screen door once and I had the basic dinner - fried chicken and mashed potatoes and greens. It was delicious and I believe that it fed me for three days. I'd love to go back (especially to try brunch) but I'm not sure I'll wait in that line again.
(3)
Gina H.
I waited at least an hour for a table for 2 for Sunday brunch. On top of that, it took a really long time (about 20-25 minutes) for our food to come out? I shared the fried chicken + waffle with my friend because we knew 2 orders would have been a lot of food for the both of us. I was very satisfied with the fried chicken. It was super crispy and the chicken was tender, moist and still hot from the fryer. I'm thinking the food took awhile to come out because the fried chicken comes out super fresh...otherwise it just takes forever because there are so many people. Also, I really liked the sweet potato waffle that comes with the chicken. I would definitely recommend this dish to anyone who is a first timer to Screen Door. Other than food, the atmosphere is a great spot. Service was attentive and they always made sure your water was full. Overall: Tasty food, attentive service and great vibes. Try it out! NOTE: MAC AND CHEESE IS ONLY SERVED DURING DINNER. I was not aware of this and was totally disappointed, but the fried chicken was good enough. :)
(4)
Coleman N.
I discovered Screen Door in June of 2011 shortly after arriving in Portland; my soon to be new home. It was love at first bite for me and this restaurant continues to be my very favorite eating establishment. Purely divine Southern comfort food. The place is always packed as is expected. One try and you'll be hooked too. This restaurant needs no favorable review from me for their awesome food. Everyone in town already knows how good it is. That's not why I'm writing this review. Six weeks after I arrived in Portland I met an amazing fella and of course I had to introduce him to Screen Door. He loved this place as much as me. He died two years and a month after we met and fell in love. I continued to go to Screen Door after he died.....alone. The owner David and ALL the staff were so extremely kind to me comping my entire dinner on many occasions. I went there again tonight and completely unexpectedly my dinner was again on the house. This place is not just a restaurant. Having lived in the South for 30 years, it epitomizes Southern hospitality with food and kindness. If you haven't been yet, you don't know what your missing. A forever loyal customer; thank you so much, Coleman Nagy
(5)
Serena H.
Great food. Wait wasn't too bad, only 45 minutes. My only gripe is that I wish my drink would've came a little bit faster, but maybe because it wasn't coffee or an alcoholic drink (diet coke) it got pushed down the line.
(5)
Biraj G.
Long wait but it was worth it. Very generous portions and it was yummy. Blood Mary's was very good and well seasoned. I got Chicken waffles and it was the best I had in west coast for sure. My friend got biscuits and gravy and it was decent. Their coffee was surprisingly good. Definitely going back next time in Portland.
(5)
Kathleen C.
I was warned about the wait time. I arrived at 830am, when tehy open at 9am. There were probably about 10 people in line already. I think I could've gotten there around 845am and still get a table when they open, but beyond that, probably will have to wait for the next batch of seats. Food: Tons of stuff on the menu sounded good, but I can only eat so much. I got a hot chocolate that was super yummy, but prob super fatty. I can taste it. It's like drinking chocolate. Even the whipped cream was extra heavy. Bf and I shared the Chicken and Waffles and Fried oyster benedict. Probably could've fed 3-4 people actually. The chicken and waffles was huge. One waffle with 3 fried chicken breast on top. I only ate 3/4 of a chicken breast. Very hefty, I would only want this again if I could share it. Way too much for one person. It was good though. The fried oysters were perfectly cooked! The hollandaise sauce was yummy too. I just wish I had room to have more of it. I wanted to order corndogs too, love them, but there's srsly no room. We already had to pack leftovers. Price: I think the prices are cheaper than Seattle brunch spots. Chicken and waffles was $15 and the benedict was $12. Could totally see Seattle spots tacking on an extra $4-5. Good food. Just really heavy and big portions and lots of people. Plan accordingly.
(5)
Lauren S.
A lot of people talk about how amazing screen door is- especially the fried chicken. I love screen door. I love it. BUT..I think the fried chicken at Pine State is better. However, there are a million things there that I've tried that are just as delicious. For example, their brisket is the best I've had in Portland. This place is also an incredible place for brunch. The drinks are always exceptional, and the fried chicken and sweet potato waffles are unparalleled by anything else on their brunch menu. Service is consistently good, and even though the wait is long, they're good about turning tables while also not making you feel rushed. Good place for a group! Or anyone from out of town you want to really wow.
(5)
A H.
Best home style comfort food in the city. Can be REALLY packed and crowded. Noisy. Just excellent tasting simple food done right.
(4)
Tamara H.
I personally think this place is overrated. I had catfish with mac and cheese. The catfish was dry and tasted fishy. The mac and cheese was alright but hoenstly, I've made better myself. I think the atmosphere was cool but I'll stick to making my own southern comfort food.
(2)
Jonathan N.
Screen Door is great! I tried out saturday brunch. I had the breakfast po' boy - WOW better than i had in New Orleans! This place, like all the great places in Portland gets very busy on the weekends, so I did have to wait about an hour to be get a seat.. but it's worth it.
(4)
Janet W.
I honestly don't know what all the fuss is about. It's a solid 3 star restaurant, but I wouldn't wait an hour to get in. It was a slower evening, so it was only a 20 minute wait for our group. The service was fairly attentive, even though they were very busy. But, no one checked back after our meals arrived to see how we were doing. We weren't doing well, so that was fairly frustrating. They seemed too busy to follow up with us. The hush puppies were very good. The person in our group that had the BBQ Beef Brisket thought it was great and the Fried Chicken was good. The Pulled Pork Sandwich was too spicy for the person that ordered it to eat. I like spicy food. so I tried it and was even put off by the heat. It was as if they were too heavy handed with spice. They need to warn you on the menu if it's got some heat to it. The cornbread was not to our liking. We also ordered the roasted beet salad. When it arrived, there were no beets in evidence. A hunt through all the greens finally unearthed a few diced beets. How this is billed as a beet salad is confusing. The person that finally cleared it away asked how I liked it (since most of the greens were still there). They ended up taking it off the bill, which was nice. Maybe all the hype set my expectations too high.
(3)
Romin I.
Best fried chicken in America. Hands down. Gravy is amazing too! Also please make sure you get the Mac n cheese. Delicious. Surprisingly the only thing I didn't love was the cornbread and I usually love cornbread.
(5)
Christine D.
Came here on a Monday night and it was PACKED. We had to wait about an hour for a table for 4. There's nothing a drink from the bar won't cure though, so that helped pass the time a bit. Plus Voodoo Too is nearby so some of my friends walked over to grab some donuts (to eat afterwards) while waiting. Once we finally got seated, the waiter was really friendly and cracked some jokes even though we could tell he was extremely busy. A little sense of humor is always appreciated! My friends each got the brisket, trout pecan, and pork chops (it was a special for that day), and I got the screen door plate with mac'n'cheese, heirloom tomato salad, and cucumber salad. Portions were generous, and I can't comment too much on the meat dishes but I think my friends liked it. I remember both of them saying the meat was nicely cooked and very tender. The trout pecan was a hit on the table. My meat friends liked it better than their dish. The mac'n'cheese was really tasty as well. Vegetables tasted fresh and offered a nice counter to the heavier mac'n'cheese. Overall, everyone had an enjoyable meal with a very friendly staff!
(5)
Matt R.
The food is exceptional and if you are blessed to be in Portland on the weekend you must stop in for brunch. Grab the sweet potato waffles and chicken.
(5)
Dem B.
chicken & waffles tho!
(5)
Erin M.
10am weekend #1: boyfriend and I show up at Screen Door hoping to try out their legendary waffles & fried chicken. Line around the block & we are hungry so we go to Sanbourns instead. 1pm weekend #2: boyfriend and I show up at Screen Door, expecting the brunch crown to have cooled down. Crowds of hipsters and 20 names on the wait list, so we take off for Baker Spice instead. 8am weekend #3: boyfriend and I wake up early and decide today's the day-- we are going to screen door and we'll beat the crowd. We show up 10 minutes before opening and there is a line around the block. WTF?! We figure, okay, screen door must be pretty excellent and we wait it out (about 20 minutes). The consensus: waffles & fried chicken was a hit with the boyfriend. My veggie biscuits and gravy was a disappointment (imagine a southern biscuit. Are you thinking big, fluffy, soft? Now imagine a slice of thick bread. That's what Screen Door calls a biscuit). The conclusion: Screen door is decent but over-hyped and trendy. Now that crowd of hipsters out front is starting to make perfect sense.....
(3)
jill c.
Maybe holiday time is NOT the best time to eat here, because when we were in Portland early in Dec, we had one of the best meals we've EVER eaten (including New York, Paris, and Barcelona). Our waiter was wonderful-very professional and attentive, and every part of the meal was superb! We knew it would be crowded and that we'd have to wait even though we had a reservation (there were 5 of us) but it was worth it! I wish I could eat there more often-Santa Cruz needs a restaurant like this!
(5)
Kilia S.
I come to screen door every time I'm in portland. The most filling and satisfying meal you can ever get. It's a modern twist on southern food, all local ingredients, and just enough grease to make it sinfully good. They always have weekly specials that are delicious but they run out quick! Also expect to wait a good hour for seating. We usually come here for dinner. The fried chicken and shrimp grits are by far my favorite but very entree is honestly good. Never under seasoned, cooked to perfection. Definitely try the hush puppies for appetizer. The cornbread is a little plain for my liking. This is only my second time getting breakfast here, but always good. The chicken and waffles are humongous. The eggs Benedicts are on point. And who doesn't like perfectly crisp French toast with a soft inside?! Yummmmm
(5)
Akshata R.
I really wanted to like this place! Umm, maybe I was just expecting too much. Or maybe going to dinner instead of the more famous brunch, and being vegetarian to boot, was not a great idea. I was looking forward to great southern, but I had to make a mixed dinner out of starters and small plates (which I usually enjoy doing by the way) - fried okra, mac and cheese, sweet potato fries, etc. It was A-ok. Long waits, spacious interior and friendly staff even when they're busy.
(3)
Willie G.
I ordered the brisket. It was dry and covered in sweet candy bbq sauce. I told the waiter and he looked like he couldn't care less. I have this place two stars because their bloody mary was good but if you're looking for meat, I wouldn't come here
(2)
Kimberly G.
Rating for the fried chicken and oysters. Don't expect to eat healthy here at all. It's fattening food. Even the salads. Service was great and friendly. Shrimp and grits were just not worth the price. Lacking flavor and consistency a little too runny for my taste. I would not order a Bloody Mary here again as it is kind of thickish but has good flavor. If they switched the consistency of the grits with the Bloody Mary they would both be better. We'll go back again to try more me u items. We didn't have to wait long. 30 mins.
(5)
Dayna D.
If you love brunch and southern comfort foods, this is the place for you! The wait is pretty intense, so be prepared to hang around for a solid hour and half on a Saturday morning, but it is well worth it! Newbies, be aware that EVERYTHING comes in huge amazing portions. This is definitely the kind of place you should come with a group of friends so you can try a little of everything. Some tasty things to note from my last visit - lemon ricotta fritters, breakfast corn dogs and some sugary caramelized pecan crusted bacon....so good! We will absolutely be back soon for dinner!
(4)
Lucy S.
I had been avoiding checking this place out because I've heard stories of how long the line is. I finally made it out here with some friends and it might be one of my favorite brunch spots now. We showed up early (~20 min before it opened) and that was perfect to get seated right when they opened. We sat outside in a very nice open patio area and the food was incredible. Their bacon biscuits with peach compote was delicious, just like everything else we got. One thing was getting jealous when I saw the server walk by with chicken and waffles for other tables. What was I thinking not getting that enormous pile of food? When I come back, I'm still going to show up early because that line never got shorter as we were sitting there eating.
(5)
Sophia Y.
Let's just say that this was worth the 1.5 hour bus ride and then the 1.5 hour wait! I had my eye set on 2 things: the Oyster Benedict and the Chicken and Waffles. Oyster Benedict: Uh. YUM. They oysters were fresh and cut like butter and were fried in a light but well seasoned batter topped with 2 delicious lava flowing egg Benedicts. The fries were good as well, but the oysters and eggs will leave you pretty full. Chicken and Waffles: People are not exaggerating when they say this is the best fried chicken they've ever had! It was super moist, coated in a perfect amount of batter and seasoned just right! The waffle was really good as well. Perfectly crisp on the outside and soft on the inside with a hint of maple flavor. Overall, it was a long wait, but you can grab drinks while you wait. The food is DELICIOUS and the service was good considering how busy it was. I would totally come back and I would totally recommend!
(5)
Jamie C.
Protip. Order 1 Chicken and Waffles. Feeds 2 easily. Chicken was moist, and well seasoned. Candied Pecan Bacon, totally perfection. Lines and waits are horrendous, so go before they open. 10/10 would go here every time I visit Portland. It's a fat foodie's paradise.
(5)
James A.
Me and my girlfriend were looking for a place to try southern food for the first time and this was our first and likely last stop, since we won't want to eat elsewhere! The food was excellent, I strongly recommend the country fried chicken, it was very crispy and moist. The service was also great. I've heard there can be long waits but we got right in and the appetizer and entree were both out fast.
(5)
Vivian C.
5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars!!!!!! I can't say this enough. I absolutely love this place. There is quite the wait but it's totally worth it. If you come here when you're not super hungry, the wait plus the smell of all the delicious food will definitely get you hungry. 1) Atmosphere: Just your "typical" nice restaurant feel. Casual but still polished. It's very very dim and most tables were lit by candlelight so it's a nice place for a date except it can get a bit loud since there's so many people. 2) Service: A+ service. Our waiter was busy but always made sure our glasses were full. He also answered all the questions we had and made some nice convo. 3) Food: -Fried Oysters: Best part of the meal (besides the mac & cheese) so we started on a high note. Super clean and fresh and it just melts away in your mouth. The dipping sauce just went soooo well with it. Absolutely amazing (5/5) -Fried Chicken w/ Collard Greens: This was my friend's meal but both of us agree it is absolutely delicious. There was just the right amount of salt, the chicken was so moist and the batter was crispy and delicious. The greens paired with it well and they were also cooked wonderfully. (5/5) -Screen Door Plate: I couldn't possibly decide what to get so I was so happy to see an option like this. I got the mac & cheese, catfish, chicken & andouille jambalaya and a piece of cornbread. Gonna start from the worst and move my way up. a) The jambalaya just wasn't for me. The flavors were amazing and the sausage was great but it was just too dry especially the chicken. (3/5) b) Cornbread: I'm very picky about cornbread and I love that there's some nice kernels of corn in it but it was also a bit too dry. (3/5) c) Catfish: Delicious. Very light batter, flaky fish, absolutely amazing. A bit salty but I would eat a ton of this if I was provided with enough water. (4/5) d) Mac & cheese: God bless this mac & cheese. I LOVE this mac and cheese. It makes up for the few shortcomings of this meal. It is hands-down the best mac & cheese I've ever had. It is super cheesy, has a wonderful crunch baked top, and I could eat it forever. It is very rich so if you don't like a lot of cheese, this isn't for you. (5/5) I want to eat here forever. I wish I could bring all this goodness back home with me. If you're in Portland and you have some extra time, you must give this place a try!
(5)
J R.
Who doesn't love Screen Door? It certainly has earned it's place in the Portland brunch scene. Service was fast and friendly. I am very much not one to wait but it was worth it for this breakfast. In a lot of ways Screen Door has old school Portland charm, and in others it's the new flavor. The food really was awesome and hot! Sometimes I had wished for a more intimate setting, was a little like eating at outdoor school.
(4)
Sandra T.
I still dream everyday about the chicken and waffles here and it's been over a year since I've gone to Screen Door. From the super high Yelp rating we had to go!! Went in the morning for brunch and there was already a bunch of people waiting outside. I think I had just missed the first seating and had to wait for the second. Waited about an hour but it wasn't too bad. It's nice that they allow you to grab a cup of coffee while you wait outside, refill anytime, and pay for it with your bill at the end of your meal. We ordered the chicken and waffles (absolute must), a corn dog with syrup for dipping, and some sort of pastry. We couldn't believe how crispy and nicely seasoned the chicken was. You get three huge pieces and a big thing of waffle and it's really almost a meal for two its so big. The service was particularly great, but it was good. They were super busy when we went and it's a diner, so don't expect GREAT service. Definitely would come here to eat again.
(5)
Anita W.
I love the Screen Door and have visited several times when I have been in Portland. Yes, it's busy, but isn't that a good sign? I have to say that this is one thing I look for when I am going to try a new place. Why would I want to go somewhere that is empty? With that being said...go early before they open and get in line. It's worth it! The fried chicken is as good as everyone has said it is. My husband gets it every time. I get the brisket and beg for macaroni and cheese as my side instead of the potato salad. The potato salad is good, but I loves me some mac n cheese. ;) The brisket is so tender and just falls apart, and the barbeque sauce is very good. We have never had bad service, had to wait too long for our meal, or had cold food. Quite the opposite in fact. Love the decor and all of the canned vegetables on some wall shelves. Gives the feeling of being in my grandmas kitchen. I love everything about this place and can't wait to go back!!
(5)
Adam N.
So good, I have been twice now (brunch & dinner) lucked out and had the same waitor (Maxwell) he is phenomenal, we now plan to request to be seated in his section for future visits.
(5)
G W.
High quality, flavorful food. Huge portions--and a great place for both carnivores and vegetarians. The seasonal offerings were delicious. The wait was an hour, which was pretty long. We got in the list around 8 pm and didn't start eating until close to 10, on a Thursday night.
(4)
Stamper W.
great, no complaints. Good fried chicken.
(5)
Jac L.
This place is definitely worth my wait time. I got the smoked steak hash and my boyfriend ordered fried oyster Benedict. I love their fried oyster, it's not too oily but still crispy and crunchy on the outside and fresh and delicious in the inside. I also really like the smoked steak hash with tortilla wrap and over easy egg. Also their cheese grit has lots of flavor too. Their waitstaff are pretty friendly and attentive. But be aware that the one time is about an hour during peak time and they no longer have the wait list after two o'clock.
(4)
Taylor W.
I have been here multiple times. Great food, love the Carolina pork sandwich and the hush puppies are to die for. If you have never had pimento cheese get that to start off with too. Ooh and the fried okra .... I am getting hungry just thinking about it. My only complaint would that when it is cold out, not a big area for the long wait times that occur. All in all, great southern food.
(4)
Annie L.
We came here for their saturday brunch and ordered the chicken and waffles and the broccoli and goat cheese scramble.I really wanted to try their mac n cheese but they don't serve it during brunch - bummer :( The portions here are huge so you might want to look into splitting the dishes. The fried chicken was cooked and seasoned really well but a little too spicy for my taste (this should be stated on their menu). Good thing I had the waffle and maple syrup to tone down the spiciness! Overall, it was still an amazing dish! The scramble was also really tasty. I usually don't like goat cheese but I liked it in this scramble. We ordered it with the potatoes which tasted like seasoned potato wedges. If I'm ever back in Portland, I want to try their oyster benedict, biscuits, and mac n cheese!
(4)
Chi N.
We came for dinner. Didn't get to try the food bc we had to wait for sooo long that we ended up leaving. It sounded amazing but seems overpriced and hipster-ish. Prob won't come back to try the food if we had to wait that long every time.
(3)
Tanya F.
This is where my husband and I go for all our fancy dinners, and it's a must when we have relatives in town! It's super delicious but I'm not a huge fan of the wait. Not exactly their fault, but that's why it loses a star.
(4)
Lori S.
Normally I would give the screen door 5 stars, I just love the fried okra. However, having sat here for 30 minutes, of what was estimated a 45 minute wait, I am very disappointed in the staff. Seems the gentleman (and I use the word loosely) seating people only uses the wait list a a rough guide. Apparently if you're a well known, to said gentleman, bimbo you can skip the wait! To heck with the rest of us. As much as I love the fried okra I can make it myself and skip discrimination!
(3)
Bill H.
Fried Chicken -----MIC DROP------ the only reason I will add more is that is what yelp wants. Simply, the Fried Chicken best I have ever had. The hush puppies are good. We sat at bar and had great experience. If you are looking for classic Southern Food you will feel right at home. Co Worker had the Brisket and had great smokey profile. I will be visiting again on my next trip.
(5)
Trudy E.
Wonderful place with great food...always a line on the weekends.....but still love it! Thanks!
(4)
Ellie C.
Surprised by the level of good dining during my stay in Portland. Portland has perfected the indoor arts....restaurants, microbreweries, and strip clubs. As far as my Screendoor experience goes, it was fabulous. The molasses pork was ridiculous. The pork literally melted in your mouth. I decided to add on a Jambalaya and the pear salad. I ate like a champ. The jambalaya was pretty good but a bit dry. The pear salad was off the charts good. The blue cheese was sweet and creamy. My only complaint about the pear salad is the pomegrante seeds.
(5)
Lindsay R.
This was, by far, one of the best places my husband and I ate at while we were on our West Coast road trip a couple months ago. Hubby got the shrimp and grits and I got the brisket. Both were drool-worthy and delicious. If we ever make it back up to Portland, I want to hit this spot again.
(5)
Justin C.
Take out review, so just food. Holy hell this is some of the best fried chicken in the city. Well put-together take out -- sauces, butter, napkins, everything. Great mac n cheese. I'm a fan and will be back. (2nd best fried chicken: Friar Tuck, which is a bit more traditional)
(5)
Lavenda M.
I am from Texas originally and haven't tasted good fried chicken in years! Screen door knows how to do it. Amazing cocktails, the fried squid taught me to LOVE squid and their collard greens are perfection!
(5)
Brian S.
Been here several times over the last four years. I find I must go back once I start dreaming of their fried chicken. The only way to get sleep is to satisfy the craving, complimented by one of the special appetizers. Always worth the wait, just love it.
(5)
B. F.
The best food I've put in my mouth! The fried chicken is a must.
(5)
Bri B.
If you are going for breakfast and don't get there at least 30 minutes before they open you will be waiting! So if you don't like to wait, you probably should not visit Screen Door anytime during the weekend from 9 - 1pm. Having said that, the food is absolutely worth the wait. I have never had anything that disappointed me. I have tried Bloody Mary's all over Portland and Screen Door still has the best one in my humble opinion! Of course the Chicken and Waffles are what everyone talks about, and for good reason but there pancakes and biscuits and gravy are among my favorites as well. The last thing I will say is the staff here are fantastic! They are friendly and engaging despite a full restaurant and a line out the door. Keep it up!
(5)
Toni C.
Worth the wait. Go early. I've been twice for breakfast and I've ordered the Corned Beef Hash twice, because it is just THAT GOOD. Thankfully, I've managed to convince others accompanying me to order the Fried Chicken and Sweet Potato Waffle both times, too, because I *LOVE* fried chicken, and Screen Door's is probably the best I've had in town. Can't wait to go back and try their dinner menu.
(5)
Marcel C.
I like Screen Door. I don't like the outrageous waits. The long lines have driven me away. I don't think they are proportional to the quality of the food. But the food is good. The lines are not. It's not really their fault. But my advice if you want southern food is: GO TO COUNTRY CAT! They aren't nearly as busy and the food quality is better. Sorry Screen Door, but it doesn't seem like you really need my business anyways :)
(3)
H-cat H.
If you ever want to eat fried chicken again (at any other venue) do not come to Screen Door as you will be ruined. After you eat the bahhhhlicious boneless, perfectly moist and deliciously seasoned fried chicken...you will never be able to put your momma's fried chicken in pie hole without wishing it was Screen Door. Every dish (and side dish) everyone in my group had was knockout...but really, the chicken is crazy...like insane in the membrane crazy good. On the downside, the wait can be long for a table. And I looked everywhere for an actual Screen Door and did not see one.
(5)
Isabella B.
It was silly of me to go to Screen Door on Father's Day, but I really wanted some fried chicken and have only heard good things about their brunch. I ended up waiting for about an hour for a table but it worth the wait. I went traditional brunch style and had their Bloody Mary which came with an olive and pickled okra. It had nice flavor and rimmed with cayenne salt which gave it a nice kick. We started off with their strawberry blitz that was filled with ricotta and mascarpone cheese. It was tasty and a lot of the sweetness came from the strawberries. I should also mention that their whipped cream is always perfectly whipped. I ended up ordering one of their specials called Fried Chicken Cathead Biscuit Sandwich-fried chicken, sausage gravy, a biscuit and your choice of potatoes or grits of which I picked the grits. It was definitely a sandwich I had to eat with a knife and fork but oh so tasty. The chicken was crunchy and the meat was still moist, the biscuit was of a cakey sort and the gravy was rich and full of chunks of sausage! The grits were also good, nice and creamy and full of flavor. We also ordered their Screen Door Praline Bacon, OMG. If you love bacon you have to try this which I believe they only serve at brunch. You get three strips of bacon and they are packed with pecans. They salty and sweet and not really on the crunchy side but that's because there's so much happy goodness going on on that piece of bacon. It just begs for an accompaniment of a good waffle. I can't wait to go to brunch there again and maybe that time I'll order the fried chicken and waffles...with a side of praline bacon. For those of you that like watching the bustle of the kitchen, they have an open kitchen. It's one of my favorite places to watch, seeing the fantastic dishes come by begging to eaten and the quiet dynamic of the cooks while enjoying your own fantastic meal.
(5)
Clayton T.
Went here on a very busy Saturday night and was impressed by two things; the food and the service skill. We sat at the bar otherwise there would have been a wait. The bartender was very busy all night but managed to serve us well and keep a smile. She watched over us and even kept our water glasses full. I started with hushpuppies which were not as spicey as I normally like but still very good with an excellent mustard dipping sauce. Then I had the beef brisket which was excellent. Very tender with a rich sauce, potato salad and greens beans. Couldn't even finish it all but had cocoanut cake anyway which was not dense like I'm used to but still quite good. Some things to expect. This is very much a family restaurant so there were a lot of kids including a crying baby for a short period. Large groups go here for dinner so table space can get scooped up quickly. The noice level is also quite high so don't go here if you want a quiet night out.
(4)
J I.
so, im officially in HEAVEN! Honestly, i see myself planing trips to Oregon JUST TO COME BACK! The food was BEYOND amazing! Everything was perfect! The brisket, greens, mac n' cheese, catfish, cornbread and even the AMAZING honey-butter spread they give you for the cornbread! Throughout the meal my expressions were full of ooooo's and aahhhhh's and I just honestly feel like I have hit the peak of life! There is NO PLACE BETTER for soul food! doesnt hurt that the service was spectacular, the environment was bust but still very homey and the food preparation was quite timely considering that there were soooo many people there! Thank you Screen Door for this experience ;-)
(5)
Wendy Y.
Last week I had the opportunity to re-visit Screen Door. Instead of having take out like the first time, a group of us (4) got seated. The wait was 40 minutes but thanks to two 2 oz Bourbons, 40 minutes wait was a walk in the park. Amongst the four of us we ordered (obviously) chicken and waffles, hush puppies, some sort of bacon marinated in syrup and covered in chopped nuts (f*ck that was amazing), and cubed corn beef with potato hash topped with crème fraiche, two corn tortillas, and two sunny side up eggs. Mimosas were ordered as well and everything was just delicious. The hush puppies were pipping hot when they arrived. They contained bacon bits and were served with a side of honey, cane sugar type of syrup and it was really good. The cubed corn beef with potato hash was robust. The corn beef cubes were on the chewy side but otherwise the sunny side up eggs were PERFECTLY cooked with runny rich egg yolks and they just ooze out when you poke your fork in them. Screen Door, we heart you.
(5)
Sarah M.
LOVE THIS PLACE Came for mine and best friends birthday outing in Portland and were looking for somewhere new. I'd heard about how amazing their mac and cheese was and wanted to come and try it for some time. Wait was about 45 minutes, but it was dinner and the wait staff was very kind and worked very hard to try and keep things running fast. The whole menu sounded delicious, and everyone around us recommended everything. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive, we got our food in only about 10 minutes, and everything was to die for. The fried oysters where the best I'd ever had, along with the mashed potatoes, so buttery with the most delicious gravy! I don't even like gravy! The Cat fish was cooked perfectly, as well as the mac and cheese was just as good as I had hoped. Wonderfully creamy and garlicky. The only thing that wasn't great was the corn bread. very dry, unsweetened, not a whole lot of flavor. But for some reason actually sort of complemented the rest of the meal. I will with out a doubt be back for more.
(5)
Momo B.
HURRY UP & WAIT It just so happens that our table was close enough to view the kitchen's prep table. There's no doubt that the Fried Chicken & Waffles entree was the most popular amongst the waiting diners. I usually don't order chicken breast, but this will be an exception. My Yu-go chauffeur chose to add Screen Door's very own habanera sauce to both the fried chicken and oysters for the predictable beep beep afterburner. BTW, their bacon is finger licking oinky tasty too. Coffee served is Portland's very own Stumptown. After downing three cups full and thirty minute wait, the most moist tender tasty four pieces of fried chicken breast and oysters this afternoon will not take a ride home in a takeout box.
(5)
Dan G.
Consistently good menu, with rotating specials and significant wait-time. One of Portland's best breakfasts.
(4)
M R.
Well worth the wait. If I could eat everything on the menu in one sitting without my stomach bursting, I would. However, since I cannot each that much, I do recommend the pecan encrusted bacon and the chicken and waffles (the portion is so large that you will have some for leftovers). Just thinking about their food is making my mouth salivate.
(5)
Elizabeth D.
Phenomenal. Best I've ever had.
(5)
James K.
We had dinner here the other night, along with roughly 500 other people. We were told at the desk, once I made my way through the crowd inside and out that were waiting, that it'd be an hour. Well, it took us at least that long to decide to try SC, so it didn't seem like to long a wait. Setting an alarm on my phone (no pager, no call when table ready), we headed down to Matador to make our way through some tequila. We came back to SC after about 45 mins and checked in again. I was told shortly as we were only a 2 top and the should be able to squeeze us in. Low and behold, after a pleasant 5 minute wait outside, boom, seats at the bar. I won't make you read too much more, but I will say that we had really tasty food for the price. Fried oysters and gumbo to start, both perfectly done. I had the braised Pork Shoulder with spicy slaw and my lovely had the SC Plate, a pick-your-own, for which she chose the catfish, grits and......something else that was good because I had it the next day for lunch. As I said, all of it was nicely done. Throw in a few good beers and a barman who didn't seemed the least fazed by a crowd, and it all made for a great dinner out.
(4)
Christopher M.
I've been here many times but have never bothered to review it. Everything was great on Saturday. I've had the Shrimp N Grits, Pork Shoulder, Fried Chicken entrees and they are all wonderful. The Local/Organics menu options were great as usual. Perhaps the stand out of the night was the service. Ariel was one of the best servers we've had over the last few years.
(5)
C. R.
I was about to come on here and write a very positive review of this place, but I have to say our last meal there wasn't up to their usual standards. Maybe they were just having a bad morning, but the tofu in the tofu hash tasted like it had just come out of the package, barely cooked at all. The mushroom hash was tasty, but heavy on the potatoes, seems like it could use something else. The veggie biscuits and gravy are some of the best, if not the best, around. While the room is loud, it's great if you have a loud kid! I'm sure we'll give them another try, as the food is usually good, but I'll be sure to ask for my tofu well done.
(3)
Rick S.
Bottom Line - This continues to be my favourite brunch spot in Portland. I am a huge fan of the cheddar grits and praline bacon. My friends and I came for Sunday brunch on 30 May 2010. We ordered the following: Farmer's Scramble ($8.95 + 1.00 + 0.75) - My buddy ordered this scramble with only egg whites and a biscuit. He enjoyed this and would order it again. It looked really healthy and I wouldn't mind having this dish right now myself. Oyster Benedict ($11.95) - I'm a sucker for benedicts. I ordered this with the cheese grits. SO GOOD. The eggs were perfectly poached! I usually get one of the benedicts here, and they never disappoint. Sides ($2.95, 2.95, 1.95) - My other friend doesn't eat wheat, so she ordered sides of cheese grits, grilled ham and a cup of yoghurt. She was really happy about the ability to build your own breakfast. Praline Bacon ($3.95) - How can you come to The Screen Door and not order a side of the praline bacon?! We shared this dish, and my favourite thing to do is eat the praline bacon along with the grits and my benedict (a little of each in every bite). YUM. Along with two grapefruit mimosas and a small orange juice, the total for the three of us came to $45.95 + 10.00 tip = $55.95. Our server, Klyde, was really nice and he seemed to enjoy his job! I was glad fate gave him to us, and I hope we get him next time (=
(4)
Brandi W.
Why did my first bite have to be the praline bacon??? After that everything else in front of me faded away into a sugary, fatty, happy haze.
(4)
Jenn C.
Amazing breakfast and great service! You're gonna wait, but that's ok as long as the weather is cooperating.
(4)
Melissa L.
[I don't think there's anything I can say about Screen Door that hasn't been said in the other 300+ reviews, but here goes:] Aside from the wait (even at 9:30AM on Sunday!), this restaurant BRINGS IT. Even the wait was made more pleasant by bottomless self-serve Stumptown coffee and great country & blues music on the PA (Lucinda Williams, Neko Case, Nina Simone!) The decor is spare but warm, and homey with the wall of home-canned veggies and jams. They also had a shockingly-good tap list at the bar. I mean, a Southern style restaurant with Terminal Gravity IPA on tap? I think I'm in love. Also, we were shocked at how much food you get for the price. Brunch for 2 yesterday was about $35. We've spent that much at various other breakfast places in town, and we sure as heck didn't walk out with a box of leftovers. We ordered the praline bacon, a plate of bacon apple cheddar drop biscuits, the smoked brisket hash and the fried chicken cathead biscuit sandwich (which really should be called "fried chicken biscuits & gravy". The praline bacon was just as delectable as it sounds, and the drop biscuits were light and tender, and the entrees both delicious and enormous. We're fans.
(5)
Niki C.
Thank you Yelp, for another great location! My parents and I are on a road trip to Seattle, and we are spending a night at Portland. I came online to see if there was a great place for dinner and came here. This was on Memorial Day (Monday) at around 6 pm. The Mehs: OMG, 45 minute wait, then another 25 minute wait for the food The Pros: everything else! The servers, bussiers, hosts, and cooks move really fast. I timed how long it takes them to seat someone after one group leaves (yes, that's how long I was sitting here), and it was exactly 3 minutes! The food portion is really big, and food was really good. It was first time for my parents to try "southern" food and they loved it. We ordered pork shoulder BBQ with beans, Beef BBQ with potato salad, jambalaya, rice and red beans, and gumbo. They were all really good, servings really huge. I also noticed half the people ordered fried chicken or chiken and waffles. If I ever come back to Portland, I would love to try fried chicken and waffles. I hated the ones from Roscoe's but the chicken & waffles here looked so much better.
(5)
Marty C.
I went here twice. The first time I waited in a line of over 100 people. It took about 40 minutes for me to get in. They are extremely popular, so be prepared to eat in a very crowded & noisy place! For some reason they are only open on the weekends. The first time I was there I decided to get the chicken & waffles because I had read all the reviews about how great it was. The food was very good, but fried chicken for breakfast was just not the right thing for me (I took the chicken with me & had it for lunch the next day). I went again on Sunday, got there early & this time I got the asparagus & sugarsnap pea scramble, along with strawberry rhubarb turnovers. The scramble was good, but not great imho. Just seemed sort of bland, like it needed something else added to it. The turnovers on the other hand were excellent. The cheese grits were very good. I do like uniqueness of their food, and the servers were polite, fast, and very attentive to making sure my coffee was refilled. However, next weekend I don't think I'll go there again. Still, I'd recommend you give it a try if you want to have a breakfast with a unique southern flair to it. TIP: if you want to get towards the front of the line get there about 8:15. They open at 9:00.
(4)
Karli K.
Delicious and great service, expect to wait. Waffles are soggy, don't order those!
(4)
R T.
Chicken and waffles stacked so high it fed us for days. It's worth the wait in line, someday I'd like to wait in that line when it's not raining.
(4)
Dave K.
As a restaurant manager and southern food enthusiast, I am always a little skeptical when there are good reviews for a southern joint. But I will go back here every time I am in Portland. We were in Saturday night with a group of 6. Good service, there when you need them, but not hovering. The food shines though. We started with the fried green tomatoes and the fried okra. The FGT are some of the best ever. Great dredge that is seasoned well and the shrimp salad goodness on top really takes this from good FGT to great. I tried two entrees, I ordered the fried chicken and my friend was nice enough to give me a slice of his brisket. The chicken was really good. Moist and seasoned well, I can say that I have never had boneless fried chicken that was that good. It comes with heavenly light mashers with a gravy that is tasty with a nice little kick in it. Also on the plate are collard greens that were good but a little too wet. I would order it again when I return. The best thing we ate was the brisket. I was jealous that I did not order it myself. Though the chicken was good, the brisket was the best on the left coast that I have had. I will order it next time I am there without even looking at the menu. DO NOT MISS IT. If only my brisket was that good. After our meal I spoke to the sous chef who was really pumped about the summer time and all the great produce that will be coming in. I can see great things coming out of that kitchen in summer, I will be back.
(5)
Matt M.
OK, I figured it out. The way the chicken is done is SUPERB for eating with a knife and fork while slathered in gravy and between a huge biscuit. I ate the whole thing, including the potatoes, minus a few bites to the present company. Shit's good. I'll be having that every time I go back.
(4)
Kimberly E.
This restaurant is worth the wait to be seated. I am a big fan of the screen door plate that lets you mix and match various items from the stellar menu. The local/organics menu changes frequently so you get to try something new every time you go! I highly recommend the mac and cheese as a side. It comes in a piping hot ramekin with enough to share or take home for leftovers!
(5)
Nina N.
Thank goodness for yelp, and all it's glory!!!! So I wanted to come here for their praline bacon because of those wonderful pictures on yelp butttt.... and that's a big butt... IT'S ONLY SERVED ON THE WEEKENDS! wtf, so unfair..... so yes, I ended up ordering.. daaa daaa ddaa dummmmmm... Fried chicken, collard greens, with shrimp and grits... So the chicken was very different, but good. They de-boned the chicken then deep fried it. Good, not great, but good. Also, their shrimp and grits were also pretty mediocre but the grits were kind of congealed, which have been the problem in all of these fine dining soul food restaurants. I just want greasy yummy grits, but not.. they have to be fancy and cold.. wtf. All in all good but definitely not worth my five star rating.
(3)
Angel T.
Long lines for brunch, so get there early and expect to wait 45min to 1 hour. But the food is worth the wait. The fried chicken & waffle is delish!!! Tender and juicy meat paired with fluffy waffle. I would come back for this and more on the menu.
(5)
Mui K.
Decently priced Cajun food. Long lines. Worth the wait. +Fried chicken was crispy and tender in the inside. +Collard greens were tender and nicely flavored. Tasted like it'd been slow cooked with pork. +Roasted corn, yum! There was bell peppers in it too and it added a nice contrast. +Catfish, again crispy light and delicious. -Long wait, we got there 30 minutes after dinner service started and waited 1-1.5 hours -They make everything from scratch so it took a while for food to come out -The outside patio area looks like someone's backyard and strongly contrasts the nicer inside ambiance of the restaurant
(4)
Ryan P.
Fried okra, and oysters are the best I have had here in Portland. Best fried pork chop I have ever had. Catfish was okay nothing to go out of the way to get. I would definitely would go back. Parking Is a pain no lot all street parking.
(5)
Jerry B.
This place is sooooo yummy! You will wait to be seated, but it's well worth the wait. I had biscuits and gravy, which was a meal for two. My wife had chicken and waffles, which is a meal for four! I also ordered bacon and french toast! :D The food was so delicious. We ordered so much because we aren't from Portland and wanted to try everything! :D
(5)
Sugey L.
Fantastic! This is one of my favorite places in Portland. Their chicken and waffles are to die for, their bloody Mary is delicious, their service is outstanding. I will, every time, without a doubt in my mind wait in line just so I can eat their beautiful food. I normally go if for brunch on Sunday or Saturday, because my favorite item is featured there. Dinner is really good as well. This placed is just delicious!
(5)
Wade N.
Time you got here after waiting a long time. I had heard wonderful things but I just hate dealing with the crowds. Food was fantastic. Staff was friendly and proficient. In order to bypass the crowds we chose to share it with another couple. Turned out to be a lot of fun the other couple made us enjoy the evening even more than we had thought. Newfound friends were Southerners, hearing their opinions was of interest. We all had a wonderful experience and would highly recommend this place Best fried chicken ever.
(5)
Linda J.
This place sucks (for lack of a better term at the moment). The service was god awful. The wait was well over an hour, if not two. It took forever for the waitress to come over, then even longer for her to take our order. We watched as people that sat down long after us got their food before we did. My friends' plates came out way before mine (they were done eating and staring at me when my meal arrived, and ironically, it was lukewarm (no, it wasn't complicated). Then we had to sit around and wait for the waitress to reappear, then wait even longer after we asked for the check. Then surprise! We had to sit there and wait, again, to pay our bill. My friend had to go inside (after we sat there for half an hour or so) and try to pay. The food was sub par, not worth the money AT ALL, and I am never going back. I guess Portland just doesn't have any decent breakfast spots, or maybe people just love over-priced food, long waits, and horrible service. I guess that's what makes this place hip? No thanks. I'd get my breakfast faster if I made it myself. Meaning straight from the farm. Eggs from the chicken, the whole nine.
(1)
Will V.
I love this place. The food, the people, the service: all super. If you have a sweet tooth, check out the french toast, if they still have it. It's so good, but I could barely finish it- it was so sweet and heavy. If there's one downside to screen door, it's the noise level. It's quite loud just from the people in it, almost always. There's a lack of noise-dampening- the walls, floor and ceiling are all hard, flat surfaces, and what fabrics there are do not suffice to lower the racket. That does not stop me going there, although, lately the 30-60 minute wait times have been a bit of a drag. Still. Love Screen Door.
(5)
Jeff L.
The chicken was good. So juicy and crunchy. Dissapointed they only serve it with waffles for brunch. I am usually a fan of collard greens, but I don't know about the bowl I was served. Too salty. The line/wait is ridiculous, as well as the wait time for food. The service was excellent, but again. The wait. Come early if you can. And parking is horrible if even existent.
(4)
Bryan A.
We go here every year for brunch for my wife's birthday (plus other occasions). There are a lot of great things on the menu, but how could you pass up the fried chicken and sweet potato waffle?
(5)
William M.
Yummy southern fare with a wait. Nice bar and atmosphere. Even the collard greens were memorable.
(4)
Travis S.
If you aren't drinking the koolaid concentrate that is served en masse here in Portland, and/or you've lived in other cities, you'll know what I mean when I say that some restaurants have really high reviews for no apparent reason. This disparity becomes even more apparent when one EATS at said restaurants and is most compelled to invent time travel for the sole purpose of getting their money, stomach real estate, and afternoon/evening back. This is one of those places.
(2)
Kent R.
It's all true. The Screen Door has it going on. I can't vouch for authenticity, but can for deliciousness. There's a nightly choice of ~8 farm fresh vegetable dishes for mixing and mismatching. Everything on the table - jambalaya, red beans & rice, greens, catfish, chicken, hushpuppies - was tasty. And plentiful. Go starving, take some home, or order lightly. The cocktails are fair, and the beer selection is limited. But it's enough. The food has the spotlight here. It's a busy place, deservingly so, but we've had less than 15 minute waits around 7:30 on weekdays.
(5)
Aaron D.
Holy shit those chicken and waffles are insanely good. I had the 2 piece chicken and waffles on my last visit and definitely couldn't finish it but left overs are great and when you're drunk they're even greater. The waffle is actually a sweet potato waffle which I don't believe I've ever had before. It is sweet without syrup but I like my waffles drenched so I used the whole cup of syrup on mine. I've never had anything else from here but I will definitely be back. We lucked out a couple of weeks ago when we showed up on a Monday and they had a sign out that said "welcome to our first Monday brunch!". Normally when we're craving good chicken and waffles or just screen door in general, they're closed... But I'm pretty sure they're open on Mondays now which is awesome.
(5)
Christine G.
SCREEN DOOR YOU BLEW MY MIND. I finished my Shrimp and Grits without sharing with Mo. This never happens. I clearly was too lost in the mesmerizing spell that ye call grits...more like screen door's gift to mankind. I will return. The end.
(5)
Casie M.
Food is great, but kinda overrated (hard not to be, honestly). The wait and the stressed out staff make the food seem less worth it. Great prices for good, interesting southern food though. You get big plates here, and the drinks are good! But yeah. Not worth the wait.
(3)
Heather C.
Saw the reviews on Yelp for Screen Door and thought this was definitely a place I had to go because we were in Portland. The wait was one hour but that was not to big of a deal for me at all we were a group of six so we definitely understood. Our server was awesome but our food on the other hand not that great at all. Half of us got the fried chicken with the waffles and the other half got the eggs Benedict. The chicken did not taste good at all. The waffles were not to bad. When I tried my girlfriends hollandaise sauce it was not good at all. Sorry guys I would not be back and would not suggest it to others.
(3)
Lorri E.
I have no trouble with wanton excess when it comes to food, unfortunately (unfortunately for my waistband, not my happiness). Wanton excess comes in several forms: too much food, or too much of the wrong un-healthy food, or too many calories in the food, or my-eyes-are-bigger-than-my-stomach ordering one of every food on the menu kind of excess. You know. You fellow Yelpers are with me. We are a eatin' out kind of crowd. So, it is with this attitude of wanton excess that I eyed the menu of Southern food at Screen Door. Hell no I didn't come here wanting healthy food. I didn't come here thinking I could kid myself into eating less than a 2000 calorie meal. I didn't come here thinking about salad (although the butter lettuce salad was mighty fine). I came for the fried chicken, period. Da-aaaamn. That was a tasty plate of chicken. I was so full by the time I was done that I rolled on out cursing the fact that I would have to do two or three extra workouts to burn it all off, but fat and happy nontheless. It was delicious! This was a case where the wanton excess was worth it! (that cannot be said of all meals, alas). I recommend the chicken, the greens, the salad (with butter lettuce, and what isn't made better with bacon?), and the tomatoes tasted like they came off the vine moments ago. The mashed potatoes were fine, too. Yeah, if you get there much past opening time then you are going to have to wait. So either go early, or go prepared to wait. But if you want the wanton excess of real tasty fried chicken with all the Southern food fixins, then it will be worth it. I only take one star off cause the prices did seem a bit too high to me. Yes, fantabulous fried chicken! Yes, yes, yes! But a bit spendy for chicken.
(4)
Mac M.
It doesn't seem to matter how annoying the hipsters are waiting to be seated, or how offending the forced affability of the servers are, the food at the Screen Door is just to good for me to get angry. I got the garden grits...stone ground cheddar grits, grilled tomatoes, and perfectly cooked spinach all topped generously with provolone cheese.....f#ckin A, friends...I can't find anything better to eat for brunch. I can't wait until I have enough money to go there again.....guh, I hate being poor......
(4)
Pepper P.
The line is indicative of the high quality food... And delightful service. Thank you for a super terrific breakfast experience!!! Chicken and waffles, I love you. And your friend, hot, delicious coffee too. I can hardly wait to go back!!!!
(5)
Diana M.
Love the chicken and waffles! I wish they would have that ALL DAY so I didn't have to wake up so early to wait in line. That's probbably the biggest downside is the line and waiting for the food but I will return again because it's my favorite dish!
(5)
Mike J.
Absolutely love this place. The food is awesome! I'd have given it 5 stars if it weren't for the usual wait, which is a conundrum. If there wasn't a wait it would probably be because the food wasn't as good so would still only get 4 stars, go figure... OK, just changed my rating to 5 stars, it's that good.
(5)
Elle K.
Meh. Really? Really. Was prepared for the 1.5 hour wait but once inside - meh. Stifling hot, cramped, chair rickety (for authentic feel?) but uncomfortable. First entree I ordered was no longer available. Same with the second. Same with the THIRD (it was only noon). So I figured I'd try their famous chicken. It wasn't bad but it wasn't, well, great. Meh. The praline bacon was soggy. My friend's Cajun Scramble was ok but not great - and a but runny. The grits were good! We downed our (yummy) sweet tea quickly and had to ask twice to get it refilled which we finally did towards the end of our meal. The meal was adequate. Nothing special. Maybe I was expecting too much after reading the glorious reviews? Possibly. The Screen Door slapped shut my desire to go back.
(3)
Karena G.
Make sure you carve out extra time, you'll be waiting to get a table for a little while. Use that wait to build up all your anticipation, because it won't let you down. Delicious fried chicken, amazing biscuits and gravy. I don't remember what kind of hash I ended up having ... probably because my mind was so overwhelmed with the wonderful melody of flavors in my mouth. Just go. Don't hesitate. Just go. :]
(5)
Nami S.
Dang, people in Portland know how to eat! A San Franciscan, I ate myself through Portland last weekend and got myself a food baby at Screen Door. The chicken and waffles were GINORMOUS -- largest portion of C&W I have ever seen (3 huge pieces of chicken, 1 waffle). I also ordered the veggie grits, was like an enormous sea of corn meal -- in a good way. In an amazing, awesome way. The side of praline bacon was a bit much, I think - I'll order the regular bacon next time.
(5)
Marty S.
This place can not be described. It must be experienced! The food is amazing! The huge portions of delicious comfort food will leave you needing a nap . The wait to be seated was over and hour and well worth it. You'll have a hard time deciding what to order because everything looks so good but trust me, it's all good!
(5)
Anna R.
We came here Friday night because we noticed there was no line and had to see what all the fuss was about. All in all it was an awesome experience. Our server was fast and friendly. My boo and I shared the fried chicken and pulled pork sandwich which was out of this world. We also had a order of the corn fritters and a couple beers to wash them down. The food came out fast even on a busy Friday night. We will be back for the much talked about weekend brunch.
(5)
Joo Hee K.
I had chicken on waffle. The portion was so big, I only finished half of it. You could definitely share that with one other person. Everything was good overall, but I regret ordering the sweet potato waffle, as they give you three choices. I should've just gotten the regular waffle. The sweet potato was not as good as I thought it would be
(4)
Kelley J.
We've been to the Screendoor many times throughout the years, and we've never had a reason to complain...we've always left raving to our friends about how amazing they are....well, last night we dined and it was amazing, as always, but we had one little issue and when I called today and talked to the manager, he was very concerned and heartfelt!! I could feel his love for this restaurant. He was so helpful and it made me feel like he would take of it, no questions asked!! Bravo to the spirit of this establishment!! It shows in the way you handle all situations that arise!! Thank you!!!!
(5)
Sarah S.
Great food, friendly service, reasonably priced. Unfortunately, prepare for a long wait because everyone loves it so much.
(5)
Manh C.
The food quantity is definitely a five star, while the flavor is only a three star. As for the extremely long wait...you can skip it to find a better breakfast and brunch place without waiting part of your day away. It is definitely a place you have to try at least once to fulfill that hype on your to try list.
(3)
J. O.
Easily my favorite restaurant in town! I've eaten my way through most of this city and always come back to Screen Door when I want a great breakfast or dinner. I always tell new-comers, 'it can be as healthy or unhealthy as you want it to be.' The Screen Door plate and seasonal menu options mean you can always create something new and different for whatever mood you're in. Of course, the fried chicken for breakfast or dinner is the best anywhere. Everything I've ever tried here has been amazing. Yes, there's probably going to be a wait on weekends but it's entirely worth it, just prepare yourself mentally ahead of time and go grab a coffee or drink at any of the other new places that have popped up around this neighborhood anchor. Always a cool atmosphere and friendly, unpretentious servers too.
(5)
Ruby O.
Praline Bacon Waffle. I'm not sure if I could say any more than that.
(4)
Stephen M.
The place is just the best.
(5)
Shayla B.
Everything I put in my mouth at this place was delish! Fried chicken, sweet potato waffle, lemon ricotta fritters, praline bacon, roasted potatoes. Let me use separate sentences to explain the fact that their fresh biscuits are to die for! Piping hot and incredibly fluffy, I can only hope to one day produce such a gem from my own kitchen. The soft butter left on the table melts effortlessly into these little pieces of heaven. The outside is firm and slightly crunchy, but oh so billowy on the inside. Add to this a full bar... I am already planning my return for dinner.
(5)
Steve S.
As legit as it comes. Got here 15 min early on Sunday PM and a line had already formed. Fried chicken was some of the best I've had. Sides were terrific. One of the best restaurants in Portland.
(5)
Chenruo Z.
Great place for brunch, but you'd better be prepared to wait in a long time for about 40 minutes.
(4)
Dean D.
Plain and simple, best BBQ we've ever had. I know - in Portland you ask??? Each plate had its own distinct and complex flavor. Don't miss this place when you're in Portland!
(5)
Josh P.
I grew up in Southeast Georgia. For 28 years I traveled amongst, visited and lived in various areas of the "deep south." Screen Door has very tasty food, but in no way does it taste authentically Southern. Not necessarily a bad thing, but perhaps worth mentioning. To me personally, it was a very "Portlandy" take on Southern food. Very enjoyable, but certainly not how these dishes taste in their natural environment. That said, it still tastes good. I'll go back.
(3)
Anna B.
chicken and waffles. period. be prepared to wait a long time.
(4)
Ashr B.
Great brunch on Sunday, although we had to wait 1hr to get a table ! Worth the wait time.
(4)
ro b.
Friday night in December. My party ordered fried oysters, pork chops, salad and pork and beans. Crowded house, but service was great. The pork and beans were fabulous, well actually everything was great. But I would definitely order the pork and beans the next time. I also ordered iced tea and perhaps first time on west coast I've had the question, "sweet or unsweet?" Fresh and refreshing.
(4)
Carolyn M.
Crazy good as usual. Chicken and Waffles are excellent...big portion with a little kick of heat in the breading. Bananas Foster French Toast is very yummy ordered with excellent Pork Sausage. Sub fruit for potatoes for no upcharge. Fresh assortment and large portion of fruit. Staff is solid, moving like a well choreographed ballet, albeit southern ballet! Go and enjoy the Screen Door... Well worth it.
(5)
Ang L.
Loved it! The only real downside is the amount of time you have to wait to be seated. I had the biscuits and gravy and my friend had the chicken and waffles. They give you enough to feed two people. Next time we decided we would get one order of chicken and waffles and split it by just ordering an extra waffle. Skip the cocktails though. Too expensive for what you get. If you're in town definitely head down there.
(4)
Vinnie B.
Fried chicken done right ! "when you see a line get in it" i was told years ago and it's true with this place. It's so worth it, the food is awesome and the prices are nice. Service is warm and they don't rush you. It's on the loud side but i'm ok with that. Enjoy.
(5)
Sophie L.
Is it sacrilegious to leave anything less than 4 stars for this place? After a 2 hour wait, I ordered the classic fried chicken and waffles. It was good as far as fried chicken goes but for the more petite girls like me, i could only finish HALF of ONE piece out of THREE. The chickens that have died for my meal must have been hulk-mutant chickens. Oh and there really wasn't any flavor to the dense white mean once you get past the skin. Bottom line: if you like deep fried, large portions this may be the place for you. Personally, I enjoy the smaller bites full of flavor. The wait, I'm sorry to say, was not worthwhile for me.
(3)
Kathryn K.
I had the bananas foster French toast. Oh boy were they good. Very sweet and the caramelized banyans really took it over the top. The breakfast po-boy was also tasty. Smoky flavor from the sausage and the tomato jam was just divine.
(4)
Janet L.
I have been enamored by the Screen Door reviews for several weeks... borderline obsessed. Would look at the menu and drool every few days. I came up with the idea to not do anything special for Christmas Day food and go here the day after for brunch instead. The first restaurant indulgence in 3 months (we've been eating at home more to save money and be healthy). I intentionally ate like a bird yesterday so I'd be starving this morning for this meal. we ordered: butternut squash & fontina frittata (seasonal menu) with potatoes biscuits and gravy with scrambled eggs praline bacon smoked bacon breakfast corndogs blood mary all of it amazing. and despite my planned gluttony, I could barely eat more than 10 bites before declaring fullness. Portions are HUGE. There must have been 5 eggs for my husband's scrambled eggs side. However I am now enjoying my leftover frittata as dinner and it reheated beautifully. Can't wait to sub another occasion's meal for Dinner at Screen Door. At 10:40am on the Saturday after Christmas, our wait for 2 people was about 15 minutes. Service was perfect.
(5)
Greg K.
Trying to avoid a review that reiterates what every other yelper has diligently reported seems difficult. But in this case it might be easy. If you are hungry and hungover on a weekend there may be better options, bear with me for a moment here. The lines are always long, the wait staff generally slow, and the food overpriced. The place is always overcrowded inside as well. Now I know this could be construed as a positive, being that big crowds usually indicate fabulous food, service, and atmosphere, or all three. Well, in this case, only one of those three elements is completely there. It's the food. The food is good, but not worth the slow service, the long wait, and overcrowded cramped room. Don't fool yourselves. This place isn't is as good as its cracked up to be. Although, if you get in here on a weekday, maybe it would be worth it- without the crowds and frustrated work staff (funny at times). With that being said, the menu does offer some interesting twists on northwestern brunch cuisine. Well done kitchen staff!
(3)
Bill W.
Best Meal in Portland! Pork Chop with Bourbon Sauce over Kale and Mashed Potatoes was out of this world!
(5)
Patty M.
Great food! Order the screen door plate. Great apricot salad and wonderful cornbread. We had to wait but it was worth it. Do not pass it up.
(5)
Jordan L.
OH MY FRIED CHICKEN.....seriously the chicken here is truly amazing. I'm sure you will find multiple positive reviews about their chicken. But it's not just there chicken, Those servers work harder than any other restaurant I have experienced in Portland. I have never seen servers multi task like that. SO - Yes, there will be a wait at the door and a line of people some times but that's because every one is trying to get a hold of that chicken. Paula Deen herself would wait in line. Once you are seated you will receive fantastic service and delicious food. Try the mac and cheese it's out of this world.
(5)
Straits V.
I haven't been a big fan of fried chicken, but Screen Door convinced me there is substance to this favorite Southern dish. The meat was tender and succulent, not overly greasy, and the batter was crunchy. I opted for mash potatoes and collard green as sides and they were delicious and paired really well with the meat. Washed them down with a pint of local brew did it for me.
(4)
Kyna E.
The food was wonderful! The fried chicken was out of bounds! The service was the best I have EVER had in Portland!! They are so........busy, but they NEVER treat you like a pain in their side. Our sweet little guy was on top of EVERYTHING, always smiled while working like a speeding bullet! When you have both, great food and fantastic service, five stars are not enough!!!!! We had a wonderful time, even with so many people there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(5)
Monica B.
Waited almost an hour but was definitely worth it! Service was super friendly despite the crazy amount of people. We shared the chicken and waffles and winter vegetable hash. One word, amazing. Coming from New York I was skeptical that this brunch could live up to the hype, but this was probably the best brunch I have ever had. Chicken had the perfect amount of crunch, was seasoned to perfection and most of all was so so so moist. The waffle was the perfect amount of sweet and was light and airy. Vegetable hash was the perfect accompaniment to the chicken and made us feel less guilty because after all we included vegetables on our meal! Love love love this spot!
(5)
Christina C.
Waffles and Fried Chicken - portion size HUGE, chicken tastes amazing! It's worth the wait even on a rainy day. The biscuits and gravy is also really good!
(4)
Sara W.
Brunch is supreme in my book, and Screen Door does brunch the right way! This was my first time here and I will definitely return. Let me take you through my amazing culinary experience here... First of all, the restaurant itself is a bit small, but there is also a little patio for more seating. The decor is older looking. It actually reminded me a lot of Besaws in the way. I loved it! Nice open dining room with a bar. Very inviting. Now onto my experience... Arrived at 8:40am on a Saturday (they open at 9) and there was already a line. My dining companions and I were slightly worried we wouldn't get inside on the first round, but to our excitement we did! We were seated at a lovely table inside. Our waiter was adorable and very patient. I ordered the Chicken and Waffles (obviously). BUT I ordered it with just one chicken breast instead of the usual three it comes with. I really appreciate the fact that they offer the smaller portion. Let me tell you... BEST FRIED CHICKEN I'VE EVER HAD! And I'm not usually a fried chicken person either. This was crunchy on the outside and perfectly moist on the inside. Usually fried chicken has a tendency to be dry, this was not! So good. The Sweet Potato waffle was yummy too! I tried eating both together, in one bite. It was fine, but I just preferred to eat them separately, as they were both delicious on their own. Food did take a long time to come out though. Our waiter apologized, saying a bunch of orders went in right before ours. That's fine, I don't fault the wait staff for kitchen issues. Screen Door definitely lived up to the hype in my book. I will gladly return, as I want to try other things on their menu.
(5)
Annie C.
ordered some chicken wings to go....and I got undercooked, over salted poorly dredged chicken. blegh! *see picture for evidence* on the other hand, the staff was very friendly and the place is beautiful with a lively atmosphere.
(1)
Darryl S.
I'm a fan. But this is a classic example of eating breakfast in Portland: Lines everywhere. To each brunch at this place you have to plan the night before, just like you'd plan your strategy for getting decent Peter Cetera tickets! It's absurd. When we pulled up to this place, I was convinced that some superstar athlete was putting on some type of weightlifting exhibition on the sidewalk or something of that spectacle-like nature. Was J.K. Rowling signing copies of her new book? Did something obsene happen? The cops? Who knows? But it's a big-ass line. That's not the restaurant's fault at all, it's their cooks! The food is very solid though, kinda like that Alexander O'Neal concert in 1986 at The Omni in Atlanta.
(4)
Michael K.
Two words.... Praline.... Bacon.... If bacon is the candy bar of meats, this stuff is truly the candy bar of bacon... I'm not sure what magic they perform back there, but the praline bacon is the greatest thing I have eaten in a very long time... Went there for Brunch with some friends and the food was amazing. Read the 60,000 other reviews for the quality of the food, and it was as good or better. What I loved was the service. Our server was funny and attentive. We lingered much longer than we should have visible line outside and never felt rushed. I love this place!!
(5)
Woo K.
Screen door is one of those places that gets A LOT of hype, and with hype USUALLY comes disappointments. Not in this case. I went in on Christmas Eve morning for brunch and luckily seemed to have missed the rush. It was still busy, but there was no hour wait as I had expected. I got super antsy while we were waiting for our chicken and waffles, as well as the alabama scramble. Everything was to die for, but the chicken and waffles is a MUST HAVE. Don't forget the PRALINE BACON either. I'm capitalizing my words because it is that good. I hope you sense my enthusiasm from miles away.
(5)
Dorothy P.
Went back to Screen Door for breakfast. We are early birds so waiting til 9 to eat is hell for us...but wait in line we did. Sometimes a restaurant is just worth it. My husband has been craving chicken and waffles for like, ever, so we had to go here to at least shut him up for awhile. Ok this chicken and waffle thing, I was skeptical. But we watched other peoples orders go by. Holy crap, that thing was huge! A big sweet potato waffle...belgian style...with 3 gi-normous pieces of fried boneless chicken breasts piled atop with a steak knife jabbed in to hold it all together. This was my hubby's order, because, as I said, I was a skeptic. But after trying the strange combo, I'm sold! Next time we'll be splitting this huge thing. Not to diminish what I ordered, which was bananas foster french toast. Very good, very decadent. All about dessert for breakfast...I did add a side of bacon just to get some protein in. Breakfast and dinner here is as down home as it gets in Portland OR. Great stuff!
(5)
Ricci L.
me and 4 of my favorite boys went to dinner saturday night around 8. the wait wasn't unbearable... i've been one time and it was for brunch. that was awesome as well.. but the highlight of dinner was the fried chicken. it was my bf's first time and he was speechless. SPEECHLESS! and he's never speechless. he liked the chicken so much, he ate my leftovers.. after he ate his brisket. actually, everyone at the table had some of my chicken, and everyone liked it. yum! can't wait to go back. and it's only a 5 min drive from my house! ps... the macaroni and cheese side is ginormous. it's another meal in itself.
(5)
Greg H.
Great food an for once not just a hyped restaurant. And yeah, the chicken are organic ;)
(5)
Feuy S.
The first time my friends brunched at the Screen Door, they left their apartments at 730am on a Sunday in order to arrive at the restaurant by 8am (they open at 9am). Did I want to get up at the butt crack of dawn and wait an hour in the cold and wet Oregon weather for brunch? Uhhh, no thank you. But after hearing their rave reviews about the Screen Door, I immediately regret not going. =( Fast-forward a few months and hallelujah, I was finally able to try the Screen Door this past weekend. We arrived at 1015am and it took over an hour an over to seat our party of 8. And the food was definitely worth it. It really was all that and a bag of chips. I ordered the Fried Chicken and Waffles and it was a mountain of artery clogging goodness. Their bloody mary was a glass of spicy goodness. My entire party ordered something different so we were able to try a variety of dishes. Every dish was spectacular, I especially loved the fried oysters they put in a hash and as part of an eggs benedict. Just a warning: the portion size is HUGE!! Next time I go, I will split with someone because right now, I have 2/3 of my Fried Chicken and Waffles meal in the fridge that will see the dumpster tomorrow.
(4)
Molly H.
Yes, the fried chicken is that good. I've only been for brunch, but it's amazing. Go hungry and don't make dinner plans. We got there 1/2 hr. before close and waited only 10 minutes. I would definitely go back for dinner based on brunch. The pickled okra in the bloody marys is great.
(5)
Kelsey P.
The hipsters are right!!! This place will not disappoint. Even for me, a gluten free-er, I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. Worth the hour wait. Pecan bacon is recommended.
(5)
Laurie S.
Chicken was Amazing.. Service great, evening going above and beyond to accommodate one of us who has a food allergy, recommending solutions and alternatives was a great bonus to our evening. The food was amazing.. fried chicken.. perfect. The steak was a bit over seasoned, for those who really like steak to shine on its own. We also got the appetizer of pork and cheese, it was one of the specials and worth every penny, I think we were licking the plate before it was taken away. The wait was 45 at 6:30 on a Friday evening, so not bad for prime seating. Service great with never a lag in attendance. Definitely a good choice for any outing. As with most small Portland restaurants, its loud but I don't know how to get away from that any more so I just learn to deal with it.
(4)
Devon S.
One of the best. Screen Door plate is the way for newcomers to try a bunch of awesome stuff. The brunch is rad but who wants to wait an hour for some chicken...not me. If I were a rich man I'd eat at Screen Door every night and live a short, amazing life.
(5)
Marissa H.
Go here for dinner. The brunch line is way too long.
(4)
Monte R.
It's true about the Screen Door. This is some of the best fried chicken you'll ever eat. We ate here last week on vacation in Portland, place was great, loved the experience. Sides were great, too. Large portions. Reasonable prices. This is a winner!
(4)
Marie B.
Wonderful food and a fun place to take our of towners!! Slow, slow service and get there early (with your whole group or they won't seat you)! The food is completely worth the wait!
(5)
Raynaldo M.
Three things to mention. 1. Don't show up hungry. Long wait list at least an hour long. 2. Very, very ,very good food. 3. Huge portions. I suggest sharing. Breakfast food doesn't travel or reheat well.
(5)
J P.
Amazing food, long wait (to be expected). I won't beat a dead horse by droning on about how good the food is because there are 800 other reviews that say the same thing. I will say that I ordered the fried chicken, which comes with two large pieces of chicken (breasts?). They decided the second piece was on the small side so they gave me a third one for good measure (score!). The fried chicken is so crispy you can take home your leftovers, put them in the fridge for a day and a 1/2, and it's STILL crispy. MMMMMM.
(5)
Halley L.
The drinks were great me n my friend had the Scarlet. I ordered the screen door plate. I chose a side from the organics menu and it really had no flavor.. The corn bread wasn't very good it, was way too dry and not sweet. I also had thin sliced fried pork it was ok.. Fried cat fish was ok too I loved the fried oysters ! Me n my friend were very surprised at the price of our bill it was a lil high!!
(3)
Lucia C.
Arrived at 11 am on a sunday, and there was a 1.5 hr wait. Normally I would leave, but i decided to tough it out after hearing so much about their chicken& waffles. (mmhmmm chicken&waffles) And luckily, the wait went by quick- i ended up buying a dress from Moxie, a boutique across the street, and snacking on a homemade oreo from Heart, a coffee shop, down the block. &1.5 hrs later, like the server said, I was promptly seated. My group ordered the chicken& waffles, the cajun scramble, the biscuits with a vegetarian gravy & ONE buttermilk pancake to top it off. group consensus: we ordered wayyy too food for 4 people. My favorite was the cajun scramble- it was like an scramble omelet with bell peppers, sausage, mushrooms with a side of really good potatoes. The much-raved-about chicken&waffles was alright. I've had better at Roscoe's chicken&waffles in LA (word on the street is they put crack in their waffles because it's sooo good; i think i agree). The chicken&waffles were bland compared to Roscoe's but I will commend them on their presentation. The biscuits with gravy was above-par. It was fascinating that the gravy was vegetarian and still so creamy &rich. The biscuits weren't so amazing though- not the soft&fluffy kind i adore. So -1 for the wait. -1 for poor biscuits& average chicken&waffles. I'm going to explore portland's other brunch options next time ;]. p.s they take reservations for parties of 6 or more! so bring a lot of people&make a reservation if you want to avoid the wait.
(3)
Stefanie D.
This was a chance discovery by a friend of mine who overheard someone talking about chicken and waffles (Thanks, Jillie-Mack)!! I went with my foodie group, some of whom happened to be with my husband and I in Vegas when we had chicken and waffles for the first time (Bouchon at the Venetian Hotel)...Sorry Thomas Keller, but The Screen Door has the best Friend Chicken and Waffles EVER!!! Can you say OH MY GOD?! Well the 8 of us at brunch this morning did - several times. I will give you a run down of what was ordered and a quick review of each item: -Fried Chicken and Sweet Potato Waffle: If Snoop Dog lived in Portland, this is what he would eat EVERYDAY!! -Bananas Foster French Toast: Sugar Crack on a plate with Bourbon Syrup! -Bacon and Fontina cheese Frittata with potatos: Sooooo good and the potato's were not greasy, AT ALL!! Just de-licious. -Eggs Benedict (one order with potatos - one order with grits): Perfection on a plate - I think the hollandaise sauce can be used as a condiment on any breakfast item. -Praline bacon: FOOD PORN -Breakfast Corn Dogs: Yes, read it again - I said it - BREAKFAST CORN DOGS with some kind of amazing sweet/savory/slightly spicy dipping sauce that made my food guru friend stop talking. If you need more convincing, read Paul W's review - otherwise get yourself to The Screen Door and wait if you have to, rain or shine, for total glorious food perfection!!! And, yes, our service was terrific!!
(5)
Eric B.
I'm usually not one wait in ridiculously long lines to eat in restaurants,but given the excellent food and service me and my friend had here, i will gladly do it! We started out with sticky buns that were buttery and delish, and moved on to the main feast: she had the cajun scramble, w/andouille sausage, green peppers, onion and cheddar cheese, i had the Mexican scramble w/chorizo, fried tortillas, cheese, onion and salsa with home fries and wheat toast. Money!! They nailed both dishes, as evidenced by us puttin' a serious dent on the plate. Eggs were not overcooked, tortillas weren't grease-laden, scramble was well seasoned with cilantro and salsa, very well executed. A few tips whilst patronising this establishment: -If you're comming for brunch, be prepared to wait. It's a small place and can only seat so many people. -For us waitstaff was friendly and attentive, which I found amazing, given the huge amounf of people that moves thru the venue. This may not be fast enough for y'all, but I'd try to cut 'em some slack, cuz it ain't for a lack of effort on their part -ITS VERY LOUD HERE! So if you're expecting to have an intimate conversation, fuggetaboutit! Finally, our bill came to 35 bucks, which was significantly lower than other brunch places I have been to. Come here with a healthy appetite, cuz they will satisfy it!
(5)
brian c.
Southern Cooking at its finest. Lets start with the atmosphere. If this place was empty it would feel cold and boring. But its never empty. I feel that the type of people that fill this great place makes it warm and inviting. The food is outstanding! Bananas fosters french toast is unreal. Every tasty bite that I take, makes me feel like I'm eating dessert by a wood burning fireplace. Also the chicken and biscuit with gravy was excellent!! The breading on the chicken has a great taste with just a hint of spice. Also there is a great ratio of chicken to breading. Our waitress was a delight, she had a great personality. The wait on weekends can be very long, but its worth it.
(5)
Rainey E.
loved the food, there was a wait but it was not bad, we had a large group and the waiter was very accomodating
(5)
Bryan H.
First time here and it was incredible. Best fried chicken. Best fried green tomatoes with pork belly (appetizer special). But what really sets this place apart is the staff. Easily the most friendly and attentive staff I have had serve me in recent memory. We will be back and often. The wait was worth it but it might be time for a second location.
(5)
Cassandra D.
Great food, but not worth the nearly two hour wait for brunch that my friend and I experienced. Like crazy Portlanders, we were willing to wait an hour but when we started nearing the two hour mark we were pissed. And famished. Please Portland restaurants start taking reservations.
(3)
John K.
The BEST fried chicken I ever had. It is super moist in the inside and super crispy on the outside. When you bite into it, you go through the CRUNCH and then the juice will be bursting and dripping everywhere. Most go place when visiting Portland. The only thing that sucks is that everybody loves it too, so super long lines.
(5)
Michael C.
A lot of coworkers and friends suggested this place to my wife and I. We had heard the wait was typically really long, so we aimed to go after dinner hours and didn't have a hard time. I wouldn't say southern food is my favorite, but I LOVED Screen Door. I didn't know fried chicken could be SO GOOD. Then the mac and cheese was UNBELIEVABLE. We were pretty hungry and the portions were giant so it was a great place to eat dinner. All around great experience. Get the fried chicken and mac and cheese.
(5)
Rex N.
i've only ever eaten at Screen Door on the weekends, for breakfast, but if nighttime was only HALF as good as the daytime, i'd still be floored by how awesome these guys are. like many reviewers say, it is WELL WORTH THE WAIT. if you intend to have breakfast/brunch here on the weekends, it is IMPERATIVE that you are on premises 10-15 minutes before they OPEN and get in that first seating; otherwise, you will wait well over an hour-sometimes two- before you get to a table top, number one favorite breakfast item?? fried chicken and waffle. hells yes. that's a lovely sweet potato waffle and three gi-freakin'-normousm, spicy, breaded, fried chicken breasts stacked in a complicated tower, impaled with a steak knife and dusted with powdered sugar. the biscuits and gravy are a close second. biscuits and gravy is a breakfast standard, a go-to dish for me. biscuits and gravy reminds me of home and better times and is a dish so easy to make, is also a dish that is very easy to ruin. ordering B&G at any restaurant is a good way to gauge what the rest of the outfit will be like. these are the best biscuits and gravy i've ever had. no lie. they are quickbread behemoths slathered in thick, fatty gravy served with eggs and potatoes. i bet when people die from heart attacks, many are smiling.
(5)
D. N.
My hubby was very sweet last week and brought home take-out from this great neighborhood restaurant. We were craving ribs and then we expanded our search to Cajun and found Screen Door on Yelp. No ribs on menu but the brisket satisfied us. So did the jambalaya, the shrimp, fried oysters, salad with bleu cheese, potato salad, sweet potato fries and hush puppies! Yumm. We will be frequenting this business often.
(5)
Annie H.
As if this place needs another raging review, but I love this place. When you eat here you get all your calories for the day in one meal. Always a long wait no matter when you get there for breakfast, but well worth it. Huge portions and the food always tastes amazing!!! One of my favorite breakfast places in Portland!
(5)
Steve S.
Fried oyster benedict....rebenedictulous!
(5)
Jayson L.
My favorite breakfast in town: Farmer's grits...topped with country ham steak, a couple of eggs over easy and melty cheese. Sold! Also...my beloved "Maker's and Ginger" with proper grated ginger and a splash of soda. One star ding quite simply because of the wait...I guess I'll just have to get my fat ass up earlier so that I can get there before the line starts so that I can give them the fifth star that you and I both know they deserve...
(4)
Lori K.
My hubby and I came here straight from the airport on our recent trip to Portland, and were looking forward to a delicious and filling meal to satisfy our hunger. Well, it was Saturday around lunchtime (in other words, we waited, and waited... and waited). After an hour, we were finally seated, and I quickly put in my order for their famous fried chicken and sweet potato waffle. My hubby said it was the best fried chicken he's ever had. And that's coming from a non-foodie, "food is food" type of guy. The chicken is perfectly crispy with just the right amount of batter, and a pretty good kick to it. The chicken was also super moist. Oh, and I just have to mention that the leftover chicen we brought back was still pretty darn crispy the next day. And unless you're sharing, you will most likely be taking some home. You get 3 ginormous pieces of chicken piled high on the waffle. The sweet potato waffle was very tasty. The sweet potato added a nice savory component that went well with the chicken. I did wish the waffle was a little crispier though... I guess after supporting all that chicken, something's gotta give? My hubby got the cajun scramble with a biscuit. The scramble was pretty good and the potatoes were very flavorful. The biscuit was just eeh. The prices were very reasonable for the amount and quality of food you get. Service is quick and friendly. If you're up for a long wait, the Screen Door is an excellent brunch spot.
(4)
Elisa F.
Oh yes. If you come on a weekend for brunch, bring a snack and book. You will be waiting, possibly upwards of an hour. But once the wait is over? Best Chicken and Waffles in Portland. This meal can easily feed me for three breakfasts total. The sweet potato waffle is heavenly and light, with just enough egg to make it a sturdy foil to the chicken. And there is a ton of chicken to contend with. If you aren't coming for that, their biscuits are top notch. Born in Texas, I'm a bit of a biscuit snob, but these guys come out with just enough fluff and butter flavor to make me a happy lady. One of the unsung stars of this menu is the pimento cheese. Yes, it's cold cheese and pepper dip, but this is a fairly traditional southern staple smeared on crackers or as a sandwich filling. Screen Door gives you crackers and celery, but my personal preference is topping one of their biscuits. If you're going to eat like a southerner, at least drink like one too. As much as I love their Bloody Mary, the Ramos Fizz on their menu is my go-to. A little sweet and very refreshing, it's a great pairing for the spiced and slightly spicy fried chicken.
(4)
Wes M.
This is one of our favorite restaurants in Portland. Fried Chicken, Fried Oyster Benedict and their Corn Beef and Hash are my favorite dishes. Top notch!
(5)
Mara M.
Such a long long for average food. Try Country Cat!
(2)
Gina C.
Worth the wait. Wonderful menu with so many appetizing options. Love the fried oysters, praline bacon, spicy bloody mary, and chicken & waffles. Some notes for the chefs, if you read this thing: "Garden" grits (while yummy) could have had more veggies and less cheese. Fried oysters would have been yummier with your tomato jam than traditional tartar sauce. Great service and a very beautiful restaurant. Love the music and vibe.
I have had this restaurant bookmarked for a really long time...For the life of me, I can't understand why it has taken me this long to try Screen Door...Well, that's not true, I do know why I haven't been there in the last 2 years - because I have a 4 & 6 year old who I am pretty certain would NOT enjoy (and being with them - neither would I!!!) the long wait. Today was my mother's birthday. THIS IS HOW WE CELEBRATED her 73rd year old life - eating food that you could die on and know that it was THE BEST meal you have ever had!!! And not having 2 restless & demanding children with us!!! We got to the restaurant early (1 hour before opening) and there were already 18 people in front of us at 4:35 PM. We were seated at 5:35PM and there were 70+ people behind us!!! By the time we had eaten and were leaving, there were still 30+ people waiting to be seated. WE ordered the pork belly appetizer: Slow roasted pork belly with a candied rhubarb glaze topped with frisee, asparagus and torn herbs. The flavors were so delicious and completely complimented each other! The pork was SO tender, you could cut it with your fork and it melted in your mouth!!! PORK BELLY is THE PORN STAR of pork products... It makes you feel giddy, dirty and guilty all at the same time!!! And yet, you just can't help yourself!!!???!!! My mom had the fried chicken, mashed potatoes and collard greens. This was the best fried chicken - EVER! Completely deboned, pounded and fried to crispy perfection. I consumed most of the collard greens and I must saw - YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMM! I ordered the beef brisket platter. It came with BBQ sauce, Cole slaw and baked beans. I was only able to eat 1 (out of 4) slabs of brisket...The Cole slaw was super creamy and delicious and the beans were sweet & spicy good!!! My mom & I both ordered dessert: 1 Creole Pecan Pie and 1 Lemon Layer Cake with homemade buttermilk ice cream. BOTH WERE OUTSTANDING in portion size, flavor and presentation!!! I have read previous reviews of persons saying the portions sizes were too small...SERIOUSLY?? You must either have had too much to drink - or- you are person who consumes too much on a regular basis!!!???!!! I saw many plates arrive at different tables - all the portions were massive and most people shared plates or had plenty of left-overs!!! I was the latter...and my husband thanked me!!! The service was stellar! The food was the best southern food I have had!!! The ambiance was great!!! The only complaint I have is they don't provide you with a wheel barrel to haul you out after your meal!!! 2 hours later - I am still super stuffed... I can't wait for my next visit to Screen Door...I am hoping it will be for brunch!!!
(5)
Larry B.
Everything here is unbelievable. I don't know how they do it. Another awesome experience, this time with the beef brisket. Best barbecue brisket I ever did eat.
(5)
Nadia P.
If I knew how to play the fiddle, I'd have been atop the table come end meal. Lawd willin' and the creeks don't rise - I'll be back. Repeatedly.
(5)
Jon C.
Without question one of the best restaurants I've eaten at in Portland. They redefined what I consider to be a "perfect" waffle. Everything else (hushpuppies, chicken and waffle, biscuits and gravy, shrimp and grits) was amazing as well.
(5)
Gary L.
CHICKEN AND WAFFLES WAS AMAZING!!!! I'm not a fan of waiting in line for food but this place was well worth it... Three juicy pieces of fried chicken over a delicious waffle... JUST AWESOME.. highly recommend
(5)
stacey k.
The fried chicken is the shit. You cant go here and not have it. And while you are at it have a bloody mary. This place serves great food at great prices. the staff is friendly and accomodating. YOu may have to wait but it is worth it.. fried oysters? c'mon
(5)
Paul P.
That fried chicken with waffle was sensational. The only gripe I had was that they could use less salt on chicken. Also the waiting area could be bigger. Overall totally worth waiting for 45 minutes.
(4)
Peter C.
Haven't been here in awhile, definitely have to get back. Fried Chicken. Yum.
(5)
Ian H.
Really good food here. I'm just not a fan of waiting in long lines unless I know the food is going to blow me away. With that being said I have been here a few times and I will definitely come back, but I just have to have the time and be in the mood to wait. Breakfast is solid. Had some of the best Cajun jambalaya style Benedict ever. Big portions and decent prices. Bring a big appetite because you won't leave hungry.
(4)
Orange M.
I can understand why this place is so popular. The Chicken n' Waffles was really good but I don't know if it's worth waiting in line for 1 hour. I like that they have huge portion. My dish came in three big pieces of chicken breast on top of a big piece of waffle. I was able to finish two and a half pieces of the chicken. Overall, I like this place but I probably wouldn't come back again due to the long wait.
(3)
Lindsey K.
I've been here a few times and love their dinner menu. The weekend brunch wasn't as good. The potatoes were really hard and seemed like they died under a heat lamp. We asked for new ones and received more of the same. Disappointing. I would recommend dinner though! Worth the wait for sure.
(4)
Mark L.
Went here with a bunch of friends. It's busy. Restaurant opened at 5:30 and there was already a line to get in. Thankfully there's something called a "reservation." Ordered the Screen Door Plate, which lets you pick three sides. Mac n Cheese was recommended and it came out hot and creamy with a crisp cheese topping. Also had the jambalaya, which was solid. Last but not least was the catfish. Big portion, nice and crispy, and not muddy tasting at all. Also tried a bit of brisket, which was also solid. Gumbo was good too. Oh yeah, and this place is cheap! At least compared to the Bay Area. I could easily have ordered and entree and drink for under $20, including gratuity.
(4)
Albree M.
Cool place. Good food, though my friends from Louisiana got them beat by a landslide! I'd definitely give them another shot but they're not a Must Visit place for me when I come to Portland. I had the combo plate, jambalaya, catfish & cauliflower hash. It came with a side of corn bread but it was dry and not near the top of my best cornbread list. Good service, good food, I hate street parking but it seems that's all Portland has to offer so I can't fault them for that.
(4)
Chris B.
They have the most amazing brunch menu, and it's worth the wait. I had chicken and waffles that blew me away. Definitely one of the reasons to go! If you're looking for a sweet place to eat dinner, it's really good Southern cooking. Fried chicken, collard greens, mashed potatoes, catfish, etc.
(4)
Eric R.
Very unique food but everything is excellent. Visiting from out of town this is a must do. There is a long wait (sometimes an hour) usually but it is well worth the wait. If you are a couple dining there is a place to sit at the bar sometimes; the 2 times I've been 10 minutes and we're sitting at the bar.
(5)
Conni K.
Service was impeccable and food was absolutely superb! Went on a Tuesday evening in a party of 7 and they were very accommodating.
(5)
Christina N.
This place, by far, has the BEST breakfast meals I've ever eaten!!! I'm from Vancouver BC, and I would definitely drive down to Portland OR, just to visit this restaurant again!! I love the Fried Chicken + Waffles!! The Fried Chicken is done perfectly, and the waffles has a hint of cinnamon / tangy taste to it. There might be a bit of a wait / line up, but it's all worth it!!
(5)
Kaleb F.
It was great food, but worth all the fuss? I'm not too sure about that.
(4)
Stephanie S.
Got there 20 minutes before opening on a Saturday morning and still waited for an hour to get a table. It was pretty cold, but luckily there was a coffee shop next door that warmed us up for the wait. Good thing I wasn't hangry. Order the Blackened Tofu Scramble with grits 'n' wheat toast (believe it was Dave's bread). I'm not a huge fan of smoked foods so it was my mistake ordering the blackened tofu. I still enjoyed it, just left most of the tofu bits out. The grits were bland, just the way I like 'em! Our table shared the Chicken and Waffles. Three large slabs of deep fried chicken on top of a sweet potato waffle. Can't really go wrong there. I would definitely go back, but maybe during a time it's not so busy.
(4)
Peter S.
Come here and wait. Put your name on the list and stand out in the cold. Well, if it's October - May. Look around and see all the beards, plaid shirts, orange beanies, tight pants, fancy boots, tattoos and sleeves, dark-rimmed glasses, army green coat with a bunch of pockets and zippers; soak it all in for the next 45 minutes. When you finally get inside, order the chicken and waffles. It's effin' delicious. Three honkin' slabs of crispy yet tender fried chicken skewered with a steak knife on top of a thick, delicious, golden waffle. Accompanied by a low-viscosity syrup and a sprinkling of powdered sugar, and you're one step closer to heaven; both in taste and a failed heart. Had ourselves the blackened tofu and cajun scrambles, both good but pales in comparison to the chicken 'n waffles. Grits were mighty delicious. The only thing that was a disappointment were the potatoes. Blek. You ever chew on an old marshmallow? It's like that but with an avalanche of spices. Pass. Nonetheless, if you have all the time in the world and you're fixin' for some good eats, this is the place. May I also note that service was also top notch but, is it just me, or are waiters/servers in Portland really touchy? Got a gentle back rub at Pix Patisserie and my lady got a tender shoulder graze here. I'll be looking forward to my hug next time I come, Portland.
(5)
Mat M.
I went back for dinner after having brunch at Screen Door. The dinner was equally amazing and the service was on point. Wow, this place is pretty much the best southern style restaurant I've been to... in and out of Georgia. I will be returning on my next trip to Portland. Well done to a great well oiled team of people making it happen. It's no easy, but you've stood up to the challenge.
(5)
Annie C.
HANDS DOWN, the BEST fried chicken I've ever had. Get there maybe half and hour to an hour early so you'll get seated once they open. It's definitely worth the wait! The service is great, their staff definitely is knowledgeable as well! I absolutely love everything about this place and would recommend it to anyone and everyone!!!! Perhaps the only downside is that I found myself gulping down tons of water since I personally wasn't used to how salty some dishes were. But I will definitely be coming back here and bringing new people as well! Thanks for a great night!
(5)
Katherine C.
the besttt fried chicken! i've tried the fried chicken both for dinner (served with greens) and for brunch (served with waffle) and they both have been amazing, generous portions, and so affordable! a MUST TRY for both locals (although i cant imagine any local that has NOT tried it yet) and visitors!
(5)
Michael S.
Well, kiss my grits, lick my chicken, and open the Screen Door ... cause we have a winner-winner-chicken-dinner nominee for G.O.A.T. ... aka Greatest Of All Time ... aka Yummiest of all-time. A plate of Crispy Fried Buttermilk-battered Chicken is like the Tupac of Southern Food in Portland ... Yelp Lifeeee yea yeaaaaa... Sometimes the best things in life are free. Sometimes they're fried and sometimes they're fried and cost $15.75 plus about 90 minutes of your life thanks to the horde trying to get in the Screen Door. Knock knock. Who's there? Chicken. Chicken who? I'm just chicken to see if our table is ready ... To completely fry our minds, Olivia Z. and me also split an appetizer of Fried Cauliflower, another of Fried Okra, and a Screen Door Plate with 3 Sides for $14.75 with Low Country Grits, Mac & Cheese, and Fried Catfish ($1 extra). Our diet's Coup de Grace, was a magical slice of Ban-offee Pie ($5.75) with layers of Caramel and Bananas in a Shortbread and Pecan Crust topped with Whipped Cream. Skip some of the fried appetizers and save room for your own little slice of heaven that tastes even better than it sounds. Ok, so, what have we learned so far. That's right. Get the Fried Chicken ... with a side of Mashed Potatoes & Gravy and bowl of Collared Greens. Mix in some other fried foods, plus Mac 'n Cheese, Grits, and a slice of Ban-offee Pie ... and you'll taste why Screen Door has nearly 2500 reviews, 4.5 stars, and ranks near the top of the list for G.O.A.T.
(5)
Josh S.
Worth the 2 hour wait!! Came with some Friends who live in Portland and waited 2 hours on a Sunday at Opening.. Went to The Standard Bar around the corner.. Fun and Friendly!! Had the Brisket!!! Oh My Gawd!! These people need an award!! 5 STAR all the way! Glad I am not in Portland on a Regular basis,, I would be Fat and Broke!!! Kudos for the almost Gluten Free Gravy!!
(5)
Emily K.
I'm not sure how anyone can go to Screen Door and not give it 5 stars. Maybe because they waited a really long time in line? Frankly, that's because the food and the service is some of the best in the city... not just for brunch, but for dinner. And not just for meat eaters, but for vegetarians too. I've had chicken, and waffles, and biscuits, and collard greens... I'm actually getting really hungry just thinking about it... are they still open?...
(5)
Mysterious K.
Sunday morning I came to eat here, but I was unaware that they only served brunch at that time so I left and came back today. I waited in line for about half an hour. service was very prompt. Unfortunately the food just was not that great. Everyone talked so much about how delicious it was that I did not mind spending the gas to drive here twice from Vancouver. It was definitely not worth it! The chicken was overly seasoned and kind of hard (it literally scratched the roof of my mouth). The greens were overcooked and bland...very minimum flavor. The mac and cheese was okay, but not enough for me to go back for. The best thing I had here was the gravy that came on the side of my chicken. I will not be hurrying back here! I'm giving two stars because the service was awesome!
(2)
Mala H.
The food was amazing. As far as I know, they don't take reservations. We got there right at opening and waited in the long line. However, we got in right away because there was room at the bar. I had the bbq brisket. It was heaven. I wasn't even interested in the bacon potato salad or green beans on the side, the beef was so good. The bartenders that served us were nice. My friends had vegetarian combo plates and were happy. Despite being full, we split a dessert (I don't remember which one), but it was awesome. All the portion sizes were pretty large. Best food I've had in a long time.
(5)
Rachel C.
Screen Door is amaze-balls. The only downside is there is always a really long wait so if you are hungry or getting there-- this isn't the place to try. Everyone will be so hangry by the time you are seated it'll get crunchy fast. But, one of my favorites in the whole town and a must-visit for out-of-towners.
(5)
Amy E.
We decided to try Screen Door around 8:15 PM on a Saturday night for a more fun anniversary dinner. The wait was about 50 minutes, which was no problem at all since we were expecting a wait ad it was a nice night out. Once seated, we decided to try an app and two entrees. For our app, we chose the pimento cheese which was served with these thin, crispy, sesame-covered "crackers" (for lack of a better term). Delicious. My husband ordered the plate where he got to pick three sides and he enjoyed that. I had to try the southern fried chicken that I had heard so much about. We are both from the south, born and raised in Texas and have never lived elsewhere, and I can confidently say this was the BEST southern fried chicken I have ever had, hands down. Perfectly peppery, moist, cooked perfectly, and served with a delicious gravy, this was it. Wow. Even the collard greens (which I usually hate) were fantastic, and the mashed potatoes were the perfect compliment to it all. Waitress and hostess were both very friendly and efficient despite having so many people around. So glad we decided to check this place out - definitely worth the wait!
(5)
Grace C.
Completely overrated. Good thing we only waited 30 minutes. We ordered the fried chicken/waffles and the praline bacon waffle. I took a bite of the chicken and it was over seasoned. Gross. There was so much pepper and salt it was hard to eat. I had to order their mushroom gravy (now that was delish) to make it edible. The chicken wasn't even juicy but it was cooked thoroughly. Over seasoning aside, I've definitely have had better fried chicken (there's is just a fancy country fried chicken so don't know what the fuss is all about) from local diners. The waffles were just OK. The praline bacon was awesome though and I would go back for that. Other than, I think Roscoe's still has better chicken and waffles so if you are ever in LA go there so you know how that dish should really taste like (or go to the south for a authentic experience). I say skip the stupid line and make your own.
(3)
Michael K.
Awesome!!!! The hour wait is worth it!!! Must try
(5)
Gary Y.
I had the best chicken and waffles here. The chicken was so tender and properly seasoned that I thought I was eating at some fancy pants restaurant. Mad props for the super friendly staff even though the place is busier than a New York subway station during rush hour. It's totally worth the wait. You can just put down your name and go walk around the neighborhood to kill time. There are plenty to see along Burnside Ave. Will come again next time I'm in Portland.
(5)
Lisa E.
It's ok. Not really worth the long wait.
(3)
Penelope J.
I was visiting Portland for a conference. After speaking with a local, and getting a glowing recommendation about Screen Door and the southern food, I made sure this was one of the restaurants I would visit. I knew I wouldn't be able to sit for dinner, so I ordered take-out. Simply HORRIBLE. I ordered oysters, fried chicken wings, coleslaw and mashed potatoes. The oysters were not properly cooked and were extremely wet and raw smelling when I bit into them. That went into the garbage. The chicken wings were white. Ummmm...WTF WHITE? They were not properly cooked. That went into the garbage. The cornbread was crumbly, dry, and completely tasteless. That went into the garbage. The mashed potatoes and coleslaw...Absolutely delicious. Best I have eaten in a while, and that is why I did not give Screen Door zero star. I didn't walk 7 blocks, take a bus and a train to eat mashed potatoes and coleslaw. Never again.
(1)
Magen M.
Did not live up to the hype. I tried to go here on two separate occasions for dinner. The first time it was an hour wait (on a Wednesday?!) & I was way too hungry to wait. The second time, I sucked it up & waited the half hour because I just had to try this fried chicken. The fried chicken was amazing, don't get me wrong! I also enjoyed the overall romantic, relaxed atmosphere. However, everything else was just okay - the mashed potatoes, my friend's sandwich, the service. The mac & cheese was actually in-eatable, the flavor was disgusting. Overall, it didn't live up to my expectations and there is much better southern food in the Portland area.
(3)
Julia C.
Amazing brunch! Thankfully we got lucky and didn't have to wait that long even though there was quite a line. Hope to come back for dinner someday!
(4)
Isabel V.
When I first came to eat at the screen door for dinner, I had to wait 1 hour just to get a table. It was very crowded the first time I went to the Screen Door. The place was dark inside and kind of cramped in my opinion, but My friends and I got a great table outside where it wasn't so loud. Since I wasn't that hungry that night I ordered the crispy fried buttermilk chicken tenders. It came with a great dipping sauce with several pieces of chicken. I was very pleased with my dish, it was the perfect amount of food. I personally LOVED the chicken! (best chicken I have ever had in my life). I am giving this restaurant 4 stars because of the wait, but otherwise they have the BEST food.
(4)
Tammy C.
Decided to drop by The Screen Door for brunch on a Sunday. I ordered the chicken and waffles and it was delicious! I don't think that it was the best fried chicken I've ever had but it was pretty good, especially because of it's unique seasoning with hints of southern flavors. And yes, it was juicy. The serving is very large too. I had a lot leftover and packed it to go for a second meal. I also ordered a mimosa and that was great as well. My boyfriend ordered the oyster and eggs benedict with grits and we both though it was alright. It tasted like standard eggs benedict. We were seated outside. At first I didn't want to sit outside because we were there on a cold morning. But then to my amazement, they had heaters outside and that helped a lot. Our server was friendly and attentive. A+ for customer service! Final Verdict: I can't wait to come back!
(5)
Novalina N.
Amazing food and service! The wait is a bit long, but it's pretty common for a brunch place. They have a lot of seatings tho, so don't let the line size deter you. Food: - Fried chicken and waffle, which chicken is so yummy and crispy. And they give 3 big pieces of them! - Bacon praline. Yummy gluttony! - Migas. Fresh avocado and great seasonings on the migas. Service is outstanding. Our waiter was extremely friendly and always make sure that we have water and coffee at all time. Wish we have a place like this in San Francisco!
(5)
Kenny P.
Ah yes, screen door baby! My friend from Portland took us out to eat brunch here during the weekend, and the anticipation of eating here was psyching me out a bit. Especially after having such a great meal out at Tasty N Sons after arriving in Portland. This is one of those places that can probably be compared to Bills Cafe in SJ (which I still haven't had the luxury of eating at yet). I'll have to see how Bills rates next to Screen Door soon. Anyhow, the wait was pretty long but easy when you have three other friends to talk to. The place had an outdoor patio eating area and was essentially packed. They had some pretty good free coffee inside for all patrons waiting (both decaf and regular I believe). The interior was nicely trendy and slightly modern from what I can remember. I was pretty decisive on ordering the fried oyster benedict and damn the portion was big. I couldn't finish the whole thing, and had to box up like a third of it. The other food ordered looked f-ing delish which I had pictures of. I don't usually take pics of food before eating but should think about carrying a point and shoot for that more often. I remember seeing a guy next to us pull out a full sized Samsung Galaxy Tab, first time seeing someone use that in a restaurant... hehe. Anyway, I really liked the restaurant setup and the seemingly reasonable menu prices, quality food, and relatively fast service all around. I'd have to admit that I have underestimated what Oregon has to offer for the true everyday foodie!
(5)
Aaron W.
This place was jam-packed on a Saturday morning for brunch, so I decided to get my meal to go. I got their Bananas Foster French Toast ($9.95): four thick slices of French toast with rum-flamed caramelized bananas, whipped cream, and cinnamon. This French toast from Screen Door just may have won me over for the best in Oregon. The French toast slices were very thick and cooked to a perfect golden brown. I liked the cinnamon and the whipped cream put together...just so beautiful for presentation. The cinnamon also helped to balance the flavors. But let's face it, the rum-flamed caramelized bananas were the star here. They were still temperature-hot from cooking on the stove mere minutes earlier -- and you can definitely taste that rum in there! When combined with the toast, whipped cream, and cinnamon, I was completely blown away by how amazing this was. I couldn't stop eating, no matter how hard I tried. And then I just started speed-eating and literally finished all of it in about two minutes. It was sweet, but not sugar overkill, which pleasantly surprised me. To me, this is just about the perfect sweet breakfast. It was very loud in there, and also real busy. But that also tells me this is a successful business.
(5)
jeff V.
my fist time was on a tuesday night and there was a line out the door and around the corner for this mouth smiling room for eating. we sat at the bar and watched the bartender make what seemed like hundreds of handcrafted cocktails in the hour or so we spent there. the food was great the chicken was crispy the mack and cheese was crispy and gooey, the local veggies where bright and fresh. good stuff i tell ya good stuff
(5)
R Clark G.
My friend, our tour guide for the day, had this place recommended as being "very Portland." It is definitely an interesting joint; it's somewhere between southern (mason jars and fried chicken) and urban/trendy (tealight candles and gourmet dining). It was definitely a unique experience. The service was good. Our waitress attended to us well and knew her stuff regarding the menu and the options. We had plenty of questions and she answered them all. The food was ok. I think we could have had better for the price. The portions were small and I didn't find it to be all that stellar. I did love the pickled watermelon rinds, I'd never had those before. We ordered scallops and... I liked Ivar's fried scallops better. These didn't seem to have the same great flavor. Presentation was nice, but that doesn't cut it for me. Basically, it was overpriced but generally appetizing. Maybe I just needed someone to help me order next time? I will give them credit for having a variety of vegetarian options, which I always appreciate.
(3)
Juju M.
Having recently moved here from NC, I'd have to say that it's really quite pleasant Southern food. Not completely authentic... but very very tasty!
(4)
Jenna Z.
I don't know what to say other than this place is OVERRATED! Maybe I've had better Soul/Southern food coming from Cali. I ordered the buttermilk fried chicken, hushpuppies and skirt steak? (that's how memorable the meal was) Anyway, the chicken was over seasoned and too salty in my opinion. The hushpuppies were decent but some were over fried and dry. I don't remember the steak other than it again being too salty! I'm giving this place 2 stars because the food was TOO SALTY! Fried chicken does not need to be battered in salt and steak doesn't need to be marinated purely with salt. I think I'd prefer more homey, family-run, mom and pops places for Southern or Soul food.
(2)
Jackson B.
Southern food without the hospitality (or a turn and burn establishment)... We have been to the screen door several times over the years (prefaced by saying we live in Seattle and travel for work to Portland almost every week). I am from the deep south and have found the food to be a fairly high quality reproduction of blue collar soul food available in most southern states. With that being said, we have enjoyed the food. The problem that we had was the customer service of the owner. We called a week ahead and asked the manager specifically if they would mind doing a catfish and waffles instead of the regular chicken and waffles. They have catfish on the dinner menu and they told us that it would be no problem. They said to just tell our server who could quickly pull some catfish out to fry up. When we arrived that same weekend (and excitedly waited over 1.5hrs for a table), we told our server of the catfish request and he said no. We explained that we came specifically for it and that we had called in advance. He left and talked to the owner (who was expediting) and she said no. Long and short, the food is good at the screen door. The problem to a southerner is : dont offer southern food with less than hospitable service. For anyone who has worked in a restaurant in the past, you know it is faster to fry catfish than chicken and is a simple - take out of the bucket and put in a fryer. I know it is busy but if we call ahead, whether or not the other manager should have said yes, you should honor the request. The main issue that we had - the place came off as little more than a turn and burn. It says a ton when the owner of a well known and established place is working and turns down a well-thought-out request. If you, or anyone on your staff, offers a certain level of customer service - stick by it. They are certainly not hurting for money so just take the time to stand by your word. Now i am sure this comes off as petty, but seriously, southern food should be served with unhurried care and service. Just like it is in the south...
(1)
Tommy Jane R.
Put our name down at 10:10 a.m. She said an hour. At 11:30 we were seated. Ordered our food within 10-15 minutes. Got the food at 12:30. Left at 1:00. So.... if you don't mind that amount of wait, you may like it here. My food (broccoli frittata) was good. Others with us were not as complimentary. One friend's hash looked like it was burned. Biscuits were great, though. For the quality of food and the time spent waiting, it is definitely not worth 3 hours of my time. (Esp. when 1.5 hours is spent standing outside.)
(3)
Kenny H.
I am split. I mean, the coffee is good. The place has a nice vibe... but everything seems sort of dry when I order it. I ordered the Eggs Sardou and it did not settle well. The hollandaise sauce was alright, not the best I have had. I will give this place another shot, try something else soon. Last time I went I ordered the vegan biscuits and gravy, and it was dry and not full of flavor. The portions were good though Not sure it is worth the1 hr long wait we had at 1045am on a Saturday.
(2)
Lana R.
This southern girl had to visit Portland to find the best southern food that I've ever eaten. Sorry Grandma. I wouldn't have believed that collard greens could taste this good. This was insanely good food. Absolutely delicious pimento and cheese, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, sweet potato fries, fried okra, and pork dish. Extraordinarily fast and friendly service.
(5)
caitlin m.
omg. this restaurant is so good that i couldn't stop myself from typing omg. i'm not entirely sure what i can say that hasn't been said in the 600 previous reviews, except to give you my wholehearted endorsement to suck it up and wait the hour it'll take for you to sit down with your breakfast of choice (notable options in my party were the breakfast po-boy (by far the best breakfast sandwich i've ever eaten), chicken and waffles (easily serves two!), praline bacon waffle (like breakfast and dessert all in one meal!) and eggs benedict (most notably, the cheesy grits that accompanied them)). cute ambiance, great service, and did i mention the breakfast po-boy? try not to drool on your computer as you think about eggs, homemade andouille sausage, tomato jam (WAY more delicious than you can imagine), pepper jack cheese and those crispy little fried onion things all between brioche-type bread). dammit, i just drooled.
(5)
Mike V.
Always great food and always great service. The only problem is when you have to wait too long for brunch!
(5)
Sam K.
Doesn't look like this place needs my positive feedback ;) it is an awesome place. I got the hushpuppies, ah-maz-ing. Then the pulled pork sandwich which was also great, only tip I would say is that if ur not a big cole-slaw fan (aka me) make sure to tell them to go easy on it, or even hold it, as I didn't really think it made the sandwich and better (imo) Will be back! And can't wait to try Breakfast there...
(5)
Kevin L.
Delicious, huge pieces of fried chicken. Excellent batter, very moist chicken.
(5)
Jennifer C.
On our approach to Screen Door, the driver asked where this place was, and I replied, "Just look for a giant crowd of people standing around". Sure enough, we found this Portland institution without any trouble. Coming from Vancouver, the idea of waiting for anything longer than half an hour for a meal sounds a bit ludicrous. While we were waiting and drinking coffee at Heart (also lovely, and conveniently close to Screen Door), we debated whether the food could possibly be worth an hour and 45 minute wait. Once we were seated with Bloody Marys and coffee, and our biscuits and gravy for the table arrived, we felt that we'd made the right choice. When the fried chicken and waffles, and various bennies arrived, we marvelled at how close we had come to missing this experience. The portions at Screen Door are enough for at least two meals. The fried chicken was perfectly crisp and juicy, and the waffle underneath was nice, though a bit overshadowed by the meat. We also had the benny with fried oysters, which I was also a big fan of, but they didn't go over as well with the person who ordered them. I think that it's not unreasonable to split the mains if you are not looking to take home leftovers. That said, having fried chicken again the next morning without a two hour wait was also nice. Service was fast and friendly. There is a warning on the menu about the fried chicken and waffles possibly taking a while to cook, but our server explained that once the kitchen was busy, there wouldn't be any delay. Would definitely head back on my next trip down there.
Look, there are 600+ reviews for this place and it's still a 4.5 star rating. Why are you still reading? Go! But if you want my take on it, this is what I was thinking as I was harvesting the last streaks of gravy from my plate: "Rare is the meal moment when you are so full you are almost disgusted with your meal, and yet simultaneously wishing you could open up a reserve chamber in your stomach so you can do it all over again." Screen Door is that place, and it lives up to the hype. Also a plus, it was casual and fun without being pretentious. You're going to have to wait in line, but you'll be rewarded.
(4)
TJ M.
Vacation bias alert! Another breakfast place that I went to once when I was visiting a friend in Portland. How odd that I live in Atlanta, yet loved the southern breakfast that I got at the Screen Door way more than any of the local places that I've been to. The food was that good! The coffee was excellent, and they give it out for free while you're waiting. Speaking of which, expect a wait, since this place is pretty popular. Plenty of street parking available.
(5)
Chad F.
Had the 'screen door plate' (mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and thin sliced porkchop). Everything was fantastic and the service was delightful even though we arrived 50 min before closing and lingered a bit. Bring an appetite as you will leave stuffed and probably with leftovers! Parking is hard to come by unless yer biking :)
(5)
Daniel P.
Yummy scramble! Yum-yummy fried chicken! Grits and pancakes that make my pulse quicken! Don't call me a hater If I hate the wait/waiter, But when the grub comes: finger-lickin'!
(4)
Nathan C.
My wife and I went here with friend for Sunday brunch we ordered the Cajun Scramble with Grits, the Chicken and Waffles, Praline Bacon Waffles as well as an extra side of Praline Bacon. It was all amazing! I especially recommend the Chicken and Waffles. Delicious! It was worth the 45min wait in the rain. :P
(5)
Gabe K.
Absolutely fantastic. One of my favorite restaurants in this town full of fantastic restaurants. The fare is real, down-home southern food, made the way it should be. The absolute best fried chicken anywhere. And I can get a side of fried pork chops? Sold. Great desserts, sides, drinks, everything. Probably shouldn't eat here every day (or risk looking like the people in the south who do), but a delicious treat once in a while. Like 3 or 4 times a week.
(5)
Harlan M.
We tried Screen Door last night for the first time and I left very satisfied and feeling well-taken care of. You'd hope good southern food would be accompanied by southern hospitality and it was. As someone who has lived in the South I feel qualified to judge this restaurant and I give it 5 stars. We started with their seasonal organic roasted beet salad which had avocado and pistachios. Super delicious. For entrees we had the Lowcountry shrimp and grits, and the fried chicken. The grits were creamy and good and had medallions of pork in them. The shrimp had a flavor you don't get very often. The chicken was excellent and the collard greens were soaking in pig butt. Drinks were good as well - tequila and blackberry puree and martinis. When we got to our car, we turned around to walk back because my wife left her sweater and there was the waiter who had just run it out to us. Overall - a memorable experience and worth the time an money.
(5)
Kristen B.
A smaller place so you are going to wait at time, but it is sooo worth it. The host was very nice and got us a table on the outside patio for our friend's birthday celebration. Looking over the menu it is so hard to decide because it all looks good. Make sure to go hungry!! So, we all got something different and shared. We started with the hush puppies (came with a delicious spicy jam), buttermilk chicken strips and the pimento cheese. All delicious as we devoured them in minutes. One person ordered the butter leaf salad with blue cheese and bacon...probably one of the bet salads I have ever had. Then I had the screen door plate with mac n cheese, jambalaya and sweet potato fries. All fantastic! We took it home for leftovers and it even reheated well! Would highly recommend!!
(4)
Jenni L.
Screen door I want to marry you and have your babies. and about half of us at the table wanted to bang one of your servers. I came back to visit with a small group of friends one night when one of my besties, Lisa G., was in town for the weekend. I racked my brain to think of a place to impress her with and of course you were the obvious choice. We bore your lengthy line with drinks in hand. The Scarlet O'Hara No. 2, filled with sweet tea vodka and a blood orange puree, made us happily wait your queue while dreams of homeade cornbread, fried chicken, and jambalaya danced in our heads. When it came time to order we opted for good ol' southern gluttony, with three of us ordering the fried buttermilk-battered chicken with mashed potatoes, tasso ham gravy and collards and one opting for the smoked & bbq'd beef brisket with bacon potato salad and a butter lettuce salad to start. We also ordered two sides of the ridiculously good cornbread to go with our meals and a side order of macaroni and cheese as a starter which turned out to be the end all of life as we knew it. I'm not kidding. This macaroni inspired one of the most henious and disgusting things I have ever taken part in at a restaurant. And by taken part in I really mean...I was the only one that did it... This is how it went (I'll even edit it this one out a bit so I don't seem like such a foul mouthed hussy): Lisa G. and I decided macaroni and cheese needed to be ordered as a starter and shared instead of a customary appetizer like the oysters or okra. Table: We want three orders of this and two orders of that and and order of this and this. And then we also want to start with the macaroni and cheese because we have decided to be digusting gluttonous human beings tonight. Female waitress: That sounds good, I'm on it. Can I bring you another round of drinks. Table: Um, yes. A few minutes later drinks were served and a short few after that a different male waiter (who we now refer to as hottie boy waiter at Screen Door) delivers the starters. Lisa G.: Did you see that? Me: Can we order him too? Lisa G.: I really hope so, he's expletive hot! Me: I want to verb on his expletive noun. Lisa G.: You would say that you foul mouthed hussy. Me: Expletive! Taste this. Lisa G.: This is the best expetive mac & cheese I think I've ever had. Me: OMG it's so hot, but I can't stop eating it. Expletive! It's burning my mouth, but I don't want to stop. Lisa G.: It's SO expletive good! Expletive! Me: Hey Eric C., hows your expletive salad? snicker snicker. Eric C: Good, wan't a bite? Me: Expetive no. And then the aforementioned happened: I dropped macaroni on the table. I looked at it for a few seconds. Looked at Lisa G. waiting to see what she'd say. Silence. Then I took my fork and ate it off the expletive table. Lisa G.: Did you really just do that? Did that just happen? Me: Um, ya. Ya, I think it did. I was actually waiting for you to do the same. Wouldn't you have? Lisa G.: I'm not going to confirm or deny that. Me: Worth it. Lisa G.: It really probably was. Me: It was so good I bet you'd like to eat it off hottie boy waiter's body? Lisa: It really probably is. By the time our main coursed came out, it was safe to say that we were no longer interested to the extent we would have been if we had never ordered the expletive mac & cheese. The fried chicken at Screen Door is good, not the best I've had, but pretty decent. It made awesome cold leftovers out of the fridge the next day after I was only able to take two bites at dinner. Eric C.'s brisket was better. I snagged a bite and it was literally fall apart, melt in your mouth good. When the female waiter came over to ask if we'd like boxes and give us our check she asked us the customary question: How did you like everything? I looked her straight in the eye and said: That mac & cheese was so good I ate it off the expletive table. No shame shown. Alot of shame inside. Screen Door I expletive love you. ...and I still want to bang your hottie boy waiter.
(5)
Mimi L.
My girlfriends and I went to "Screen Door" for dinner while on vacation touring the northwest. We ordered the fried chicken because of the rave reviews on yelp, and I must say that it did not disappoint. The fried chicken is the most flavorful, moist, and deliciously crispy fried chicken that I have ever had in my life. And believe me, I have had my fare share of fried chicken. We also ordered the fried catfish and the beet salad. Both were also delicious. What can I say? Hands down, wonderful experience. The food is to die for and the service was impeccable.
(5)
amber a.
My husband and I have been dying to try this place for months! We debated on taking the kids but last week we pretty much said screw it, packed up three kiddos (7 yrs and under) and a grandmother and headed out. I should preface with the fact that we did call ahead to ask the approximate wait time for a party of six. The host was extremely kind and helpful and put our name down on the list and said to just come in in an hour and a table would be available. He also explained that if there were an opening sooner he'd call and hold the spot for us! Within 20 minutes we received a call and zipped on over. As usual the crowd of patrons were spilling out onto the street lining up on Burnside. We found street parking immediately and took this as an omen that it was gonna be a good dinner. We were promptly seated and were salivating over the menu. Lots of Southern classics but as soon as I saw Buttermilk Fried Chicken everything else went black! :) I loved, loved loved the fried chicken! The skin was perfectly seasoned and the perfect amount of crispiness. the inside was moist and delicious. it was served with creamy mashed potatoes and collard greens. My kids ate fried chicken and a side of mac & cheese - allow me to point out that the mac and cheese was gooey, creamy and extra cheesy! My mom, who was visiting out of town split my fried chicken with me and ordered herself the brisket (which was FANTASTIC)! The atmosphere was warm and a bit loud. But with three kids in tow, I'm okay with loud its better to drown out any noise that may come from my table. Although there weren't any other kids in the restaurant while we were there, other customers and the servers were polite about sitting next to a table of 3 small kids (this is a huge plus since we've been to places that people roll their eyes when they see they'll be sitting next to us). For the record the kids were well behaved and people even commented at how well behaved they were! So take that you damn eye rollers! I'll definitely be going back and already on my mind is the pulled pork sandwich!
(5)
Stacy C.
I rarely boss people about with regards to food but.. go. Just go. Get there for breakfast/brunch. Order the fried chicken and waffle. There's nothing more to say.
(5)
fon z.
Not your typical southern comfort, but the food is good enough to make me say who cares. The plates are huge, the food are plenty, and your stomach will be happy for 2 meals.
(4)
Allen K.
A great place for brunch on the weekend! I always get the cathead biscuit with chicken and gravy -- Best Ever! Check out the pictures for what it looks like. It's generally about an hour long wait on the weekend, but there's plenty of Stumptown coffee you can drink while you wait.
(5)
Samantha D.
I went here awhile ago with a friend of mine. There was a really long wait, but I wasn't super hungry, so I didn't mind. My friend and I ordered the fried chicken with collards, red beans and rice, and macaroni cheese- amazing. On top of the good food, the waiting staff were very nice and helpful. We had to move tables at one point, because a friend joined us late. They helped us move our plates and chairs, and were very accommodating. All of it was delicious, and I cannot wait to go back!
(5)
Dave R.
Friends who love southern cooking rave, but I wish I loved the hush puppies as much as they do :-)
(3)
Jim D.
Damned solid food. Really good fried chicken. Nice cornbread, good beans and rice. I really need to go back and sample the menu more. Next time I'm in PDX I will absolutely be stopping by...
(4)
Alex G.
Do you have 75+ minutes to spare waiting on a Saturday or Sunday? Do you enjoy absurdly delicious brunch fare? If so, Screen Door is for you! It's all about expecting and managing the wait. About two months ago, my boyfriend and I planned a visit to Screen Door for Sunday brunch -- the nicest Sunday of the year thus far, of course. Being lazy people who woke up late and were forced to go during peak hours, we planned ahead in full -- with our phones and Kindles fully charged, we headed over to get our name on the list. We arrived shortly before 11:30, and we were told it'd be a 75 minute wait. Knowing this, we walked over to Heart, ordered coffee, and read for 45 minutes before walking back and people watching until our names were called at 12:45. (Also, kudos for the accurate time estimates!) When we did get our table, the service was wonderfully prompt -- presumably, a reward for holding out for our seats. For what appears to be a fairly small restaurant on the exterior, I enjoyed the interior -- it wasn't too loud or cramped, at least compared to similar restaurants. I ordered the biscuits and gravy (with fried chicken strips on the side, of course), and the boyfriend ordered -- what else? -- the famed chicken and waffles and a breakfast corndog (a new and delicious experience, I might add!). The biscuits were fluffy and delightful, the gravy borderline heavenly, and the chicken just as advertised -- amazing. Being southern fare, the portions were also massive -- I was barely able to finish my biscuits and gravy, and I had to take a few chicken strips to go; my boyfriend was overwhelmed by the amount of chicken and waffles, and took most of his chicken home. This is by no means a complaint -- it only meant we were able to enjoy our meals through the rest of the day. It seems absurd to wait so long for food, but in the case of Screen Door, it's worth it. For the sake of your lifespan -- both in terms of the time spent waiting and calories consumed after waiting -- I wouldn't recommend making it a daily stop, though.
(4)
Sara M.
Fried Cat Fish Red Beans and Rice Mac N Cheese Fried Chicken Pulled pork Cocktails All Very amazing. Sure, its busy and super loud in there, and you might have to wait awhile for a table, but completely worth it.
(5)
Dorothy C.
One of the few places in Portland where the food is totally worth the line. Order the Screen Door Plate and get the the local/organic sides from the specials menu. You will have to wait at least an hour for dinner.
(4)
J. K.
Incredibly long wait every single time but, if you make it, fantastic chicken and waffles await. Screen Door has one of the best fried chickens ever, though it only makes it with white breast meat, not the flavorful dark meats. It's juicy, crispy, savory, and expressive. Accompanied by sweet potato waffles, the combination is excellent. If anything, the waffle can be a bit sweeter (for contrast with the chicken) and cooked more crispy (so it gets less soggy sitting under the chicken). If you want the chicken and waffle, it's way better to eat it for brunch/lunch than dinner. The dinner version is more expensive and only comes with 1 piece of chicken, instead of 3. Also recommend the cathead aka biscuits and gravy.
(4)
Logan S.
Get: Pork and Beans, Fried Chicken, potato and bacon soup, the berry pie thingy Pass: Corn bread I would really give this place 4.5 stars because the corn bread was so disappointing. That being said, everything else was amazing!! BEST pork and beans I have had in my life, and the chicken was really moist with a great crisp to the outside. The bacon soup was not too creamy and just thick enough, and the berry pie at the end was amazing. Get here early or expect to wait at least an hour. The bathrooms are cold for some reason, and there is only one for each sex
(5)
Cynthia Y.
came here on my first night in Portland on a Monday evening. No wait for a table at around 8pm. all i remember trying was the fried chicken, gumbo and fries. this place has one of the best fried chickens i've ever tasted. yummyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! boneless, perfectly battered and flavored. wasn't a fan of the greens it came with. i'd come back.. sorry, i can't remember much from my experience here, it's been about a month but i do remember the fried chicken. GET THE FRIED CHICKEN!!
(4)
Colleen W.
Delicious southern comfort food + drinks is what you'll find at the Screen Door. We stopped by for a birthday dinner, complete with crispy fried chicken and low country shrimp and grits. It did not disappoint. I felt transported to Charleston. The brunch line that wraps around the building has kept me away but I hope to experience Screen Door morning magic, soon.
(4)
Chanchala R.
Texas toast and broccoli casserole were awesome. And the onion rings were super good!
(4)
pat d.
damn..... went here upon a recomendation from one of the folks at rogue. The place is cozy and small with a patio on the side. Get here early as it fills up fast. the staff was attentive and friendly. The server knew his menu and specials The food was really good. Fried green tomatoes where great. The fried chicken with tasso gravey was really good. The chicken was moist and the breading nice and crisp. I can see why this is a local favorite.
(5)
M R.
Not bad, but not healthy.
(3)
Jeff P.
Worth the wait, every time. The fried chicken and gravy is excellent, but for me the real standout is always whatever vegetables are in season. If you had to complain about something, it would be the wait, or possibly the noise of all those people, but when the food is so good, I can't mark them down for that.
(5)
Dan M.
Always a long wait but easily worth it, everything on the menu here is phenomenal (the large fried chicken pieces even come carefully de-boned), including the drinks. Large portion sizes so fair warning to come very hungry. You will not be disappointed by the food.
(5)
Marianne S.
My friend's have been raving about this place for quite sometime. Finally, a few days ago, I tried it with a few friend's for one of my friend's birthdays. It was a Monday night. There was a long wait, about 45 minutes, then more of a wait to order, and even more of a wait for our food. There were 4 of us, finally 3 plates came out. They said the other one would be up shortly. Sadly, the plate we were waiting for was for the birthday girl. And it wasn't up shortly, they forgot to put it in, it took about another 20 minutes. They ever so graciously comped one of her beers. ONE BEER! Couldn't they have at least comped her meal? Given her a free dessert? Those were my complaints. As far as the food goes, it was good, but didn't live up to the hype for me. I think maybe the wait took away from it and the mess up. Also, I have heard better things about their brunch, than their dinner. I will be back for brunch, but not worth it to me for dinner.
(3)
Stacey J.
My favorite place to take out of town guests for breakfast. The lemon ricotta pancakes are wonderful as if the friend chicken on a waffle! Always very busy so be prepared to wait in a line. It is always LOUD inside.
(5)
Shannon M.
Fantastic food! A great Southern/Cajun experience. Great for taking the family out for a nice dinner. Service was also great. I will definitely return! I recommend the shrimp and grits to anyone!!
(5)
Rochelle V.
Cant beat the Chicken and Waffle!!!!!
(5)
Kyle H.
Great breakfast. Big portions, unique menu items and great flavors. The wait can be WAY too long on the weekends.
(4)
Alvina C.
Do I even have to tell you all what it is that makes this spot so great!? FRIED CHICKEN. More specifically, FRIED CHICKEN & WAFFLE. The only reason why I'm rating it only 4 stars because I have yet to venture beyond their specialty. When I do (someday), I will update my review. As for now, it is 4 stars as it is.
(4)
Wendy R.
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens and the Fort Bragg Rhododendron Society deserve kudos for partnering to produce the biggest, brightest rhodie show ever. The gardens are simply glowing these days and new specimens in the perennial garden promise successive surprises all summer long.
(5)
Joe E.
Took my (previous) steady here a while back and thought I'd "bite" on the Yelp-invite to review it. Southern Cooking like it says. Rather eclectic not specific. The two things I remember are: not much ambiance in that tables are jammed together unless you like that kind of ambiance where you can actually see everything about the order at the next table. The outside seating might be more fun for a crowd. and second : the fried chicken was perfect. A clear indication that they know their frying. both correct temperature and I'd bet frequently changed frying oil.
(4)
Elise F.
As a vegetarian often accompanying carnivores to Screen Door, a place famous for its Chicken & Waffles, there is still plenty to eat. The Mac and cheese is always filling, and every rotating salad I've tried has been delightful. The Rhett Butler cocktail hits the spot. Only thing stopping this place from perfection is the consistently long wait.
(4)
Diane P.
The line for brunch is a bit crazy, but it's worth it. Also it's usually nice to catch up with people while waiting in line before eating! Fried chick'n n waffles. oyster omelette. praline bacon. the hash. pretty much good food. Dinner on the other hand... the atmosphere is a little different. The food isn't my type, but it is still pretty good. I guess when it comes to Screen Door, I think of brunch, not dinner.
(4)
Jenny P.
This place is amazing. Delicious breakfast, cocktails and dinner. Always worth the wait, even if its over an hour. Shrimp and Grits and Fried Chicken are my favorites.
(5)
Ron M.
These guys have awesome southern food and their brunch is exceptional!
(5)
Kevin W.
Ridiculous. Like many have said, expect a wait....but then at the same time expect some of the best fried chicken you've ever had. And then expect to get K.O.'d from food coma right afterwards. The portions are huge, heavy, and hella good. I had fried chicken and gravy and biscuits...w/ extra gravy...definitely had to loosen my belt. Only qualm I had w/ Screen door was that the Bloody mary that i ordered wasn't that great, kinda watery. Other than that, this place is awesome.
(5)
Scott C.
So we arrive in Portland with a lot of ideas of where we were wanting to eat but not an exact plan for night 1. I am so happy that our first meal was at Screen Door. We live in Nashville TN so I wanted to see if these north westerners could throw down on some fried chicken like all the reviews claimed. I was not let down. Probably the best fried chicken I have ever eaten anywhere in the US. App: fried okra - corn meal batter with a wonderful dipping sauce Entree: fried chicken with mashed potatoes and greens. Entree 2: pecan trout with fingerling potatoes and asparagus Not only did we have a lovely dinning experience but the bartender was very knowledgable of other places that he recommended we try. If you like southern comfort food, this is the place for you.
(4)
Lori J.
I don't know what all the hype is about. Little food and a very rushed atmosphere.
(2)
Jessica S.
Had the biscuit sandwich with chicken and sausage gravy. The food took about 45 minutes. We waited for about an hour. Had to sit at the bar right by the door, not very comfortable. Ordered drinks and they were, meh. Not too keen for the bloody mary; got a sweet tea instead, it was tasty. Being from the south this place isn't that bona fide.
(3)
Ben H.
Amazing sized portions of delicious, comfort food? Yes PLEASE! Sure, you'll probably have to wait for a table, but it is completely worth it. I live 25 minutes from this restaurant, but have eaten here more times than any other restaurant in Portland.
(5)
Jenn S.
Ok I will be the redudant one. One of the best places in portland for Brunch! Veggie option, fab bloody marys and best of all a whole portland vibe. Yes there is a wait and yes this is explained by everyone that has even heard of the place so be ready for it. If i didnt do brunch with a large group of people we would be here so much more!
(5)
Linda T.
oh my gosh....when in Portland, must come here for brunch! they open at 9am for brunch, but when we got there by 8:20am, there were 9 people in front of us. cute corner restaurant that has a French inspired feel to it. I would not have guess it hs Creole/Southern influenced food. MUST GET: 1) Banana Foster French Toast!! 5 slices of brioche bread soaked in syrup topped with sauteed banana with a side of home made whip cream that taste decadent. definitely one of the best french toast I've had. As my friend said "it feels like bread meant to be made into french toast than bread forced to be french toast." 2) chicken and waffles: the plating looked awesome! a huge sweet potato waffle topped with a knife through 3 flat pieces of fried chicken. Sweet potato definitely added a zing to the waffle. Fried chickens were crispy, moist, and most delicious. breading was perfect and it did not feel heavy or drenched in bread crumb or oil. love the spice from the peppers. DELICIOUS! I think i will never have any other fried chicken, ever. they serve Stumptown Coffee which added a plus! friendly service and the staff fits in. definitely will come back when Im in Portland. Just go early to avoid the wait! Patio seating on a nice sunny Portland day was awesome!!!!
(5)
Gorman E.
I don't care if it is an hour and half wait. Just know It is worth it....Dam it! What to order you might ask? Everything is Dam GOOD! Screen Door's menu is a from the South Carolina Lowcountry cuisine to soul food and Cajun to the refined Creole and French preparations found in New Orleans. We ordered and highly recommend the following (see pics): *Bloody Marys -J ust like I like it...Spicy!!! yelp.com/user_local_phot… *Buttermilk Drop Biscuits w/ sausage country gravy and 2 eggs - Hearty!!! yelp.com/user_local_phot… *Benedit w/ grilled ham, poached eggs, and hollandaise- Tasty!!! yelp.com/user_local_phot… *Breakfast Po Boy homemade andouille sausage & tomato jam, two fried eggs yelp.com/user_local_phot… - So GOOD!!! *Best Chicken n waffles - Chicken is crispy and tender inside with a kick. The waffles had tiny apples & hint of cinnamon to give added taste with the syrup. yelp.com/user_local_phot… *Side order of Screen Door Praline Bacon - GET THIS!!! YUM!!! yelp.com/user_local_phot… I was in foodgasm and ready to wear sweats after this....it was that good! If you are in Portland OR, come here for the Best Brunch. Highly Recommended.
(5)
Thao P.
I woke up one morning and just craved....seriously craved...chicken and waffles. My boyfriend suggested we go to screen door, but he did warn me there would be a wait because of how popular this place is. He was not kidding. We waited for an hour to get a table...I'm glad they let you order drinks to enjoy while you are waiting!!! When it was time to get seated, the whole open area is tinted in a warm yellow tone due to the same colored fabrics adorning their walls. It made you feel very welcomed. The noise level was pretty high considering it was just a big open space, but still was able to converse with my meal partner. As soon as my food got to the table, my eyes turned into saucers....piled on top of my waffle were four pieces of fried chicken all held in by a steak knife driven through the top!!! The chicken was crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. Perfect!!! The only downside...needs more waffle to get a nice ratio between the chicken and waffle. but that's such a minute detail ;p
(4)
Michael B.
This place served up huge portions of good food, but it was definitely a case of quantity over quality. Having waited more than an hour to get a table, I had hyped this place to myself so much that getting what is basically pretty normal food was a little disappointing.
(3)
Pete B.
Screen Door is a wonderful establishment with a nicely balanced menu to satiate a hungry diner's yearnings for a bit of 'Southern' food. They do a wonderful job of countering any concern of fried food overdose with a rotating selection of fresh vegetables. For brunch, their chicken and waffle plate is amazing in terms of portion and price. A hankering for biscuits with a choice of country sausage or vegetarian gravy is also an option if a light breakfast doesn't seem like it'd be enough. A shared appetizer of hushpuppies (I prefer honey over their pepper jelly dipping sauce but only because of personal preference) and a small helping of their chicken and andouille gumbo is also a nice way to ease into the main meal. For dinner I'm constantly drawn back to the crispy fried buttermilk chicken plate with a side of crispy crusted mac'n'cheese. Recommending one particular dish over another is hard to do. After sampling a variety of their starters, entrees, sides and deserts I would have to recommended trying them all. Definitely look over the specials board above the host station as seasonal specials change on a regular basis. Because of its single location and popularity the only glaring dislike is the wait to get seated. If you're impatient and temperamental you might find it challenging. There have been three times where I've been bumped off of the waiting list. The task of host/hostess is the only weak spot that this restaurant needs to overcome but in all honesty, it is not an easy job. The proprietor's could open a second location and easily maintain a large waiting list at both locations.
(4)
Julie P.
After one visit, easily one of my favorite restaurants in the city. Down to earth, not double-check-your-vision pricey, and excellent food that in my book, is a winning combo. The fried chicken lives up to the hype. As does the mac n' cheese. Same for the fall-off-the-bone pork shoulder. And those hushpuppies? There is nothing bashful about 'em (esp. with that pepper jelly which I need to replicate asap). GO. Now.
(5)
Af R.
Long waits but man, that fried chicken is worth it!
(4)
Jessica G.
Doesn't get much better than fried chicken. The breakfast is really good too. Worth the long waits.
(5)
Desiree I.
Everything we ate was delicious. I had the pecan crusted fish. I can't wait to go back and try something new. Having moved to Portland from the South, I'm on a mission to try as many of the Southern style and BBQ restaurants in the area so my husband and I can have a few go to places when we're craving a taste of home. This place is definitely high on the list of great places. I need to try the fried chicken next time. I have been craving some good fried chicken.
(5)
Erik G.
Stopped in for brunch after a failed attempt on Mother's Day (could not wait the estimated hour). We arrived about 5 or 10 minutes before they opened and we were a bit surprised by the length of the line. We just missed the cut off for a table inside but waited the 20 or 30 minutes to get seated outside on the patio. As we had our young daughter the patio was the ideal spot anyway. I really enjoyed having a cup of coffee as we waited, glad they allow customers to help themselves. We started with a Bloody Mary. While we are not big drinkers we both enjoy a good Bloody Mary from time to time. And as it was a holiday we indulged. Nice spice, not overly strong with a delicious pickled okra garnish. Next came the rhubarb turnovers, a nice treat to whet our appetites. The filling was well prepared with a touch of tartness. They vanished as fast as they arrived. My wife ordered the bananas foster french toast, simple but oh so good. Love the hint of orange, the soft but not mushy bread and the fact that the plate could have fed us all. After having look at the menu a few weeks back I had expected I would order a scramble. However, when we were waiting to be seated I spied plate after plate of chicken and waffles. Never having had to combination it seemed this would be the ideal circumstance to give it a try. And I was not disappointed one bit. The bird was crispy with a nice peppery finish, a prefect compliment to the bloody as well as the waffle. The sweet potato did not stand out but the waffle was still great. I have seen the light, we will be back for more! I would suggest that it is worth the wait but that is a personal decision. We all had a great time, service was excellent and the food was wonderful. I would give the Screen Door four and a half stars if I could. There was nothing I would change about our meal, I'm just not one to give five stars too often.
(4)
JT T.
Came to Portland on Memorial Day weekend and was looking for some great places to eat. After reading all the great Yelp reviews, we thought we would give it a try. After a 45 minute wait, we finally got a table. The group of us orders fried chicken, trout & pulled bbq pork sandwhich. The food was good but not really worth the 45 minute wait...Wiling to give them another try on our next trip to Portland..
(3)
Brandon M.
Um... Yum! Why not? One of the best breakfast/brunch (depending on the time YOU wake up on a Saturday/Sunday) places in Oregon. This little place will always share something in my heart; other than cholesterol. Chicken and waffles has a new spin and meaning - the spices on the chicken are better than any you've had, this is a real southern style/home made and fried perfectly. The waffle is a sweet potato of perfection, fluffy and light (not normal for a sweet potato anything). But it's not the only thing they have, specials are always great - and ask what the waiters and waitresses what they like cause they know who's in the kitchen for the day and what the best dishes are. A GREAT TREAT! Quick note - Either get there early or wait in line. There really is no other choice at breakfast time. 5/5 FOOD - amazing brunch and lunch (haven't had dinner yet) 4/5 SERVICE - very busy, almost always busy - the servers rock 3/5 WAIT - weighted on FOOD and SERVICE (CEPT if you do not get there early from brunch. Then it's off the charts; you WILL wait.)
(5)
M K.
Not getting the hype of this place. Having grown up with authentic soul food, Screen Door misses the mark. I was hoping for the best, but the fried chicken was extremely average. I almost NEVER order gumbo out because it never tastes like true gumbo. Unfortunately the gumbo just tasted like an average soup. I really wanted to love the place after reading reviews and seeing the lines. Oh well.......
(2)
Celine B.
The Screen Door plate is the best deal. I often order catfish, mashed potatoes and something off the local item. If you order an appetizer, too (fried green tomatoes or pimento cheese are my top choices), you can split it with one other person and be out of there for $20 for two.
(5)
Allyson G.
This place is always good. Their fried oyster benedict is pretty much amazing, and always good when you need comfort food!
(4)
Cola V.
The best food I've ever had in Portland. Went here on a Monday night, surprise they were packed but the wait was only about 30 minutes so we grabbed a drink at the bar. The bartender was slammed but gave us good service as we watched plates of amazing food pass us by. We sat at the bar, I had to shrimp & grits - WOW. Never had a basil type sauce with my grits but goodness that was delicious and good sized, cooked just right shrimp. My boyfriend is from Memphis and said hands down they were the best grits he's ever tasted (sorry granny). He had the Screen Door Sampler with the catfish and it was breaded just right and cooked to perfection. His sides of greens were amazing with chunks of ham like he had back home, the mac and cheese is a joke how good it is. We will visit again very soon. We talked to a couple that were at the bar and they said they take everyone that visits Portland to this place, & we'll do the same. AMAZING.
(5)
Jack W.
The food here is awesome. I'm not a fan of catfish, but here it's one of their best selections. It's fried, but it's not greasy at all. I highly recommend selecting this as one of the items in the combo plate. The fried chicken is one of the best I've ever had, and possibly the BEST cause they managed to remove the bones, making it easy to eat with a knife and fork. The jambalaya is good, but I expected much better since everything else was exceptional. Mac n Cheese was also very good and recommended. Shrimp n Grits is an excellent appetizer. I'll give this place 4 stars instead of 5 for the following reasons: This place doesn't take reservations and the line is ridiculously long. Be prepared to wait for a while during dinner. If you're visiting from out of town as we were, it'll be about a $12 cab ride from downtown Portland each way, if I recall. If you like Southern food, this place is definitely worth the inconvenience.
(4)
Eve T.
This is just another review on Yelp telling you how AMAZING, WONDERFUL, SUCCULENT, JUICY, TENDER, HUGE, and AWESOME their fried chicken is. It is worth the 30-60 minute wait. That's all.
(5)
Chrystal B.
I had a lot of Southern food during my trip to Portland (many would say too much Southern food), and Screen Door came out as the top winner. The fried chicken was outstanding, and their mac & cheese was one of the best I've ever had in a restaurant. My friends know that I rarely order mac & cheese as I have found many places to serve disappointing versions, but Screen Door came out the door with a hit. I went for a late dinner, so we only had to wait about 15 minutes for a table, but I know why some folks have had to sit along the sidelines for an hour. It's definitely that good.
(4)
Phil N.
Went here on a Saturday afternoon at about 11:30am to give you an idea of what the wait time is. 45 minutes! I am from San Jose and 45 min is like a blip compared to the some of the more popular restaurants (try two hours AND with a crying baby!). I expected to find all of Portland's east side here but there it was a melting pot of all ethnicities and that to me is a very good sign this place will leave me smiling and satisfied. They have free self serve coffee which I didn't know about till after I walked back from Starbucks (3 blocks away) while waiting for our table. Seating in the waiting area is pretty limited so be prepared to bring an umbrella if it rains and a jacket if it's super cold. Before we even sat down we were drooling at all the huge servings being dished out by the waiters. That's torture if you haven't eaten breakfast. Once we did get seated my wife and I decided to share the chicken and waffles. Yes, I said the word share. From my experience gorging on good food, well, it doesn't really end up as good memories if you try to stuff yourself. We both reason that we were still hungry we would order some more. Our chicken and waffle surprisingly took a while to arrive at my fingertips but boy was it worth the wait! To give you some background on my "chicken and waffle" experiences, I've been all over the place including the famous Roscoe's in SoCal. Well, I am happy to say that this place makes Roscoe's taste like KFC! I was actually looking for wings or drumsticks but surprisingly they used boneless breast meat. I was really skeptical because it's very hard to get white meat moist especially the breast part. To my surprise, it was extremely moist as if somehow they injected chicken broth into the chicken before frying. It's that moist! I usually HATE breast meat (dark meat kinda dude) but I kept tearing and tearing at it hoping to find a dry piece. And just like in Powerball - no luck at all! How about the batter? Well, I am getting to that! The batter outside was as perfect as can be. No burnt, over fried areas, or too much batter on one side and not enough on the other kinda deal! In addition, the chicken meat itself has got some kick to it.! My wife's theory is that they must brine their chicken with the spices. She says this because you can literally taste the spices inside the meat even if the batter is removed. Well, whatever it is whether they raise magical chicken with spicy genes, it's hella flavorful. And the waffles? They are to die for. I was told the waffles are sweet potato based. Yes, they were amazingly good and didn't taste like the run of the mill waffles you would find at every chicken and waffle place. Definitely a plus for flavor originality. We were given three pieces of chicken breast and one good size waffle. I finished two pieces of chicken and a quarter of the waffle while my wife finished 3/4 of her chicken piece and a quarter of her waffle. Yes, we were stuffed but not to the point where we didn't enjoy it. I am glad we shared and will try another dish the next time we are here. We were with another couple and they ordered biscuits and gravy in addition to the chicken and waffles and they regretted it. Unless you are a hot dog eating champion, I recommend you don't let your eyes take over your stomach. As personal tip, I recommend the gravy on the side (without the biscuits). It's the meatiest gravy I've ever eaten and goes well with the fried chicken as a dipping sauce. Finger sucking good!! By the way, our waitress was extremely polite, courteous, prompt, and most importantly always had a smile on her face. Well worth the trip and the wait!
(5)
Amanda K.
Institution: 1: an act of instituting : establishment 2 a: a significant practice, relationship, or organization in a society or culture;the institution of marriage; also: something or someone firmly associated with a place or thing. b: an established organization or corporation (as a bank or university) especially of a public character; also: asylum. Portland is full of them. Institutions, that is. For Yelp's sake, however, we're talking about food institutions, which again, Portland is FULL of them. Pok Pok, Le Pigeon, Ringside, Veritable Quandry......I bet you've never seen all four of those restaurants lumped into one category, but you see, they're institutions for different REASONS. Be it the food, the customer service, the cult-like following of fans/customers, or simply because it's "been around forever". We love these places, and we'll continue to talk about them for years to come. Screen Door is, undoubtedly and arguably, Portland's southern food institution. Because this place is so damn happenin', i've actually been waitng for years to dine here.I hate waiting in line for food. I don't care how crispy/delicious/freshly prepared it is, that's just my quirk. We finally descended upon this place last night, and now I see what all the hype is about!! And we only waited fifteen minutes for a table, which was certainly lovely. ....OBVIOUSLY.................this big-bottomed girl ordered the fried chicken. No question. This is where my four, not five stars, comes in. The chicken was perfectly delicious and the gravy that came with it was damn-near drinkable, but I prefer my fried chicken "midwest-style". Simply dredged in flour and spices, then fried to perfection with shortening. They use some kind of cracker or panko crust, and it was great, but it's not my preferred style of fried chicken. Thanks for the great meal, Screen Door! Oh, and your hush puppies are off the chain. You have indeed become Portland's institution of southern food, and you've earned it a million times over. (Fried chicken fried chicken fried chicken fried chicken. There. That's six solid "fried chicken" mentions in this review--well shit, now it's seven.)
(4)
Brenda A.
You need to eat here. I'm not kidding you. Get in your car, get to the airport/drive to Portland and put your name on the waiting list. The wait is absolutely awful, very true. Put your name on the list and find a coffee shop to play cards at, or something. Doesnt matter. What matters is the food here. My friend and I split the asparagus frittata, and the chicken and waffles. The fried chicken puts every other fried chicken I've ever had in my lifetime to shame. The waffles are sweet potato based and they are astounding. The portions are huge. And both meals were less than 25 bucks TOTAL. It is far and away so worth the calories and the wait, it's not even funny. This may be a stop for me every time I take a trip to Portland.
(5)
Blaine E.
It's always crowded and there's always a wait But it is totally worth it!!! The food is amazing the staff is friendly and helpful despite how busy they are. I have been here several times and can't wait to go again!!
(5)
Jamie C.
My friends and family went on a random evening for an amazing time! I moved to Portland a little under a year ago and we have been using yelp for recommendations on culinary expertise. I was NOT disappointed with the Screen Door. We had a little of everything. I had a sampler platter, my husband had the brisket and my family had the fried chicken. Not only are the proportions well worth the price, the taste is undeniably hands down amazing. The Macaroni and Cheese has to be the best macaroni and cheese I have ever had and the green bean casserole. AMAZING! The ambiance of the restaurant is very southern and down to earth, kid friendly, romantic in a sense, and personal. If you have been doubting standing in lines during our sprinkling season, bust out those rain boots and umbrellas and come down to the Screen Door, you will not regret it!
(5)
Theresa S.
Screen Door never disappoints! Even when you drive by on the weekend, and there are a billion people outside, it still moves pretty quickly. The fried chicken and waffles are like none other.
(4)
Miss H K.
I came here for dinner with a group of friends while visiting Portland. We had to wait a bit (about 30-40 minutes) for table on a Thursday night but it was worth it! The restaurant is cozy inside and dimly lit and there's also outside seating. I ordered the fried chicken with mash potatoes and corn bread. The chicken was really tasty, it was very moist and also boneless. Also tried some of my bf's chicken and dumplings (the special) that was also hearty and good. For dessert we had the red velvet cake with ice cream... delicious! Our waitress was friendly, prices were reasonable for the large portion of food and the menu had a nice selection. I saw alot of people order the Screen door plate where you can choose 3 of the side dishes as your entree- seems like the way to go! I'd definitely return here again in the future but would prepare to wait during peak meal times.
(5)
Katie V.
Holy cow! This place is amazing! I normally wouldn't wait an hour to be seated for breakfast, but I realized that almost everywhere in Portland has a wait and everywhere I went with one was good food. Free coffee while you wait is a bonus...and they have soy milk. Yay! I noticed several people ordering chicken and waffles. I'm not normally a fan but their chicken is freaking amazing. So juicy, tender and flavorful. I got the croque monsieur - which was the best one I've ever had - even better than the one I had in Paris. Everyone I was with really enjoyed their food. I highly recommend it!
(5)
Michael K.
Screen Door is an awesome restaurant! One of my favorite spots in Portland for sure! The fried chicken meal is one of my favorite meals of all time! The chicken is FANTASTIC! The collard greens is awesome as well! My girlfriend and I split that and a screen door plate. I love how you can choose three of the sides! The Mac and Cheese is AWESOME! I wasn't a fan of their cornbread but I didn't even care cause the rest of the food was so good!
(5)
Mike M.
We went for dinner last Saturday night and had one of the best dinners out we've had in months. The fried chicken, pork shoulder and brisket were amazing! Also tried a shrimp and grits dish and the jambalaya. Everything was perfect. We waited an hour to be seated, but it was DEFINITELY worth the wait!
(5)
Sarah C.
We've been for dinner twice, and I took the inlaws here for brunch when they were in town. My husband loves fried chicken, so he hasn't tried anything else on the menu. My first meal here was amazing, my second meal was just OK, my brunch was just OK. Their cornbread is not sweet, and I wasn't really a fan of the greens either. It's also really crowded once you finally do get seated. I get why people really like it, but I don't think it's particularly different from most decent places in Portland.
(4)
Hannah E.
Good Food. Pretty decent service. But like all the hip places in Portland, the wait is horrendous and filled with hipsters. Which I am becoming increasingly annoyed with. Another typical trendy restaurant annoyance is the squeezed in seating... why not pull a few tables out? We're all waiting 1hr+ anyhow... I'd rather wait and sit comfortably than cramp into a crowded dining area. There are tons of booths though, which is cool. Bloody mary's are delicious and so are the eggs bene
(4)
Barb C.
Best. Fried. Chicken and waffles. Ever. Worth the wait, that Crispy Fried Buttermilk-battered Chicken. Order a side of grits, sooooo delicious!! Cornbread is also tasty and not dry. The menu was well priced. Probably best to share the chicken and waffles, there is more than enough. We also made another visit for dinner. We did the beef brisket and the screen door tasting plate. Crispy fried catfish was good, not greasy. Buttery Mashed Potatoes are pleasurable, Great portions, fun ambience, amazing flavour.
(5)
Kyle M.
Great hushpuppies, fried chicken, and corn bread! Yummy to the max, even if the wait was 30-40 minutes.
(5)
Heidi P.
I loved the Screen Door! I'd give it a solid 4.5, but I'll be generous and round it up. The wait was probably 40 minutes long, but it was worth it! I had the fried catfish head biscuit sandwich, aka fried chicken on a biscuit sandwich style but doused in sausage gravy. The only thing that would have made it any better would have been a fat poached egg on top. My dining partner had the banana's foster french toast. It was yummy. Both dishes were HUGE. Mine also came with a side, which I chose grits after the suggestion of the bartender. The other option was home fry stile potatoes that looked bomb. I was slightly disappointed by the grits. They needed salt and more cheese. I added a touch of salt and a splash of house made hot sauce and they were pretty damn tasty. The biscuit I had was perfect. The top and bottom biscuits were huge, and I didn't touch the one that was on the top of the sandwich. In addition to the house made hot sauce, they also had jam, which was yummy smeared on the biscuit. The coffee served was also the bomb. We sat at the bar because it was so busy and the first thing that came available. Our server was personable and very efficient. Our food also came out pretty quick. I think I may have spent $15 total and I got a TON of food. It was so yummy, I want to go back and try everything else on the menu!!!
(5)
Vicky L.
Like my quick tip stated.... Thomas Keller, you've been dethroned. Prior to my experience at Screen Door, the perfect fried chicken in my book was Addendum's or Ad Hoc's. Came here for dinner, had the blackened fish special of the day served with patty pat squash and polenta and the fried chicken dinner. FRIED CHICKEN ALL THE WAY. It was the most flavorful, best fried chicken I've EVER had. It's boneless. Brined. Flavored. Deep fried, and eaten with love. I was not a fan of Portland given all the hype but I would fly back to have the fried chicken IN A HEARTBEAT!
(5)
Stacey N.
No doubt this is the best place to eat fried chicken!! We ordered some along with the screen door plate--wowee! I'm amazed at how good everything was. The place is also dimly lit and a perfect for a date. I am smitten.
(5)
Sarah T.
thumbs up on fried chicken!!! Not so thumbs up on fried okra. the orka is sliced and the breading is textured with some kind of seed. Stays really hot on plate but not very tasty and you don't get the nice slimy texture of okra. I was hoping it was battered like beer battered fish but not.
(4)
Felicia R.
The Macaroni and Cheese is BETTER THAN MY MOMS. I told my sister and she could not believe it. How could I say a restaurant made a better mac and cheese than my angel of a mother's own???? BUT THAT'S HOW GOOD IT IS. Who cares about anything else on the menu (well a lot of people care, they have good stuff)---you need to try this cheesy dish, it will change your life. (Skip the buttery mashed potatoes and pork chops, not great. Just get all mac.. The hushpuppies are a good appetizer, a lot come through maybe 10-15 quantity? great for sharing)
(5)
Janice S.
Came here on a Saturday afternoon with a group of 7. The wait time was about 45 minutes to an hour but we were seated in 30 minutes. We ordered chicken and waffles, fried oyster Benedict, build your own breakfast, etc. I don't remember the other orders but everything was delicious. The chicken and waffles can definitely be split between two or even three people. There are about 4 huge slices of tender, flavorful chicken breasts. The BF was able to get order a slice of chicken on the side that we took to go. The chicken was so tender and flavorful with a hint of spice. The eggs Benedict was perfect and I am not a fan of oysters, but the fried oysters were delicious. Great flavor and the oysters were perfectly cooked. They serve Stumptown coffee here which went great with my brunch. Expect a long wait and also a long wait for your food as it is very busy here, but worth it!
(5)
Bobby H.
A satiating smorgasbord of Southern delicacy. Try the low country grits with shrimp - amazing! I've heard about (and seen) the lines, but you get in very quickly. One particular visit was met with less than pleasurable server, but we can't all "be on" every day, right?! 5 Stars!
(5)
Chris L.
My wife and I had a wonderful dinner here. We tried to make last-minute reservations, which isn't something they will do. So we drove there on a whim in hopes of scoring a table. In 20-30 minutes we got our wish, though we sat on the patio which was a bit brisk (especially after 5 glasses of iced sweet tea!). The menu is filled with your standard southern foods so the decision was difficult. For starters, we got the macaroni and cheese (phenomenal!!). I got the brisket as my entree, which was very good with a tasty BBQ sauce. The brisket did have quite a bit of fat on it, which I'm not into so I cut that off. The brisket came with green beans (ok) and potato salad (VERY good with a spicy mustard flavor). My wife got the fried chicken, which she really liked though she noted how black peppery it was. Her dish came with mashed potatoes and collards, both of which were very good. As per usual, I'd hoped to have dessert but was far too stuffed to even attempt it. But I'll definitely come back to try more in the future so will have some dessert then.
(5)
Trevor V.
Absolutely amazing food!! Everything I have had on the menu is delicious. The wait can be a little long sometime but it's well worth it.
(5)
Piper G.
amazing. worth the wait.
(5)
Tom M.
This is one place that deserves every bit of 5 stars. Thank goodness for Yelp! or I wouldn't have even known this place existed. Absolutely amazing food. Everything on the menu looked great, I decided to go for the Fried Chicken, mash and gravy and collard greens....DAMN! They can cook some southern food. My girlfriend said that it was like eating along because I was so involved in chowin down this deliciousness. The chicken was perfectly crispy, the mashed were creamy and rich and the collard greens were tenders and seasoned well. One of the best meals I've ever eaten. Girlfriend got the shrimp and grits and it looked awesome, along with a cup of the bacon and potato soup which was very, very good. Really excited about this place. Cool vibe, great food, great prices, really what Portland is all about. Thanks Screen Door!
(5)
Antonious M.
The food is really solid . A very tasty marriage of flavors . It will almost always be an insane wait and parking in the neighborhood is a drag but that's generally what good food in Portland is . I will return as I can . The stand out for me above all else - Prailined bacon , cannot live without it :)
(5)
Patricia C.
Went back on a recent Friday night, prepared for the worthwhile wait and were delighted to be seated in about 15 minutes. Service was friendly and efficient, food was stellar. Maybe all this talk about long waits is a blessing in disguise.
(5)
Dominic V.
Y they call screen door? When I go there, I know see any screen on door?
(4)
Chenda N.
if it weren't for the obscene wait, i'd come back here for the food. service was laid back, aloof and got the job done. i asked for a non alcoholic bloody mary and when i tasted booze in my drink, i asked our server a few times if there was alcohol and she kept acting cool (not like awesome cool but more nonchalant cool) and said no. after i started to feel buzzed, i walked up to the bartender to ask and he said yes, he remembered my drink and knew there was alcohol and apologized. good grief! normally i wouldn't mind, but i was the DD that day for gosh sake (and the what ifs pregnant, allergies...) anyway... we ordered two of the famous chicken (and waffles) which were seasoned to perfection and were really tender and crispy. salads came with a generous portion or blue cheese and bacon. omelettes were ok, a bit bland and sandwich was ok. food came out piece by piece which was weird, there was 7 of us including 2 kids. so that leads to the seating thing... we drove from seattle to all meet in PDX at the restaurant and i talked to the hostess many times on the phone letting her know we were on our way, long story short.. a hostess knows it takes forever to find a table for 7 and even though their policy says they can't seat til everyone is there, give me a break, we were missing 2 people, who were on their way...she couldn't even get a table ready..so finally when the 2 ppl came, we had to wait an additional 45 minutes until a table opened. LAME! it was a bday brunch, we paid for the dessert but our server was nice to bring us a candle with dessert.
(4)
Jenn T.
Pretty much the most amazing meal I've had here in portland! This is a southern style food joint and is wildly popular, only open for brunch on the weekends and open for dinner on the weekdays. The line is long, but definitely worth it. I came here for some good ol brunch and I love that they have free coffee for you while you wait! When finially seated, we sat at the bar and had some amazing service from Sam, the bartender. I was very amazed with his bartending skills as he made this cool drink in front of us, complete with flames and burning sugar. We ordered the chicken and waffels, the corned beef hash and the biscuits and gravy. They were ALL amazing, just as everyone had already commented. The chicken and waffels were very delicious, the chicken had a tinge of peppery flavor and the waffels were fluffy and delicious. The corned beef hash was also amazing and probably one of the best I've tried ever. It was mixed with potatoes and was so well flavored. The biscuits and gravy was also super yummy, with lots of gravy. I was super glad that we split those 3 dishes, because the biscuits and gravy went AMAZINGLY well with the corned beef hash, I wish they had a combo of those 2! And the chicken and waffels was a great addition. I highly recommened this place and I wish we had one like it back in my hometown. The wait may be daunting but it is definitely worth it, I promise!
(5)
Khiem L.
I was born and raised in the South, Houston bred in fact. Holy crap, I have never had better chicken and waffles in my life. EVER. We were warned that we'd wait for a long time but we waited in line for maybe 30 minutes only. While waiting we enjoyed some of the plentiful drinks so there were no complaints. The area itself is also highly conducive to people-watching with an interesting mix of people. When we sat, our server was awesome. Instantly knew the group's personalities and easily communicated with us. Most of us were out of towners so many of felt obligated to order the chicken and waffles. Someone did venture out and tried the corned beef hash. HOLY CRAP. The chicken was spicy battered well and mixed with enough spices for a good kick. It was fried to perfection. Every bite was as moist as a fresh piece of fruit. The waffles were perfectly sweet and didn't need any syrup. The corned beef hash was just as unbelievable. I can't recall the plethora of flavors but I do remember liking it all. At first the prices did make me hesitate but the portions more than justified the cost. On top of that, the flavor made it more than worth the cost. I am definitely stopping by this place again the next time I am in Portland.
(5)
Michael P.
I've only visited Portland once, and I'm sure as heck glad I found my way to Screen Door for dinner. The long lineup was a bit of a turnoff at first, but the wait turned out to be worth every second of it. Seated next to the kitchen, my friends and I were able to witness all the chefs hard at work and perfecting every single dish that leaves. What astonished us Canadians the most were the massive portions that were being plated. I'm not talking about a meal fit for a king. Rather, a meal fit for three kings! It'll be difficult for me to list all the dishes we ordered, but I highly recommend ordering their beer battered chicken (an apparent signature dish), the fried catfish, anything with their bacon mashed potatoes, cornbread, and (if you dare attempt) their burger. I, myself, ordered the pork loin daily special with seasonal vegetables, mashed potatoes, salsa, and some other items of delicious. For the amount of food we were presented with by our sociable and friendly server, we'd expected ourselves to pay at least $30 per person. Guess what? It was more along the lines of $14 (excluding tip)! Yes, there is no tax in Oregon. Screen Door had me thinking about their food and somehow integrating my visit in several conversations for days, even weeks after my dining experience. If only they were open on Labor Day because I prepped my stomach for a lunch feast. Cheap, delicious food, massive portions, a friendly, vibrant atmosphere, and staff that are on their toes and willing to answer all your questions easily earns Screen Door a 5-star review.
(5)
Jason H.
Super good place for soul food--their fried chicken is tender and juicy with an epic crunch, and their specials will always make you salivate! I also think they make some of the best mac & cheese in the city and have a nifty atmosphere that's casual and a bit romantic for a foodie! However, the times they are open are mostly inconvenient for brunch and dinner and the lines can be long with waiting times in the hours some nights. There are other great places for similar cuisines and I think the place has gotten way too much hype recently. Go here if you're in the area or you haven't tried it--it's definitely worth it.
(4)
Sasha B.
Great Souther style food and good drinks too! We tried the "Garden Grits" and the chicken and waffles... It was enough food to feed an army even tho both dishes were right around $10!!! I'd definitely come back to try dinner if I have the opportunity to get to Portland again.
(5)
David G.
Incredible prices and worth the wait....get the Fried Chicken & Waffles and if you are a Vegan I'm Sorry...you don't know what you are missing....MMMMMM Good!
(5)
Betty N.
YUMMMMMMM.... Talk about food porn! Ordered dishes that were part of the specials for the day. Appetizer: fried green tomatoes with shrimp, entree: pork cutlet. Both were incredibly delicious, esp the appetizer and mashed potatoes. Even the Broccoli was delicious. It's worth a trip back to come back to Portland and eat here again, esp since Portland is a beautiful city (when the sun is out).
(5)
Rod C.
My family liked all of it but I only liked the eggs Benedict and the waffle chicken. I suppose if you are into cajun spice, you'll like the food because it seemed like everything was spicy. My daughter ordered a waffle and says it was the best waffle she had ever had. I had the corned beef hash and all I could taste was the cajun spice. There really is an hour wait outside adn they won;t seat you until you're all there. I wouldn't go back. It wasn't worth the wait for me...sorry.
(3)
Heidi R.
I love screen door. In the interest of full disclosure I am not from the south nor have I ever been so I don't know if the food is authentic southern cuisine. I just know it tastes great! My favorites are the fried chicken and the mac & cheese. If you are in the mood for a drink the porch swing lemonade is great! The wait can be a bit long, but I've noticed if pick an off time it's not so bad.
(5)
Rebecca R.
I love the praline bacon. Do not order it if you have the following conditions: diabetes or heart disease! Also, hubby and I had the chicken and waffles. It is one of their signature items and is quite good. If you don't have a huge appetite, share with some one else. One huge waffle and three, yes, three fully breaded chicken breasts. We had leftovers that we used for an extra meal so I guess we got more than our money's worth. My only issue is that the line is soooo long. I refuse to wait two hours for food. Get there long before it opens to ensure you will be seating early.
(5)
Linda L.
Okay, the food was great and all, but I loved the dessert even more. Their Ban-offee Pie, freakin derish! Shortbread pecan crust, layer of banana and caramel, and then a layer of whipped cream...... it was so good. It sounds really sweet, but it's not. Definitely go right when it opens though or else you'll be in line for a while. Next time, I'll probably just order to go.
(5)
Stephanie H.
Lines out the door and a 45 minute wait. Host was nice enough to provide us coffee no charge told us to help ourselves. If waiting wasn't enough parties that weren't waiting as long as us that was larger had reservations and was placed by the host immediately. Well if that wasn't a screen door in the face! So after 45 minutes we were seated. I expected for that wait nicer service. Our waitress had no personality was like talking to a corpse. We orders our drinks 15 minutes later they came out. Thank goodness their bloody Mary was amazing and so was their spiced rum hot apple cidar my husband ordered. My husband ordered the chicken and waffles which should be called the chickens and waffle. I ordered the vegetable grits which was so so. My husband love his dish. I had a couple of bites but must admit I have had better. This restaurant should be renamed butter the sides to fit you through the door after a meal. All in all too overrated and don't know what all the fuss is about. If your looking to gain weight and expand a little come here. But as far as the service goes the screen door hits you in the face and the food hits you in the gut!)
(2)
Raja S.
Good Southern food (as long as you can put up a wait of 1+ hours). We were there for brunch on Sunday and we ended up waiting for 1.5 hours. We ordered the following: Fried chicken and waffle: Pretty good (huge quantity) and had a little spicy taste. Fried Oyster Benedict: Pretty good as well (should have asked the eggs to be well cooked). Even the veggie dish (cajun scramble without sausage was pretty good) corn bread: just fine. Very nice service. Lots of street parking. My previous review for the same restaurant is not as great: Food: The one item that I liked in most southern restauarants is Jambalaya... the Jambalaya here wasn't good (not rich in flavor)... We were a group of 6, so we got to taste several of their items... I liked the appetizers (Hushpuppies, fried okra was decent). The Creole Jambalaya was okay, nothing to brag about, however the Crispy Fried Buttermilk-battered Chicken was good. The trout pecan was decent as well. Comparing to Montage restaurant, it does not even come close (fried chicken was the only one better in Screendoor).
(4)
Cayla C.
Jambalaya was delicious. The mac & cheese was a little much. Make sure you get in line early. Also note to all of those who stand in line alone for their group, if your whole group isn't there you won't be seated. Simple!
(4)
Linda V.
This place is a gem. The food is amazing--best fried chicken ever. I was so sad that I couldn't come back for brunch--chicken and waffles sounds amazing! I had the fried chicken-- the sides weren't anything special, pretty classic and standard, but the chicken was just so good. It wasn't super greasy, so flavorful, not the least bit overcooked. Just amazing. My friend had the special of the day which was some sort of rock fish. It had a really delicate, clean and crisp taste. The plate was so colorful. We were extremely full but I insisted on blackberry cobbler. Usually when I've had a fantastic meal somewhere, I want to top it off with dessert. It didn't look that special, but it was delicious. Warm blackberry filling topped with these little crumbly biscuits that had a hint of lemon. There was a giant scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Uh-Maze-Ing. This is where I'm coming for brunch next time I'm in P-Town.
(5)
Jacob B.
I've lived in Portland for 6 years and one of the many things I love about this city is the food. Screen Door is one of the reasons Portland's food game is on another level! I typically order the screen door plate because ordering 1 dish is not enough. Although every plate, breakfast, lunch or dinner, has been amazing. As for the 'other' menu items... order an old fashioned and hushpuppies the minute you arrive, and make sure you end with the pecan pie. The ingredients, preparation and attention to detail is what sets this place a part.
(5)
Dian K.
Yes, yet another 5 star review for this place. But deservingly so! I've been here many times for brunch - here's a secret trick that I'm sure I'll regret announcing - they DO allow reservations! But it has to be for their first seating (9am, not as early as others). Then you'll get the stink eyes from the hoards of people waiting around the block for their seats. This week I finally got to go for dinner. Fried chicken was awesome. Yes, I'm beating a dead horse. But it's so crunchy on the outside and juicy in the inside. My mouth is watering now thinking about it. Not big on greens, I skipped the collard greens and went for mac and cheese instead. Mac and cheese is awesome. 'nuff said.
(5)
J L.
The best southern food in the NW! I live in Seattle and visit here every time I'm visiting Portland. Love the food here and staffs are so friendly and helpful. Love, love, love this place.
(5)
Latoya H.
This food aint spicy. I guess its aight southern food. However i never see black eye peas or ox tails on the menu. I forget how bland portland is sometimes when it come to heat in ur food.
(4)
Chee K.
It's hard to add another 5 star rating to this restaurant, but I'm gonna do it! It took me about a year of living in Portland to finally go to this venerated restaurant, but once I did, I was hooked. I've gone to brunch and dinner and wish they opened for lunch during the weekday cause I need me some more Screen Door. My main staple would be the fried chicken and waffles offered at brunch. The fried chicken is spicy and crunchy, large pieces of tender breast. The waffles are made with sweet potatoes. Delicious combination. I've also had the Screen Door plate, gumbo, jambalaya, fried catfish and of course the collard greens. Collard greens are so good here, you can taste their long slow cooked with flecks of bacon and pork. The fried oysters are large, perfectly cooked deliciously coated in corn meal concoction. Their cocktails are nothing to sneeze at, they are perfect to pair with the spicy, tasty fried Southern goodness. YUM! I will be back to try everything.
(5)
Tiffany M.
Ah, nothing says the weekend like hanging out on a random sidewalk on E. Burnside for an hour with a hot cup o' Stumptown in my hand. This may sound awful, but in fact I quite enjoy it, because I know that this food is worth the wait. If we have folks from out of town, or are just in the mood for some deliciousness, we come to Screen Door. The mimosas are good, the Bloody Mary is better. I can't stop ordering the cajun scramble: the veggies, the andouille sausage, the amazing potatoes on the side... Ahh. Ask for a biscuit instead of toast, there's an upcharge but (again) it's worth it. If you're in the mood for trying their chicken and waffles you will be so so happy. I'm not a big fan of either generally but, Oh Baby is that batter crispy and is that chicken beautifully moist. It's also boneless which is a huge plus. The benedict is always a winner with my husband, and my friend who ordered the bacon praline waffle almost lost a finger once I caught sight of that beauty. The service is always a team effort, and it's the same hard working group every time I'm there. They are a well-oiled machine and it's no surprise considering the demand. The prices are also incredibly reasonable, they could easily charge double and be just as busy. Take a few friends, write your name on the list, and settle down for a long winter's nap on the sidewalk until that glorious moment when it's your name that's being called. At least there's the hot coffee and good company while you wait.
(5)
KC U.
Best fried chicken ive ever had! We had to wait about 40 mins to get a seat but well worth it! Service was great and will definitely be returning SOON because I just cant make fried chicken like they do. Thinking about getting a job there just to learn the recipe hehe :)
(5)
Vicky L.
Since I'd just be another fantastic raving review amongst ~1000, I'll simply say this: First time in Portland, and Screen Door was THE PERFECT OPENING DINNER. LOVE LOVE LOVE! Oh! Came with Stephanie S. - read her review!
(5)
Lynn H.
Great food. Well worth the wait. even at 900PM we say people lining up to get in for dinner.
(5)
Abbe and Jebby E.
Many Portlanders already know the secret of Screen Doors magic, so if you want to eat here expect a wait. If you have a party of 6 or more you can skip the line with a reservation, but don't dare be late or show up without your complete party, Screen Door's policies are strict and an empty table doesn't sit empty for long. Screen Door uses all local and seasonal ingredients so they can "maintain the connection between farm and plate" as they put it. Their southern inspired menu brings a fresh perspective on down-home soul food cooking to Portland and definitely gives some of Portland's other Southern inspired eateries a run for their money. You won't find a lot of kitschy Portland art or clever and snarky chalk board specials, but you'll find it comfortable and that's all that matters when your knees deep in your Mac N Cheese pouring Hurricanes down your gullet. All around Screen Door offers a new way to eat Southern in Portland and a better way to get tipsy enough to sing Karaoke two blocks down.
(5)
June P.
OMG! So I'm on a road trip from Los Angeles to Vancouver I decide to bust out the Yelp app and see what there was to eat around the area I was in (Near Portland)... Well Screen Door popped up as a near by restaurant with an amazing review so I decided to hit this place up... Well Yelp reviewers were right, there was a huge line but the wait was worth it, the food was amazing.. nom nom nom.... Eggs Benedict's were amazing... I don't know what is in that hollandaise sauce but it was amazing! Very creamy and flavorful and the eggs were cooked to perfection, one slice into the egg and the yolk oozes all over the muffin and sauce.... I think this has to be the best Eggs Benedict i've ever had... Closet I think is Bogarts in Hawaii. Oh and I can't forget the restaurant staff were amazing, very nice and attentive. One other thing is we had ordered a togo item and was told it would take 30min or less so my husband and I walked next door and got coffee while we waited for our togo order, well the waiter was nice enough to go outside and search for us just to tell us our order was ready, how awesome is that? You don't get this kind of service in Los Angeles. I think the only gripe i have is that they were closed mid-day!!! I was so looking forward to one last bite before I headed back down to LA and was totally bummed when I found out they were closed for a few hours.... Next Time!!!
(5)
Brittany E.
As many others have said, one should be prepared to wait in line if you go here, however the food is well worth the wait! I love cajun/creole cuisine, so finding this little place was exciting. Even more exciting is the fantastic food. I went for breakfast and had an omelet. Regrettably I forgot which one, but I would try anything on the menu without hesitation and probably enjoy it immensely. Go give it a try!
(5)
Daniel R.
This place is amazing!!! Chicken and waffle is near perfect, ambiance is fantastic, and the bloody Mary is pretty darn good. There is always a wait, unless you have a group of 6 or more. Then you can use the call ahead service, which is convenient!
(5)
Stephanie S.
Be prepared for a bit of a wait, the giant portions however make up for it. Good place to bring a group, so you can order a bit of everything and share. Everything we ordered had a good punch of Southern flavor to it. The fried chicken crispy, the brisket fall-apart tender, the mac-n-cheese cheesy, and the veg fragrant and light.
(4)
Sean K.
I just read my last review on Screen Door and couldn't understand why and how I gave it 4 stars instead of 5! So far I have tried their signature chicken dish, screen door plate, and smoked $ BBQ'd beef brisket, and all three of them were fantastic. I will save you some time from describing how great, flavorful, delicious, filling and amazing they are since there are a little more than 900 reviews... wow. One thing though, going there too early can be troublesome. Street parking is the only means of parking nearby so I try to avoid being there around 5pm. My friends and I went there around 7:30pm (I know it's late and I was dying to devour that chicken...) and we were seated immediately. Also I'm sure going there on Tuesday night helped us too. It wasn't as busy as typical Saturday or Friday nights. Duh. Anyway, Screen Door definitely sets the bar high in terms of fried chicken... 1. Good fried chicken 2. Great fried chicken made with happy chicken 3. Amazing, heavenly fried chicken made with chickens from heaven = Screen Door Fried Chicken
(5)
Yaz H.
I don't give many/any five star ratings but this was hands down an out of body food experience...Brown-sugar-pecan-bacon...Need I say more...You can build your own breakfast which allows you to sample some of the items...I got the brown-sugar-pecan-bacon, a biscuit with gravy and roasted potatoes...Momma got the fried chicken and sweet potato waffle and her only complaint was the chicken was boneless and momma loves to gnaw on some fried chicken bones and that the chicken was a bit too peppery, other than that we barely said a word to each other while eating so, you know that means it was crazy good...We saw someone eating the fried oyster benedict and that's what I'm gonna get next time...Get there right when they open or wait till after noon cause the wait is no joke and they run out of specials...Its all about the brunch!!!
(5)
Tricia M.
We were in Portland 2 days, and went both nights because this place was so good. But, it almost didn't happen. We called numerous times the first night and the phone was never answered. We arrived an hour and a half before close, and the host told us that for our party of 4, he didn't think he could fit us in, and that we should come another time. We saw several open tables, and there were 3 names on the waiting list! I told him we would give it a shot anyway. We were sat in about 25 minutes, so not sure what that was about. I do know 2 other groups that came in while we waited were told the same thing and left. The host seemed really annoyed both nights. Last grump before the good part: We had a baby with us when we sat, and the table beside us must have made a remark because the host looked at them sympathetically and said, "I am so sorry!" Seriously fella? We don't need you to apologize for us, as if we were doing something rude or wrong. Now, on to the food: I loved the option to choose from the sides to create an entree. The mac and cheese was pure heaven, there was a to die for cucumber salad, and a black kale special side that was scrumptious. My husband said that his shrimp and grits were a bit t'aint ("there ain't" enough on the plate), but was better than most he'd had in the south. Oh, and the grits were really creamy. The cornbread was just okay, so the honey butter helped heaps. When we go back to Portland, we will be sure to revisit!
(4)
Joseph C.
There needs to be a Screen Door in Seattle. I love visiting PDX and checking out this place. Foodgasm.
(4)
Mollee F.
Screen Door, yours is the meal I won't be able to forget after our trip to the Pacific Northwest. We enjoyed Sunday brunch here a couple weeks ago and I'm still trying to recover from the deliciousness. Yes, there will be a wait. We seemed to luck out, arriving around 10:45 and being seated before 11:15 (though we were told it would likely be an hour). We overheard a man later saying he had arrived before the restaurant opened at 9:30 and was seated just before us. I don't know that I could have sat around smelling those amazing dishes for two hours. Pure torture. This is a busy and energetically noisy restaurant, but you won't need to worry about conversing once the food arrives. You'll be way too busy stuffing your face. Be forewarned that the portions here are ridiculously huge. If you can find a dining partner that wants the same thing as you, for heaven's sake, just share it. My husband encouraged me to try the fried chicken and waffle. I was fearful of the size of it and rightfully so. The waffle alone is the size of a dinner plate and big and fluffy. Then you get three giant boneless chicken breasts with it. The woman next to us was smart enough to just get a box for two of the chicken breasts right away. She had her dinner all set. I wished we would have had the capability to refrigerate and reheat so we could have done the same, but alas, we were hotel bound. This was, by far, the best fried chicken I have ever had. The seasoning is amazing with a bit of a kick to it that will give your mouth something to remember. The chicken itself is moist and flavorful. The waffle - that's almost an afterthought by comparison - but it was also good. My husband ordered the bananas flambe french toast. It's four huge pieces of challah bread dipped in batter and topped with rum-soaked bananas. It was super rich and boldly flavored, but also good. There are so many things on this menu I would go back for and I literally can't wait to. You know a place is good when even the orange juice is the best you've ever had. Bravo, Screen Door. You deserve all the praise you receive (and if you want to open a second location in Minneapolis, I'll be the first in line.)
(5)
Andy J.
Fried chicken is some of the best I've had and I couldn't stop eating the fried okra. The greens were respectable as well. It was a Monday night at 630 and the place was packed.
(4)
Oanh L.
There was a long list of names ahead of us but it only took 30 minutes to get us seated. This place is worth the wait. My bf and I went here last year. This year this was the first place we ate at. Their chicken and waffles is the best we ever had. The waffle is thick and a good compliment to the chicken. The huge portion of chicken is so crispy, full of flavor and the black pepper balances the sweetness of the maple syrup. It even tastes good without proper heating(we used a blow dryer because we're staying at a hotel). The praline bacon comes with 3 strips of thick cut bacon with a sweet glaze. Its breakfast and dessert rolled into one. Bacon with sugar is a win win combo. This is a little sweet if you ate it alone, I recommend eating it with your meal. The oysters egg benedict has perfectly battered oysters. The batter adds an extra element to the oysters. The egg benedict has strips of bacon instead of ham. Everything tasted so good and was reasonably priced.
(5)
Sarah A.
absolutely delicious! totally worth the wait.
(5)
Lynn M.
Delish brunch: nicely spiced & crunchy moist chicken n waffles, fried oyster benedict, praline maple bacon (!), and cornbread w blueberry compote. Wow!
(5)
Patrick K.
Oh Sara! Let me just give some major props to our server Sara who made our evening at the screen door even more wonderful than it would have been without her! Where to start, better yet, where to end?? Got there at 5:20, line already accumulated for 5:30 opening. We started off with the amazing fried green tomatoes in conjunction with a deliciously fresh cucumber salad. I continued with a cup of gumbo that would be a bowl in most zip codes (not complaining!) and savored every last bite of the uh-mazing shrimp and grits. Holy hell that was good. My boys (8 and 11) loved their choices as well; this place is a solid solid home run.
(5)
Jae S.
This will be a quick review. The food is really good, but if you want to get good customer service you better be straight. It is apparent to me that the gentleman owner does not like the gays, he made this abundantly clear with his rude service. It was my first time there and went with my straight friend who has been going there for years and wanted me to try something new, it was embarrassing to have her apologize to me repeatedly for his rude behavior. It was an awful experience I'll never go back:(
(3)
Esther J.
They get 5 stars because they have the best grits. PERIOD. Ridiculous portions of fried chicken and waffles. Fresh ingredients and dishes made with absolute touch. Burgers take awhile because it's just ginormous and they make their own patty... It's a great brunch place just be ready to wait.
(5)
Jeff H.
Yup. The fried chicken rocks. And the gravy that comes with it is beyond excellent. Colour me tickled.
(5)
Lucas C.
This place very well could be a 5 star locale, but unfortunately we had to get our food to go. Quite possibly some of the best fried chicken I've ever had. Mashed potatoes were great too. Cool vibe in the restaurant. Somewhat family friendly. Nice place all around.
(4)
Frank D.
Awesome joint. I had a cup of the gumbo (it was a pretty large serving for a cup, but I thought it was just 'okay'), and the pulled pork sandwich (woooooweeee blows your fucking socks off). The pork was perfect, super tender and super moist and extremely flavorful. It had a really hearty layer of cole slaw on top of it. Loved it. The corn bread was super hearty, but be forewarned one order is probably good for two (one order had two huge cake-like pieces of dense, delicious cornbread). The (presumably whipped) butter that came with it was what I imagine crack to be. Above all of that, friendly service. A+!
(5)
Dave S.
I came here on a rainy Saturday morning a half hour after opening. I waited 5 minutes for a table for two, which was located outside on the covered patio. The server was very gracious and attentive. He made sure our coffee cups were filled and had no problem going over the menu and making recommendations. The wait for our food, however, was pretty bad. After ordering, we waited 40 minutes for our food. I understand the kitchen was slammed, but that's still a long time to wait. The food was worth the wait, though. The chicken and biscuits were AWESOME. Crispy and moist, with a side of well made grits that complemented the saltiness of the meal perfectly. A+! The pancakes were also great-- I think they used ricotta cheese or something to make the insides extra moist and tasty. A Eat here!
(5)
CL B.
Sat on the patio to celebrate the 1st 85 degree day! Hubby loved his brisket , but I loved the homemade pecan pie. I gave this a 5 for the pecan pie....
(5)
john l.
Good food but the wait is annoying. They should just open during off hours so people like me can go in when it's not crowded and loud. I probably won't go back because of that line outside... I really don't like feeling like I'm standing in a depression era bread line, and when you finally get a seat the little match girl is peering at you through the window waiting for your seat. Luh-huh-ahhh- Aim! (lame)
(2)
K F.
I would easily give this place a 5 stars except it is really noisy. We sat inside on a Saturday around noon. Maybe it would have been a different experience sitting outside on the patio. But let me tell you about their fennel sausage scramble or their chicken fried waffles - actually, you will want to try them for yourself!
(4)
Theresa E.
Holy taste buds!! Thank you Jesus for the Screen Door! My sister suggested this place and raved about the fried chicken and waffles. Growing up in Texas, I have a soft spot for southern comfort cooking. So me, my sis and mom decided to dine here for lunch. Check out this list of food we ordered.... Praline maple bacon- SO GOOD-YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS Chicken apple sausage Biscuits and sausage country gravy-OMG YES OMG!! Pulled pork sandwich Strawberry rhubarb pancakes Creole Bloody Mary - I LOVE THIS SPICY DRINK! Now according to my sister, this place normally has an hour long wait (sometimes longer). We were blessed when we went. We arrived at 1:30pm on a beautiful sunny saturday and there were plenty of empty tables. I think everyone was out enjoying the sun. But even if I had to wait 2 hours, I would do it! If you love southern comfort food, go to the Screen Door. I wish they had one of these in Los Angeles.
(5)
Stephenie B.
You can't go wrong with the "Screen Door Platter". So many lovely choices I take forever. Wait staff is very friendly and welcoming. One of our favorite places to meet up with friends.
(5)
Cherise F.
My impression of Portland brunch is this: there are a few wildly popular places in the city, those places don't take reservations, and everyone is happy to wait 45-90 minutes for their food. Screen Door is one of those places. (It was, after all, mentioned by name on Portlandia). My boyfriend and I came here on a Sunday at about 10 am for brunch. We had to wait about 45 minutes, as did everyone else. Everyone seemed happy to wait, and enjoyed their free coffee or coffee from the cafe next door. It must be a cultural thing about Portland that I don't really get. I don't think anyone in Seattle would tolerate having to wait that long for brunch. I was excited to try this place but their Southern-themed menu looked appealing to me. I ordered the the blackened tofu and egg scramble ($7.95). It was delicious, hearty, and a great value. My boyfriend got their famous brunch dish- the fried chicken and waffles ($12.95). A thick Belgian waffle is piled with 3 or 4 thick pieces of fried chicken held together like a tower with a steak knife. The wait was long and the noise level high, but the prices were great, the food was excellent, and the service was excellent and efficient.
(4)
Kay N.
Heard this place from a co-worker. All I have to say is order the chicken and waffles! The chicken was crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. It also had a hint of spiciness which I liked. The waffle had a nice crunch to it, yet the inside was soft and fluffy. I would definitely recommend this dish. Other people on my table had the pancakes (huge btw), fried oyster eggs Benedict (she said it was so-so), and the customized breakfast dish of eggs, praline/brown sugar bacon, and sausage. The praline/brown sugar bacon is really sweet, so if you have a sweet tooth, i would say go for it! Our service was great, overall I would recommend this place for breakfast food!
(4)
Sherry S.
Hype does not exist here. No way, no how! No flies on them. Must be due to the screen door, dunno. I didn't even bother bringing my camera to take food pics etc. with almost 900 reviews at this place. Nothing more to see here. And thought that my 600th review would be worthy enough for them instead. At 515pm on a Saturday we got in their line, which was around the block. I hate lines but it was pretty much a moot point. We managed to get in at the first rush anyway. The servers, bussers were "on" from the get go. No table left unturned. Well choreographed.. and never got to see them sweat. They were helpful, attentive, and yet not impatient. 8 huge prawns in this most amazing sauce atop the most creamy and flavorful grits.. Prawns cooked absolutely perfectly. I asked for the dish sans bacon, and I did not miss it. Sometimes when I ask for a dish without the meat it tastes like it's not complete. The chef was on top of it here. I ate all of it, every bite. We sat outside in the nice summer breeze enjoying their home-like cooked meal, sipping on our drinks. It was marvelous.
Best Breakfast ever! I have been meaning to write a review about this place. I ate here last year and the Screen Door STILL makes me yearn for the Vegetable Hash. The restaurant is a house, small in size but large enough to where you don't feel like you're sitting in the laps of the diners around you. This place was packed when we went but the free coffee made the wait bearable. The Vegetable Hash was made up of butternut squash, brussel sprouts, onions and potatoes. The vegetables were roasted then mixed together with a bit of seasoning. The mixture of vegetables were heavenly! My husband had a great dish of a biscuit with a piece of fried chicken and of course gravy. Everyone that worked there was friendly and made sure we were doing alright. I love the fact that they did not follow the "normal" breakfast. A must try place when you visit Portland!
(5)
Lindsay F.
best friend chicken of my LIFE! the chicken and waffle is what happy dreams are made of. Service is good, wait was less than I was expecting and the sausage gravy is to die for. LOVE this place.
(5)
Lina C.
I visited this place on a Saturday morning at 9:30am. There was a 45 minute wait for a party of two. The wait was expected...what good breakfast joint doesn't have a super long wait on weekends?! Grabbed coffee next door and came back 45 minutes later to be seated immediately. I ordered the chicken and waffles which was DELICIOUS. My waffle was a little overdone but the chicken more than made up for it. The chicken was well seasoned, moist and just plain delicious. I have never had fried chicken from any other place that I liked as much as this. It was also a huge portion size. I also tried the biscuits and gravy. It wasn't served with the traditional biscuit but rather a bread; however, it still worked because it was one of the best I've tasted. The service was good and our server was efficient as well. I will definitely return and I am happy to say the food was well worth the wait.
(5)
Sylvester I.
Unbelievable food! Try the Pecan crusted trout amazing! This place is a great twist on southern cooking.
(5)
Roman S.
review #890.. what's not to like about screen door besides the wait. this place serves really delicious, well - prepared southern food. portions are nice and everything i've had did not disappoint (more sauce on the brisket please!) best place in portland? not really.. but, if you want southern food you will be satisfied.
(5)
Frank H.
My wife and I like to go here for breakfast when we're in Portland. There's always a line of people waiting to get in. We park around the block, put our name on the list, get coffee next door and we're usually seated shortly there after. The fried chicken and waffles is a strange but delicious breakfast. Good service. The servers act like they own the place because of how they hustle. It is impressive to watch. Everything that I've eaten here has been very tasty. It can be loud though because of the size and open seating arrangement . This doesn't mix well with hangovers.
(4)
George C.
Waited an hour for some tasty food. I ordered the biscuits and gravy and they were the best I've ever had. The gravy was yummy but the fresh biscuits were the deal breaker. They were slightly browned on both sides which made them crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Very tasty! My eggs were cooked perfectly too! The cheese grits were yummy but I prefer them to be a little less runny. Just my personal preference. Overall they were very good. I also tried a few bites of the Alabama Scramble and potatoes. Enjoyed both! Our server was probably nice but didn't say much because she was so busy running around. Good job overall. This place is always packed so be patient when waiting for a table and for the food to arrive.
(5)
Aimee L.
Damn fine breakfast. Asinine wait for a table but hey, it's Portland and having the bartender making bloody mary after bloody mary made it definitely worth it (why don't more restaurants do this?!). Shrimp & grits is the finest I've ever had, even better than my homemade version. Tasty. 'nuff said.
(4)
Kimberly C.
Yum! If you visit Portland, you must eat at Screen Door. It's a small restaurant in the Burnside neighborhood. No matter what time you eat here, get early and be prepared to wait online, outside or inside. Yes, the food is that good. My family and I ate Sunday brunch here. We arrived at 8:40 am waiting for the 9:00am opening. A long line wrapped around the building had already formed! Promptly at 9, the doors opened and we were seated in a booth on the left side of the restaurant. I knew I wanted to try the sweet potato waffles (sans the fried chicken-I heard it was good though). My parents ordered Oyster Benedict, my sister had Shrimp 'n grits, and I happily ordered sweet potato waffles topped with banana slices. Our food came out quickly and our waitress was efficient. Everyone was happy with their food. My waffles were beautifully arranged on a white plate. They were fluffy, sweet potatoey, and delicious. They have something for everyone on their menu, from the pickiest eaters. They also have a full bar so you can enjoy a libation with your meal. I would totally return to this restaurant when I return to Portland!
(4)
Ferm B.
I have only eaten here for brunch, but it was awesome! If you are anywhere near portland during breakfast time, you have to try it. It was worth the wait.
(5)
Alaina W.
It was a Sunday night, and the wait was long. It was a Sunday night, and the wait was worth it. Our server was... odd. Bad night? Feeling sick? Don't know what her problem was. I got the fried chicken which was supposed to be the best-selling dish. It was tasty, but didn't have soul. The mac + cheese was good. Huge, bubbly serving. Still don't know what our server's problem was. Stop ignoring us. The brisket was very good. A little more sauce, please. Sweet tea was good, but not sweet enough. More sugar, please. Our server still had a problem. It doesn't hurt to smile. It's loud. It's got a great view into the kitchen. It's got the most fantastic strawberry shortcake I've tasted in the world. So far. Fresh. Ass. Biscuit. Delicate. Delicious. Our server had a problem. And she didn't care if she got a good tip or not. Oh. The women's restroom has the smoothest, quietest paper towel dispenser ever. I hope you get a different server than we did. Because you'll want to stop by the Screen Door.
(5)
Phuong K.
My family and I made a trip from Seattle to Portland just so we can try this place out. We came here for brunch and it was still very busy when we got here, but it is well worth the wait. My family and I got a bunch of different dishes to try such as: -Shrimp and grits: very very good grits!!! -Fried chicken with sweet potato waffle: Fried chicken was super crispy and juicy in the middle. The waffle was very good as well -Praline maple bacon: AMAZING -Eggs Benedict: Good, but they over poached the egg -French toast: Very very sweet -Corned beef scramble: Very good but had a strong mustard taste to it -Homemade sausage and egg sandwich: AMAZING. Very flavorful and delish!!! Probably the best breakfast during my trip. Everything was very good and flavorful. I love that they have different twists to their food. This place is a packed house all the time so be prepared to wait, but of course it is well worth it. Definitely a go to place when you are in Portland.
(5)
Amanda S.
If you come here for weekend brunch as I did, you might be disappointed to find an insanely long wait. Let me assure you that you will be even more disappointed if you do not eat this food. My friend and I, in a fit of gluttony after just having run, ordered about half of the menu. Everything that we had was delicious, you cannot go wrong. As a vegetarian, I'm ashamed to admit that I could not resist the praline bacon. N matter what or how much you order, do not miss out on the praline bacon. You can order much of the menu a la carte, allowing you to sample just about everything. The service was pretty good, but this place gets 5 stars because the food is phenomenally good and I'd go back despite an inevitably long wait. If you do find yourself waiting, I'd highly suggest walking to Holman's on 28th and Burnside, as they have an excellent Bloody Mary bar.
(5)
S P.
Their food is obviously very good. 5 stars. But that can only take you so far. Wait staff and service overall was a little meh. Thought they could have been a bit friendlier. Minus one star. The wait was long. Place opens at 9 on weekends but even at 8:30 there was a line round the corner. Put our names down a bit after 9, didn't get seated till 10:40. Minus another star.
(3)
Amy L.
Love their fresh greens menu and brunch. I tried some of the sweet potato waffles, very tasty and crispy also the best biscuit I've ever tasted. I prefer the biscuit here more than Pine state. The biscuit is flaky yet soft and buttery. I also tried the veggie hash....I don't recommend it cause it was a bit salty. Next time I will try the tofu scramble or the grits. I love the feel of the place and they have quite a few options for vegetarians. I would go back for the waffles, biscuit and other items. Wait not too long for brunch 45mins.
(5)
Lauren K.
The wait was INSANE...but then again, shame on us for thinking that we could get a table for two by arriving at 1030am. My friend and I ordered a lot o a la carte type of stuff, mainly because we wanted to try everything. We didn't realize how GIGANTIC the portions are. We could have ordered 1 dish with 1 or 2 sides and still had more than enough. It was all very good but we shied away from ordering the mainstays such as the chicken & waffles. Again, ginormous portions. You could easily put half aside in a to go container at the beginning of the meal and walk out feeling like you over ate. Hello, food coma. Or better known back on the east coast as "the itis."
(4)
Dale C.
soul food that is prepared and served by some of the most outgoing staff around town!
(5)
Lemmy E.
Only 875 reviews? I better put my 2 cents in. Great for brunch and dinner. Top 3 brunch places in town. You will wait however, but its worth it. If you don't like waiting go elsewhere.
(5)
Ben C.
Good lord! how are people in portland so fit and beautiful with this place slinging the best fried (boneless) chicken I've ever had, at such a great price? The stars are obviously the deep fried birds, but the deep fried oysters are a close rival - probably your best bet is to order them both ;)
(5)
Casey R.
There is no doubt the Screen Door has made a name for themselves in Portland. They are in foodie and travel magazines and even the valet attendant at our downtown hotel knew where we were going for Sunday brunch just by telling him the street it's on. Burnside is a very big street mind you. My wife and I were given strict orders by a local friend to show up at least 15 minutes before they opened the doors at 9am. We showed up 20 minutes early, found relatively close street parking and made our way to the back of the line that had already wrapped around the block. We waited a total of 45 minutes before finally being seated...outside in the cold. This was no big deal as I was just excited to finally be seated and eat. The hostess and waitress weren't the friendliest, but hey, I came here to eat, not make friends. This has little effect on my review. I made sure to order their "Creole" Bloody Mary. It was very good. Super spicy and strong. Just the way I like my daily pre-9:30 cocktail. I am a big fan of chicken and waffles so I knew I was going to get this before even coming here. Once it arrived I was in shock at its enormity. It was beautiful. Three huge boneless breasts of juicy chicken meat stacked on top of each other lying like a sexy bitch on top of a buoyant sweet potato waffle. I couldn't eat it all but I really wanted to. My only complaints about the dish is the breading on the chicken tended to separate from the chicken itself rather easily which left myself with a mouthful of just chicken meat and no salty deep fried orgasm to lend a hand. The sweet potato waffle was also pretty bland. It just couldn't hold a candle to the chicken. However the homemade hot sauce and maple syrup helped with that. The texture of the waffle was rather nice as well. Overall this is a great place. I want to try everything on the menu. It's obvious why this place is packed but I can't see myself waiting in line again for breakfast. Maybe I will come back for dinner and try my luck then next time in Portland.
(4)
Rebecca C.
I had come here months ago for dinner with my family and couldn't figure out what all the hype was about. Then I came for brunch a few weeks ago and now I know. This place has one of the best brunches around. Most of my party ended up getting the chicken and waffles and other sweet things, but I couldn't take my eyes off the eggs sardou. Holy crap, it was delicious. The egg, the artichoke, the spinach. I loved it. Next time I will request it on a biscuit instead, because frankly the english muffin seems too... pedestrian for this meal. I tried bites of the chicken and waffles, the praline bacon, and their country gravy and biscuits. I'm so coming back. Now if only I can talk myself out of eating the same thing twice in a row...
(5)
Kirsten K.
I came because of the hype. Will only be back for the mac. Lol Best mac and cheese I've ever had in my life. Sweet potato fries were disappointing, pork chop was blah
(3)
Julie R.
I just rode my bike 200 miles from Seattle to Portland. 5 minute wait on a Saturday evening around 8:30pm. Freshest tasting, rare, 10oz burger I've ever eaten. Just $10.90. With fries. Best fried chicken, moist, spiced with lots of black pepper. A server (not even our own waiter) bought my brother a beer for riding the STP. Great place, highly recommmend, I will be back!
(5)
Rosetta S.
I've been for dinner before, totally 5 stars! So of course I had to try brunch. I tried the Bananas Foster French Toast, which was AMAZING! The rum sauce complemented it perfectly. And the texture of the brioche was awesome. It is tied for best french toast in Portland (or that I've ever had). But I also tried the Brioche Vanilla Bean French Toast, which I'm pretty sure was the same as the bananas foster, but not doctored up and not quite as good. I also had the Eggs Sardou,poached eggs over artichoke hearts and creamed spinach on an English muffin, topped w hollandaise. It was okay, but not the greatest. Everything was well made, but the flavor combinations just weren't snazzy enough for me. The service is awesome! Our server was friendly, funny, and helpful. Very prompt, and didn't pressure us to be quick. Brunch was a 4.5 stars for me. This is a must eat at in Portland!
(4)
Nichole K.
Best fried chicken and brisket in town! Get there early because there tends to be a line out the door, but it's well worth the wait!
(5)
Shad A.
A very southern breakfast theme for the Sunday scene. Come hungry and stay patient. The line may be huge but so are the portions. A good place to wear your stretchy pants or bring the neighborhood and share a plate of chicken and waffles.
(5)
Troy R.
Heard about this place from a few locals. So while working because I'm on a business trip, I thought of this place at the first sign of hunger. Ordered take-out and I'm glad I did because this place was packed, with more people waiting for a seat and did I mentions IT'S WEDNESDAY! So let's just get to it....the rumors I've heard about their tasty fried chicken are oooooo sooo deliciously true! Not the best fried chicken I've ever had (sorry Ad Hoc still holds that title) but still very good. Everything else was not as spectacular. The mashed potatoes are tasty for a few bites, after that my stomach began to hurt because there was so much butter in them. The mac n cheese sure does look the part but the taste ...it's almost undescribeable. Smooth, creamy but ......again hard to explain and I've had way better mac n cheese. Lastly, the collard greens were decent but if I make it back again, I'm not going to get them again. I'd probably try something else. This is still a decent joint and I'm pretty impressed that a place in Portland can make chicken like this. Because of the sides I want to give them 4 stars BUT they get 3 stars because if someone orders a chicken dinner for takeout, you probably want to give them some utensils. NO you do want to give them utensils. Even though I have my fried chicken champ in the bay area, this is probably the best fried chicken in P-town.
(3)
Daniel S.
I ordered the fried chicken tenders as an appetizer with the BBQ brisket as my main with green beans and potato salad as the sides. Overall the meal was satisfying. I ordered the chicken as I did not plan on getting the fried chicken as a main. The breading is as everyone else describes, not greasy and not The brisket was nicely cooked and varied from fall apart cooked to a little bit of chew. I prefer some texture to my meats otherwise they get a bit boring and homogeneous. The sauce was only okay, I have had better BBQ sauces at other dedicated spots this was a little too slathered on and a bit too sweet.
(4)
Marcie C.
Yu. Um. Loved every bite. And sips. I will definitely return. 4.5 stars, only because we ordered coffee to have with our desserts, and was never once offered a refill on the coffee. Bummed, because I brought an out of town guest (first time for Stumptown coffee for her too) and we lingered over dessert to visit and catch up. There were only two to a few people waiting at any time by then (we were keeping an eye on this and wouldn't have lingered if the line was crazy.) The short line was accommodated quickly and my small coffee cup emptied well before I finished my dessert. People need their coffee refilled or they get a little cranky!
(4)
Joseph K.
This place is awesome. They need to open more locations because this place does get busy. But it is completely worth it. If you're a true foodie, you'll wait in line for days for great food ... ok just me? You can't consider yourself an oregonian/portlander if you haven't been here. This is one of those restaurants. I always have to compare chicken and waffles to this place's. It is top notch. Exactly what you want from a Chicken and waffles. The waffle has a hint of sweetness. Has a good crust but nice soft fluffy inside. Goes well against the amazingly moist off the bone chicken. (Yes off the bone, but still amazingly tender) The marinade/seasoning is awesome. One of the best fried chicken i've had. The contrast is the best. Not too salty, not too sweet on each extreme. Perfect balance. I managed to eat the whole thing...but I eat alot. This was crazy filling. Amazing stuff. Everytime I go back to pdx, I make it a priority to go here. I'm drooling just writing this review. I miss pdx. i miss Screen Door.
(5)
Cassandra C.
The hype was justified. It was delicious. And it took forever to be seated. But if you can handle waiting 45m-1h to be seated, you'll be glad. I had two cocktails and the fried chicken dinner. Delicious. And those drinks were strong. Or maybe I went on an empty stomach and that was the culprit. But either way. Awesome place with really good chicken. My BF got the burger and after sampling my fare decided he missed out. Fried chicken +1, burger -0 Had the Texas Oil/Gold (or something?) cocktail and also one that had Scarlet in the title. They were both great but the Texas one was better, with raspberry syrup or muddled berries or something delicious. Great place. Would love to come back. With a snack in my pocket. Also, they'll serve you liquor in the vestibule before you're seated.
(4)
Sydney K.
Yes, we waited for over 30 minutes for a table, but to be fair, there were 7 people in our party, so what do you expect? I would waited an hour - the food was incredible and completely worth it. I'm still thinking about the sweet potato waffles with the tower of fried chicken on top, the corned beef hash with buttery little piece of corned beef and crispy potatoes, the pork and apple sausage, the mound of fresh summer veggies with perfectly over easy eggs, the apple cider mimosa, the croque madam...we tried almost everything and it was all transcendental. This is the best breakfast/brunch I've had in my life, and I eat a lot of brunch! I wish I lived in Portland so that I could go every weekend. If you visit, put this place on the top of your list. To top it all off, the waitress was super friendly and even split our check up 5 ways!
(5)
Jack S.
Incredible!!! Everyone should come enjoy this delightful place!!!!
(5)
John S.
Hands down best fried chicken I've ever had. The only complaint is that I foolishly didn't order it so had to eat half of my wife's. We sat at the bar because the restaurant was mobbed, but the service was great and the people watching was nearly as good as the outstanding food. Great neighborhood place, and worth coming in from outside the neighborhood.
(5)
Leslie B.
It's no wonder why this restaurant has been featured in a lot of top ten restaurants..I'd have to agree with them, it's that good. The line can be a bit long, but hey what good restaurant doesn't have a line. The vibe is super laid back, just like Portland. The service is excellent, I don't think our drinks were ever empty. Now to the food, I had to try the fried chicken since it was what most people raved about. It did not disappoint! They used a boneless chicken breast (Yes!) but yet managed not to make it dry. The crispiness was just right and the batter was flavorful. It came with mashed potatoes and gravy as well as grits but I substituted that with mac n' cheese and thank goodness I did. It's probably one of the best mac n' cheese that I've had. Nice, gooey and cheesy! I dipped my chicken in their homemade hot sauce.....sooooo good. I wish they sold it, cuz I would stock up on some, but they don't, bummer. My bf had the cheek pot roast which came with mashed potatoes and vegetables. He said his only complaint was that they gave him a knife because it was so tender that the knife was not needed at all. I think he could've licked the plate if there was no one else around, lol. To sum it up, great food, fantastic service, price is a little high but it's so worth it. I can't wait to go back when I'm in Portland again.
(5)
Kris P.
best fried chicken! love that it's boneless! it came with a side of mashed potatoes with gravy and really good collard greens. for the screen door plate i had the following three: fried pork chop- well seasoned and really crispy! mac & cheese- soo soo good. love the crispy gooey cheesy crust on top. smoked chicken & andouille jamabalaya- it was so dry. i had pieces of dried crispy rice :( -not sure if it's usually like this. really good southern food that hits the spot. i'll definitely be back!
(5)
Jihae H.
Cannot believe that I haven't reviewed this place! This is a destination brunch place - by that, I mean that once you are there, you are destined to be there for at least 3 hrs! :) That being said, as long as you go with the knowledge that you are likely to be waiting for a while, you will leave very happy you were patient. I had the chicken and waffles...and just about died from sheer bliss. I am a SUPER fan of this southern comfort dish and when I try it at new places, most times I leave unhappy. It's not a hard dish to make, but it sure is easy to mess up! The breading on this chicken was seasoned and cooked to perfection - tender inside, but still crunchy on the outside, with the light fluffly waffle soaking up the greasy goodness at the bottom. Bloody Mary was also fantastic...and we were able to order them while we were waiting, helping our patience levels greatly :) Really recommend this place - can't wait to go back for dinner.
(5)
Albert W.
Had the fried chicken.... it was good and loved the slaw. You can tell that it was home made. Very laid back environment and they use locally sourced ingredients. Seemed very popular with the local folks. I think I need to go back to try more items from the menu.
(4)
Leigh F.
I always say I'm going to sit down and write a review and then I don't. This place had great food so I want to give them their props! Went tonight. I expected long lines and there were a few people outside, no big deal. There were even more folks inside waiting of course! Ha. We were told the wait would be about 30 min but I think it moved a lot quicker. Inside is pretty dark, the tables are very small and very close together but they fit a lot of folks in there and they do bar seating. There's a small patio with a few tables outside too. Pro: The wait moved by nice and quick and the gentleman sitting everyone was very personable. Con: I don't like dark and loud, I would have liked to have sit outside but I was happy to finally get to eat. When we finally got to sit our waitress who took our order didn't ask us how we were doing or give her name or anything. Not great customer service skills. She looked at me blankly like I knew what I was supposed to tell her first and took our drink and dinner order all at once. Not really my idea of great service but it was busy so...whatever. We had: Butter salad - yum! Mac and cheese - nothing special Fried chicken with mashed potatoes, gravy, and collard greens - get this! Shrimp and grits - I prefer cheese in my grits but these were very traditional and had lots of nice big, perfectly cooked shrimp on top. I drank some tequila thing with blackberry puree - very good and the bartender brought it over with a flourish of his hand that made me smile. At the end of meal I was too full for dessert which was kind of a bummer because the pecan pie looked really good. We'll have to go again! Darn! The tab was about $50 for 2 - not so bad. And the food was great. Def go for the chicken your first visit I'd say and try to sit outside on the covered porch if its warm enough. My pictures were not great because its dark so good luck with taking some!
(4)
LaQueanya H.
Chicken & Waffles...ENOUGH SAID!! There is never a question of where to go to breakfast when we want to eat out for breakfast/brunch!! I have only been for breakfast/brunch but have never been disappointed!! Deliciousness of the food has been consistent every time! I can't say one bad thing! And yes I am willing to wait in line!!
(5)
AaRoN G.
This place is a must try if your craving that Southern-style cooking while visiting the Great Northwest. Their Crispy-Buttermilk Fried Chicken is definitely worth trying. Every square millimeter is super juicy and flavorful. Fried oyster didn't disappoint, but the Jambalaya and country fried steak were very dry though which was a far cry from their moist fried chicken. Dimly lit, tightly packed and super-friendly, this place has major appeal to all foodies, and the spicy and savory level of their entrees perfectly counters the gloomy and melancholic weather of Portland. I just hope their Jambalaya is less gloomy next time I visit.
(4)
Paris O.
i really really want to give the screen door 4 stars, but after our recent dinner experience i cannot. brunch/breakfast definitely gets 5 stars!! chicken n waffles, nothing better!! really, anything on the breakfast menu, you can't go wrong with. dinner on the other hand, totally unimpressed. at the table we had the pulled pork sandwich, fried chicken, and a burger. the pulled pork was eh. the chicken was eh, and the burger average. like many other people have stated, you will more than likely have to wait for a table. we have found, that if you arrive 45min-1hr after opening, you'll hit the first round of tables leaving, and get seated quite quickly. brunch or breakie on a weekend though...your bound to wait an hour easy.
(3)
Stephanie W.
I went last week, and I already, really, really want to go again! It's definitely worthy of all its rave reviews! The Screen Door had a wait of around 30 minutes on a Monday night, to give everyone a fair warning - people sit around patiently in droves for their food! But I must add that all staff on the floor that helped me and my friend were incredibly nice! I feel like nice restaurant staff around Portland, especially in busy, popular restaurants . . . can be hard to find. It was nice and appreciated! Once seated, I of course pounced on the opportunity to order their famous fried chicken with a side of okra and cornbread. This too was a wait. But my goodness! When all of my plates sat in front of me, the smell alone nearly put me into a euphoric food coma! The chicken was boneless and so, so, so tender - not to mention a little deliciously spicy. The collards were tasty, the cornbread was amazing with butter that I'm even quick to rave about, the fried okra was moist and was taken up a notch with a delicious dipping sauce. Even the sweet tea is something I find myself dreaming about! I can't say it enough, go at least once you've got the time. My leftovers were just as good the following night as they were when they arrived fresh and hot on my table. Stellar food!
(5)
Joel B.
Hard to say, but this is probably my favorite restaurant in Portland. I have been here 3 or 4 times and everything that I have ordered has been delicous. Be ready for a wait though, probably an hour or so. I Would try going for a late dinner or putting your name in then walking around the corner for a drink or 2
(5)
Ashley C.
I realize I'm just a "voice from the maddening crowd" at this point (look at all those reviews!) but this place rocked and is so different from what we have out here behind the Orange Curtain. I had the fried chicken. Perfection. My husband has some Cajun shrimp and grits dish that was amazing; the sauce was perfect. We also tried the Mac n' Cheese which was definitely worth it (what is it with that Oregon cheese?) and the corn bread; good, not mind-blowing. Husband had a great brew, too. I'm so glad we went here for our last dinner in Portland, it definitely did not disappoint. Makes me more sad than anything though since I live here, and Screen Door is alllllll the way up there. Oh well, when's our next vacation?
(5)
Tommy W.
Be prepared to leave this restaurant in a food coma. We decided to attempt this restaurant on a Saturday, despite other reviewers warnings on long wait times. We showed up around 12:30pm and the wait wasn't long at all. First, we tried the fried chicken on a sweet potato waffle. The chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside and the flavor was delicious. The salty chicken with the sweetness of the waffle with syrup (or jam) was a good combo and a great brunch choice. We also tried the praline bacon waffle and was blown away. There are actual bacon pieces in the waffle batter, and on top is a thick cut piece of bacon covered in a praline crust. The waffle is also topped with whipped cream and more pecan pieces and comes with a side of maple syrup. It was the perfect balance of salty and sweet and it was incredibly filling. The restaurant itself is a just a big open dining area with about 15 or so tables, plus a bar and patio seating as well. The service was good and everyone was very laid back and friendly. Definitely had the Portland vibe going on. The prices are about what you'd expect anywhere else, and I'll be back.
(5)
Megan V.
We found this plate on Yelp when looking for someplace to go for a Sunday brunch with the daughter and son-in-law. The wait wasn't as bad as we thought; but none of that mattered once we got the food. Both the husband and I got the chicken and waffles. I can't remember what the daughter and son-in-law got; I do know they liked it. The chicken and waffles were AMAZING. I am still looking for some as awesome as those in the Bay Area. So if you're lucky enough to live in Portland, you need to definitely go.
(5)
Kevin A.
The ambiance was warm and inviting, the food was fresh, seasonal, and local, and the prices were reasonable for the quality you received. It was my first time having fried oysters...thought I had died and gone to heaven! My brisket was cooked perfectly and smoked very well. The fried chicken was out of this world tender!!! Well worth the wait for classic southern food.
(4)
Allie R.
My romance with Screen Door has gone something like this: First visit (dinner): Amazing. Life-changing. In love. Dreaming of mac and cheese for days afterward. Counting the days until I can come back (and promising myself that I'll show more restraint in ordering dinner so I can order dessert afterward). Second visit (breakfast): Praline bacon? Yes, please. Oh, and the bananas foster french toast too. Totally enjoyable. Arrived right before opening and (miraculously) only had to wait about 15 minutes for a table. Third visit (dinner): Still great food, still great service, and I especially enjoyed the drink specials on this visit. But my enthusiasm is starting to wane. It's good, don't get me wrong... but the wait is often obscene, and the more things I order, the more convinced I become that the mac and cheese is the best thing on the menu. If I visit again, will this drop down to a three-star review? Only time will tell. For me, Screen Door is more about the novelty than anything else. There are lots of places that are less indulgent (i.e. more calorically reasonable), easier to get into, and equally delicious.
(4)
Kamille Gino C.
An hour wait on a Saturday morning, good food and awesome service. The sunny-side up eggs were cooked perfectly!
(3)
Laura C.
Ok, so, I don't like fried chicken, and I love their fried chicken. I think that kinda says it all... I'm not a huge fan of southern food, but my mom loves fried chicken in just about any incarnation, so we indulged here and went to the screen door. Boyfriend and I both had the Screen Door Plate where you pick three things. I had a local/special salad, a pork chop, and the jambalaya. We also started with a plate of friend okra. It was all really good - even the okra (well, it's still okra, but it was pretty darn good) After tasting the fried chicken, I wished I'd gotten a piece :) it really is the best. Desserts are similarly fabulous. Even if you're borderline on southern food, this is the place to try. The staff are really friendly and know the food, the food is made really well, and it has a fabulous atmosphere. It really does pay to stand at the door starting 10 mins before they start seating for dinner...
(5)
Terra H.
We were food snobs before, but this place has ruined breakfast for us. In the sense that we will never have a breakfast as good as the one we enjoyed at The Screen Door. The wait was super long (about an hour) and usually I'm not one for waiting, but something about this place told me it would be worth it, and boy was I right! The food was delivered within 15 minutes after ordering and was DELICIOUS! I had the biscuits and gravy and as a southern girl I can be quite the critic but these were right up my alley! We had to try the maple praline bacon and I have spent the last few weeks since trying to come up with a reason why we must return to Portland immediately just to have more of it! We will definitely be returning here, often!
(5)
Piper S.
Great food and drinks. Family friendly. We will come back for sure the next time in Portland. I'm not a fried chicken eater but it came recommended by our server. It was the best I"ve ever had!! Get there early, it fill up quick.
(5)
Kate F.
I love the screen door plate. If you want brunch line up around 830 or be prepared to wait.
(4)
Krista M.
When my boyfriend and I decided to visit Portland from LA, we started looking up great places to eat. Screen Door was on every list of top eats that we came across. We had to wait an hour but they supplied free coffee and it was worth it. I had the biscuits with mushroom vegetarian gravy and it was delicious. It's extremely hard to find vegetarian gravy and this is the best I've ever had. My boyfriend had the fried oyster florentine with veggie sausage instead of bacon. His was amazing as well. The bloody Mary was spicy but perfect. I would definitely recommend Screen Door to anyone visiting Portland or anyone who lives there and hasn't been yet.
(5)
Kim K.
I probably don't need to review a place so highly rated and frequently reviewed so I'll keep it brief. The hype is for real. Go here, get the fried chicken, and enjoy the atmosphere. The service is excellent, prices are great, and quality is out of this word. Pro Tip: The wait gets LONG. Opt to sit at the bar! It won't change your experience at all and you'll be entertained the whole time - the bartender HUSTLES.
(4)
Jack L.
Chicken and waffle! Gotta get that. Three huge pieces of fried chicken breast! One well made waffle. Best deal ever! Oyster Benedict's with cheddar grits. The eggs benedict were perfect. Oysters tasty. Cheddar grits I finished even as I was complaining how full I was. Service was very good and prompt. We even lucked out and avoided the line somehow. Definitely a five star experience.
(5)
Anthony B.
Oh baby! we waited in line for 20 mins before they opened and would have waited an hour!!
(5)
Kristine A.
I still love this place but my husband hated the macaroni and cheese the last time we were there. Just an FYI. Pork Chops was not my favorite either. Fried Chicken is still Aww-mazing!
(5)
Lucky B.
Yummy food, excellent friendly staff. Order the winter or summer hash! OK we all know typically we have to wait in line for breakfast but this place is ridiculous which is why I removed one star.
(4)
In B.
I believe they have thEE best chicken in the universe! Heaven in your mouth.
(4)
Pete C.
This place is a must go when your in portland! Whether it be for brunch on the weekend or for dinner, they have the best fried chicken ever! If you go during brunch make sure atleast one person orders chicken and waffles, its the best chicken and waffles, well a close second. But if you do go for dinner, make sure to go a little later in the night or like 10-20 minutes before they open or you can be waiting up to an hour and half for a table. I guess that also counts for brunch, its literally busy all the time. Love the vibe from the place and honestly the best southern restaurant I have tried! Also make sure to try their mac and cheese and for desert get the banana cream pie (forgot what its called) but its the only banana related desert they have and its amazing. If your ever in portland, make sure to hit this place up!
(5)
Michael K.
Clara, my girlfriend, and I have been trying to get into Screen Door for a while, always seeing a line around the block. When I was able to get a Sunday off for a local convention and saw that Screen Door offered brunch on the weekends, we attempted to go. Alas, the line was once again around the block. We went to the convention and came back at about 1:30pm and no line! Just a small wait in the waiting area. We had to option of sitting outside, which we preferred, and luckily was seated there. The outside area was covered and had clear plastic separating the dining area from the sidewalk. It would have been nice to have a more open air seating area, but oh well. The brunch menu is very short, with fairly standard breakfast fare but done with uniqueness. The chicken and waffles had a sweet potato waffle for example. I opted for biscuits and sausage gravy with soft scrambled eggs as I tend to rate a breakfast restaurant on this specific item. Clara got a breakfast poboy. From the description it sounded almost like a hash on bread: andouille sausage, fried egg, crispy onion straws, and tomato jam on bread. Clara and I decided to give each other half of our meal. They wait for the food was a bit longer than expected, but the waiter was very attentive and came by our table very often. The anticipation of the meal grew every time another table was served mounds of delicious looking sustenance. Finally our food arrived. The biscuits were shaped in rectangles and weren't cut out, which is fine with me as they were some of the best biscuits I've ever had. The gravy was definitely made to order with several large chucks of sausage. The eggs were perfectly soft scrambled (the first time correctly done since I started ordering them this way) however could have at least had some salt and pepper added when cooked. Clara's poboy, however, was the hit. A nice slab of andouille sausage, not chunks, a perfectly cooked fried egg, so much so that when you grabbed the sandwich, the yolk streamed out onto the plate, the crispy onions were made in house, not those yucky French's ones, and the tomato jam was very flavorful even against the spicy sausage. Clara commented that if she were to buy a poboy like that in New Orleans it would cost way more than what our meal cost here. Our bill came to less than $30 for some of the best food we've had. I really want to come back for dinner as I have heard great things about that, however the next time I'm in Portland I'll only be there during the brunch time and I don't mind that at all!
(5)
Chris P.
We always take our visiting friends here. If you get there 15 minutes before the brunch opening you will get in pretty quick. Food is all fantastic, and at least one dinner should have the waffles and chicken (Gus once ate the chicken for the next three days). Great staff, friendly, local crowd.
(5)
Abigail Y.
Candied praline bacon! Go!
(4)
Helen F.
Best fried chicken, hands down. It's pricey @ 15.75, but absolutely worthwhile.
(4)
Joe S.
This is a really good place for us to bring friends from out of town. It's different from what they are used too. The restaurant offers some really good breakfast items. My favorite is the fried chicken waffle. Service is pretty good. The only con is having to wait in line, sometimes in the rain and cold, for an open table. Nonetheless, we'll be back.
(4)
Fenny G.
First to last bite.... WOWW!!! WAAAAAA!!! HOWAAA!! YAYY!!! * interpretation, I enjoyed every bite of it* MAC CHEESE! FRIED CHICKEN! Make sure come a minute before they open because you might see people eagerly waiting to get in to the screen!
(5)
Conner W.
Despite the nearly hour-long wait outside Screen Door for a table (Saturday at Noon), I was blown away by the dishes they had to offer. Looking around the dining room after being seated, I was glad I brought my appetite. The meals are HUGE! Fried chicken breakfast items everywhere! I ordered the Croque Madame...with sunny-side-up eggs...and praline bacon. Holy Crap! What an amazing meal; every bite was delicious. And by 'every bite,' I mean all 10,000 of them...the dish is gigantic. So after being put into a heavenly food coma, I downed another mimosa and was completely satisfied. Three cheers for the Screen Door!
(5)
Bucky M.
It's probably better to go here for brunch, the dinner menu wasn't as special. I got their signature dish at dinner, the fried chicken, which comes with mashed potatoes and collard greens. I mean, the fried chicken is good, but it's still just fried chicken. Plus, I'm not a big fan of white meat, and the entire thing is chicken breast. Next time I wouldn't come for dinner, I want to try the po boys and oyster benedict. Fried chicken - 4 stars. Chicken breast. Collard greens - 5 stars. Best collard greens I've ever had. Very flavorful, not overly salty. Mashed potatoes - 5 stars.
(4)
Hola A.
Fried Chicken! I love me some fried chicken and Screen Door sure knows how to cook up some good fried chicken! We came here about 30 minute early this past Friday, worried that we were actually going to get stuck waiting in line since I read reviews of how notoriously long the wait was. Well, at 5pm, you can imagine our surprise that there was no one waiting in line. I would have to say a line started forming about 15 minutes before they open so luckily, the wait/line wasn't bad - at all. Either that or we just got lucky. Anyhoo, the ambience is cute, of course, it had a Southern feel to it. We got the fried chicken with mash potatoes and bacon collard greens. Perfectly breaded, perfectly juicy, and the portions are huge! I couldn't even finish a whole chicken, that's how big it was. And we got the screen plate which consisted of 3 sides: macaroni & cheese, jambalaya, & catfish with cornbread. Only misses was the cornbread & jambalaya - both tasted dry. The mac & cheese was very tasty, I loved eating the top of the crisped over topping crust. Yummy! Service was all around good, food came out quick and service was attentive. Anyways, finished off dinner with some creole, warm pecan pie & I left the night a happy, full girl :)
(4)
Michelle S.
I visited this with my friends on a trip to Portland from Seattle and was so lucky to have found it! We ordered the pulled pork sandwich, fried chicken (what they're famous for), macaroni and cheese, and brisket - Everything was fall off the bone, melt in your mouth, best thing ever for under $15 each! I would highly recommend! Sure stop on our next trip to Portland! Ps. House cocktails were a good mix for also a way good price (~$6-7)
(5)
Steve M.
This was a highlight on our visit to Portland. Crazy good fried chicken. Very pleasant service. A must try if you haven't been.
(5)
Donald W.
It's very hard to give out a perfect rating. Most places lack the consistency or services needed to get that kind of a true rating. But I must say this place has achieved that goal and by far has the best southern food I've ever had!! The Screen Door specializes in Southern, Cajun and creole food and they do it all really well. Let me start of with a disclaimer that the food is very fried, rich, and totally unhealthy, but that's what's so great about it. It's not like you could eat this stuff everyday anyways. But if you did you would be in food induced heaven. It's considered the number #1 ranked Resturant in the Portland metro area, and very deserving of that rating. I went with a group of ten friends and surprisingly we had no wait time for seating. As a group we ordered a plethora of food spanning the majority of the menu. I personally ordered the fried chicken that came with mashed potatoes and gravy with a side of collared greens. I also had a side of macaroni and cheese, just because it's my favorite dish. The collard greens were tasty and well cooked. The chicken was moist and was made with just the right amount of tenderness. However, The mac & cheese was on another level of deliciousness. It's Creamy, filled with gooey cheese and could've been an entire dish on its on. Luckily for me it can be ordered as a side dish as well. When it came to time, There was very little wait time in between the dishes. It was practically non existent despite the fact it was a full house. So I complement the staff and cooks on speedy service. The waiter we had was fun and maintained a great energy with us the entire night. He was an all around joy. He cracked jokes but still conducted himself with a professionalism that's rare in the dining service, at least in my opinion. I personally loved this place! For my first time here is was truly a dining experience. I just wish they had a Screen Door in California, just so everyone could enjoy the incredible food here. Now I know anytime I go back to Portland, my first stop will always be at the Screen Door.
(5)
Ana M.
First time today I went to brunch here. The wait to get in was about 45 minutes I ordered the bananas foster french toast which was really sweet and delicious. My older brother ordered fried chicken and waffles and the chicken was cooked really well. We did have to wait a long time for our food but they thought we did too so they paid for the drinks on our tab. Great place for brunch and loved my hot cocoa.
(4)
Ali K.
Heard a lot of great things about this restaurant so I was really excited to it out. I was prepared to wait a bit, so I wasn't put off by the hour wait to be seated. It was very crowded inside the restaurant so we went across the street for a drink and came back just in time for them to take us to our table. Our waiter was friendly but very busy and inattentive. The food was mediocre at best. We ordered the fried oysters as an appetizer and I had the shrimp and grits. Maybe I'm being critical because I lived in the south and had enjoyed better versions of both dishes. I am disappointed but think we may've just gone on a bad night. I will probably go back to give the famous chicken and waffles a shot.
(3)
Aaron W.
I LOVED this place. I was really glad I stopped in seeing as other places were a little closer from the hotel. This place did not disappoint! My girl had the fried chicken..... Awesome, but...... If you are a MAN (or girl who loves beef) then you must try the beef brisket. WOW is all I can say! I cut the brisket with my fork and never picked up the knife. I was very impressed with the quality of the food they served plus the Abita Turbo dog beer (New Orleans beer) was off the hook! I'm a sucker for comfort food and this place did not miss the mark.. Paula Dean... Go Fuck Yourself (Has nothing to do with anything but I always wanted to say that).
(5)
Andrea G.
So I've been to the Screen Door three times now, which I think is well deserving of a review. I didn't have much of an appetite during my first visit, but I was sure to have that fried chicken that everyone raves about during my second visit. It is seriously some darn good fried chicken! And the mashed potatoes are super yummy. I love mashed potatoes and good textured mashed potatoes earn bonus points for me. I've had a couple of the cocktails on the list, but none of them are as good as their bloody mary. Holy yum! It's thick and has lots of spices and taste. I will most certainly judge a place by the quality of its bloody mary and Screen Door has a great one. If you visit at the normal dinner times or on the weekend, there will most certainly be a wait. I've been lucky to not have to wait very long on the times that I have dined here. Definitely some good comfort food and lots of amazing fresh, local ingredients!
(5)
Nuria C.
I go to Screen Door almost every Sunday. My boyfriend and I always order the same thing: Fried Chicken Biscuit Sandwich (SO GOOD) and I get the Texas Migas (SO GOOD). I don't have anything bad to say about this place. Everything is great quality and the biscuits, chicken and gravy are about the best.
(5)
Dany S.
Get the fried chicken for sure! It is delicious but everything on the menu is delciious! I can't get enough of this place.
(5)
Brenda G.
Cole slaw, cole slaw, cole slaw! Order it. The Mac n cheese was the best I've ever had in a restaurant. I don't usually order Mac n cheese either, but luckily my daughter did. It was delicious. Jumbalaya? Pass on that. Mine was dry. Chicken tenders good. Two of us had Pork chops, tasty and crispy fried. Pretty tasty. If I'd had my druthers, I'd eat a side of coleslaw, a few bites of Mac and cheese, and a side of grits with crushed pepper. Yum. Oh and a small butter lettuce salad (blue cheese, radish, bacon, and buttermilk dressing.) rogue mocha porter. Done deal! 'Nuff said ;-)
(4)
Mike K.
Great southern style chow. Turbo dog on tap. Yes, get the fried chicken and I'd take a bath in the tasso gravy then lick myself clean like a giant man-cat. Long wait, but they HAPPILY called us to tell us our table was ready, so we went someplace for libations while we waited on a busy Friday night. Why don't more places adopt this practice? We all have cell phones and stuff. It's a great idea and makes the long wait a non issue. The staff was SLAMMED because the joint was full, but they all were working hard and cheerful about it and the service as a result was very good.
(4)
Brad S.
After a lo-o-o-ng wait on a Tuesday (wow, really?), we were seated in the comfortable din of the dining room...okay, the place is charming and open in an industrial way, the staff helpful and speedy and the bar nice and close to the front door (drinks while waiting? yessir!). We ordered the fried okra and hushpuppies appetizers...yes, expect a lot of fried food here : ) Both were tasty...a bit on the bready side, but worth ordering again. For entrees, the vegetarians at the table had the salad combo (mushrooms with creamy polenta, amen!) and mac and cheese. The carnivore had the brisket...all were happy and voted thumbs up. Don't come here if you're starving...you'll probably pass out before you're seated. Cocktails were so-so...will probably stick with beer or basics like a gin tonic next time.
(4)
Leo T.
Wow. If I ever get a chance to return to Portland, I'm coming here again for sure. -Fried chicken is pretty bomb. Spices just enough to kick it off. Batter is perfect. Not too much, not too little. The meat itself is juicy and tender. YUM. -Mac & cheese was awesome. Great mix of gooey cheese on the inside, with a covering of a slightly salty cheddar on top to give it that last touch. -Jambalaya is good! You usually expect folks to put too much pepper or too much of everything that some sort of sausage will overtake the rest of the dish, but nope not here. Good, subtle, but distinguishable mix of flavors. -Catfish. NOMNOMNOM! -Collard greens were decent. Perhaps needed a touch of salt OR MORE BACON! Can't go wrong with more bacon :) I REALLY wanted to try the grits but I've decided that it will have to be one of my long term goals to return to Portland just to try them, taken that nothing changes about Screen Door. One thing I really enjoyed about yelping in Portland was that you guys really have a good set of taste buds. Something Orange County, CA could use... LOL
(5)
Mich M.
WOW! I thought I was back in New Orleans. Everything we ordered was presented beautifully and the food was beyond delicious. We even talked to people next to us with different orders and they couldn't say enough good things. It is a bit crowded, but that is some sort of an indication how good it is. We went on Sunday evening and left about 8 p.m. And there were still people waiting, xcellent choice!!!!!
(5)
Soojin H.
I've decided that my favorite "American" food is Southern Cajun food. This is probably due to the fact that Southern food has similar bold impactful flavors that remind me of Asian food. I was scrambling to find a last minute birthday restaurant, and thankfully yelp led me here.The vibe of this place was hip and cozy and loved the gajillion mason jars filled with pickled veggies?/ fruits? decorating their walls. First things first, I absolutely LOVE grits. Anytime a restaurant offers it, I will order it. Their appetizer portion low country shrimp and grits were huuuge. This was the best grits I've ever had. Shrimp and pork were so tender/juicy as well. Got it with a side of fried oysters, again huge portions for an appetizer. Best part was the breading which I believe is the same breading used for their chicken. The bf got the fried chicken dinner and said "it's the shit." Only thing I regret is not ordering dessert, but seriously it was impossible to take another bite. Get the chicken. Get the oysters. Get the grits. Heck I bet if you ordered anything here it would be equally delicious. Can't wait to go back and try everything else on their menu!
(5)
Susan c.
Delicious food, very very good shrimp and grits. And the desserts are to die for. Only complaint would be the poundage I must have put on that night and the 'over-full' feeling I had when I left (because of course I couldn't actually stop eating the crazy good food). But over-eating is probably a given with outstanding southern food in a wonderful welcoming atmosphere with wonderful staff and a full bar.
(4)
Ian L.
This is definitely a brunch place that you have to try while in Portland. It offers southern style food that is both filling and delicious. The prices are rock bottom too, especially for the chicken & waffles plate, which includes 3 large pieces of chicken skewered by a knife to a waffle. The chicken & waffles plate can easily feed 2 people, and you'll often see people sharing it for exactly that reason. Portions for other dishes are also quite large, so many people leave with a takeout box in hand. Although almost one person at every table had the chicken & waffles plate, no one at my table dared try it (I did contemplate it, but I knew the girl would not be impressed). I ended up ordering the fried chicken with biscuits and gravy, which was quite good. The one piece of chicken was filling enough for me, especially since the biscuits and pork sausage gravy were a sizable portion. As an accompanying starch, I opted for the grits, which were savory. Finally, we had read about the desserts being a must-try item, so we decided to share the ban-offee pie at the end despite the 4 of us being incredibly stuffed. The pie was a great choice. It had bananas, caramel, and whipped cream, but the crust was my favorite part, being made out of pecan shortbread. The food here is delicious, and the atmosphere is interesting, so it's worth checking out just to see what all the hype is about. Lastly, they seem to have a pretty good lineup of hoppy beers on tap, although I didn't get around to trying any of them. Maybe next time. Oh, and the praline bacon looked delicious too.
(4)
Hayden N.
This place never disappoints! I have been here numerous time and it is consistently delicious. Dare I say it, best fried chicken in town! If you go for dinner and have no idea what to order, the Screen Door Plate allows you to pick three side dishes for a variety of different options. Although, dinner is good...the best value for your dollar is Sunday brunch. The chicken and waffles is my pick every time. Most of the brunch items are delicious. Praline covered bacon, I don't even like bacon! And the sausage gravy is incredibly good. Delicious finds comes with a LONG wait, I have waited 2 hours for brunch before and when I last went for dinner--there was a long line wrapped around the corner of the building half an hour before it opened!
(5)
Steven C.
came to check this place out because of the great reviews it received on yelp I sat at the bar and asked the bartender for some referrals on beers and food to try he recommended I try this pale ale and it was delish! for the main course he said i should try the beef brisket I didn't have to wait too long for the food to arrive and the portions are pretty big. the brisket was so tender and tasty, had a little spicy sawce on it too! if you are in the area, check this place out and get the brisket!
(4)
K W.
Had take out from this restaurant. Fried chicken was delicious and French toast was ginormous. Would like to try this at the restaurant this time.
(4)
Paul E.
I was expecting a long wait for dinner, but we were seated at the bar within five minutes of walking through the door. The portions coming out of the kitchen looked enormous, so we decided to to go for mains only: fried chicken ($15.75) and shrimp and grits ($14.75). The chicken was indeed enormous, and truly excellent: very tender with a crisp, hot and peppery batter. The accompaniments were less impressive with the mash lacking a little in texture, and the collard green disapointing by being watery and bitter. The shrimp and grits were uniformly excellent - creamy and well seasoned grits with big chunks of peppery shrimp and melt-in-the-mouth pork belly mixed in. Overall it was a great dinner, but the average mash and disapointing greens stopped it from being five stars. Drinks were a good IPA and un-sweetened iced tea, and the whole thing came to $42.50 with tip.
(4)
Peter C.
I was visiting a friend in Portland this weekend, and we came to brunch here on a saturday morning. After waiting about an hour for a table (enjoying the delicious coffee while we did), we ate, and I quickly came to understand why we'd had to wait an hour. Best brunch I've ever had, and I say that in spite living in brunch-happy NYC. The restaurant itself is fairly simple, with a wide-open layout past the small bar by the door. A bar, I might add that is stocked with an ample supply of nice bourbons, but also knows how to mix a mean bloody mary. The open layout with somewhat sparse decoration gives it that mish-mash-of-conversations atmosphere, but at a volume level that doesn't interfere with your own tables' conversation. But I digress. This is really all about the food. I got the fried oyster benedict. Wow. Incredible. Oysters were large, although actually not the best oysters I've ever had. But still, fried to perfection in kind of a cornmeal breading. The only real knock I could think of on the dish was that the hollandaise was pretty darn bland. Buttery, smooth and delicious-style bland. I sampled: the farm grits (hands-down the best grits I've ever had), the apple-and-pork sausage (straight up incredible - and try dipping it in a side of sausage gravy, because the more pig the better (c)), the praline bacon (kind of like a sweeter version of the more-common maple / brown sugar bacon), the cats head sandwich (we opted for calico. just kidding, there's no actual cat in it that I know of, but it included the best biscuit I've ever had), the chicken and waffle (wow, nearly the best fried chicken I've ever had...this list of "best of"'s is getting ridiculous!). Anyway, I'd say the side of apple and pork sausage is the can't -miss side option, but that's just saying it's the brightest star amongst many. The point is, everything I had here was extremely good, and there were plenty of other things on the menu that looked equally enticing. If you live in Portland and haven't been here, you'd cheating yourself. If you're visiting Portland, don't miss it.
(5)
lindsay w.
I've been wanting to try the Screen Door for some time now but have always been daunted by the incredibly long wait times for their sat/sun brunch. We decided to try dinner instead (on a tuesday night) and got there a few minutes before they opened (there were already people waiting outside!). By the time we left at around 6:30, the place was packed. Onto the food...we started with the fried green tomatoes which were very good and came with a perfect tangy sauce. We also had the hush puppies which were a little bland for my liking but the pepper jelly for dipping was nice. For the entree I ordered the screen door plate where you can choose 3 of their sides or their local organic specials, this is the perfect meal for a vegetarian! I had the roasted beet salad, the sweet corn saute, and the macaroni and cheese. I can honestly say that this macaroni and cheese is the BEST I have ever had. So rich and perfectly crispy on top, and the portions here are huge. The salad was lovely, and they accidentally gave me sweet potato fries (which were also yummy) instead of the corn that I ordered, though the waiter was quick to accomodate for his mistake. The service here was excellent, the waiter was really on top of everything, especially refilling drinks. I can honestly say this is one of the best restaurants I've tried so far in Portland! I am now determined to suck it up and endure the 45 minute wait for their saturday brunch!
(5)
Ann T.
This was our first stop when we arrived in Portland, OR for vacation and it set a high bar for the rest of our trip through the Pacific NW. We got to the restaurant shortly after 5:30 PM on a Saturday - there was already a line, but we got seated outside within 10 min. We started with the special salad - the blackberry / blue cheese combo hit the spot. I had the fried chicken which was perfect. I'm not usually a fan of fried foods but was very happy with my decision. Everything about it was delicious. My boyfriend got the brisket which was also tasty. They had a good selection of local beers and were kind enough to comp one of our drinks when it turned out that the keg had been kicked before we ordered.
(5)
Adrienne S.
There is a reason this place is the best brunch place in Portland. My friend and I got there at the worst possible time, 10 am on a Sunday morning. Perhaps fifteen people were in front of us in line, so we got coffee and prepared to stand outside in the rain for awhile. Lo, we were seated within 20 minutes. Service is fast and efficient without being untidy or unfriendly. Our cheerful waitress filled my water and coffee were filled whenever it went past the halfway point. The fried chicken was better than Pine State's, and when you order the chicken and waffles there's a HUGE pile of it, about ten inches tall! I stuffed my face and still had half a waffle and basically two chicken breasts to take home with me! Screen Door doesn't need any more five star reviews, but it's such a relief to find a great brunch place that doesn't suffer from pretentiousness or trendiness. I will be back.
(5)
Apolinaras S.
DAMN DAMN DAMN! That is what I was screaming in my head when I was thinking how many calories I just ingested :-) Had chicken and waffles first time in my life and I was absolutely floored by all those flavors. DELICIOUS! I basically got a mountain of chicken for $11. I had three more meals out of leftovers and still probably consumed 2K calories per. Absolutely delicious food, but you are guaranteed a heart attack, if you eat it more than once per year.
(5)
Nga H.
My FAVORITE brunch spot in Portland. So what if the wait on a Sunday is ridiculous. I order up a Bloody Mary at the bar (comes spicy already, that's just how it's made), and - zip! zing! woohoo! - I gladly take a seat, chit chat with whomever happens to be sitting next to me, and wait. A must for at least one person at the table is their Chicken and Waffles. It comes out as a tower, stacked one on top of the other, with a steak knife plunged right down the center. The chicken is crispy and well-seasoned, and yeah, delicious! Plenty of chicken and waffle to be shared amongst the table, it's huge.
(5)
Brittany S.
This is one of those places where I've spent a lot of time reading the reviews. Mainly, I look for the ones with two or three stars and think about what sorts of things might be wrong with those people. Screen Door is the best unless you are a whack-o or on a silly diet. The atmosphere is lively, the service is friendly, and the food, good god the food. Get the fried chicken. Get the friend oysters. If you've had the fried chicken, get the screen door plate with at least two of the local organics selections. The salads are always fantastic. I had the heirloom tomato salad last week and it was divine. Oh, are you complaining about the wait? Well don't. This is Portland where people love to go out to eat. The guy who hosts on Friday nights is a total gentleman and always polite. He will kindly take your name and even take your number and call when the table is ready. Go to The Standard down the street and play pool until then. Grab some great Southern food at Screen Door and you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Kea D.
Honestly and truly, it's a shame that I haven't written about Screen Door before now because it is simply divine. I've only been twice, but I will never consider having anything other than the fried chicken. Perfectly crisped and seasoned on the outside, with lots of extra to munch on, but incredibly juicy and moist on the inside. My boyfriend, who is a chef and very critical about his food (which is why I'm petrified to cook for him -- but another story for another day), simply said this about the chicken, "Wow. That's bad ass." Not that I needed his validation, but I was glad to have it. When (not if) you go, try the following: 1) Fried chicken 2) Shrimp & grits 3) Greens 4) Macaroni & cheese Oh, and did I mention the fried chicken? Enjoy!!
(5)
Robert J.
The best in the city! The use of fresh in season foods as well as forest mushrooms is a real bonus. Expect a long wait.
(5)
Cheryl H.
Pros: The food and drinks are fabulous and the staff are helpful and friendly. Cons: This place is very busy and the wait is long. It's also very loud inside.
(5)
Stina L.
chicken and waffles are to die for. I'm not normally a big fried chicken fan but they top the delicious soft waffle with 4 pieces of thick, juicy and perfectly breaded chicken i just had to try it. it came out and you could still see the oil sizzling on top of each piece. the wait was a bit ridiculous. we got seated on a busy saturday in about 35 minutes which wasn't a big deal, but it took us over an hour and a half to get our food and our server also forgot my bloody mary. she was really nice but i think watching every one else eat made us pretty sad. my boyfriend was starving and i asked if maybe they could just bring out his food first as soon as it was ready, she said she had to wait til the entire ticket was ready. and my dish was causing the holdup because the fryer was backed up. kind of a lame excuse but i would just recommend coming really early, maybe bring a snack to nibble, because the food is definitely worth it.
(4)
Gabbie D.
I went here for brunch with some friends and let me tell you, this place is well worth the long wait. And that wait gave us plenty of time to ogle the menu, debating about what to order because everything looked so good. Although this place is highly reviewed and always busy, the atmosphere was pleasant but casual; not stuffy or snooty. My friends and I decided to order several dishes and share everything family style. We had mimosas, the burnside brandy milk punch, the fried chicken & waffle, brioche vanilla bean french toast, the golden yeasted waffle, eggs (we asked for it with onions and bell peppers, and they gladly obliged), a buttermilk biscuit, chicken & apple sausage, praline bacon, and lemon ricotta griddle cakes off the special menu. We initially asked for 2 orders of the chicken & waffles, but settled on 1 after the waiter advised us 1 order was plenty, since all the dishes were pretty large. Even so, every inch of our table was covered when the food arrived, so we set to clearing the dishes for them to take away before the last 2 dishes came. We DEVOURED this meal. We must have looked like a hungry pack of wolves, and I'm surprised we didn't finish every scrap of food, it was so good. The fried chicken was amazing--so tender and crispy with just the right amount of spice. Probably the best fried chicken I've ever had in my life (sorry Ezell's). The sweet potato waffle was good but I'm not sure the sweet potato flavor was very noticeable. The brioche vanilla bean french toast was good but not amazing. Same goes for the golden waffle (well...it's a waffle). The biscuit was flaky and delicious. The chicken & apple sausage was lovely. The lemon ricotta griddle cakes were served with fresh blueberries and they were sooo delicious. I want to find a recipe like it to make at home. And the praline bacon was sinfully good. I could sense my arteries clogging with every bite but it was so frickin' worth it. And I'm usually not a big fan of bacon. But the slices were so thick and tender (I don't like crispy bacon), and the salty/sweet combo was to die for. The mimosas made for a very happy/giggly brunch though the brandy milk punch wasn't to our liking. And yes, our waiter was rather cute. My friends and I want to find a place like this in Seattle.
(5)
Jason B.
Spectacular. Don't let the long lines deter you. Just park your car and get in line. Wife had the bananas foster french toast which was VERY sweet and rich, also a huge portion. I had the chicken and waffles which was also huge (3 boneless chicken breast cutlets!) and delicious! Big props for using boneless chicken which makes cutting your waffle and chicken together a breeze! We also ordered one biscuit with gravy and it was so tasty! Got an order of the praline bacon too and it was sweet and smoky and incredible. Finally, we couldn't leave without also trying the breakfast corn dog, which could be a meal for one in itself. Bottom line: This is probably the best breakfast I've ever had in Portland. People with hangovers beware: This place is LOUD, so if you're nursing a headache, better head somewhere else!
(5)
Opal D.
Over an hour wait this past Sunday, but absolutely worth every minute. The food is delicious. The best biscuits and gravy I've had in the Northwest. Bacon praline... no words. The fried chicken and waffle looked amazing and I really wish I could have tried every dish - I'll be back for sure!!
(5)
Amy C.
The best. End of. I LOVE this place. The wait is worth it! Chicken and waffles, breakfast corn dog, and cajun scramble were awesome and the coffee was great. Fine for kids - bring stuff to color or play with as the wait is a little long, but the food is so great... We'll be back as soon as possible!
(5)
Angela V.
Had the mac n' cheese, fried catfish, creamy grits, mushroom hash, and a strawberry shortcake for dessert. Was so good, definitely will order the mac n' cheese again, and will try the chicken next time...saw a lot of that going around to the tables nearby :-)
(5)
Arry Y.
My very resourceful husband found this place on Yelp when we did a spontaneous trip down to Portland with a couple good friends. 806 reviews, 4.5 stars, line out the door when we drove by it? Hells yea we're going to try it. We did. Solid 1 hour wait from 1220PM to 120PM for a table to seat 4. We drank coffee, stood around, walked around, drank a Bloody Mary. Solid 30 minute wait from 120 to 150PM for food to arrive. Outdoor seating with heat lamps - was actually nice. Good fresh air, but not cold at all. Not too loud either - think I'd prefer the outdoor seating over the inside one. We ordered: -- mushroom scramble (delicious) -- fried chicken and waffles (delicious delicious delicious and GINORMOUS). -- corned beef hash (delicious - was voted our favorite dish) -- home grits with cheddar, ham, poached eggs (delicious) -- bloody mary is delicious, good spice, but not too much -- good stumptown coffee The place needs some sort of process improvement though... the wait for a table and the wait for food is just atrocious. Food is good enough I'd go back and subject myself and possibly others to the wait. Again, VERY large portions...
(4)
Yekta A.
Try their sticky bun, SO TASTY! So we get up Sunday morning and decide to come here, not knowing that the line is EXTREMELY long! The food is so good and so worth the wait! We ordered the mushroom omelet and spinach omelet, they are huge meals, theoretically sharing a meal would work! They have red Velvet pancakes and chicken + waffles on their menu, maybe next time if I'm bold enough I'll order one of those!
(5)
Edna G.
I was in Portland for Spring Break with my family and we wanted to eat some place where it was popular and had great food selections. I used Yelp and it did not stir me wrong. Our wait was not bad as we called in early to be in the waiting list. They only offer a few reservations for large groups. There were many others already waiting to be seated but we only took about 15 minutes to wait for ours since I called. My family shared all the foods dishes so that we could try everything that they had at one time. We loved the chicken and mac n cheese!! Sooo yummy!! Place was loud and happening. I thought all our menu choices (5 dishes) were great with only the exception to the corn bread. It was dry. I definitely recommend this place to try as you will always see a crowd in front. Expect to wait an hour or so as they do not really have reservations.
(5)
Annette V.
I updated with an additional star because even though the wait can still be atrocious and unacceptable...I can't deny the fact that their mac and cheese is unbelievably good. I've never had better mac and cheese in my life...pretty much cheesy perfection in a bowl that would definitely make my "last meal" list. Here's a tip if you are going for dinner....if you go later in the night, say-1.5 hours before closing on a weeknight-your chances of grabbing a table is infinitely better.
(5)
Tori M.
A definite must-try for Portland brunch. Amazing southern food. Worth the wait for sure. I ordered the bananas foster french toaster and my husband ordered a biscuits and gravy/friend chicken sandwich concoction from the specials menu. Everything was very tasty. We left way too full and needing a nap. But I would definitely go back and bring all my friends.
(5)
Leah K.
I left Screen Door: happy and a few pounds heavier. Came here on a Sunday morning at approximately 8:45 (15 minutes prior to opening). There was a huge HUGE huge (very huge) line wrapping around the corner and down the block. Freaked out for a second and then realized that SD hadn't opened their doors yet so the wait shouldn't be too long. Probably sat down around 9:20ish. We were lucky. The indoor seats were all taken and my group (of 3) took the very last table in the outdoor patio seating. SCORE! We felt relieved and thankful that we wouldn't have to wait for everyone to finish eating before we were seated. And I know what you're thinking, patio? No worries, the patio has a roof and the sides are covered with a plastic see-through tarp and there are heaters on the ceiling, twas cozy. Literally every single dish on the brunch menu sounds mouthwatering so deciding what to get was hard. I ended up trying the Eggs Sardou - poached eggs over artichoke hearts & creamed spinach, and an english muffin, topped with hollandaise sauce. The spinach paired with the artichoke heart was just fabulous and the hollandaise sauce was perfect! Not too thick but just right with a hint of spiciness. Both male fellows who accompanied me had the Chicken and Waffles. Holy cow. SD does not joke around. Leaning tower of Chicken and Waffles is more like it. Friends said that the meat was perfect, juicy and succulent and the waffle was delicious. And yes, one of them finished the whole plate all on their own. Our server said that he wins a pair of Screen Door granny sweat pants for finishing, haha. Service was friendly, quick, and attentive. Will be returning again, to try their dinner dishes.
(4)
Darth M.
It would be easy to dismiss fried chicken and mac & cheese as been there and done that. No. You. Have. Not. I don't know what they do these staples of comfort food, but it is magical. You will be dreaming about it days after your visit. Getting in is a challenge. Wife and I were traveling and ended up at arriving 35 min before they even open for business. There was already a line forming, and likely 40 or more waiting before the place opened at 5:30.
(5)
J. B.
Be prepared to leave this restaurant in a food coma. My husband and I decided to attempt this restaurant on a Saturday, despite other reviewers warnings on long wait times. We showed up around 12:30pm and the wait wasn't long at all. My husband got the infamous fried chicken on a sweet potato waffle. The chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside and the flavor was delicious. The salty chicken with the sweetness of the waffle with syrup (or jam) was a good combo and a great brunch choice. I got the praline bacon waffle and was blown away. There are actual bacon pieces in the waffle batter, and on top is a thick cut piece of bacon covered in a praline crust. The waffle is also topped with whipped cream and more pecan pieces and comes with a side of maple syrup. It was the perfect balance of salty and sweet and it was incredibly filling. The restaurant itself is a just a big open dining area with about 15 or so tables, plus a bar and patio seating as well. The service was good and everyone was very laid back and friendly. Definitely had the Portland vibe going on. The prices are about what you'd expect anywhere else.
(5)
Joe P.
I took my Wife here for her birthday and from the reviews we anticipated a wait to be seated. The wait wasn't long maybe 10-15 minutes during the dinner rush. The food was fantastic, some of the best fried chicken I've ever had. All crispy and delicious.Seriously it's been like 4 months since I've been there and their chicken is still on my mind. I think I need to make plans to return, but coming from the Couve (Vantucky herp derp, gosh you Hipster DB's are so unoriginal) it's a trek so can't frequent Screen Door as often as I would like. We also tried the hush puppies for the first time and they were quite delicious as well. My Wife ordered some kind of grits and rice dish that she wasn't happy about (she sucks at ordering) but thankfully the fried chicken plate came with plenty to share.
(5)
Rachel V.
CRISPY. FRIED. BUTTERMILK-BATTERED. CHICKEN. This is no joke! Screen door is the REAL DEAL. I LOVE fried chicken and I can't believe it's taken me 30 years to discover that THIS place actually exists in the entire world. Oh why oh why must you be all the way in Portland!?? For $16 you get a MASSIVE portion of moist, crispy fried chicken, mashed potatoes and collard greens. Personally, I would recommend sharing it with your significant other or friend but, unlike the bf, he did NOT want to do so. He attempted at conquering that monstrous plate but sadly he failed. Wilson: 0 Screen Door: 1 The only downside would have to be the hot sauce. I'm not a fan of it. I prefer something a bit more sweeter or I may just be used to mixing my syrup with the Red Rooster sauce from Roscoe's. Other than that, A+ on the fried chicken. Well done, Screen Door. Well done!
(5)
Mona W.
SO AMAZING. Fantastic, juicy, hearty, and just plain DELICIOUS chicken and waffles. I really savored each flavor-packed bite, as Screen Door really nails it in the flavor department. I was also amazed by the pecan bacon. I mean how can anyone dislike bacon? Bacon by itself is already amazing. I thought SF's popular millionaire bacon was already crazy enough, but who knew there was such thing a PECAN BACON? I highly recommend trying it out for yourself. So bomb diggity. I loved everything we ordered, and loved the price of everything even more. Portland dining is such a bargain compared to the Bay!
(5)
Rebecca L.
This place lives up to the hype. It was definitely in my top 2 favorite meals while visiting Portland. We arrived around 7:30 on a Thursday evening. It was packed but we were seated within 15 minutes. The bar serves yummy drinks to keep you occupied during the wait. I ordered the barbecued beef brisket and switched my sides to the mashed potatoes and cole slaw. Hubby and I split the macaroni and cheese. The brisket was very tasty and tender. It would have been perfect except that it was a bit on the fatty side. Not a deal-breaker though. But the macaroni and cheese... OMG. Best I've ever had! The sweet tea was on point, very authentic southern style. And the Ban-offee pie for dessert was DELISH. Like banana cream pie, but better. We will definitely be back during our next visit!
(5)
Mimi T.
Yeah, the hype is real! Fried Chicken- Yes Yes Yes!! I cant describe it, but its THAT good. Their locals/organics- I loved the beets salad that I got, it was fresh and the cheese was local!! How often do you dine at a restaurant that supports your local farms? It's rare! I definitely can respect that. I send all my out of town guests here to Screen Door, its my #1. You can't leave portland until you've tried Screen Door!
(5)
Trang T.
HOLY HEAVEN! I visited Oregon for the first time and before venturing up there, tons of people told me that I must try Screen Door. At first it was tentatively put on our itinerary. When we were up there, a girl on the rental car shuttle bus told us that we MUST try Screen Door cause their chicken is amazing and their waffles is truly something else. I was sold! We tried to squeeze it in our weekend plan but found out they only open for breakfast/lunch on the weekends. So our gameplan was to wake up early and head over there a little bit before they opened. That way we can hopefully get in, get out and continue our Portlandia adventures. They open at 9am on Saturdays so we decided to get there at 8:30am. We waited outside in line and was probably the 4th group in line. By the time 8:45am hit, the line was seriously wrapped around the building! THANK GOODNESS we woke up early. 30 minutes waiting outside was perfect because once they opened, we were able to be seated immediately. The restaurant isn't huge but it does seat a good amount of people (including the patio area). I imagine that this place is so popular that there is always a wait. Portions were HUGE. I tried the chicken and waffle dish which consisted of 3 pieces of chicken and the most amazing sweet potato waffle. I must say it was the most amazing and glorious waffle I've ever had. The chicken was delicious and perfectly seasoned. Their portions were however so huge that I was only able to get through one piece of chicken. I think one order would've been perfect to be shared. Their staff was extremely quick and attentive. I'm sure they have tons of experience getting customers in and out. I highly suggest this place and would definitely come back if I'm ever back in Oregon. Best thing that worked for us was coming 30 minutes before they opened.
(5)
Alison V.
Mmmm fried chicken. I must go back for their brunch as that's all I hear about - chicken and waffles! I got the fried chicken for dinner, collard greens, and mashed potatoes. Yumm. The chicken really is as good as people rave about. There is always a wait. We went next door and got a drink at Matador while we waited 1+ hours. It is worth it!
(4)
Braedie T.
DBF and I went here for Sunday brunch November 2014, we waited an hour and a half for a table for the two of us so get there early! I didn't add a picture because there are so many accurate pics already. We ordered the Chicken & Waffle, Bananas Foster French Toast, 1 Biscuit w/sausage gravy, a bloody mary and a Mimosa. Chicken & Waffle was the best! Highly delicious! Bananas Foster FT, VERY sweet! I had one bite and it was enough for me. It was two pieces of FT and he at less than one piece. Good but sweet. The Biscuit was good, I didn't care for the gravy, my boyfriend put salt and pepper on it and said it was better. They do have free coffee for you while you wait or you could order a drink from the bar. We MIGHT come back, we for sure won't wait another hour and a half though. I'd like to try dinner there.
(3)
Steve R.
Holy crap. Where has this place been? Awesome food. My new favorite. Went on Halloween night. No line, got right in even though nearly every table was taken. The fried chicken that my wife ordered was the best I've ever had - I'm getting that next time. The Ribeye was good, not great. I'm not a fan of gristle, but it was flavorful and done perfectly. Everything else was really, really good. Seriously, REALLY good. The side dish of kale - believe it or not - was one of the better sides I can remember, and I don't really care for kale (go figure). The mashed potatoes and gravy tasted like somebody's grandmother made it - really good! My wife had the duck fat baby potatoes as her side and - wow - those were also really good! The place is sparse and crowd was a funky mix of all types (a plus in my book). The wait was short, but that was Halloween night. The service was great - attentive but not overly so, and knowledgeable and super friendly. The prices were very good for the quality of the food so the value factor here is a huge bonus. All in all, great, great place. We'll be going there often.
(5)
Ashlan C.
I love the food here. Been to the Screen Door for breakfast and dinner a bunch of times. Always well worth the wait. For breakfast the monkey bread is always great. The bananas foster and all the egg dishes are good too. For dinner I always like to have the Screen Door plate because you can mix and match a little bit of everything. The specials are always changing and using fresh fruits or vegetables. Nifty tip - if you have more than 6 people call ahead to get a table!
(5)
Emily Z.
Twice I have been to Screen Door, and both times had their seasonal trout dishes. Hands down they made the best trout I have had (other than that I have caught myself). Only complaint: for a neighborhood restaurant (whether they like it or not), we felt mightily out of place taking our children. SD would win a lot of hearts if they were a little more kid-friendly. Our icy waitress' obvious irritation aside, all-in-all a delicious and worthwhile venture.
(4)
Monica R B.
Wonderful fried chicken and fried oysters. Mac n cheese was good. Waiter not so warm and friendly.
(4)
Nikolai A.
Not going to lie, this place is amazing in many ways. The portions are outrageously large and wonderful for sharing. The food is like nothing other, and so are the wait staff. Everyone who works here is wonderful. I have never been so impressed with such proper southern comfort food that is cooked to perfection. Yes. Here in Portland. The only reason I take a star off of the review is the average 45 minute wait to get into the establishment, then another 30 to get seated. If this place could seat us in a timely manner or take reservations I would give The Screen Door a full five stars. Definitely go here if you're at all curious of "how good" it is. It really is amazing. But give yourself an hour window before you actually get to eat once you've arrived.
(4)
Stephanie J.
Southern cooking in Portland, OR? How could this Virginia girl resist that? And boy, am I glad I did. We went to this restaurant on a Thursday night and this place was hopping, for that reason I recommend reservations. We didn't have reservations but were quickly seated on the heated, outdoor patio. Our server was attentive and quickly greeted us and took our drink order. The Screen Door focuses its menu on locally sourced items and organic produce and meats. We started our meal with delicious hush puppies with honey butter and red pepper jelly and then shared an order of the fried chicken and mashed potatoes and gravy. The fried chicken certainly did not disappoint. The breading was crispy and flavorful and the chicken was moist and delicious. We sampled the Ban-offee Pie which is a combination of shortbread & pecan crust layered w/ caramel & bananas topped w/ whipped cream -- oh la la it was an absolute treat for our taste buds. Shockingly, this southern girl highly recommends Screen Door and considers it a must visit when in Portland, OR.
(5)
Laura T.
Have to take off a few stars from Screen Door... which truly brings tears to my eyes! This used to be one of my favorite Portland restaurants... one I would drive 30 minutes to get to, then wait another 30-40 minutes in line BEFORE they opened in order to get a table during their first seating. Chef Rick Widmayer left in early 2013 and there's no doubt in my mind that their food has suffered. It's not as inventive or flavorful as it once was. We were there last month and ordered the pulled pork and chicken tenderloin app (tried & true for us) and they were ... meh! Not worth the wait. The time before - same. People STILL do the wait as if nothing has changed! Things have changed. Can no longer recommend. :(
(3)
Mark M.
Wildly overrated and the lines are absurd to say the least. Chicken and waffles are good but nothing your couldn't do at home
(3)
Kayla S.
I really liked this restaurant...just wish there was more seating. I waited outside for what felt like forever, but once inside I was very happy with the food and service... I can see why it's so popular!
(4)
Von A.
Southern charm in hipster Portland. A go-to place for me - especially if I want comfort, belly busting foods. The ambiance is cool, not stuffy, very relaxed and chill and a bit noisy. The staff was friendly - expect a wait at high dinning times - but it's worth the wait. The dish I got was the Smoked & BBQ Beef Brisket - which was amazing, my mouth watered from its juiciness the entire time, smothered in a tangy bbq sauce which I wish they bottled and sold separately. I had to slice around the fat - which i wish they cut off before hand. It was topped with crispy onion strings, and with a side of potato salad, and green beans.
(4)
Angie W.
Screen Door Plate is the best!!!
(5)
Miranda N.
LOVE everything abut this place. All From the cute decor to the food and service. This was my first stop when I arrived to Portland. We got here at 8:30 on a Wednesday and there was no wait ! Our host and server were very friendly. The server kept comin back to check up on us and even gave us good tips on where to go In Portland :) We got: SMOKED & BBQ BEEF BRISQUIT- the beef is so soft and melts in your mouth. This dish is super flavorful !! SCREEN DOOR PLATE- 1. MAC n CHEESE- best Mac n cheese I've ever had. 2. GUMBO- Also the best gumbo I've ever had. 3. FRIED CAT FISH- this was just okay for me. the first two pieces were bomb, then I got tired of it. 4. CORNBREAD- good but I was too full so I couldn't eat more than one bite lol. They give you soo much food ! I definitely recommend this place if you're looking to eat something really hearty or if you just want to have a drink.
(4)
Stanley M.
Best fried chicken in town, love this place.
(5)
Alex O.
This place is simply amazing and well worth the wait. I ended up getting shrimp and grits which had pesto sauce lining the grits simply amazing. Drinks were good and prices reasonable for quality of food.
(5)
Peter S.
Best Chicken and Waffles hands down! The chicken is perfectly seasoned, just enough kick to accompany the fluffy and delicious waffle. Expect long waits on the weekend, but worth the wait!
(4)
Norris T.
absolutely delicious. I fail to find the words to articulate how much I loved my meal here. Came here on a tip from a guy on the sidewalk and the rest is history. Crispy Fried Buttermilk-battered Chicken: A huge piece of chicken. Ridiculously moist on the inside but still perfectly crispy on the outside. I can't figure out how they do it but applaud the magic that they do. w/ tasso ham gravy, mashed potatoes & collards: The gravy was rich yet not too heavy allowing me to keep eating far beyond my usual limits with this cuisine. Oh yes and the collard greens melt after they hit your lips and getting a "wow" out of more then one of my friends seated with me. Macaroni & Cheese: Get this. If you read my reviews I usually put a goto dish in them and this is it. Seriously if your not allergic to delicious you need to get this without question. My only complaint is that I didn't have enough room for dessert. One or two more trips are protocol for me before I can give a 5 star but I like their chances. Will there be a next time. You bet your @## ill be back.
(4)
Peiran S.
This review is for a take out order of their fried chicken and cat fish. Ranking by rate, this one seems to be the #1 restaurant in the entire Portland metro area. Hence, naturally it fell on our radar here after a day of serendipitous shopping trip. It opens at 5:30 but when I got there at 5:15, there were already a huge crowd of people lining up there. It ended up most of those people were able to get in in first round. But with limited waiter availability, it still took about 25 mins to seat those 1st round. That said, tip of the day, be there at 5:10 to secure a seat and the fried chicken will pay you back for your wait. We decided to order take out due to shortage of time. We ordered the flagship fried chicken with catfish as side. Order was served faster than promised. Fried chicken was amazingly tender, juicy and flavorful especially with their gravy on top of it. Even our serious weight/calorie watcher finished half of the fried chicken plus catfish. I didn't enjoy the way they battered catfish never the less.
(5)
Tony L.
Most excellent service and food. I had the brisket which was incredible and the wife had the pulled pork, rave reviews. All good and will be back. Word of warning, the menu on yelp isn't always current on dessert.
(5)
Mary L.
Delicious food. Love their cornbread and mashed potatoes. I wish they took reservations.
(5)
Steven H.
Pretty darn good. If you don't mind falling asleep about 10 mins later and feeling like a zombie, then this is your spot.
(4)
Carissa B.
I have to say it's *nearly* worth the wait. I only had to wait 15 minutes because my friend and I timed it right. However, if we hadn't, I'm fairly certain that we would've moved on. I had a winter hash with root vegetables and they were perfectly seasoned, as well as perfectly cooked. Definitely check it out if you have the time.
(4)
Suzanne S.
SHUT THE SCREEN DOOR. I can't even. I wanted to write this review last night after we ate there but I was speechless from all the yummyness. I had no words. If you do not eat here, you hate food and your life. I don't mean to be so blunt but seriously, love yourself enough to go here and EAT ALL THE GOOD THINGS. We found this place by accident. I literally was just searching for restaurants in Portland on yelp and this was the first one that popped up. It had great reviews and so we decided to check it out. The reviews said to expect a wait up to 40 minutes. We got there shortly after it opened and we were hoping the line would not be too long since we were going to a Jimmy Buffett concert and so we didn't have a ton of time to spare. To our delight and surprise, we got a table right away in their outdoor seating area. At first I was skeptical because I thought it would be chilly but it was covered and had hanging heaters and it was actually very comfortable. The host and the waiter were extremely friendly and helpful. On the waiters recommendation, we both ordered the fried chicken, mashed potatoes with ham gravy, collard greens and mac & cheese. Oh and hush puppies to start. (needless to say, we ordered way too much food and took half of it home...) The fried chicken was boneless which was awesome and it is literally the best fried chicken I've ever eaten in my life. The seasoning is great, crispy on the outside and juicy in the inside. The mashed potatoes were so creamy and delish and with that gravy on top of it... Fuhgeddaboutit. I am not a fan of collard greens but the husband had those and he pretty much licked the bowl. I don't normally order mac & cheese in a restaurant because hello... I can just have that at home but you guys... I can't even begin to describe this mac & cheese.... you just have to trust me and EAT IT. Sooooo creamy and cheeeeeeesy. And then the hush puppies! Let's not forget the hush puppies. Again, these are the best hush puppies I've ever had and they came with this yummy pepper jelly that we had to get some to go. Very reasonably priced and we will definitely be back to this place when we are back in the area. Don't think about it. JUST GO.
(5)
Dillan T.
This place. Wow. I'm a Cajun girl and my husband is from the land of Mississippi catfish so we can be extremely critical of southern food. Actually, we try to avoid it outside of the Southeast. That being said, the food here rocked! And, IMHO, the prices could be raised and i'd still happily pay them. Fried catfish was cooked and seasoned perfectly. And I kept looking for things to possibly dip in the tartar sauce because it was that good. Mashed potatoes were creamy and the Tasso gravy just made them near perfect. Seasonal squash with pecans was quite flavorful. Oh yeah, the cornbread was delicious as well. Husband enjoyed the pecan crusted trout. Those green beans....man oh man. Just a hint of onion. The item that didn't meet standards were fingerling potatoes. They were dry and boring. But that was easily overlooked. Didn't wait longer than 10 mins for bar seats. Kitchen pumps out meals like a machine
(5)
sarah y.
Fried chicken (with no bones to worry about), Mac & cheese, and a menu full of other comfort foods at an insanely affordable prices?! No wonder there's a line wrapped around the corner of screen door before they even open each day! Get there early and you too can indulge in this comfort food heaven. Plan on sharing dishes though, as the portions are large (what a value!).
(5)
Ray M.
TOP 3 FRIED CHICKEN IN THE NATION It's hard to believe how wide the spectrum of fried chicken from really bad to really good. This fried chicken is unbelievable. All fried chicken aficionados out there just have to make their way to Portland to give this a try. It's so good. We also had the beef brisket, Mac and cheese (another huge highlight) and the low country grits. All good. I love how the portions are humongous. The decor was spot on. The service was excellent. The place is expanding but only in this current location. I kept begging them to open a location in NYC and SF but alas they have no plans to do so anytime soon. All the staff kept on saying that we have to come back for brunch which we just might do!
(5)
Amanda I.
My fiance and I went here after Google searching Chicken Fried Steak. I actually ended up getting the trio with catfish, gumbo, and jambalaya and they were all delicious. I will say I've had better gumbo and jambalaya but it was still worth it. We did wait in line outside for a bit. I think we caught them right as they had a bunch of waiters coming onto their shifts. The atmosphere is great, and even though they were busy, we never felt neglected.
(5)
Julie G.
Best fried chicken in portland. It never gets old - i would go more often but I'm always stuffed and in a food coma afterwards. Their mac and cheese is the BEST I've ever had. my husband raves about the collard greens, gumbo and jumbalaya. One of Portland's finest.
(5)
Shea H.
What can I say that hasn't already been said?? This place is amazing. Admittedly, I did not like my dinner as much as I anticipated but the appetizers were so good, I'm willing to give it another try. Let me think of what I can talk about that's not already represented in the other reviews... The peanut butter cake is amazing. It came out cold (and I tend to hate cold cake) but they warmed it up for me...how nice is that? He didn't quite do it right but he tried! Parking is challenging. Just keep looking though, something will come up. They have a bourbon flight....didn't get to try it but I don't see too many restaurants with anything other than beer and wine flights. You leave smelling like fried food...that's kinda not cool but I moved on. We ordered two appetizers and two entrees and our bill was under $50...pretty impressive, if you ask me. Go give this place a try, you won't regret it.
(4)
Chereta M.
YUMMERS!! I ordered the Smoked bbq'd brisket with mashed potatoes, green beans, and a side of mac n cheese! Wtf?!? The food I ordered was delicious. Well seasoned, but the portions were huge. I had food left over for another meal. I tasted the: fried chicken: cripsy, well seasoned! Cornbread: bland...really no flavor Fried fish: crispy and flaky I went with 5 other friends, we shared our meals and it was delicious There is a long wait for this place, and the waiting area is very small. We waited two hours to get a table for 6. Don't get me wrong, it was well worth the wait. Just have a couple of drinks at the bar while you wait! If you go to the restaurant 2-3 hours after it opens, maybe the wait won't be too long.
(5)
rose f.
so good! the screen door special is what i always get, because i don't have to choose just one thing. they have a great selection of local organic salads etc. highly recommended!
(5)
Jenny H.
Their FRIED CHICKEN & WAFFLE ($13) is a must try!! Portions are pretty huge here, so two people can share the fried chicken and still be stuffed. Definitely the best fried chicken I've ever had. The waffle was perfectly crispy on the outside and soft not the inside too. Yummy~ I also tried the CAJUN SCRAMBLE ($8) which was good but wasn't as amazing as the fried chicken.
(4)
Philip O.
The fried oyster benedict, the fried chicken & waffle, the pork & apple sausage and the buttermilk biscuit for sides was an utter assault on my senses and stomach and was worth every single bite.
(5)
Asthe G.
This place is solid, although I don't go there for the Fried Chicken, I go for the burger. It gets looked over, but it is one of the best in town. Good size, juicy, house made, with lots of fixins. Get it with the sweet potato fries and a side of creole mustard. Boom. Brunch=f. yeah. Fried oyster eggs benedict with bacon.Boom. Service=harried but good. Wait=expect 45 mins minimum unless its right before closing.
(5)
Sarah L.
They had me at the Bloody Mary. That alone is so worth the hour plus wait that always seems to exist there. Luckily, you can drink gallons of coffee, if you can actually weave through the crowd to reach the coffee thermos. Yes, there is a crowd. Yes, there is a wait. Yes, there is amazing food! Chicken and waffles. Biscuits and Gravy. Bloody Mary heaven. I really need to make another visit asap!
(5)
John L.
Went back for dinner recently. We got there 20 minutes before opening. There was already a line. We had a large group of 8. Didn't make in the first round. They take 2 reservations and both were taken. They quoted us 1 hour. Took 90 minutes.... quite a wait with 3 kids under 3 years old. We stopped by Alder's across the street, was pleasantly surprised. the wait was crazy long but the food was worth it! The food was again fantastic! Chile was fresh, bold, with just the right amount of spice. 4 1/2 stars. The roasted beet salad was good, but not my favorite. 4 stars. The fuji apple salad was really good. 41/2 stars. The brisket was pretty good but just didn't quite compare when compared to the fried chicken. 4 stars. The side of green beans and horseradish potato salad were both very good. 4 stars. The fried chicken is as always the star of the show. 5 stars! Can't get enough. It lays on a bed of delicious mashed potatoes. The mac 'n cheese is also fantastic, one of the best. 5 stars. On a side note, for whatever reason the beef brisket tasted even better the next day as leftovers.
(5)
Chris O.
Wow..the food here impresses. Such a long wait..but so worth it. The bloody marys are spicy and delicious.
(5)
Kaitlin P.
Screen Door is absolutely my favorite brunch spot in the city. This is the one place that I am more than willing to wait for an hour+ to get a table - even in the rain! I mean, you can sip boozy brunch drinks on the patio while you wait, so. I've always had excellent service, from the hostess to the servers to the bartenders who pour those stiff drinks. It can be loud in there when it's busy (who am I kidding, it's always busy!), but not so loud that you can't have a conversation with the person next/across from you. Whenever I have out-of-town company, I always always taken them to Screen Door for brunch. I love to see their expressions when they first spot an order of chicken + waffle being delivered. And I love it even more when they are brave enough to order it for themselves.
(5)
Alanna M.
I am a huge fan! We went in a large group so I got to taste and sample a lot more dishes for a first time visit. Everything was so delicious! You can't go wrong. Although I hear their fried chicken is very popular. It was definitely amazing. They were so accommodating. i can't believe I only had to travel 2.5 hours south instead of across the country to find good Southern cooking and hospitality. I had the catfish which was just heavenly. Ambience is a typical noisier restaurant... Great cocktail selection! Definite must try spot -- unless you're on a diet!
(5)
Dan R.
Here for dinner. My wife's from Texas and a fantastic cook but seemed a good try, and yes it was. The food is rich and filling, but more importantly tastily done, with fine ingredients. The screen door platter giving you 3 choices is a great way to go, especially with the vegetarian specials-- slow roasted rainbow carrots & parsnips, very yummy, and a gratin of potatoes, cauliflower & mushrooms w/ a cream sauce so buttery, maybe maple. But somebody at the table needs the fried chicken, crispy on the outside & juicy on the in but one thimble of gravy nowhere near enough.) I liked the jambalaya much, & we all loved the fired okra. Excellent, attentive (if not completely informed) service. Yes you gotta wait.
(4)
Sarah K.
The food here was AMAZING!!!.. I had a bite of everyones plate :). Quite Busy- but definitely has a warm cozy feel. I liked the living room effect. The fried chicken is boneless and PLENTY with the perfect amount of crunch and moist meatiness. The mac n cheese is made homestyle with melted chesse. I am not a huge fan of cat fish and it just seriously melts in your mouth. The brisket literally fell apart with some yummy BBQ sauce- and the griddle cakes are OH SO GOOD! Def recommend, but expect a wait..and make sure you have time to dine!
(4)
Cliff L.
i am rating this 5-stars based on the FRIED chicken. my wife ordered the chicken. i did the screen door plate with mac/cheese, fried catfish, and some beet salad. this is no mamby pamby portion place. the plates are enormous. the fried chicken was delicious. quite possibly the best i have ever had. and there was no bone!! boneless chicken has a flavor disadvantage as far as i know..and this place rocked it. my wife usually does not eat white meat chicken because it is on the dry side..nope. it was moist, hot..delicious. so good, you brave the hot food, and will risk that tiny blister on the roof of you mouth. just breath in cooling air as you try to swallow...not the most polite way to eat on date-night but eff it..this is good chicken. let me tell you, we got full off of her plate! my fried catfish had a bit of a muddy flavor. wife loved it, but i wasnt a fan. the beet salad, was mostly spring greens with a few beets. and not every beet salad requires a feta cheese. (who decides this stuff?)..the mac and cheese was a huge bowl sitting on my plate. it had a crusty surface from a brief stay under the broiler. FANTASTIC!! the top was crusty and bubbly, and the noodle pile underneath was rich, creamy..and hot. yum. i could live on screen door's fried chicken and mac and cheese..five easy stars. good food, great portions..wash it all down with sweet tea. not the best place in the world to practice portion control...
(5)
Brittany B.
5 stars and I mean it! My vegetarian cousin declared this as one of the best veggie meals she's ever eaten, and I tend to agree. We waited ~45 mins for our table, but were able to take a quick walk around the surrounding neighborhood, so it wasn't bad. The host was extremely friendly, which was an oddity compared to some of the restaurants we went to in Portland. I was there with four other girls, and most of us decided to get the Screen Door Plate - a choice of 3 sides or half orders of the local veggie specials, plus cornbread. I had: - Slow Cooked Flageolet Beans - Black Mission Fig & Ebony Heart Pluot Salad - Roasted Beet Salad These were all very tasty, if you couldn't tell by just their titles! Be warned though - the portions are huge. Another girl in the party had shrimp and grits and loved it too. We were all so full that we couldn't fit in dessert, but it looked amazing too. All in all - great southern cuisine, lots of local flavor and good veggie options.
(5)
Alison P.
You absolutely CANNOT go wrong with brunch at Screen Door. The portions are huge, and the food is beyond delicious. You could seriously just close your eyes and point at anything on the menu, and be more than satisfied with your meal. I have had the biscuits & gravy (sausage gravy, that is), and the banana foster french toast. Let me just say, I want to do terrible, terrible things to the biscuits and gravy. Just dirty, nasty things. And the banana foster french toast...I would like to take it out to an expensive meal, softly caress it's face and tell it how much it means to me. Really make sure it knows I don't know where I would be if it weren't in my life. My boyfriend has had the famous fried chicken & waffles, and the po boy breakfast sandwich. Now, I'm not sure if you've heard already, but you get FOUR huge, fried chicken breasts stabbed through the waffle with a steak knife. Holy hell. I would highly recommend eating that with a buddy....unless your main goal in life is to clog your arteries. then go for it. The po boy is...it's...it's just sooooo goooood!!!! It's messy as hell to eat, but who freakin cares, it's deelish. Other highlights: Breakfast Corndog, Praline Bacon, along with the Raspberry & Ricotta Blintz. My only drawback, is the wait. They don't take reservations, and if you show up after 9:30, even if it's just for two people, you're going to be waiting at least a half hour, most likely closer to a full hour. However, if you can make it through that wait, you will be HANDSOMELY rewarded. I have not been for dinner, but I have only heard mediocre reviews about it. Not going to lie, I'm curious though. In conclusion, please, please, PLEASE go to Screen Door for breakfast/brunch. You will not be disappointed!!
(4)
Adam S.
I've been here twice and really enjoyed the food both times. The fried chicken is excellent and I'm also a fan of their mac and cheese. On my second visit I tried the shrimp and grits, which was tasty but not on par with some other versions I've had. The Screen Door plate is another good option and comes with a ton of food. The wait for a table can be ridiculous but it's definitely worth doing at least once.
(4)
Devin P.
I think it was a bit over hyped. There was a line outside and I was glad I got there early. The service was very good; all of the staff is very attentive. I thought the food was...ok. The grits were ok, the chicken apple sausage was a little salty, the eggs were fine (its kind of hard to screw up eggs) and the biscuit was pretty good. I think we have better Southern cooking in the SF and Eastbay area, but I'm glad I went and experienced it.
(3)
Matt S.
I believe that there is a conspiracy afoot aimed at convincing me to move to Portland. My wife and I stopped into Screen Door and loved it! I had the creole onion soup (pretty good!) and the fried chicken (fan-freaking-tastic), and my wife had a screen door plate with the pork chop, zucchini ribbons, and a fig and plum salad. I may have mentioned that I liked the fried chicken, but let me clarify... I rarely get fried chicken when I go out because I know that I am going to be disappointed. The waitress told me that I needed to try it, and WHAM! It was moist on the inside, crispy on the outside, and the gravy was really good with it as well. I also greatly enjoyed the collard greens with the homemade hot sauce. The food was tasty, the service was friendly and good, and the whole meal cost us $30 before the tip. If this is typical for Portland, we are leaving New York for the west coast!
(4)
Fred G.
Simply the best fried chicken I have ever eaten. My wife (a fried okra fan) also rates their okra as the best she has ever had. Collard greens, hush puppies, cole slaw, brisket and onion straws are all great, BUT ... They have the best fried chicken a man can eat.
(5)
Joy R.
Went to the Screen Door late Sunday morning with 7 others. We waited 2.5 hours to be seated. The wait staff comped us an order of crepes because we had waited so long. Nice touch. However, when the food came the only folks that were happy with theirs were the ones who ordered fried chicken waffles. I ordered brisket hash. It was way too salty. The brisket was terribly dry. The person sitting next to me had potatoes that were severely overcooked. I just don't get what folks see in this place. The food was just not worth the wait.
(1)
J P.
I've only been to Screen Door for dinner, and apparently I am missing out. Screen Door features large portions of all your southern comfort food favorites for dinner. The Hush Puppies are a delicious starter and you cannot go wrong with either the Boneless Fried Chicken or the Pulled Pork sandwich as your entree. Be sure to check out their signature drink menu. If you can show some restraint and box some of your meal to take home so you save room for dessert, you will truly be rewarded with the most delectable homemade pies and cakes you've ever tasted.
(5)
Greg T.
I think the 611 reviews have pretty much cover it for this spot. get the fresh, fried oysters and be careful not to burn your mouth. If you do I recommend cooling it down with one of their many whiskey drinks. or butter. mmmm...butter and whiskey....
(4)
Ashli A.
My goal was to come here and leave uncomfortably full. Well.... mission accomplished!!! I had their bacon waffle and it was the shit. If you are from Portland or even just visiting, you HAVE to go here. Get in my belly, so freakin delicious.
(5)
Matt R.
Great food! Fun atmosphere, nice staff. If you go around dinner, there is most likely a wait, but it's not long. Did I mention they have great food?!
(5)
Toa S.
I went here on a Saturday with a friend. We got SOOOO EYE HUNGRY just looking at the menu. There was a wait, which was a given but it was soooo worth the wait! This place it the typical American Brunch place. It is very heavy but it is very good. I got to split two plates with my friend and we got the fried chicken with gravy and biscuit. My friend got a hot sandwich kinda thing ( I forgot what its called) but it was AWESOME! we also got a waffle on the side and some bacon.
(5)
Matt B.
It might be worth the wait... If your hung over drink some whiskey and eat some chicken Glen D
(5)
Janet S.
Over priced. Overrated. Dirty. Slow service. We were seated at a dirty table. They didn't take our order or give us water until 15 minutes later. The host was rude by the way. There were specks of food in the water. The utensils, plates, cups were sticky and had food cooked onto it. The bartender accidentally spilled my hot cocoa on the table, then told me that she'll come back and wipe it up. She never did. She could've dropped off some napkins or something. She can also learn how to smile, it's called customer service. The host can take some lessons in that too. I had to grab one of the bus boys and ask them to help me clean it up because their coworker didn't want to do her job. Boy, they must think I'm the real jerk! The food came 45 minutes later, because it takes 45 minutes to make pancakes. No it doesn't. And they had like 20 people in the kitchen. I don't believe it takes that long. I KNOW it doesn't take that long. I was hoping to give them 3 stars, but their pancakes didn't taste like anything. Their syrup also didn't taste like anything. I should've went to Shari's or IHOP's for some pancakes AND syrup that taste like something. I still can't believe they had so many people working there, yet none of them were really useful. Because if they were useful, I wouldn't have waited 45 minutes for some pancakes in my mouth. They should use that handful of staff and teach them something useful, like washing dishes, the proper way. Oh yeah, the music is way too loud. So I'm never ever coming back. On the positive note, the pancakes were very pretty. :)
(1)
Jeff W.
Second time here and just a great southern experience! Hush puppies, fried chicken and mac and cheese! Loved it all!
(5)
Tommy B.
1 hour 's wait on Mother's day was well worth the wait. All 5 in the family loved the food & Juliette was a real blessing during this special occasion with her smile & pleasant attitude on this very busy day for the house.
(5)
Carrie L.
This place was recommended to me by more than one friend -- so I was super excited to try it. Luckily it met all my expectations. I came here at 11am on a Saturday and there was already a throng of people. The wait was about an hour -- but since I'm used to waiting in SF-- it didn't bother me that much. My friends had already warned me to come early if I didn't want to wait, but I don't really feel like eating brunch at 9am. The waiters/waitresses worked pretty fast to turn over the tables, so it really was just a lot of people coming -- not the lack of efficiency. As for the food -- it tasted great! The only issue was that my boyfriend and I kept underestimating the portion sizes in Portland. We shared an order of lemon ricotta fritters as our appetizer and then EACH ordered our own fried chicken and waffle. The lemon ricotta fritters were great. It reminded me of a doughnut coated with sugar and you could taste hints of the lemon and ricotta. It was fresh and hot when we got it, so the inside was soft and melty -- so good! It was airy, so it didn't have that heavy feeling a doughnut sometimes give you. As for the fried chicken and waffles -- it wasn't the best I had, but was pretty damn good. Sometimes with fried chicken, the chicken itself isn't well flavored because it's just battered and fried and the restaurant doesn't do anything with the meat itself, but at the Screen Door, you could taste flavor in the meat. Also, the meat was cooked so that it was moist on the inside -- which takes skills. The reason I didn't give this place five stars is because I like my fried chicken in drumstick and thigh form and here they give you in the form of flat pieces of meat (chicken breast?) Also, I've had better fried chicken skin. Other than that one thing -- everything was awesome! One more tip though - for two people -- split one entree and appetizer(s) and/or a salad. Two orders of fried chicken is A LOT.
(4)
Bill E.
Screen Door is crack and I am an addict! There are too many amazing places in this city to wait for brunch like this town waits for brunch, so I just don't do it. Dinner time here is my jam, the wait is generally brief, never been over 10 minutes, and often as easy as sidling straight up to the bar. Speaking of the bar, my friend with the bitchin' mustache. Yeah, he makes the best Spanish Coffee in town. Now I know what your brain is thinking, "But, have you been to Huber's?" All pomp and circumstance aside the Screen Door has a gem in their cocktail professionals. There is showmanship with the mixology but the cold hard facts are the drinks are wonderful. Oh yeah, the fried chicken blows the doors off of any place that I have ever tried the fried goodness...and I used to be a long-haul truck driver so I know my way around a piece of fried chicken or two! See you soon friend.
(5)
Caitlin W.
My all-time favorite brunch spot in Portland. Worth the enormous wait time every time! Eggs Sardou....soooooo goooooood :)
(5)
Angeline A.
Their website speaks the truth! The Best Southern Cuisine in Portland! I'll leave it at that. Go look at the pictures. Once you start drooling, go get some fried chicken & grits, y'all!
(5)
Belinda C.
Ok Oregon, it's my second time visiting your lovely state, but i really wished your food places were open past ten. We came here around 9:20 and were lucky to have evenly been seated. The place was still packed, all the tables were filled. I wished the waitress was more attentive to us, but i understand that it was a busy night. She didn't make any recommendations, so we decided on own. We got the following. Fried okra- this was my most favorite dish of the night. I love okra and they cooked in a batter where it was lightly fried. Making it super yummy and super hot! Be careful when you bite in to this dish, it's super hot. Smoked and bbq beef brisket. - this was so tender you don't even need a knife to cut into it. The potato salad that came with this was huge, making it impossible to finish. Screen door plate - you get to choose 3 sides. I picked the cat fish, mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. The cat fish was ok, i wished i was more lightly fried instead of deep fried. The mac and cheese was very very cheesy and it would have been perfect if there was truffle in it. The mashed potatoes was my favorite. It was thick, just how i like my mashed potatoes I'm giving them 3 stars because of the service, I know the waitress was busy, but i felt like she paid more attention to the table next to us. She checked up on them more and she didn't even ask us if we wanted dessert. Even if the kitchen was closing, she could've came by and told us.
(3)
Sarah S.
Delicious!
(5)
Jim Spagg X.
the fried chicken is the chron'. the place is too loud, they should install some of those acoustical tiles that absorb sound, other than that, this place is the tits.
(5)
Gayle R.
We recently had carpet installed by Classique Floors. I was not happy with the service (or lack of) I received and wrote a very bad review... Today I the privledge of talking to the owner Judith H. She was very concerned about my complaints and addressed them all one by one. After talking to her, I feel really good about my purchase at Classique Floors. I would recommend them to anybody buying carpet. Judith went above and beyond to make sure I was happy. I will use them again when I'm ready for my 2 bedrooms...Gayle R
(5)
Brian D.
our experience at screen door was probably the best service we've ever had at a restaurant. had 4 servers keeping my water filled at all times and checking up on us. my wife ordered fried chicken which wasn't fully cooked in the center. it didn't look bad to me, but our waitress agreed with my wife that it was a little pink inside. she took the piece and brought back another full order of chicken w/ mashed potatoes and greens. then the darndest thing is that they took both orders of chicken off of our bill. we left a 40% tip which is the most i've ever tipped. it's hard to get good service these days, and the team that worked that night did a great job. now if i can just pop in for the brunch menu...
(5)
Melissa S.
Wonderful service. Cool vibe. Excellent food. I'm from the South, and this place does it right! The only small caution is that it is small inside, so not best for groups or for young kids.
(5)
Liz W.
The best chicken and waffle I've had yet. Everything is outstanding. I've been here for dinner and brunch, and well worth the hour wait! Every penny is gladly spent here. Eat here now!!!
(5)
Es M.
Good I had the fried chicken and mash potatoes, I think the fried chicken could use spices added into the batter. Other than that it was good
(4)
Whitney D.
We waited just a bit over an hour for a spot for brunch, but man, it was so worth it. My girlfriend and I split the brisket hash, put a dash of hot sauce on the side, and then decided that the balance of flavours was too delicious to taint with any spice. I think there were a fair number of slow motion fork-to-mouth action moves, as well as audible moans.
(5)
Frances V.
ok.. This place is a bit of a oxymoron, Gourmet Southern food?? My son is the first generation not born and raised in the south, I'm sayin Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, S. Carolina. I know my southern food. Don't get me wrong, this place is D.E. LICIOUS!! Everything is cooked perfectly. Presentation is beautiful. Service is attentive. Menu has all the classic southern favorites. The things that cocked my head and made me chuckle - ~ pimiento cheese as a appetizer : HAHAHAHA. my mom made sandwiches out of this stuff. BLAH!! and for $6.50. You can buy a bucket of it at the Winn DIxie down in Texas for that price. ~ sauce with okra?? : who needs sauce with fried okra. That is just a sin!! ~ fried chicken with no bone : uuuuhhh. totally a Northwest thing. That's where all the flavor is!! A few tips - ~ Get there early!!! I don't mean when they open. I mean 45 min. before they open. Yes. People are getting in line 45 min. before they open. But, on the bright side, I didn't fee like the service was slow because of the crowd. They are very well prepared for business. ~ Order the Pecan Pie!! SOOOOO GOOOD!!!
(4)
Amber L.
Not much more I can say to add to the reviews, but I'll give it a try... I'm a Southerner born and raised, and this is truly good, inspired and upscaled Southern cuisine. It's like Sunday at grandma's but with fancier ingredients and a nice Portland touch.
If heaven were a smell, it'd be Screen Door brunch. Especially in the winter, when it's crummy out & the windows are all steamed up with the goodness & breakfast here is likely to be the best thing that happens to you all day. I've eaten here dozens of times & have never had a bad experience on any front: consistently awesome food for brunch or dinner, reliably friendly & prompt service across the board, and totally reasonable prices. Where dinner's concerned, there are many fine things, and I'm sure you'd enjoy any of them, but I can't stop ordering the Screen Door plate - any 3 sides from the menu (catfish strips are a side? I won't argue...) or the seasonal specials list (if there's any manner of savory bread pudding on there, and there usually is, don't even think, just get it). Breakfast, though, is where they shine brightest, and be warned: they have the line to prove it. But if anyplace is worth waiting for, this is it. It's the only place I've ever ordered extra breakfast entrees for the table. And you won't blame me: with choices like fried green tomato BLT or bananas foster french toast, the eternal sweet-or-savory breakfast conundrum is more than my morning brain can wrestle with. Go, go, go here.
(5)
timothy a.
I MUST SAY I WAS IMPRESSED, good food great service and the meals are traditionally prepared like my grandma made them....although i did not see any grandmas cooking.........go there ....you will be glad you did....
(5)
Ali S.
Good brunch! Love the country grits! They make an awesome leftover breakfast or lunch. The line is worth the wait!
(4)
Duane P.
Where else in Portland can you get to a restaurant 15 minutes before they open and still have 50 people in front of you? That is the way it rolls at SD. Good news is they have roughly 55 seats or so. Susan was in town and I wanted to take her somewhere special. I'm glad we got a couple of the last seats of the first turn. It is the first time I've had the Oyster Benedict and it was fabulous. Susan had the Praline Bacon and Waffle. It was a little sweet for her but also great. The only downside was service was a little slow initially as they were slammed and food took awhile to come out. But once we got it the wait is always worth it. Make this restaurant your special occasion restaurant too. You won't be sorry :)
(4)
Dan H.
So many more reviews have been written about this place since the last time I reviewed it over 2 years ago. I'll make this one quick. It seems I only ever go here when my dad is in town. No reason for that. I really like the food here and it is very convenient to where I live. Dad always raves about the fried chicken and always wants to come back for it when he is visiting. Who am I to deny him that? On this visit I had the Trout Orleans ($15.75) which I don't remember being on the menu the previous time I was here. Pan-seared Ruby Red trout with New Orleans bbq shrimp butter over a buttermilk chive biscuit with seasonal vegetables. The shrimp butter makes this dish. I would smear it on the walls in my apartment and lick it off if my landlord wouldn't have a problem with that. She would. I think this review has gone far enough.
(5)
Jenn R.
Definitely worth the wait and lives up to the hype! We ordered 3 dishes: 2 orders of the chicken & waffles, & the chicken & biscuits. The portions here are huge! We didn't even touch the 2nd serving of the chicken and waffles. The sweet potato waffles were delicious. I'm normally not a fan of waffles, but these were soft and fluffy. The chicken is the bomb! It's got a spicy kick to it, and the fact that the chicken is a breast makes it easier to eat! You don't have to work for the goodness. The biscuits are square instead of round. It's also worth ordering! Of all the southern style places I've eaten at Roscoe's (LA native), Hard Knox (San Francisco), and the chicken & waffles spot in Oakland (near Jack London Square)... Screen Door beats them all!! What put them over the top and got me to give them 5 stars: the maple praline bacon!! It's hella delicious. It tastes like tocino on steroids. I know all y'all Pilipinos love tocino!! It's tocino * 1,000! The only downside: they don't have an extensive drink menu but that's probably on purpose because that'd be a waste of space in our stomachs. We were extremely stuffed! Love the food. This place is soooo busy so it probably makes sense that the service was just ok. Not that great. My feeling is this must be a stressful place to work. The best part was the guy in the kitchen that had on a headband (like in the movie "Dodgeball"). The music they place is random: funk, Prince, and some jazz.... Love that!!
(5)
Won O.
hands down the best fried chicken ever! everything they have on the menu is really good. if you wanna get seated on saturday morning... please go alone or as a couple... if you have a large crowd, it will be hard to get in... but the wait is well worth it.
(5)
Chris E.
The food and drink is SO DELICIOUS!
(5)
Tiffany S.
I can't give that fifth star to the "Stand in line forever" restaurants. I just can't. Not that Screen Door doesn't deserve it, because I'm drooling all over again just thinking about brunch. We agreed to sit outside just so the wait wouldn't be 45 minutes. It was more like 15-20 and our teeth were chattering on an unseasonable May morning, but the minute the rhubarb turnovers showed up I didn't care if I was sitting on an iceberg. My Migas were actually just ok, but between the Praline Bacon and Chris' Po Boy I had ceased to care about minor incidentals. I'd pay just to watch the stacks of fried chicken and waffles get delivered. Service was fantastic, food was both gorgeous and delicious, a nap was necessary. Can't wait to go back, even if it means standing in line.
(4)
Warren D.
A friend brought me here on a Wednesday night and I didn't know what to expect (so i'm hinting that I had no expectations). There was a small line and we waited maybe no more than 10 minutes. It was nice out so we sat on the patio. I really liked the atmosphere they had set up. I got the Smoked & BBQ'd Beef Brisket.... it was really good!!! The horse-radish/bacon potato salad was a tasty surprise. I definitely recommend this to anyone who likes brisket. The happy ending to the dinner... "which will make you orgasm in your mouth" is getting the Ban-offee Pie!!! Pure awesomeness in every bite!! I left the Screen Door happy and content with my experience! I definitely recommend.
(4)
Erik H.
The fried chicken and the jambalaya are excellent. Still, the best is the local fare menu which is always rotating with the season. Another interesting way to attack the menu is to build a plate of sides for a true soul food experience.
(5)
Lisa C.
Southern food with PNW flair. Not EXACTLY like what you would get in the drty dirty, but that could be a good thing, right? Service was a little slow, but we went to mother's day brunch so that is to be expected. To be honest it was worth the wait and I would not say that about many places. Should have had a second bartender, or at least someone helping out back there- it took about 10 minutes to get a drink while we were waiting for a table which is excessive in my book. BF had the biscuits and gravy and it was good, but not at all authentic and there was VERY little actual sausage in the gravy. Very light and flavorful- tasty, but not the typical southern plate of starchy goodness I am used to and the lack of meat was disappointing. The chicken and waffles was a sight to behold for sure. The breading was delicious and well seasoned- the chicken itself was not dry, but not exceptionally moist. I found it strange that they used boneless skinless chicken. In the south it would have been whole pieces of chicken- not chicken tenders. Delicious, but not authentic. We also ordered a hazelnet honey bun that was OK. The star of our meal was the praline bacon. Holy Shit. Order it.
(4)
Frank C.
Had a great breakfast - waffles. Terrific service.
(5)
Tim M.
OK, these guys rock. I live in the neighborhood, and I have to admit that I've left their door for lesser pastures after a quick calculation on the line that wound out their door and down the block. I've only done that when I had a posse of out of town guests (the family kind) in a huge number that were grumpy and eager to get fed and get gone. Here's what you'll find if you brave the line: food coma of the "guilty pleasures" variety that will knock your shoes off, leave your socks on, and leave you napping on the living room couch with a sly grin on your face while "Melrose Place" drones on in the background. (Editor's note: We felt that the inclusion of the barely-used roll of Charmin and the fact that the older brother and his new bride walked in just as the reviewer was dozing off was irrelevant to this review.) Screen Door makes great, honest, and inventive food. My company recently hosted the Taste of the Nation here in Portland, and I had unlimited access to the best food by the best chefs in P-Town. The booth I kept (sheepishly) coming back to was the Screen Door's. They made a smoked meatloaf nugget with whipped potatoes that made me its bitch. I came back to their booth six or seven times, greedily taking more each time, and I literally got the last one (just ask them). I'm not sure if they take reservations (most of the good ones in Portland don't), but I can tell you that Screen Door's take on southern comfort food is worth the wait. And if it's just you and your honey, you'll be in and out and... not having sex because she ate too much... in no time at all.
(5)
Marla S.
Not like I need to add fuel to this fire, but this place is oh so good. Super long waits on the weekend, but sometimes ya just gotta do it. They recently switched out my favorite trout dish, but I have hope it will return, it was perfect. Here is my official plea: Dear Screen Door, Please bring back my pecan-encrusted trout with creamed spinach and fingerling potatoes, it was amazing, my favorite go-to dish. Thank you for your consideration. Everything you hear is true, from the fried chicken to the mac n cheese, and OH MY the giant burger! And no matter how full I am, I always stuff in dessert. And the cocktails are good. And the service is good. Have yet to try the buzzed about brunch. Until next time...
(5)
Cee A.
I came here for one reason: chicken and waffles. It was definitely very, very delicious. But you know, I'm just not feeling the delivery here. For starters -- boneless, skinless chicken breast. Really? Why you gotta take something that doesn't even begin to flirt with being remotely healthy and do that to it? What good, southern-style fried chicken is skinless? That's just weird! And as amusing as it was to see, stabbing the chicken breasts with a knife and serving it that way? What's up with that? And only serving it during the brunch session? Come on dudes, chicken & waffles is an all-day type of thing. Presentation issues and type of chicken aside, they were pretty freakin' tasty. And I guess in the end, that's the most important thing. The waffle was pretty impressive too. Sweet potato flour is a nice touch. But as much as I enjoyed the taste of it all, I just couldn't get over all of the aforementioned. On another visit, we tried the buttermilk fried chicken dinner plate. Now THAT was working for me. They say it's crispy, and they do deliver. That's some serious crispiness their batter delivers. The only quirky thing about that I found was that they serve ham gravy with your mashed potatoes, rather than say, chicken gravy. It went well, just didn't expect it. I have my issues with this place, but it's not like I'd ever hesitate to visit. It's dang good food. Someone described this place to me as southern with a PNW twist. That makes sense to me.
(3)
Emily L.
OMG, amazing. I had the Screen Door Plate with Mac-n-Cheese, Jambalaya, and Asparagus salad and it was fantastic! The other people in my party had the Rib-Eye steaks, and they were cooked to perfection The services was great, and prices inexpensive relative to the quality and quantity of food you get. The only downside is the noise level. If you are looking for a place to have a quiet meal this is not the best place, but I will give it a pass for the quality of the food! Will definitely be back when I am in town!
(5)
Paul L.
Let me start by saying the hour wait was worth it. The creole bloody Mary's are the best right down to the pickled okra and green olive. I ordered the biscuits and gravy and it was good. My girlfriend had the chicken and waffles and I must say the chicken was delicious. Now I've been to South Carolina and had southern fried chicken and the chicken at Screen Door was exactly the same if you took only breast meat and pounded it out, battered it in something great and fried it to perfection. Definitely a place I want to return to maybe not on mothers day though.
(5)
Neeva D.
I had heard about the terrible lines that this place generates, so one night we decided to pick up some orders to go. I got the screen door plate with the pork chop, the mac and cheese, and the mashed potatoes with tasso gravy. I was extremely excited to try the mac and cheese, as it is one of my most favorite-est things in the world. Welp, color me disappointed. They should have called it macaroni and mustard for all the cheese flavor it had. I couldn't even eat it. So gross. Yes, the pork chop was yummy and the mashed potatoes were good, but I can't really say I enjoyed my meal. All the rave reviews make me want to give this place another shot, and maybe some day I will after I get over my bad mac PTSD.
(2)
Jennyfer N.
I really, really wanted to like this place. Even more since I saw them on Unique Eats. I even planned an entire evening there because my friends and I were visiting Oregon for the hiking and just to enjoy a plain girls trip. Much to my dismay, sadness, and sheer disappointment...I really did not enjoy this place. The food is not southern in it's purest form. I am a Texan girl. Maybe that's my fatal flaw. I went to Portland thinking I could get great Southern cooking. But now, alas...no. I had the fried chicken, my friends had the burger and the North Carolina pulled pork sandwich. With the exception of the burger, nothing was really as it should be. FIrst of all, my friend is from North Carolina. Grew up there her whole life. This was not North Carolina inspired barbecue. The sandwich we received was bland, the coleslaw was watery and dripping even more water onto the pulled pork, and there was no vinegar-y tang which is the defining factor in Carolina based barbecue. Me being from Texas, I don't care for Carolina barbecue (tomato based sauce all the way) but even I knew this sandwich was bland. First strike. My fried chicken was okay. The chicken was admittedly fried well. It was juicy, well breaded, and hot from the kitchen. Can't complain there. But the chicken itself had no flavor. I HATE doing this but I've had more flavorful chicken from Popeye's...which, IMO, does a pretty good representation of cajun cooking. The greens were sour and lacked that hint of bitterness I was hoping to get. More sour than bitter, which just seemed all wrong. There was no resonance of herbs or flavorings. Just sour. The mashed potatoes were flavorless. I couldn't even taste the butter or the cream, which I know they must have used. I'm from the south! I know mashed potatoes. The gravy, which was supposed to be made from ham drippings, lacked all the well-rounded porcine flavors that I love. Instead, it was bland...and the only discerning flavor I could find was cayenne pepper. It tasted like it was thrown in as an afterthought rather than as a complement. Strike two. The burger was tasty, not cooked to order, with a passable level of crisp fries. But honestly, how can you mess with a burger? All in all, I'm sorry Screen Door. Despite coming 15 minutes prior to opening time, waiting in your line, getting seated out on the patio on a 50 degree day...I still couldn't love your food. I really did try. Despite your waitress being obviously overwhelmed with the demanding patrons as could be visibly seen on her strained facial expressions when passing our table. She was nice but obviously rushed and not very personable because of this. Oh, and it took us 20 minutes to finally get her to come back to our table to take our orders. Strike three. And WHO on God's green earth sells fried okra as an APPETIZER and not a side accompaniment?
(1)
Don S.
Love this place Often crowded but the food is great. The fried chicken is my favorite.
(5)
jenny m.
I was drawn in by the hype surrounding this place, oh yes I was! While in town for a visit, one of my traveling companions requested we find a great brunch spot one day. So I put Yelp to the test and consistently what came up through searching and in Talk threads was Screen Door. So we got up early (on vacation none-the-less), put on our comfy shoes (anticipating a long wait) and made the trek over to Screen Door to see if the hype was worth it. We arrived about quarter of 9 and the line was about half way down the block. We were prepared for this though so it was no surprise. I had fingers crossed that we'd still make it in for the first seating but alas, we fell just short (literally, there was one couple ahead of us and then our party of 3...so close!). I'd say you probably need to get there by 8:30 to guarantee a first seating. Luckily since we were about first in line now, we got seats inside, helped ourselves to some coffee and prepared to wait. We finally got sat after waiting about an hour after they'd opened the doors, so about what we'd expected. Our server came over right away to take our beverage order and while I was super tempted by the Bloody Mary's I'd seen a couple ladies in line drinking, I decided I needed a caffein boost and ordered some tea instead. Since we'd had plenty of time to look over the menu, the 3 of us were pretty set on what we wanted to order. That was until I saw the daily specials menu and it threw me for a loop! I had my eye on the grits up till that point because it's a Southern style restaurant and I figured I should get something southern. (Let me preface at this point by saying none of the 3 of us eat meat...so the much lauded chicken & waffles/biscuits & gravy dishes weren't on the radar for us). One of the specials was scrambled eggs with peppers, onions, & fresh greens and it sounded right up my alley. So I went against my gut instinct and ordered that instead of the grits. It was good, although I will admit I kind of wish I had gone with the grits. Not because the dish I ordered wasn't well prepared and flavorful...but I realized that it was something I could have found on a menu just about anywhere....where as grits are something you don't see most brunch spots. Oh well, something to look forward to next time I'm in Portland!! The two girls with me went the sweet route and ordered the bananas foster & vanilla bean french toast dishes. The clear winner there being the bananas foster. I believe it elicited an 'OMG' from all three of us. It was plate licking good!! After leaving all 3 of us realized that to really have gotten the full experience of this place, we probably should have ordered more of the Southern style dishes, then the typical brunch dishes. But I can understand the hype. I saw the chicken & waffles rolling out all around us and judging by the somewhat orgasmic looks of those eating it, I'm assuming it's as good as it's hyped to be. So Screen Door, you still impressed us with your great food, quick service and fun brunch atmosphere. Next time I'm in town, I will head back for the grits!!
(4)
Zuzana K.
No need to elaborate on the food, they got that down just right. However... The four of us arrived on Sunday morning 15 minutes before opening. Not early enough! We didn't get table in the first round so we had to wait for the lucky ones to finish their breakfast. What eased our pain was the fact that we were waiting inside (it was a chilly morning) and there was unlimited coffee available. One hour later we finally got our table and it felt like we have won a lottery. Our server was very nice and the food arrived quite quick. Was it worth the wait? Yes. We will be back for more. But if Screen Door took reservations (and not just once a day, parties of 6 or more) we would come more often and I would have happily given them all five stars.
(4)
Rachel K.
Not only is the food and drink fantastic - they work magic with fried chicken and bourbon cocktails, but the service is phenomenal. Even when the place is packed and the wait for a table is over an hour, the host (s) are sure to welcome you to the bar, make sure you have a drink and check back with you . We've been here for dinner and for brunch several times and are never disappointed. And the servings are generous so you never feel cheated by the prices. We've brought friends and come with our kids -- it's a wonderful restaurant!
(5)
Kylie A.
Oh goodness. The dear Screen Door. How I love thee. My first breaking the fast meal of my stay. And it definitely set the stage. Arriving around noon time for Sunday brunch, the one hour wait was pretty inevitable. Running on practically nothing and ready to eat a horse, I convinced myself it would be worth the wait. After looking at their sample menu online (brunch, veggies) multiple times before I arrived, I would not be discouraged. Talk about dream menu! Every single item on the veggie menu sounded completely GENIUS. Any restaurant that incorporates winter root veggies like butternut squash, sweet potatoes, beets, parsnips, or chard is a winner in my book. GIVE IT TO ME. The atmosphere was lively, loud, and full of beautiful Portland people: young, tattooed hipster parents with their gorgeous well-behaved babies, groups of fixie-riding hungover friends nursing their Bloody Mary's, and couples so cute they make you wanna puke. I knew I was in the right place. Basically: sweet potato waffles, bacon, root vegetable hash with chard on a bed of parsnip puree and over-easy eggs, toast and jam. Need I say more? Thankfully my eyes weren't much bigger than my stomach. I was happier than a pig in shit. Pretty much all of my favorite foods coming together in one awesome meal. Words cannot describe the degree of foodie contentment that came over me. Most delicious comfort food ever. One of the best breakfasts of my life. This breakfast CHANGED my life. Excellent, excellent, EXCELLENT! I hope you're convinced now. What else do you want me to say? Patience pays off.
(5)
Clover A.
Do I need to write a review that covers all the same stuff that the other reviewers already have? Probably not. Do I want to let ALL MY FRIENDS KNOW THAT THIS IS THE BEST F-ING BREAKFAST EVER? yes, yes I do. If you are in Portland, go there. Do not mind the long wait, chat, drink coffee from the little place next door, and eat you some chicken and waffles and then some banana's foster french toast, and waddle out and enjoy the wonder that is Portland full on the best breakfast EVER.
(5)
Stephan C.
I heard great things about this place, but I can't say why people would wait 30 minutes to an hour to eat here. Maybe this restaurant lives and dies by the pork; I don't know. I had the fried chicken and tried the beef brisket. The former is good. It also has a lot of pepper. And I mean a lot! I wonder how many people would eat it if they saw how much was added. Same goes for salt, the life force - with half and half - of the delicious mashed potatoes. As for the beef brisket, it should be taken off the menu. You shouldn't have to use a knife and fork to cut brisket. And it shouldn't need to be slathered in sauce. Go on a research trip to SE Texas. If I had ordered that I would have sent it back or left hungry. the many sides I tried were good, as were the drinks. Prices aren't so bad either. But all the mad love this place gets just doesn't make sense.
(3)
Zach B.
This place truly lives up to the hype. It's the best southern food I've had in Portland, by far. I had the Carolina pulled pork sandwich, which was fantastic- really good pork, not over-seasoned, and the coleslaw was really good- and I generally do not like coleslaw. I also tried some of my friend's fried chicken and it was literally the best fried chicken I've ever had, so juicy and crispy- and boneless too. The chicken came with collard greens, though, which were not good, but that's most likely a matter of preference. Anyway the food was really really good, and the service was prompt and friendly- I will definitely be returning.
(5)
Justin P.
So the roomy and myself woke up saturday and decided it was so nice out lets find somewhere to eat that involved a stroll to get there, so we settled on screen door... what an awesome decision! As we approached we noticed the all to familiar line out the door but said screw it lets eat here anyway, once again good decision. 45 minutes later we were sitting inside sipping on some tasty breakfast cocktails trying to figure out which of the delicious looking menu items would satisfy us, I went with the fried cathead chicken and biscuit sandwich and the roomy went with the breakfast po'boy. Holy lord let me tell you that was one of the crispiest on the outside juiciest on the inside pieces of fried chicken I have ever eaten, place that in between a wonderfully made biscuit and cover it in sausage gravy done the right way and you have pure gold on a plate! I am a huge fan of Pine State biscuits but Screen Door just blew them out of the water when it comes to this tasty breakfast offering. The po'boy was no less spectacular, homemade andouille sausage on a fresh roll topped with soft boiled egg, fried onions, greens and house made aioli made it spectacular! It was a bit pricey but its worth it and i would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a good weekend brunch experience... I also hear Dinner is insanely good to.. especially the fried chicken
(4)
Katie H.
I think this place got over-hyped. I went to this place with tremendous expectations and was just not blown away at all. Don't get me wrong...the food is good. The mac and cheese, the fried chicken, grits, and even the greens were good. But for the line I had to endure and the cost for Southern food I'd rather stick with the Delta cafe.
This place was amazing. Went there for Saturday brunch and got there around 9:30 so had to wait for around 30 minutes to get a table for 5. The place was packed which was a good sign. The hostess was completely arrogant which is not a good first impression. But once we sat down we were excited cause everything looked and smelled great. The server asked if we had any questions and all I did was ask if they can do a side of fried chicken with the biscuits and gravy because I lived in the south and there is nothing better than the "big nasty." He quickly and very arrogantly told me "We don't do chicken on the side here." I was like "OK next time just hit me over the back of the head with a chair why don't ya." The worst part was one of the specials was a big nasty but with a different name and he did not even suggest that. So big minus on service on this place. He was rude and just bad all morning. But the food is so amazingly good that beside service taking this place down to one star they were able to jump back up to four. We had so much food and were happily stuffed to the rafters. I will definitely go back next time I am in Oregon but won't be expecting to be treated like a decent human being.
(4)
Sudeep B.
Appetizers are good. Friendly staff. Food was not bad though my brisketshad waaaay too much salt on them...not sure what happened there....they ran out of most desert by the time we finished out main course (around 9:30 or so)...good place but probably not worth a return visit.
(4)
Hali S.
The food is fantastic! The only reason I don't come here more often is because the wait is way to long and the place is way to small for how many chairs and people they seat, way to crowded. You have to get here about an hour early in order to get a seat in the first wave of people and if you don't get in with the first wave then who knows how long you'll have to wait. Hopefully they get a bigger place and I would be there all the time.
(3)
David P.
The only time I have ever been to Portland and boy-howdy... What a fantastic way to greet a new place! This place is OUT OF THIS WORLD good! The only reason you should not try this place is if you are in a hurry. I was by myself and just like all the other reviews say, you will wait. The wait, however, was SO WORTH IT! The praline pecan bacon in combination with their famous chicken and waffles is as good as it gets! True southern soul-food. The people that go here are also top-notch. I strongly recommend finishing up the Portland experience with a tour of downtown.
(5)
Jennifer W.
Went here last sunday for dinner and I thought coming in when they just open (5:30 pm) would be a safe bet... i'm wrong! The line was creeping out from the front door to the side and by the time it was our turn, the whole restaurant was full except for 2 tables outside on the patio. The crispy buttermilk fried chicken was yummy (came with kale and mashed potatoes) but my fave of the night was the shrimp and grits! OMG... it was that good!! Very tasty and not only it has shrimps, it also adds pork belly. Everything looks so good. we ordered the crispy fried chicken tender, fried oyster, and fried catfish. the oyster was delicious! so juicy and melt inside your mouth. the catfish is awesome. the chicken tender is kinda normal. After all those 5 dishes (we must be two hungry hippos to almost finished those), our tummy were protesting but our eyes were saying different things :) we couldn't stop gawking at the dishes that the servers brought out for other tables. Next time, we are definitely going to order the Screen Door plate - you got to choose 3 side dishes and mind you, those side dishes are huge (the popular mac and cheese and the catfish are under this side dish menu)! I'm a happy foodie - but the wait is a turn off for me...
(4)
Jae K.
Tried their famous brunch. Ordered the big waffle with fried chicken. Was okay, but not enough to go back for it. The service was not horrible, but was not great. I would have to say I was bit disappointed by the venue.
(3)
Kia R.
This LA girl was in Portland visiting a good friend when I was brought to Screen Door for brunch. MY GOODNESS!!!! This place had some of the best southern food I've ever tasted in my life. Their chicken and waffles was absolutely amazing. Mind you I'm from LA where we have the famous Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles and I hate to betray the restaurant native to my city but Screen Door kills Roscoe's. In fact I will probably will not visit Roscoe's ever again. My palete will never be the same. The chicken was crispy, succulent, and bursting with flavor. I had to pause and reflect on my life after eating here. I also tried my friend's oysters and I was brought down to my knees. This place is were a die hard foodie comes to get owned.
(5)
Lisa S.
This place is always busy, I waited about an hour on a sunday for a party of 3. I first came here on a weekday which wasn't as busy. The food is awesome. Fried chicken was crispy and fresh. My son had the chicken and waffles which is a huge portion food. I love this place but I avoid going there anymore because of the huge line. Definitely a must try spot in the portland area for southern food though.
(4)
Julie T.
super bummed that i can no longer have the yummiest thing ever...the chicken and waffles....super excited that the beet, grapefruit, pistachio, chevre, arugula, baby red leaf lettuce, and honey sherry vinaigrette. i love this. the reason 5 stars are not present is that, the last time i was there, our server seemed really annoyed that my bf and i each ordered small things. there was not a wait, and not all of the tables were taken, so i don't know what his deal was, but he was very ungracious.
(4)
ReviewInHaik u.
Mother's arms. Warm bed. Footie pajamas and milk. And now, add Screen Door.
(5)
Maryna P.
I went there on a Wednesday night in a group of 4. We got to the restaurant 15 minutes after they opened for dinner, and there was already an hour long wait for a table. That turned out to be more like an hour and a half, but it was completely worth it! If you get there and there's a wait, just leave them your cell number and go have an aperetif beer up the street by Laurelhurst - they will give you a call with plenty of time to get back there. We got a pear salad, the fried chicken and the baked pear crumble desert to share between two people. All of the food was to die for good! The salad was fresh and delicious, a perfect appetizer. The chicken was so juicy and tasty, and perfectly seasoned that I kept eating the fallen off crumbs of the fried batter. It wasn't at all greasy which is something that I was afraid of.! You can definitely share it too, since it is one of the pricier dishes at $15 a plate. The deserts were amazing too. I can't give this restaurant enough praise. It's definitely worth the wait.
(5)
Brandi S.
This place kills me. I haven't had anything off the menu that was short of amazing. Tried the roasted cauliflower with capers and it was great. Not to mention the staff is friendly and helpful.
(5)
Tom P.
If you are a lacto-ovo vegetarian...this place has the best variety of amazing veggie dishes. The sides are all super-local and creative and you can get a platter of 4 that will fill up two people for not much at all. Every time we've gone we've tried different things and every time our minds have been consistently blown with flavors so majestic we budget time and make excuses to come here. There is almost always a wait and I must say it is always worth it. Best customer service experience I've had recently here as well...I lost a credit card and had no idea where I'd left it. After tracing my steps much farther back in time than I thought, I asked if it was here. They had kept it for me the whole time and were very nice about giving it back to me after checking my ID. Thanks again, guys!
(5)
Forrest S.
It has taken me a long time to try the legendary food at the Screen Door, but I finally have, and I can say that I will die with one less regret, after just having experienced the best fried chicken of my life. Words may not adequately describe the experience, but I will do my best. I came here with my cousin who was visiting from out of town, and we were both in need a a breakfast that would fill us up for the rest of the day. Starving as we were, we were a bit apprehensive about the wait, but it was nice sunny day, so the wait outside wasn't so bad, especially for a Saturday. After a half hour we were seated by our very friendly server, and ordered the holy grail of breakfasts: Chicken and waffles. In spite of the place being so packed that we were nearly rubbing elbows with the people at the table next to us, our food was out in less than 20 minutes. One Belgian waffle, with a tower of three massive pieces of golden fried chicken skewered to it. The waffle was great, not too soft, not too crispy and oh so fluffy and delicious. The chicken was really the star of the meal, as it was really the perfect fried chicken. Slightly spicy, not overly salty, and fried to perfection with an almost grease less, crispy golden outside, and a tender, juicy inside. Finish it off with some strong, flavorful coffee and you have of the best breakfasts ever. The only disappointment I had was when I later found out that my cousins sister was cleaning out the fridge, and threw away my left over piece of chicken. Sure, "threw it out" uh-huh, sure. I bet she threw it out. Oh well, I guess that just means I have to come back again, and again and again....Believe the hype. Screen Door deserves the reputation it has, and is well worth the wait. I guess I can't blame my cousin for "throwing out" my leftovers.
(5)
Leslie H.
ri-frigging-diculous food that is completely worth the wait. (and there will be a wait.) i had the oyster benedict. the oysters were plump, the hollandaise fresh and creamy, and the eggs were perfectly poached. everything, as a matter of fact, was cooked to perfection. the bloody mary was spicy loveliness, and we all left stuffed and blissful. my only regret is that i couldn't try more of their dishes because i was too full!
(5)
Grace S.
Holy hell do they make some good food at Screen Door! I've been coming since they opened and it has been consistently amazing! I have tried it all, but I'm officially in love with their Pulled Pork sandwich (sub the fries for sweet potato fries and you can't miss) its simply to die for. I no longer can order anything else, well maybe a side of fried green tomatoes, and possibly some mac and cheese, but always I must have the pulled pork!!! Do yourself and your taste buds a favor and come and eat the best southern food in Portland. You'll thank me later.
(5)
Jey R.
This place is awful. the service thinks they are better than you and snoody. The food sucks. I am from Oklahoma so I know good southern food. Also we waited an hour and a half. They skipped us when seating. I am not a hippy or poor. service should be with a smile. Not with a better than you attitude. Oh and very overpriced for greasy slop. OK! I finally went back , always sit at the bar or outside to get good service. The short guy with piercings and tattoo's is cute and funny and a great server.. I recommend him. The fried chicken is actually pretty good, but ill always get the burger when I am with people who want to come here.
(3)
Jerome B.
I've been here twice, both on a Friday evening. The first time I came to this Southern Style restaurant, it was around 8pm. There was a huge wait in the waiting area and it may have taken about 30-40 minutes to be seated. I ordered the fried chicken with mashed potatoes and collared greens. The fried chicken was a delight and the mashed potatoes were delicious. The collared greens were too bitter for my liking, i'm assuming the flavor is an acquired taste. One thing that it really unique to this restaurant is that they have an organic food menu that is changed weekly depending on what is available through the local growers. I ordered the sauteed broccoli with melted butter and cheese. OH MY GOD, this dish was AMAZING. I love broccoli, and am usually pretty picky as to how it's prepared. This tasted so great and flavorful. The second time I came to the restaurant I opted to order for take out which was a great idea--didn't have to wait as long for tables to be available! I ordered the Catfish with mashed potatoes and macaroni & cheese. The catfish was fried so nicely and had very great flavor. The mashed potatoes were once again delicious and the macaroni & cheese had a unique flavor, as it wasn't the traditional cheddar cheese that was used. All in all, I would come here again. Depending if I was in a time crunch or not, I would either wait or order out. My recommendation to others who are inclined to try Screen Door is to be mindful of what time you go. I would recommend around 5 or 6pm on weekend evenings to get passed the weekend rush.
(4)
Jessica M.
I visited The Screen Door with my husband last night, as we were visiting Portland. We walked down Burnside and "followed our noses" to the best smelling place. The wait WAS atrocious. 30-45 minutes on the street as the place was packed. However, it was totally worth it. I have Celiac Disease and can't eat anything with wheat. Usually I can get around it by smelling what everyone else is eating and having a nice salad without croutons or dressing. As I was cruising the menu (and really taking a long time about it) they asked if I needed recommendations--I explained my situation, and they produced a detailed menu which had highlighted which items were already gluten-free, and which ones could be adapted. I selected an "adapted" menu item of catfish, but then noticed that the patrons around us were served first. Later, our meals arrived and the waiter/manager/bartender explained to us that my catfish was accidentally breaded with the standard breading--which contained wheat, and in their cross-checking procedure, they caught the error, so they remade both meals (so that my husband's would be hot when mine was). The service here was TOP NOTCH, oh, and the bartender was great. Best mojito ever. My advice--call early and get a reservation, or be prepared to wait, but it's totally worth it. Menu includes lots of vegetarian items also (the beet salad was divine).
(5)
Becky L.
Really love this place even though there is a 1-2 hour wait. I love the frittata and pancakes. I didn't try but of course I'm sure the fried chicken and waffle is nomz here, too.
(5)
Annie M.
Praline Bacon = Meat Candy This place is worth the hype and I'm glad my visit ended here, even if it meant standing outside in 45 degree weather for 30 min. at 8:45am on a Sunday for an Arizonan (which is below zero in our world). The worst part about the visit is deciding what to eat. I suggest an empty stomach and stretchy pants. I chose a daily special (Spring Vegetable Hash) with a biscuit (I eyeballed those on nearby plates and knew they were mandatory) and for the table ordered a side of Praline Bacon, aka "Meat Candy". The hash was good, made me feel like I was sort of doing something "right". But the best part was wrapping that Delicious bacon around a piece of biscuit and savoring every bite. It's not too sweet and the peppery aftertaste leaves you wanting more. My cousins ordered the Asparagus Scramble (special) with a side of Sausage Gravy (for her biscuit- smart girl) and the Chicken and Biscuit with potatoes. Coffee was fresh and Bloody Mary was proper. YUM.
(4)
Zandra A.
Wowwo wowwo y'all!!! During our trip to Portland, we didn't get a chance to cruise the town and hit up the popular places, mainly due to the fact that we spent most of our time at the outlets. Sue me! The one restaurant that I NEEDED to visit was Screen Door (if it wasn't unclassy to curse, I would say, "That's right m*tha f*%ka!!!" But I'm classy.) We went for brunch, the server said that it was the busiest time ever, and waited for 1.5 hours. Well worth the wait...dog! For reals! It was so good!! The hubs ordered biscuits as an appy, which were so buttery and served with honeyed butter. I think it might have been a not so great idea seeing as the main dealy (cue the monstrous plate of fried chicken and waffles) was so filling!! Three large pieces of fried chicken (hand battered as ordered, btw!!) and a very huge sweet potato waffle! Needless to say, I couldn't finish! Kept the leftovers for the car ride home...but didn't end up eating it until the next day...I WAS STILL FULL BY THE TIME WE GOT HOME! 8pm!! MUST EAT HERE!.... AGAIN!
(5)
Amanda R.
You guys, Screen Door is like hot love on a plate. You will go crazy for the fried chicken and wonderful buttery, mashed potatoes. Or maybe you would rather have the seriously delicious pulled pork sandwich where the coleslaw comes right on the damn sandwich. Genius. Or is it ingenious? Hell, its both! The drinks are yummy too, try the mojitos or lemonade! Oh, la la...the screendoor is reasonably priced and has a rather charming outdoor patio for seating as well. The wait can get a bit long, but I'm not one to wait too long for a meal, so I can venture to guess it probably wasn't that long. ;)
(5)
Shane K.
Huge portions of delicious food. This is a place I usually recommend to friends visiting from out of town
(4)
mallory o.
so my screen door experience went something like this; waited for about an hour for our table, in the end I would've waited much longer. it's that good. (by the way, if you can score a spot to sit after putting your name on the list, you can sip on a cocktail or two, which makes waiting much smoother). through the course of the night at the screen door I sipped on two homemade lemonade cocktails, spiked with local portland vodka and muddled with fresh sage. amazing. not sweet, more sour. cocktail perfection. the restaurant was lowly lit, the kitchen out in the open, allowing patrons to watch the chefs sling fried chicken, glaze ribs, and plate food. we started with cocktails and the pimento cheese served with house made, paper thin, sesame crackers. divine. next up, a roasted beet, pickled onion, chevre and frisee salad. I'm a sucker for pulled pork sandwiches and the screen doors did not disappoint. the barbecue sauce on the sandwich? not a sauce, but a jus. it soaked the meat and the bottom of the burger in a decadent, rich, smoky juice. like nothing I've ever tasted. it was heaven. and just when I thought my life at the screen door could not get s lick better the mac and cheese arrived. creamy, gooey, crispy, with what I would a call a crispy baked cheese tortilla all over the top. if I had to describe my experience at the screen door in one word it would be this - religious. hallelujah!
(5)
Brett P.
Restaurants like this are the reason why Portland is such a wonderful food town. I went with some friends on a foodie road trip up and down the west coast and really really impressed. The food was amazing! I can'r say a bad word about the place. If you want to read more about the Screen Door, you can check out my website through the link on my profile page.
(5)
Tommy T.
I am reviewing the screen door from a vegan's point of view. The staff are accommodating and knowledgeable when it comes to making things vegan, however there are usually one or two things that are. There isn't a vegan butter alternative, I find having one is par for the course as far as Portland breakfast establishments go. The food in general is great and the flavors really stand out.
(3)
Valerie W.
Left Screen Door feeling oh-so-so-full. Ordered the Bananas Foster French Toast and Praline Bacon. The bacon I kept hearing raves about but was a tad dissapointed. It was not at all crispy and almost a big soggy and weighed down by the overdose of pralines. If I ordered again I'd probably ask it to be made super crispy if possible. But wow....the Bananas Foster french toast....now that was amazing. Definitely a nice little brunch spot! Plus the outdoor seating is nice!
(4)
Kristina L.
It's definitely worth the wait once in a while, or at least once to try. Big portion sizes! Reasonable price. The chicken & waffles is a must! Nice crisp waffles, very juicy & flavorful chicken pieces.
(5)
Erika G.
Sooo good. If you are going for brunch, go really early or be prepared to wait in line or hang at the coffee shop next door. Definitely worth the wait though. Service was super friendly and fast. We had a few plates to share. The pear and marscapone waffle was off the charts, as was the praline bacon. Grits were good but could have been better-needed salt or seasoning. Banana foster french toast was also rad. Next time I'm gonna try the bloody mary; will definitely be back for more.
(5)
Julie M.
After visiting a ton of the best Portland restaurants, I'm pretty sure Screen Door is one of the best overall everything. The shrimp and grits was some of the best buttery, plump seafood dishes I've ever had. The texas toast, huspuppies, chicken (etc.) were all perfect. The wait does suck, but you soon realize that it's all part of the tremendous experience. People line up an hour before they open for a good reason!
(5)
Vade Mecum B.
Amazing selection of really good food, I kept on changing my mind as I saw folks getting their orders. Their dinner and lunch menus look good, but I think brunch is ultimately where its at! I had the sweet potato waffle and fried chicken dish, it was amazing!!! And its crazy how much food it is, you can make two chicken sandwhiches out of the leftovers!
(4)
Ashley C.
Had lunch here a few months back with my girl friends. The wait was extremely long and crowded. It was hard to hear the conversations amongst ourselves. The ambiance is very bohemian and dim. The food was very good and we had a nice brunch. Because the line us long you do feel rush to eat and leave. Nothing in particular stood out, aside from the fact we had a lovely time eating and enjoying each other company.
(4)
Shelley M.
Awesome food in a great atmosphere. If you don't get there early on the weekend be prepared to wait in line while enjoying a delicious bloody Mary or cup of coffee. Definitely a must go!
(5)
Jasmine P.
BEST FRIED CHICKEN. And dont be shy to order desert after, we had the lemon pie and some carmel pie thing , both hands down delish. I'm actually going there this morning for brunch and cant wait!
(4)
Nick R.
The fried chicken was great! Good sized portions. The red beans were the only thing we ordered that was not spectacular. Those, plus the wait are why I can't give it a 5. The host was also super nice. I'll definitely be going back.
(4)
Putty B.
OMFG - Fried Oysters Fried Chicken Pork Shank & Mashed Potatoes Collard Greens Mac 'n' Cheese Fed 4 people, all picky eaters, for $75 (not inc. booze or tip). We waited an hour for a table. Who cares? It was absolutely worth it. Five stars. OMFG. And that's all I have to say about that.
(5)
Emilie S.
I have a new favorite thing... Chicken and waffles. I had it for the first time at Screen Door, and have had it several times since-- though no one else has done it quite so well. A little spendier than your average Portland breakfast, but VERY good. Also very good are their bloody marys. Haven't tried their dinner, but checked out the menu and it looks like a must try.
(4)
Amie S.
I didn't know it as I was freezing my ass off outside in February (a nice frigid 22 degrees), but there's a reason people wait in line for an hour + to get in here and order some HUGE plates of delicious breakfast foods. The reason is: everything they make here is f'ing amazing. Thankfully, they serve up coffee via a counter set-up in mugs you can grab and take outside, so at least I was able to wake up/keep my fingers from falling off while we waited. and waited. and waited. But once we sat down - all was right again with the world. The only tough decision was what to get from the extensive menu. Something sweet like the Bananas Foster French Toast my boyfriend ordered? Or something savory like a "cathead" sized biscuit? I opted for one of their specials: a smoked portabella and chevre scramble served with just-spicy-enough potatoes and toast. Every last bite was divine. Our friends got a Traditional Benedict and some kind of gigantic sandwich that could barely fit in their mouths. And then...there was the Praline Bacon. I'm a lover of bacon (duh) - but we made an intelligent decision: split 1 plate amongst 4 people, which honestly was WAY more than enough. Three slices of praline-encrusted pork may not seem like a fitting amount, but all you need is a tiny taste of that heavenly concoction to complete your meal. OMG. It was crazy-amazeballs. Adding to the excellence of this place - any other restaurant that's this busy and this tasty usually sacrifices some amount of service, but not these guys. Nope. We were faithfully attended, with our waters and coffee never dipping below the half-full line, and with a smile every time, to boot. Screen Door, I'm in love. Why aren't you in Seattle???
(5)
Eliana M.
With over 500 reviews, I guess I'm just preaching to the choir at this point. But preach I shall! Screen Door has the most delicious food. Ever. Come for brunch! Doesn't matter that you'll have to wait like an hour. It's worth it. The praline-bacon waffle will change your life. Come for dinner! I've had a special (pork cutlets w/veggies) and the brisket. Both were amazing. I'm sure everything else on the menu is also amazing. This is the kind of place you drag out-of-towners to while they're still carrying their luggage. EAT HERE.
(5)
tristan p.
Collard greens are the shit. You have no idea. Don't like collard greens? The braised possum cheek is even better. Gotta ask for that shit. Secret menu shit. In-n-out style dog. One of Portland's better restaurants.
(5)
Daniel P.
Food is awesome. The service was really good too. The worst thing about the place is waiting 20 minutes for a table on a Monday night. On a weekend you're gonna wait for an hour. Its worth the money and the wait. This place is great i you come with a couple or a party.
(4)
Sandra W.
"I think my grandmother -- both of them -- made fried chicken just like this," said my husband. "I used to go buck hay for them all day, just to be able to have my grandma's fried chicken for lunch." Everything else was very tasty too, but the fried chicken is, well, DAYUM! A few days later, The Spouse informs me, "We can NEVER EVER go back to Screen Door and have fried chicken. Never." So pathetic. Trying to use reverse psychology on moi is like trying to convince a distressed bank that 11 billion dollars is chump change.
(5)
Tricia H.
I can't say enough good about Screen Door. Truly - one of my favorite restaurants. The fried chicken is out of this world! The hush puppies are beyond delicious and you MUST have the sweet tea while you're there. Be prepared for a long wait. On a good day - you're looking at 20 mins. We waited an hour and 35 minutes before. It's worth it - I PROMISE!
(5)
Leah H.
I've sworn off chicken from my diet for about 7-8 years. It just does not taste good. Has a funny texture. It is always either over or undercooked. And I wont even get into how the treatment of chicken on commercial farms disgusts me. Never-the-less, I find myself at Screen Door as a party of four. I am last to order and realize that NO ONE ordered the fried chicken. It seemed wrong to share this dinning experience without the item that it seems ALL Yelpers rave about. So I went for it. I ordered the despicable chicken. And. It. Was. Amazing. The plate was prepared masterfully; perfectly matched with smooooooth mashed potatoes and smokey collards with hocks. The chicken was tender, moist, and delectably crunchy. I'm not converting to the dark side of chicken consumers. But Screen Door scored a win with me. Next on the list, every single menu item that can come out of that kitchen.
(5)
H. M.
The Screen Door has been a standard for us for as long as it has been open. Last night, we took a friend to dinner, and we were a little disappointed in our experience. We will definitely be back to give it another chance, but we were sad that we didn't get to enjoy the amazing cuisine we have come to expect from The Screen Door.
(3)
Khalid N.
Had to go back again. More amazingness. This time we tried a few of the southern cocktails. All excellent. We also tried the hush puppies...so freaking good.
(5)
Carrie B.
This is one of my "go to" restaurants whether I'm having a romantic evening with my girl or trying to impress the inlaws. Its always worth the wait. You gotta try the Mac and Cheese and the Mint Julip. Vegetarians can usually find something to eat but the best food they make has meat in it. Fried Catfish, Fried Chicken, Po Boy Sandwich, Collard greens...all delicious.
(5)
Crispin H.
I like Screen Door well enough but as a child with southern grandparents I just can't get as excited as some people seem to. So far the southern food hasn't hit the perfect notes with me, my favorite thing has been one of the seasonal veggi sides of roasted cauliflower. I wouldn't stand in line for this, but it is pretty tasty overall.
(3)
M. C.
Huge problem! Everything was so freaking perfect, except when I took the leftovers to work and cut into the fried chicken..... the very middle was raw!!!! I was going on and on about how awesome SD was and my co-worker wanted a bite, so I cut in to the darn thing, keep in mind it was a large piece of chicken, but it was raw!!! So sad. . . . I hope it was just a late night fluke..... BUT this update is just for the chicken.
(1)
Evan L.
I was in the area and couldn't resist checking this place out. I had a plane to catch and was really worried that I'd miss my flight but I was willing to risk it for the food (well, not really). On a Friday night, the place was packed so my wait was 30 minutes and it took another 30 for my food to come out (after I sat down). Because I rushed myself, I feel like I didn't get to enjoy the food as much I was could have. I was worried that it would be really weird eating there considering that I was the only person there by himself on a Friday night. But the people minded their own business and the waiter was really friendly. So maybe in the future I should stop staring at people when they eat by themselves. We'll see. They sat me at a table (for two) instead of the bar and I was really pleased that I wasn't rushed at all. The service was great--the waiter gave me refills for both my water and iced tea whenever I ran low and he also checked up on me just the right number of times. I ordered the crispy-fried buttermilk-battered fried chicken and mac & cheese. The mac & cheese was served in a medium-sized bowl and it was clear from the hardened top layer that it was baked. While it was good, there was nothing unusually special about it. The fried chicken dinner came with mashed potatoes and gravy and some green stuff (I'm sorry, I'm not a vegetable man). I've never eaten fried chicken with a fork and knife before. I picked one of these bad boys up and realized after my first two bites that there was no bone in the chicken. I thought, "is this my order?" It took me a bit to realize that there was a reason why I was given a knife (I'm slow, I know). But no matter which way I ate it, the fried chicken was a perfect combination of juiciness and crunchiness. I should probably also mention that I ended up dipping every bite-sized piece of fried chicken into the mashed potatoes. That's just the kind of person I am. I microwaved my leftovers two days later and I was so surprised that the fried chicken wasn't soggy or greasy at all (and in fact tasted really similar to what I had on Friday) that I decided to write a review about my experience.
(5)
EM F.
I'm a light eater. Big fan of soups and salads and other lighter meals...all the more room for beer and desserts ;) But... I OWNED the pecan bacon waffle. Demolished it. No. Crumbs. Left. That, plus the darling little booth, charming server, fresh orange juice, and all you can drink Stumptown Coffee made the 1.5 hour long wait well worth it.
(4)
Katie R.
With an intense craving for chicken and waffles, my boyfriend and I hit up the Screen Door on a Sunday morning. The wait looked unbearable, but we decided to make it happen regardless. It turns out the wait was tolerable thanks to people watching, coffee, and interesting graffiti on nearby sign posts. He ordered the chicken and waffles and I opted for the migas with grits. The portion size was enough to make anyone smile, well, anyone unconcerned with their overall health. The chicken and waffles were beyond delicious, and I can admit I stole more than a few bites from my boyfriend's heaping stack. The migas were incredibly flavorful and overwhelmingly delicious. While the prices are semi-steep, I consider it worth it seeing as each meal has the absolute potential to result in a second meal later with the help of a to-go box. We both employed our leftovers as supper later that night. Without a hint of reservation, I wholly recommend the Screen Door. Every aspect of my visit was a pleasurable one. Nom.
(4)
dre a.
Wow! What to add to this many reviews. I have tried many a Portland restaurant and this one is one of my favorites. I really love all the local and seasonal dishes. Everything that I have ever had here is stellar. On top of that the restaurant is incredibly affordable. One note-portions are large so share with your dining companion if you can. My husband always insists I get my own : )
(5)
Zachary Sam Z.
Oh. My. God. I've never had so much delicious food in my life. Screen Door is one of those places you have to watch out for, because once they reel you in, you might not stop eating. My dining companions got the fried chicken, which left me open to try another dish. I opted for another one of my favorite foods - the Creole Jambalaya!! Let me tell you, Screen Door does it perfectly - it's a heaping mound of meat, veggies and rice, perfectly accented with spices. It comes with andouille sausage, shrimp, and smoked chicken - and by smoked chicken, they mean a whole drumstick. In case the heaping mound of jambalaya wasn't quite enough. While the jambalaya left me fully satisfied, readers of my reviews will understand that I couldn't leave without ordering a side of the Mac & Cheese. A side order is baked and served in a small baking dish, overflowing with melted cheese. It was delicious. My party was collectively stuffed after dinner, but we dug deep to split a slice of blueberry peach pie among the three of us. I'm so glad we did, because it was just as amazing as the rest of the meal. One of my Portland favorites. A great spot for some down home southern cooking.
(5)
ian s.
The best breakfast of my life, hands-down. I got up and thanked the chef afterwards, if that tells you anything. WELL worth the wait. We also went back for dinner, and I tasted the best fried chicken of my life. If you are in Portland and miss this place, shame... shame!
(5)
heather m.
The usual--crowded, rich, tasty but not in a big hurry to return..
(3)
Mike R.
One of the best breakfast places in Portland. THE BEST chicken and waffles I've ever had. And you can't miss out on the prailined bacon. Wow. Full bar for an awesome Bloody Mary. I also love their great Spanish Coffees. Whenever I'm in town, I hit Genie's or the Screen Door. You better go early, though. There's always at least an hour wait.
(5)
Rowena D.
Screen Door definitely lives up to the reviews it has received. Their fried chicken dinner is one of the best I've had. The chicken is juicy, boneless and comes with mashed potatoes and collard greens. I thought the portion size was generous for the price ($14.75). My husband ordered the sampler plate where you can order three sides. He opted for macaroni & cheese, red beans & rice and catfish. The standout for him was the the mac & cheese. I had a couple of bites and I have to agree that it was yummy. If you were to order the mac & cheese by itself it would only cost $4.50 which I think is a steal for this tasty goodness. Considering how busy it was when I dined there, the customer service was great. We got there at around 5:30pm on Saturday evening and there was a line around the block to get in this place. I'm happy to report that my husband and I were lucky enough to snag a table in the first seating. So, if you're an early diner, get there at 5-5:15pm and you should be able to get a table for dinner.
(5)
Kitty O.
AMAZING! This place is great. I have been a handful of times and it is always great. The food is phenomenal and the desserts fantastic. Prepare yourself for a little wait because everyone in town loves this place, but it is worth it. Get a drink and relax while you wait, you are going to be happy that you did. I recommend the Macaroni and Cheese, the Pork Chops and the banana dessert! The staff is as fantastic as the food is. All around five star place
(5)
Rick B.
I'm only giving this 4 of 5 stars because of the service and wait. We showed up at 6pm on a Thursday, thinking that we were early enough to beat the dinner rush. Boy, were we wrong!! The wait was quoted at 45 mins., which almost made us turn right around and walk out, but it was raining pretty good so we stayed. After 20 or so minutes of waiting I decided to go up to the bar and grab a beer. Little did I know that the wait for a beer at the bar would be longer than the wait for a table! Finally getting sat we started to look over the menu. There was just to many good items here to choose from. We started out with the special appetizer, which were confit of chicken drumettes over a celeriac puree with a taso ham demi. It was fantastic!! The puree was just a heavenly texture! After that we still could not figure out what to eat, we knew one of us would get the fried chicken, but then there is that side sampler plate! You can get a fried pork chop for one of your sides!!!! Then there is the organics menu, which is 4 or 5 special items with fresh and seasonal ingredients that all looked amazingly intriguing. We ended up with the mac and cheese, the chicken and andouille jambalaya, chanterelle mushrooms and greens and the roasted rainbow carrots. The fried chicken was amazing. It is very simple with plain mashed potatoes, braised greens and gravy on the side. The chicken is definitely the highlight of the dish, it's perfectly crispy and has just enough heat in the breading. The mac and cheese is a must have and the jambalaya was surprising full of flavor! Our waiter seemed overwhelmed with his section, even though it was only two tops! But he was hard to get a hold of when we needed something. But when he did bless us with his presence, he was helpful and informative. All in all this place has great food, but maybe spotty service, oh wait this is Portland! I have not yet been here for breakfast but I do hear that it is fantastic. P.S. Attention management: don't let your servers bring food to tables in a tank top!!!! I don't care how hot it is running around a little restaurant, even more reason to be wearing sleeves of some sort!!!!
(4)
Ken L.
Tons of people were lined up to eat here and I can see the appeal of Southern style cuisine. The portions of food here are generous and I enjoyed the taste of their fried chicken and waffles. Even then, I wasn't as amazed with the over-hype of the fried chicken as my other fellow yelpers. The chicken is a boneless breast that is lightly battered and fried that reminded me of a chicken fried chicken but in a smaller size. It is apparent that this chicken is used in a few various other dishes too. Every dish I observed at other tables looked divine and well made. WARNING: Be prepared to be full, satisfied and fall asleep in a food coma soon after!
(4)
Mark T.
Such good food crafted with love and a lot of butter.
(5)
Jacque F.
This place definitely had really yummy food for reasonable prices. Was it worth all the hype and nearly two hours of waiting for dinner....? Honestly? Not really... When you want soul food, you don't want to have to wait in a crowded hallway with 20 other people you're not there to enjoy a meal with. A party in waiting is likely to be split apart or barely able to hear one another over the hungry frenzy. I will be more likely to visit again when the hype dies down. Did I not mention the food is delicious? It is.
(4)
James C.
Awesome food with a great staff. I hope they expand soon though, 45 minute wait to get a table after 7pm.
i'm surprised i haven't reviewed the culinary god that is screen door yet. i've been here countless times now aaannnnd don't get me wrong y'all, the fried chicken is good. it's amazing, in fact. BUT DEEP FRIED OYSTERS?!! OMG OMG OMG I CAN HAZ MOR PLZ???!! at dinner, they serve these babies as an appetizer - 6 for $9.75, i believe. but at brunch, they serve these amazing little babies as part of their own version of eggs benedict. what the freaking hellooooooo i love you! uugghhgh, i'm drooling all over my computer as i'm thinking of it right now... since i've finally started straying from the fried chicken standard, i've been testing out their seasonal organics. and holy shit! i've never gone wrong since! in the late days of summer, they had the most delicious heirloom tomatoes. in the early fatass nights of winter, they served me some savory butternut squash bread pudding topped with cheese... mmm, forget autumn and all that jazz....let the rain/drool fall down! i ain't got nowhere to go. i think at times, it can be easy to feel like, "holy shit i just spent $20 on fried chicken and seasonal veggies," but man, the quality of the food and service and ambiance is so up there. up there, as in led zeppelin stairway to heaven. as in flawless ridick 20 minute guitar solo up there. it's worth every penny. i mean, whatchu gonna spend a jackson on anyway? girls, forget that gross forever21 dress you think that might be cute for like a week...you know you ain't gonna fit in it anyway after you're done with your dinner date at screen door.
(5)
Lin N.
Food is great, portions are huge, prices are reasonable for what you will get. As good as the menu is, the specials card had even better options. Expect a lot of people will be looking at your dish, as you will do to theirs, because everything coming out of the kitchen looks great. Sunday morning brunch: get there by 8:15 and you should be able to get one of the first spots in line. By 8:35, line was almost around the block.
(4)
Phil M.
To preface my review, I'm a southerner. My wife suggested this place to fit our needs for a good southern-style meal. The Screen Door did not disappoint. I had the Screen Door Plate, which lets you pick any three items for a great price, and you get heaping portions of each selection. I chose the catfish, sweet potato fries, and a selection from the local items, a blackeyed pea/kale mix with red peppers. It came with remoulade for the catfish, and a large block of cornbread with honey butter. Everything was spot on, even a pitcher of sweet tea to wash it all down. Definitely found the spot to satisfy our cravings for back-home food.
(5)
Stacy G.
This was one of our favorite places we ate at while in Portland. We arrived on a Friday night at 5:15pm and there were already a good 10 people lined up to get in. Thank goodness we arrived early or it would have been a long wait! We just loved our food - the best burger my husband has ever eaten (cheeseburger with onion straws), and this from a big burger guy. Great Carolina Pulled Pork sandwich, although of course VERY filling. Go hungry, people! We finished it off with Pear Upside Down Gingerbread cake. Mmm! I loved it so much I was hoping to return the very next morning for brunch. It didn't work out, but that is our #1 on the next trip to Portland!
(5)
Dave C.
Love the chicken and waffles! If they have the breakfast corn dogs make sure that you get them as well. What's not to like about homemade sausage that's deep fried with a side of black pepper maple syrup? Be prepared for a wait as there is usually a line especially for breakfast.
(5)
Fernet B.
This place is great - great food and awesome service. Staff remembered me on my second visit. Right for the price!
(5)
Tiffany T.
The catfish and the mac and cheese are the best I've had. Last time we went we took a friend who hadn't been there before. There was a line outside around the building before the place opened. The only thing that could make me happier is if the opened a location out in the waste land which is the west side.
(5)
Evan C.
While I know the brother (he was one of my professors down in New Orleans) of one of the owners, I assure you that this review is in no way a shameful attempt to get better grades (I've already graduated) - the food is just that good! Oh, and the atmosphere and staff are great, too. Two friends and I sat inside (it was a bit chilly outside for the patio) on a relatively slow Monday night. We split the fried chicken, an order of grits, some fried oysters, and a macaroni dish. Unfortunately they were out of the fried okra that night (looks like we'll have to return). The fried oysters were delicious, to say the least. The grits were creamy, the fried chicken tender and crispy, and the macaroni dish was savory. We also had Abita Amber and Turbodog, which was like icing on the cake (or honey on the fried chicken)!
(5)
Ehow C.
I came back all the way from Chicago just to eat here. ... Okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but I was definitely looking forward to eating here during my visit to P-town. Lines are usually there, but coffee-drinkers rejoice with coffee during the wait! The food is expertly crafted. I had the Cajun shepard's pie special, which was pretty much to die for. My friends all enjoyed their meal as well, though we were scolded later for not getting the bacon. Really, you can't go wrong here. Love it!
(5)
Kenneth H.
Yes. If they were open weekdays for bunch they would certainly see me there more often. The food is unbelievable/amazing and priced right with large portions that fill you up for the entire day. The only possible downside is the wait, but do yourself the favor and arrive promptly at opening time (9AM?) and you should be in the clear. There are plenty of reviews extolling the greatness of the grub, all you need to know is that they dish up plenty of heavy and hearty food that is uber fatty! FATTY! Although we all love fatty, let me also say that this is the good fatty that makes you feel fat (cause it does), but also makes you feel happy and satisfied with your life (even if it sucks). I always stare at the menu and never know what to get because there are simply too many fantabulous choices. The standards are the chicken and waffle (which will feed an entire army platoon), the pecan bacon (which is candied bacon and will destroy all your arteries), and the cathead biscuit (not actually made of cat) Look, if you have read this far in the review and still aren't sure if it is the place for you then I can be of no further assistance. Go here for brunch and stuff your face and enjoy the good life.
(5)
Loan L.
Been here multiple times mainly for brunch. Definitely a brunch standby for me since the roomie likes the praline bacon waffle. I always steal a bite since it's sooo good but I really wish the bacon was IN the waffle instead of just on top. Chicken and waffle is definitely good although I really like my fried chicken dark and on the bone. I've had the oyster benny It tasted like it should but one of my eggs was a wee bit over poached nothing that would ruin it though. Had the brisket hash special and I LOVED the flavor only thing I didn't like though was that the brisket was cut in a way that left chunks of fat mixed in with the meat and potatoes. The fat chunks also resembled potatoes so I would occasionally get a bit of just beef fat. breakfast corndog is awesome definitely something i loved. Overall definitely recommend this place, long wait though so be prepared to stand outside for a while. Also service is good, but nothing spectacular,
(4)
Marc W.
What more can I add.. The food is flavorful, comforting and filling. As they say, the line is long so go early if you desire to get first seating. We had some items from their specials of the day board.... I had Rib Eye Steak over fingerlings and creamed spinach and my wife had the Orange Roughy. Both dishes extremely satisfying. Only teeny negative is the noise level is a bit high and their background music didn't help. I don't like talking loud or struggling to hear my dinner mates during the meal. Regardless of that, I'll definitely go again. And certainly intend to try out their breakfast.
Hipstertastic! Started with corndog for brunch, which was pretty bad ass. Grapefruit juice was fresh and pungent. But my oysters eggs hollandaise felt slimy, and the grits were bland as desert sand. Like a speed-addled starlet, it looks better than it tastes.
(3)
Andi B.
I spent last week eating my way through Portland. I live in NYC and am a vegetarian...until I arrived at Screen Door. For whatever reason I was compelled to order the pulled pork sandwich, and it was like coming home again. The flavor was incredible and the sweet potato fries on the side complimented it perfecty. Lemonade cocktail-delicious, and I even managed to fit dessert in there somewhere (berry pie with basil sauce). I hear the brunch is awesome. Next time I'm in Portland I'm definitely going back.
(5)
Tso N.
This was the highlight of my Portland trip. I loved my dinner here. At first I thought it may be influenced by my doing an 11-mile hike prior to dinner but I know it's not. I love the variety on the menu. I would call this gourmet southern food mostly because the ingredients are all fresh, local, and organic which makes me feel less bad eating this type of food. The "fried buttermilk battered chicken" is a must try as it was moist, tender and flavorful - one of the most moist second to Adhoc's (Napa, CA) "buttermilk fried chicken". But my favorite thing was their "Screen door plate" which gave you the choice of three house sides and/or local organics & a slice of cornbread for $14. I wish every restaurant had this deal as it allows you to sample a variety of dishes. As you can see, I like variety. The mac 'n cheese was to die for. I was supposed to share that with two others but I basically devoured it all on my own along with my screen door plate and half my husband's fried chicken plate. It's THAT good and I was ravenous after the hike. =P We were lucky to get seated within 15 minutes on a Monday night at 8pm but normally, I was told by locals that there is a very long wait. Unfortunately they don't do reservations. I will definitely be coming back to you when I visit Portland again.
(4)
Cami K.
Holy yum. Beautiful restaurant, great service...and I always seem to luck out by getting seated right away. The mac & cheese is crispy, bubbly and cheesy all at the same time...in it's own little baking dish, a perfect compliment to the light & crumbly-coated fried catfish. Okay, so we were little piggies and also ordered fried okra (mmm...more please), hush-puppies (hot damn) and jambalaya (giggity)...and it all blew me away. I grew up in Oregon so I can't really say if Screen Door is "authentic" Southern cuisine or not, but who freakin' cares. Everything I've eaten there has been an explosion of awesomeness in my mouth...and I absolutely love that their menu is ever-changing, takes advantage of fresh local ingredients and offers lots of options for veggies & carnies alike. Can't wait to try brunch, I've been told it's even better.
(5)
Eric D.
This is simply the best place in Portland for Southern food. The fried chicken is their best dish. I would also recommend the catfish and the mac and cheese.
(5)
Emily S.
Went with some locals, got there at 8:30am (and I am NOT a morning person), got served by a man wearing a Sheriff kerchief, and stuffed my face silly. I was extremely jealous of the country fried chicken between biscuits. That's on my list for the next time. YUM!!
(5)
Laura K.
Everyone needs a little comfort food now again (ahem, all the time for some of us...)--Screen Door allows us to do that without feeling like we had to go all the way to Mississippi to get it. I had their signature pulled pork sandwich that was so delicious I basically licked my messy hands when it was ALL gone! Everyone else at the table was pleased with their choices as well including the jambalaya, the fried chicken and the Screen Door plate. Decent priced bottles of wine with a decent and not too overwhelming selection too. Street parking was a cinch. We waited only 10 minutes for a table and it was just busy enough to be "hoppin" instead of hipsterly annoying. Enough buzz to be comfortable but still have a nice conversation without yelling over the table!
(4)
Jessi H.
Disclaimer, I'm from Thibodaux Louisiana and I love good cookin'! I have wanted to try the Screen Door. On several occasions I have gone but the line is always so long so we skip. Last Sat. I finally got to dine at the Screen Door and it was good, not great. The Jambalaya was good, the best I have had outside of Louisiana. The same dish at home would have had more spice and cost 1/4 of what it cost at Screen Door. This place is a mixed bag for me. I think you absolutely must try it for yourself but I'm not sure I would make another trip here with so many other fabulous dining options in OR. Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez! (Let the good times roll)
(3)
Russell B.
Average entree price: $15 Notes: long wait Should you go: yes! The screen door is a great place to get some southern style food. The wait is usually pretty long and the place is pretty crowded but it really is worth the wait! I would say give yourself about 2 hours for the whole experience. The good takes a while but the staff is very attentive and friendly and like the menu states " good food takes time " The food I got the fried chicken and many people at my table got the catfish. Both were excellent! The fried chicken was cooked to absolute perfection. The breeding was nice and crunchy with a slight pepper flavor and the chicken was perfectly juicy with a hint of a wood smoke flavor. It was perfect and was not greasy at all! The whole thing was worth it just for the chicken but everything else was also so good! We got pecan pie for dessert and it was incredible. The pie was served warm with from scratch whip cream roasted pecans and a light flaky crust. The whole experience was amazing. I would definitely recommend going and I would go there again for sure!
(5)
Christina R.
I'm definitely a fan. The worst is the wait but it seems worth it when you get the food! You must get.. the praline bacon & OBVIOUSLY their chicken&waffles (add gravy, it's worth it) I only go when friends/family are in town since it encompasses Portland brunch very well. Coming from the Midwest this place has a great mix of hearty & savory food!
(4)
Chad D.
Wish there was an option for a sixth star, this place is the shizznit. When it comes to fried chicken (diner or with waffles), I challenge you to find better. It's no surprise every single review on here mentions the fried chicken in some fashion, they do fried chicken and they do it right. Good work Screen Door - I will be back again and again. Oh ya, and the rest of their food is great, someones gotta mention it.
(5)
Margaret P.
I would like to come back for brunch some time and give it another try. This place gets loud, crowded , and hot. It was not an amazing first impression. Except for the cornbread which was very dry, and maybe just not my style, the food was pretty dang good. The mac 'n' cheese is TO DIE FOR! I also had a pretty amazing hot toddy (maybe that's why I was so hot??? LOL) The service was very good, but the setup of the tables is a little chaotic. I feel bad for the staff. If I moved my feet or leg out of the booth 1/2", they were forced to knock into me. Screen Door, please don't hit me on my way back.
(3)
Jim D.
The chicken is as good as everyone claims.
(4)
Erin H.
The fried chicken is really the lynch pin of the brunch menu, really, the entire menu - breakfast, lunch and dinner. The fried outer batter isn't too heavy or cakey. There was a nice little punch of pepper after you've been savoring the crisp crust with the juicy chicken. Sent to our table (my hubby's a chef there and sometimes the kitchen will send a couple of small tasting dishes to your table that no one ordered but everyone tries) was a delicious sampling to include hush puppies, syrup glazed bacon with pecans, and the BEST cinnamon roll I've ever had. I ordered from the a la carte menu and was pleased as punch. The huge portions were just enough to make another meal out of the leftovers. Martin had the cathead biscuit and gravy with grits on the side. The mimosa was a little stiffer than I would have made for myself but still good by all means. Service was top notch, even though they were immediately swamped the minute the iron triangle was given a good clanging, welcoming half the city of Portland through the front door. This was a really delightful morning, I'm happy my husband found himself at this restaurant!
(5)
The G.
Giving 5 stars for the fried chicken alone. Some of the best I've ever had. Didn't go for the waffles. Chicken was better than most Oakland/SF spots and Gladys Knight's in Atlanta. Greens were phenomenal as well. The wait after ordering was awful but I shall return.
(5)
Lilly C.
The wait will be long even if you go early to try to beat the line because everyone else is doing the same thing. In short, this place has good service, and portions are huge! I got the famous chicken and waffle and could only finish half of the chicken. I can usually eat a lot, and maybe this was due to the fact that I'm more of a dark meat kind of girl, but it was too much chicken for me. The waffle was great; a thick sweet potato Belgium waffle. Next time I am definitely sharing this so I can order another side or dish to try! My friends had some biscuit dish with fried chicken and potatoes, and that was good too. The gravy was on point, which is very important when it comes to biscuits. It was a great place to have a casual brunch in a very comfortable setting.
(4)
Mike C.
Bomb dot com! if you are visting Portland or live here I HIGHLY recommend this for great southern style grub!
(5)
J C.
Came here for the first time on a Tuesday evening. Server failed to inform us of the special, which I later learned everyone was ordering and loving, so I ordered the pecan crusted trout over fingerling potatoes and greens with a cheese sauce. Sounds great, looked great, was cooked perfectly, except everything on the plate was totally bland and had no seasoning whatsoever, i was really surprised and disappointed, bummer. Breakside pilsner on tap was great, dessert was great (lemon chess pie with raspberry sauce), service was good, seating is cramped. Think I just got unlucky, might give it another shot sometime. If you go here, be sure to ask about the special or check the board by the front door.
(2)
Heather P.
Came in on a Tuesday night at 6:15 and waited only about 15 minutes to be seated. Our waiter was super friendly and seemed to genuinely enjoy his job. He made several recommendations and left my friend and I to decide. Because so many things on the menu looked amazing, we decided to share meals. We had the fried chicken and the screen door platter (choose three items). We chose mac & cheese, red beans and rice and jambalya. From the moment the fried chicken hit my tongue, I was in heaven. Deboned and double breaded chicken that was moist with a touch of pepper in the breading. The mac & cheese had a beautiful and tasty browned top. I am from Wisconsin, we like our cheese and this was great mac & cheese. Quite honestly those two things were so amazing I payed little attention to the others. I have eaten in amazing restaurants across this country and this is for sure in the top 10. It's not fancy, but it is sensational. I will defiantly be back for more.
(5)
Jam H.
Love their food.....YUM....
(4)
Ken C.
Came here on Saturday for brunch at the start of the opening at 9am. Good call, even though there was a line, it moved fast and was seated promptly. Highly recommend the fried chicken and waffles. Nice batter, and the chicken was delicious and very moist. The waffle was also delicious too. This dish can easily feed two people and an app special like the bacon hush puppies which was delicious as well. The special huevos something-something dish was also good with two sexy unny side up eggs. Come early to avoid lines! and sit outside in the patio if you can for fresh air, and heater!
(5)
Lena H.
Fantastic, creative, fresh menu and excellent service. Loved sitting on the patio under the heat lamps!
(5)
S R.
great fried chicken! the only thing that kept the last star away was the extremely long wait time.
(4)
Sean F.
The Smoked Brisket Hash is amazing here! Recommend it for breakfast!
(5)
John T.
This place was great! Very happy with everything I had. I think once a place passes 30 or so reviews that they become redundant, so I'll skip all the stuff I usually say other than to insist that you get the coconut waffle with blueberries, ice cream, and lemon sauce. I could eat that for a week. And then probably die. Lemonade was excellent - as those of you who know me will attest, this is something about which I know quite a bit, and thus is high praise. The big bummer is that they don't take reservations, so I will probably never go here again because the wait seems to always be quite long. I can't deal with waiting 1-2 hours during normal dinner hours, sorry folks. I'll pay extra to reserve a spot at a specific time, because planning around randomness is no fun. We went fairly early (6:00) and we STILL had to wait half an hour. Predictability is worth something. I suppose that as long as enough people are willing to mill around in the street for an hour to get a table, my concerns are not worth considering.
(4)
C M.
It was over an hour wait to get seated for breakfast yesterday morning. We got there at a Saturday at 9:20 (they open at 9). My friend ordered the hash and I ordered the chicken biscuit sandwich. We opted to each order a dish and share. The chicken biscuit sandwich was amazing! Although I think it would be better with an egg. We were both disappointed with the hash. The horseradish cream was left off but we were starving by the time we noticed and didn't request it. We prefer our hash less stew like. The chicken sandwich was to die for! We wouldn't recommend the hash... Would definitely go back, but would share a dish next time and perhaps order a small side to share as well.
(4)
Kohlrabi P.
Oyster Benny. Mmmmmmm. Chicken and waffles. Mmmmmmm. It's no Amy Ruth's, but pretty impressive considering we are not in Harlem. Tastes good, but portions are too big for me. I also think the fried chicken is over spiced. Make sure you have time to wait, as there is often a line around the corner.
(4)
Kevin J.
my wife and i flew to Portland for a weekend getaway, and decided to see what all the fuss about this place was all about. in one sentence: it was worth the price of airline tickets from orange county to Portland!! This place was amazing. Great people followed by great food at a very reasonable price. The breakfast items were all tasty, fresh, and more than enough to satisfy. Do try their famous bacon on the side, and don't forget to order a large glass of fresh orange juice to wash down everything. From start to finish, it was a very pleasant experience.
(5)
Mark N.
If yelp would allow it I'd give 3.5 stars. Pretty good food but didn't quite live up to the hype. I ordered the shrimp and grits. The shrimp was perfectly cooked and the portion was generous, however, it lacked the "oomph" to make it stand out as an entree. I was bored with it after eating half, it would have made a great appetizer. Others in our party ordered the jambalaya, bbq beef brisket, and fried pork chop & collard greens and we all sampled everyone else's plate. The pork chop with the breading was delicious but the collard greens left something to be desired (I've had much better). The jambalaya was solid. The cornbread just wasn't right - it was too heavy and not very flavorful; my wife commented it tasted more like wheat than cornbread. Unfortunately for us there was a long wait to be seated, the waiting area was packed, and it was raining outside... so we waited under the awning of the neighboring coffee shop. We periodically peaked into the restaurant to see when the big parties were leaving - there was a party of about 20 that finished eating when we arrived but stuck around for another hour chatting, most likely contributing to the wait. The host handled the crowd very well and gave us many updates on waiting time (without seeming bothered!). He even came outside in the rain to get us when our table was ready. Our waiter was great, and accommodated our need for speedy service. Overall the staff was wonderful - a little terse, which is to be expected among the hipster crowd. The food was artistically plated and genuinely good but not great. We didn't get their signature dish so if we return I'll have to order the fried chicken.
(3)
John C.
Good tasty chicken, but I feel like a fat slob after eating. Good southern food overall
(4)
kelly s.
Ok, so it's too popular for its own good, and sometimes slow, and sometimes, you feel a little rushed but not because they are rude, but because they are too popular, BUT the fried chicken really is seriously amazing. eat it.
(4)
Hilary W.
I really expected to love this restaurant. I am from the south and I've heard all kinds of great things about this place. Unfortunately, I thought that it was just okay and a little pricey. The ingredients seemed to be of good quality and I really appreciate the variety, but the hush puppies were a bit bland and they were served with a weird sauce. The server looked at me like I was crazy when I ordered butter to go with them. The service was somewhat odd - not rude, but definitely warm and welcoming.
(3)
Lindsay L.
Finally made it over there for breakfast. We've been having dinner there since it opened and feared how long the lines would be for their breakfast since it was written up so much. When we arrived at 10:50am, there were tons of people outside drinking self-serve coffee and we were told it was only a 30 minute wait. We waited 33 minutes - pretty close! Since it was our first time, we decided to try the classics: Eggs Benedict with potatoes and biscuits/gravy. The eggs benedict was solid with a crisped up ham, perfectly poached egg. I could have used some more acid in the hollandaise but that's just my style. HOWEVER, the biscuits/gravy was the BEST I'VE EVER HAD! The biscuit must have had some cornmeal in it and cooked in the oven. It was light and fluffy under the gravy. The gravy wasn't heavy or too oily and had just the right about of sausage in it. It was heavenly! BTW, I must admit that the stacks of waffles and chicken coming out of the kitchen had my head spinning around the entire breakfast!
(4)
Lyle M.
Dude, I have been looking for a place to top's Ezell's in the Central District-Seattle, WA. I went there about 10 years ago, and dammit Oprah was right! That place is great. I heard that she gets that stuff helicoptered in to her mansion. You lucky man Steadman. I have to say Screen Door is now top of my list. There are a lot of delicious fried chicken recipes out there, and its hard to be bias because they are all equally good in different ways. If you are a fried chicken lover, then Screen Door is a must. The catfish is bomb too. It's not as good as the friend chicken, but its delicious. It comes with this amazing sauce, which I wish I knew the contents. The veggies and sides are great. The brisket is top notch. I haven't had the mac n' cheese, but its probably pretty good because I saw tons of people ordering it. Good in-restuarant bar. Great desserts! Had the strawberry shortcake biscuit, its winnahs! There is always a line, but its goes pretty fast. Wait service is solid. One of my fav eats in PDX. Screen Door, its a door, but it has tiny holes to let the deliciousness in. I have no idea what that means. Cheers!
(5)
Kent X.
Very good food, and made with quality. The environment was very cool, and the service was great.
(5)
Carmel M.
Wow! I'm from the South and so I really know how to do it right and man, does this place do it right. Not only do they do it right, but they don't go overboard with butter and oil, as is common place in most southern cooking. It actually feels healthy and left feeling full and wonderful. Every single dish was amazing. My group of 3 ordered tapas style, 2 entrees, 2 appetizers and 2 salads. It was way more food than we needed- but leftovers were lunch for all of us the next day. If you are in Portland- you must go here.
(5)
Joshua M.
A tad overhyped, but definitely a decent place to eat for "gourmet" southern cuisine. The funny thing is the south is pretty much just fast food and chain restaurants, but we'll allow Screen Door to romanticize it just a tad. I had the fried chicken, and it was in fact quite good. I definitely would like to go back and try it again.
(4)
Patrick S.
Screen Door. It rhymes with Fried Chicken and Mint Julep, right? Oh Screen Door I cannot resist your yummy food. I like to bring peeps that are visiting from out of town here to show them just how we like to fatten up before and during the long dark winters here in the Pacific NW. The food however at the Screen Door was born a long way away from this corner of the USA. You'll have to go kitty corner down in the Good 'Ol South to find Screen Door's food roots. If you've ever had the pleasure of eating in say Montgomery Alabama, Athens Georgia, or Charleston South Carolina then you already know good Southern Cooking but if you want a true interpretive taste with a little extra quality of flavor then you needn't go any further than Portland OR. Don't take my word for it though just head on over to East Burnside and look for the line of people waiting to get in and there you will find out what it is everybody in town is clamoring about. Cheers
(5)
Eggland B.
It's true what most people on Yelp are saying--this place is great! I'm a fan of The Delta, and this place does a similar sort of thing but with less of the white-trash-and-proud vibe and a bit more class. My girlfriend and I have been here once for breakfast and once for dinner, and I have to say that I'm more impressed with their dinner. A fair price and some American-sized (for better or worse) portions. I don't usually end up taking much home with me, but I had enough for a decent lunch the next day. Fried chicken is a once-a-year treat for me, but this is probably the only place I'll have it from now on! The only down note was that our server was a little weird. Hard to say exactly why or in what way, but she was just a bit weird. Still, I do enthusiastically recommend this place!
(4)
Tani S.
We've been here once for breakfast but came back here for dinner and enjoyed it even more! My parents were in town visiting and we were looking for a down to earth spot that allowed conversation and featured good food... We managed to get a corner booth and our evening was perfect at Screen Door! The food was wonderful from the hush puppies, collard greens, fried catfish with remoulade, and jambalaya. The flavors were fresh and I loved the presence of herbs it was nice that the food wasn't greasy as some of my favorite New Orleans restaurant memories from childhood. It was the perfect evening...
(5)
Anna L.
Mmmmm, yum yum yum. Glad i FINALLY MADE IT TO THIS GEM FOR DINNER THE OTHER NIGHT. I loved it all! hush puppies, pulled pork and even the Iced Tea! I highly recommend this joint if you like some tasty-stylin southern food!
(5)
Danielle U.
Big fan of the food and service...espcially when the patio is open on a lovely summer evening. From the Mac and Cheese to the Banoffee Pie...you make my pallette sing your praises!
(4)
Sophie K.
We rarely wait over an hour to get into a restaurant but it was totally worth it. After we took the first bite we understood why there was such a long wait. The waiter was super helpful and nice. We were impressed with how efficiently they operated the restaurant considering how extremely busy they were. I had the Bloody Mary while waiting. It was nicely spiced and had a pickled okra along with the olive which I thought was a nice touch. My husband had the fried chicken with biscuit and gravy sandwich with cheese grits on the side. I had the BEST veggie hash I ever had in my life. It was incredible. I have to say I am super discriminating and rarely give any place a five star. The potatoes, ricotta cheese and pesto along with all the other veggies was such an awesome combination.
(5)
Dava D.
I love the Screen Door. I really really do. It is so delicious and I just LOVE this place. Of course like at most places here in Portland sometimes you have to wait in line, but it's so worth it once you have your meal. They are supporters of local produce and some meats and their food is always 100% top notch amazing. Staff is friendly and the bartender makes one hell of a margarita. You can see the kitchen and the environment is just swell. Gosh. I love this place.
(5)
Luann A.
I love fried anything. Well, maybe except fried butter...because why would anyone want to eat just a slab of butter? Gosh, that's really unhealthy. Since my move to Portland, I've been on the lookout for good fried chicken and Screen Door did it for me. A buddy of mine and I went here a couple of weeks back, not his first time but mine, and because he kept hyping up this place, I immediately was excited to try their southern-style food. I ordered the crispy fried buttermilk-battered chicken with tasso ham gravy and mashed potatoes and ohhh...was that succulent chicken meat tender or what!? And the skin was extra crispy but not too crispy that I was eating chips. The price wasn't that bad either as my plate cost $14.75. My buddy got a special dish they were having that night (the last dish for that night too!) steak and mashed potatoes, also extremely yummy. I forgot how much his meal came out to but I think our bill ended up being below $30 with tip. Definitely recommend it though! My friend drove me there (as I live in downtown and don't own a car) but the restaurant is off east burnside, so easily accessible to get to with the bus.
(5)
Elijah C.
When I got here at around 5:30, there was a line halfway down the block, so that seemed like a pretty good sign. Luckily, we'd sweet-talked them into taking a reservation right at six (which is when they usually stop taking them, apparently), so we didn't have to worry about that monstrous line. The service was...interesting. Our waiter was pretty snarky, but in kind of a lovable way. There was nothing bad about the service, it was just kind of strange. I've also got to give him credit for not giving us any flack about lingering for an hour after we'd paid on a busy night. People absolutely raved about the fried chicken, and I like fried things as much as the next guy, so that's what I got. It was good, but nothing out of this world. Desert was pretty good. The chocolate raspberry cake was delicious, and the fresh berry shortcake wasn't half bad either. In my opinion, this place wouldn't be worth having to wait in line outside on a hot day (well, I don't really think it'd be worth a repeat visit in the first place), but it certainly wasn't bad.
(3)
Bryn H.
Wow. The food here is FANTASTIC. I literally want to fill a bathtub with their food and dive in. I ate till I was stuffed, and then ate some more. I'm glad this place is in a different city from me or I'd be HUGE! Can't say enough good about it.
(5)
Steve S.
Fried chicken kills it! I'll be back for sure.
(5)
Kerry K.
I went to the Screen Door with friends this past Sunday and wasn't disappointed! Although I wasn't hungry enough to eat what they ordered (Bananas Foster French Toast and Chicken & Waffles), the food I had was great! The biscuit and the praline bacon were yummy. Get there early because the line is long. Oddly, they don't have espresso drinks but there is a place next door that serves those.
(4)
Janelle D.
Screen Door restaurant is one of our favorite places to eat in Portland. The food is amazing -- and the service is terrific, too. We've never had any problems with the food or service in the dozen or more times that we've been here. We've brought family and friends here, too, and they are amazed at how fantastic the food is. We love the weekend brunch the best (the grits, corned beef hash, sweet potato waffle, and praline bacon are to die for!). Everything we've ever tried has been absolutely delicious! Dinner is also really good -- the mac and cheese and the brisket are SO delicious! Five stars all the way! Just as a heads up -- if you're considering going to Screen Door for brunch, you either need to show up at 8:30 AM and get in line for the first seating (they open at 9AM, but by then there is a line of peole down the block), or expect about an hour wait. That said, the wait is well worth it!
(5)
Emily J.
quite possibly the best meal i have ever eaten in my entire life. period. brunch on a saturday morning. we were both surprised to be seated right away as there were just two of us and about 10 families waiting to be seated in front of us when we checked the list at the hostess station. I ordered the vanilla brioche french toast, with a side of apple smoked sausage. my BF ordered the fried chicken and sweet potato waffle with a biscuit and praline bacon on the side ( which neither of us needed and ended up getting a to-go box for). Everything was incredible. amazing textures, not too sweet, good combos of sweet and salty. the second best fried chicken i've ever tasted. but the praline bacon really deserves a review all on it's own. wtf. i elt my arteries clog as i tasted it. nom-nom. i could eat it everyday, but if i did, i would die of a coronary at 30. the only thing that only mildly lacking in my book , was the biscuit. it was a tad doughy, but had a good flavor. our server was attentive and entertaining. everyone working seemed to be having a fun time. we asked our server as we left, what his favorite part of working there was, he replied, "the comraderie amongst co-workers". happy co-workers= happy food= happy customers= happy tips= happy co-workers
(5)
Kristine P.
Yes, the wait for brunch is REALLY long (about 1 hour) but that should tell you something. The food here is great! I had the Eggs Sardou which is poached eggs over artichoke hearts & creamed spinach, and an English muffin, topped w hollandaise. Perfect food for my hangover this morning.
(4)
Deborah R.
Went when they first opened and were squeezed in at the bar (no wait yay!) very happy. One other time with a group that had made reservations Happy! Had not been back in a while since I don't like hanging around o the side walk for an hour! had a large party but it was last minute & could not call early enough for a reservation. They were very accomadating and the Host(ess) called me a couple of times to keep me in the loop. If you ever had to herd a group of 8-10 cats (my hungry friends) you can imagine the challenge. Every single person thanked me for taking the lead and picking the spot because the food was delish and the service friendly. We had to wait a bit when we arrived but that was due to the previous diners camping at the table forever. Our large party was served quickly and orderly with great fried chicken, steak, sides and the Jambalaya got raves too! well done!! Pleasing so many people is no easy task!
(5)
Mal C.
We opted to sit at the bar for quicker seating. Got the Screen Door Plate in order to taste a little bit of everything. Got the thin-sliced fried pork chop, the french fries, a fig salad, and some pinot noir. Honestly, my favorites were the french fries and fig salad. The wine was delicious too. The pork chop were good for those looking for something seasoned - I tend to like my pork chop just salted. All in all, really great meal and you WILL NOT leave hungry. Will be back for more comfort food!
(4)
Bob M.
Yum shrimp and grits were great...as were the sides my gf got. I will definitely be hitting this place up--- its not all traditional down south cooking, but what isnt has a nice, unique portland flare to it.
(4)
Sara Q.
you know .. i would give this place 6, even 7 stars if i could! it was seriously that amaze balls. i got the chicken and waffles. i switched my sweet potato waffle for just a regular one. when the plate got to the table, there were four pieces of chicken stacked on top of the waffle held together by a knife. crazy! chicken was nice and crisp and seasoned perfectly. there was a nice little kick to the chicken, little spice that made it so delectable. waffle was soft and fluffy. when drenched in syrup and butter, it made it all the better. we (bf included) also got a side of praline bacon. it was savory meets.. sweetened crunchiness. it was soo amazing! lastly, bf got banana's foster french toast. i don't really like bananas .. and i don't really like caramel. the two combined are usually way too sweet for me.. but when i had a bite, it was delicious. they used THICK cuts of bread for their french toast which made it even better. everything looked so perfect. i highly recommend brunch over dinner. i also highly recommend coming .. about an hour before you plan on eating because the line is out the door, literally. if you come here plan on someone getting the chicken and waffles as well as the praline bacon. both item's are that delicious. we got to see other stuff that people ordered and everything looked delicious. so really, i don't think you could go wrong with anything you order from the brunch menu. do yourself a favor and come to the screen door and get cho self some chicken and waffles, ya heARD?
(5)
Keith R.
Long wait, so be calm Friendly waitstaff, so cute Chicken and waffles
(5)
mya j.
I went to this place at around 2 pm so we got seated right away. Food was good. I asked for roasted potatoes and i was amazed by the quantity and quality of it. I also tried the biscuits and gravy. It was good. One thing to watch out for while parking here are those stupid bricks on the sides of the road surrounding the plants growing on the sidewalk. It scratched up the passenger side of my door which put me in a very bad mood
(4)
Mallorie H.
wow, really good food, and plenty of it. the hostess was really accommodating about keeping my name on the list even tho my date had not shown up when she first called us. the waitperson put *all* of the leftovers in boxes, even the sauces and sides... i had given her a decent tip before i realized that - wish i had given her more. only complaint - this place is LOUD. they need to look into some acoustic solutions. thank goodness i carry cough drops for the raw throat i got shouting at my dining companion. best items - carolina bbq ribs and fried oysters
(4)
Tracey M.
Just ate here last week and it was great. I had a friend green tomato salad and it was perfection. Husband had the fried chicken and fried oysters and was pleased with both. The server we had was very cocky and that is a turn off but the food was so good here that we quickly forgot about him. Definitely recommend this place.
(5)
Curtis L.
Got there at 9:30pm this time and there was still a wait although not long. Just finished the one day STP ride and still in cycling gear. No issues but rather, we were congratulated for our accomplishment by other patrons. Service and food was top notch. Still 5 stars to me.
(5)
Ilyn P.
What can I say about Screen Door that hasn't already been said? Would I recommend? YES. The lines are long, but the food is worth it. Chicken and waffles, candied bacon and a bloody mary. 'Nuff said.
(4)
Matt D.
This place is great. The servers there are always friendly and quick. The food is delicious. If there is a wait it is worth it to stick around.
(5)
Monty B.
As far as southern food goes, this place is awesome! I'm from the south and this is some gooood southern food. The seating was fast (even for a Friday night). The servers were quick. They have sweet tea! OMG. The hushpuppies were great, the fried chicken, greens (Collard greens for the yankees) and mash potatoes were all superb! Absolutely worth the visit!
There's no reason not to give them 5 stars. The best chicken breast I've ever had! We went there for dinner on Saturday and fell in love with their fried chicken. So this morning my husband and I decided to go back for brunch. Chicken and waffle with praline bacon. AMAZING. Everyone was really nice and friendly too! I love everything about this restaurant!!!
(5)
Sonya M.
Best breakfast ever and the waiter was amazing! Well worth the wait!
(5)
Steve T.
Wish we would've made it to the brunch. Ended up coming back for dinner and the food was not too bad. We had the Fried chicken and the 3 side combo. Mac n cheese was good, a bit watery if you like that. We also had collard greens which were pretty good but i guess thats hard to mess up on for collard greens. the jambalya was ok, nothing special there. I think their best dish is the fried chicken, very crispy and tender.
(4)
Diana T.
Great place and fantastic food! First time trying the chicken & waffles... Yummy! One downside is extremely long wait!
(5)
Jenny H.
3.5 stars. Sorry to all my friends who told me that we must go to Screen Door when in Portland. This review is for dinner only. Perhaps I am not used to eating too much heavy food all in one meal, but as good as some of the food was, I didn't feel compelled to eat too much of it. Good thing the hubs was here to help eat! Food: Fried okra: pretty good, the batter wasn't too heavy. Very large portion for 2 to share! Fried chicken: pretty good boneless fried chicken Even the white meat was juicy. Eating boneless fried chicken doesn't seem right though. There's something about using your hands and gnawing on the bone! The mashed potatoes were blah to me. The collard greens were OK Screen Door Plate w/ choice of 3 sides: Thank goodness for their salads~they were both de-lish!!! 1. Shaved asparagus salad 2. Roasted beet salad 3. Mac 'n cheese: more like Cheese 'n mac to me. Super cheesy and runny. I could only stomach about 2 spoonfuls of this 4. Cornbread: Dry and unremarkable We waited about 45 min on a Friday night, but we didn't mind sitting at the bar. Waiting for a table would have taken longer. The service was really good, but overall I don't think the wait is worth it. If I find myself back here again, I'll order only vegetables to balance out all the heavy food that hubs orders.
(3)
Rosemary T.
I am not sure how this place is so highly rated. The atmosphere was dark, loud and crowded.. The food was overpriced and not very good. I had the fish special, dry and tasteless. We avoided the wait by going as a party of 6. It was in no way worth the $200 plus that was spent. We went based on Yelp reviews, and they must do a lot of their own.
(1)
Victoria L.
I'm so sad this place turned out to be really overrated! As our first breakfast on our weekend trip to Portland, we headed to Screen Door soon after they opened. We got there around 9:30am and the wait was about an hour for 2 people. While waiting, we walked down the street to Crema to get a cup of coffee (which I recommend if waiting here). We were waiting outside Screen Door when one of the hostesses called my cell phone to make sure I was in the area. I let her know that I was waiting outside and then walked in to thank her since I thought it was really nice of her to actually call my cell phone. When we sat down, we realized how full we were from the Voodoo donuts the night before. Why did we eat 4 donuts at 1am?? Nevertheless, I did my due diligence prior to eating here and knew I had to order the famous chicken and waffles. My boyfriend went for the Biscuits and Gravy and we just HAD to try a side of the maple bacon! The server was nice and very talkative. She brought out the maple bacon and I had tears in my eyes as soon as the flavors hit my mouth! Brown Sugar and nuts glazed onto bacon... why isn't this done EVERYWHERE? Unfortunately... the tears of joy stopped there. The chicken and waffles came out as a ridiculous stack of 3 chicken breasts and one gigantic waffle. The chicken was not very flavorful and the waffle was also very plain. I was thoroughly disappointed and ended up only eating 1 chicken breast and 1/4 of the waffle. The biscuits and gravy were also not very flavorful. From the few bites I had, it tasted very mushy and plain. Based on our entire experience, I'd say the hour wait was not worth it. However, if you're going to wait, you should just get a whole breakfast of bacon because that was the only thing that really stood out!
(3)
Hannah W.
very good! i enjoyed every bite of it! top notch place!
(5)
Jaime W.
My husband and I love this place for its good southern food. I especially like that they have a gluten-free version of their menu where everything is labeled. Several of their standard menu items can be made gluten-free with just a little adjustment in the kitchen, and the service has always been friendly.
(5)
John R.
Consistently one of the best restaurants in Portland. Great food, great drinks, great service, and great atmosphere. If you don't want to wait, call them up and order it for pick up. Twenty minutes later you're walking past everyone in line with a bag full of deliciousness to enjoy at home. Musts are fried okra, hush puppies, collards, red beans and rice, brisket, fried chicken, and really just about everything else. Always well seasoned and never disappointing. Their pulled pork and brisket are as good of BBQ as you will find in Portland. Sneaky great burger too. Love, love.
(5)
Jazeleene G.
I've heard this place was really good, so I decided to try it. Drove from Seattle to Portland, left about 7:40 in the morning, went straight to Screen Door and got there around 10. (They open at 9?) There was already an hour and a half wait. They were BUSY!!! Went to the coffee shop next door, read some, played some chess, and we were up. I ordered the side of cornbread with apples as an appetizer and chicken and waffles, with a side of the praline bacon. The cornbread was delicious. The chicken and waffles was HUGE! You get 3 huge chicken breasts on top of one belgian waffle. I was only able to finish half of one. You can definitely share that plate. The chicken was so yummy. The breading was amazing. One thing I didn't like was that the breading easily came off the chicken when you sliced it. The praline bacon was okay, I could make it at home. My boyfriend built his own platter and got the biscuits and gravy with a side of chicken strips. He also ate one of my fried chicken pieces. I had so many left overs. I would give it 5 but the wait was just too long. I definitely would return again, but maybe get there right when it opens to avoid the wait.
(4)
Allen H.
Food was amazing. I had the fried chicken, which was recommended and I tried some of my friends brisket. They also have a hot sauce that they make themselves which is great. Everything was really good and the staff was extremely friendly and helpful. Not only was the food great but the drinks were awesome too. I had an old fashioned and also tried a couple of their other drinks. Everyone of them were great!
(5)
Vi E.
ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! Wasn't sure about the wait because my date got our table, I think he probably waited about 15-20 mins for a table for two. When I got there it was packed and we sat out on the patio. Started off with a Scarlet O'Hara no. 3 to drink which was absolutely amazing. It was iced tea vodka and something orange-y I believe. For dinner I had the fried chicken and mashed potatoes (only because they don't serve chicken and waffles for dinner and that's exactly what I wanted) I was pretty upset about that but settled. The chicken was delicious. It had a little bite from all of the pepper in it. The potatoes were creamy and the collard greens were actually really good! I will definitely be going back soon for the brunch to try the chicken and waffles!
(5)
Elaine C.
Long wait for sure. But the food is well worth it! Best fried chicken northwest of the mason-dixie line - relatively thin layer of batter and SUPER FRESH AND JUICY chicken meat!
(5)
Jaimee P.
Best fried chicken ever....couldn't stop eating it!! Mac and cheese is delicious as well Worth the wait.
(5)
Ashley d.
Other than the wait (which is formidable!) Screen Door is one of Portland's best bets. Amazing cocktails, crazy-good food and incredibly friendly staff. I went with a large group once and had to pop out to take someone home; they actually made me a NEW breakfast because mine got cold while I was away. Really awesome.
(5)
Alison M.
I liked this place but haven't been back for a few years because I don't want to stand outside in line for 3 hours for some fried chicken.
(3)
connie h.
Great southern cajun menu.... bar drinks look exotically yummy.... very busy and high energy atmosphere!
(5)
Karissa S.
We all know that this place had great food based on their 1,716 reviews and 4.5 STAR rating, so I'll keep this review simple with some tips for eating here. 1. Expect to wait in line, and don't be grumpy about it. A place this popular is bound to have an inevitable wait, so be patient. And they don't take reservations, so you have to wait in the line. Just to give you an idea, we arrived 10 minutes before they opened for dinner and there was a line of about 30 people already in front of us. 2. Chicken and Waffles are served for BRUNCH ONLY. Chicken and Waffles were the reason I came here, and to my dismay, they didn't have them for dinner. However, I still ordered the fried chicken and I'm glad I did. THE BEST BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN I HAVE EVER HAD! 3. Everything else we ordered (jambalaya, gumbo, cornbread) was delicious too! You can't go wrong with eating here! One of my favorite restaurants in Portland!
(5)
Amie B.
Screen Door rocks! My boyfriend is Florida born and raised so this place was a great surprise date place...we ate way too much because we could not decide what we wanted so we ordered a bit of everything.
(5)
Erica I.
OK this restaurant is completely overrated... As far as I'm concerned, there is just NO reason to wait 1.5-2 hours for brunch fare. That being said, the food is quite good. Solid chicken and waffles (I do think bread and ink does them better, however). The bananas foster french toast was CLOYINGLY sweet, but I guess that's to be expected. They had orange/chocolate/pecan sticky buns as one of the morning specials and my god I've never eaten something so delicious. It totally spoiled my appetite for the rest of the meal, but it was totally worth it. I could have skipped the rest of the dishes and come just for those sticky buns.
(4)
Jed J.
Tried it for the first time, and was impressed with everyone else's food (which I sampled). Started with fried okra, which was fried to perfection (can't find it like that this side of Oklahoma), and then had some fried catfish. The catfish wasn't as flavorful as I hoped, but was good. The brisket that I sneaked off my brother's plate was moist, tender, and delicious. The kid enjoyed some fried chicken, and acted like he had died and gone to food Heaven. Get the brisket if you love meat. Amazing.
(4)
Randi W.
I finally got to try this Portland institution this past weekend! In a lot of the ways, it lived up to the hype! Next time I'll come more prepared and I'm sure it will exceed the high bar that it's already set. The sunshine was out on a Sunday morning and we were hoping the line wouldn't be too bad at 8:30 a.m. before they opened... we were wrong. The line was already a good 20 people deep or so, and as is often the case with a first-come-first-serve restaurant, most of these people were placeholders...meaning more were on their way to join their friends in front of us. We were pretty apprehensive about getting a table in the first round, but luckily our optimism paid off! The portions were big. So big that I wouldn't recommend getting more than one starter to share unless you're REALLY hungry. We all ended up taking about half of our food home (though I'll admit, it all made for wonderful leftovers, especially the biscuits when they were warmed up!). The food was also delicious. The black-pepper syrup with the hushpuppies was killer, and the freshly breaded chicken is something that at least one person needs to order per table. Sticky buns were as soft as Cinnabon, but not as saccharine. The brisket hash was so-so, but as leftovers the smoke flavor calmed down considerably. Prices were good too. Seating was done expediently and in a very smart way. The exterior is very deceptive as to how many tables are actually inside, but they use their real estate in a way that doesn't put you in the laps of the group next to you. It's spacious, and they're able to turn a lot of tables quickly. So why only 4-stars? I'll be honest, it was probably the wait, combined with the line that grew in front of us. I realize that this is a sign of Screen Door's celebrity, but when you wait 45 minutes for a table it just raises the bar for food even higher. And I probably didn't order their best dish. I highly recommend Screen Door, but it may have set the bar too high even for its own standards.
(4)
Christian E.
Chicken and waffles weren't as hearty and warm like roscoes. I like my waffles smothered in lard and my chicken deep friend with fat. That's what makes roscoes comfort southern food. I mean this chicken and waffles was clean tasting vs. roscoes
(3)
Amanda C.
BEST FRIED CHICKEN I'VE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. Other brunch items were so-so such as the tofu hash, side of grits, croque monsiuer and corned beef hash. Edit - shared the fried chicken and waffles and garden grits. The grits are a bit watery for me and perhaps a little too cheesy but a great combination with the fried chicken!
(4)
Desta S.
yum. wish the wait weren't as long. but that's the price of popularity!
(4)
David S.
Absolutely fantastic grub. Comfort food at its finest. I will return! Calories be damned! Only negative might be finding a parking spot - but worst case you might just have to walk a block or two. Anyone marking this less than 5 stars is a pretension MoFo. "A bit too Heavy"?...go back to your tofu and granola.
(5)
Brody L.
Screen door you are so good! You are so so good! Your chicken is delicious! Your praline bacon is succulent! Your cheesy grits make love to my mouth! Why do you have to be a two hour wait on the weekend? Why can't you have 500 locations so I can eat at you on every corner? I love you so much! -stalking you
(5)
Shaina I.
If you don't mind waiting for a while the food is well worth the wait. Their portions are big and the food is delicious. The atmosphere is casual. I bring all my friends from out of town to this restaurant and it never fails to be a great experience. Get the fried chicken!
(5)
Lauren P.
I really love this restaurant and keep coming back for more! This is one if my go to restaurants when I have family or friends in town. It never fails to impress. I love the breading on the fried chicken-- yum! The gumbo is also delicious, and the Mac and cheese is to die for. The only reason I gave 4 stars was because sometimes the service can be a bit snobby, but clearly it doesn't stop me from coming back. Love it!
(4)
Jan H.
My friends and I had brunch here after a 7 mile hike. Between the 3 of us, we split the waffle with fried chicken, caramelized bacon, biscuits and gravy, and an egg scramble. The portions were large and more than enough to fill out starving bellies. Everything was flavorful and delectably delicious. The bacon and waffle were the standouts for me.
(5)
Katherine H.
The food here is so good, there is absolutely nothing bad to say about it. I always order the Screen Door plate. The seasonal options/sides are a great feature, and I love being able to mix it up every time. The one thing I always get, though, is their macaroni & cheese--seriously, it's simple perfection. Oh, and the portions are huge. I've never tried dessert because I'm always too full. I had brunch there once, and it was tasty, but it definitely wasn't good enough to justify waiting in line as long as it took (the longest I've ever had to wait to get into a restaurant). The major downfall of Screen Door is the wait to get in; even if you get there before opening, there is already a line. I'd recommend closer to closing on a weeknight for your best chance of getting in soon!
(5)
Heath P.
The reviews on this place say it all. We had the shrimp n grits for the first time ever and what a great first experience. The brisket is also amazing. We always tell people about this place and definitely plan on going back with friends.
(4)
Alyssa P.
All I can say is it is amazing. Be prepared for a long line. Chicken waffles are well worth the wait.
(5)
Josie V.
This place has some solid dishes. If you like deep fried Southern gilt, then come here! It's hard to decide what to eat, especially during brunch. I loved the grits!
(4)
David R.
It pay's to show up early and wait in line for awhile. Once inside you are get one heck of a chicken dinner. It's legit southern cooking served up in NE Portland. Check it out.
(4)
Ricky F.
Well, I should have known to come for dinner on a weeknight. I made it here on a saturday morning for brunch with friends and spent about an hour waiting for a table. Fine, its Portland, just keep me caffeinated and ill deal. Well, we get seated and the server ( bless her heart) tells us they are out of most every special, minus the praline bacon waffle and some of the scrambles. We order a round of Gin Fizz Ramos ( which were OK ) and decided to share the Waffle and the Alabama scramble. Waffle was good, a bit dry, and the bacon was a nice addition ( reminds me of the waffle at the Pancake House, but tastier), and the scramble was serviceable, wish they would add more pimento but I'm a cheese fiend, so probably for the best that they didn't. The server seemed to be super busy so drink refills were scarce. All in all, a good, not great breakfast joint. The whole meal took place over the course of 45 minutes, and yet I felt rushed to make room for the next round of diners, so the 45 minutes felt more like 20. Ill probably come back for dinner, when the chaos of the brunch crowd isn't there to give me headaches and eat most of the specials.
(3)
Christine S.
I knew my fellow Yelpers wouldn't fail me when they say that Screen Door has the best brunch food in Portland.. this place definitely lives up to its hype! They open for brunch on Saturday and Sundays from 9am-2:30pm. My best friend and I got there around 9:30am, and our wait was around half an hour. By 10am, they were telling all the groups (no matter the size) that the wait was a little more than an hour. I usually don't have a problem with picking what I want to eat for brunch, but looking over their menu, I wanted to try everything! Everyone on Yelp recommended the chicken and waffles, but since the portions were so huge and we wanted to try more items, we opted out this time. (Actually, all of their items have huge portions. But the chicken and waffles dish is bigger than my head!) Sitting at the bar, we witnessed the bartender making Bloody Marys after Bloody Marys. They looked delicious! - Farm Grits: cheddar grits with ham, poached eggs, and provolone. This dish is super cheesey! - Biscuits and Gravy: warm and flavorful.. perfect comfort food. - Chicken Strips: so juicy! If the chicken used for the chicken and waffles is as good as the strips, it's no wonder the chicken and waffles dish is so famous. - Candied Bacon: I'm not a big fan of sweet-savory infused food, but this was pretty good. My best friend LOVED it! Southern Brunch food is the best kind of food, and Screen Door definitely proves it!
(5)
Jay P.
I am a mac and cheese fanatic and I base a restaurants credibility on it. I went here after a friend told me that this place, hands down, had the best mac and cheese. For me there was only one place and that is The Beer Stein in Eugene, so I accepted his challenge and wanted to judge myself. I had the Screen Door platter which is 3 sides. I ordered fried catfish, mac and cheese, and mash potatoes and gravy. The plate does come with some corn bread. I tasted the Mac and Cheese and I must say it was good. The fried catfish, however, was a bit disappointing. The mash potatoes were fluffy and good. The cornbread was hard and lacked moisture. Also if you go make sure you get there early, because there is usually a big line to wait in.
(3)
Soo L.
The food is good but I don't think it's worth waiting an hour and a half for. We had the famed chicken and waffles, praline bacon and fried oyster Benedict all of which were solid. I will say that the serving sizes are pretty huge and my bf who usually has no problem cleaning the plate had plenty of chicken and waffle left over. Service was great, food good but be prepared to wait. Not only to be seated but for a while for your food to come out.
(4)
Russell J.
Best mac and cheese ever!!! Also try the brisket!! Amazing!!! Worth every minute/hour we waited.
(5)
R Z.
Super creamy mac and cheese, and the authentic, flavorful red beans and rice are worth the wait to get in on their own. The hush puppies actually had flavor and weren't just lumps of breading. The jambalaya was a bit dry but very tasty, however it was a distant third compared to the mac and the red beans and rice. My wife had a hurricane and said it was the best since we were at Pat O'Brien's in New Orleans. I had a reasonably priced flight of three bourbons. My wife also raved about the beet salad. I didn't try it since I really can't stand beets, but it smelled very fresh.
(5)
Mike N.
Busy busy busy! So worth the wait though. Get the chicken and waffles. Its awesome and 2 can share. Im coming back for sure with more people!
(4)
Oscar D.
Simply amazing. Had the brisket hash and it was cooked to perfection. This was the best place we ate this week while we visited Portland. They are only opened for brunch so expect a line. But well worth it.
(5)
Jim W.
The Screen Door is where I told my Husband that his vegetarian ways would not work with me. Thankfully he changed his ways!
(5)
Yan G.
So I guess the word is out: I love Southern food. There's no denying it, no matter how much crap my friends give me because of it. Southern food is hearty, flavorful, not vegan or gluten-free. As Julia Child once said, "the only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook." Still, whenever I travel to visit a friend, he or she invariably suggests southern food...and I love it. So, Screen Door it is. We showed up at about 5:30 on Sunday evening and it was HAILING outside. Clearly, people were unfazed by the mother nature's cruel joke, because the line didn't get any shorter. People were real troopers. By the time we got inside, they told us the wait was going to be 45 min. "If you're not here, you'll get skipped," the host warned us sternly. Oh well. A bar next door it is. Side note: 45-minute wait makes one's expectations exponentially higher. After waiting an appropriate amount of time, we were seated in a very quiet booth away from the door and the bar. Bonus! We started with 2 flights of whiskey, just to try all of their 6 offerings. I am just going to say it: starting your meal 3 shots of whiskey is a great idea. $22 well spent. As my friend and I were looking at the menu, we noticed that EVERYTHING sounded amazing. As we were trying to zero in on a few items, we took turns saying "but I also want to try that!" Sometimes choices are tough. We started with the gumbo, the fried okra and the hush puppies. The gumbo was thick, flavorful and hearty. The okra was OK, but the hush puppies were AMAZING. They were easily the best hush puppies I've had NOT in the South. We shared two entrees: the pork shoulder and the screen door plate, which is a plate of sides. Oh, and we ordered the grits, too. The cauliflower dish was flavorful and surprisingly NOT boring. The mac 'n' cheese was divine - I could have easily had 2 bowls by myself. The pork shoulder, sadly, was a bit dry, as was the cornbread. The grits were very good, but word of warning: eat them fast or they will turn into stale cream of wheat. I cannot wait to come back here and try the chicken and the brisket, which everyone seems to love. However, if you leave a restaurant thinking "I am so full, but wish I could have ordered more stuff," you probably had a damn good meal. :-)
(4)
L C.
This is honestly the best southern food I've ever had. No wonder it's so popular! I had to wait about an hour from the time I checked in to the time I got my food but it was worth the wait. My boyfriend ordered the fried chicken, I ordered the beef brisket and we also had to try the mac and cheese. The chicken is perfectly crisp with a little spice and so tender on the inside. The brisket is the most tender brisket I've ever had. And the Mac and cheese was amazing. It was so much food but we just had to try several things since we're not from Oregon and we don't know when we'd be back. This place is a must if you like southern food and you're in Portland.
(5)
Greg B.
Most delicious meal I've had in a long time. The fried chicken was delicious, I had a hard time putting it down. Kevin the bartender was awesome and made great drinks. Worth the wait.
(5)
Liza S.
In one word, AMAZING. The best meal I've had in months. We started with the hush puppies, and beet salad. The hush puppies were completely non-greasy. So crispy and perfect. The beet salad had beets, greens, pickled rhubarb, lemony fingerling potatoes, candied pistachios and teleme cheese. Absolutely delicious. The pickled rhubarb has a slight gingery taste, which was very pleasant. For dinner, my companion and I shared, as we were both torn between the brisket and the pork shoulder. I started with the pork shoulder, that was set atop delicious cannelini beans and tasty bbq sauce. Creamy and spicy coleslaw on top. Great balance of sweet, spicy, and amazing. I think the pork was my favorite. The brisket was great, totally different bbq sauce than the pork, more vinegary than sweet. It came with bacon green beans and horseradish potato salad. The potato salad was nothing special on its own, but with a bite of brisket it was amazing. The brisket itself was tender and smoky. For dessert we shared pecan pie. It was the best pecan pie I've ever tasted. There are really no words. The crust was buttery and perfect. The filing was just right. It tasted like they just cooked it. This might just be my favorite meal.
(5)
Josh H.
Stopped here on a business trip from Sacramento, CA. It does not disappoint. I had the best fried chicken I've ever had! The Mac n cheese is phenomenal as well! The wait time may be a bit long but it is definitely worth it! I will return!
(5)
Ruins ..
I wasn't terribly impressed with the Screen Door. The wait was extraordinarily long just to have breakfast (coming prepared to do that and the actuality of it was a shocker). The food was mediocre and they didn't serve just plain grits only cheese grits which is kind of a deal breaker for me. My friend liked the praline bacon a lot and that made the experience worthwhile for him. Just not worth the wait or the boring menu.
(2)
Teddy L.
at this point do we still need to put reviews id say its pretty clear stand in line drink your free coffee order the chicken and waffles and enjoy your fine morning in portland...the best the most moist chicken ever
(5)
Dan R.
Most satisfying meal I've had in a couple years. Hands down the best fried chicken...I didn't think it was possible for it to taste this good. Be ready to wait in line.
(5)
Christian T.
The food was really good, but not worth the 2 hour wait outside. I had to give it a shot, but Bread & Ink right down the road is just as good (maybe better?) and you won't have to wait for two hours to eat it. Too many delicious places in PDX to eat to waste the time standing in the line for Screen Door.
(3)
Suzann B.
There food looks better then it tastes! And its always so full. I guess like everything its all about the hype. Its delicious but its atmosphere means your service can't be on it like all the time. A long wait for a company that you can't justify waiting for given their space and staff maximums.
(4)
Ken S.
The breakfast is really good, I'm not a huge breakfast person though...
(4)
Jesse X.
This place is completely and utterly poppin'! This was honestly the best mac and cheese I've ever had in my life. The cheese sauce was creamy and delicious and the macaroni was cooked perfectly. Totally out of control. The brisket dish was also amazing...but don't leave this place without eating the mac and cheese. 1,000,000 thumbs up!
(5)
Rachel N.
So, while traveling through Portland we decided to do a takeout order of this place that is so 'yelp famous'. I was sadly disappointed. We got the Mac and Cheese and the fried chicken dinner. The Mac and cheese wasnt anything special, but very greasy. The fried chicken was drenched in grease, and the chicken skin was hanging off which was super unappetizing. Neither me or my husband liked it. The mashed potatoes were fine, but the ham gravy? It was awful. Way too salty and it was super greasy and separating into lumps. I actually couldn't even stand the smell of it. I doubt I'd ever go back, there are a ton of better options for food in Portland.
(3)
Marty J.
The only reason I cannot give them 5 stars is the wait time, which maybe isn't fair, but I wish they could figure out a reservation or list system. I really enjoy their chicken and waffles, as well as other numerous tasty down home dishes. Just like eating at mom's on Sunday afternoon, with some Portland hipster twists, and a bar. I would go here more often, but it's so darn good, I cannot handle the long wait...it's torture.
(4)
David L.
After you find a parking space six blocks away because there is no parking lot and fight the legions of patrons up to the reservation desk you can begin your wait of about an hour to be seated. If you need to use the restroom you need to plan ahead as this could be a five to seven minute wait. Once seated the food is outstanding! The flavors burst in your mouth and will have you making Mmmmm sounds in no time. The portions are large so plan on taking about half home.
(4)
Steph W.
The wait can sometimes be ridiculous but just go, stick it out and get the most amazing chicken and waffles in the city. It is a mountain of fried, buttery gold and you will be glad you went. They have swoon-worthy cheese grits and praline bacon! If you don't like to wait for an hour, go early!
(4)
Magi P.
The wait is long bit the staff is friendly and the food is very good! Dispute how busy they are service was good! I will be going back. Not a good place to sit and chat once you get inside. It is loud and organized chaos! I suggest getting a chicken waffle for the table to share. This thing is huge! I think it was really the highlight if the show. The whole experience took 2.5 hrs. 1.5 of which we where waiting. This could of been miserable but it was a nice day and we had coffee. Plus we needed time to catch up!
(5)
Jean K.
I admit I'm biased more towards the California style cooking. Though I do like Southern food and soul food it's a bit too heavy for everyday. But if you like your brunches to be huge, rich, heavy and super sweet then you'll love Screen Door because no one does it better. Huge waffles with lots of cream and maple syrup. Plateful of fried chicken. It's a feast for the eyes just watching the food being brought out to other tables. However, it's not that great for your stomach. Things started out well enough. We arrived at 9:15am to find a huge line. No problem. the host was taking names and giving estimates of times to return (no, they don't call you). We were told to come back around 10:30 so we just wandered down to the coffee shop down the street (Heart!). We came back at 10:20 and our table was ready at 10:35am. Do check with the host when you return as she makes a note and will make sure not to give your table away. Then it was a long long wait for the food which didn't arrive until 11:20am. Yup, 45 minutes after we were seated and ordered. I had lots of time to check out all the food coming out of the kitchen. Good thing hubby had the foresight to order toast (which still took ages to come out) or he'd would have been really irritable. Finally our food arrived: - biscuits w/ sausage gravy & eggs ($9.95) Really huge - four 3"x3" biscuits covered in gray with two sunny side up eggs on the side. The eggs were really a moot point. I should've asked for them to be poached and put on top. Not sure if they would do that. If I had to the ability to travel back in time and reorder I would just get the side order of biscuits and sausage gravy. I saw another table ordered it and it was just two gigantic biscuits. I was able to eat three of my biscuits and my eggs but my tummy did not like being stretched out like that. The biscuits and gravy were fantastic though. - steak eggs benedict ($13?) Part of the special menu which isn't posted online so don't get all excited and get tied to your decision ahead of time. Steak was tasty but not exactly the best pairing for eggs benedict since you need a steak knife to cut through it. Again, gigantic helping of two english muffins, two eggs benedict. Please consider sharing if you can agree on an order! Overall, food was good but it was a bit much in all regards (richness, portions, waiting time). I don't regret coming here for brunch but now that I've been there done that I don't feel compelled to return.
(3)
John M.
Pretty decent food, pretty good service. It's a pretty big turn off the way the place is set up. Sitting elbow to elbow with a stranger is not really my idea of a good time. It may be time to move to a bigger building. If you don't mind waiting 20 min to get in and sit inside someone's personal bubble check em out!
(3)
Brandon N.
Legit chicken and waffles. This is how it should be done. Flavorful batter around juicy chicken breasts. The booby bar has been raised! The waffle is made of sweet potato. Not my cup of tea(the sweet tea was good and strong). Brisket hash. Served over chili puree and cubed potato bits. Spinach and onions for decor. Eggs on the side. The brisket was moist and for the most part flavorful. Could have been more flavor but the unlabelled orange hot sauce made up for it. Pineapple juice and grapefruit juice to make this a great overall meal.
(5)
Tiffany L.
I live rather close to Screen Door and pass by daily. There's pretty much always a wait. Sometimes shorter than others, but it is always crowded. And this must be for a good reason, right? I always told myself, "Someday..." when it came to dining here. When my birthday was coming up, and my parents were in town visiting, it seemed like the perfect excuse! Be prepared to wait. But know that it will be well worth it. We were quoted 45 minutes and ended up waiting a hour. This wasn't so bad, because we walked to the Food Pod on 28th and got coffee and tea and were able to walk around since it was such a beautiful day! (You can also get beer there, if you prefer that!) It's pretty tight quarters inside the restaurant and it can be pretty loud. They also have a nice patio, which is a bit more roomy. Our service was good, considering how busy it was. We started with cocktails and they were all very good. I had a Sweet Tea Vodka cocktail which was refreshing and delicious. For appetizers, we started with the Lowcountry Shrimp and Grits and the Hushpuppies. The Shrimp and Grits (also available as an Entree) were so delicious. The shrimp was perfectly cooked, and the grits were creamy as can be. The bacon, garlic, tomatoes and white wine flavors were mouth-watering and savory. The Hushpuppies were also delicious, not too heavy or greasy, and the Pepper Jelly was an excellent companion, adding a bit of heat. It seems that you can't go wrong with any Entree you choose. We all got something different and loved everything. They also have a long list of Specials, Vegetarian Dishes and Sides, which you can view on their Tumblr (via their website). The Screen Door Plate is a popular choice because it allows you to try multiple small dishes at once. This is what I got, and my choices included Catfish, Macaroni & Cheese and a roasted beet salad. The portions for everything are huge. The four generous pieces of perfectly fried Catfish were delicious, and even more delicious with the Remoulade sauce. The Mac & Cheese was incredibly rich and decadent, so much so that I couldn't finish even half. (But my husband happily helped). I was so glad that I got a salad as part of this plate, to help cut all of the richness. The cornbread is sweet and savory. Other Entrees at the table included the Fried Chicken, which is so delicious and boneless, a huge plus. The Beef Brisket is incredibly tender with a distinct smoked flavor, and the Pork and Beans were full of slightly-spicy molasses flavor. All of the side dishes steal the show. They also had no problem subbing side dishes (i.e.: the Brisket comes with potato salad, but they happily gave my mayonnaise-phobic dad mashed potatoes instead). Desserts aren't to be missed either, no matter how full you are! The Banoffee Pie is a perfect choice. Piled high with bananas, fluffy whipped cream and caramel, it's oh so yummy. You will definitely bring home leftovers. And the prices just can not be beat.
(5)
Bert B.
Yes, lets. Lots of love for this simple southern pleaser. Chicken tenders. Not so much on the brisket, but the burger rocks.
(5)
Jocelyn L.
I think the main attraction here is the Chicken and Waffles and pecan bacon while the other dishes we tried were not as extraordinary. Definitely a restaurant specializing in Southern cuisine. Portion sizes were generally very big. We waited 1.5 hours on a Sunday morning, and although I think it is worth it for the first experience, I don't think it is worth a 1.5 hr wait. - (+) Chicken and Waffles- a thick belgian style waffle with basically half a chicken sitting on top. 3 pieces of white-meat chicken to be exact. The waiter recommended that 5 of us should share and she wasn't wrong- we ordered two of them, and among the 4 of us who were eating it, we probably only managed to finish one. Oh, also it was quite spicy for me who can tolerate an average level of spiciness. - (+) Pecan candied bacon- like candy more than bacon which I enjoyed because I'm not the biggest bacon fan; I liked this concept. - (+) Brisket hash- not really a hash, more like brisket and potato saute. But the brisket was done really well, so that deserves some credit. - Pancakes- I've definitely had better pancakes in other places, a little bland. A miss for me. Notes: - They serve Stumptown coffee!
(4)
Jeff R.
Another one that was worth the wait. I couldn't resist trying the chicken and waffle. It did not disappoint and it fed me the rest of the day. The chicken was delicious and moist as was the waffle. Also had to try the praline bacon and OMG was it fantastic. I could have died right there and been happy. We also ordered the vanilla beam French toast and added banana and it was great. Had the try the biscuits and gravy as well. Not very often I give five stars, but Screen Door earned every one of them! We wi be back for sure!
(5)
Troy D.
Your about to hear something you have heard from just about everyone else in this town, go and try it! Its great, really. I had the fried chicken at dinner and it was amazing. Some of the best in the city, top 3 definitely. Others in my party were not impressed with some of their other dinner offerings but we did go with some very picky people that prefer breakfast. That being said, It was thumbs up all the way around the table.
(4)
Azmat H.
Breakfast is amazing at this place. Be prepared to wait to get in though. The line can take you up to 1.5 hours. But to be honest, it's worth the wait. :)
(5)
David B.
#1 favorite Portland restaurant!!!
(5)
Brad Y.
Hell Yeah! What a great brunch experience. It's funny because the tv show Portlandia has an episode about how much the people of Portland love brunch. When I arrived it was clear to me that it was going to be a minute before I was seated. However good things come to those who wait. I was a solo diner. I told the hostess she could put me anywhere. I ended up at the bar. The vibe was very cool. The guy behind the bar was witty and friendly in spite of the fact he was super busy. Adding to the experience, I was seated next to another solo diner who was super fun to chat with. I ordered a biscuit sandwich that consisted of a piece of fried chicken between two house made biscuits and topped with sausage gravy. I had a choice of grits or potatoes. I went with the grits--you can choose between plain and cheeses grits. I went with the cheeses grits. The chicken was indescribably good. The cheesy grits were out of this world. I don't think this experience could have been any better. I will be visiting screen door again.
(5)
Amanda M.
Amazing.. Wait is a bit long, especially weekends, 45min to an hour.. but well worth it. We go all the time.. Great food, great service
(5)
Emily H.
The food here is excellent. The staff is very friendly. I definitely recommend this as a must have place.
(5)
Courtney D.
Best fried chicken I've ever had! Arrived half an hr before they opened..no problem getting seated. Great food..friendly service. Will definitely be back :-)
(5)
Piper L.
Chicken and Waffles. Maple Prailine Bacon. 'Nuff said.
(5)
Austin S.
I don't think there could be a place more deserving of 5 Stars. The Screen Door is the best Brunch in the city. I hate hipsters and the people moving to my city and driving up the cost of living in the neighborhoods I grew up in, but THIS restaurant is a welcome addition to NEP. The chicken and waffles were the first thing I tried, and were well beyond my expectations in flavor, execution, and portion. The chicken is more than ample with 3 big breast strips, and very well seasoned. The praline waffle is perfect. The hush puppies with bacon and smoked cheddar are good, and also well seasoned with a little pepper. The cane syrup (for dipping) reminds me of old fashioned maple syrup from my childhood. The biscuits and sausage gravy are amazing, but peculiar.. I feel like when my wife ordered them they were better seasoned and more savory. Maybe just not enough salt in the gravy? The biscuits are some how buttery and moist while also being perfectly flaky. They're the star of the dish. Wifey also had the farm grits with ham steak, poached eggs, and two or three cheeses. VERY good. Oh haha, btw.. you wanna get there early if you don't want to wait. Bon apetit!
(5)
Victoria H.
The Mac and cheese here is AMAZING! As are the drinks!
(5)
Patricia K.
Interestingly enough, I was not a huge fan of Screen Door. I always say over 1,000 reviews can't be wrong, but maybe they can be. I came here for brunch on a Sunday afternoon and ordered to following: -pecan bacon -chicken and waffles x2 -chocolate hazelnut pancakes -beef hash Nothing was really impressive, although the portions were HUGE! least impressive were the pancakes.. reminds me of something you could get at your local Denny's. Next was the pecan bacon. Definitely a novel dish, but I was a little disappointed over the fact that the candied pecans dominated the flavor of the dish. This dish has none of that bacon grease deliciousness you would expect when ordering, well, a side of bacon. Next up on the list were the chicken and waffles. I actually enjoyed this dish, although the fried chicken was a little spicier than I am generally used to. This dish is served 4 layers high- chicken stacked on chicken stacked on chicken stacked on a fluffy, golden brown Belgium waffle. Chicken is served boneless for ease of consumption and comes with warmed syrup (as it should). This dish is good, just not worth the hype. Go to a restaurant dedicated to chicken and waffles if you want something to rave about. The shinning star of the plates ordered here must have been the brisket hash, which was not a hash at all, but rather something closer to a stir fry. This dish is definitely worth a try, but keep in mind, this dish is heavy. Cooked with cheese, served with flour tortillas, this definitely isn't your traditional corned beef hash we all know and love. Personal highlight: -they brew fresh stumptown coffee here! lowlights: issuing a general pass on the alcoholic drink selection
(3)
Crystal G.
I now understand why people wait in line for HOURS for this place. We went for brunch and waited an hour. Totally worth it. I had the bananas foster French toast which was amazing. I got to taste the fried chicken and waffles, grits, and huevos rancheros. The latter was my favorite and likely will be my choice next time I come. For dinner we arrived 40 minutes before opening and waited in line. Same kind of wait but felt quicker. I got the shrimp and grits but had the pleasure of trying the catfish, Mac and cheese, greens, friend chicken and brisket. Again the latter was my favorite. Hands down everything was amazing. We did hush puppies, pork belly and chicken strips for appetizers and so we were extremely full and had plenty of leftovers for after the bar later. My only gripe: the cornbread is very bland and without the honey butter quite plain. I think a little honey in the batter would do wonders. :) I'm exited to go back and try more of the menu. There were far more items I wanted than I could really order.
(5)
Orna B.
Went here tonight after trying twice before and not wanting to wait for over an hour and a half for a table. But boy was it worth trying again. The best fried chicken I have ever had, nice and crispy with just the right kick. The mash potatoes are so creamy you don't even need the gravy, (and I love gravy). Hubby had the screen door plate catfish, seafood bisque and mash potatoes all so delicious. Satisfied our sweet tooth by sharing a piece of the german chocolate cake, all I can say is wow. Can't wait to go here again will try the brunch next time.
(5)
Jessica H.
Sigh.. Portland has really good food. This place wasn't completely tragic, but I expected to be blown away based on the reviews. I did my research, and arrived at 8:15 on a Saturday morning. There were probably 10 parties ahead of me and by the time they opened at 9:00am, there were probably 20 behind me. I did make it to the first seating in this uber tiny establishment, which was nice. I ordered the lemon ricotta fritters and a biscuit with sausage gravy. The fritters were.. okay. I think I would have expected less if they were called lemon donut holes, I wasn't blown away. The biscuit and gravy was awful. Someone on here described the biscuits as having a similar texture as coffee cake. That is spot on. If you order the biscuits and gravy, you will be served savory coffee cake with bland sausage gravy. The service is friendly, and the prices are reasonable. If I was ever to return, I'd probably go for the chicken and waffles.
(3)
Cindy C.
I am only giving this business 3 stars because of the wait time for seating. My girlfriends and I heard really good things about this restaurant. We stopped by and were told it was 1.5 hours wait. We looked at the number of people in line and thought okay - maybe it wouldn't be a full 1.5 hrs. "They don't take reservations." However, as we found out if you are "in the know" you call ahead and put your name on the list. Imagine our surprise when over the course of the next two hours people kept showing up and getting in ahead of us (we were "not in the know"). It is not really a first come first serve restaurant. Was an extremely frustrating experience. Yes, the food was awesome! But having a rugby team show up (after their name was called and passed - they called ahead to get on the list) walk in and immediately get seats ahead of us, we decided that the "no reservations" policy was invalid. While the food was very good - the wait time is not worth it.
(3)
Jenny T.
Come here prepared to wait in line for one of the best meals you will have for such a steal. Every time I come to Portland, this is a MUST go. My boyfriend and I came here on a Friday night, the wait was about and hour for a table of two. There is a cute coffee shop a few shops down or you can go explore(we did and found some great spots and nice dwell houses). The fried chicken is by far the best I have ever had- super flavorful, crispy skin, and uber moist chicken. Also, there soups of the day are always spot on. We got that with the mashed potatoes and collard greens, it is huge and only $15. Then we got the screen door platter which is essentially 3 sides and cornbread. Mac and cheese- bomb.com GET THEM Gumbo- okay but would pass Beet salad- nice and refreshing Cornbread- needs more honey and is too dry:-( Dessert was just okay this time, but despite the few just okay things, this place is hands down one of my all time favorite restaurants.
(5)
Sajani S.
So So SO SO SOOOO GOOOD!!! I know this place doesn't need more reviews but HOLY SO GOOD! I had a special that night which was a pork belly fried in the deep fried chicken batter. SPEECHLESS!
(5)
Susannah L.
Consistently good food and will never let you down.
(5)
Hudson G.
Love the chicken and waffles and the Mac and Cheese. I got a pulled pork sandwich last time I was there. Not the best I've ever had but still pretty darn good. I go regularly and the service is always good, even when busy. I recommend this as a Portland staple!
(4)
Joanie D.
This place is awesome... don't be snooty or impatient, good things come to those who wait. It's not designed to be a fast food place, just wait for your goodness and you won't be disappointed! Catfish, chicken & waffles and the hushpuppies are my fav!
(5)
Drew R.
Best food I have ever had at a restaurant. Brisket is unreal. Banana cream pie, the best thing ever (verbatim my partner's words).
(5)
Christopher J.
Came in for brunch and waited a good solid hour to get seated. Ordered the following: -Fried Chicken and Waffle (includes 1 waffle and 3 large pieces of buttermilk breaded chicken filets): The breaded chicken filets were crispy and juicy throughout, just how I like it. The waffle was also good when drizzled with syrup. NOTE: This order can easily feed 2 comfortable. -Bacon Hush Puppies: Tasted whatevers to me, didn't care too much for them. They were soft and warm on the inside though! -Blackened Tofu & 3 egg scramble: Was pretty good, only had 2 bites since I was so focused on the chicken and waffle =) -Scott's corndog: Tasted ok, mimicked the bacon hush puppies flavor profile especially the batter. -Praline bacon: Different, but too sweet in my opinion. -Chicken & apple sausage: Juicy and good. If I'm back again it'll specifically be for the Fried Chicken and Waffle, hands down.
(5)
Andrew S.
My good friend told me this place was out of this world, so we got up early to go for brunch. We waited 45 minutes outside before the restaurant opened to be within the first group seated. I would wait another 45 minutes for chicken and waffles this good. Oh my god. I've been to Roscoe's in LA, and this handily beats their chicken and waffles any day of the week. I had mine with a bacon praline waffle. It came with 3 boneless chicken breasts and a strip of bacon dipped in maple syrup and rolled in crushed pralines. It was enough for two people to eat on their own, and I certainly couldn't finish the whole thing myself. Their service was top-notch as well. I was never wanting for more water or coffee, and the staff was very efficient. And speaking of the coffee, it was so good! The cream was already set on the table when we sat down, so we didn't have to ask for it. That's a little detail that shows that the staff is thoughtful. The bloody marys sounded pretty good too, but that will have to be for another day.
(5)
Alison C.
Went here for a late dinner, around 8:30pm on a Monday and waited about 10min. It's really popular! We ordered the chicken tenders for appetizer--really crunchy and good! The mustard dip had a nice kick to it. And I ordered the screen door plate, amazing portions! I got Mac & cheese, quinoa salad, gala apple salad, and cornbread. My husband got the pulled pork sandwich with sweet potato fries. His sandwich was tender, fries cooked to perfection! I loved my quinoa salad--really flavorful! The apple salad was a tad overdressed, but of liked the crunchy fennel bites. But the mac&cheese was flavorless and heavy. Felt the same about the cornbread. Great service and loved the ambience on the patio! Wonderful comfort food :)
(4)
LG Q.
This was a nice find via my sister in law who Yelped it. Comfort food at it's best. The popularity is evident in the long line out the door. There were ten of us on a road trip and this was our dinner stop. I'd definitely come back here again.
(4)
Suzy C.
yummy
(4)
Shauna F.
waited and waited and waited...and ated and ated and ated. everything was delicious
(5)
Heidi W.
Great southern food! Worth the wait!
(4)
Cynthia L.
I came in on Sunday at 1:30. There was no wait for a table. I did notice that there was a party of 3 waiting. I ordered chicken and waffles. The fried chicken is probably the best fried chicken I've ever had. The sweet potato waffle was also really delicious. Sometimes waffles can be quite dry, but the sweet potato really helped give the waffle some moisture. I took one star off, because while all of the servers were friendly enough, we never once got a water refill. No one came by when the food had already been served to check on if we needed anything else (like water or a beverage refill). We finally had to flag down our server to get our bill to leave. In addition, it took about 15-20 minutes for the food to come out.
(4)
Heather S.
Incredibly delicious southern fare at very reasonable prices. The fried chicken + waffles, and the eggs sardou (toasted English muffins topped w/ creamed spinach, fresh artichoke hearts, poached eggs & Hollandaise) are my personal faves. Waiting for a table can take years, (even if you get there 1/2 hour before opening), but it's very, very good food and extremely attentive service!
(5)
Casey C.
I still dream of the friend chicken I had here - three weeks after my business trip to Portland. Like, literally still dream about it regularly. It was amazing. I've never before encountered such glorious friend chicken before. Ever. I'm considering going *back* to Portland just for this friend chicken, it was that good. I was once blind, but now can see. Did I mention I really loved the fried chicken here?
(5)
Connie C.
OK I have to start off this review with a disclaimer. I've had my share of greasy hole in the wall Southern joints and they are honestly all better than the food I've had here. BUT I will still give it 4 stars for its concept of meshing Southern and modern cooking and the very friendly service. When you walk into this place, aside from the music, you'd think you just walked into any other place in Portland. It's wooden tables with candles and classy but casual. We went for dinner and there were already lines out the door at 6:00 pm. We said we'd be ok with the bar so we seated within 5-10 minutes. We both started with bloody marys. Each were garnished with an olive and pickled okra. Delish. Spicy and perfect. We got crawfish cakes for an app. My bf got the fried chicken & I got the screen door plate with fried catfish, green garlic popover, and bacon and hock collard greens. The crawfish cakes pretty much tasted like crab cakes with chunks of crawfish in about every other bite. It was a plate of 2 atop remoulade sauce and piled with a mini slaw/salad. It was good and the perfect example of Southern meets modern. The fried chicken plate looked huge, but undaunting to the piggy bf. We were scared it'd be dry based on the color, but it wasn't. The skin was crispy and the meat was tender. It was set on a mound of mashed potatoes with a side of collard greens. I've had better fried chicken in my life (Honey Kettle's in LA), but it wasn't bad. I'd prefer juicier. The screen door plate was huge too. There were about 5 fingerlings of fried catfish, which was more than I was expecting. It was crispy, but I think the fish may have been a bit underdone because it wasn't flaky at all. The cornmeal crust fell off the fish with eat bite. The remoulade paired well with it, but I was happy I had so many choices of hot sauce to pair with it (crystal, tabasco, and homemade). I've had better cornmeal catfish also in LA (Aunt Kizzy's Back Porch). The cornbread was definitely a Southern version (savory rather than sweet), but was a bit too crumbly and not moist enough. The collard greens just tasted boiled rather than simmered with the ham hock and bacon, which seemed like an afterthought. It didn't have the smokiness or depth of really good greens. The green garlic popover though. Man. That is really good stuff. It was creamy, savory, and fresh tasting. The creamy saucy gravy worked well poured over top. This is the main reason why it still got 4 stars from me. I can tell that they really know their way around a gourmet kitchen (the modern half), but they still need to work on the Southern half. The flavors are just too bland and the recipes too "clean" for true Southern food. Hole in the walls have got them beat on authentic. On that note, I'd still go back to give their other dishes a try and definitely brunch.
(4)
Jen K.
2 hours, 31 minutes and 22 seconds. That, my friends, was the winning time for the Portland Marathon last year. And also approximately the time it took for me to take my first bite of chicken and waffles and praline bacon after my arrival for Sunday brunch at Screen Door. Since I had time to ponder, I realized there were lots of parallels between the two experiences. Both are Portland institutions that aren't for everyone. Chances of a successful outcome can be increased by preparation. For the marathon, this means training, having the right gear, and a running partner to encourage you during the long day. For Screen Door, it means arriving when (or slightly before) they open at 9:00a on weekends. Come prepared for a wait - I brought an iPod, book, umbrella, warm coat and food. Yes, I brought food to wait in line for a restaurant! And the most important part, friends. Just like the marathon, if you are a larger group, you will have ones and twos pass you along the way. They take reservations for 6 or more only for the first seating, otherwise, the larger the group, the longer the wait. I curse the quick people in my head in both cases. They are prepared for a crowd and try to make the 'ordeal' pleasant. During the marathon they have bands and food and drink stations with lots of volunteers cheering you on. At Screen Door, they have Stumptown coffee and large indoor and covered outdoor waiting areas. People cheer as their names are called on the list. Not everyone made it. The marathon course and brunch list are littered with those that just didn't have what it takes to stick it out. Quitters! The time actually passed by relatively quickly because of my incredible dining companions who were also able to laugh at the ridiculous nature of our predicament. So was our server who agreed it is great food but nothin' is worth this wait. For my first marathon, I was one of the stragglers and many of the booths had already run out of treats before I passed by. At Screen Door, we were one of the groups closing out brunch for the day, so several menu items had come and gone. When I arrived home in both cases, I just wanted to put my feet up and take a nap. My husband just laughs at me and says, "Why do you put yourself through this?" And I say, "Don't ever let me do that again" knowing in my heart that I probably will do both again. What can I say, I'm a glutton for punishment. Don't say you weren't warned. ----------------- 4 stars - am I crazy? Hard one, but I'm not going to penalize them too much for being popular, especially since they seem to handle the crowds pretty darn well. I've been for both brunch and dinner, and while I enjoy the food, it hasn't reached 5-star nirvana yet.
(4)
ToniAnn M.
Maybe I went on a off night? Maybe I was supposed to go for Brunch instead of dinner? Maybe my standards & expectations were too high after reading all of the amazing Yelps? Idk. Anyway, I wasn't really impressed with this place. Yes, staff is friendly & attentive, which is surprising rare in this city, let alone in a place that is completely mobbed with a wait out the door & then some. But, the food left me disappointed. I ordered the fried chicken that everyone just raves about. My chicken was very dry, not at all juicy, & frankly, I found the batter to be way too salty. Instead of the mashed potato, I ordered the sweet potato fries. They were pretty good, but then again, you have to be a total idiot to screw up french fries. The hubs ordered the Jambalaya. It didn't have him jumping out of his chair wanting to yell "oooooooohhhhhh weeeeeee", but then too, he didn't spit it out either. He stands firmly by my 3 star rating.
(3)
Dan K.
I live in the neighborhood, and this is my favorite restaurant in town. Unfortunately, it is also the favorite restaurant of about half-a-million other people. You need a strategy for waiting in line, but once you're seated, you're golden. I really think they should have musicians or sidewalk performers to help people pass the time while waiting in line. When in doubt, order the fried chicken and a Sazerac.
(5)
Amy D.
What is there to say that other reviewers haven't already discussed? They're delicious?? Check. They have one of the best fried chicken dishes for the price? Check. Oh, well- I'll just add my two cents on my recent dining experience- Came here on a Thursday night around 6:30pm and it was packed. We had to wait about 45 minutes for a table of 3. The parking situation is a bit tricky, but I was able to find a spot after circling a few times. At least they have two rows of booth sitting for those waiting for a table. We ordered- -Crispy Fried Buttermilk-Battered Chicken (w/ tasso ham gravy, mashed potatoes & collards) $15.75- WOW! The fried chicken was super crispy and moist, and the skin was really good with the seasoning it had on it. It went well with the mashed potatoes. This plate could have easily fed two people. -Smoked & BBQ'd Beef Brisket (House smoked brisket topped w/ crispy fried onions w/ side of horseradish-bacon potato salad) $15.75- WOW! Also delicious- the brisket was tender, and you could cut through it with your fork. It had a good balance between the fatty and lean pieces, but personally, I wouldn't preferred a higher fat ratio. My other minor criticism is that the potato salad could've used more horseradish. -Screen Door Plate (Choice of 3 house sides and/or local organics & slice of cornbread) $13.95 - We went with one of the specials that night, an arugula salad with walnuts, pears, and blue cheese, then the macaroni & cheese and also bacon & hock collard greens- The salad was good as was the mac & cheese, which was super cheesy and creamy. We accidentally ordered an additional collard greens (it came along w/ the fried chicken), and I don't like collard greens much so I avoided both servings. My friends enjoyed it, so I assume it was good. The only thing that I didn't enjoy was the cornbread- disappointing!! It was dry and crumbly and didn't have a good corn taste. However, I just overlooked it and moved onto more yummy items. Overall, we had a TON of leftovers for three girls since each dish can really feed more than 1 person. For the price they charge, you really do get a large quantity of food, and quality food at that. The service here is also friendly and solid, although they can get busy at times so you have to flag them down. I would love to come back here during brunch to try that sweet potato waffle..
(5)
Michael V.
My roommate is a HUGE fan of breakfast. Not so much of a cold cereal or oatmeal type of guy, but the pancakes, waffles, eggs, bacon, and sausage kind of guy. When asked what his favorite food was, he answered: BREAKFAST!! Not one item in particular, but the meal as a whole. It was only natural for me to take him here. If the world ended tomorrow, at least he would've died happy from brunch! (; I myself am not a big fan of breakfast/brunch, but Screen Door has made me reconsider my feelings. Three different visits to this place--each one just as amazing as the last! If you're not in line as soon as they open at 9am on Sat, you're most likely looking to wait around for an hour or two. No worries though, because there's free coffee! The service and food is also great, so I can usually look past the long wait. (: As far as the food goes, everything I've tried is absolutely AMAZING. If you're indecisive on what to get, a safe bet would be the fried chicken and waffle--three enormously fried pieces of chicken stabbed into a giant sweet potato waffle by a knife. What more could you want?? If you're not feeling like chicken, the scrambles are also a tasty choice! The Alabama scramble, with ham, green onions, and pimiento cheese was pretty good, but the Cajun scramble with andouille sausage, bell pepper, onion, cheddar cheese, and green onions was even better! :D The scrambles come with your choice of potatoes or cheddar grits, as well as two slices of white or wheat toast. If you're not in the mood for meat and eggs, I would highly recommend the bananas foster french toast. (Four pieces of french toast with rum-flamed caramelized bananas, topped with cinnamon and powdered sugar, and four dollops of whipped cream). And finally, your meal would only be complete with a side of praline bacon. (Think bacon with maple syrup and nuts, and a dash of crack). I can't reiterate enough how much I LOVE this place and the food that they serve. From what I remember, $2 for unlimited Stumptown coffee is a bargain and wheat toast + butter + jam could stand alone as a fukkin' meal! No joke, it's that amazing! :D My single complaint is that the bananas foster french toast should come with a tiny pitcher of syrup (like the fried chicken and waffle) instead of having it all poured on top for you. It was a little too sweet for me, and I found myself tired from all of that syrup. On the other hand, the waitress I had refilled my glass of water when it was only half empty on THREE different occasions. Now THAT'S service! (: IHOP, Tom's Pancake House, and Beaterville have NOTHING on Screen Door!
(5)
Shannon M.
The bar area and environment was really cool. There is always a bit of a wait, but it is not so bad. The first time I went, I had the breakfast corn dog. It was amazing!!! The best part was the thick, syrup they gave me to dip it in. The second time I went, I was with a large group and got to try the chicken and biscuit, an omelette, an amazing banana foster french toast. The menu has really interesting and awesome choices. I will definitely go back!!! The only reason I did not give it five stars is the wine by the glass choices sorta suck. My Savignon Blanc tasted like airline wine.
(4)
Paul W.
When my best bud in the world's fiancee suggested we get brunch at the Screen Door, I was all like, 'You guys want to bring me to the what what?!?' I was suspicious, not very impressed. But the nuns at St. Anne's Kindergarten had beaten a modicum of patience into me, so I got into the car without comment. It was a glorious, sunny day when we pulled into a primo parking spot on 24th and Burnside. The glowing pavement was awash with imminent diners nursing mugs of coffee. It was going to be a 45-minute wait, apparently. Ordinarily, such news would be met with the sight of me disgustedly stamping my monocle to bits, and kicking my left shoe into traffic. But I was on holidays and feeling hugely benevolent, so we calmly took our place with the rest of the patient crowd. We eyed a group of happy patrons through the large front window, willing them to leave. Now. Right now. When our party was finally summoned, I kinda knew how every Oscar winner felt when they heard their name tagged onto the end of '...and the Oscar goes to...!' It felt awesome. Inside, the inviting thrum of contented brunchers greeted us, along with the smells of good cooking. The warm wood interior and the jars of pickles on the walls painted a pretty picture. Then I saw them: . Fried chicken and waffles . Eggs in every incarnation one could hope to see . French toast as thick as John Grisham novels . Biscuits that could turn back tsunamis of gravy I gaped. I pointed. I sat on my hands to keep from snatching at everything that came within arm's reach. I was a pre-pubescent girl, and that oyster benedict was my Jonas Brother. Oh. Muh. Gawh. Becky. In the end, my best bud in the world got the chicken and waffle, his fiancee the farmer's scramble special, and I the Willapa Bay oysters with scrambled eggs, bacon, cream cheese, chives and hollandaise. Naturally, there was plenty of cross-sampling. The fried chicken was crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside and delicious all over. The accompanying waffle was improbably light and airy, despite having borne the weight of three hefty slabs of chicken. The farmer's scramble sounded somewhat pedestrian, but that was just understatement at its best. The springy asparagus and tangy preserved tomatoes made this the Betty of egg dishes -- wholesome, but oh-so-tasty. My order was also off the specials menu and, unlike most specials which tend to be anything but, this was Pretty Damned Special. Three plump oysters came coated in a shatteringly crisp shell of fried cornmeal. The scrambled eggs were fluffy despite harbouring lashings of bacon, cream cheese and hollandaise. So exactly how special was my special? Let's just say that if that dish were a human female of legal marrying age, I'd be kneeling before it and slipping a 17-gajillion-carat diamond ring onto its bacony finger right now. I know, I know. This is all a lot of hyperbole over some damned eggs and breakfasty stuff. And I know that the Screen Door, like that sexybitchy cheerleader or that hunkyassy quarterback from high school, doesn't need yet another asskiss on its tail. I know all that. But I can't help it. Sometimes you just don't get to choose the object of your affection. Mwah.
(5)
Big S.
4 of us including two kids. We all loved it. Even my burger expert son says it was the best burger he ever had in his life. We all enjoyed the fried okra. I had the delicious pecan pie for dessert.
(5)
Vivian N.
During my last visit to Portland, my local friend was trying to sell me on the idea of hitting up Screen Door on a Sunday morning. I recall her saying keywords like "Southern food" and "brunch," but I was already out the door before she could finish her sales pitch on me. But DAMN, the wait for this place is loooong. 50 minutes for a two-person table. And we even agreed to sit outside which I would never normally do during early June (when I was last there), because let's be honest -- we all know that summer in the Northwest doesn't really begin until LATE June, so it was still pretty chilly that particular morning. And this is how I came order a hot alcoholic drink before 12:00pm... (I believe it was buttered rum or something similar) Influenced by the famed Roscoe's, I seized this chance to try Chicken and Waffles for the first time. This plate is really huge: a thick-ass sweet potato waffle under three huge slabs of spicy fried chicken, all held down with a steak knife. Oh, and there's oodles of syrup, too. Now there was this guy sitting near us, and when my order arrived, he started talking about how he comes there every week and challenges some random customer that orders the Chicken and Waffles to finish it ALL... chicken skin / meat and every last bite of waffle. And if they do, he'll give them $5. And thus, he challenged me to finish my entire plate, and I'm kinda stubborn, so of course I agreed to take him on. It took an hour to finish, but I did it(!) -- although I'm not quite sure what that says about my stomach capacity. In retrospect, I thought the sweet potato waffle was just alright but the fried chicken was really yummy. You really gotta love fried chicken and carbs to order this. Anyway, the guy and his party applauded my efforts, he gave me $5, we posed for a cheesy picture together where I held up a $5 bill against my bloated face while he did the thumbs-up sign, and then I promptly spent my winnings on two vegan cupcakes for my friend and me at Sweet Pea Bakery. Preeeeeetty much didn't need to eat for the rest of that day though. Despite the long wait, the food here is fantastic -- really fresh and top quality. How can I not like a restaurant where I get paid to eat?
(4)
Liz K.
This is my new favorite restaurant by far! We went for breakfast, waited 40 minutes and worth every minute. Fun, upbeat vibe with great music playing, super friendly wait staff and a killer menu. How was I going to decide between Fried Oysters Eggs Benny, Bananas Foster French toast or Fried Chicken over sweet potato waffle? I did the Benny, my husband did the French toast and it was amazing. Heaping plates. Just not one complaint and we are going back this weekend for dinner. BELIEVE the hype. Makes me very proud as a Portlander known for their restaurants!
(5)
Brian E.
Screen Door is the best of times, it is the worst of times, it is the place of healthful organic ingredients, it is the place of trans-fats and cholesterol and atherosclerosis, it is about time I stopped ripping off Dickens and got to the point. If I were Screen Door, I'd leave you waiting out in the cold for an hour or so and then act like I was doing you a big favor when I finally did allow you in to read my review. As anyone who reads my reviews knows, I am not a big fan of restaurants at which one cannot arrive hungry because it takes so long to obtain any food, nor am I enamored of arrogant places that are so proud of their food that they make you feel as if they could care less about your business. Screen Door is exactly both of those things. Pity, that. The portions at Screen Door are huge, the quality of the ingredients is generally above average, and many of the dishes are very well prepared. Favorites like the towering fried chicken and sweet potato waffle have to be seen to be believed, and the cajun scramble is no slouch either. Even basic stuff like bread and burgers are way above average in quality, but not in price. If you like enormous piles of Southern-inspired grub at very reasonable prices, Screen Door might be just your kind of place. Unfortunately, Screen Door's mark as a place of superlatives extends to the bad, as well. It is an hour-long wait to order, no joke...and can be another half hour to get food after you order. Worse yet, when your food finally does arrive, it may well be cold, as they leave it sitting around until they finish the last plate in your party and the kitchen is a messy, disorganized bustle. The waitstaff is generally hurried and sometimes downright rude. The atmosphere is crowded and loud and clashes completely with the Southern theme. I've lived in the South, and you're supposed to sip a lemonade at a leisurely pace, alternating with large succulent bites of pulled pork, while watching a river flow gently past. You're not supposed to sit in a dingy, unlit room, shouting to communicate with your dining companions over the roar of the crowd, and attacking your food like a rabid hyena because you've waited an hour and a half by the time you actually eat and your waitress is desperately trying to turn your table one more time before they close. Most of the offerings are extremely unhealthful, too. Organic beet salads are fine and well, but I didn't see anyone eating one - everyone I saw had bacon and andouille and biscuits and gravy and such. Make sure there's room at your local ER before you eat here; the salt and fat are likely to send you there with a case of severe indigestion or elevated blood pressure, best case. Maybe I'm just a cynic, but I find it alarming that Screen Door hands out little slips of paper with the daily specials printed on one side and a coupon for 10% off an angioplasty on the other. In summary, Screen Door has some of the finest comfort food Portland has to offer. If only eating there were more...comfortable. I suggest you go - but I don't suggest you go often. It's not good for you and Screen Door certainly does not need the business.
(3)
Tan N.
One-word impression: EXASPERATING I was feeling the need for a good brunch today, so I rallied some friends to check out Screen Door today. I had been there once before last fall, and though I remembered the excruciating wait, I do remember how scrumptious the chicken and waffles were. It was that promise of comforting food that made me want to fight the wait line again. This time however, I left with a less than satisfactory experience. Sure, any quality brunch place in Portland, you can expect the obligatory wait for a table. What I did mind was what the experience was after we sat down. I know it was busy in there, but there was no excuse for the fact that the group that had been seated directly before us had finished and left well before we got our food. There was also no excuse for the fact that a bigger party that had sat down about 20 minutes after we did had gotten their food before us. When asked about our food, our waiter simply stated that our orders got "lost in the shuffle." Thanks, sir, for being attentive and for fighting to get our dishes out, because...wait, you didn't. Incredibly infuriating. Regarding the food, yeah, it was tasty enough. I had the Oyster Benedict, which was good, but not grand enough to warrant 5-stars. Maybe I just was so starving from seeing everyone around chowing down that I basically inhaled it instead of savored it. I also had a bite for my buddy's chicken and waffles, which was good, but not nearly as awesome as I remembered it. Overall, I was pretty frustrated by my experience. The food was fine, good enough to justify giving it at least 4-stars on that merit alone. But as my buddy put it, the time we had to wait and the weak service did not justify the quality of the food. So much of eating brunch here in Portland is all about the greater experience, and this was just so exasperating for me and my friends that I will probably not voluntarily choose to go back again.
(3)
Tanya O.
You have to go. Yelp directed me to this location. Take heed on the point of getting there before it opens if you don't want to either wait a long time, eat at the bar, or have reservations. The mac & cheese was creamy, the chicken crunchy (and deboned so that you don't have to be distracted by nibbling around chicken bones), drinks were awesome (try the Rhett Butler... yum). The chocolate pudding was the best I have ever had. WE WILL BE BACK.
(5)
Craig R.
I absolutely LOVE Screen Door's fried chicken. I have had the opinion about fried chicken that I could take it or leave it, but I can't leave Screen Door. Ugh, it is amazing. On top of that, the service is fantastic, the environment is laid back, the price is reasonable, and the people are happy. The only draw back is the wait. I recommend eating and apple or a bagle before you leave. Seriously, I tried this last time and after two hours that bagle had left my hungry bank and I was starving for a heartly delicious breakfast. Some may say this is not worth it, but believe me, it is.
(5)
Lisa W.
Overall my experience at Screen Door was just okay. Not bad, but didn't knock my socks off. For an appetizer I ordered the Green Garlic Popovers ($6.50) from the local organics menu. The waiter informed me that it was just one popover, but it was large, then said that if he was eating there he wouldn't order an app because the portions are big. So I told him to forget the popover and we proceeded to order our dinners. Not two minutes after he walked away, the popover arrived at our table, clearly fresh out of the microwave (blech!) because it was absolutely steaming hot, which is usually a good thing with food, but not a baked good such as this. We ate it anyway and had to add salt just to choke it down because it tasted like nothing. Okay. So that was the only bad thing I can say, and it didn't ruin the experience, but things didn't get much better anyway. I had the fried chicken and it was fine (as in tolerable). Nothing spectacular. My husband had the jambalaya and it was fine. Again, nothing spectacular. The service was fine too. Not great or bad. One thing I will mention is that it's a very loud space, even when it's not that crowded. We arrived at 6:00 and were seated inside immediately, which was fine, and there was a wait for an outside table. By the time we left at a little after 7:00 there was quite a crowd waiting to be seated, so go early. Oh, and the prices weren't bad. Will I go back? Yes - but for breakfast. There are lots of other places to have a meal in Portland that are far better than "fine."
(2)
sarah m.
By far, the best soul food I have tasted, this side of the Mississippi! Part of the charm of this place is its friendly staff and relaxed feel. The line for a table might be wrapped around the corner, yet your dining experience never feels rushed. I will be dreaming about the Pulled Pork sandwich until the next time I find myself in Portland.
(5)
Jen S.
Blackened tofu scramble: YUM. Grits: meh. Biscuit: A-OK. Service: fantastic. Ambiance: loud, but pleasantly so - not so loud that you can't hear your tablemates. Patio seating now open for brunch. This means you. Get there by 8:30am though...
(4)
Kari C.
We went on a Thursday night & the wait was only about 15 minutes. Now to the best part of the night - THE FOOD!!! I had the screen door plate (you pick any 3 sides you want) I had catfish, Mac -n-cheese & roasted cauliflower. The Mac-n-cheese was AMAZING & a must order. My husband was hesitant to order the fried chicken because he didn't want to deal with the bones but he was pleasantly surprised when his meal showed up & the chicken is boneless. I'm sure glad he ordered the chicken (which comes with 2 huge pieces). The fried chicken was hands down the best thing on our table - YUMMY!! Next time ill order chicken with Mac-n-cheese. There are not many places you can get an appetizer, 2 huge meals & 2 drinks for under 50 bucks. This place rocks & I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Khoa N.
Food was yummy, and the portion was pretty large. It's a dog friendly place where you can let your pet buddy chill with you out in the outdoor patio.
(5)
Henry K.
I had to wait so long for dinner. Probably waited more than 45 minutes. I also had to wait about 30 mins for food after seated. This place requires lots of patience. But I had amazing fried chicken and mac and cheese. It was pretty good and enjoyed a lot. I would probably come back here for brunch later, but I'm not sure I can wait this long again.
(4)
Kelly N.
Quality food and attentive service. Pretty much ALWAYS a wait to get in however.
(4)
Sabrina M.
Holy Jambalaya! I'm not a huge fan of southern food but this place is on another level. Me and my boyfriend each ordered a Screen Door plate and shared the six dishes. It was enough for a table of four. Make sure you go with an empty stomach. It was my first time trying both catfish and gumbo and well, I guess I AM a fan of southern food now, thanks to the Screen Door!
(5)
Jeff W.
Had to wait for 30 min at 7pm on a Tuesday night, but my was it worth it! First time eating Catfish, Jambalaya, and Gumbo... It was so good. We could not eat everything, but I'm looking forward to the leftovers :)
(5)
Stephiee L.
Screen Door is a very famous place for breakfast and brunch in Portland; be ready to wait in line. We arrived at 11am and waited for an hour to get our table. Everything on the menu was tempting! When I read it, I wanted to order multiple dishes just for myself. However, by the time I looked around and saw how big the general food portion was, I immediately turned my idea down. That's why it was extremely tough for us to pick the following dishes out of the menu: Cornbread with Crème Fraiche (side) Given that we had been starving for more than 3 hours, we cleared the cornbread in 5 minutes. The soft crème was a great complement with the cornbread. The side syrup was really amazing too! I recommend saving the rest of it for the chicken waffle. Chicken Waffle, $14 Here is nuclear bomb!!! It tastes soooooooo good!!! It is Screen Door's signature dish and almost every table ordered one. There are three gigantic pieces of buttermilk battered fried chicken on top of the sweet potato waffle. For every bite, I tasted the special seasoning in the chicken and how crunchy it was, not to mention the waffle and the maple syrup. Don't forget the cornbread syrup! Dipping it with the chicken waffle simply took my soul to another level! Jared's Croque Madame, $12 Four words to describe it: The Best Sandwich Ever! Ham, poached eggs, and sourdough. Each ingredient just did their job right! The raw egg yolk softened the toasted sourdough, the ham added flavor to the sandwich; the mustard mornay sauce made the entire thing stand out! The mustard was the most amazing thing here. It totally surprised me! Red Velvet Chocolate Pancake Er...that stack of dark red pancakes didn't look as attractive as other dishes we had had. But my perspective changed once I started eating. I could smell the light red velvet flavor. When I chewed it, I tasted the chocolate chips! The cocoa sensation came out in the moment! ROAR! Screen Door totally blew my mind. Excellent food in big portion at reasonable price - what else do you want? The chicken waffle was just $14 but the satisfaction was worth more! Screen Door pride themselves of serving the best southern food in Portland. Well, if they are not the best, who else? who else? Pictures can be found on my blog: stephieedreams.wordpress…
(5)
Kelly M.
Have been to Screen Door several times for both brunch and dinner. The fried chicken at either meal is unbelievable. I like to arrive 30 to 60 minutes before brunch starts to wait in line. The worst case scenario is arriving right as brunch starts - you won't get seated right away, but everyone in line in front of you will have all been seated at the same time, so you essentially have to wait for everyone to finish their meals. They have a great bar and it's fun to sit at the bar as well, although the seating is a bit tight.
(5)
James L.
We visited on a weekday morning, with no wait in sight. We had the chicken and waffles and the chicken biscuit sliders. Both were excellent, very hearty portions. The fried chicken and the biscuits and gravy were great. I was pleasantly surprised by the praline bacon. Despite my love of bacon, I often do not like candied bacon. However, this wasn't overly sweet and had a ton of pecans on it, which I love. I'd tell you to share something when you visit because the portions are so big, but it's hard to decide for first time visitors.
(5)
Betty W.
yuummm. Every time I have visited screen door I have had a long wait to get a table. However, there are a lot of shops and bars around so its not too bad because you can find things to entertain you. The food is great and reasonably priced, I also enjoyed the drinks that they have as well. The food here is very rich and filling. I would recommend a visit.
(4)
Mindy B.
Yes, the buttermilk chicken is amazing. I got the screen door plate with Cheezy goodness Mac n cheese, delicious saucy white bean salad, and good catfish. The cornbread was only tasted since the other 3 was enough for me.
(5)
Amber B.
I have been here 2 of 3 times. I have never been disappointed, however I do not really think the high pricing is right for 'gourmet' fried chicken
(3)
Iris Z.
BRING EAR PLUGS! The noise level in this restaurant is deafening! I can't really comment on the food or the service because all I could think about was getting out of there as fast as I could. It's hard to enjoy yourself when you can't even carry on a nice dinner conversation.
(1)
Shelly T.
Save all your calories for the chicken waffles and praline bacon here its worth it. We came here on perfect weather and there was seating outside in the patio. The servers were so fast and nice. We got our foods right away. We only got one piece if chicken and it was enough for 2 small people. A side of bacon was plenty to share. I could definitely see why this is a Portland favorite. Plan to come back here again next time I'm in town visiting.
(4)
Alina P.
Love the fast service. But this is fat boy food. Forget your diet. .I read the reviews and got the highly rated chicken and waffles with praline bacon and eggs. Plus orange juice was not freshly squeezed but still good. I enjoyed the brunch but felt heavy after. Understand that it is big portions. The one in Seattle is definitely better called waffles and chicken. No wifi here so that blows. Sit outside. It's nice.
(4)
Geneva H.
I normally write long reviews but I will keep this short and sweet: EAT HERE!!! Is the wait long? Yes. Does the crowd look like extras from the set of portlandia? Yes. Is the volume too loud once you are finally inside the restaurant? Yes. But.... The food is so good that anything remotely negative you can possibly think of is outshined by the friendly staff, strong drinks, and amazing food. EAT HERE!
(5)
travis t.
Good, just don't arrive hungry - the lines run pretty long, especially for brunch. That being said, the chicken and waffles and praline bacon are pretty much the best thing I've eaten.
(5)
Amir A.
Two words: Fried Chicken. I might have to change the last restaurant I would like to eat at on my Yelp profile because the Fried Chicken here is so tender, juicy and well seasoned that it tops Roscoe's famous friend chicken in Los Angeles. Since I spent a good amount of time touring the breweries in Portland, I had to ensure that the food here was not a result of me just having drunchies so I came back again and confirmed it. I've found the best fried chicken and its here @ Screen Door.
(5)
Jessica G.
Delicious and over the top flavor (and of course calories, yummy yummy calories) in all of their dishes. The service was very good considering how busy they were (and always are). However, about that wait....it is just silly and the host/hostess never seems to be at the front ever. The last time I waited about 15 minutes to put in our groups name and no one even came close to helping me so we left. Not that they "needed" our business- but it will be important when that wait eventually slows down that those not helped will remember that!
(4)
Brand N.
Fantastic southern-style cooking, and comfortable, bustling setting.
(4)
James K.
Had an excellent experience. The outdoor seating was decent. I had the Chicken and Waffles, which was probably enough food for 2. The Pecan Pie was single-serving and was decent, not too sweet but not very exciting. Looking forward to coming back.
(4)
John G.
You need not shop anywhere else, this is a great service. They do what they say they will and exceed all expectations. We had an entire household moved, and not one item had a scratch. Great care and friendly and professional team of movers. Leadership followed up along the way and we were more than satisfied.
(5)
Amber G.
This place was worth the hype. We got there about 40 minutes before they opened on a Saturday morning and we were about the 30th people in line. Once we were seated everything moved very quickly. Our waitress was really nice and attentive, and we got our bloody marys immediately. They were delicious. My husband and I split the lemon fritters with blackberry dipping sauce, the cathead biscuit, and the chicken and waffles. We barely made a dent in our food. The portions are HUGE. We will be eating this meal for the rest of the day. Well worth the price and the wait in line. YUM!!
(5)
C B.
We had a wonderful meal from Grizzly Tuna. 3 pieces of Tuna and chips. Our meals were enough to fill us up. It was delicious. We will be planning on returning for more. The employees were very friendly and helpful.
(4)
Jake D.
Would definitely go back again. I had the special thick cut pork chop. It wasn't the best one that I've ever had but was good. My partner had fried chicken and it was very tasty. We had the chocolate bread pudding which was dry and I would not recommend for dessert.
(4)
Michelle D.
Dr Allen is amazing. I just want to thanks him for all the caring and concern that he've shown me. I came to visited him for removing sunspots on my face, but after two treatments, the dark spots seem hard to remove. Dr Allen refund all of my money I paid for it, he said :" you paid me if it didn't work out, we are not accept your money, we just want our customers happy." that was not I expected; he even gave me a free cream of bleaching cream with sunscreens with no charged. I didn't have words to express my appreciation for Dr. Allen then, but I really appreciate his kindness, generosity, patience, and professionalism.
(5)
Andre E.
really great food, *beware* portions are huge *beware*
(4)
Emily S.
Everything tasted amazing. But...the service is slow. Real slow. The wait was long (which we expected). It all moved like molasses. Be prepared to wait, for everything. They do have coffee while you wait though. Portions are huge, so go hungry or split. Skip the clam po-boy benny and get the bacon hush puppies. The Ramos Fizz was the best I've ever had. Don't miss it.
(3)
Jenny Z.
Everything I have ordered here is delicious! It may sound questionable on the menu, but follow your gut! Whenever I go, I usually try to order a Special listed on the chalkboard by the front door because it's an item that's not on the menu and I'm never disappointed! Be sure to arrive 30-45 minutes before opening because there will be a line, but the food ,Sumptown coffee and bloody Mary's are well worth the wait!
(5)
Margaret J.
It's been awhile..but I loved Screen door! The wait for food was a little long, but the food we had was amazing. I can see why there's always a line out the door and down the side street. BEST pulled Pork Sammie ever!
(5)
Kat W.
I give this place a 4 star rating because their fried chicken was amazing! We also ordered a side of cornbread, fried oysters, jambalaya and their grassfed burger. The cornbread came out cold and dry and their jambalaya was not very flavorful or impressive but rather bland. I had to take away a star due solely to the unimpressive service that we received. Our server Erika was impersonable and never checked back with us once we got our food. She passed by our table many times but completely ignored us. It kind of put a damper on our experience. The food was so good that we are willing to give it another try hopefully with a different waitstaff!
(4)
Tina M.
The wait was worth it. The fried chicken and waffles is really good. The chicken was juicy and had great flavor. You can definitely split the meal with someone.
(4)
Paul V.
Some of the best mac-n-cheese. Some great fried chicken. A little pricey and wasn't too happy with the wait, but the food was good enough to make me forget it.
(4)
Kristal B.
Super wonderful restaurant with creative southern menu options. My party and I all had something different. Fried chicken, shrimp and grits (grits were creamy dreamy), Mac and cheese, hush puppies tomato salad and catfish were all excellent. Limited beer menu but that's okay, tons of other options. Would highly recommend. They open at 530 and already a line at 5 to get in. Would get there early!
(5)
Bill M.
Pretty darned good - waiting in line is NOT my favorite thing, but the chow is excellent!
(4)
Teresa S.
Just moved here from California. I had a list of places I wanted to go. Screen Door was def. on the top of the list. It was okay.... Wait: no reservations, we got there 30 minutes prior to opening and we were able to get a table. We were pretty far back in line and the last thing you want is the cut off to be Right before you and then you have to wait for the first batch to eat their meal. However, that didn't happen! :) Don't be fooled by the exterior, it looks small but they can fit alot of people!!!! Ambiance: cool, rustic, hipster. You can see the kitchen and they guys working their magic - which was a neat factor. Service: amazing! our waiter was so great. I give props to the waiters especially when they have to be on their A game early in the morning to serve tons of hungry locals and tourists. so good job there! Food: So this is where the 3 stars comes in... I guess I expected alot especially since it was one of the top places in yelp for portland.. and I LOVE BREAKFAST/BRUNCH! We wanted it all - sweet and savory!! There were only 2 of us, so we didn't get the famous Fried chicken and waffle ($14.75). instead, my husband came up with a genius plan to break it down and get the Cathead biscuit sandwich, & praline bacon waffle - those two dishes had the same components that were in their famous dish (fried chicken and sweet potato waffle) - PLUS grits, biscuit and gravy, and praline bacon - ALL FOR THE PRICE OF 2 dishes!! GENIUS!!! 1. Cathead biscuit sandwich($11.75): We asked to put the gravy on the side because we wanted to taste their famous fried chicken. it was okay... i've had better fried chicken. there were no sparks when i dug into it that you would expect with a mouth watering southern fried lip smacking chicken. the biscuit and gravy was good. The grits... i've had better. 2, Praline bacon waffle($8.75): its such a pretty dish. however, I couldn't taste the sweet potato flavor in the waffle. Im korean, and we love sweet potato. I know that the taste is usually subtle especially when you bake it but you could have just called it a regular waffle. I thought it was me so i asked my husband and he felt the same. We even put the waffle together with the fried chicken and it was just okay. The praline bacon was the star of the show - it was good!! I didn't end up finishing my plate, just the bacon... 3. Bloody Mary: husband got it. He said it was tasty. :) Overall: I'm glad I tried it. It was good.. it wasn't bad, but I don't think this would be on my list to take visitors. I think its always great to try it though... but kinda overrated. sorry screen door. I wish I would have loved you... :( Great staff though and very efficient!!!
(3)
Paul P.
Before coming here, I heard that this place is the best place for fried chicken in Portland. Verdict: It's pretty darn good. The portion is huge, and it comes with an awesome side of collard greens. The crispiness of the chicken is just perfect, and the chicken itself is super moist! I also had the grits as an appetizer. And, let me just say, that this is probably one of the best grits I have ever had! It has so much flavor, and the bacon just gives it that extra oomph! Some other amazing dishes: Gumbo, and Mac & Cheese. The crispy top of the mac and cheese is just crazy good. It's so creamy, cheesy and delicious. I will say that this is probably one of the best mac 'n cheese I've had as well. The reason why I didn't give it a full five stars is because of the cornbread. I know, I know. It's a pretty lame reason, but I love cornbread. I was a bit disappointed because it was dry and pretty flavorless. But then again, I'm a fan of sweet cornbread. The cornbread at Screen Door is just very plain. As for the wait - we got there at around 5:15 on a Monday for dinner. The line was around the block, but once they opened at 5:30, we were seated within minutes. I heard the lines get pretty crazy for brunch on the weekend, but I haven't been there for brunch yet. I hope to make it the next time I am in town. Overall - this place is great. Friendly staff and awesome food. Just remember to get there early.
(4)
Jason F.
I don't really get why people are willing to huddle outside in the cold and rain to get into this place. The brisket was fatty, the chicken was good but not great, and the mashed potatoes were nothing to write home about. The wait time to get in was long, and the wait time for the food to get to the table was even longer. Russell Street BBQ has better brisket, better fried chicken, and better sides, and they don't make you wait forever.
(3)
Regina I.
So, I have to put it out there or I wouldn't be true to my reputation of telling you how it really is. I'm not really sure what happen this morning when we went to breakfast at 8:20 am . There was maybe 5 tables tops inside there restaurant when we arrived and sat down . We ordered by 8:30 and man we waited and waited and waited till 9:15 when our food started rolling out and can I tell you how pissed I was that I had to wait another 15 for my pancakes. Now normally, if you are having issues with the batter or the grill you inform the patron that "dog nabit " we have a snafu! However, that was not the case . First of all if you cannot bring my entire breakfast altogether then don't bring me my breakfast. Also don't just act like nothings is wrong, because that pisses the customer off even more. I actually had to say to the waitress " now I know your not going to charge me for these pancakes when they come? She sort of shrugged and said ok! Now, screen door has always had exemplary service and some of the best waiters and waitresses in the city of Portland. So today it was a little questionable to say the least ! Food of course is great but you all need to be real with your patrons when things go a little wonkie in the kitchen! I digress....
(2)
Denise M.
Food was amazing. Had the rockfish sandwich. Sooooo good. We are form california and will for sure come back next time we come for a visit.
(5)
Jessica K.
Just ate there today and I have to say I was so disappointed! To be fair, the boyfriend really enjoyed the food, but said he'd never go again because of the wait (2 hours). The boyfriend ordered the chicken and waffles, I ordered the corn beef hash because it was the only things that came with any vegetables and we ordered hush puppies for his 4 year old. We also ordered the bacon praline, deep fried oysters, a golden waffle and a bloody mary. We put our name on the list and was told it would be about an hour and a half but waited just over two hours. We ordered and our food came out after our neighbors, who were sat much later than us, had finished their food. They even commented to us, "What did you order? Why haven't you gotten your food yet?" The fried oysters and bloody mary were okay. Nothing super special. My corned beef hash was awful, the horseradish sauce that covered everything but the eggs was so heavy and did not taste like horseradish-- I could not finish it. The eggs were good, but they're eggs. The golden waffle was not special-- I was expecting a crispy-on-the-outside, hot and soft-on-the-inside, thick waffle, but I received it warm and the edges were not crispy at all. I tried my boyfriend's fried chicken and I could see why people might like it, it was crunchy and a little spicy-- but not for me. The praline bacon was too much for me, too sweet, too greasy, too salty. The hush puppies were just greasy. The only thing I did not try was the sweet potato waffle. I really hated my entire experience, but it might be because this kind of food is just not for me-- very heavy, greasy, and uninteresting. Two stars instead of one for the (as) gracious (as can be) hostess (who has the most stressful job, I'm sure. Hungry, impatient people staring at her waiting for her to say their name.) and because my boyfriend liked it.
(2)
Brittany H.
Confused?? The hype on this place is unreal and I can't figure out why. We waited for 2 hours for sub par food and terrible service.
(1)
Linda B.
Best Southern comfort food and drink in PDX. The fried chicken is off the hook! The mashed potatoes should be illegal. The wait is long, but I am no protester where this level of Southern goodness presides.
(5)
Mike W.
Possibly the best breakfast place I've ever been to. Everything we had was delicious and everything else coming out of the kitchen looked spectacular.
(5)
Kim N.
this is one of those places that everyone recommended. Bartenders, servers, even the guy at the rental car agency. They also warned of the massive wait times. So we went right before they closed on a weekday. It was still crazy packed though we were lucky to squeeze in. Got a two piece chicken and waffles plus a sode of the praline bacon. Man that stuff is huge. It caught the eye of our dining neighbors. Guess we ordered well. Solid chicken and waffles with hearty portions. The bacon was a good porky foil to the crispy chicken and carbs of the waffle. Service was good but even at the late hour you could tell they were somewhat slammed. If you like comfort style soul food, this is definitely a must hit. 4.3 stars
(4)
Petra E.
Best darn fried chicken in town.
(4)
Derrick R.
Sweet potato waffle was no joke. Amazing texture and an abundance of favors. Staff was very friendly, overall an amazing experience worth waiting for.
(5)
Andy S.
Bacon is delicious start with that. I only give it 4 stars and not 5 because my banana foster french toast was a small portion size. I wish it was larger. Aside from that it's a great place and highly recommend it.
(4)
brandie d.
We had a good server. We waited about an hour on Saturday afternoon. The fried chicken was great, and I consider myself an expert (don't laugh)! Hubby said grits were creamy. Teen son liked the banana French toast.
(4)
Liam W.
This place is killer! The migas were awesome, the chicken and waffles maybe the best I've ever had. Staff, coffee, and ambiance were great too. The wait is long, but it's completely justified.
(5)
Jack C.
Excellent, excellent food...and the service is usually pretty decent. I hate, hate, hate the wait, and there have been many times I haven't gone when I've driven by and seen the line out the door and around the corner. As a matter of principle, I see no reason to wait 45 minutes or more with several other excellent alternatives nearby.
(5)
wade h.
it was so-so
(3)
Chelsea M.
This place is amazing! Growing up in the south I have very high expectations for fried chicken and "soul food". This place blew me away it was SO delicious! It will have a long wait but is WORTH IT! We got the fried okra as appetizer and asked for ranch to dip it in. Their ranch is very strange and seems like they put too much of one ingredient in. I couldn't pinpoint it. We shared the fried chicken with Mac and cheese. It was so much food that between the both of us we couldn't finish. Whenever I'm back in Portland I will most definitely stop by here again for some delicious fried chicken!
(5)
Karen I.
We ordered the Chicken and Waffles, there were 3 of us, and it filled us up with left overs.
(4)
Jessica T.
I love Screen Door. My SO and I go every chance we can get, though it is an investment of time and patience to get a seating. Also - we go for dinner. I've never been for brunch. I don't have patience for the lines to get breakfast in my hometown. I just don't. So - think dinner when you read my review. If you have heard about screen door, you know the food is amazing and get the Fried Chicken. Blah blah blah - it is amazing and worth some patience and an open wallet. My review is entirely about seating, staff, and ambiance. Seating: The first rule of Screen Door - is you don't talk about Screen Door. If you do talk about it, it will be even harder to get seated after 6. :-) Go an hour before the first seating for dinner (or Sunday brunch). Yes, an hour. Go over to a bar or coffee shop nearby with a direct view of the line situation and get a drink. When the line starts to creep up to about 10 people, go get in line. STAT. You need to be IN LINE when the door opens, but not farther back than the end of their building to get seated on first seating. If you don't do that, you should wait an hour after they open and then go wait. You'll be in the rotating tables by then and less painful, but don't be starving when you first get there. If you are one of those people who can't plan, you'll be waiting, so keep that in mind. Oh - there IS a list. Get in the door and get your name on it when you get there if you are after the first seating. Ambiance: SD has been open for a few years, but still keeps it's original cool. The atmosphere is southern - almost gamey steampunk but toes the line well of remaining socially appropriate for all who enter. You can take Grandma here and your picky friend from out of town and still have a nice time. It's loud, so don't try to be romantic unless you get to sit on the patio. It's good for dates, but only if you're into being a little chill and having fun having a nice meal. Its Southern Food, if you aren't into that when you go, maybe just don't go. You'll write a crap review and ruin it for everyone else. Staff: Always stellar. Once in a while it can take a bit for them to get to you again after first pass, but that's rare. They seem to know how to keep everyone happy, tables attended but not overly-so (nobody wants to be smothered) and extremely friendly. No - you do not have to get your own water as has been so chic lately. I friggen' hate that. I expect to get water at a bar, but not when I'm willing to tip big for a nice meal. I appreciate Screen Door for keeping up on the hospitality. PS: The Bartenders know what they are doing. An Old Fashioned is a perfect Old Fashioned. In short - go for a very nice time and be patient. They do have little markers on the menu for things that are GF and Veg. The Seasonal Menu list is my favorite to order from because the seasonal fare here is abundant and interesting - staying to the theme.
(5)
Fawn W.
Be prepared to wait...a long time...but the food is delicious! The fried chicken sandwich in a biscuit (not as good as Tilt but pretty fantastic) and the shrimp and grits are what we ordered. Both were stellar. Most people we saw were ordering the chicken and waffles, and they very well could be the best thing on the menu, but the portion size was for a caveman so we passed. But if you've got someone to split the plate with...get it!
(5)
Amanda T.
Southern food done right in the middle of Portland?Yes! You indeed have a bloody winner! The biscuits and gravy are brilliant and the bacon is the sweet crunch craving you always wanted for breakfast! #winning
(5)
Huyen N.
During our short visit to Portland, my husband and I only have enough time for one brunch so we picked screen door. We showed up 20 minutes prior to openning time and was able to get one of the last tables available after openning. Crowded place and a bit tight. I'm not sure if service was a bit slow and unfriendly because they were so busy during their openning time but I was getting antsy waiting to get my orders in, drinks, and food. Maple Praline Bacon: bacon with maple and coat with nuts. It was good but I've had better and felt that the bacon can be a bit more crisp. 4/5 Waffle and Chicken: Giant pieces of chicken (3) on top of a waffle. It was quite intimidating when the plate arrived. Crispy chicken, however, it was a bit bland and dry. The waffle was good but nothing special. 3/5 Farm Grits: warm and savory cheesy grits with poached eggs on top. I found the extra giant piece of ham in the plate a bit distracting. I think if it was a thicker ham chopped into smaller pieces would be easier to eat. I think the big piece of ham is a bit too much for the dish. 3/5 Bloody Mary: yum! 4/5 I think it was good enough food but not good enough to wait and definitely not a 4.5 stars.
(3)
Andrew N.
I'm from Texas and this is the best southern place I've tried upon visiting Portland. The fried chicken, baked mac and cheese, and hush puppies were all really good! I'd recommend trying this place for anyone who likes to spoil their stomach. #foodalwayswins
(4)
Olivia L.
It's my first time to write a Yelp review and the honor had to go to Screen Door! The chicken and waffles are awesome!!!! Best I've had anywhere!
(5)
Mabel T.
Quite possibly one of the best brunches I've ever had (and I go out for brunch A LOT!). This place is a great blend of good ole' Southern cuisine and the freshness and sustainability of local Portland produce. They even serve the locally brewed Stumptown coffee!! We ordered: 1) chicken and waffles -- OMG. humongous portion! (just look at the pic I uploaded). i barely ate half and was stuffed! 3 HUGE chicken breasts were juicy. And the breading they use has a slight spicy kick to it, which paired really well with the sweetness of the syrup and waffle. 2) chicken apple sausages and praline bacon -- also yummy. Only 2 slices of both (but thick) so not quite worth the money IMO. 3) corned beef hash -- i only had a bite or 2 of my friends, but it was enough to know that this was totally gonna be what i ordered next time. corned beef was very tender and juicy with a great mix of potatoes and other vegetables. The wait is usually more than an hour from what I've heard, so get there early!! We got there about 10 minutes before it opened at 9 a.m. and there was already a good sized line. But we only waited about 30-40 minutes for a table. Service was also good. My water and coffee were always filled.
(5)
Clare M.
Why don't they have restaurants like this in the south? Southern comfort food is dying to the likes of big box chains in the south...at least I know I can depend on good ol PDX to remind me what I've been missing from my childhood. First, the drinks. The drinks were phenomenal! I started out with a mimosa, which was a little on the small side but very good. After that I was a little envious of one of my friend's drink so I ordered up one for myself. It was a Ramos Gin Fizz....holy....just..wow! I LOVED that drink. I also had a sip of Miss Orian I's bloody mary as well and it was damn good too. Now for the food....I got to try a little of everyone's and my favorite would have to be the oyster benedict! I opted for the egg sardou and it was good as well. Mac M decided on fruit and grits (boring!!!) but then finished off my leftover grits. The grits were amazing. And cheesy. Ben got the fried chicken and waffles and it was fantastic as well. I kind of like this communal meal sharing thing we had going on, tasting everyone else's food was cool. I'll definitely be a repeat customer here, I hope they keep doing everything the way they are now because it is pretty darn good!
(5)
John S.
Wonderful food and friendly, attentive service. Don't let the long lines outside for the weekend brunch scare you away. It's definitely worth the wait. The chicken and waffles combination is superb. Ask for the cathead special. Roasted feline. Just joking. The cathead, named because it's about that big, is a large piece of fried chicken smothered by two sides of a gravy and bathed in gravy. Delicious.
(5)
Stacey M.
I love to try new places. Had a craving for mashed potatoes and had heard this place was amazing. I wasn't disappointed. I had the fried green tomatoes for an appetizer and the pork chop special (maybe a little weird to order at a restaurant but SO worth it) with mashed potatoes and green beans for dinner. There were plenty of other things on the menu that I would have loved to try. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Suzi P.
Good lord this place is heavenly. My boyfriend and I stopped in for Sunday brunch at the urging of our Seattle friend who raved about the chicken and waffles. Now, I'm not a big waffle fan, and my boyfriend's not big on fried chicken, so we didn't end up ordering this dish. We did however, see that everyone around us DID, and we marveled at the sheer size of this much buzzed-about menu item. Basically, we didn't even order any of the house specials (we went with veggie omelets), and the food still exceeded our expectations. Our food was fresh, piping hot, and bursting with flavor. Based on our experience and the rest of those on Yelp, I'm convinced you can't go wrong with anything you order at the Screen Door. And yes, the weekend brunch line is horrendously long (we waited around 40 minutes on Sunday at 11am), but it is totally worth it. I'd eat here again in a heartbeat.
(5)
Jennifer L.
Yes, I'm a foodie and I recommend this restaurant. The food was excellent: crispy fried chicken, collard greens, smooth mashed potatoes, delicious gravy, sweet iced tea and to top it off, very dog friendly. The waitstaff refilled our iced tea and brought the food piping hot. I had a wonderful experience. Note: Whatever else ordered, add the fried chicken.
(5)
Stephanie L.
I'm visiting Portland for the first time and saw the reviews about this place and they are all true. Best breakfast I've ever had! Super cute ambiance and great service. Can't wait to come back!
(5)
Matthew F.
This place was fantastic! I got a steak and my girlfriend got shrimp and grits. They were both perfect in every way. I also got a Rhett Butler cocktail, with which I was very very happy. My only complaint was the long wait and lack of waiting area.
(4)
Vincent V.
This place is amazingly good with sizeable portions. I had the Griddlestack Burger with bacon and a fried egg, the girlfriend had a plate of drumsticks, mac and cheese and mashers w/gravy. No complaints at all! Best comfort food joint I've been to in Portland!!!
(5)
Patrick S.
For the low, low price of $19.95 you too can enjoy the privilege of waiting in a line with the sweaty bridge-and-tunnel set for longer than it takes to get the new iPhone in order to taste some pretty adequate chicken! Honestly, it's totally fine. It's decent. It's just not special, but the Soviet-like lines you'll have to endure to taste it are.
(1)
S W S.
Our new Best For Breakfast go-to spot. So good you may have to wait a little for a table even on a weekday. Do not despair! The food /service is worth the wait. Our group of 6 ordered praline bacon waffles, chicken biscuit sandwich, and veggie frittata. Everything was delicious and then some. Ask for Brooke to serve you she is patient, efficient and a cutie. We will be back soon.
(5)
tony j.
I love fried chicken, and so I love this place. I simply can't contend with the wait very often. Lining up for brunch to go over cliff of of max calories with a bunch of other lemmings is only possible for me once in a great while. Instead I will hunt for my fried chicken in other places or continue my quest to perfect it at home.
(4)
Manny V.
This is a late review. We dined here over a week ago but I can truly say "that was an awesome brunch." The wait was long but what do you expect from such a popular place AND we were a group of 10. We were glad that we even got seated in one group. It was comforting to see that the choices were well labelled for some of our allergic diners. One had soy and gluten restrictions, and another had peanut and nut restrictions. Despite that we still had a wonderful breakfast. They had wonderful pancakes and waffles with different variations. The brunch was great and the servings were gigantic. It was too long ago for me to recall what we specifically had but rest assured I know I would love to come back if I were to visit Portland, OR again. Highly recommended.
(4)
Sasha S.
As a vegetarian (well, Pescatarian) it is always a task finding a GREAT place that I too can enjoy! I tried this out for the first time for Brunch recently and I was highly pleased!! We had a big party BUT the wait wasn't long! I was absolutely pleased with the quality of my food! I kept asking for syrup though, but in her defense, it was 12 of us and she might have been overwhelmed. She was so sweet about it though and apologetic. The mimosa was also great but the waffle....OMMGGG, fluffy and so flavorful...mouth is watering as I type! Vegetarians: try the veggie sausage. You get THREE morning star round sausages (original; not spicy). The portions are generous and for that, I'm thankful
(5)
Rebecca B.
As all say - great food and the line is a good chance to practice patience and visit with friends - make it an outing!
(5)
Chris Z.
I have had both breakfast and dinner with no complaints! Meals, sides and drinks all satisfy the taste buds right. I suggest trying something new every time, step outside the box and if you are with other people, mix it up and share..
(5)
R A.
The food and service was great. You have to try the bacon with the nuts on it. Everything else on the menu was great we ordered various items. The breakfast sandwich was the one item that was not that great, I would suggest passing on that item.
(5)
Ruth K.
Best meal in Portland!!! The hype is verified with deliciousness. Yuuup. Please order the fried chicken. It's amazing!! I love that it's boneless; easy eats = happy me Crispy but not oily. Juicy but not fatty. Seasoned perfectly, not too salty. WOW! The mashed potatoes. ON POINT Baked beans. FINISHED THE WHOLE BOWL Mac n cheese. PERFECTLY CREAMY Coleslaw. REFRESHING Cornbread. CLASSIC!!! Get the screen door plate to try a bunch of their sides. Their sides are amazing!!! (obvi) Service wasn't amazing as you would expect from a restaurant with a southern vibe... But no complaints because the food made me too happy to care. I will definitely be constantly thinking about this meal... Until then, drooling over pictures will do
(5)
Steve N.
Had to give 4 stars for the ridiculous wait but the food was amazing! Best chicken and waffles I've ever had. Since the weather wasn't too bad when we had to wait outside, I would say it was worth the wait.
(4)
Rachel F.
Came for dinner because it was open late on a Saturday. Busy and fun atmosphere and the food was delicious. Portions are definitely not skimpy, either. Our table split the starter shrimp and grits, buttermilk fried chicken, cornbread, and sweet potato fries. Chicken was a little too peppery, but everything else (including the Rhett butler I ordered) was amazing.
(5)
Mark O.
Portland, day 5, stop 1, brunch. 100+ person line before opening. Get there 45 min early. Breakfast sausage Corndog - 2/5 Lemon ricotta fritters - 2/5 Biscuit and sausage gravy - 3/5 - Passable biscuit, pretty good gravy with lots of sausage. Praline bacon - 5/5 - Oh man, the bacon. It is unbelievably good. Covered entirely in glaze and chopped nuts this dish was the best brunch item I had this entire trip. Cornmeal griddle cakes - 3/5 Banana fosters French toast - 4/5 Fried chicken and waffles - 4/5 - Chicken is moist and nicely fried. Batter could have a little more flavor. Waffles were good and had a slight taste of cinnamon. If I were to come back I would order the praline bacon side as well as the praline bacon waffle. Overall, the bacon is "as good as it gets."
(5)
Noah L.
They do an excellent fried catfish. Also love their slaw.
(4)
Kalia K.
Saw the great yelp reviews and heard great things, had one night in Portland, so figured we'd get some southern deliciousness. I should preface this with I am the first to pay a compliment, I don't live my life complaining lol. I don't get the hype and rave reviews of this place... We were told it'd be a 45 minute wait. In my experience (I'm a bit of a foodie) restaurants overestimate this so as not to upset customers, but usually you're looking at a 30 minute wait, 45 tops. We checked in s couple of times, "to be honest I don't know, the sooner I can seat tables, the sooner I can get to you." So gonna back off. Well we noticed tables seating who came after us (most everyone waits in the street outside). Decided we had to see what's up...totally skipped over us! The host claimed she yelled our name several times and even spelled it. Maybe you did that inside, but definitely not outside...anytime she'd come outside we'd all listen closely to make sure. She sat us at the next open table. We had an awesome waiter, phew! To try to make up for it, we were given hush puppies. Nice gesture, but honestly it just would've been better to offer an appetizer on the house so we could pick which one. The special fried green tomatoes sounded delish, but would've been too much to get both. Hush puppies were tasty, but just not my thing. We order the pork shoulder and the screen door plate (greens, mac n cheese, gumbo), and added on a side of chicken wings. Where to start. Greens were awesome, ham hock, well cooked, great flavor! My sons fav. Mac n cheese was eh. I didn't care for it, my son (he's 21, and a chef) thought it was okay, but agreed mine is way better lol! Pork shoulder was delicious, my fav. But it was served over corona beans, bad choice. I didn't mind the beans themselves, just didn't go well with the meat and seemed out of place. We felt confused. Gumbo was average, nice kick to it. If you've never had soul food, you'd prolly think this was amazing and start your love affair with the ever so unhealthy but oh so delicious southern comfort food!! Too bad we had one of the worst dining experiences, just left a sour taste in my mouth! You steered me oh so wrong with this one Yelpers!! Sad. Face.
(2)
Charmaine S.
I finally decided to try Screen Door! We came here for dinner on a Wednesday night and accidentally got there before they opened...luckily we did because a line started to form. We sat at a nice booth but after dinner gets into full gear (by 6pm) it starts to get hard to hear the other person. But that's okay because I was focused on the awesome food anyways! We started with hush puppies and they were delicious along with the jelly it comes with! I had the combo plate with fried chicken wings, Mac & cheese, and gumbo. I loved the macaroni and cheese, which is surprising for me. We got the ban-offee pie for dessert and it was fantastic as well! Only thing is that our server wasn't too talkative with us, didn't seem to interested in us as a table. I guess it's hard to talk to your table with it being a small restaurant and kind of loud, but she almost had that hipster/I hate my job feel. Still a lovely place, can't wait to come back!:)
(4)
Sheri F.
Snowflake Ice Cream Riverhead,NY
(5)
Joe T.
I realize there's so much hype about this place, but it's warranted. The fried chicken is tender and juicy, and the skin is light and crisp. This stuff is good. GOOD. And that's without even mentioning the sweet potato waffle... For 3 large cutlets, the price is pretty good too. BBQ brisket hash was solid. Your only real consideration for Screen Door is whether you're willing to wait the 30-40+ minutes to be seated.
(5)
Sam K.
We got seated fairly quickly, which was great considering the place was packed. By the time we left there were a lot of people waiting outside. But we didn't feel rush while we ate inside. Started off with the Glazed Breakfast Hushpuppies... it was OK. Although it says smoked cheddar and bacon, I didn't really get a whole lot of flavour. The Heuvos Ranchero special was tasty and they gave a lot of meat. This was also the half order. Texas Veggie Migas was the best. The scramble was tasty. Luckily there was a lot of it, which I shared with my group. I enjoyed the cheddar grits, but after tasting the regular grits, I like that a bit better. The Buttermilk Biscuit Sliders with Pimento and Bacon was good and big. Along with the pancakes which were good, but nothing too special. The dining area is big, but they cram a lot of tables in there. So expect a tight fit trying to get to the front door, after eating all of the good food.
(4)
P B.
Good for occasional visits, but if you care at all about your health, you will not make this a regular place to eat.
(3)
victoria t.
The best fried chicken ever! It was worth the long wait. Even at 8 pm on a Monday night, the wait was 45 minutes long. But the chicken was cooked to perfection, crispy on the outside, just enough breading, and succulent. Skip the fried okra. It was so salty I couldn't taste the okra.
(4)
Shelly W.
Last visit... Not that great... Had grits with ham, eggs and the special veggies of the day....veggies were way over cooked.... Mushy and terrible!
(3)
Jenna R.
I am NEVER disappointed when I eat at the Screen Door. All of their food is mouth wateringly delicious!
(5)
Jessi M.
My roommate and I sat at the bar and had wonderful service. The stumptown coffee was delicious and the food was amazing. We shared one savory dish and one sweet dish for brunch. Screen door has an interesting menu that puts a new fresh spin on classic dishes. Well done Portland.
(5)
Eunice R.
This place never disappoints! Always a tasty brunch that is worth waiting an hour for! You can't go wrong with the fried chicken and waffles, banana foster French toast or fathead biscuit sandwich. Also a MUST try is the chicken apple sausage.
(5)
Xiao Z.
This restaurant came up so frequently during my initial Portland restaurant survey that I was afraid it may have been another voodoo donut equivalence, especially since I don't eat fried chicken...or waffles...or brunch. However, do not let my predetermined biases cloud your beliefs as I think Screen Door is ultimately a great, and fairly inexpensive brunch experience. Disclaimer, I've never really been to the South, nor had I had really amazing fried chicken, so I have nothing to really compare to. My GF and I came here on a weekday, at around noon, hoping we would hit that sweet spot between brunch goers and late lunch grabbers, but alas, we were still a bit early by about 1 hour (1pm seems to be the sweet time to avoid lines). After waiting for about 30 minutes, and feeling like we were being punished for being enveloped in the aroma of fried chicken and gravy, we were finally let into the establishment. The waiter was nice, albeit a bit on the succinct side, but explained all of the menu options and the daily special. My GF and I shared the chicken and waffle (two pieces), the okra fritters, and one biscuit with gravy along with the praline bacon slices, accompanied by the $8 bloody mary and $2.5 all you can drink Stumptown coffee. The biscuits came first, sliced in half and drenched in sausage gravy, and while the GF really liked it...I was kinda unimpressed as the biscuit was cold, if it weren't for the warm gravy and it lacked that delicious gooey texture I've come to love in a freshly made biscuit. Also, the cost of gravy is almost twice the biscuit....suspicious. As for the praline bacon, we were given 3 very generous slices, smothered in honey and sprinkled with cayenne pepper and nuts. They were certainly tasty, and I will warn you, they can go down real easy since the sugary coating removes a lot of that greasy sensation. I was really excited for the okra, and we were given a huuuge platter of fried okra pieces that took me the rest of brunch to finish. I would have liked less cornmeal breading on my okra....and actually just eat the okra by themselves, but I can see how others enjoy the entire experience. As for the piece-de-resistance, the chicken-n-waffles...it was alright. The fried chicken was definitely breaded very well, with hints of peppers and spices with an equal savory component to the waffles as well. However, I just wasnt a super big fan. If you plan on sharing, I think one piece of chicken may not feed both people, so please order accordingly (unless you plan on ordering a ton of other fried goodies as well). I very much enjoyed the delicious Stumptown brew and the bloody mary was good, but not spicy enough. Overall, I think Screen Door justifies in their proclaimation as one of the most popular brunch establishments in Portland and would recommend people to check it out, not just out of notoriety, but for their food as well. Food: 4 stars Price: 3 stars Ambiance: 3 stars Service: 3 stars
(4)
Tom S.
Best fried chicken I've ever had! The porch swing is pretty tasty too. Always a must whenever I'm in portland! Service is great but its always busy so best make a reservation.
(5)
Kathryn Grace T.
When you walk in, it is a very unassuming place with a country feel.There are a multitude of shelves with pickled vegetables in mason jars.There is a bar, a main dining room and an outside patio with picnic style seating.The wait was 45 minutes to an hour but so worth every minute.My husband ordered the fried oyster breakfast po boy and not only did it look and smell incredible it tasted amazing! He ordered a side of fried potatoes instead of cheesy grits, the potatoes were ok and he regretted not ordering the cheesy grits, oh well next time we would definitely come back! My 11 yo daughter ordered the French Toast banana foster, she was more than pleased of what she picked as we're we because we keep on picking on her plate even the cinnamon whipped cream was fresh and home made- it was truly a breakfast sldessert heaven.For myself, I ordered the chicken and waffle.Picture a giant sized Belgian waffle with 3 enormous deep fried chicken breast.The chicken breast was fried to perfection and also had a little heat to it, crispy on the outside and very juicy in the inside couple this with a bite of waffle and some maple syrup then you'll be having some seizures of pure bliss! Parking is ok no problems finding parking. If you don't want to wait in line call ahead and make a reservation but be aware that you won't be seated until all members of your party are present .This place well deserved 5 stars!
(5)
Benjamin K.
Average. Not living up to the hype. We were the 2nd or 3rd table to arrive for breakfast, and they were out of one of their signature dishes. As a vegetarian, the other options looked mediocre. Ended up with eggs and toast...woo hoo! Boring. Maybe another time....but it was way to hype vs what was actually served. Server was not inspirational in any way in trying to help me find an alternative or work-around to their chili pepper shortage, which should have been an easy task.
(3)
Dan S.
This place is simply incredible. The fried chicken dinner is mouthwatering and delicious. I think it's cute that there are a few hard-nose Southerners giving this place 3 stars claiming it isn't as good as in the South. Drop your pride, it's blocking your taste buds, this place is #1.
(5)
Neal S.
They have a fantastic cobb salad.
(4)
Bianca C.
I would like to preface that I am from the South originally so we do comfort food like nobody's business. With that being said, don't order an appetizer unless you are a bottomless pit. My husband and I made the mistake of ordering the delicious okra and then found out how large the plate was and both of our individual plates. The portions are large and no matter what you do, there will be leftovers. The fried chicken was delicious, the mashed potatoes extremely light and fluffy, the country fried steak had a corn mix for batter which was different and had a buttery taste to it. I wasn't a fan of the collard greens (too watery) or the gumbo (so bland!). Overall, there are some dishes they do very well and some that leave room for improvement. Prepare for a wait, grab some drinks and enjoy the company around you. The service is great and everyone on staff is friendly so it doesn't feel that bad that you will wait awhile for a table.
(4)
Nick B.
The best brunch in Portland, hands down. Yeah, there's always a long ass wait, and for good reason. Just go already! Get anything fried, or a hash, or food, just all of the food. Oh, and a drink. Order like, two spanish coffee's. And a beer for the guy in plaid that is with you. It better be a god damn IPA though! Cause you know that mother trucker doesn't drink a lager in the AM!
(5)
Matt A.
Huevos Rancheros is where it is at
(4)
Annabelle J.
Yum , yum, yum!! For months everyone said to try this place and we didn't know if we really enjoyed that southern flair on food. We were blown away with how amazing this restaurant actually is. We ordered the hush puppies which were so yummy. Then I had the fried chicken strips (same batter as fried chicken) and a few other items on the menu. The food was fabulous. Try there craft cocktails and absolutely eat the chicken! The atmosphere is easily casual and later back but has a cool Portland flare. Thank you screen door our first time will definitely won't be our last!
(5)
Ruben G.
facebook.com/events/1419… An event you never want to attend !! This event was so poorly organized and over priced . They charged $40 for day of the event and had nothing to offer but a hot rooftop parking lot!! Chips,salsa,veggies and pizza in a box!! I heard an announcement that the next poker game was at 6:00pm. Marketing was horrible!!
(1)
Johnathan W.
Ok I've been wanting to go here for years but the line is crazy long on the weekend for breakfast, now I know why. Flits a great space for kids (mines 15months old), groups or just a single person. The menu is great and there is something for everyone here and if you don't see something on the menu, like a ham and cheese and spinach omelet, they will make you it. There is no kids menu but they will adapt the portion size for kids which is awesome. When you make sure you order at least 2 orders of the praline bacon. So good you might get diabetes from it, but so worth it!! The portions are amazing and I'm a big guy so that says something when I couldn't finish my breakfast. Price vs values is perfect. You get more than your money's worth!! We can't wait to come back!'
(5)
Scott C.
A great Portland spin on Southern Food. A small intimate venue, patrons will often have to wait for a table. It is ok though because their beer selection is good and the food is worth the wait! Grits and shrimp, fried Chicken and Greens!
(4)
Jill M.
From the minute that we drove up, I knew that this was going to be n experience. There was a line all the way down the block! People wait in line here for hours and now, I know why. The food is amazing. The hush puppies are excellent and their chicken, WOW. When my husband and I got home from our weekend in Portland we immediately started researching buttermilk chicken and made some. I cant wait to go back!
(5)
Arnold P.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, that's some amazing chicken and equally amazing hot sauce. The garlic mashed are so perfect and the greens deserve an award of their own. Hot damn, I need a chicken fix quick...Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!
(5)
Rob L.
So finally braved the lines to check out this place for a weekday breakfast. Line goes faster than we anticipated. Breakfast was very good and the chicken n waffles are a must. Service was good and everyone was super nice despite being so incredibly busy. But all in all, there are so many other fabulous places to eat in Portland that it doesn't seem like we will bother waiting in line again.
(4)
Jen R.
This is easily my favourite breakfast place in all of Portland. We got here early on a Monday and it was pretty desolate. We sat outside in the cute little patio area and put our order in. Praline bacon, chicken & waffles, and Bananas Foster French toast. We also both got a coffee (Stumptown, yaaaas). Our food came out with no problems and we dug in. GOOD LORD. Everything was so rich and so delicious, there is no way I would have been able to eat here every day. But then again... The praline bacon was so decadent. You'd think that a few slabs of bacon coated in brown sugar and pecans would be sweet but it wasn't that sweet at all. It worked really well together, but man was it rich. The chicken & waffles were excellent. Despite being a born-and-raised Midwestern girl, I consider myself somewhat of an expert on chicken & waffles and these were one of the best versions I've had by far. I was also pleasantly surprised by the sweet potato waffle. I had it by itself and it tasted like pumpkin, which was perfect. My husband's bananas Foster french toast was delicious and not too sweet. It was too much for him to finish and we had a plane to catch so we didn't take it to go. This is definitely on the list of "drop by again" the next time we're in PDX.
(5)
Angie J.
I have a confession: for the last few years I believed the hype on this place to be, well, hype. So I avoided it. And I'm a dummy. The food, the drinks, the vibe... Totally deserving of it's reputation. Our portion sizes were enormous, and since everyone at the table ordered different things, we got to sample a lot. The only downfall I would say is the wait for a table. We got there late on a Monday night and still had 45 minutes to stand outside and salivate before getting in. Still, you can have a beer while you wait so not all is lost. Just don't come starving, and you'll be fine!
(5)
Mat V.
Hands down, one of the best places in Portland. If you love good southern food, welcome home. The fried chicken is the best i've ever had in my life. Seasoned perfectly, crispy on the outside and still tender and moist in the center. Wonderful staff and incredibly consistently delicious food.
(5)
Michael L.
OHHHHH MYYYYY. Deep fried nirvana. The greasy goodness is still leaking from my pores...in fact, I no longer need lube when I'm touching myself and thinking about that fr...fr...friiiiieddd chiiiicken. I just had a food-gasm
(5)
Dashiell B.
Rolled in around 10 on a Friday (for breakfast) wrote my name in the weight list and walked next door to grab a coffee. While talking to my family they call our name ( no more than 20-30 mins) Service is friendly, food is affordable, well seasoned and delicious. I'll make it easy. Go here, get anything you want ( chicken and waffles are amazing though ) and get a side of praline bacon. You will not be disappointed.
(5)
Asa J.
I want to love it and there is lots of goodness here, but the portions are unnecessarily large and the quality is above average at best. See what I mean. I do not complain about a large portion but with the fried chicken for example it's too much to eat while it's hot and then it turns into a cold mess with everything else on the plate. Also the fried chicken isn't the best to begin with. They make a good sazerac. Gumbo was great. It's worth checking out once or twice but that long line is not representative of what actually happens once you're seated and eating. It's good for a group brunch when the company and conversation can out shine the food.
(3)
Billy B.
awesome chicken and waffles, be prepared they are HUGE
(4)
Marsha H.
The fried chicken was delicious--crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and only slightly greasy...almost as good as my mother's (high praise, indeed). I would give it 5 stars, which explains my overall rating. However, the biscuits and gravy were an inedible mess with no flavor, despite being full of salt and grease. Biscuits should be small, light, and tender. I am not certain what I was served, but it was not a biscuit. It was an enormous, heavy wad of flavorless yellow something (cardboard?), which arrived at table smothered in gravy. (Note: Gravy is not soup; NO ONE needs a whole plate of it. Come on!) Cream gravy should be light in color and texture, savory with pan drippings (preferably bacon), peppery (black pepper), and served in small quantities, like a condiment. This concoction was heavy, gray, lumpy, too salty, and overflowing the plate. I ate the chicken happily and left the rest. (It is possible that I am being too harsh because I miss my mama's southern cooking, and this was just "different.")
(3)
Tom M.
I leave with a full belly and empty wallet. I got the catfish and mac and cheese really good but 14.00 dollars the wife got grits and shrimp she loved them good place .
(4)
Jessica L.
This place is probably one of my favorite restaurants of all time. I'll spare you the details and cut to the chase. Wait time: worst part. It was super packed, even at 8:30pm on a Wednesday. We waited 20 minutes for a table but then another 30+ minutes for our food. The food made it ok though. Chicken tenders appetizer: best chicken tenders I've ever had in my life. I eat a lot of chicken tenders. THESE WERE BOMB. We both got a screen door plate, I'll review each part. Mac n cheese: delicious as fuck. Can't say it's the best I've ever had but it's pretty damn up there. Cole slaw: probably the best cole slaw I've ever had. Mashed potatoes: solid, nothing special. Chicken wings and drumsticks: mediocre compared to the appetizer tenders. Catfish: kinda low on flavor. Nothing amazing but good. Overall would highly recommend chicken tenders, coleslaw and Mac n cheese. The chicken plate is probably really darn good, given how good the tenders were. Will try that next time.
(5)
Kylar W.
OMG! this place is so good! WOW, you have to come here! Great Service too!
(5)
Hannah P.
I love the screen door! I have been here a hand full of times and the food has always been great. I would suggest starting your meal with the wonderful butter lettuce salad. Go with people who will want to share because you will want to try a bit of everything.
(5)
Zak W.
Super yummy! I suggest coming on an early weekday morning. The line and wait can get ridiculously long. Also, it takes them a while to get you your food (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), so the wait at your table can be kind of lengthy as well. Main point of this story is to make sure you don't come when you're starving because you will definitely be waiting. About the food... It is awesome!! I got the chicken and waffles, and the people I came with got an order of the biscuits and sausage gravy, and an order of the bacon waffle. The chicken and waffles were soooo good. You have the choice between one, two, or three pieces of fried boneless chicken. I would suggest just getting one piece because the chicken is so large. But if you're feeling super hungry, go for the two or three pieces. The waffle was really great as well and is large. The biscuit and sausage gravy was amazing as well although I would suggest the chicken and waffle over it. And the bacon waffle was good but wouldn't suggest just ordering that because the only meat on the plate is the piece of bacon, but it taste like candy because all the maple and pecans on it. Also, we ordered large mimosas and bloody Mary's. The mimosas are in a full 12oz glass as well as the Bloody Mary. I suggest ordering a Bloody Mary because 1) it was super yummy and 2) most of the food is really sweet so the Bloody Mary balances that better than a mimosa. Overall, this place is a win. Definitely check it out.
(5)
Tony Y.
I'm in the camp of this place being overrated. Went on a Tuesday at 11am and so was not as busy as I've read on other Yelp reviews. Took 20 minutes to get seated and another 10 for someone to recognize we were actually there. Daughter had the vanilla French toast with little vanilla flavoring. Wife had the chicken sandwich with Mac'n'Cheese and was happy with her plate. I ordered a basic a la carte breakfast of bacon and eggs, toast and potatoes which came lukewarm but the bacon (crispy) was good.
(3)
tatiana p.
Screen door was so delicious! I cannot wait to go back! My boyfriend had the brisket hash which he thoroughly enjoyed. I couldn't resist the banana fosters French toast. I ordered a half portion which was plenty. I think next time I would ask for the maple syrup on the side just so it's not smothered, but I did eat every bite. I also had a biscuit with the veggie gravy to enjoy some savory food in addition to the French toast. The mushroom gravy was amazing! I want to try to recreate it for thanksgiving. My boyfriend loved it too. I would definitely go back to screen door. However, I was very full and needed to take a nap after. Literally, I canceled my plans and took a nap instead. It was worth it though.
(5)
Cindy B.
If you haven't been to the Screen Door you are totally missing out! The food is awesome and the staff is so friendly!! So glad they are now open every day for breakfast.
(5)
Peter T.
Fried chicken is not even close to the top 5 fried chicken experiences I've had in my life. I only got to choose one restaurant in Portland for a late dinner and I chose here. I guess I'm the idiot, did I really expect fried chicken in Portland to compete with the best places of the south? The sides weren't better, potatoes and gravy were completely average. Also, they should serve their waffles and chicken all day and night, thats the only reason I was eating the potatoes with my chicken instead. Probably won't plan on coming back.
(3)
R W.
First visit to Oregon and had to try this place due to the rave reviews! It did not disappoint! We attempted on a Sunday evening and the line had formed before opening. Went back Monday night late and was seated in 10minutes. The food does not come out quick per the disclosure on the menu but is piping hot! Had the shrimp and grits, chicken wings, Mac n cheese and gumbo. The gumbo was not what I expected, had a beefy flavor but everything else was delish! It is very loud inside.
(5)
Kate W.
Yum! If you can get over the pain of waiting in line, it's worth said wait. They always have great daily specials and the chicken and waffles are, of course, amazing. Be prepared to go into a food coma post-chicken and waffles, though, as the portion is gigantic.
(5)
Michael V.
Best fried chicken anywhere! No bones, not sure how they do it but thank you!
(5)
Rose M.
This place gets a top rating for good reasons. We went to the Screen Door on Tuesday night and it was already packed to the gills. We ordered a drink at the bar and were seated just as we were finishing our drinks. I ordered the fried chicken livers, which were perfectly authentic to my memories of fried utopia living in Georgia. The chili sauce was delicious but was better used on the sweet potato fries. My wife and I shared the fried chicken plate with coleslaw, mashed potatoes, and ham gravy. It was good that we sat at the bar, because we demolished everything in front of us and the bartender was our only witness. The chicken was cooked to perfection sans bones and the ham gravy was so good, I just spooned it directly into my mouth. Both of us left so stuffed that we woke up still full this morning. It was like having your southern mom cook you a home cooked meal when you come home from college. I am still thinking about it.
(5)
Justine M.
Ah, Portland's beloved Screen Door. The one that everyone has been raving about. In fairness to the restaurant and its rep, I went for dinner. I did not experience THE Screen Door Brunch. That said, surprisingly average. Mint Julep -- I will say, that is a strong-ass drank. If you're looking for some hair on your chest and a DUI on the way home, singe one of these cool refreshing minted explosives down your gullet and start practicing your best breathalyzer copout. There was some sort of cheese pimento appetizer. Think cheese ball. Then think, don't bother. The portions here are so huge. What is to appetize? Don't do it. Also, if you were wondering just how exciting a cheeseball could even get, the answer is, not very. Did not order the fried chicken, but it looked like this would be your money order. Huge portion. Looked perfectly brown. Catfish was good. I'd say above average, but with a flatline pitch to my voice that shouldn't get you out of bed early in anticipation or anything. Mac n cheese was also above average. Pretty good. But this is the city's go to for homestyle southern food. as THE spot . . . I have had better, and they should do better. Corn bread was corn bread. Mashed potatoes probably not the thing to order. They're just, albeit good, mashed potatoes with a dainty little jigger of gravy on the side. Get the greens instead. It's cute that they offer a menu full of light greens as side options. I initially thought this wasn't the sort of thing I'd order at this kind of restaurant, but given the fact that I had leftovers for 3 days, it might be a good idea to pick a side with less coma-i-causing weight to it. All in all. If you want southern food, head south. I'd come back for breakfast if I weren't deathly afraid of the wait time not paying off.
(3)
Don F.
Very good food and lovely wait staff.
(4)
Jared W.
The chicken and waffles are amazing! The place is always busy and there is usually a wait, but it is one of my favorite places to go for brunch or dinner.
(4)
Van T.
I think this place is overrated. We didn't have to wait too long. We ordered the gumbo, chicken n waffle, rockfish sandwich and Mac n cheese. The gumbo and rockfish sandwich was so salty...sheesh. The Mac n cheese was pretty bland. The chicken was salty but then if u eat with the waffle...it may help it a little bit. The service was good...except they forgot my root beer but then I reminded him and he said it was on the house...which was sweet. I do like the setup...casual vibe.
(3)
Ryan F.
pretty overrated
(3)
Frankie C.
Delicious fried chicken. Even tried and liked the fried catfish... and I hate fish! We lined up 15min before dinner service started, and was able to get a table for eight. Fair price, absolutely delicious food. Server was pretty friendly, but felt slightly rushed... There is a line out the door so I can't blame them.
(5)
Melody D.
A very long wait for an ok breakfast...
(2)
Emily W.
I think their price for catfish is a little ridiculous and it wasn't anything amazing. I haven't been for brunch because I refuse to wait in line for 3 hours to eat. Is any food worth waiting 3 hours? One of these days I'll try brunch there. Maybe.
(3)
Lisa Z.
Super delicious. Stood up to the hype.
(5)
patrick m.
It's simple, the food is amazing. Sure it's a bit crowded and there's usually a line, but what else would you expect with food this good.
(5)
Erin A.
it feels a bit silly to write a review for an already so-well loved brunch spot, but I finally went here and have to agree that this place is worth the hype. We went to brunch on a freakin' WEEKEND morning here. Wow, crazy idea, huh? They open at 9 am, we were there at 8:50am and there was already a long line around the corner and down the street. It took them about 30 minutes to fill up the restaurant with the first wave of folks lined up, and we JUST missed the cut off. But it was only another 30 min or so after that when we were seated. So a total wait time of about an hour and ten min, which is NOT bad for a weekend brunch waiting time. It would be best to show up around 8:20ish and then you're pretty much guaranteed a less than one hour wait. But then you have to wake up earlier so maybe not worth it to save just a bit extra on the wait time. (I'm thinking way too hard about this..) I had the oyster po' boy, as did my friend. My husband had biscuits and gravy. I don't know what else to say except everything tasted absolutely amazing. Portions are GIGANTIC. I ate most of the po' boy and did not eat another meal that day (I had to eat some snacks but I never felt super hungry again that day!). The oysters were lightly fried but you could clearly taste the fresh oyster flavor quite strongly. The eggs are over medium but jut runny enough to perfectly mix in with the sauce and oysters. The bacon was perfectly crunchy and salty. The service was extremely professional and courteous, quick to keep refills on water and coffee. They know how to handle these kinds of busy mornings and do a great job of manning the tables efficiently. This is so important. Oh god, I wish I could eat it all over again right now but it's a bit of a special occasion that needs a bit of planning ahead to make sure you don't end up with a 2.5 hr wait.
(5)
John H.
Fantastic noodles. The chicken was nearly too good. There is no place on Earth that can produce such a great product and experience. My only complaint is that they charge far too little. (Give a BIG tip)
(5)
Marisol J.
While the food is definitely good, I think this place is overrated. It's considered by many "the best southern cuisine in portland," but I don't particularly see anything special about it. Really cool atmosphere, service is great and portions are huge but there are other places in Portland I would recommend if it's Southern food you're in the mood for.
(3)
Rod M.
Great food!
(5)
Billy F.
There is a LOT of great food in Portland. All sorts of cuisines and styles of top notch food here. My list of favorites is a dozen or so. But when someone asks what the best food in Portland, there is no question in my mind. Screen Door and more specifically, Screen Door Fried Chicken (dinner order or with waffles as brunch). The other food, especially the catfish and Mac and Cheese are also wonderful, as is pretty much everything I have ever ordered there, but the fried chicken is life changing. It is perfect each time I go and I crave it regularly. The wait for it certainly can add up. An hour to 1.5 hours seems to be the standard wait for a party of 4 for dinner. Wait for 2 tends to be a bit quicker (30-45). I had convinced myself it is not worth waiting for after not having been away for a year when doing college elsewhere. Nope. Wrong. I'd wait and I do wait, because it is worth it. There is no substitute and time flies when you are drooling, think about fried chicken and seeing the iconic Portlandia that is South East.
(5)
Rose U.
Love, love this place!!! i crave the chicken n waffles and will get the waffles w the bacon in it. Anything you order is outstanding.
(5)
Adrienne H.
This meal was not worth the hour-long wait. I don't understand all the hype. My server forgot to put our food and drink order in, so not only did I wait for an hour to be seated, but I waited OVER AN HOUR for food. Seriously, an hour and a half for fried chicken on a biscuit with gravy. Could've done it myself quicker. Not only that, but she didn't discount anything. Coming from someone who is a veteran to the service industry, that's unacceptable. I didn't get my drinks until I was done my meal and still paid over $50 for shitty service and mediocre food. I went back and got something to-go a few days ago- I was ready to give them another try. They didn't include napkins, utensils, or the side that came with the food. Definitely never visiting again.
(3)
Callie R.
Screen Door is a must if you're in Portland and like southern food. If you already know that fried chicken, collard greens, mashed potatoes, and banana-toffee pie isn't you're thing--Screen Door will likely cause you to reconsider. With that said, this restaurant is a little infamous, with its lines out and around the block it's become a sort of tourist destination. My suggestion, order take out. Get your fried chicken plate to go. Grab a sweet tea while you're paying and waiting for them to box it up for you. Southern comfort food is no less southern and a lot more comfortable when you're not waiting upwards of two hours from arrival to receiving appetizers. If you're dining in, try their cocktails they are just as delicious as you imagine them to be.
(4)
Greg L.
This place was incredible. The food was way too good. We decided to completely go off our usual diet and we were glad we did. The fried chicken, catfish and the banoffee pie were probably the best things I have eaten in awhile. Definitely will go back. The wait was a bit, but it was worth it.
(5)
Michelle A.
I've heard so many things about this fab place and just had to give it a try for breakfast. I have heard there is always a wait, so we arrived right at 9am. Sure enough there was a long line, but they shuffled us in within 10 or so minutes. We were within the "first wave". Once the place was full, I could definitely see how a wait is probably eminent. Tip #1-Arrive before 9 if you don't want to wait. The ambience was fun, but it was a little cramped and definitely too loud. The prices were decent and the portions were plentiful. I ordered the infamous chicken and waffles and it was delicious. There were 3 perfectly fried chicken breasts on the top of a sweet potato waffle with a knife holding it all in place. The chicken was spicy and a little peppery, and perfectly cooked. The waffle was average, nothing noteworthy. This dish is certainly big enough to share, or if not sharing plan on lots of leftovers. My friend ordered the biscuits and sausage gravy. The gravy was full of flavor and obviously made from scratch. My friend wasn't fond of the biscuits because they weren't really "biscuits". They weren't dense or crusted on top like a traditional biscuit. However, I LOVED them because I am not a biscuit fan and they were definitely different. They were light, fluffy and full of air, reminded me of the texture of coffee cake more than a biscuit. The hot chocolate was real and amazing and the other meals looked equally as delicious. Would I go back? Probably, if I was in the area, but I certainly wouldn't drive that far again unless it was for a special occasion. I think it is definitely one of the better breakfasts in PDX, but I don't think I would crown it the "best". I think that everyone should give it a try at least once. It's definitely got the Portlandia feel for sure.
(4)
Kristin M.
My favorite dining establishment in Portland, six years running. They have never disappointed me.
(5)
Kiyana K.
This is the best place in town it so good Go there if u like chicken and Mac & cheese
(5)
Liberto J.
We had the chicken and waffle, bacon praline, and some other old time brunch faves... all were really delicious!!! The portions are humongous and will definitely fill you up. For the chicken and waffle, you actually got THREE (3) giant pieces of fried boneless chicken breasts... all really juicy and tender! The bacon praline was to die for... the contrast between the saltiness of the bacon and the sweetness of the caramelized sugar, and the crunchiness of the praline made this bacon out of this world... definitely a must try... the wait can be long, but worth it and there is a little local coffee shop next door where you can sit and relax while waiting...
(5)
Karin L.
Turn around. Don't look at me!-I'm getting all embarrassed. Gimme a sec? Okay, I'm better now. Whew! (Fanning myself) Things were getting a little racy there, for a second... You see, we all know food is SUPPOSED to be down and dirty. When the food is so damn good, we couldn't care less that we're making THOSE noises at the table. We all know what food CAN be. And then sometimes, we get lucky. (Wink!) Want something to get you started? Try the praline bacon (baked in the oven with maple syrup, cayenne and pecans) or the bananas foster french toast. But my absolute favorite is the Eggs Sardou. Basically, it's Eggs Florentine, but with artichoke heart. Sexy. So good! They're specials are always delicious, and seasonal. And if that strange chicken and waffles thing is YOUR thing? Well, I have heard that it's pretty darn delicious here. Ya weirdo. (Double wink!) The staff is always efficient and friendly, the drinks are delish, the coffee is yummy... and the line sucks, but the food makes it worth it. I just love this place. I take all my out of town guests here, and when they come back to visit, they always want to come back to Screen Door. (And hopefully to visit me, as well.)
(5)
Lo G.
Both times I've been here, the food has been fine, once you get it. The long wait to get a seat and finally order and eat takes away from the food experience, frankly. A solid 4 stars for the food dwindles to three stars for the long wait.
(3)
Kim E.
Pretty delicious food but damn the wait can be tough. Chicken and waffles are delish.
(4)
A K.
HA Poor excuse for Southern food! Everyone raved about it so being from Texas and missing my southern food I had to try it. It was TERRIBLE!!! So disappointed and we will not go back.
(2)
Kristina G.
Amazing fried chicken. AMAZING!!!!! Best collard greens I've had in Portland, or maybe ever. Mashed potatoes so flavorful that they didn't need the gravy. Reasonable prices for the high quality and large portions. Great wine list. If you are just a party of 1 or 2, I recommend sitting at the bar. We did that on a Sunday evening and received great service plus the added bonus of getting to watch the bustle of the restaurant and kitchen.
(5)
Heather W.
i will start out stating that my opinions of my meal are strictly subjective on my body and taste and chose selection... SO screen door appears to be a bit famous, eh? line around the block for sunday brunch and a 30 minute wait at opening because we were too far back in line and didnt make the first seating. no worries because the coffee house next door is delightful to grab a latte and chill on a dilapidated couch =) the people flock here for chicken and waffles -- and I had never had so of course I had to try! and this is where i state that since Ive never had before, I dont have anything to compare to and will stricting describe on taste: i came...i saw...i wouldnt order the chicken and waffles again. mainly because, it wasnt all that memorable....but maybe quite traditional? the waffle was just really unimpressive. thin, and not crisp at all. the chicken, i will say, was VERY moist and perfectly prepared as delicious fried chicken. i just dont know what all the jazz about chicken and waffles is after this experience...which either says, i dont prefer it or have the experience level to know how well they do it. people seem to love them here. but seriously, that waffle was lackluster. huge portion though... i would share it! we also got a side of bacon, which my friend remembered and very thick cut and to me it was just slices of bacon. if i was to get any, the other more jazzy bacon seems ideal. they have some great specials and other options on the menu. like... bananas fosters french toast!!! i was so close to getting that but had to do the famous C&W. ah well. next time (maybe).
(3)
Claire R.
This is one of my top 5 favorite restaurants in Portland. The service is always attentive and friendly (unfortunately a rarity here in Portland) while the food is always delicious, regardless of what dish you order. In addition to amazing seasonal specials and rotating fresh choices, the portions are large and reasonably priced, especially for the level of popularity this restaurant has reached. I definitely recommend Screen Door wholeheartedly. Now that I've been living in Portland for the last year, we go about once a month for a special treat or when we have friends or family in town. I actually did a blog post on the restaurant back when I was still living in Denver: themakeuparchitect.blogs…
(5)
Anthony B.
I don't understand the massive hype behind this place. Had we not waited 1.5 hours (which we expected) I probably would have been much happier. But with that much expectation I expected to be wowed with every bite. My buddy and I came here for some brunch after a lovely night out on the town. We saw the massive amount of reviews for this place and decided that it must be worth the wait. We were wrong. It's hard to comment on the decor when everyone is jammed in so tightly and we get crammed into a corner on the patio. The service was ok. About par for the course at such a busy place. Being from out of town the 2 of us shared the praline bacon and hush puppies and each got an entree. The fried chicken and waffles is enough to feed two people easily. We ended up with so much food, which is great if you are a local, but if you are a tourist beware. The praline bacon was strange and frankly a waste of bacon. The hush puppies were actually really good. A dash of crystal and some syrup was the perfect topping for them. The fried chicken was above average but not by much. And I was excited about the prospect of a sweet potato waffle but I couldn't taste the sweet potato. And it was sub par in other aspects. They do make a kick ass Ramos Gin Fizz. Which will cure whatever ails ya.
(3)
Robert F.
Been here a few times now. Superb every single time. They are NOT messing around here. Come very hungry and bring your stretchy pants ;) Here's what I've tried: Fried Chicken (duh) (a must have) Boneless, tender and perfectly seasoned Catfish-who knew catfish was so good Jambalaya (better then the Gumbo in my opinion) Gumbo-soso in my opinion but maybe I'm not into Gumbo Cornbread-very savory cornbread and I prefer a little sweeter but its still good Beet Salad-probably would skip next time. Its not that it wasn't good just took up precious room in my stomach for more fried chicken. Collard Greens-eat with a bite of chicken dipped in gravy which they serve on the side and you will pretty much get the perfect bite. Their drinks are Southern fun and I've tired the Scarlett O'Hara and the Mint Julep. They have good local beer on tap and a great selection of Whiskey. Its packed all the time so be prepared for that. You can slide into the bar once and a while without a wait but get in line by 4:30 during busy times or you will be waiting a while. I do wish the restaurant was a little larger so the wait times weren't so crazy or if they took reservations that would be even better. Tip: They do take reservation for parties larger then 6 but you have to call a few days ahead bc there is only 1 or 2 tables that you can get.
(5)
Rosalie H.
Amazing chicken and waffles and shrimp and grits. Arrive 30 min before opening there will be a line but worth the wait.
(5)
Diane J.
Went here for brunch and loved it. We are practically regulars here! Recently returned from a trip to Nola and missing the southern food and hospitality so decided a visit to screendoor would fix that. We were right! Everything was perfect except for the wait. But can't blame them for that, Portland doesn't mind waiting for quality. Great food, service & atmosphere. We will definitely be back soon.
(5)
Captain B.
The food here is incredible. I'm bummed I'm only visiting a short time because there are more dishes on the menu I really want to try out... I really need to try the chicken and waffle next time around. Our waiter was super cool and professional. It's a long wait for brunch, as this is a super popular place (rightfully so), so beware of that. We will return...one day.
(5)
Jordan W.
Good Quality -- Good Service -- Good Price (pick two) Screen Door chose Service and Price. That's not to say the food's bad, it's just nothing special. But to their credit, the portions are enormous. Everyone in my party left satisfied and full.
(3)
Mindy D.
Great food at very reasonable prices for the amount and quality they serve. One order of fried chicken and waffle was more than enough for my sis and I to share. My tip---- bypass the LONG, LONG, LONG wait by ordering takeout. I promise it's just as good. My chicken and waffle were still crispy and delicious eaten at home without the 1.5-2 hour wait. Did I mention the wait is long?
(4)
Lindsey G.
I don't care if I have to wait an hour for brunch here. Their food is delicious. Get the praline bacon or you will regret it. I am from the South, and I would say this is cajun influenced southern comfort food. Everywhere all over the south has different types of comfort food, this is a good mix. The service is good and it is not too expensive. Good cocktails, too. I've been here for brunch and dinner, and preferred brunch. The chicken and waffles is big enough to share. Order a few different things and split it up with your table. I can't wait till I get to wait an hour again to eat here. It is one of my fav spots I've been to in Portland.
(5)
Dmitriy K.
WOW love this place!!! Best food, friendly atmosphere!!! Highly recommended!!!
(5)
Violet T.
Best Mac & Cheese ever! Be prepared for a wait, but it is well worth it. Try going on Monday at 8:30 and your wait won't be as long.
(5)
Melissa A.
VERY YUM! There was a long wait (which we were advised of before we went) so we decided to call in an order for pick up and eat it elsewhere. And I am soooo glad we did. Fried Chicken & Waffles - Everyone devoured them as soon as they hit the table (I personally didn't have some) Bananas Foster French Toast - Delicious, not too sweet and the caramelized bananas were amazing. Texas Migas - Very good. The green chiles and the salsa verde made it very tasty and the biscuit was light and fluffy.
(4)
Jules T.
In a city filled with great places for brunch, Screen Door is by far my very favorite! Yes, the wait is typically very long (30 to 90 minutes), but to me, it's always worth it. While it's not family dining style seating, it's a little tight in there, and there always seems to be a line for the (one stall) bathrooms). But the staff has always been friendly and funny, and the food... oh my! The food! I have tried a variety of items on the menu, and everything was good to amazing, but I always go back to the Chicken and Waffles (which should actually be named Chickens and Waffle, since you get three large chicken breasts on top of one perfectly crisp delicious waffle.) That fried chicken... is THE BEST I've ever had. Just the right amount of spice, perfectly battered and cooked to juicy perfection! And since the portions are large I usually (by default) over-order and end up bringing the rest home and eating it for dinner, too. I have no problem with this. I've never had anything I *didn't* like at Screen Door, but some of my other favorites / stand outs: The Cajun Scramble Praline Bacon Waffle Bananas Foster French Toast Biscuits and Gravy From the bar: The Bloody Mary's are slightly spicy and delicious. The Spanish Coffee was the best I'd ever had. And I like to order one my favorite whiskey or vodka with Screen Door's perfect, not-too-sour-not-too-sweet, lemonade. And at dinner: The Smoked & BBQ'd Beef Brisket The Mac and Cheese The Bacon & Hock Collard Greens Whenever I have friends visiting from out of town on the weekend, I always bring them here. No one has ever been disappointed, and everyone always says the wait was worth it, in the end. Besides, while you wait you can get a yummy Bloody Mary (or other cocktail/beer of your choice) and/or (free) coffee from the bar!
(5)
Bryan A.
There is hype over this restaurant which is leading to over rated reviews. The wait to get in was fine, but the food and service didn't make up for it. We were seated way before tables around us but ended up getting our food much later than any of the other tables. Our food delivery was staggered which didn't make much sense, it's like they couldn't get it out of the kitchen all at the same time. I had the eggs sardo, even though my food came out first everything under my poached egg was cold...the creamed spinach was cold and beginning to solidify, and the artichoke heart was pickled and cold...which means that it came out of a jar somewhere. It was an unpleasant taste/texture combination. I wouldn't have actually gotten it if it said that the artichoke was pickled in the menu. My wife had the bananas foster which was ok, but overly sweet. My daughter got her food 8 minutes after ours came out, it was a waffle which was ok, nothing worth waiting that long for. People around use were happy with their food, but I feel like it was more of a placebo effect since they were expecting it to be great.
(2)
Tru Y.
This place is worth the wait!! Even with the rain pouring and we arrived 15 minutes before they opened at 9am, the line was crazy. Definitely a spot that we recommend and would return to if we come back to Portland. The food is that GOOD. No complaints. Best suggestion is for you to look the menu over online before you get there so you know what you want ahead. When you are seated, place your order. That's what we did and we were in and out of there in an hour. We got our food before everyone since majority people where still trying to decide what they want. Must get the Chicken and Waffle!!
(5)
Kelley H.
When I first moved to Portland, I had complete strangers regularly ask if I'd be to Screen Door yet. And now I get it. The lines & wait are absurd. So absurd that I want to knock off a star, but that wouldn't be fair to Screen Door - they're just doing their thing and cranking out delicious food. Like others have pointed out, TAKE-OUT is the way to go! All of the deliciousness, none of the standing in the cold and rain for an hour. I think Screen Door really excels at savory dishes (especially at brunch) - most of their french toast / pancake-y stuff is good, but not exceptional. But their eggs / chicken / hashes / etc? UNREAL.
(5)
Carli C.
Easily 5 stars! Arrived at 5:30 when they opened to avoid a wait. Started with the appetizer size shrimp and grits. It came with 4 good sized shrimp and some pieces of bacon which made it reasonably priced. It was very good the sauces in the grits mixed perfectly. For dinner I had the fried chicken and mashed potatoes which is so far the best fried chicken I have ever had. Mashed potatoes and gravy complemented the chicken well and tasted great. I subbed the collard greens for Mac and cheese per my taste and wow it was rich, creamy, and the crunchy cheese top was really good! Only con is that they box your left overs in the kitchen and when I got home to have another bite of my Mac and cheese I don't think it was mine because it had a weird spicy flavor to it.
(5)
Keith T.
Amazing amazing amazing. Best breakfast I have ever had. Waited for a long time to get a table and do not regret the wait at all. Go here do not miss out cause you are not willing to wait. There are some really cool places to shop around the corner. Highly recommend Screen Door.
(5)
Kim D.
We came for the chicken and waffles. My friend could not hide his excitement with trying this place out because he loves his fried chicken. Sunday brunch. Got seated here promptly. My friend and I both tried their chicken and waffles. First saw the couple at the next table get theirs. Damn...fat ass dish. Three huge pieces of fried chicken on top of a sweet potato waffle. The chicken did taste delicious. But I'm a fan of dark meat way more than the white. And I like some old fashion buttermilk waffles. But it was a tasty dish. Not going to say it was the best fried chicken I've ever had.... Other dishes tried were their fried oyster eggs Benedict. That tasted good enough. The fried oysters were more of a side. Not sure why I'd imagine it would be placed on top. Two others had the scramble. I tried some, it was tasty but not a real original dish. I kind of wish I tried the Shrimp and Grits. I've been back and forth between Charleston, SC the past year so it would have been nice to compare. Next time perhaps.
(4)
Greg S.
Wow, Thank you Screen door for feeding everyone. I am always blown away by you. Saturday night I ordered Fried chicken, Fried pork chops, mashed potatoes, and greens, Holly $#1^, food coma baby.
(5)
Lauren E.
This place is AHHHMAZZZING!!! If you want some fried chicken, a bloody mary, a waffle, any form of southern cookin' - GO TO SCREEN DOOR! The wait is absurd, but once you get in there and get to eatin', you're body releases this hormone that makes you forget you ever waited. :) Screen Door is a dining experience you have to carve time out for, be it a brekky or din din trip. There is always a wait, the meal is to be enjoyed, and you're gonna need a nap after because the portions are massive. The staff is very laid back, so be prepared for that if you're type A like myself. I am so impressed by the food and quality of service they provide, and am beyond happy that they've landed themselves in PDX. Thank you Screen Door. You keep doing you. ;)
(5)
Megan G.
Great amazing southern style cuisine. Huge portions- definitely can share meals. No need to order a full plate unless you are starving. Their fried green tomatoes with a spicy hollandaise sauce tossed with gulf shrimp in the summertime is to die for. Their cocktails are expensive and can be sucked down in 2 sips. maybe sneak in a flask of your own whiskey and just order lemonade. The waiters are kind of rude and too cool for school but its all good- its Portland. Just remember they don't take reservations and it is always packed so get there early when they open and enjoy.
(4)
Brian O.
The food is worth the wait and always perfect. Me and my wife eat here every time we can afford the calories. If you are looking for the best southern food in Portland you have found it.
(5)
Panteleigh A.
Absolutely the best fried chicken I have ever had. The service was great and a nice ambiance.
(5)
Lindsey L.
I hate waiting for 90 minutes! But the Bloody Mary and fried chx was soooooooo good! Shrimp and grits? With onions and cheese and ham? Where am I? Hubby and I ate here for our anniversary breakfast- our waiter brought us all kinds of stuff to try- we were thrilled. I want more!
(5)
Jenn S.
I had this last night... and I'm still thinking about it. I want to go back already and I want to try the brunch too. I went with a group, so I got to try the hush puppies, fried oysters, and pimento cheese. I love oysters, and the fried oysters were so satisfying!! honestly not the best hush puppies or pimento cheese i ever had, but still good. then i got the fried chicken (which is a huge plate!). i shared that with someone. and the mac and cheese is just amazing! so good. it's a side, but I would not be able to finish it because it's so dense. so delicious though. I also tried the gumbo which was okay. we also ordered the catfish, porkchops, and the jambalaya side. all were pretty good. the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese were just amazing amazing amazing.
(5)
Sofia V.
The food was delicious and fresh.
(5)
Ryan L.
There's a reason this place has 1600 reviews and a line around the block at 8am. This is some serious brunch. Some friends got in line for us at 8:20am so we could get a seat when they opened at 9am. The chicken and waffles are legendary. You get three huge pieces of chicken and a sweet potato waffle. The beau easily changed it for a regular waffle. I got the fried oyster eggs benedict. The oysters were cooked perfectly, and the hollandaise was real. It was one of the best hollandaise sauces I've ever had. Choose the potatoes over the grits or cheese grits. The cheese grits were ok, but not great. The potatoes are better. If they have hush puppies on special, get those. They are incredible. Overall, this is one of the best brunches I've ever had. It was delicious, the food was served quickly, the service was great. In my opinion, it's worth getting up early and waiting in line for this place.
(5)
Chelsea S.
Was fortunate enough to travel to portland twice in one year but was even more fortunate to a) discover this little gem of a place and b) return on my second trip. The first trip was with my dad who was born a d raised in Louisiana. That being said, he absolutely loved The Screen Door as did I. The food is very Southern Comfort-esque. Since I am writing this review 3 months after the last visit I can't remember everythingg ordered, but those little hush puppies are killer, make sure to ask for extra sauce upon ordering to save your server a trip back to the kitchen. The mac n cheese is also creamy goodness. And the fried chicken...mm killer!! There was nothing that anyone had either time i went, and yes i tried everything that was ever ordered, that was not good. I also remember ordering an alcoholic beverage, most likely something with rum or tequila as those are my go to, and it was also very tasty and strong, just the way i like 'em. The building, or little house that makes the restaurant is also so quaint and adds to ambiance of the meal. Anyways, whenever i'm lucky enough to make it back to portland I will most definitely wait an hour plus to eat here and enjoy myself whatever that drink was while waiting (:
(5)
Shanghai P.
Being from the South, I'll say if you're used to Southern prices, forget about it. Having said that, the Screen Door will NOT disappoint. There's a reason for the line, and it's not because they've been lied to! Try the eggs sardou - poached eggs on top of artichoke, covered in hollandaise...excuse me while I take care of something. This is also the ultimate place to try chicken and waffles!
(5)
Leah G.
Authentic southern experience. Love the atmosphere, the cheese grits are fantastic, and the fried chicken, just the right amount of spicy.
(5)
Rachel T.
Soooo good. The wait was so long, but we found this awesome little geek shop across the street that was a pleasant use of our time. We had brunch and it was literally the best breakfasty (I think I made that word up) type food we have ever had. I got the Croque Madam and it was recommended by the waiter. Glad I took his advice. The service was great too.
(5)
Lezley L.
Whether it be brunch or dinner, Screen Door needs no introduction. Personally I prefer their dinner service. Wait isn't as insane as their brunch but depends on the evening you go. Fried chicken & waffles or just Fried chicken dinner are both great. If you go for brunch, order the fried chicken on the praline bacon waffle if you're fancy! Also if you like beef, order the beef brisket. it just melted in my mouth. Although I would prefer to get another side instead of the potato salad, it was a little dry for me. Again this place needs no introduction as many of you have already experienced this place and is probably the best Southern food restaurant in PDX. However, I'm still searching!! PS - If you are starving prior to your arrival for Brunch, pack a snack you're going to be waiting a while ;)
(5)
Jean J.
We were told about an hour wait. It was about 45 mins and we'll worth it. Service is right on. The food is delish. My friend and I shared a large salad it was plenty and satisfying. We then had the steak special we sub collard greens for the broccolini, yum! We wanted dessert we just did not have room. Next time for sure. I recommend this joint. Come with a hefty appetite.
(4)
Noah U.
The taste of The Screen Door is akin to the second coming of Christ. It's just one rather expensive re-awakening. When you put any of these traditional Southern specialties into your mouth, there will be a taste that you will not forget. This would be great for any celebrations, and I look forward to coming back. Screen Door is very overpriced, however. The food is wonderful, but consider the value. For that occasion, don't hesitate to have their authenticity. I loved the atmosphere of sitting outside. I also loved the rocky mountain oysters. The service is friendly and I have come for special occasions. Each meal is very good and some have better portions than others. Occasionally, the wait will be well out the door as I experienced once. The bar will be loud, but outside is pleasant. They have several benches under a wrapped patio. I would happily have my birthday here. Screen Door is right for the occassional meal.
(4)
Yan L.
We came here for brunch. Had the chicken and waffles, as well as the corned beef hash. Both dishes were really good, and the serving sizes were huge. Definitely 4-star food. However, I knocked it down one start because I'm really skeptical as to whether the food is worth the wait. We sat there for a rather long while, and parking was difficult to find. If you have the time, that's good. At least the place had really nice decor (with all the jars of pickled food) to stare at while you waited.
(3)
Margaret S.
Drove down from Seattle. This was our first stop. My husband and I were so excited to try this place based upon the reviews. Had about a 30-40 minute wait but it was so worth it. I got the creamed spinach eggs Benedict (cant remember the title) but WOW it was delicious. Spinach was soooo good and the Hollandaise was very delicious and creamy. My husband had the steak and eggs scramble which was also great! Plus, they have awesome breakfast potatoes. Saw the chicken and waffles and boy did they look awesome. Way too much food for us through. Maybe next time. Thanks Screen Door for a great meal!
(4)
Katie P.
Delicious!!! This is the closest I can get to the tasty food I grew up with in Texas! Sure, you have to wait for at least an hour, but its always worth it!!
(5)
Claire G.
I was hesitant, mostly because this place looked expensive/hipster and I'm cheap and antisocial. But you can't ignore their fantastic rating. They not only supply a totally laid back environment, they are also very quick to acknowledge you at the door and quickly seat you. They're prompt to take the drink order, and they're ultra friendly and helpful with the menu's (new to this place? Have a preference about the cook of your food? They'll be sure to make you feel both welcomed and certain of your choice on the menu). I had the mac n cheese, the catfish, and a beef barley soup. This came with a massive brick of cornbread that was literally just about as fantastic as my grandmother's. I felt like Anton Ego, biting into the ratatouille (from Disney's Ratatouille- duh). I wouldn't have cared if there was a kitchen full of rodents making it. It was ambrosia. But the service-folk are NOT rodents. They're friendly folks who carry themselves well and are very friendly. We will be going back again this week and taking along a friend to try it for her first time. Oh, and the price? Wow... totally reasonable. Many years ago, I loved The Delta... It got a bit overrated for me there and I stopped wanting to pay for a diminishing quality. This is like The Delta's WAY WAY hotter sister who costs less ;)
(5)
Ryan S.
First in line. Get here at 5 if you want to get right in!
(5)
Angela A.
Gaaaa!! So GOOD!! I don't know what to say that has not already been said. Everything about Screen Door was fantastic, the service, the ambiance, the food. It was one of the best meals I have had. It was just what we needed after a long, hard, and very wet hike. We ordered the chicken, the brisket, mac and cheese, greens, mashed taters...all of it was amazing. We left so stuffed and so happy. The staff was super sweet. We had to move tables to make room for a larger party, so they comped our cocktails. I really thought that was necessary but we didn't hesitate to take them up on the offer. Our table was near the kitchen but I found it so interesting to watch. It was so busy but they are so efficient. It did not take long at all for our food to come out, and our server was very attentive. The chicken was my favorite. It was fried perfectly. The seasoning was on point, it was not greasy, and the texture was out of this world. The collards were some of the best I've had. My husband loved the brisket, it was a bit too smokey for me. Next time we are in Portland, and I hope that is soon, we are not missing a chance to dine at Screen Door. I recommend Screen Door to anyone in Portland. You will not be disappointed.
(5)
Tim S.
Awesome Fried Chicken and I dug the open kitchen layout. The place get's slammed so there will probably be a wait, but it's well worth it. Cheers to the Screen Door.
(5)
Aly C.
Came here for a brunch with a bunch of girlfriends and had the most lovely brunch!! They are BUSY! I'm very thankful that we got in right when they opened cause that line never died down. We started with a round of cocktails (that Bloody Mary is insanely good) and pumpkin biscuits. YUM! We all were absolutely thrilled with the food and the service was impeccable. Most of us left with a doggie bag, but who ever complains about leftovers? Can't wait to come back to try dinner!
(5)
Tom T.
Their chicken is the best I have had in the Portland area....Good ol southern fried chicken and their sides are excellent also! Another Place I will soon frequent. The only draw back is the wait.
(5)
Adam G.
Unbelievable! I'm from North Carolina and gave up hope that there was true southern food in the Pacific Northwest... UNTIL... The screen door experience. You have to try the fried catfish... Mind blowing!
(5)
Eunice D.
The real deal. Fried chicken: some of the best I've ever had Brisket: perfectly cooked and flavorful Mac and cheese: get it just for the left overs Mashed potatoes and gravy: mmmmmm Potato salad: horseradish addition makes this unique and awesome Green beans and collards: just right
(5)
Raymond H.
1 hr wait at 12 pm on a Sunday. Very crowded after seating and a bit difficult to talk. All in all I enjoyed the meal. The food was tasty, savory, sweet, filling etc. it's what you'd expect from this place. It's really a 3.5 for me, when measured against Tasty n Sons, but if you're looking for some southern Cajun brunch this place deserves 4.5 stars. Fried chicken is juicy and battered well. Corn dog is yummy but be careful of too much syrup. Oyster Benedict was great! Juicy juicy tender oysters. Croque Madame was ooey and gooey, rich in flavor, where I was worried about needing a coronary bypass. I rounded up bc it's great for what its intended cuisine, but I'd rather go to Tasty n Sons for something unique tasty and creative.
(4)
Amber H.
If you enjoy weeping tears of joy as you eat, then Screendoor is for you. Best fried chicken I've ever eaten in my life. Hands down. I literally eat until I can barely walk every time I'm lucky enough to go here. Epic high fives to all involved in it's awesomeness!
(5)
Nick N.
Being from the Gulf Coast, I know a good bit about Southern cuisine. The greens were flawless. The fried okra was breaded perfectly. The fried chicken was ever so crispy on the outside, but so succulent on the inside. The hush puppies pass muster, and even though I was skeptical about the pepper jelly, it works. The grits also meet the mark, and still likely bewilder the common northwesterner in their foreign goodness. Thumps up Screendoor!!! The only place I've sampled in Portland that captured authentic southern cuisine.
(5)
Sam H.
So very good!! Me and my girlfriend just ate there tonight! We showed up around 6pm and were seated by 6:20 which wasn't bad! We first got cocktails. They were very strong!! A little too strong for my liking. We both got the fried chicken! It was great!! The mashed potatoes were also great with the gravy! And the collards were the ONLY collard greens that I actually liked!!!
(4)
Chris C.
Fabulous comfort food, and perhaps the best fried chicken in the Northwest. Service is great, but get here early or prepare to wait for a table.
(5)
Trogdor B.
I don't think it's worth a two hour wait, but our plates were good. Chicken and waffles can feed a family of four and I enjoyed the huevos rancheros. Praline bacon was a novelty, but the cinnamon bun was good.
(3)
Alexandra C.
The fried chicken ins amazing here. I would recommend it to any one.
(5)
Robert B.
I barely know where to start! It was an amazing evening of great bars and great food. Yes, I was back in Portland, Oregon for a business meeting with colleagues from Portland and Seattle discussing the latest in technological wonder, chaos theory and Murphy's Law when we found ourselves in an ok bar just down the street from the office. Well, we barely got our drinks ordered when we realized we were at the wrong place for good drinks and good eats considering we are just a few miles away from culinary nirvana. Do I have your attention? Well, I'm talking about the Screen Door Restaurant on E Burnside St. which has incredible Southern cuisine, and they are the real deal! Everything on their menu is amazing. But before I talk about the food, let me give you some insight on how to get into this place with front row seating, which is extremely important because there is a line that starts at their front door sometimes thirty minutes or more before they open. You will want to get there a little bit early for a couple of reasons; waiting in line is a bad thing, however, waiting in line for their cuisine is completely worth it. But when the weather is bad and (we are talking about Portland after all) I have a few tips on when to jump in line for great seating from a far. If you're heading out with a group of friends or business colleagues there is my favorite Mexican restaurant and bar for twenty-one years of age or older called the Matador which has great food and great drinks (another Yelp! waiting to happen). They are kitty-corner from the Screen Door Restaurant with windows that line the wall facing E Burnside St that give you a great view of the line as it builds then bends around the corner, which it is at this point when you want to settle up your tab with the Matador and skedaddle across the street before the line gets too far beyond the bend. Hopefully, you will find this tip helpful! Now let's talk about the food. I have had the brisket, collard greens, pimento cheese, which are game changers in their own right, but their fried chicken, mash potatoes and gravy, nirvana. You get two chicken breasts that have been deboned but still have the skin on and fried golden brown to perfection with this crispy, crunchy goodness that somehow keeps the chicken moist and tender. Wow! It is so good you will for the rest of your life think of the Screen Door Restaurant when you think chicken. Thank you Screen Door Restaurant for the great memories and for being a great extension of my culinary community. P.S. Thank you David H. for the tip and another perfect introduction.
(5)
Ponarett X.
Maybe I ordered the wrong things, but I wasn't super impressed with Screen Door. After my sister raved about this place, I made sure to stop by on my recent trip to Portland. Everything on their menu sounded good and I finally decided on the Screen Door Plate with collard greens, catfish, savory bread pudding, and cornbread. The catfish was great and probably my favorite thing on the plate! Everything else was just okay. The bread pudding was so dense that I couldn't eat through most of it. The cornbread was dry and the collard greens were pretty standard. The couple at the bar next to me each ordered the fried chicken and as I saw plate after plate of the fried chicken leave the kitchen, I quickly regretted my dinner choice and had food envy the entire night. If I go back to Screen Door, I'm getting the chicken! The bartenders are really friendly and make some really good drinks! So definitely get a drink or when you visit.
(3)
Brian C.
Dinner Dec 2 Are you ready for some BOLD statements? #1) Best Fried Chicken I have ever had (sorry Grandma!) #2) Best Hushpuppies I have ever had (not gritty, with corn and green peppers!) #3) If this place was in Charleston, SC it would be giving Husk a run for the money as best restaurant in the Southeast! Some advice on if you go.... #1) The Fried Chciken is HUGE! Have someone else order something else so you can share, split both plates! #2) Like Anthony Bourdain, they have No Reservations, so there could be a line, be preared to wait! #3) Make sure you save room for desert! The Ban-Ofee Pie is incredible!
(5)
Kumi K.
I've been here twice now and the food has been great both times. This time around I got the infamous chicken and waffles and it's huge. Three pieces of fried chicken atop a round of waffles. The chicken is fried just right and the meat inside is moist and tender. There were three of us and we waited about an hour on a Sunday morning. That's the only reason I give it four stars, it's so dang good everyone wants some so you have to be patient and wait.
(4)
Linda C.
Finally picked a rainless day to suffer the long lines I'd heard about at Screen Door. We went for a late brunch and were told it would be about a 45 minute wait but it ended up being about 30 minutes; not too bad on a cold but sunny morning. The interior decor is nothing to write home about but the place is humming with happy customers. We were seated right next to the open kitchen area. The seating area was a little cramped but not claustrophobic. Our server was pleasant but she did forget to ask my hubby if he wanted something to drink so we had to ask her next time she was passing by. I ordered an Earl Grey tea (Harney & Sons - excellent quality) and hubby finally ordered a Hopworks IPA. For eats, we ordered two of the vegetarian options. Hubby got the blackened tofu & 3 egg scramble w/ garlic, peppers, onions, mushrooms & cheddar with wheat toast and potatoes. I got the root vegetable hash special with parsnips and a bunch of other goodies. Both meals were delicious and full of flavor. It didn't take long for them to arrive, or be eaten! Good value for money. I see why this place is so popular and would like to try them for dinner, if I can stand the long wait again.
(4)
Daniel L.
LOVE IT! Great service and great food! What else can I ask for?
(5)
Erica S.
I have been wanting to go to Screen Door for years and finally got my wish for a birthday dinner. We went on a Sunday evening, showing up 20 minutes before they opened. There were already 10-12 people in line when we showed up, and by the time they opened the door, there was easily 40 people total in line. We ordered the pork belly appetizer, which was good. I also ordered the Scarlet O'Hara cocktail, which was dangerously delicious. For entrees, I ordered the pulled pork sandwich, which I just thought was okay. My husband ordered the brisket which he felt was also sub-par. We had a side of macaroni and cheese which is by the far the best I have ever had in a restaurant, and I am kind of obsessed with mac and cheese. Our desserts were also ridiculously amazing. We got the banana cream pie and the pecan pie. Again these were the best I had ever had. I would definitely go back, especially since neither one of us order the fried chicken which is rumored to be some of the best in the city. We are not to sure about their barbecue options, but their other southern comfort dishes are the best I've ever had.
(4)
Chris B.
"Do you mind sitting on the patio this evening?" "Are you kidding? I will sit on the friggin curb out front if I have to" We figured out a trick to get around the huge lines... Were 20 miles away so when we just want the best mac n cheese or chicken in town we call repeatedly until one of the food gods can answer the phone and we order to go. Then get in our car drive over and pick it up. Where you sit doesn't matter, in your car will do. JUST.... GO.... HERE!
(5)
Tim Myvegas B.
I went to Gladstone Nissan and both Mikey and Chris Harshman were great no pressure to buy i am happy with my new Nissan Altima i would highly recommend them to anyone wanting to purchase a car.
(5)
Pilar D.
Oh-mi-GAWWWD! This place lives up to the local hype. Actually, is it hype if it's the truth? I was craving waffles or pancakes and some proteins. My friend, a local SE'er, said this is the best brunch place, especially for what I was craving. And it was. I had the orange ricotta griddlecakes and ordered an egg and the chicken apple sausage on the side. The grub really hit the spot. I then reached over the next plate-- my boyfriend's-- and tasted his beef hash. It was so savory and delicious. Fyi, that if you order the chicken and waffle, you are ordering A chicken and waffle. There is one waffle and then three huge chicken breasts on top of a waffle. You really will be getting a chicken. Great service, location, and ah-mazing food. TIP: Of all the places we visited in Portland, this was the only one that had the wait. Because we were ok with sitting outside on a 80+ degree day, we were able to get seated right away. However, although we arrived less than an hour to closing time, there were about three or four parties still waiting. So, if you are hungry, you might want to bring a snack so you don't get hangry, but not too much that you ruin your appetite or get full.
(5)
Elsie W.
FRIED OYSTER BENEDICT. That's it. That was the best fried oyster benedict I've ever had. I used to think NOLA was great for fried oysters but WOW THESE ARE HUGE! It came with 3 fried oysters and 2 poached eggs on top of bacon and toasted english muffins. It was perfect. Of course, it was an hour wait on a Saturday for 2. It was worth it. Also, $2.50 for unlimited Stumptown coffee is great.
(5)
Dorothy L.
The bf and I were undecided about what to eat for brunch on Saturday morning and after looking over the reviews, we decided on Screen Door despite the wait. We put our name down and walked a few blocks to get coffee. By the time we came back they had already called our name so we just waited a few more minutes and were seated. We went with the following: CATHEAD BISCUIT SANDWICH - Fried chicken breast between a biscuit bun topped with yummy gravy. We chose cheesy grits as a side, but got potatoes. Didn't send it back because we were hungry and love potatoes anyway..lol FRIED CHICKEN & WAFFLE - This comes with not one, not two, but THREE fried chicken breasts. That's nuts... and definitely sharable! I only ate half the sweet potato waffle and one of the chicken breasts. Woo.. lunch for the next day! The chicken was perfectly tender and the breading was deliciously seasoned. While these dishes were tasty on their own, the real MVP was Screen Door's house-made HOT SAUCE - yup, the mystery sauce in the unlabeled bottle. It's just spicy enough with a tangy sweet finish. After finding out that we couldn't purchase it, I had a burning desire to steal a bottle... Thankfully, the waitress packed us a couple ounces in a condiment cup. Screen Door, PLEASE start selling this!!! Service was attentive enough and everyone was very nice. Definitely good bang for your buck. We were really happy with our meal! I'd definitely make this a regular stop when I'm in Portland.
(5)
Carrie Z.
We traveled from San Francisco and were recommended by a friend to visit screen door. I loved their egg sardou! Perfectly poached eggs on creamy spinach and artichoke hearts, with delicious hollandaise sauce on top. My bf also loves his fried oyster benedict. But the wait was too long. We didn't have our food until one hour later
(4)
Kye B.
First of all, lemme say that I reserve my 5 star ratings for unbelievably rare and unique experiences that blend cuisine, ambience and what I call atmosphere (which is distinct from ambience. I view Ambience as the feeling that the establishment creates for its patrons; and I view Atmosphere as the feeling that the Clientele generates) All that being said, I LOVE THIS PLACE...and it may not be my reason for coming back to Portland, when I DO come back, I will be all up in the Screen Door Mixxxxxx! Loved the food. Loved the service. The staff? Precious!! I could go into a lotta detail but all I knew about this place before I went: Every time someone mentioned it, people either... 1. Hadn't heard of it at all (people like me...DUH, from out of town); 2. They'd heard about it and hadn't been but we're EAGER to go, and felt a little less Portlandy that they hadn't been yet. 3. The most popular response was, "I hate the wait, but I love the food!!" Which brings me to the only reason I can see for any sort of hesitating at all regarding eating here: People love this place and it's packed all the time. Think of it as a good thing. If you read between the lines, you'll figure out that people don't generally wait for 40 minutes for shitty food and a bad experience. So you may wait a bit, BIG DEAL, don't let THAT discourage you. Just in case, here are a coupla tips to help you navigate that part. If you have a party of 6 or more they can do reservations, SOOOO, I rounded up 6 friends and took my happy ass down there. Even then there was a bit of a wait, but cut 'em some slack, it was 11:30 on a Sunday morning. So one if my friends made a suggestion that I'll pass on: When we arrived, one person from our party checked in and got the 4-1-1 on how long it would be. The rest of us went to this relaxing little Coffeed House next door and enjoyed a cup of coffee and some conversation. The coffee shop is a bit of an extension of the Screen Door so by being there I felt like I was already in it. When we finally sat down at the picnic table on the patio I was ready to go and they did not tarry with our order. What really blew my mind was that, without even giving a thought to it, they gave each of us separate checks at our request. Screen Door, I'm a fan, fo' sho'
(4)
Ad G.
This place is always crowded. My 1st trip to Portland arrived too late for brunch (stop seating). I just knew it had to be good. On my next trip I arrived alone to guarantee a short wait (it can be 45 mins easy for 2-4 people). No wait was seated at the bar area. Staff is friendly as they can they are busy running around. They need to open another Screendoor this place is small and always crowded!! I ordered waffle & chicken had no idea it was that LARGE enough for three people. Come hungry!!!!! not impressive not as well as I expected...a little under cooked but outside fried (in old grease) thus coloring. Grew up on fried chicken the color on outside crispy tells if new or old grease. I hear the biscuit are great....I will try something else before I take this restaurant off my must do in Portland.
(3)
FJ H.
Nuff said. Go here.
(5)
Brian D.
great f-ing food and drinks
(4)
Dom M.
Expect to wait at least 45 mins before getting seated. A victim of it's own success? Sure... though I'm not fully convinced the wait is worth it. Don't get me wrong the food can be good but not always. Try elsewhere.
(3)
Nisha A.
Fresh Fresh Fresh is what you taste in your every bite here. We had the omelette , biscuits, waffles, chicken and more ... all came in humungous portions. The four of us ordered a lot as we had waited for hour and a half and it was almost 2:30 by the time we got the table but oh did the food get us excited.....Delicious !!! Its a cosy brunch place with huge portions of comfort food. I would recommend going in before 9:30 to secure a table sooner..... Will surely go back when in Portland again.
(5)
Thavy C.
Man I got lucky and got this place with no line. The food was okay. I don't really get the hype. Maybe more butter...like Paula Deen???
(3)
Oscar M.
Basically the best fried chicken I've ever had! Not a month goes by where I don't stop in. They have their service and food down to a science. So treat yourself don't cheat yourself and hop on the gravy train with biscuit wheels! Ill see your happy a$$e$ there!
(5)
Kayla T.
We drove from Camas for my boyfriends birthday brunch. There was about a 15 minute wait and it trust me, it's well worth it. He had the chicken and waffle. It was the best fried chicken that either one of us had ever tasted. I got the po boy breakfast sandwich which consisted of an andouilee sausage patty (which I have never seen before) friend egg and crispy onions. It was amazing. We can't wait to come back for dinner.
(5)
Taylor S.
Amazing food. Be ready for a line for brunch but it's totally worth it.
(4)
Rian R.
The Screen Door is easily one of my favorite spots for brunch in Portland. It doesn't matter that there is always a line out the door and a guaranteed wait of over an hour, the food is consistently good, the portions are plentiful and the staff is friendly. The best approach? Get one friend to put in the name of your group and then meet everyone down the street at Heart Roasters for a coffee before straggling down to the Screen Door for a breakfast that is as comforting as it is delicious.
(5)
McKenna K.
Meal and drinks were very average. Everyone talks about this place like it is awesome, but it was not. Disappointing.
(2)
Jeanne W.
The food is decent, I just don't like places that refuse to take reservations. It's fried catfish.
(3)
Adam B.
Awesome brunch spot in portland. The fried chicken has great flavor and the Bloody Marys are some of the best.
(5)
Cody L.
If you are a BACON LOVER! you must go here! I also can't complain about their pricing it is very decently priced and makes for a great Sunday Morning outting!
(4)
KeshiaSkye S.
My husband and I LOVE Screen Door! We've been for both breakfast and dinner, breakfast by far take the cake! We had heard to get there early for breakfast so we arrived before they opened and were the first few in the door (definitely the way to go!) Husband had their chicken & waffle breakfast and I had their B&Gs - both we're OH MY GOSH!!! The portions are huge and the prices are just right! We took home a praline waffle to share later.
(5)
Connie Y.
Some bomb ass fried chicken!!! Somewhat of a wait, I think my friends and I waited about 30 minutes for a table for 5. We ordered a bunch of things to try, and the only thing I can remember is that the fried chicken was fried perfectly and sooo juicy! The biscuit in the chicken and biscuit was too hard, definitely can't beat Pine State Biscuits on that one. Service could be better, I felt like I had to wave them down for things. Servers were friendly though. Portions are big as well. If you're in Portland and want some friend chicken, this is the spot.
(4)
Emi T.
Just wanted to drop a note that I've matured as an eater and I L-O-V-E Love this place now. It's easily one of my favorite spots in town - where I take all visitors, and I haven't noticed a change since the original chef left - always consistent, always delicious. It's hard for me to stray from my usual order when I go because I'm so in love with it: Porch Swing Lemonade, hushpuppies and pimiento cheese to start, then trout pecan for the entree. So good! Although the rare occasions when I stray from my usuals, I never regret it - same with the rare occasions when I'm crazy enough to also order dessert. Their brunch is also amazing, but I can't stand the wait. However, if you come around 1pm it's usually easier to get in because they will generally tell you 45 min- 1 hour and then you will see them call multiple parties that signed up a long time ago and have since given up/disappeared and then you will get taken back to your table generally in 20-30 min instead (no guarantees, though, just telling you the strategy that has worked for us in the past). Ask for Ben, he is the best server in Portland!
(5)
Greg H.
Southern food at its best. I have had the opportunity to try some of the best Cajun and southern cooking anywhere and Screen Door ranks right in with the best of them. There fried chicken and mashed potatoes cant be beat by anyone.
(4)
Evan H.
Amazing soul food at a wonderful price point.
(5)
Mackenzie G.
sorry, i've been here a few times and it is NOT worth the wait. when there are so many other really great southern places and BETTER places in portland !!
(2)
Breylan D.
Service was great and the food was yummy!
(4)
Kate H.
Went on a Thursday evening (7:45pm) on my first night in Portland. Knew it was a popular restaurant, but wasn't expecting a 30 minute wait on a Thursday. - Inside of restaurant was warm, & cozy - Noise level was decently loud due to every table being sat - Service was friendly. Only was a little miffed when tables around us got their food before us even though we were sat first and ordered decently ahead of them. Waiter acknowledged there was a mix up in the kitchen and took off my drink- without us even complaining about the wait for food (around 35-40 minutes). -Even though I was a little hangry by the time food came- I took the first bite and totally forgot. Fried chicken was beyond delicious. All white meat. So yummy. Mashed potatoes were super good as well, but the mac n cheese was the BEST ever. No joke. Always order mac n cheese at restaurants and then I'm late down because it's just so-so. This was perfect. Hot, melty, cheesy and full of flavor. Date got the burger and raved about that as well! Would definitely recommend as I'm dreaming about eating there again. So sad that I don't live in Portland : (
(5)
Dan K.
What a sad excuse for a restaurant. First off waited 45 minutes for a table, waited another 45 minutes for them to bring out the food for 2 of us in a party of 3, waited another 30 minutes for them to bring out PANCAKES to the last person in our party. Besides the wait the food quality was comparable to Cracker Barrel, not worth the money at all. I would advise anyone considering this restaurant to look elsewhere.
(1)
Chandler L.
Kinda overrated. I think it's excellent if you're a meat eater. Those of us who don't eat meat have a bit of a hard time. What is available it delicious. Some of the waiters are a little over the top with flirting. We're talking about being blatant doing right in front of my partner. O.o The drinks were fabulous. I just kind of think it's a little over priced and it's not entirely worth the wait. I would say ordering for take out is really the way to go.
(3)
S P.
Best fried chicken ever. The pulled pork is luscious. They have seasonal sides which are always interesting and comfort food. The service is excellent every time I go here! The drinks are tasty. There is a REASON people stand in line for The Screen Door.
(5)
Marisa D.
Best brisket EVER. So good.
(4)
Jeff K.
I have never been to the Southern United States... but I can confidently say that this is the best fried chicken here in the states. I don't know what it is about Portland, but they have awesome comfort food. Before arriving, make sure you make reservation... otherwise; you'll be like me and wait around an hour during dinner time for a seat. It's extremely busy and I can see why. i ordered a mint julep from the bar to kill time, and this was the only thing that was lacking from the restaurant. It wasn't as strong as I imagined. We ended up getting the fried buttermilk-battered chicken and the screen door plate. if you're indecisive, get the screen door plate because you get to pick 3 house sides to try. for the screen door plate, I went ahead and got the fried catfish (extra dollar), mac n cheese and jambalaya. The fried cat fish and the mac n cheese were amazing. The jambalaya was alright, hot sauce definitely helped it out. As for the fried chicken. Wow. Just wow. Speechless. Every bite was juicy and bursting of flavor. We were not able to finish the dish, and brought it back to our hotel. The next morning, we tried it and it was still good, but it was more spicy? I don't know how that was possible. Lol. With the fried chicken dish, you also get mash potatoes and collared greens. if I am ever in Portland again, I'll be sure to check this place out again. PS: on the patio, there are silverware cemented to the floor right next to the door. How interesting.
(4)
Jeff M.
Really great food and environment to just kick back and have a few cocktails and a caloric-rich meal. Strongly suggested if you just want to have a great time with solid food.
(4)
Frith P.
LOVE this place!!! The food is fantastic-breakfast and lunch. I honestly cannot say that I have ever had bad service here-which is almost unheard of! Sat at the bar to eat breakfast on a Saturday morning and I'm telling you the bartender ROCKED IT!! He was amazing to watch put out his orders of drinks as well as take food orders. The only drawback can be the lengthy wait time but like me, I know many other people like this place so it is to be expected.
(5)
Dennis L.
Got to the restaurant 35 min before and decided to get coffee while we wait. There was already a short line that ended at the benches. 15 min later, we came back and the line already doubled (to ~30 people)! We still had 20 min of waiting left. So get in line accordingly.. Or you'd feel the wrath of waiting to be seated if you arrive at or after opening. I got the braised pork sandwich and my girlfriend got the fried chicken. The pork sandwich was good, but not amazing. The fries were surprisingly good; it was at the perfect level of crisp. The fried chicken is the best I have ever tried and this includes comparing to the fried chickens I had in the South. I loved the atmosphere and setting also! A fun place to hang out and eat. I will definitely come back to this place when I visit Portland again.
(5)
Kelly G.
I was very excited to get brunch in Portland being it was my first time here and I heard about all of the hype. We ended up getting there after 11 and being told there was an hour and a half to two hour wait. At first it seemed daunting but then learning we could order drinks and hang out front with them made it seem less gruesome. After 2 mimosas we got seated to meet our friendly and very chill server. I ordered the fried oyster Benedict with cheddar grits while my boyfriend got the ny strip steak Benedict with regular grits and a side of fried chicken. The food was absolutely phenomenal! Being from Louisiana I don't get grits that often now that I live in San Diego, and these grits hit the spot! We were so full after for like 4 hours! It was definitely worth the wait if you have some time to kill.
(5)
Rich N.
I don't give 5 stars. This place deserves 6 starts. The chicken and waffles are amazing. The fried chicken is the best fried chicken I've ever had. It's well worth the heart attack I will have.
(5)
Jissantt S.
Came down from Seattle and wanted to get some breakfast before doing some shopping. We got here at 9 and they open at 9 and the long was already almost down the block. We ended up waiting 2 hours... Another 30 mins for our food. So the wait was long but my food was good! I had the eggs Benedict and the potatoes that came on the side were delicious! Our server hardly checked in but it was really busy and she informed us there would be a wait for our food. Since I'm not from the area I probably won't come back but all in all it was ok.
(3)
d t.
It's been awhile since I've been here (as in, over a year while) so I'll do my best to do it justice, which now that I think about, I won't be able to. The main thing I remember from this place is its fried chicken. This fried chicken stands up to all the others I've ever tried which says a lot especially being on the west coast. They use a decent amount of pepper in their batter so there's a little kick to it. I went for dinner so I wasn't able to get the waffle with it (brunch only). One thing I wasn't a fan of were the fried oysters. I had never had fried oysters before that either but I just was not feeling it. Maybe they were good fried oysters comparatively (as it seemed according to a coworker), but i need mine raw. Like I said in the beginning of this review, it's been well over a year since I've been here last but that fried chicken has stuck with me ever since and I still talk about it to this day!
(5)
Charlene I.
Came here for dinner and it was something amazing! The "screen door plate" is a great deal! For $13.99 you get a choice of 3 sides & cornbread. I got the fried catfish, mac n cheese and jambalaya and boooooooooooooyyyy...that shit was GOOD The wait time however, is not fun. This place is extremely popular so you can expect to wait at least 30+ plus. I've heard that the brunch here is even better so I gotta come back to try it out!
(4)
Rick E.
I think the food here is really good, but I wouldn't wait more than an hour just to eat here. The collard greens and fried chicken definitely hits the spot, plenty for 2 meals. I also love their selection of local organics. I had the beets and potatoes dish and it was delicious!
(4)
J C.
Belated review, went here for hubby's birthday after reading yelp reviews and it did not disappoint. We were luck enough to get the last 2 seats at the bar when the restaurant opened. I LOVE the FRIED CHICKEN. Tis to die for. Hubby got red beans and rice with his trout and it was tasty as well. This was a great meal in Oregon and I don't want too many PNW knowing as we may not be so lucky to get first seating next time.
(4)
G W.
Im of the persuasion that to complain about a line at a great restaurant is ludicrous. Notwithstanding the line--Screen Door is a 100% winner! On several occasions I have taken visitors from out of town and every time I am completely impressed by the entire operation. The servers are quality--genuine and knowledgable; the cuisine is filling and fulfilling alike--and the drinks are poured the right way. Five Star reviews are reserved for the "Top 5%" in my epicurean rubric--but in truth--I'd like to give Screen Door a sixth. The service industry is named the service industry for a reason...and so "refreshing" only begins to define the joy of walking into an eatery and feeling as though the establishment is "thankful" for the opportunity to share their passion with me. Portland has changed so much in my 34-years; if you live here and haven't been--or are visiting and do not go--in the words of my much loved girlfriend..."Sorry for ya!"
(5)
Corey M.
the bacon!! the chicken!! enough said. free coffee while you wait. Thank you for appreciating your customer's waiting!
(5)
Monica R.
The food is good here, but I'm not convinced it's worth the incredibly long waits. There are few even remotely healthy options, though Southern cuisine may be more to blame than the restaurant itself. It is pretty cool that they let you build a dinner from sides. The mac and cheese is definitely worth ordering if you do that.
(3)
Harry F.
I ordered the brisket. It tasted a bit dry and burnt. The sides were a tub of canned green beans and potato salad. There was a handful of fried onions dumped on top of everything, including the mushy beans. The overall quality of the food was mediocre, more like something I'd find at my local family restaurant on Barbur. Our waitress kind of forgot about us, not bringing any water and forgetting my cocktail, I am really surprised at how many 5 star reviews of this place. It was nothing special.
(2)
Julie F.
Could 1,500 PNW Crackers be wrong about the quality of real soul food? This native Detroiter will tell you, HELL YEAH THEY ARE. I can't believe we waited an hour for DRY fried chicken (a good crust with over red-lamped chicken jerky inside), undercooked collards, canned beans, dry/burnt brisket. Screen Door, collards take ALL DAY. So should your beans, NOT CANNED. HOW can you RUIN BRISKET?! It's the easiest thing to set slow and low! I'm guessing you are not smoking that over indirect heat. I've had a shit ton of better quality fried chicken from a Detroit bucket, that didn't have the soul baked out of it --"refired" in the fryer, perhaps? Shame on you, and your soulless food. Add a side of crappy service. Our first round of drinks never came, and we had to flag down the waitress after entrees were brought out, "Hi. Yah, we ordered a drink before we ordered our food, thanks..." Had I only had some drink in me, maybe the food wouldn't have been so hard to stomach. Inattentive, lackluster everything. UGH. Best part of the evening was the host at the door. That man knows how to organize a crowd. Star for him! Slam that Screen Door, Portland! You have better taste than this!
(2)
Kathy M.
Best fried chicken ever! Fun atmosphere! Expect to wait in line for awhile, but totally worth the wait!
(5)
Nikki P.
The Screen Door rocks! I love their fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and banana pie dessert. The chicken is crispy, well spiced, and not too greasy. The mashed potatoes are creamy. My favorite is the banoffee (I think that's what they call it) pie. It's like bananas foster cream pie. So delicious! The collard greens were so-so and their seafood dishes are good, though there is nothing particularly special about them. The service is always good, though the noise level is often too loud for comfort. I need to come by sometime for a banana pancake breakfast. I hear it's awesome. The Screen Door is definitely worth a trip!
(4)
Janice F.
I'm surprised each time by how massive their chicken cuts are - it's gotta be at least half a bird you're consuming! This is one place that's hard to skip out on when you're in town.
(5)
Evan A.
Really good Southern food (especially considering how far we are from the South) at a good price. I'll definitely be back.
(5)
Mc G N.
long lines? check! breathless food descriptions? CHECK! prices out of line with what you are getting? check! the stench of middling disappointment after all that waiting and hand wringing? CHECK! what is this, the fat duck? NO, its soul/poor food for people that ride tour buses through ghettos to feel "gritty" and "connected to the people".. agh. never mind, double park your subarus and priuses all over here, cluelessly natter on with your foodie friends in the middle of the street, oblivious to getting run over by cars, or bikes, or whatever. YOU'RE HERE! i'm going somewhere else..
(2)
Lauren S.
The praline bacon was the highlight of our visit, but honestly everything else was so-so. Perhaps it was the three cups of coffee we drank waiting an hour and thirty minutes minutes for a table. Or maybe that as our server refilled our waters, she was constantly spilling tablespoons on our food rendering it soggy. I had the omelet which had an abundance of mushrooms, but wasn't well-distributed and nothing to write home about. Cheese grits were runny, and the waffle was ok. Would return for the bacon, but not the rest was not worth the wait.
(3)
Chrissie E.
So happy that we were able to get a table this weekend. This is probably the best Southern food that I've had in the PNW (lived in ATL for a year). My group had chicken and waffles, fried oyster benedict, chicken cathead sandwich and cajun scramble. I also really enjoyed the sweet tea which is required accompaniment to any southern meal. I live in Seattle and cannot wait to venture to Oregon again to try the other entrees. Thanks for a great meal!
(5)
Paul S.
Masterfully cooked fried chicken crispy but not greasy with moist meat and right amount of spice. Collared greens on side really tasty as well. Had special pork chop which sat on bed of potatoes, andouille sausage, fennel, onions, and radicchio which was heaven. Had the special pear salad with arugula, endive, almond brittle and more which was really tasty if you like a sweeter salad. This Southern cooking was top notch in the NW. Potions were huge. I'm a big eater and my partner and I were hungry and we are maybe two- thirds of what we got. Service was good not great. We sat at bar and bartender was busy making drinks and got the job done but not with the kind of hospitality that aligns with the food. The expeditor made up for some of that. Finally, we showed up at 530 pm on a Sunday (its opening time) and were about 100 people back in line. We got the last 2 bar stools. Dinner took a whole but salads came pretty quickly and we were told when sitting down with this meant seated dinner would be slow. The salad held us over well and the warning was appreciated. Bottom line: it was worth the wait! And I'd recommend going by 515 to ensure an early table or send someone an hour before you want to sit to wait.
(4)
Ray V.
Still hate the wait. Still love the brunch, and still waiting (yes tongue in cheek though that hasn't shown on the menu when I've been here) to try the chicken and waffles here, but now we finally made it in for dinner. Got the fried chicken, cause I had to see if all the hub bub was correct............Effin A YES! Huge portions like normal and it was moist (even the next day) crispy and just enough heat in the breading to warm you up but not kill the flavor of either the mashers with tasso gravy (yum) or the greens. The butter salad was delicious as were the cassiolet beans. The pimento cheese was tres magnifique! Though be forewarned this ain't your mamas pimento cheese. Unless of course she grew up in the south and made her own.
(5)
Stephanie H.
I wish I could complain about the hour plus wait, but I just cannot. The food and drinks are amazingly good plus, they have great service! Only advice I have is call ahead to put your name on the waiting list.
(5)
Anthony M.
everything is delicious, seriously. That's why there is always a line outside to get in. Must be an indication of supreme good food.
(5)
Sherry W.
I"m sort of really surprised by the great reviews here. I had the shrimp and grits and an appetizer I"m blanking on because it was forgettable. The shrimp and grits were overpriced for the portion, were watery, not much flavor and the shrimp were clearly frozen as they were tough and rubbery. Atmosphere was meh. Nothing to write home about. I just ate there once - so maybe it was an off night. Maybe my hopes were too high as everyone raves about this place but being that there are so many amazing places to choose from - but I won't seek this place out during my next visit.
(2)
Kristi B.
Had the shrimp and grits and loooved it. The menu looked awesome and it was hard to pick just one. Yes, It was super busy and took a little less than an hour to get seated on a Sunday at noonish but with good company and a great great cup of coffee (next door) it's totally worth it!
First time here and it won't be the last! Husband says best brisket ever. The pecan salmon was awesome. Great prices, yum yum!
(5)
Brenda C.
Everything looked great. Want to go back. Only reason I gave 4 instead of 5 was the bread pudding. just okay
(4)
Magan D.
The food here is so delicious, it's hard to describe. Large portions means lunch for the next day! Wait lines can be long and the fact that it's kid friendly do mean a bit of noise, but the food and service seem to wipe those attributes off the map. Awesome spot!
(4)
Kristina G.
So glad we were able to have brunch at this place during our short stay in Portland. The portions are more than generous and the food is amazing. The cheddar grits are in the top three I've had in my life. There is an amazing and unique praline bacon waffle that is absolutely scrumptious. Will definitely return any time I am in Portland for a brunch that does not disappoint! Heads up - there will be a wait, so get there early, preferably before opening.
(5)
Joycelyn L.
Waited 45 minutes before opening for this place. Food is good, portion sizes were large (good idea to share plates especially if you get the fried chicken & waffles) service was efficient and friendly. I ended up getting the the bacon & praline waffles - sweet and savory while my bf got the chicken & waffles. We both enjoyed our meals but were too full to finish them and ended up taking the rest home with us.
(4)
Margarita S.
YES!! The best brunch I've had in portland, bar none.Excellent service, wonderful food and well worth the 40 minute wait for a table.
(5)
Nia M.
We decided to spend the weekend in Portland. Thank the Universe for YELP! Based on the great reviews we decided to try Screen Door. We had Shrimp & Grits and for dessert shared a strawberry shortcake. Our meal was delicious. We had the best customer service. We will keep this on our list of favorite Portland eateries.
(5)
Sarah P.
I am only giving this place 4 stars because the wait is dreadful, the wait is usually 2 hours or so. Other then the wait the food is great:) Who doesnt love chicken and waffles? The chicken and waffles is big enough for two and is fairly priced. This is a great place to eat if you dont mind waiting.
(4)
Anne T.
This restaurant redeemed PDX in my eyes! I've been to Portland quite a few times and have always been disappointed. But not at Screen Door! This place is too good to be true. Service is impeccable. Everyone checked on our table.. Yes, everyone. The wait staff.. The hostess. She even went to check on our order when she felt the food was taking too long. Even though there was a disclaimer that the food will take awhile, the server still apologized. We were joking around and asked for straws for the gumbo...... and they would have got us the straws! Lastly.. the only complaint I had was that my boufriend wanted his chicken medium rare.. I would want to take a star off.. but the fully cooked fried chicken was just too damn delicious!
(5)
Amy R.
Gah! What do I say about one of my favorite go to's for all occasions? Veg or carnivore, casual or celebratory, the staff, service and food are always an A+! Already dreaming about my next visit!
(5)
Mary K.
Finally decided to brave the (ever present) crowd at screen door, on Memorial Day weekend nonetheless! They were slammed, as usual. But the 40 minute wait flew by, and that's part of their charm. We had some bloody Mary's in the sun while waiting, and decided the chicken and waffles were a must. After enjoying our drinks, we were seated on the patio! Our waitress was such a sweetie, full of energy! Despite the crowd, she was always there with more coffee and even gave us extra creamer and jam. We will be back. Loved it.
(5)
Chariya S.
Possibly the BEST FRIED CHICKEN I've ever had the pleasure of tasting. I still have dreams about it and every time I think about Portland I can't help but wish I could go visit again just for this restaurant. For a party of two, we were seated after 45 minutes or so. It was packed on a Saturday night but I promise that the wait is worth it! You can order a cup of beer to sip on while you patiently wait. We were seated at the bar and our order came out rather quickly. The fried chicken were cooked to perfection - crispy and tender! The gravy added the final touch! I usually don't even like mash potatoes but these were bomb! Collar greens were delicious as well. I can only hope that I'll get to visit Portland again one day.
(5)
Allen N.
What can you say that other have not already said. The best chicken in portland!
(5)
Jordan T.
YUM. That is all that needs to be said about the food here. The fried chicken is the beat boneless variety that I have ever had. The brisket is delicious, and perfectly slow cooked. The sampler plate (can't remember the actual name) is perfect for people like me who can never make up their mind about what they want. They have a full bar with yummy cocktails, and homemade pie that is a perfect end to a heavy good ol'American meal. Definitely worth the wait as far as I am concerned!
(5)
daniel c.
so good love this spot
(5)
Caroline K.
Arrived for a late dinner and the wait wasn't too long. I wasn't expecting much but WOW!!! The fried chicken... Best fried chicken I have ever had. The chicken was perfectly crispy and moist inside... And then mashed potatoes.Drool. Mac and cheese is solid. Shrimp and grits: not a big fan of grits but shrimp was big and juicy. The inside is pretty loud. Sit outside, the ambiance is great and there are heaters to keep you toasty. I will definitely stop by here again when in town!
(4)
Jason F.
Consistently delicious. Hence the great reviews and long line.
(5)
Varena V.
Go on a Wednesday night just as they open, it is worth it. Not a cheap place but man that food is fantastic! Best fried chicken I've ever had and they have a gluten free dredge for all their fried goodies.
(5)
Nathan L.
It's sad when you wait an hour and a half for food and they over sauce every portion. We stopped here because of the good yelp reviews but had no idea the wait would be an hour and a half. Our food on the other hand took about 30 min to get, our server rarely checked in on us and we waited another 10 min to pay the bill. That being said the food was okay, but they put so much sauce on all of their foods. I enjoy tasting my food and not eating it like a soup. I don't live down here and probably will never come back because of the service alone.
(1)
Chris C.
Another one of those really popular and really crowded brunch places in Portland. Having said it's worth the wait and the food is incredible.
(5)
Jose G.
No review needed. Oh wait this is a review. Screen Door rocks! NY strip steak eggs Benedict and Chicken and sweet potato waffle. Nice :) Oh great service too.
(5)
Rich N.
Outstanding fried chicken, but the real surprise was the collard greens! Absolutely no bitterness and great depth of flavor.
(5)
John O.
We may have found the BEST breakfast restaurant ever! We have been trying for many years to eat at Screen Door, but every time we came by, there was a huge line. Mistakenly, we decided no place could be worth standing in such a line. WRONG! Today we decided to be one of the first in line but as you can see, even 30 minutes early put me at the end. Well we now know why people stand in line for an hour. The food was amazing. They don't spend much expense on the decor; it's the food that counts. I had the Cathead Biscuit Sandwich with gravy on the side and plain grits. The chicken was spicy, crisp and crunchy on the outside and tender in the inside. Grits were smooth and creamy - the best ever. My wife ordered the Eggs Sardou, poached eggs over artichoke hearts and creamed spinach Benedict style. Both dishes were amazing, literally to die for! Having the best seats in the house, we could see every dish as it came out. Everything looked amazing and we will have to be back to try all of the other things on the menu. This is when you wished you had two stomachs. This is a very efficiently run operation from the chefs to the wait staff!
(5)
Adam B.
Knowing this place is always a zoo, we showed up about 40 minutes before open for breakfast on a Saturday morning to about 30 people already waiting in line. Once the doors opened we were seated in about 10 minutes. No matter what, you're waiting. Everything you read about this place is true. I had the chicken and waffles and it was phenomenal. What makes it so good is the peppery, sweet batter of the fried chicken. Along with the tender and juicy meat, it may be some of the best fried chicken I've had in Oregon. Right up there with Papa's Soul Food in Eugene. Although the food is reasonably priced for the quality and quantity, I felt the $9 mimosa was a little steep, amongst the other drink prices. It's worth trying at least once if you are into exploring the staple restaurants of Portland.
(4)
Peter H.
This was honestly the best meal I've ever eaten. I would love to sample everything on the menu (which I'm sure is just as amazing) - this visit I went with the classic chicken and waffles with a side of pecan-crusted bacon. Three huge chicken breasts perfectly fried with delicious waffles, I actually had leftovers. We arrived on a Saturday at 8:40am and while there was a line, we were able to get in quickly and had food in front of us within 20 minutes even with a packed restaurant. We will no doubt be back next time we are in Portland.
(5)
T U.
A real nice try...would go back My baby organic carrots were striungy and chewey...but I ate what i could. Shripm and gtrits excellent Oysters..outstanding Asparagus...peel them a little of you want to keep them long... Fried Okra...good Busy place...food looks like it is pushed out pretty fast... Good IPA
(3)
Victoria A.
Wait was well over 1 hour and a half but still so worth it. Perfectly seasoned chicken and waffles. Chicken is crispy and waffle is light, airy and made with yam. Huge portions to share. I recommend ordering drinks while you wait. Bloody Marys are amazing and are my new favorite drink. If you like V8 and a salted rim with okra and an olive you'll heartily enjoy it. The Old Ramos Gin Fizz also tasted like a delicious orange creamsicle. Just make sure they add the alcohol and check your ID so they don't serve you virgin drinks and you are blatantly wondering Am I feeling the buzz?? Also recommended: wander around the neighboring shops while you wait to increase your appetite and food consumption. Yum!
(5)
Danielle T.
I'd give this place 4.5 stars if that were an option. It's worth the wait -- the waffles and fried chicken, grits, maple bacon, and so much more are excellent. Always a pleasant experience -- but often long wait times.
(4)
Brian H.
The Screen Door is an excellent place to eat. It's down to Earth and low key and the food is delicious. Try the Chicken if it's your first time there. They are very popular though, so get reservations, or prepare to wait in line outside to get in and enjoy.
(4)
Carolyn T.
Have come here multiple times whenever we go to Portland... I don't think I've ever gone to Portland without stopping here for dinner. Best comfort food with great attentive service. Nothing more to say.
(5)
H N.
amazing fried chicken and food.everything on the menu we ordered that night was really good..so you can't lose!service was attentive and very friendly as well.
(5)
Kelli S.
It doesn't get much better than this. Everything here is amazing. The fried okra and fried chicken takes me back to the south. The pork chop special they had the night we were there was great as well. You have to leave room dessert because its all amazing. You might just want to consider not eating all day before coming here.
(5)
Court W.
Round Table Pizza has execalaunt pizza
(4)
Amy T.
So good I wanted to slap my mama! Thankfully she doesn't live in Portland! The food here truly fed my soul. It was comfort food, mom's cooking, granny's cooking, and the feel of home all wrapped into one place. Being from Oakland, Ca. I was skeptical about the food. Oakland has amazing soul food and southern restaurants. I mistakenly figured that I could kiss southern cuisine goodbye unless it meant a trip home - boy was I wrong! I had the shrimp and grits - MY GAWD! It was incredible. The grits were creamy, yet they stood up to the bold flavors of the shrimp. I also sampled my husbands fried chicken livers and nearly took over his plate as well. The reviews say it all, but thank you for honoring this special and unique cuisine that is so important to the history of people and food in this country. I'm in love with the Screen Door and I can't wait to go back!!!!!
(4)
Stephen W.
I actually think 4.5 stars are more accurate because parking is really hard and the line to get in at opening is ridiculous. We got there 20-25 minutes before opening on a Sunday and we were a good 50 people back from the door. That 50 turned to way more as there were numerous line-holders for larger groups, so one person turned into seven. The place immediately filled upon opening, both indoor and outdoor. We got one of the last tables indoors, by the kitchen. That actually turned out well so I could watch what was going on in the kitchen, Everyone works super hard at this restaurant, and try their best to be fast and efficient. Therefore, I don't agree with other reviews that complain about the service. When you have 100+ orders coming all at once, it is going to take some time to get the food out. The kitchen is not that big. Anyway, the food: The chicken and waffle is enormous, more food than one person can or should eat. We were thinking of splitting an order and getting another waffle on the side, but our waitress suggested one waffle each with however much chicken we wanted. So we each got one waffle and one chicken. The meal lived up to the hype, it was delicious. The chicken is tender and juicy, and the waffle with syrup is excellent. The combination of all the flavors is devine. I would definitely get it again. For reasons I cannot explain, we also opted to split one biscuit and gravy, despite the massive portion sizes. My only defense is that we seem to be in the mode of comparing the best biscuits and gravy. This one was among the best. The gravy was easily in the top three, and probably the top two. The gravy was very flavorful with big chunks of sausage and just the right amount of pepper. The biscuit was good, a big dense, but not bad at all. If you can survive the parking the line this is an excellent place for breakfast or brunch on the weekend.
(5)
D B.
We all know this place is good--AND silly-busy! I like it a lot but cannot tolerate the wait times (that said, getting there early is an excellent strategy). I am glad that they have so much success, however! I know that they are doing their best.
(4)
Andrea K.
There was quite a wait in line to get in. The food and service was great.
(5)
Nikki N.
We came during a trip to Portland because we figured 2400+ people on Yelp couldn't be wrong...and they weren't! Actually one if the best meals I've ever had. We came with 5 people and even though they said 30-40 minutes, they sat us in under 20. I got the catfish, Mac & cheese and gumbo. My mom got the burger. My aunt got the shrimp and grits. We went around and tried everyone's stuff, and everything was amazing. My favorite was the catfish; it literally was melt-in-your-mouth amazing. For drinks we got bloody marys and szarecs, and both were superb. For dessert we got the coconut rhubarb upside down cake with pineapple curd ice cream. I wish I had not been so full so I could eat more of it. We all came hungry and left stuffed with leftovers in tow. Our server was knowledgeable and friendly, and we had a great time. Thanks so much, Screen Door! What you've got here is amazing.
(5)
Kim N.
It was relatively expensive but we got good food thats why I am giving it 3 stars. Also, they dont take reservations and if you come in a group you have to wait for a long time. Highly recommend their burgers and fried chicken
(3)
Erica W.
We had a great dinner here last night! After having some cider at a nearby cider house, we figured we would stop by here and see if the wait was reasonable. Luckily it was only about a 15 minute wait, so we decided to finally give Screen Door a try. I ordered the Shrimp and Grits and my husband got the Screen Door Plate with fried catfish, fried drumsticks, and mashed potatoes. My meal was really good! The shrimp had a nice flavor and the grits were creamy and flavorful. After eating his meal, my husband felt he should have ordered something other than the catfish because his plate was too heavy and the catfish wasn't his favorite. He's from Missouri, so he is a catfish lover, but also has high expectations. For dessert, we shared the Ban-offee pie and it was delicious! The pie was very sweet, so I was glad we shared. The caramel and banana with the shortbread crust was awesome! I'd definitely order that again. Overall, we had a good dinner. The place is pretty quiet and fills a lot of people, so it can be very loud. If you want good food - come here. If you want to have a nice quiet meal - choose somewhere else.
(4)
Dimitri T.
Come here early if you would like to fill up your belly at a decent time.. Place filled up within minutes and we got there 30 mins before opening too!? Pro: Decent service and nice proportions Con: Don't take someone on a "first date" here.. Very loud Very tight seating and uncomfortable seats They had "specials" but not sure if the server knew what they were Overall: Make sure to arrive early and with an appetite! Will come back again when I am in town.
(4)
John T.
Always great food. One of my favorite afternoon meals in Portland
(4)
Ram P.
We were there for brunch and it was a great place. The waiters were more than happy to accommodate our individual tastes and preferences. We were a group of 5 and we all had substitutions and customization. And we were all obliged.
(4)
Jill K.
Always tasty food. The parking is a nightmare and the wait is a bit of a pain. But the food and atmosphere are great.
(4)
Rebekah S.
Always delicious. Great service. Totally worth the wait. The Cheesy Grits are my favorite item on the menu.
(5)
Raj S.
From the irresistible fried chicken and waffle to the breakfast po-boy and cathead biscuit, there is no door less visited and less open to a culinary experience that stays with me for weeks after I pay worship to this temple of nasty larger-than-belly but charmed southern food. The weekend lines are suffocating much like waiting to glimpse the gods at a crowded shrine but it's worth it, I say. Some things just are.
(5)
T M.
Service was mediocre. We understand that you are a busy place. Service still means that you get back to tables who's food takes 40+ minutes. Even a refill on a beverage could help. A second Bloody Mary might have upped your tip. No star The place was too busy to be clean. It wasn't dirty, just busy. Half a star. This was a destination visit and we waited over an hour. Granted it was Saturday morning. Half star. The value was good, but over the top on the chicken n waffles. Amazing value and amazing taste. Two stars. Go in when its not busy - good luck. They are wildly popular.
(3)
Karyn L.
Really hearty food with a cool atmosphere. I got the mac & cheese, collard greens, and gumbo. Though everyone around me was raving about the mac & cheese, my favorite was the gumbo. Only downside is the wait--it's quite the popular joint--and it is on the pricier side.
(5)
Melissa A.
First time going. Had the pulled pork sandwich with sweet potato fries. There was a long wait time but totally worth it in the end! Would definitely recommend this place to anyone. Loved the pickled jars on the shelves and the open kitchen.
(5)
Kira F.
I am a big catfish fan and they do it justice better than anywhere else in Portland. I eat here whenever I am needing my southern fix. So delicious! I would give them 5 stars if they made the cornbread taste as good as the catfish.
(4)
Katie L.
We came here a few months ago for dinner. We arrived at the restaurant around 5:45pm, 15 minutes after opening for dinner, and there was already a line going out the street. The line moved pretty quickly though and we were seated in a decent amount of time. We started off with the crispy fried oysters. My husband and I liked these a lot. The sauce went well with the oysters and it was a great way to start off our meal. I ended up ordering the Beef Brisket dish. It is an incredibly fattening dish, especially since I asked for a side of french fries. I couldn't finish my meal so I had a pretty delicious lunch the next day. My husband ordered the braised pork shoulder dish. He thought it was ok. It wasn't incredibly delicious but it was good enough to not gripe about it. We'll probably come back to try the breakfast menu, since it's obviously what they're known for. Overall, our meal was pretty good and we'll be coming back sometime soon.
(4)
M M.
As always, great food, great service and good company. One of my favorite hideouts in inner city. Parking is rough so allow extra time for that...as well as the 30-60 minute wait to be seated...there is very limited seating while you wait.
(4)
Rod P.
Jakes in Mcminnville I had lunch with my wife and sister on Tuesday 06-05-15.I had the soup,salad and half sandwich.My wife had the French Dip and My Sister Fettucini Alfredo.With 3 drinks and a slice of cheesecake for nearly $40.00 dollars.We walked into the rear portion for seating. Two other couples were seated and three other tables still had the remains of previous diners.The food was fresh but not remarkable.When I paid with my card the lady was excited to show how to use their I-Pad.The bill gave three choices for gratuities. 15%-18% and 20%.I left a 15% tip.I recommend you pay cash and forgo the tipping.You carry your own food and paying for them to clean tables seems rediculous.
(3)
Brett K.
Great food, some of the best Fried Chicken in Portland. Location is comfortable but typically crowded as it is good food.
(4)
Victoria C.
Really great food and fun atmosphere. Food is really fresh. Enjoyed the Huevos Rancheros and Praline Bacon. My friend loved the Bananas Foster French Toast. The inside is a little tight and it's a very popular spot so expect a wait to get a table.
(4)
Varun B.
We decided to go here one sunday morning for brunch. Knowing that it generally is quite popular, we decided to drive there so that we'd make it by the time it opens. Got there...and apparently we were already late to the punch since there was a long line around the block. With that, we went ahead and decided to order it as a carryout. Got kind of lucky, because we ordered right when it opened and they gave us a time of 20 minutes for pick up. We decided to order the plate of the chicken and waffles as well as the cheddar cheese grits. It's a large portion of chicken, so tread lightly if you're getting this for yourself. The chicken was moist on the inside with a very crispy outside. It tasted great with the hot sauce and honey. The waffle was nice and savory because it was made out of sweet potato. Since we did takeout, the waffle was a little soggy by the time we ate it, so I can't comment on the crust of it unfortunately. The grits were good, but I have had better.
(4)
Naaz S.
Amazing fried chicken. Not greasy nor difficult to scoff down. Mac and cheese was good as well as the shrimp and grits. Fried okra was extremely disappointing. It was a toss up between that and the hushpuppies. we should've done the hushpuppies
(4)
T D.
The two times I've visited from CA I've had to stop here! The food is amazing! Service hasn't been that good, but its always busy so..yeah. The Mac and cheese is AMAZING! It's very rich and cheesy not just buttery like everywhere else. The fried chicken is delicious, it's always flavorful and juicy! If you like sweet corn bread, skip getting it here. I've never had anything from here that I didn't like!
(4)
Ariel W.
The burger was realllllly good. The salad was good too, but the portion was far from enough. The dessert chocolate cheesecake was also delicious, but too sweet. We didn't finish it.
(4)
Irene S.
This place was pretty good. I do feel like it is a little over hyped because breakfast is only available on the weekends. The wait is long but that's the point of a weekend brunch in Portland right? The chicken and waffles are good but a little heavy for me, I only ate like 1/4 of it. Thankfully my friends and I enjoy family style dining when we go out. I don't remember what else we tried, but everything was a little on the heavy side. It's probably because we ordered all heavy things though..
(4)
Shannon R.
Hands down my favorite restaurant in Portland. Order the fried chicken and a side of macaroni. Service is always great. Make sure you get there early and stand in line, otherwise you will be waiting a while!
(5)
John C.
I always go here after a bad restaurant experience, it restores my faith in the universe. Order anything, its all good, just make sure you get a side of hushpuppies and leave your calorie counting at the door.
(5)
Vity K.
The wait can be ridiculous. I liked the food but it wasn't worth the wait, in my opinion. It was packed to the point of uncomfortable. I could pretty much brush elbows with the folks at the table next to ours. I enjoyed Miss Delta on Mississippi much more, but that's just me.
(3)
Mark K.
Order the Fried Chicken and put some hot sauce on it, then you won't put it down. This is a great local place with some great Southern cooking! One of a kind in Portland.
(5)
Kyle B.
We celebrated our daughters 20th birthday here. I read reviews and made sure we were early. 30 minutes early we were about twenty deep in line. We had seven people and were seated outside by request. We were greeted by our waitress Erika. She immediately rushed us through. She was very good but very impatient. Made me wonder if she new she was not getting the 18 percent automatic tip for having six or more people if she would have been more relaxed in her approach with us. She even rushed the birthday song for my daughter. We were not all there and tried to tell her but she just kept going with the song. Now the food was all that and more! Very good on all parts. Fried chicken is a absolute must. Great to share place. I had the pork shoulder dish and shared for some chicken. Great food! Just wished waitress would not of rushed us through. 4/19/15
(3)
Barry T.
It lived up to the hype. Fabulous food, inexpensive, and fast service. Fried oysters, hush puppies, beef brisket with thing onion rings and baked beans, fried chicken, gumbo. Everthing that our table ordered was excellent.
(5)
David B.
Monday evening, Screen Door was a conduit to delicious butter-milk battered fried chicken with mashed potatoes and deep green collards - all cooked and seasoned to perfection. The pork chop was top quality. The low country gumbo rivaled the best I've had in S Carolina and was complemented by thick, moist cornbread. The mac & cheese made us smile. The Screen Door iced tea is the real thing. The chef has well curated a slice of life. (Pun: great oral history!) Thank you Screen Door!
(4)
Jennifer R.
Went here with some friends while visiting them in Portland and we arrived at 5pm and were the second ones in line for the 5:30pm opening time. Seating was fast and accommodated 4 adults, a highchair and 7 week old baby. Restaurant is pretty busy and noise level can be high but that's all part of the fun! The Screen Door plate is the best deal - kind of a sampler where you can choose 3 things off the menu. Fried chicken is great! Mac and cheese is super decadent and cheesier than anything I've ever had. The Banana toffee pie is a keeper. We also had the lemon layer cake which was good but the pie was the winner. Great place - just plan ahead and get there BEFORE it opens.
(5)
Rebecca D.
This was stop number 4 on my portland foodie tour while I was visiting and it really restored my faith in yelp after trying Pok Pok, which was a slight disappointment. Screen door is a very cute and intimate restaurant that serves true southern style dishes. My boyfriend and I arrived at 7:30pm on a Friday - I know I know, what were we thinking! - and we had to wait about 45 minutes. Our orders ended up being very influenced by what the servers were bringing to other tables because we were definitely being those creeps peeking over everyone's shoulder to see what they ordered haha. As a starter, we went with the shrimp and grits, which were delicious! It was so creamy and flavorful from the shrimp sauce, would definitely order again! As for the main dish, my bf went with the buttermilk fried chicken, which came with a side of gravy, mashed potatoes, and collard greens - a must as it is their more popular dish and was also recommended by everyone at the tables around us! Portlanders are so friendly :) I, on the other hand, ordered the beef brisket, which came with a side of bbq sauce, bbq baked beans and coleslaw. Both were great dishes! The fried chicken was peppery and super yummy! The brisket with the bbq sauce was good too, but what I loved most about my dish were the sides. The beans and coleslaw were winners on my plate! We also ordered the Mac n cheese as a side, and you HAVE to try it! I typically don't order Mac n cheese at restaurants cause they're so simple, but here, it was amazing. And we also noticed that every single table had ordered a side of it as well. The noodles were al dente and so cheesy and creamy! After all that food we still had to try their ban-offie pie as recommended by our wonderful waiter. It was perfect to end our meal. The crust was sooo good and the cream was very light. I would definitely stop by here again if I visit portland because the service was excellent as well!
(5)
Jay S.
It's hard to stand out in the Portland food scene...there's just so much of everything to choose from, and so much of it is great. When a place like Screen Door commands locals and visitor's attention alike, you know you are in for a treat. The menu here encapsulates what makes Portland an Eating Destination: Take a bunch of classic favorites (fried chicken, gumbo, mac n cheese), do clever iterations of that cuisine (fried pork belly with seared scallops on a bed of grits? YES PLEASE!) and add a quality helping of up to the minute locally sourced veggie dishes on the fresh sheet (beet salad, apple slaw, etc). All for plates under $20. Need I say more? Well, you have to know the caveats: it's busy. Some people find the service lacking (I've never had a bad server). But - dinner can be easier to get into than brunch...so if you really want to try Screen Door and have a choice...that could be your ticket. Any way you slice it...the food is worth the wait, worth a trip and so worth the splurge on calories!
(5)
John M.
Great taste, big portions.
(5)
Tram T.
Oh man does Portland people know how to fry their chicken! For dinner we started off with their pork belly, some kind of salad, and deep fried oysters. Love how fresh their salad was. Their oysters was def amazing! Way better than WalRus the Carpenter in Seattle. For our main dishes we got the Deep fried chicken, the pork shoulder, and the three side dishes. So the pork shoulder is the reason why I had to take away a star from them. It was pretty nasty. The BBQ sauce tasted sweet and finished with a bitter taste. The fried chicken batter was just perfect and it wasn't oily either. I also couldn't get enough of their hot sauce.
(4)
Jigar G.
Beautiful brunch place that my girlfriend and I stopped at while passing through Portland. It was a 5 or 10 minute wait only because we went on a weekday at around 11:30; however, it was still packed with people waiting. We started off with a creole bloody mary, and it was delicious, unique, and definitely something I'd recommend to try. Also to start, we had the praline bacon, which was absolutely delicious. It was very rich though, so I suggest sharing it with one or two other people unless you can handle a lot of fat and sugar in one go (maybe that's just me?). I ordered the chicken and waffles with two pieces, and it was the best fried chicken I've ever had. In addition, the sweet potato waffle was amazing - light, perfectly sweet, and adequately sized. I'm in Los Angeles a lot, and I don't hate to say the following at all: the chicken and waffles here blows that at Roscoe's away. That being said, I still love Roscoe's. My girlfriend ordered the banana foster pancakes, and she enjoyed them. They were very sweet though, so if you eat a relatively clean diet with little salt and added sugar, this may be an overload for your palette. Would love to come back whenever I'm in portland again. Last but not least, props to the waiting staff for making sure we had water at all times and asking if we needed anything in a timely but not invasive manner. It was really crowded, and they were very patient.
(5)
Steve B.
Great atmosphere. Great food. Easy parking. Original menu. I had the chicken over waffles and it couldn't have been better.
(5)
Bob A.
I used "Infinity Landscapes, (Reuben Smith & crew) for my first landscaping job here. These guys were nothing short of great! Very professional, detailed, quick, and extremely affordable! I recommend them highly. Bob A.
(5)
Justin L.
I was pretty disappointed in the food. I had heard great things about this place and was super excited to try it. We had a pretty short wait for what we were expecting, and the place was packed. We ordered the special app. Pork belly and Fried Green Tomatoes...Toms were good, pork belly was very dry. We shared the Fried chicken, corn bread, Mac and cheese and mash potatoes. Chicken was the best part of the meal. It was juicy and delicious. The corn bread was terrible. Dry as could be and no real flavor to it. The Mac and cheese looked great as it was a soup bowl full covered in cheese. But it was a huge let down. Not creamy and not seasoned. The mash pots were ok. Nothing special. The chicken and the service was pretty great so I went with 3 stars. Usually it would be lower but the Hostess and waitress were both funny and polite.
(3)
Stephanie H.
The line before opening is justified. Get here early! The owners provide a great menu with seasonal selections, wonderfully cooked in a southern style. Coming from the south I never expected to have to beat shrimp and grits ever in Portland.
(5)
Lee I.
Can't go wrong with this place. I've been there before and liked the food so I took the fam along with some friends and now we consider it a must stop when in PDX. My wife thought the brisket there was the best she ever had and my daughter loved the hush puppies. Kind of sucks that both times I've eaten too much to try dessert though. Gotta try and pace myself better.
(5)
David Y.
Not really much else to say that hasn't been stated. Chicken and waffles, candied bacon, grits, potatoes, and the french toast were all amazing dishes. Good value, great taste, and fun atmosphere.
(5)
C W.
The best Southern Comfort food in Portland. The Chicken & Waffles are beyond belief! You have to stand in line but it is sooooo worth it!
(5)
Steed H.
Love to try it someday if i could just bring myself to wait on the corner like a dope with the rest of the idiots.
(1)
Yu-Chun K.
The service is awful. We took 1.x hrs waiting in line to get in, I understand. And we order right after. However, we took another 1.x hrs to wait for our order. The dish preparation efficiency is so poor. I would rather give 0.5 star or even lower if possible.
(1)
Ella E.
Beware when ordering take out! We called our order in and was told it will be ready in 30 minutes. Waited for our food and came back to pick it up. We told the male host (tall, skinny with almost bald hair) that we were waiting to pick up our food. Waited an ADDITIONAL 30 minutes with no phone call indicating our order was ready. We were even standing by the front, so the staff know that we are STILL waiting. Finally saw the male host talking to the female bartender. Apparently, our order had been ready and was waiting on the floor of the bar area! No communication from any of the restaurant staff that our food was ready. When asked if the food has been ready and sitting there for awhile, the male host even made an excuse that it just got there! We had been waiting and standing there for an hour, so we knew he was lying! We finally got our food and it was cold! We had been long time customers and have always visited this restaurant every time we go to Portland. Sadly, we will not be coming back nor do we recommended this place to anyone! Stay away!!!
(1)
Eric M.
Do you really care enough to wait in that line for hours on end? (Hint: I don't.) What is this Disneyland? (As long as we're on the subject of overrated.) Great place to drop acid though.
(2)
William B.
Some of the best food in the city. One of my FAVORITE spots. When it comes to Brunch or Dinner few (if any) do it better than Screen Door! If you are new to the city or just live under a rock, go here at your soonest opportunity.
(5)
Ben L.
Normally I don't buy into the famous places, or well known. We were expecting it to be good. But WOW! Great food, we waited in line maybe 30 minutes and it moved fast we bumped into at least two other couples we knew and ended up pushing tables together turned out amazing. The chicken and waffles were great! Not an egg with chicken wings. Huge portion I'm glad we shared it! It's that kind of place you go in expecting it to be good and leave amazed!! A++
(5)
Amanda F.
Worth the hour and a half wait to be seated for two. Can have a cup of coffee while you wait or a Bloody Mary. The menu offers many delicious options yet we went for the classic chicken and waffles, the shrimp and grits, and a side order of praline bacon. AMAZING! All of it! The shrimp were large and cooked to perfection with outstanding flavor. The breading on the chicken was perfectly seasoned and cooked to be juicy. The waffle had fluff with a crispy outside. The bacon....no words, just soft moans! I will be back. The line will not deter me from trying more of the delicious options on the menu!
(5)
James E.
Decent food. Certainly not worth the wait for brunch. The weekend (life?) is short enough as it is without waiting 90 minutes for fried chicken and eggs.
(2)
Mikhail R.
Came here visiting from Seattle. I'm giving it 2 stars because they forgot my food. I came in on Saturday around 12:30 and everybody else in my party got the food they ordered. 30 minutes later I actually got my chicken and waffles and everybody was done eating. Didn't even get to try my meal. The server who was busy, took it away and took it off my check. I did want to eat it but I let her take the meal. I wanted to enjoy it with my friends not In a Togo box.
(2)
Lauren Y.
Screen door was one of the best eateries on our three day Portland trip. We had the praline bacon, chicken and waffles and red hot link sandwich. Get ready for a very tasty and heavy meal!! The bacon is to die for btw so think three times before you pass on ordering it. It comes with free big pieces so can def be shared with the table. The wait is typically long but we came on a Friday around 9am (no line) and by the time we left (~10:15), there was a huge crowd waiting to be seated. Tip: it's really poor lighting in there so will be difficult to get nice food pictures unless you sit on the patio.
(4)
Annie C.
The chicken and waffles and Mac n cheese are to die for!!! I had heard a lot about Screen Door and expected a lot from the Southern eatery. It definitely lived up to the hype and expectations. I want to come back and try the praline bacon, Carolina bbq dishes, and biscuits. This time I ordered the fried chicken and waffles and Mac n cheese, and they were so delicious! The chicken and waffles were perfectly seasoned and salty for the chicken and sweet with a hint of pumpkin and cinnamon in the waffles. Usually I hate syrup, but this syrup was delicious and complemented the pumpkin and cinnamon well. Even though the chicken and waffles were solid, the star was definitely the Mac n cheese. It came in a searing hot baked bowl with a thick layer of cheddar cheese on top covering the entire concoction. Different cheeses are mixed in, and the result is a perfectly cheesy and gooey Mac n cheese that just warms the heart. The cheese wasn't too stringy or chunky, and some mac n cheeses have too much fluid, but this was balanced well. Each successful Mac n cheese place stands out on its own, and Screen Door has its own unique twist to Mac n cheese that makes it a star.
(5)
Tiara M.
I'm sad to say that I did not love the food here. I have learned after trying it a few times that I am just not a southern food kinda gal. Who knows? Maybe one day I'll come around... So, I can see the appeal in Screen Door. It was my first visit, and everything on the menu sounded amazing. I have been eyeing this place for some time and finally made it for lunch. I read some reviews and decided to get the chicken and waffles and the cat fish po boy. For appetizer, the praline bacon. The bacon was delicious, I have to say. I've tried a similar style of bacon at a nearby joint, but I found the other version too nutty and overly sweet. Screen Door has perfected this balance. As far as the entrees, the chicken was certainly flavorful and juicy, but my fiance found himself craving some dark meat on the bone probably should've gotten the drumsticks instead); and in ordering the po boy, I have realized that I do not like catfish. It was my first time, and I just don't prefer the flavor. I ended up removing the catfish and replaced it with a piece of fried chicken that came with the waffle. In the end, we left feeling heavy and unsatisfied. I really think it must be personal preference though because of all the stellar reviews on here. At least, that is what I'm going to chalk it up to this time. I will probably try again someday and see if I can change my review. (The biscuits and gravy looked amazing.) In the meantime, if you are thinking about trying some it and enjoy southern comfort food, I'd say try Screen Door. If anything, they definitely give you the bang for your buck.
(3)
Kaitlin P.
HOLY MOLEY! LOVE LOVE LOVE! In love! This place was well worth the wait! I didn't have super high expectations because I'm not a huge fried chicken fan but there was so much more than that. I ordered a Scarlett O'Hare drink and that was a treat of blood orange, followed by a glass of rose, then the goat cheese beet salad and the brisket. Everything was delicious! I was in love! My boyfriend, who come to find out during this trip that he doesn't like beets (oh my goodness, horrible I know!) actually loved the beet salad, although you really don't need an appetizer because the portions are huge. Loved everything!
(5)
Debbie O.
Don't let the line bog you down. The Screen Door is worth every minute of agonizing wait. It's everything I hoped for and more. Hearty, comfort food with friendly service. Don't come when you're hangry. But even if you do, you can't help but be satisfied by the decadent pecan praline bacon and the succulent fried chicken atop sweet potato waffles. Did I mention they have the most buttery biscuits with gravy?! Need I say more? Grab a cup of joe from the front and wait to be impressed. The Screen Door is by far one of the best brunch experiences ever!
(5)
LeAnn E.
#1 tip: get in line around 8:30-8:45. Trust me! Fried chicken, praline bacon...yummy!!! I expected better coffee from this place, given its popularity and this being Portland but, doesn't change my 5 star review. I will definitely be back! I also hear that ordering to go is a fabulous idea...kids from Central Catholic apparently do so for lunch and it makes sense...cuz I think there's always a line here. For good reason!
(5)
Shiyuan D.
This place is SO GOOD. Just accept the wait. Don't go if you can't wait, both for a table, service, and the food. Nothing is speedy at this restaurant. Also know that whatever time estimate they give you when your put your name down is likely to be underestimating the actual wait. When we go to Tasty N Alder and they tell us an hour and a half wait, we know it will probably be 45 minutes. When Screen Door says an hour and a half, we know it's more likely to be 2 hours. We've been twice for dinner so far -- once at 8:00pm on a Saturday night and we waited until 9:45pm until we were seated. Service and food was fairly prompt. We also went at 7pm on a Wednesday night. Wait was 25 minutes and the place wasn't very busy, but service was incredibly slow. After our order was dropped off, we only saw our server once more before we asked for the bill. We waited for our water to be refilled. When I asked for to go containers, he brought me 4 containers but only 3 lids. I needed 5 containers and 5 lids. He didn't bring me a bag. I asked 1) for the containers, 2) for an extra lid and an extra set of container + lids, and 3) for the bag. The last time, I got up and went over to the service area because I didn't want to wait 10 minutes for our server to meander back to our table and I got chastised a little for getting up. I don't know why he thought I'd want to carry 5 containers to my car without a bag to put them in. I'm trying to remember why I'm giving this place five stars. OH RIGHT, the food. Both the fried chicken and the chicken tenders are so freaking good. Juicy, lightly battered, well seasoned. Hot sauce on the table. I like the Screen Door plate which I get with mac and cheese (even good reheated), chicken tenders, and greens. With this, I get leftovers for another couple of meals. I also like the shrimp and grits, which are creamy and well seasoned. Go, but bring your patience.
(5)
Nancy P.
OUT OF TONWER REVIEW: Our first stop in Portland, and we hit the jackpot! We relished over EVERY bite. Great service and people. The pulled pork melted in my mouth. The sauce was devine--and the biggest beans I have ever seen!! The veggies for our beet salad was not only locally grown but made us happy we went for at least one healthy choice. The bartender even gave us a piece of cornbread, very sweet. No complains. Do it. Just do it.
(5)
Colleen B.
Love this place!! Ben our server was a blast. Love his energy and sense of humor. So fun. Great food. Great drinks.
(5)
Brian C.
This was hands down the best meal I had in Portland and Screen Door should definitely be on your to-do list if you plan on visiting this wonderful city. We went for dinner on a Thursday night and we were pleasantly surprised to see that there was no line or wait inside. One thing I should mention if you do find yourself here and that's to make sure you bring your appetite with you. The entrees here are definitely enough to share, but you may not want to if you're the only one that ordered the fried chicken amongst others in the group. That just so happened to be me on this particular occasion and man was that some good poultry. As you've probably already expected, the batter was amazing; flavorful and surprisingly light with that perfect amount of crunch. The chicken itself was super moist, like enough to prevent it from becoming super dry the afternoon after. The entree comes with mashed potatoes and I chose collard greens as my second side. To keep it short, both were amazing. One dish that definitely surprised me that evening was the pork belly and fried green tomatoes. It was listed on a chalkboard so, I'm not 100% sure if this is something that's always available but, if it is, you should definitely give it a try. I'm talking super tender, rich pork here people, accompanied by generous slices of crispy green tomatoes; flavors don't get any better than that. Like I said, best meal I had in Portland and very reasonably priced with most entrees ranging $12-15 (I think).
(5)
P C.
Very pleased with this place. It is some of the best food I've ever had. The brisket was delectable, and the sides were very good. I tried an excellent smokey cup of gumbo and great fried okra....considering the price to quality, quite reasonable. Only thing poor was the wait....perhaps they may consider reservations.
(5)
Janelle O.
Very good food, cozy atmosphere. They have sandwiches on biscuits for breakfast and lunch- enough said.
(5)
Faraz B.
First time, I went to Screen Door, it was 8 pm on a Tuesday. My friend took me there so I did not know what to expect. I was totally surprised to know that the wait was 45 mins. Thinking about it a little bit, we decided to wait, and I am so happy we did. This is by far the best Southern Food I have ever eaten in my life. The chef has done a great job of elevating all the dishes. Everything I have ordered so far has been very delicious, and the best part is that the price is just right. I really love this place.
(5)
Arielle M.
I'm so glad we heard about this place. The recommendation came from a friend who is a local. We're in town all week on vacation, and we needed a list of places to eat. First breakfast stop: Screen Door. Taking a look at the menu, we were wondering what's with the Louisiana theme. Well, we found out that the owners are from New Orleans, so you know the food is gonna knock your socks off. I may be biased, being from New Orleans also, but that's okay! We started with some Glazed Breakfast Hushpuppies and a couple cups of Hot Chocolate. I'm not a big Hushpuppy fan, but my partner enjoyed them. The Hot Chocolate was pretty good, especially that thick cream it was topped with. For the entree, my partner got the Texas Migas with Cheese Grits and that was tasty. I got the Praline Bacon Waffle. My, oh my. That was delicious. I probably could've eaten a whole plate of just Praline Bacon. That's some good stuff. The staff was very friendly. We even met a few of them who also lived in Louisiana and/or Mississippi at some point in their lives. It was fun to chat with them and hear how they ended up all the way in Oregon. This is a place that you can't pass up if you're visiting the Portland area!
(5)
Fatima P.
Delicious! I loved the chicken it wasn't too dry very flavorful. The greens were great but the serving was small. I loooved the corn bread, it was crumbly but delicious. The Mac N Cheese was creamy. We waited 45 minutes to be seated, it was packed. The food arrived within 15 min.
(5)
Cole D.
Great local brunch! @ 10:00 on a Sunday, the line can get long, but I was seated immediately at the bar. The joys of eating alone. 'Heirloom Tomato & Bacon Benedict' (special), and a large, fresh squeezed OJ. Bacon was rich & smokey, tomato was think and juicy, fries on the side were delivered with bits of crisp burn - not my thing, but the ladies sitting next to me LOVED them. Got to sample the fried chicken too - a spicy citrus finish to the batter makes this dish the crowd pleaser. Fresh local food served by waiters who seem to be required to wear old concert tour shirts, and a lively atmosphere. I'll be back.
(5)
Jaslyn C.
It really is as good as they say. And the ingredients are proper.
(5)
Aru S.
Loved it except the huge waiting of like 50 mins. There are good stuff beside the waffle & chicken.
(4)
Packy X.
This was the cutest place! Great outdoor spot, fun atmosphere- you have to try their fried chicken!
(5)
Steven P.
Food was delicious, and the cocktails were delicious. The line was super long waited over an hour for Saturday brunch but worth the wait. Service was really nice, can't blame them for the wait but that was the only downfall.
(4)
Zack S.
Guys. You have no freaking clue. This place. It's like, it's like, it's like... I don't even know. So, there's Chicken, and, it's fried, and... Oh my goodness, you don't even know... Just... Just come here... And eat the chicken... It's the most delicious thing in the world with the coolest atmosphere and the best service. This is most certainly what I would declare a winner. TL;DR: If you haven't been here, go. Just go right now.
(5)
Natalia W.
The normal long wait. No problem The hype is still strong and I'm happy for them but the food is not all that. Fried pork chop is over flattened and breaded with saltine crackers. This soaks up sooo much grease you can hardly taste the meat. What's wrong with seasoning and flour? And if you're really being New Orleans style Italian bread crumbs. Served with red beans and rice. No red beans on this menu. Fried chicken breast is flattened as well which makes for quite the presentation but it is just a regular chicken breast which looks huge due to the heavy breading. Taste ok though. Collard greens are good. Not bad good not great Corn bread has corn in it taste good but they don't have a problem serving a piece which is dried out half the way and the bottom is moist. The kitchen needs to find a way to cover it so it won't dry out on the top or stop serving the dried out pieces. The Gumbo sadly chicken and andouille sausage with not a trace of chicken or andouille sausage in it. Not enough thyme and no file. Just a soup with rice in it. Fried okra just like the ones you get from the grocery store freezer section. I don't think they are in house breaded and fried. Nothing to write home about and not worth the price. I wanted to try shrimp and grits but it looks like the shrimp are precooked and not peeled and cooked in house. I wanted to try the mac and cheese but it looks like a soupy cheese sauce with a pile cheese crust baked on the top much like a French onion soup. If you know how to make good mac and cheese it can stand on its own. It doesn't need to hide or be smothered under s cheese shell. Fried chicken wings. WHY IN THE WORLD does the chicken taste like ham? I was sickened. I think maybe the menu needs to describe how the food is prepared if it has an unexpected twist. They have either boiled the chicken in ham hock juice or brined it. I don't know but it is disgusting. If I had read this on the menu I would NOT have ordered it. Just like the pork chop if it read "in a saltine cracker crust" I would have passed on it. Yuck! Hush puppies- may be too small, took on too much grease. The flavor is good on the inside (not just cornbread actually seasoned) perhaps they need to make them bigger and change the heat or put less cornmeal on the outside you'd taste more than just the greasy dark cornmeal on the outside. You're excited to see them on the menu but the taste is a letdown. In my humble opinion, I am not here to slam just to share my experience, there is nothing on the menu that makes me say, I can't wait to go back to Screen Door to get me some more of that good ole ___ ____? Not one single menu item. Oh wait! The hurricane is really good and tasty and nice and potent. Still won't be back.
(1)
Peter V.
Round 2 for us at the Screen Door last week was awesome. Griddle stack burger was a nicely cooked, smoky burger creation. Huge too so I cut it into 4 wedges to eat. Po Boy oyster sandwich was great with some very nice ingredients .See you again in a month when we return to Portland.
(5)
Rob A.
Best southern cooking in Portland IMHO! If you're looking for good southern comfort food, this is as good as it gets in PDX. Always crazy busy so go during off hours.
(5)
George G.
I'm a little torn about what to think or say about this place. On one hand, the food is not bad at all. No doubt, it's about a 4- to a 5-star deal up here for me, for the items that I tried, anyway. That, or maybe I just saw the word "fried", and I jumped to the "it's good" conclusion right away. It's also possible that I'm just really starved when I finally got to eat here for brunch...wait, getting ahead of myself here. I had the fried chicken and sweet potato waffles: three big pieces of battered flat, boneless deep-fried chicken with some thinly-sliced sweet potato waffles, just like what the menu says. I also had the fried oyster benedict. It came with toasted muffins, bacon, and poached eggs. What I think stands out right away on these choices are the big portions and the fact that the items taste really fresh and tenderly-crunchy, especially the fried oysters. The chicken has a little bit of spicy zing to it, not overwhelming, but just enough and just right. They're priced at $14 and $12, respectively, so the size and the flavors back up the numbers just right. Now, the other hand: the wait. I made the mistake of coming here on a Sunday, at noon, and ended up all hungry and what not. Man, brunch totally sucks if you have to wait around and don't get to eat until around 2 PM. I don't care if the food is this or that good or whatever the rest of these fine diners say. On top of that, I had to go through the motions of ordering, waiting for my food, and getting drink refills, yada, all in a really slow motion mode. Why? Because the place is packed, and the overall ratio of staff to customers is totally skewed. This is definitely not the best day to come here to eat. Maybe a takeout would have been a better option on days like when I showed up. Walk past the waiting crowd, pay, pick up the food, grin from ear to ear on the way out, and eat it some place else in peace. Will I be back? Possibly, but if and only if (iff for you techies out there) the hype dies down, if I don't see much of a line, or if I happen to get here before it opens so I can get in and eat right away. Other than that, I'm eating some place else where I can eat right away like how anyone deserves to, then use the two saved hours of my life to explore the rest of the city and still have enough time to eat some more later.
(3)
Philip R.
Pretty good. Especially enjoyed the side of seasonal veggies. Be prepared for a wait, unless you get lucky on when you go. Only downside is that I didn't think the corn bread was done quite right...I'm from the south, and I know good corn bread. Screen door's was mediocre. Everything else was great though.
(4)
Neda G.
Oh man... Absolutely delicious. Went to Portland with friends and the wife and had to hit up this place! Yes, we had to wait over an hour, and yes it was gloomy and cold out, but it was sooo worth the wait. Luckily with 7 people you can all order something different and have a taste of everything. Chicken and waffles were amazing, grits were amazing, red potatoes were amazing and freshly squeezed orange juice oh my goodness! Even just thinking about it is making my mouth water. Great price, great food, great employees! Definitely worth waiting and taking your chances folks! You will not be disappointed!
(5)
LeAnne W.
We plan ahead before going to Screen Door so we can be first in line. The food is soooooooooo good. Love the chicken.
(5)
Stella S.
Got in on a 15 minute wait! I know that barely ever happens so I was super stoked! The restaurant was still busy as ever but we even managed to snag a corner booth. The meal got better with the incredible server we had recommending the shrimp and grits breakfast which were so divine I can't say it enough. The others in my party had the chicken and waffles of course and ate almost every last bite but they could not conquer the awesomeness of them completely. Their loss! We left feeling full and happy. What more could you ask for!?
(5)
Heather C.
I usually refrain from giving anything a perfect rating, but the food at Screen Door is so good, it's worth putting up with anything that would cause me to remove a star. For weekend brunch, you wait forever. A long forever. There are only two bathrooms, so you'll also wait in line forever then. But their chicken and waffles? And grits? And breakfast corn dog? Worth it. Get up early, get some coffee and plan to find a way to make standing in line fun. You'll forget all about it after you eat.
(5)
Katelin S.
Worth the wait
(4)
Mariah E.
Defintely worth the long wait! Come hungry and leave crazingly full..
(4)
Alefia M.
Just ordered dessert to go because the restaurant was packed! The pecan pie was AMAZING. Unforgettable. I would seriously fly back to Portland just for this pie. Next time they better have some fried chicken waiting for me; sad i missed out on what i am sure would have been a great meal.
(5)
Mary H.
Really awesome down home low country southern food. Pro-tip: skip the long lines and order take out. I do it once or twice a week, bring my chicken strips and my mac and cheese home with me after work, and pig out in peace before the television. Whenever I do happen to dine in, it's usually a brunch affair. Get there early, bring a good book, take advantage of the complimentary coffee, and sit your ass down to wait for one of the most divine brunches this city has to offer. I love their red velvet pancakes, and everyone has to get the chicken and waffles at least once in their life. Huge portions too, so it's easy to share, or just bring some home for a second helping. Honestly, some of the best southern food in the area, and that's straight from the cowgirl's mouth.
(5)
Don L.
I've been fortunate to have been to Portland twice in the last few months and took the opportunity to eat at the Screen Door both times. This place has fresh and excellent food. It's loud, crowded, and there are usually long lines to deal with but this doesn't diminish the experience. Their fried chicken, gravy, collard greens are fantastic! The bbq brisket is good but I must say that I've had better brisket in Texas. The mac 'n cheese is some of the best ever! Eat here!
(4)
Andrew H.
Looks like I was reviewing Screen Door every year, and then I missed 2012...and now it's almost 2014. I am long over-due. If you look up at the top of the Screen Door page you'll see I'm the "Duke" and it's not just because I walk by this location, whip out my celly, and snipe-check-in on a daily basis. No, it's because I live pretty close to here and if I'm in town on weekends (usually not the case in the summer, often the case in the winter due to my climbing addiction) I will go here for brunch. Always. I've also started an informal tradition of eating dinner here before every Mt Hood climb (I mean, if it could be your potential last meal it should be your BEST meal, right? I stole this idea from United States Prison System). Anyway, everything I've said before, it still stands. The food is always good, always. Don't even bother asking your waiter/waitress what they would get, just get whatever has the most ingredients you like, you won't be disappointed. But, I know, you want ME to recommend something, so I will. I usually get something off the specials. Lately I've been getting the Huevos Rancheros (scrambled, cuz I don't like eggs prepared the "authentic" way), and I have never once regretted it. I hope it becomes part of the regular menu eventually. And, of course, if you're a tourist in Portland you MUST get the Chicken and Waffle and take a photo that you immediate post to the internet (as is tradition). The wait staff is genuinely happy, helpful, and efficient. Not just in comparison to jaded-skinny-jean'd Portland, but to anywhere! Seriously, I was given house-baked pralines for Christmas the past two years for coming here so often. What other place in Portland does that? Name one? That's right, you can't. (and if you can, please notify me immediately...and no one else) This is the #1 rated place on the Portland Yelp splash page for a reason, just go here already! If I were to say one negative thing it would be that brunch is only on the weekends. Then again, I would probably have to buy a whole new jean collection if that were so...blessing in disguise.
(5)
Sharon K.
BEST BRUNCH I'VE EVER HAD. Wish they had a tasting menu so I could try everything!
(5)
Angelo D.
If you're havin' brunch problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 problems but chicken ain't one. I'm going to make this short and savory, Screen Door has hands down the best chicken and waffles I have ever had the pleasure of shoving through my gullet. I've been to Roscoe's in LA, 900 Grayson in Berkeley, Home of Chicken and Waffles in Oakland - none of these even touch Screen Door. That's some magic chicken right there. If you're coming for brunch prepare for a wait so you don't end up eating your own hand in line. Do yourself a favor and get there before opening (My wife Beyonce and I showed up around 8) and put yourself in a position to get in with the first wave.
(5)
Chase T.
Excellent southern food. Generous portions. Particularly the fried chicken and waffles during brunch. You get three full chicken breasts and a sweet potato waffle for thirteen dollars and change. Delicious comfort food. Service is friendly and during brunch you can drink coffee while you wait in line. Oh...the line. The deal you get on this delicious food will be offset by the time payment you make in the nearly ever-present line. That's the only reason this isn't a five star restaurant. I just can't handle the line on a regular basis. I suppose that's good for my waistline, though.
(4)
YoungEm T.
This place seriously has the best chicken and waffles. They have like 2-3 giant pieces of perfectly fried chicken atop a delicious sweet potato waffle. I've never had any better elsewhere. The line is very long when they open on Saturdays so we always go early, but even then we have to wait. The food is worth it though. They have two types of waffles, sweet potato and original. Both are good. Their bananas foster French toast is delectable. Also, don't forget the hot apple cider. YUM. I've never had an issue with service here despite how busy it is every time I'm here.
(5)
Allen T.
Whatever you've heard about the Screen Door it's absolutely true how yum it is! We got there a little after nine and got the second to the last table for the first serving (sat in the heated patio) on a Sunday morning. We are a family of four (2 adults 2 young kids). Our order which we shared family style: Egg Sardou (poached, over creamed spinach, artichoke heart, etcetera) Chicken and waffles (you must eat this I command it) Chocolate chip pancakes (1 huge MF, you will have leftovers) Side of biscuits and gravy (superior) Cheesy grits (our 4 year old downed this!) Had a box of leftovers. Reasonably priced for a happy content family. 6 exclamation mark Awesome!!!!!! Waitress was most nice too. Next time I'm gonna get cocktail.
(5)
Leann H.
SUCH GOOD FOOD, average service. I always feel rushed and as if I am bugging the wait staff. I haven't been back just because the service is average.
(4)
Angie L.
Don't come here super starving or you might pass out... The wait for a table was an hour for us. We came for breakfast by the way. Our group ordered a few dishes. Chicken and waffles, gingerbread pancakes, an omelette, and biscuits and gravy. The chicken and waffles made the wait worth it. The fried chicken was one of the most moist and savory I have ever had. My omelette was mediocre, the gingerbread pancakes were fun and unique.. Very fluffy too! And then came the biscuits and gravy... That gravy was made with wayyyyy too much flour. It was not edible... So disgusting and the texture was like thick glue. Yucky!!! Food is a little overrated minus the chicken and waffles. :)
(3)
Anna L.
Ate here for dinner instead of busybusy brunch. HOLEYY MOLLEEEY friieeeeeeed chicken. I loved loved loved the fried chicken and the creamy mashed potatoes. The portion is HUGE. I could not finish the whole thing even though I really wanted to :( sadface. My sister got the beef brisket. It was good but a bit overwhelming and heavy. We also had to get the mac n' cheese. Wish I had a second stomach or that the hotel had a fridge so I can scarf it down the next day while sitting on the floor pathetically. We ended the meal with a pecan pie and a couple of delicious mixed drinks - I got some fresh blackberry drink. Service was meh. We sat outside since it was nice and warm, but it took so long to get our order in, our food, our drinks, our check! Gah! Oh, and I wish they served the chix and waffles during dinner too. booo. Guess we have to come back for brunch!
(4)
Juan C.
Three words... A - ma - zing!!!! We've been here several times for brunch, which is awesome, but their by far is out of this world. The fact that there's a line around the corner before they open is further proof that this place knows good and does it GREAT!!!! A must try if you are in Portland!
(5)
Taylor C.
This place is awesome! If this is any indication of the general food scene in Portland, I may need to make a few more trips south on I-5. We had an inkling from Yelp as to what the crowd would look like. We planned accordingly and arrived about 25 minutes before opening. There was still a line out the door of about 20 people ahead of us. No sweat. To me it just made me that much more excited to eat knowing this many people were this eager to eat here. It bugs me a little bit when people complain about the wait at places like this. It's a small restaurant that's extremely popular... seems only natural you would have to wait. Nothing they can do about it. They were efficient about getting everyone in to the restaurant right off the bat. Understandably, with each server having to greet all of their tables and put in all of their orders roughly at the same time, and with the kitchen having to handle one large influx of orders, I would've expected a bit of a disruption in service or a longer wait to eat (as a former restaurant employee, this is the worst possible situation to be in). While there may have been a small delay in the food coming out, overall the service was excellent and timely and everything seemed to be running very smoothly. I did look at the menu, but it was more of a formality. I knew from the pictures that there was only one dish for me. The chicken and waffles are absolutely incredible. First of all, this is about a 1.5x size dinner entree portion of chicken. Kudos to anyone comfortably taking all that down... I'm always a fan of chicken and waffles, and the quality of the dish inevitably varies with the quality of the chicken. Here I can say that Screen Door does a fantastic job with their chicken. Not surprising considering this is their signature dish (I assume). I am eager to try new restaurants in Portland, but it might be hard to pass this place up for another brunch
(5)
Carl T.
Yum! The fried chicken was wonderful. Seriously some of the best chicken I have ever had. The collard greens are scrumptious as well. I ordered an appetizer of fried oysters which were amazing. The portions here are HUGE, we had leftovers for days. Make reservations and don't expect this delicious food to be fast. It is worth the wait. I knocked off a star because the wait is to long to get in and the service is okay at best. We will be back : )
(4)
Dorene S.
This is officially one of my top 5 places to go in Portland for brunch. The wait is worth it...the fried chicken and waffles is unbeatable. This is about the only place on the planet where I actually love having the cut of chicken breast. French toast is great too. You can go no wrong if you just order these two items on the menu - incredible! Quality: 5 Service: 5 Cost: 5
(5)
Mason T.
love this place! Best southern food in portland. The staff is friendly and helpful. Eat here if you are in portland
(5)
Katie S.
we live right around the corner from screen door and can see the lines waiting to eat there every single weekend! but it's worth it!! everyone is happy when we eat there or even get take out! they never get it wrong... and we're from alabama and georgia so we consider ourselves decent judges. ;)
(5)
Nicole C.
This is THE place to go to when I'm in Portland. I've been here multiple times, and I always leave super full and content. I can recommend both dinner and brunch, although I prefer dinner over brunch by just a bit. Both are excellent. Dinner: Fried chicken - this is easily the best fried chicken I've ever had. It's not what I consider traditional fried chicken (there's something different about the seasoning and breading), but I'd rather have this over traditional any day. Beef brisket - I don't even like barbequed things, but I did like this! Specials - I've had a few of their specials, and I highly recommend looking here. Everything Screen Door makes is delicious! Brunch: Po' Boy - good, even if the sausage was too spicy for my taste. To be fair, I can't really handle spicy. Chicken and waffles - HUGE!!! It's like a tower of chicken and waffles that could easily satisfy two people. Personally, I much prefer the chicken served at dinner, but this is good, too. Hush puppies - maybe I just don't like hush puppies, but this realllllly wasn't my thing, and I would never order it again. Ham, gruyere, and thyme croquettes - I'm not sure if this is always there, but if it is, GET IT. It's smoky and really hits the spot. Tip: For dinner, get there by opening time if you don't want to wait. For brunch, get there at least half an hour prior to opening. This is a very popular restaurant, and it's easy to see why.
(5)
Michael M.
one of the best breakfast spots in Portland.
(5)
Kristie B.
If you are either in the mood for breakfast or dinner, Sceen Door has you covered (well, I suppose brunch is only served on the weekend). I am a huge fan of their shrimp and grits and for breakfast I can't get enough of their sausage gravy. The only drawback can be the wait, which is why I don't frequent the restaurant more often. But, more power to them for bringing folks back over and over again!
(4)
Alex M.
The Screen Door is a place I would recommend to people. They don't have the biggest selection of food compared to other places, but I have found the smaller the selection, the better quality of food you end up getting. The price range is a little bit higher, but again, the quality is better. I ended up getting the Fried Oysters as an appetizer for around $9.00. They were absolutely delicious! The oysters tastes fresh and there was the perfect amount of batter to oyster ratio. The tarter sauce that was served with them was the perfect compliment to round out a very yummy appetizer. Screen Door is known for their fried chicken so I had to get it. It cost around $15.00. This is not your normal fried chicken. I swear they use half a chicken to fry! The batter was a flaky and had a hint of spice to it. The chicken was still very moist on the inside making it a delightful bite every time. The fried chicken is served on top of a heaping pile of mashed potatoes and a side. The gravy comes on the side and goes perfectly with the chicken and/or potatoes. I ended up getting the collard green which were some of the best I've ever had! The bacon was the perfect touch. I didn't come even close to finishing it all. Thank goodness for to-go boxes! I didn't have any desserts, but had a sample of the lemon cream cheese rhubarb filled cake that was a splash of excitement in your mouth! I never knew lemon and rhubarb blended so well together. The bana-offe cake was absolutely amazing!! Our waitress said it was their most popular and I can see why. While Screen Door was really great food, I'd still go somewhere else. However, I will most definitely come back just for the bana-offe cake!! The service was amazing. Our waitress was kind, very friendly, and constantly making sure our needs were met. The atmosphere is loud and they do squish people in there, but you don't feel overcrowded. I've heard the line can get really long so I do recommend making a reservation. Screen Door should be a must try on everyone's list.
(4)
Christopher G.
Expect to wait for 30 or more minutes when you come here because its gets so packed!!! But it was great that they provide coffee for people are waiting. This was the last sit down meal that we ate before we went home to the bay area. We were here to visit the area. The interior was pretty impressive. The decor and the layout of this place was nice. It was hip!! When we got our seat, there was a coffee spill on the floor so we had to wait for them to clean it out. I thought it was nice that they did it without us asking. The seats are very close together so you can hear your neighbors conversation. It felt like we were eves dropping but it was a nice atmophere and by the end of our meal we were conversating with our neighbors. Haha · As for the food, we got the burger with potatos and the chicken and waffles. The burger and potatos were okay. The burger was huge!!!!! The potatos were really BAD.... I was very rubbery and it was hard to chew... it was also lukewarm and we ended up skipping on it. They shouldnt serve this... · My chicken and waffles were amaaaaaaaing. I remember being very skeptical because usually when I order the chicken and waffles anywhere else it was dissappointing... I was totally wrong about it. It was delicious. And it was huge portions. I would come here again. The wait was pretty long but the experience was totally worth it.
Long wait to get in. Very cramped restaurant. As soon as you get your food, you forget all about that. The cuisine is spectacular.
(4)
Valerie D.
Best chicken and waffles ever. EVER.
(5)
Jenn A.
The wait was around 1 hour for a table of 5 on a Friday night with no reservations. Their greens were a little sloppy, but their jambalaya and catfish were great. I recommend it still, just head over to East Burn for a drink while you wait for your table.
(3)
Ryan T.
So rich & good, it might kill you. Always a wait. Great, unique drinks. Breakfast that's to die for - both in taste & calorie count.
(4)
Ginny G.
Let the breeze blow in, feels good.
(4)
Sheena H.
Got here at about 7:45 on a Friday night, place was packed! Didn't take more than 15 mins for us to be seated at the bar. We ordered fried okra to start. Probably one of the best parts of our meal, in my opinion. Then I ordered the screen door special, with mac n cheese, beet salad, arugala, goat cheese and pistachio salad (seasonal), and the andoule/chicken jambalaya with a piece of cornbread. My friend ordered the beef brisket plate and subbed the collard greens for the potato salad. Hands down amazing. Our bill was only $35 and that was a ton of food. Brisket was super tender, which we loved. Everything was really good, can't complain. Service was pretty quick/friendly as well.
(4)
Tina H.
Of all of the places I have waited a ridiculously long time to have brunch in, this was my favorite. With apologies to all the neighbors who have to wade through the crowd to get through their weekend mornings, this place is worth it.
(5)
Taylor R.
Breakfast is very delicious, I had the chicken waffles. The chicken was excellent as always, the waffles were very good as well, I definitely would recommend breakfast, only be sure to be there nice and early, when it is cold out the worst thing that could happen to you, would be missing out on the first seating during a brisk morning
(4)
Mandana S.
Really large portions of bland, greasy, mediocre food. Extra long lines and no reservations lend way to hipster appeal. Good for homegrown Portland folk who think chicken and waffles is an exotic dish. Bad for regular people who have had real chicken and waffles outside of Portland, in say...Atlanta, where they season their food. Ugh.
(2)
Linda N.
There's a reason why this place has almost 1600 reviews people. You should definitely go here if you are visiting Portland or if you live in the area and have never tried it. The fried chicken is slightly spicy and delicious. I've had the bourbon flight here which was good as well. It's not on the Brunch menu but you can still order it. You can pick three for $15, I think. Chicken and waffles available for BRUNCH only. Beware of their hours and be prepared for a wait if you're coming for dinner. My experience with Brunch has been a much shorter wait. Awesome Bloody Mary as well!
(5)
Victoria R.
Always delicious. Noisy (but fun). Get here early - there is usually quite a bit if a wait for dinner!
(5)
Salina Z.
Brunch! Screen Door! Yes! Top 5 brunch places of all time. Absolutely. Walked in on a Sunday morning and told about 50 minute to an hour. The wait clocked in at 48 minutes. Not bad. Around minute 38, a lady and her partner/husband stood next to us. She had just come from putting her name on the list inside. "It's over an hour, right?" Gary said, with much disdain. "No.... she said just about an hour." Gary, shaking his head. "No, I can't wait that long." "PLEASE babe, I really want to eat here. Come on, we can get coffee next door while we wait." Gary, still shaking his head, allowed himself to be pulled away. We were seated. There was so much to try! So much delicious fried food! So much butter! In the end this is what won: Sausage corn dog - BRILLIANT. Seriously, brilliant. A regular size sausage with corn dog batter and fried. Rivals the Disneyland corndog. Yea, you KNOW what I am talking about. Chicken & Waffles - It's freaking stacked on top of the waffles. With a knife through it. The seasoning is amazing. Delicious. Wonderful. MUST EAT! All breast meat, though I hear at dinner it includes dark meat. Fried Oyster Benedict - A must if you love fried oysters. Which I do, I definitely do. The grits! AAAAHHH soooo buttery and delicious. If you hate butter, or get grossed out by it, don't get this. Stumpton coffee with refills - 'nuff said. Thanks to the folks for keeping my cup filled! While we were eating, a waiter went to the table next to us and explained how he was sorry for the wait with the corndog as they had just had to fry a new batch. He brought them a giant bowl of fruit. That's how it should be. I'm looking at you Tasty n Sons. As we were paying the bill, guess who sat down a few tables from us? GARY! He looked super grumpy and his wife/partner looked super stoked. I hope Gary turned his frown upside down once he tasted that delicious grub. Bonus: we took an entire chicken piece to go with us because we were stuffed. So happy we did because that thing was almost more delicious when cold! **NOTE: Personally, I don't think it's valid to take off a star for the length of waiting. Because, you KNOW how long you're going to be waiting. It's your CHOICE to stay and wait or not. So, anybody rating less than 5 because of the wait, is invalid. Truth.
(5)
Bob K.
The food was totally 5 star. Same with service. But here is why it's only 4 stars. Looooong wait. We went on a Monday....on a Monday and it was a half an hour to get seated. On a Monday...... Second it was really loud. With good that is so good they get lots of customers and really pack them in. You had to lean over and really pay attention to your table mates to understand what they were saying. There were 5 of us and we mostly ordered different items. Everything was good to wow. I did notice that they have some outdoor seating (probably a longer wait) that was quite. I will be back!!!! Went back today. This time stood in line at 5:15. Found out that is the way to do it. Seated quickly at 5:30. Food took a bit because the restaurant was nearly full by 5:45. But food is soooo good. Had to push the rating up to 5 stars
(5)
Nicole B.
Came in at 5 pm and realized that they weren't open till 5:30. Walked around for a little bit checking out furniture stores, then walked back to find a line of at least 15 people. Wasn't much of a wait though, seeing as we were one of the first few in the line. We were immediately greeted, sat and brought water and drinks. The servers and others seem to work well together to a point where the service is seamless. We ordered the hush puppies that was accompanied by a pepper jelly. For dinner we ordered the fried chicken dinner and the shrimp and grits. The fried chicken was served with collard greens, mashed potatoes and a small side of gravy. The fried chicken wasn't too bad, but it wasn't that great either. The shrimp in the shrimp and grits still had the whole shell on, which I wasn't too fond of. We weren't overly enthralled by our dinner. The breakfast seems pretty amazing, maybe we'll come back for brunch. I honestly thought the screen door had a little more hype for what it was and is.
(3)
Lindsey S.
AMAZING SOUTHERN COMFORT FOOD! Will always go back. Worth a long wait time in long lines for this one.
(5)
Mike G.
Make sure to call Waaaaaay ahead and setup a reservation, waiting times can and will be a Minimum of an hour. The Food is great and totally worth the wait but hopefully you like Cajun food. Go out with a bunch of friends.
(3)
Kedy S.
Delicious food, what can I say that hasn't already been said? The food is fantastic here, really great breakfast as is typical of Portland breakfast (we take it seriously!) Stars awarded for: 2, great food! The chicken is not only well cooked but has a great spice to it. 1, great service, though the wait it long they definitely do a great job once they have you seated, sometimes they do get a bit bogged down and are slow 1, very convenient location, easy to get to and parking is relatively easy to find though you may have to walk a block or two. Great patio that is covered in the winter.
(4)
Ryan M.
Absolutely amazing, the best food in Portland. Pricey two people expect 70-80 bucks. Wait is average, I lived in Beaufort SC for 5 years (The Low country) which is the cuisine this place serves and I never in my life ate food this good in Beaufort. This place serves southern food... Fried chicken, hush puppies, catfish, steak, potatoes, mac and cheese etc... Low buck type food but prepared in a manner deeming it nothing short of excellence.
(5)
C P.
Awesome. Phenomenal food and even better service. Waiter chatted, gave excellent advice and was fast even though they were busy. Awesome outdoor patio, year round. Don't be deterred by the wait, they move fast. Fried chicken melts in your mouth and the gumbo was to die for. I have never had squash taste the way they made it as well. Not a bad thing on the menu.
(5)
Latina V.
Awesome. Didn't mind waiting for the table, cool atmosphere, good food. They have a coffee cart set up while you wait which is pretty nice.
(5)
Lynn R.
love it! unique, fun, great southern food. If you are up for a quiet discussion, this isn't the spot - it's noisy, and the tables are REALLY close together.
(4)
Michael B.
Let's run through the normal paces: 1. The wait wasn't bad. We arrived at 8:40, made the first wave of seating and got three chairs at the counter by 9:15. 2. bartender/ waiter was friendly. Got us drinks really quick and they had the same brand of tea I drink at home. 3. Bloody Mary's were too thick, too tomato sauce tasting, and way to weak. 4. breakfast corn dogs and hush puppies were outstanding. 5. We didn;t have to wait too long for our breakfast considering we were the last people sat in the first wave if dinners. 6. my breakfast was not great at all. I had the smoked brisket hash. It was not smokey, not flavorful, except for the overly distracting parsley oil which covered basically all my hash. I ate less than half of it. 7. my wife had cheese grits, biscuit and gravy, and bacon. Cheese grits were so good I ate some. biscuit and gravy were as expected. The bacon however was so overcooked it shattered when you bit in to it. 8. our friend from out of town had the fried chicken and waffle. This was the standout. They should only serve chicken and waffles. Then I wouldn't be tempted by smokey things that are terrible. All in all, we had a good time and some really good food except the has.
(4)
Gary L.
We all ordered somthing different and everybody loved their meal .... i had chicken and waffels ... very very good ... only bad part was the very lame street musician out front .... very weird even for portland
(5)
Joleen Q.
An hour wait but it was so cute/country inside. I got the cajun scramble but the real winner was the moist, chicken and waffles. The bananas foster french toast was super rich. BTW, the screen door is by the one bathroom per sex :)
(4)
David I.
Good stuff
(4)
Amy A.
Wow. Just Wow. First off, get a group of 6 or more people and make a reservation, otherwise you'll be stuck in the line waiting and hoping for a table. We made reservations and were able to walk past the line outside and right in the front door when they opened at 9am. The food is incredible. I had the juevos rancheros, which is unlike any other version of this dish that I have had before. Served on cripsy corn tortillas, with a perfect "over medium" egg on top. I also ordered the praline bacon on the side. I never knew you could make bacon *better* than it already is, but Screen Door has done it! The Bloody Mary is a perfect combination of tomato, garlic, and spice. Garnished with pickled vegetables and a spicy salted rim. Yum. I hadn't expected this place to live up to the hype, but I was wrong. So wrong.
(5)
Eva B.
AMAZING.....Chicken served HOT and the flavorful....amazing, so juicy, salted perfectly, crispy slighty spicy skin. BEST fried chicken I have ever ate! They were so nice and accommodated my request of just a breast, with there amazing house salad. FRESH radishes floating on top of perfectly prepped butter leaf lettuce, heavenly chunks of meaty bacon, perfect blue cheses bites....mmmm mmmm good, thank you for the memorable lunch, my family will be back again and again!
(5)
Brent T.
So, I'm not usually big on waiting in line before the opening of a joint just for food. I'm just not that patient. But I'd read about standard operating procedure at Screen Door for brunch on weekends, and it involved waiting. Since we were up, and we'd heard good things, my gf and I said, what the hell, let's go! So we waited outside for probably a good half an hour in 30 degree temps. I started to question my sanity at some point. But I threw that questioning out the window when we got our chicken and waffle. Holy hell, Batman, this is a HHHHUUUUGGGGEEEE serving. I honestly question whether or not anyone eats the chicken and waffle by themselves. It's THREE GINORMOUS sized pieces of boneless fried chicken, super juicy and crispy, on top of one large sweet potato waffle. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. We also had a side of hush puppies, which were just okay. There's something in the syrup served with the hush puppies that is a little different, not sure what it is. I also felt like the bacon and cheese in the hush puppies got a little lost. But, OH MY, the chicken and waffle. That alone was worth freezing my ass off outside in line. I wish I could've come here more times to sample their other brunch offerings, but we were only in Portland for one weekend morning. I can assure you of one thing. The chicken and waffle is delicious, it's $12, and it'll easily feed two normal human beings. Go get it. Hurry. And if it's winter, bring a good jacket!
(4)
Emily H.
never been disappointed in a meal here. they also accomodate my gf needs very nicely.
(5)
Jon W.
My wife and I honeymooned in Oregon and stayed a while in Portland. We passed Screen Door everynight and wnet there our last day because we ALWAYS saw a line outside. It was amazing! She got a bloody mary and it was the best I've ever tasted. Chicken and Waffles is to die for! Amazing. We sat at the bar--no room anywhere else--but the service was stilll good. The kitchen is open and obviously clean. Go here!
(5)
Brandon S.
Delicious. Good service, albeit a bit understaffed, cozy and modest interior. moist chicken, amazing squash special, and an all around delight.
(5)
Marisa P.
Waffles were delicious and by far the best I've had in Portland! My friend ordered the brisket hash which was also amazing.
(5)
JP R.
Food is fantastic! Fried chicken and waffles a must. Great prices, staff is friendly! A long wait.... Who cares! Minimum wait anytime is a hour to hour and a half. Scrambles are delish, potatoes yum! Fun energy! Well run and it's worth the wait! Oh god almost forgot....the hush puppies sugary sweet delights...a must try!
(5)
Annika L.
Lots of brunch places in Portland have long waits. Sometimes it's not worth it, but sometimes IT IS. Screen Door is worth the wait! Have an apple before you go, get some coffee, get your name on the list, and enjoy your company before chowing down on some truly delicious comfort food.
(4)
Michael G.
The fried chicken and beef brisket are both out of this world. I'll be back.
(4)
Joey L.
I was visiting OR and I had bookmarked this spot to try while I was there. I am glad I did. We were seated outside. It was covered, however it was still cold. Which made my food get cold very quickly. I had to keep wearing my coat and my gloves while eating. There were 5 of us and we all ordered a variety of food so that we can try a lot of the food. I ordered the Trout Pecan, one ordered the fried chicken with mashed potatoes and collared greens, the other three got the brisket. We also got mac n cheese and hush puppies. +++ Brisket, Mac n Cheese, Fried Chicken : Awesome --- The brisket was definitely tasty! I would have gotten more mac n cheese if I weren't embarrassed to eat more. LOL ++ Trout Pecan was OK (maybe because it got cold too fast?) + hush puppies were eh.
(4)
Laura Y.
Awesome food and service - parking is a bit rough - street only and it's residential on the side streets, but worth the wait and worth the walk. Definitely bring your appetite...large portions, hearty food.... best Mac and chees this side of the Mississippi! (well except my moms!)..... go there...engoy!
(5)
Kim P.
Came here for brunch on a recent trip to Portland. Sure glad we got here early (before the restaurant opened) to avoid waiting too long. We ordered and friend chicken sandwich and the corned beef hash - OMG they were delicious!!!! I'm currently having trouble writing this review without salivating. Let's start with the chicken. I have had fried chicken from just about every city I've visited in the US...and so far...this has been the best. Prior to visiting Screen Door, I read Yelp reviews from other people making this same claim and I was skeptical, but now I'm a believer. The chicken is so moist, perfectly seasoned and really crispy. This "sandwich" consisted of a biscuit with fried chicken smothered in country gravy. Yum yum yum. Ok, on the the corned beef dish...consisted of fresh chunks of corned beef, potatoes, and red cabbage tossed in a creamy horseradish sauce. Again, soooo good. Service was also great. Come dive in to fried chicken heaven.
(5)
Jeff B.
Mac & Cheese Very good and worth sharing as a starter. My only regret is they could not tell us what type of cheeses it used so my wife, who has a mix of cheese allergies, could not try it. Next time we will have to try writing out all the cheeses she can eat and get the kitchen to OK it. Hushpuppies I do not like corn flour usually but these hushpuppies use a finer grind and were surprisingly good. The sauce was just ok. Fried Chicken The chicken was moist and the batter had just the right amount of salt and spice. They did an excellent job.
(4)
Kristina S.
AMAZING chicken and waffles... keep in mind that this is only offered at brunch. Their alcoholic and non-alcoholic cider is also a must have. This place is a must stop when visiting Portland. Can't wait till my next visit!!
(5)
Abdul F.
I know this place is highly reviewed. Bear with me here and listen to why I'm giving it two stars: SERVICE: Was below par. The wait staff was short with us, in spite of it not being especially busy. They definitely had some of the smug arrogance that comes with certain demographics in Portland. I always have a lot of questions for wait staff, and most handle it politely -- sometimes they're even chatty which is awesome -- but of all the nicer restaurants in Portland Screen Door's staff was, unfortunately, the least polite. FOOD: Frankly, nothing special. They put bacon in everything, which I thought was a really boring way to handle your menu. I like to sample different things, but everything here has similar ingredients (bacon). The collard greens have bacon, the gravy has bacon, everything has bacon. Additionally, almost literally everything on the menu is fried. I question whether they have a full kitchen in back or just a bunch of deep fryers. I know that bacon is all the rage these days. I do. But I expect a supposedly gourmet restaurant to be able to use ingredients in creative ways that I wouldn't have been able to think up on my own. An example might be how at Toro Bravo the chicken liver was actually delicious and was made with some kind of flowers that just worked really well. I had the trout, the chicken, the collard greens, the oysters, and the cornbread. The cornbread is dry. Maybe some people like it served that way. The oysters were bland. They were deep fried in a batter and the batter just tasted like maybe flour, some pepper, and salt. The chicken is moist, but the batter (the chicken is also fried) just tastes like salt. It's very salty. The chicken wasn't bad though. Just not really anything that interesting. I can't honestly say that the chicken is better than KFC or Popeyes. The trout was pretty good, but they don't give you much of it. Small portions. The collard greens just tasted like bacon. I didn't realize they had bacon in them, so I was really disappointed. I've never had collard greens except stuffed, so I wanted to be able to experience what they taste like. DECOR: The decor is great. It's low light, clean, relaxing. You can see the kitchen, which is always great. If you have a date that really likes fried food and bacon, this could be a romantic place.
(2)
Ramie M.
I've only been here for breakfast, but it was lively and good. The scrambles, biscuits, and grits were as expected. I plan to return because their Dinner menu has a number of items I really want to try. Will update my review when that happens. I hear they have great fried chicken, so if you go, get it!
(4)
Eric H.
Went for dinner, we ordered the fried chicken with mash potatoes, jambalaya, pot roast Mac and cheese were all fantastic. Definitely coming back!
(5)
A E.
This place is overrated. The food is okay but definitely not worth the wait. Don't get me wrong, if food is great, I have no problem waiting 1-2 hours for a table but that's just not the case here.
(3)
Kay B.
Wow, service service service, just when you think there is no such thing, you get service Thank you Patrick's Garage Doors, imidate responce, professional, polite and honest Thank you Aaron thank you Patrick's kb
(5)
S F.
Years and years of going to this place -- still a Portland classic.
(5)
Amy T.
I visited Portland for 2 nights. Even though I love sampling new restaurants, I ended up eating at Screen Door both nights. Their fried chicken has always been consistently amazing even after trying this place a year ago. Sigh... this place will be the end of me.
(5)
Jimmie S.
My friend and I waited over an hour for our name to be called and another half-hour to actually get our food, but goddamn it was worth it. Every bite was an explosion of awesome on my tongue. The cheese grits were so amazing I wanted to kiss them. Kiss those grits, dammit. The best strategy, I think, is to put your name down, grab a book, walk down to Heart for a cup of coffee, read for an hour, and come back to the biggest treat you can give your mouth besides French kissing God herself. Next time I'm in Portland, I'm having the cab drop me off here first before I even check in to my hotel.
(5)
Jim C.
I can't say enough about how great this place is!!! Sooo good! Food: gotta have the fried chicken. Probably the best I've ever had. The gravy was just ok but damn...the country fried chicken/fried chicken was rediculously good. The Mac and cheese is also another favorite!! Damn good. Service: staff is super friendly...nice people for sure
(5)
Carol T.
Fried chicken: the batter was one of the spiciest I've tasted and that's the way I like it! An order of fried chicken and waffles comes with one giant waffle the size of the plate and three big big big pieces of chicken (half a chickens's worth to be exact), looking at the mountain made me feel full already.
(4)
Eric P.
It was okay, nothing very great. It feels like there is no actual southern experience behind the menu, just an imitation.
(3)
Erin M.
Love most everything about it! They have funny hours, though, and there is ALWAYS a wait! But the food & staff is wonderful :)
(4)
Elaine K.
Hmm...what did I miss on this restaurant? This restaurant came recommended by our hotel because we had told them we wanted an "interesting experience" during our first night in Portland. It was a Sunday evening and was quoted a 45 min wait. Thankfully, we were seated within 30 min at the bar. My boy and I both ordered the Screen a Door Plate so that we could try a smattering of everything. We ended up ordering: collard greens, Mac and cheese, fried pork chops, gumbo, and two salads from their local organics menu. Interestingly, my favorite was the salad and boy's favorite was the gumbo. Perhaps we're just not all that into fried foods or Southern food? but it really was a 3 star food experience for me. I must say though that the portions are HUGE so be prepared to have leftovers.
(3)
Nathan V.
Great. But perhaps a little too popular. Long weights and slightly noisy. Great service.
(4)
Tara S.
Met cousins here for Sunday brunch. The line was long so we put our names on the list and walked up to Heart Coffee (apparently great coffee but I don't drink coffee so can't really say). This place was worth the 45 minute wait. I had the Garden Grits, delicious!! Unfortunately, their biscuits were dry. My cousins split the chicken and waffles, huge and yummy! They still had leftovers even after splitting between the two of them.
(4)
Tina S.
Had a fantastic weekend trip to Portland filled with lots of food - and so happy we braved the 45-min wait to eat brunch here!. Went for the Huevos Rancheros brisket special, and it was everything promised - somehow those crispy tortillas stayed CRISPY down to my last bite (which was about 1/2 thru the plate, portions are quite generous here). Magic! BF went for the Corned Beef Hash and it was pretty much demolished. Long wait + mouth watering menu = customers are very happy when they finally get to eat; the key was that the food was as tasty as it sounded.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Edward B.
THE INFAMOUS WAIT: What I've observed on two visists: When the weather is nice, the line starts about 40 minutes before opening. If you really want to be sure you get into the first seating, arrive 30 mins early. When weather is iffy, I suppose the line is shorter. ATMOSPHERE: Decent ambience, but not great. Too dark, almost no windows. Very loud. Strangely, it appears the kitchen staff wears SD tees, but servers wear whatever. Weird, seems backwards. Coffee is served from vaccuum pots, many of them, all staged at the bar, and when fresh coffee comes out I've seen it added to the existing bottles, solera style. This is not only a horrible way to serve coffee, it's tacky. Hodgepodge of chairs, obviously just whatever they could pick up cheap. This place can really wear you down. When I left this loud dim hectic room on my first visit, I escaped to a sunny calm stroll home. Contrast was striking. If you want your brunch to be refined and soothing, it would be better to find an intimate coffee shop or a little neighboorhood cafe. Or you could take an outdoor seat on the patio, but it really didn't look very nice. SERVICE: When it's this loud and this busy, you can't really expect great service. Would be nice if my coffee cup could be kept full though, especially when I'm seated at the bar. This the only place I've ever eaten where I had that experience of seeing plate after plate come out of the kitchen, and wondering when mine was coming. I actually started to wonder if my order was forgotten. Kitchen staff hustles, but there's at least one server who seems to be perpetually hungover, or just way too laid back. FOOD: Biscuit: Fine, competently done, but no real wow factor. Seemed just a tiny bit dry, and homogenous in texture, but perfectly acceptable. Jam: Could have been Smuckers, or something from a Sysco bucket. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing right about it either. Cajun Scramble (special): Slightly weird consistency, almost a bit like a fritata. Nothing about it was extraordinary. It was completely palatable, but I could make this at home. Potatoes: Now we're talking. Little wedges, seemed to be oven-finished, as if they were fried and then popped in the oven for a while? Not fantastic, but SD gets points for not serving the same ol' thing. Toast: Blah. Could have been Franz. Turnovers: Dense, not as light and flaky as some might prefer, but they suited me just fine. Compote filling was okay. Highlight was the dairy filling. Hard to be sure what it was, because it was all migled in with other flavors/textures. Possibly cream cheese. Pancakes: Decent, but like most of what I ate here, I could make pancakes almost this good at home. PRESENTATION: Needs some work. Cream and jam served in truck-stop vessels, butter in foil-wrapped pats, paper napkins. On one of my visits, my server managed to get some of my breakfast on the table. I don't even know how he managed to make such a mess. Not a huge deal, but I mention it because it's typical of everything about SD: not terribly polished, lacking grace and refinement. PRICE/VALUE: I've never been able to eat more than $18 worth of food here. Serving sizes range from fairly-typical to large. The turnovers I had on one visit were not only the best thing on my plate, they were also the best value, at $3 each. That's what I'd expect to pay at a carry-out bakery or a cart. Overall, it was cheaper than a "special occasions only" place, but spendy enough that I wouldn't make a habit of eating here. RESTROOMS: Well placed, easy to find, away from kitchen and diners. OVERALL: Everything about this place says "we're generally competent, more or less". Worth the wait? Absolutely not.
(3)Denise H.
Came here for brunch on a Saturday while visiting Portland. I'm a big fan of Cajun food so I definitely wanted to check this place out during my short trip. Free street parking wasn't too bad to find around the neighborhood. This place gets really busy so try to get here early or come on a weekday if possible. Unfortunately I'm only visiting this weekend and came around 12pm on Saturday, probably one of the worst times to get there. My friend and I waited ~45 mins for our seats at the bar which was less than the 1 hour wait estimated by the hostess. However, we also probably waited about 45 mins to get our food after ordering which seemed abnormally long. I got the cathead sandwich which was a fried chicken breast sandwiched between a homemade biscuit and covered in sausage gravy. I heard the fried chicken was amazing so I definitely wanted that, but not a big fan of waffles so this seemed like the best choice. I thought it was one of the juiciest fried chickens I've ever had, especially since it was white meat! The spices were really flavorful without being too salty and the meat was very tender. I probably missed out on some of the crispiness because it was drenched in gravy, but the gravy was good so not a big deal. I'd probably order it on the side next time. The biscuit was fluffy and delicious as well. It comes with a side of roasted potatoes or plain/cheesy grits. I got the cheesy grits, but these were mostly neglected since the chicken and biscuit/gravy were so good. This dish is enormous and I barely ate half, probably could have shared with another person and still been super full. My friend got an omelette with vegetarian sausage, tomatoes, and other veggies with roasted potatoes. He liked it, but I thought my dish was way better :P Definitely try their unlabeled hot sauce! I also put some of their jam on my biscuit which was really good as well. Loved my food, but think it did take longer than usual to come out. I would definitely come back for more next time I'm in Portland!
(4)Ian O.
Went for dinner and it was not to busy. However, I would not wait in a long line for this food. It was good but average at best. Our waitress was very good though.
(3)T.J. W.
I was born and raised in the south. I have lots of southern food. I just want to say that Screen Door does southern food better than southerners do southern food. I had the fried chicken with mashed potatoes and collard greens. It was heavenly. There was so much flavor and the gravy was AMAZING! My wife ordered the shrimp and grits, best we've ever had. So that was just dinner. Dessert was plain ole SEXY!!! We ordered the layer cake. So amazing that we went back 2 nights later just for the dessert! Only words to describe it is plain ole sexy!
(5)Marybel M.
I have been here twice in the last month and both times have been incredibly delicious! I had fried chicken with mashed potatoes and cole slaw. The portion was large and the food was decadent. Pure butter in the potatoes and a super creamy and light cole slaw dressing. The chicken was perfect, not oily or dry. So yummy! The dessert was a lemon blueberry layer cake and I nearly died. Tasted like it had cheesecake! The cheesecake flavor was from the cream cheese frosting.
(5)Andy D.
I've hatched a plan Yelper's. Diabolical, but yet it may work. Firstly, I rent a Ryder Truck, fit it with a few cots and Marvin Gaye CD's. Then kidnap the Chef and two servers from "The Screen Door" and ship them off to Orange Beach, Alabama. Once there, they can stay at my place, I have the idyllic beach house, they can watch the Dolphins. But, the chef and his staff will soon be put to work, and soon the restaurant I buy there will have huge lines, outstanding service and EXCELLENT food! Could work! Actually, this place rocks, what with a billon reviews and all good, what the fffff can I write about. I'm from the South, the Chicken and Waffles are above and beyond.
(5)Mitch H.
The rumors are true. Amazing food, atmosphere and service. Be prepared to wait a bit, but sooooo worth the time. Mimosas and bloodies are brilliant. Can't go wrong with the fried chicken and waffles!!!
(5)Christopher S.
Has the BEST! Chicken & Waffles you can get anywhere in Portland, but be prepared to wait an hour to get a seat plus 30min for your food. If the wait doesn't bother you....You're in for a treat! Enjoy! :-)
(5)David R.
This place is BUSY!!! If you go here, plan on waiting a while for a seat. Have a couple of cocktails and B.S. with your friends while you are waiting. They are good, attentive but very busy so don't expect super fast service. These guys are busting their ass to serve everyone so be patient! The food - I was impressed, I used to live in the south so I am very used to good southern food and they didn't disappoint. We had a couple of appetizers, fried okra and pimento cheese. The fried okra had a corn meal breading with a bit or horse radish kick. The horse radish was a neat twist on an old classic and pretty tasty. I think that they were a little heavy handed with the breading though. I suspect they are batter dipped instead of dusted per usual so it probably can't be avoided. The pimento cheese was strong and sharp just the way it is supposed to be. The sesame crackers they serve it with are really really good. This is a great appetizer! My wife had a pecan crusted trout served with creamed spinach and roasted root veggies. Wow - truly amazing trout and I'm not a big fish fan but they worked magic. The creamed spinach was probably the best I have ever had. I would love to have the recipe, I would make it weekly. The root veggies were roasted perfectly fork tender and were left unmolested so that you could taste them. I had the buttermilk fried chicken with mashed potatoes. The chicken was incredibly tender, I don't know how they get it so tender. The crust on the chicken was super crispy and tasty. They really cooked it perfectly. The mashed potatoes were really nice and creamy. The greens that came with my meal were absolutely perfect too. They were cooked and seasoned exactly the way they should be. We sat out on the heated patio which was still a little chilly but fine. We ordered coffee and our cups were never empty. The service is absolutely amazing seeing how busy this place is. Definitely go here to eat. It's worth the wait!
(4)Brandon H.
Some delicious southern food. Get there and try it out!
(4)Jacob M.
The food and drinks here were divine and full of amazing flavored, but the waitress was just irritated by us and had no patience for any questions. Definitely would recommend for the food alone though!
(3)Kat M.
Popped in here for breakfast with my little sister after reading some of the reviews. This place was awesome. I had the bananas foster french toast and my sister had the chicken and waffle. We shared and left with plenty of incredible chicken for lunch. I will stop by this place again when I come back to Portland!!!
(5)Jezebel B.
I would love to say how great the food is but I never got any. At 11:30 I put my name on the wait list, told it was going to take about 30 minutes to get me a seat. I checked in at noon, I checked in again at 12:15, at 12:30p they finally seated me at the end of the counter. The wait person at the counter came over and gave me a cup of coffee. There was barely enough milk in the pitcher to cloud my one 6oz cup. But that is okay because that was all I got. After placing my order (garden grits and a side of praline bacon) I read my phone for a bit, and then a bit more, then I started watching the kitchen to see if my food would come up. At 1:15pm, almost an hour after I had finally been seated. I told them to cancel my order and walked out. Don't eat here unless you have all day to wait.
(1)Ashlee L.
Stopped by here when we realized we were too late for a food truck cluster outing. The place looked packed from the outside which made our hungry tummies nervous, but we happened to get two open bar seats, no wait! No hostess to be found anywhere either. We shared hush puppies that came with a chili sauce which I liked way better than the honey butter I've had with them at other places. The SO got a burger (bartender recommended over the pulled pork) which actually had two patties on it! I had a poached pear salad with an amazing moscatel vinaigrette. Had to look the dressing up and now I'm a huge fan. Was shocked our bill was only $25. The first bartender was less than friendly and had I seen the mulled wine on the chalk board specials list before leaving or had he mentioned it when I asked about drinks, I would have ordered it. For that, minus a star.
(4)Cyrus L.
Now everybody knew that as soon as you walked through the goddamn door... you were gonna get some chicken. It's no secret that Portlanders and Screen Door chicken are quite fond of one another.
(5)Lindsay F.
Had the shredded pork sandwich and the fried chicken appetizer. Amazing! Food is decently priced. Will return
(5)Inessa V.
hate waiting in lines? get there about 30 minutes before they open for dinner to get in the "first seating". then order anything. really! i have tried at least 2/3rds of their menu and nothing has let me down. i really like the collard greens, shrimp and grits, mac and cheese, pork shoulder and gumbo. the service has always been prompt, attentive, polite, friendly and accommodating. you really can't ask for more (especially in a city where helpful service isn't always in its nature). brunch? i am sure it is great too, but i avoid brunch in portland... because i really hate waiting in lines. hope you enjoy your dinner!
(4)C M.
I'm from the south and this did not disappoint. I haven't had sweet tea or fried chicken livers since I moved to Portland and was pleasantly surprised. The fries chicken was what I would expect from back home. We went at 845 and only had a 30 minute wait, not bad considering the restaurant very busy, as we had driven by earlier and, like usual, saw a line winding around the block.
(5)Tara C.
Awesome food and drinks. I highly recommend the pork belly appetizer and the shrimp and grits! I can't wait to try other menu options. Don't let the lines or occasional long wait times discourage you. The are busy for a reason.....it's damn good!
(5)William B.
these guys are fantastic! Great service...friendly and professional and highly skilled. They are the only ones I'll take my cars or trucks to
(5)Derek B.
Had the two piece chicken and waffles and it did not disappoint. It was flaky, golden brown perfection. The sweet potato waffle was delicious. I'm a bigger guy and the two piece was just right. Most people would be satisfied with the one piece though. The decor was like a 50's southern diner. Pretty good music choices. I got there early and there was no line to speak of. Overall a great dining experience
(5)Kate R.
Best breakfast in the city. Get there early and order the specials. I would recommend sitting outside if possible since it is very loud inside. There are plenty of vegetarian options although I hear the meat is very good.
(5)Shannon M.
Fried chicken, gravy, mashed potatoes & greens - all delicious. It's a bargain at $15 because the portion is really two meals so you're really only paying like $7.50 so if you don't think it's a deal, then your fat ass should go to a buffet. Fried okra was ok. I spent my summers in Tennessee growing up, so I've had better but that's just one dish of many that they have and yes, it's worth the wait. I've heard their catfish is great but haven't tried it - wasn't on the menu when we were there. Had brunch here also - delicious. Catfish head biscuit with added eggs - amazing. It is the best place in town hands down for southern comfort food.
(5)George P.
We love the Screen Door! We had visiting family that were a bit sceptical. We showed them the menu and raved about the place. But the possibility of a wait over an hour for breakfast? And standing in line before it opened....for breakfast?? Fortunately they went along with the gag. And weren't disappointed. Now fair warning (in case you haven't caught on yet): If you're in a hurry, don't go here. You won't be happy. There is usually a wait for a table and a wait for the food to come. If you have the time to wait for a table (there's a coffee place next door -- grab a cup, read the paper and RELAX), you won't be disappointed. This isn't fast food, either. Takes time to actually cook real food rather than microwaving something from a package. Oh, yeah, the food...... Chicken and waffles -- you either have a breakfast for 2 or 3 or a big breakfast with leftovers for lunch and dinner. Unless, of course, you can eat an entire waffle and 3 chicken breasts. Cooked to perfection with a crispy crust and juicy meat. And the sweet potato waffle is quite yummy. I'm an Eggs Benedict fan. Someone else in the group beat me to it, and we had agreed that we would all get something different so we could compare. Their Eggs Benedict is perfection. I elected to have Eggs Sardou. Good decision. Kind of Benedict-like, but not exactly. English muffin, artichoke heart (this is a heart of a fresh artichoke, not something from a jar or container). Poached egg, and a creamed spinach sauce topping. The sauce is chopped spinach with a cream sauce. You can actually see and taste the spinach, not the usual greenish sauce. Grits and cheese -- not cheesy enough for my tastes, but I would be content with a slab of cheese and a knife and fork..... Hot chocolate was steamed milk with excellent chocolate. It has that distinct steamed milk taste, so if you don't like that, don't try it. And the coffee? This is the Pacific Northwest. Bad coffee would a felony. By the way -- don't get the idea of leaving a "representative" to stand in line with the rest to catch up later. If the entire party isn't present you won't be seated. Pretty fair approach, I think.
(5)Tracy T.
I've been to Portland numerous times but this was my first time here at Screen Door. The hubby and I came for dinner at 5:20pm and there was already a line up. I ordered the 3 side dishes for $13.95 +$1.00 for the catfish. I had Mac n cheese and red beans and rice. Delicious!! Hubby ordered the fried chicken and collard greens. Out of this world!! Crispy skin and juicy meat. This is the BEST fried chicken I've ever had. We each had 2 beers and originally ordered the fried chicken livers (but they forgot) which worked out because we were stuffed. We will be back for sure...and we're bringing friends!
(5)Yvett R.
-sigh- What can I say about Screen Door that hasn't already been said before? It's delicious! We went here last night for my birthday dinner. From all I'd heard about this place, I was quite excited to try the chicken and prepared for the wait. We got her
(5)Chase W.
I was visiting Portland and met a friend here for Brunch. I was aware of the high ratings this place had before I agreed so I was expecting some good brunch. I have never seen a line form so fast before a restaurant had even opened. Although having gone a couple other places in Portland that had some silly lines, I was beginning to think that was the norm in this town. Anyways, after a long wait we were finally seated and we placed our orders. Now seeing as this place was southern I ordered corn bread, I really love corn bread! The food came and the shrimp and grits I ordered was good, definitely not great as were the other dishes we ordered. The most disappointing thing was the corn bread, it tasted like sand it was so dry. If you are going to claim to cook southern food you better be able to make a simple staple like corn bread. A jiffy box tastes better than this place. The service was good over all but the food is HIGHLY overrated (not worth the wait). I found Roost to be a much better brunch place in Portland.
(1)Mare S.
Shrimp and grits were great! Catfish was amazing. Jambalaya, corn bread and mashed potatoes - not so hot. Literally not hot at all. Cold. Good but a little over-hyped. I will try again for sure.
(3)Kevin D.
Great food. Service is great. They are always packed and the wait can be over an hour on a regular basis. They have a great bar there or if it's too crowded then you can always wait across the street at the matador.
(5)Angela H.
My favorite food on the planet. This is where I go to eat the BEST FRIED CHICKEN EVER. And the service there is amazing!!
(5)TU B.
THE BEST BRUNCH PLACE EVER!!!! Order ANYTHING and you won't be disapointed. We're from San Francisco, and were visiting Portland. Highlight of our trip!
(5)Jamie G.
BEST SOUTHERN FOOD HANDS DOWN. great for date night or even just dinner out with the family or casual, great breakfast too! i absolutely loved it. classy joint most def
(5)Brennan D.
LOVE this place. Actually this was one of the first places i ate when i moved to portland. Very good southern food. The catfish was amazing and the mac n cheese was crazy good. Just need them to make buttermilk pie and then i would come to this place on the regular. when i went it was crazy busy but we still walked in and got a booth which is great.
(5)Crystal M.
So I went to this restaurant on a vacation to Portland. I asked the waitress for her recommendation. She told me there staple was the fried chicken waffle OMG. I've never thought of these two ingredients together. It was super good. It was also HUGE three chicken breasts on a large homemade waffle with maple syrup. Yum yum yum.
(5)Nicole F.
My boyfriend and I have been frequenting the Screen Door ever since we first discovered it. I am relatively new to the area and I love going out and trying new things. My boyfriend looks up reviews online often, so we like to randomly select restaurants who have created a buzz for themselves. After looking over the menu, we agreed to put the Screen Door at the top of our list for places to try. We were warned that there was often a wait for seating and that it wasn't uncommon for there to be a line out the door. We arrived about an hour after the restaurant opened for dinner, around 6:30 pm. The host was very friendly when greeting us and warned us that there was going to be about an hour wait. Considering how long it took us to get there and the fact that we had both been looking forward to eating there, we decided to wait. While waiting, I took a quick look around. The waiting area was tiny and a bit cramped, but there was enough seating for the most part. I looked at the bar and noticed that the bartender was not only very friendly with the people seated in front of him, but he was also very quick with making the drinks. Signs of a good bartender. I decided to head to the restroom and passed the kitchen on the way. You can actually see into the kitchen and watch as the chefs prepare your meals! I stood and watched for a moment, observing all of the various foods being brought out the the hungry patrons. Everything looked so neat and orderly in the kitchen, and the food being brought out looked absolutely beautiful. It was very obvious that the cooks take their "food art" very seriously. I continued on the the restrooms and noticed that there were several newspaper and magazine clippings on the walls. I stopped and peeked over them for a moment, taking notice to the various rewards and high regards that the restaurant had received. I was surprised to see that one of the article actually mentioned getting some products that they cooked with from Mount Vernon, WA, my hometown! It was a pleasant surprise. As I made my way back to the waiting area, I noticed that even more people had piled in. My boyfriend and I gave up our seats to a family-we didn't mind standing for a bit. We weren't standing long as not even ten minutes later, we were being seated. I was glad to be seated so much sooner than we had anticipated. We were sat up at the bar, where we were met by the friendly bartender/waiter. He handed us our menus and within minutes had our orders in. My boyfriend is a vegetarian and is a complete sucker for good homemade mac 'n' cheese, so he ordered two of the side order of the stuff and I ordered catfish with andouille sauce and a side of fries. We watched the cooks at work in kitchen and were surprised with how quickly our orders were brought out. His mac 'n' cheese was heavenly, complete with baked cheese on top, and my catfish, which was brought out very hot and crispy, was divine. We had a side of cornbread brought out, which was a little on the dry side, but aside from that, everything was perfect. The waiter was attentive, without being pushy or bothersome, and the food was excellent. The only qualm I had was in how small the restaurant was. I like the fact that with smaller areas comes more attention to detail and service, but it made for a very loud, sort of crowded eating experience. Other than that, I don't have a negative word to say about the place. Total, we spent under $25 for the both of us to eat, and eat WELL. Since then, we have been back several times, my boyfriend getting his usual mac 'n' cheese, and me, being more adventurous, trying new things each time. On our most recent visit, a couple next to us ordered the fried chicken. Again, my boyfriend is a vegetarian, but he leaned over to me and whispered "That looks so good, I might consider trying it!" Now that is a big deal, considering he WILL NOT touch meat. Never has, probably never will. I know what I'm ordering next time! Kudos Screen Door, you are by far the most consistent place we've had to date! Great job, keep it up.
(5)Jessica K.
Breakfast was amazing! Told 45 minute wait, more like 20. Loved the chicken & waffles. And I got praline bacon, cheese grits and biscuit & gravy. All great. So good we went back for dinner. (No lunch cause there is so much food!) Dinner was also a 45 minute wait that was about right. But the food was more hit or miss. The catfish and dip was outstanding. The greens were good but not great. The potato hash wasn't cooked through and lacked flavor. I got red beans and rice that lacked flavor. A pork chop that was really delicious. And Mac and cheese that was really good from a restaurant but not as good as homemade. The corn bread was meh at best. Our waiter was really terrible and inattentive. I'm glad we went to breakfast first cause the dinner wasn't good enough to justify the wait for us.
(4)Rona L.
HOLY chicken and waffles! Can food be holy?? Because if it can't...Screen Door's fried chicken and waffles come as close to it as possible. I'm not a big fan of pancakes or waffles. I'm usually a savory breakfast type of gal, but the sweet potato waffle that accompanied my fried chicken was perfect; a soft and fluffy inside encased in a wonderfully chewy exterior made this waffle delicious even on its own. But it's not...it gets better...it comes with fried chicken! 3 huge pieces of chicken, piled high on the waffle, held together with a knife. It's like Screen Door is daring you to try and finish. And as hard as I tried, I could not do it for fear of having to call a forklift to take me out of the establishment. The fried chicken was perfectly fried (can I get a side order of the fried chicken skin??), so juicy and tender (despite not having any bones), and seasoned to perfection. Get this alongside a spicy bloody mary (did I mention it comes with a pickled okra?!) and you have the perfect brunch meal. The weather wasn't particularly great on the day that I went, but regardless, there was a one hour wait and people standing outside the door. I'm glad that I persevered, though, because it was definitely worth the wait. Go to screen door, wear your fat/stretchy pants, and be ready to eat.
(5)Sheri J.
Came here for dinner with my family because of all the great reviews on yelp and now i understand why people raved so much about this place. We had really great service and very kid friendly! The hostess was so considerate and checked with us twice before seating. She also helped our waitress deliver our food and offered to take 1 kids meal back because it looked like it would of been too much for the kids. Our waitress was very kind and friendly and always available when we needed her. I ordered the screen door assorted plate. I loved every single side dish i ordered. The beat salad which wasn't on the regular menu was my favorite. The fried chicken my husband ordered was phenomenal! My son's mac and cheese was so creamy and delicious! If we are ever in Portland again, we will be back!
(5)John O.
Had one night to eat in Portland and decided to base my selection on the reviews in Yelp for Screen Door. As fellow Yelpers stated, there is nearly always a wait to eat here. Thought we'd kill some time by grabbing a drink at the bar. I was impressed at the selection of "authentic" southern drinks (mostly bourbon based) - including Mint Juleps, Sazeracs, Old Fashions....etc. I opted for the Old Fashion (w/ rye) and was quite impressed ($7). It was a proper drink. We were seated after about 20 minutes (pretty quickly). I was impressed by the breadth of the offerings on the menu , from apps to main dishes. Much to the chagrin of my date, I opted out of the fried chicken, instead going for the smorgasbord on the menu -- the "Screen Door" -- which is 3 items off of the menu and a side of corn bread. I selected the fried catfish, collard greens, and jambalaya (~$14 I believe). The one thing about southern food is that it's not rocket science and not too hard to screw up . The catfish was very good (think 4 or 5 solid large pieces of fish), the collard greens w/ ham was good as well, the jambalaya left a little to be desired. All in all, the food was good and I would come back to try some different offerings on the menu. Service was mediocre, but at least the food came out quickly and was hot. Dessert menu sounded outstanding, but I was completely stuffed after filling my gut with plenty of heavy southern food.... All in all, I'd recommend this place for those looking for a little taste of the south in the PNW.
(4)Ryan B.
I went here the other day for the first time for some breakfast. They open at 9am so I decided to arrive 15 minutes early to try and get closer to the front of the line of people waiting as I was sure it would be busy given the reviews on Yelp. The restaurant is a little small inside and the decor is very unique and because of it's size it was quite loud. But the food and the portions sure did make up for all of that! I ordered the Chicken & Waffles and boy was I in for a surprise. It was four giant pieces of boneless chicken breast fried and put on top of a waffle that took up almost the whole plate! I have had chicken and waffles in Louisiana and these were just as good if not better than I remember. The chicken was very crispy and peppery & had just the right amount of a spicy bite to it. The waffle was made with sweet potato and complimented the chicken just right! Every one at my table had something different and we all had plenty of food to take home. And trust me the food is so good you will not want to leave any behind. I'm not usually one for loud or crowded places, or places where I have to wait longer than twenty minutes to be sat but let me tell you their food gets a 10 on a scale from 1-5!
(4)Scott W.
Best restaurant in Portland..hands down! Sweet tea, best fired chicken I have ever had, hushpuppies..enough said. Our server had 0 personality or kindness. Always felt like we were bothering her. But I will call her an anomaly for now.
(5)Jando S.
Screen Door is one of the best restaurants in Portland. They do Southern food right and serve one of the meanest brunches in the city. Whenever I find myself back in PDX, I always make time to eat here. With the popularity of Cajun cuisine (what is up with that?) in Portland at an all time high, I would declare Screen Door the best of them all. It's probably dumb luck but throughout my visits, I've yet to experience a bad meal. All of the food is locally prepared and sourced ("organic" for you Portlandia wannabes) and extremely fresh. That alone has hipster palace written all over Screen Door, but I promise their constantly evolving menu is worth a sample bite. The Trout Pecan / Trout Orleans was flaky and delicious. Full of flavors and crusted just perfectly, this dish was perfect sitting on a bed of seasonal veggies, which in my last couple of times were on sauteed spinach. Their jambalaya was also decent, though the andouille sausage is known to be a tad dry at times. Though I'm not a huge fan of hush puppies, they do a good job of reproducing a golden crust version here. I can do multiple helpings of their pulled pork / pork belly, as well as their buttermilk fried chicken, which takes awhile to receive (and there is even a warning on the menu). None of these items are available for less than $11, which means all of this can get spendy quickly. Brunch seems to attract the crowds and most items on the menu are less than $10. I love their oyster eggs benedict and their farm grits, a bowl of cheddar grits topped with egg, provolone, and ham. The biscuits and gravy is solid, but not earth shattering in the biscuit breakfast world. Don't feel like platters? Try the pimento cheese and bacon sandwich, which comes with eggs and grits. No restaurant is perfect. There have been notable service snafus (usually wrong orders) amongst friends and the wait for dinner and brunch can be brutal. The prices aren't exactly wallet friendly either, though brunch is still less expensive than dinner. Ultimately, there aren't too many places like Screen Door in Portland. The food is delicious and the service has always come through for me. Though the prices are a little higher than most, at the very least Oregon doesn't charge sale tax.
(5)Alex G.
Nothing really to add. Great breakfast food. Growing up in the south, this place makes me feel right at home. Delicious grits, great poached eggs. Was really nice that they let us substitute veggie sausage for ham on one of the dishes so I could share with my old lady. Chicken and waffles are awesome. I have never had a Belgian sweet potato waffle and I am never going back. Biscuits and gravy are pretty good, close to as good as Pine State. Two VERY small complaints -- just suggestions even, nothing major. 1) the portions are TOO big. I would rather have a smaller plate of food and pay less for it. But damn if it is not all delicious. 2) the wait is long and the service is a bit slow. I know that is totally a product of having an insane brunch rush and the servers/kitchen being understaffed rather than them being bad at their job, but hey, the brunch is great but it shouldn't take 2-3 hours. Love screen door. Best breakfast I have had in Portland. Genie's comes close, but in the end can't compete.
(4)Milo V.
First, if you come, be sure to get here early, put your name in, THEN go home and shower, then do some shopping, then come back. The average "20 minute" Waite here is realistically 60 minutes +. Then, once you get a table, they won't take your drink order for another 20 minutes, and they don't know how to come back for refills. Great food however but totally terrible experience and not worth your time.
(1)Olamide A.
All the great things I've heard about this place, I suppose I need to go back during dinner.... I ordered breakfast vanilla bean brioche....it was neither vanilla bean nor brioche... (had the waiter check and he swore it was....there's no way it could've been though)...the eggs and potatoes (not so seasoned..) were just ok. The waiter kicked my partner's chair while walking past TWICE and then spilled syrup all over his pants. Not sure if he was just aloof or if he did it on purpose....but it seemed intentional. Food was edible but certainly NOT amazing
(2)Lawrence W.
My first chicken and waffles. This place is cute, and pretty packed for a Tuesday brunch. Interesting decor. Homestyle yet hip. The waitress was very friendly. The food was great! I recommend trying the praline bacon at least once. The chicken and waffles was excellent. It sounded strange at first, but it went well together. The chicken was crispy and juicy, the waffles were flavorful (sweet potato, I think). The catfish and cornbread were just ok, tho. Would come back again.
(5)Erica M.
This remains one of my favorite restaurants in Portland, hands down. The service is always great, and the food is always delicious. All of our out-of-town visitors want to go here now, too. It's the ONLY restaurant we go to and think we underpaid for the quality and quantity of food. Hint: the fried chicken is amazing. My husband eats it...and he doesn't like fried chicken. BUT the pulled pork is the way to my heart. And always try the special sides! Yum!
(5)Paula T.
Screen door is a favorite place .. Love the food but really wish they had a little more room for reservations.. the policy on reservations makes it hard to celebrate there
(4)Aldwin C.
I had appetizer size fried oysters and shrimp n grits. yum. I will definitely be back the next time I visit. casual atmosphere. price is right, teens to low $20's. come early since they don't take reservations. I hear they're popular with weekend brunch.
(4)D R.
This place is decent. I haven't had a problem with their food, but a friend of mine who was a chef was unimpressed with his order, the one time he went. I've gone here maybe a handful of times and haven't found anything to rant or rave about. I'm not sure what all the fuss is about, or why the line is always to the corner or beyond. I guess i've heard a few people blab about enjoying chicken and waffles, and how that's not available elsewhere in Portland? (I've never had chicken & waffles in my life, however.) I have to say it's overrated. But decent!
(3)Susan B.
Rich and wonderful breakfast at the Screen Door. I came in right before their afternoon closing and had the biscuit, gravy and eggs breakfast. This meal was stick to your ribs filling and well worth the trip. I'm taking the fried chicken and waffles to go for dinner....can hardly wait. Highly recommend this spot and will return for the brisket.
(5)Shaun M.
It's always hard to review a place that had such high recommendations going in. The food was very good, the service was good and the prices were fair. If I had gone in and had no expectations, I would have been impressed. With that being said, I had pretty high expectations based on reviews and I can't say it quite lived up to it. I wouldn't have any hesitations about going back, but I wouldn't seek it out like I would other places I've been too.
(4)T. K.
Never a disappointment, other than the massive wait. Delicious food, attentive service, and great ambience. Bravo Screen Door!
(5)Mr. M.
Visiting Portland for the second time, and this is one of the best stops yet. I used to live in North Carolina, so I have a good feel for authentic soul food. The chicken and waffles were absolutely phenomenal. The chicken batter had a great black pepper flavor to it, and the waffle was fluffy. Everything came out piping hot. We are talking three whole chicken breasts, so bring an appetite. Also, try the breakfast corn dogs. They were great! Good coffee and very good service as well. Can't wait to come back.
(5)Brandon T.
The wait was rather long but the food was decent and it came in HUGE portions. I will recommend the hushpuppies even though everyone else has already done this. The jambalaya is also pretty good but it surprisingly didn't have much sausage or chicken in it (maybe 4 or 5 pieces) and it was barely spicy so I am taking a star off because it is hard for a dish to stand up without its essence. Had I read enough of the other reviews then I would have known not to get it. The best i can do now is recommend that you get something else, such as the fried chicken which looked simply amazing as a stared at it from across the table.
(3)Maggie R.
Amazing place!! Food is decadent as can be, but worth it : D Service was great. We lucked out and didn't have a wait at about 10:30 a.m.
(5)Kristina M.
Not really one for "hyped up" Portland touristy places so it took me 2 years to finally come here. My own regret was not coming sooner!!! It's nice to come on a weekday night when there aren't lines really long. We were seated immediately and had quick service. My friend and I both got the screen door platter that comes with 3 sides and cornbread and we had a total of 6 menu items to try. Their farm fresh salads are always a hit as well as their fried chicken and gumbo! Best gumbo I've ever had. Perfectly portioned for a great deal of southern cuisine. Definitely worth coming again!
(5)John T.
I've been here so many times and every time it has been a great dinning experience. the dish that you shouldn't pass up is the chicken and waffle. it's so filling i don't think it was meant for one. maybe it is if you can handle three pieces of chicken breast for one meal. Those who aren't a fan of white meat like myself will be surprised how juicy it is so don't worry. My last visit the pecan bacon wasn't as great as before, i'm hoping it was just an anomaly. food has always been good and the service is always entertaining for me. so yeah one of my favorite spots regardless of the wait.
(5)Pough K.
fried chicken and waffles.... and that's about all i get.
(4)Gilbert N.
Vintage Hotel excellent service and the wine hostess gets 5 stars.. Free wine tasting love it ..Old Guy
(5)Donna B.
I have eaten here 7 times. Although I would not wait for an hour or 2 to eat here (I don't wait anywhere) I understand why people do. By and large the food is well prepared, delicious, priced well, service good. Love the shrimp and grits. Fish-- delicious-- not overcooked, crispy. Seasonings are correct on everything we have had--including salads. Desserts fab. I wish I could eat here at least once a week. Whenever anyone comes to visit-- we take them here. They love it. If you are a waiting in line kind of person-- wait. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Beth T.
YUM had the plate where you get to choose a bunch of different things because it was my first time here - portions are huge plan to take leftovers home. Never had catfish before - it was awesome! also you're missing out if you don't order the mac & cheese, just sayin'
(5)Ray I.
Delicious! Came here for a Saturday brunch. Called in a half hour ahead for a table for 9 and was ready by the time we rolled in. Portions were HUGE! I had the Fried Oyster Breakfast Po Boy. Lots of oysters - fresh and fried, fried onions, bacon, and a fried egg on French Bread and a side of Roasted Potatoes. I had a bite of the chicken of the Fried Chicken and Waffles. Again. Huge huge portions. Chicken was very juicy. Also tried the praline bacon. Anything bacon is amazing, if it needs to be said... Food did take a little bit to come out, but it's well worth it. Service was great! Street parking only. Might need to park a couple blocks away especially when it's busy.
(5)Tim R.
Me: Hello Food Comma Food Comma: Hello Timothy Went here for brunch and this place is as good as advertised. Might even be better. They have a great selection, good prices, and the wait goes by fast. They were swamped on the Saturday we went but my group of 4 was still seated in 25 minutes. We went to a coffee spot a block away to kill time, Spunky Monkey House Of Coffee. Here is what I tried and what I thought: Fried Chicken & Waffle - 12.95 This thing is huge and delicious. Might be the best fried chicken I've ever had. Nice and tender inside and well spiced on the outside. A lot of flavor in the spices. BISCUITs & GRAVY (Buttermilk Drop Biscuits w/ sausage country gravy and 2 eggs) -8.95 Another huge portion that was good and worth clogging up my arteries for. Even though the food comma got me and I was not able to clean my plate like I usually do, this visit was a success and I can't wait for another one. Soooo many more things I want to try here.
(5)Beth G.
I went here for the first time this past Tuesday with some business partners. The reviewers are right about this place. The food is crazy good. They open at 5:30. We arrived at 5:35 with a party of six, and we were shown to one of the last open tables. So if you don't want to wait, get there early or wait until after the peak dinner rush. Just make sure you come hungry because the portions are pretty huge. Our waiter was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. He made a great beer recommendation for me, and we also trusted him to order our appetizers. We shared the fried oysters and the hushpuppies. Both were excellent. Three of my dinner companions ordered the friend chicken, I had the chicken and dumplings (special that night), another in our party ordered the cod (special that night), and the other person we were with had the brisket. We spent most of the time we were eating passing each others plates around so everyone could have a little of everything. The fried chicken was probably the best I've ever tasted. It was a little peppery, super cripsy, and the chicken just melted in your mouth. The chicken and dumplings were fantastic as well. Those were some of the best dumplings I've ever had. Everyone agreed that the cod was cooked to perfection. It had just the right amount of breading on it, and it wasn't at all greasy. The brisket was also very good, but would rank the lowest of everything we ordered. The only reason for that is because everything else was just so amazing. We were way too full to even try dessert. It did take a little while to get the food, but I didn't feel like the wait was overly long. Everything was obviously made from scratch and made fresh that day. The people making this food clearly have a passion for what they do. I would certainly come back here again when I'm in town, and I would recommend checking it out.
(5)Brandon H.
I've been to Screen Door once, and honestly I just wasn't that impressed. My partner and I both hail from the South, so we're pretty familiar with Southern cooking, both high and low. Screen Door's cuisine is a Pacific Northwesterner's imagining of what Souther cuisine should taste like. It's fine, it's just not (a) authentic and (b) worth the wait. I don't understand how this place gets so many five-star reviews, but they're very lucky to have such a loyal following. Try it and decide for yourself, but whenever I want Southern food that's both authentic and imaginative, I go to Delta Cafe.
(2)Sara C.
I've been here three times now, and the food never disappoints. My parents are lifelong Southerners who have traveled and dined all over the South, and conceded that this was the best 'Southern food' they'd ever had! Personal favorites are the pimento and cheese, hush puppies, fried okra, mashed potatoes, and of course the mac and cheese. I don't know how you can have a bad meal here. The first time we ate here we came in on a Sunday at 6pm, and were seated immediately.Service was fast and friendly. Second time we came in was at 7:30 on a Saturday, so we waited for almost 2 hours for a table. Be prepared to wait! Also if you're planning on eating here for dinner I would recommend not eating very much during the day. You need to have room for the dinner you'll have here!
(5)Cheryl D.
We finally made it here for brunch. Thankfully our BIL and SIL arrived more than 30 minutes before their 9:00 AM brunch opening to wait in line. We were late and they indicated they would not seat your party till we were all there. We rolled up about 10 after 9 and it was an hour wait out the door. We got one of the two last seats available and checked out the menu. Holy CRAP, the Waffle and Chicken looked amazing but we had read the reviews and we knew it was way too much food for us. I ordered the biscuits and gravy with a side of grits and the hubby ordered the cat head biscuit with fried chicken and gravy, sammich style.. It was amazing, we brought so much food home, it was crazy. The one miss were the potatoes hubby got with his breakfast, they were undercooked and cold. The coffee was hot and bold and the rest of our meals were not hot but warm. Overall delicious but I would not wait an hour or even 20 minutes for this meal, we love food, but aren't happy about waiting to eat it. It is just not that important to us.
(4)MaryBeth D.
So ubber exited for chicken and waffles... I was in no way shape or form let down by this dish.. My friend Susen told us that it was plenty big enough to share and she was not kidding. You get a very large sweet potato waffle topped with 3 very huge deep fried chicken breast, and it was simply amazing. We also shared a dish of cheesy ham grits that was so delish and to top it off we also could not resist sharing a side plate of pecan praline bacon, this was so sinful. The place fills very fast and you must arrive 30 minutes prior to opening if you wish to be seated, keep in mind that they will not seat you until your entire party has arrived. The staff is very helpful with questions and very attentive in filling coffee and water. If you love authentic delish southern food weather for brunch or dinner this is a must....
(5)Alise B.
Mmm oyster Benedict pumpkin pancake hot spiced cider+whip cream
(4)J K.
Amazing! We both do not eat meat, but there are so many options for vegetarians (and even a few for vegans). Their mac and cheese is the best I have ever tried, and if you get the screen door plate you can mix up sides and make a whole dinner from them with a side of cornbread.
(5)Matthew S.
Fantastic food, great service, and amazing drinks. The layout is great, ambiance is perfect. I wish they had more vegetarian options but what they do have is excellent!
(4)Henson O.
Wow, talk about chicken that melts under the weight of the knife! So juicy and so good! The first time I came here, however, was for brunch, and I wasn't impressed. I got the chicken and waffles, and it is a lot of food. I couldn't finish it! I was overwhelmed with too much chicken, and it was good chicken but not GREAT chicken. Same story with the waffle. I would've rated the brunch 3.5/5 including the price, wait, environment, service, etc. Dinner is a different (AND BETTER) story though. I touched the chicken with the knife and it started sliding through. That's how soft and juicy the chicken was! Also, it was FRESH FRESH FRESH out the fryer. The chicken was so temperature hot that I couldn't chew! I kept burning my mouth because I kept trying to eat it! Needless to say, I never quite learned my lesson in waiting for the food to cool down and walked out with a burnt tongue. Get in mah belly! The chicken had a nice kick, but didn't have the flavoring of any kind of hot or spicy sauce. As far as flavor goes, the spiciness stood out the most. I kind of wished it had a bit more flavor to it, but I guess that can be taken care of with the array of hot sauces on the table! With 18% gratuity included for our party of 6, I paid $17.XX.... More than what I usually pay for a meal since I'm used to hole-in-the-wall places in California, but all-in-all, a great and delicious meal. It's worth it, but for a poor college student like me, this will be a rare treat. TIP***** if you're going for dinner, get there around 5pm - 5:10pm. You'll be near the front of the line and will get a seat right away when they open the doors at 5:30pm. Waiting 20 minutes for the doors to open beats waiting 1+ hrs waiting for a table to clear.
(5)Prairie D.
i recently ate here not long ago had the fried chicken , hush puppies and a desert, all the food was great, i found this place looking for the "best fried chicken" in Portland, and it was sure in my top 5, i only wish they had whole cut chicken rather then boneless breast... it took a while to be seated cause the place was packed but hey its good grub so the have lots of customers, service was great...
(4)Stephanie S.
If I could give this place more than 5 stars I would! The food was seriously amazing. We started off the breakfast with Bloody Mary's. These were probably the best Bloody Mary's I've ever had. You could tell that these were made in house and had the perfect amount a spice. For a breakfast starter (because why not?!) we had the breakfast hush puppies. They were literally to die for. The hush puppies were so light and had bacon/sausage in them. Plus it came with maple syrup to dip in...yum! I had the mushroom omelet, which was very tasty. I got the cheesy grits to go with it and they were so yummy and probably the best grits I've ever had. I also tried some chicken from the chicken and waffles. The chicken was so incredibly tasty i considered going back just for that. I also tried a little piece of the praline bacon. So delicious, but very rich so kind of hard to eat all of it. I came here to eat at around 11:00 on a Wednesday morning. The wait was only like 15 minutes, so not bad at all. I would definitely recommend this place, it was so delicious and probably one of the best places I ate at in Portland.
(5)Keith L.
First stop on our Portland road trip and I have to say, this place went beyond my expectations. Fantastic service, "quick" wait time (45 min on a Saturday night) and the food was beyond compare. Would definitely come again. We split Screen Door Plate and left stuffed. Catfish, wings, and Mac + cheese, all prepared to perfection. Great start to this trip.
(5)Rachel R.
Behind the Screen Door, nothing is as it seems. "The wait will be about 20, sweetheart..." He says. Charming. We wait contentedly. ...You dirty teases. A short wait at an uberpopular brunch spot seemed too good to be true. It was. We were promptly seated, then waited for an hour. Water was scarce, and we periodically received thimble-fulls in order to tide us over while we panicked. Sometimes the waitress even gave us a pitiful, "you're going to die here" glance as she passed by. So once half our party died, the food came! Let's talk about the goods: - Praline bacon waffle, whipped cream: Order a cornucopia of this. Don't talk to me about your coronary problems. I don't want to hear it. - Sweet potato waffle: Irrelevant next to the praline bacon waffle. I couldn't even draw my eyes away long enough to get a visual. - Biscuits and gravy: Actually an aquatic terrarium of gravy built to house red-eared sliders on various sandy biscuit islands. Sausage is dispersed throughout as a 6-month food supply. Turtles not included. - Fried chicken: Too savory and spicy to sensibly pair with sweet breakfast fare. Centaur-sized portions. Before seeing our dishes, Screen Door seemed overpriced. Turns out, there's just enough food to feed a small mountain village. Legend has it, if you eat an entire entree by yourself, you will either live forever or die immediately. Next time: don't show up starving; order half as much as you think you need.
(3)Emily G.
I was in Portland for a night (as unfortunately, I often do) and I was looking for a place to dine solo. Maybe the great benefit of eating all by yourself (queue music) is that you can get a table quick or sit in the bar without any wait. The not-so-great thing about dining by yourself is that you are alone and nobody loves you. Aaaaanyway. I took a seat at the bar and started my evening with a Hot Toddy, that hot Christmasy drink with bourbon and cinnamon. The drink was strong but it had a good flavor and provided the warm and fuzzy comfort that hot alcoholic drinks usually provide. I glanced at the Southern inspired menu and decided to go for the fried chicken. This ain't my Atlanta, but I do love fried chicken, even at 10pm at night. The dish had some awesome highs and lows. The crisp on the breading was great and thick, so much so that it would completely slide off the chicken in large chunks. The chicken on the inside was succulent and at the right temperature. I thought the portion was a little too much (I would prefer half the size for a little less of the price) considering that fried chicken does not reheat very successfully. I also noticed how much fatty parts the chicken had, enough for me to dissect and try to cut them out to eat mostly chicken and not straight up faaaaaat. Secretly, I wanted it to be served on top of a waffle with Louisiana hot sauce and honey, but hey, I don't make up the menu. The mashed potatoes served underneath were simple and tasty but nothing particularly remarkable. The collard greens needed to be cooked a bit longer and have more flavor- I usually squirt some lime juice to give them a better taste. I think those two sides can definitely improve quite a bit. My bartender server was a pretty nice dude and chill. I think he appreciated not having to stop by my table every time to see if I was ok, and I appreciated the same. As I sat there with my imaginary friends, I kept looking into the kitchen and admiring their assembly line. There was no yelling, no stress, no panic. The expediter kept his cool and made sure everything came out with the same quality and look. I definitely appreciated such a well-ran kitchen like that.
(4)Annie T.
Of course I did the chicken and waffles here... But honestly the line wasn't worth the wait. I'm more of a Country Cat kinda girl for this style of eats.
(4)Cameron M.
The chicken and waffles meal is amazing and will last you for days. Everything else that I've had is fantastic too. Love the vibe. I'd go to Screen Door all the time if it weren't for all the other people who want to go to Screen Door so my only knock on it is that it is so popular that there is often quite the wait. Not much of a knock, especially since they serve free hot coffee and you can sometimes snag an indoor bench, but that's all I got!
(4)Shala T.
Amazing!!! Worth the wait!!!! The 30 mins will go by fast and you would so happy that you waited!! EVERYTHING is good!! You literally can't go wrong!!!
(5)Michael S.
Food was fantastic; service was a bit grump, but we were a large rambunctious group - so what do you expect?
(4)Cynthia G.
Went for brunch, the food was not as consistently amazing as dinner. Hubby's meal (lemon ricotta pancakes) was delightfully tasty while mine (oyster benedict) was just okay. Still a good place to get your grub on, but alas no longer perfect.
(4)Stasia B.
I am re-viewing our experience at the Screen Door. My small family and I parked nearby the Screen Door, with the song 'Somebody That I Used To Know' playing in the background. Parking seemed easy to find despite the fact that this place didn't seem to have its own parking lot and many people were entering in. A short walk later, we were entering through the 'door' into this restaurant, which was full to maximum capacity. Faces were friendly and the feeling was warm. Upon greeting the hostess, we were asked if we had a seating preference. We wanted a booth and less than 10 minutes later we were being escorted to a booth near the open kitchen area where a wall of what looked like pickled items were displayed. Quite nice. Water was poured for us, shortly after seating and the water server was cordial and told us she would let the server know that we only were there for dessert (even though the meals looked divine from where I was sitting). Upon looking over the dessert menu and spying the half-eaten cake at a nearby table, we decided on the chocolate caramel layer cake with homemade brown sugar ice cream. The order for our dessert went to our server and was delivered quickly without a hitch. The water lady brought crayons for my son who was busily drawing in the candlelit atmosphere which seemed to have a comfortable volume. Our cake was reasonably priced for how huge it was and we enjoyed it very much while watching the table nearby receive the same cake with a candle on top. They were there for a birthday, it seemed, and though a song was sung just one table away, the volume stayed reasonable and no one in the restaurant seemed disturbed. The kitchen was open to the room so you could plainly see the cooks and wait staff seemed relaxed and enjoying themselves, which was comforting. It was also extremely clean and well put together - a nice atmosphere for sure. $8 was given to cover the cake which was quickly received. We left a $2 tip and started to make our way across the crowded, yet nicely organized, dim lit room toward the front door. The whole experience was seamless and the meals on tables we passed looked delicious. The vibe was great and everyone seemed happy and pleasantly satisfied with their meals. We left satiated and with a to go box with extra cake in it. We would definitely check it out again. Friendly place, kid friendly, yet adult-savy. Very much enjoyed.
(5)Howard L.
There isn't much that I can say that hasn't already been said. The biscuits and gravy are delightful. Most of the staff are friendly and fast. My only complaint, of course, would be the lines.
(4)She C.
Worthy of every star, Screen Door delivers on all gastro-related fronts. We arrived at 10ish on Sat. morning and only waited 25-30 min. The Creole bloody was served promptly and just the right amount of spicy. I savored as best I could my Heirloom tomato Benedict, but it was so tasty I basically inhaled it. My man's plate was clean of his brisket hash about the same time, so I didn't feel too gluttonous. Our server was attentive and all smiles... very refreshing. So many enticing options on their menu, I will definitely be back!
(5)Tracey J.
yum. every time.
(5)Shannon L.
I was starting to feel that most of the foods I was eating in Portland was really just overrated... until Screen Door. Everyone kept raving about the fried chicken here, which is totally valid, but they should be raving about ALL the food. The Fried Chicken ($14.75) is not as herby as other places (which I also like) but there's a lot of flavor in the oil. It's fried perfectly because even the white meat is very tender. The sides included collard greens and mashed potatoes. Collard greens were not chopped up but left in big leafy pieces and also cooked perfectly. The stems were very edible with no resistance. Mashed potatoes were well, just really mashed and smooth potatoes, but the gravy was the more chunky standout item as it was ham based. Now I really did not want my husband to order the Pork and Beans ($14.75) because whenever we get pork (any part but the ribs) at Southern restaurants, it is most of the time dry, even if just a little. This piece of pork shoulder was so tenderly cooked that I could break it apart easily with just my fork. I thought the sides of hock stewed beans and spicy slaw would be on the side but the pork and spicy slaw actually rest on top of a thin layer of large beans on the plate. It all works perfectly when eaten together. And I was pleasantly surprised that the slaw was actually spicy... it offsets the sweetness of the molasses nicely. Macaroni and Cheese side ($5.25) is a portion for two mainly and is a better take on a the homemade style. I'm not sure what cheese they use but it is white and creamy, and stays creamy for the entire meal. The top has been covered in some cheddar and baked to a nice crispiness. As you can see, the prices are very reasonable for this kind of food, especially considering how outstanding the quality and taste are. Seating is available at the patio, bar, or dining room. Ambiance is a bit on the darker side. Perfect for a date or small group.
(5)Cathy Q.
THE BEST BRUNCH I'VE EVER HAD...!!!!! Even though we waited a little more than an hour and half it was well worth it and I would do it all over again!! The chicken and waffles and the pecan bacon was my fave.. AWESOME WAITER!!! Think his name was BEN
(5)Jason L.
pretty simple. Lots of hype and long lines, but solid and delicious breakfast. The $13 bucks you spend on the Chicken and Waffles turns out to be three meals.
(5)Lauren L.
We visited some friends in Portland and they told us about this place. We did have to wait an hour to get a table but it wasn't too bad. There's an awesome little coffee shop next door that can tide you over while you wait. We were seated out on the patio. As it was a beautiful, warm day, it was a perfect location for brunch. We all ordered ice tea and then, because everything looked delicious, we got a breakfast "appetizer" of sausage corn dogs. For the main meal, I got an heirloom tomato scramble which was excellent. My boyfriend got the biscuits and he loved every crumb of it. We'll definitely be back when in Portland, although we'll shoot for earlier in the morning to avoid some of the wait time.
(4)Lisa k.
If I could title this review, it would read: "Overrated". I wonder if I have the same taste buds as these people who do the 5 star reviews??!! Maybe my taste buds are not phased by the hype. But if people love anything...it's stuff that's overrated. Anyway, for what it's worth.... Here is my 3 star review in the sea of 4 and 5 stars. Three starts indicates A-Ok, according to Yelp..but to me it's more like...Meh...ok. I guess if there was a rating for 2.5, it would be around there. It was my birthday yesterday and the hype of this place got the better of me. On one's birthday, it's really nice if everyone is amazed by the deliciousness and experience. Well, I guess there is always next year...elsewhere. Let me say this, if you want good food (and I should have just gone here in the first place) go to Country Cat. That place is...sigh...so good (which reminds me I need to go and review them after this). Like another reviewer said about the Screen Door, it is southern food without a shred of southern hospitality. Well, our host was nice. He made it seem promising. Our wait wasn't too long either...like a 1/2 hour. However, our server was very efficient. She was so efficient, in fact, that she rudely didn't allow one of my co-diners to finish what she was saying before answering. She wasn't unfriendly...but she wasn't warm. Very efficient though...like a cold robot. The hush puppies were good and so we were hopeful. I enjoyed the pimento cheese and crackers, probably more so than the rest of my guests. I got a mint julep and it was nice and strong. The food arrived quickly, which surprised me, and the plates were big. What sold me on going here was the sound of a pecan encrusted trout. I was able to switch fingerling potatoes for a more mashed variety. I was bummed that the seasonal veggies were squash and zucchini...as I have been eating so much of that shit from my own garden (but that's not their fault). I took a bite of the mashed potatoes and they were pretty meh and then a bite of the fish. I figured it was just under salted. I threw some salt on it...bite...meh...salt...bite....meh...just a bit more salt and some pepper...and still...bland. Pretty disappointing for a birthday meal. My other co-diner got the fried chicken and she said it was good. But I didn't hear the "Yumming and MMMmmming" that she did with the fried chicken at Country Cat. She wasn't too impressed with their greens either. My other two co-diners got the screen door plates. Not a whole lot of yumming it up coming from those two either. I tasted that cornbread and it was dry, bland, and kind of weird tasting. I was told the rest of the items, like the jambalaya were not very good. Nobody seemed particularly thrilled about any of it. Didn't stay for dessert. Was almost embarrassed that I chose this place and that no one was really impressed. I did look at the dessert menu, and sadly, it was different than the one I had looked at online a couple days previously. Nothing really grabbed me so I went without a birthday dessert yesterday. Oh well. I think one voiced opinion from the least foodie of my co-diners sums this experience up pretty well, "Eh, it was alright but I don't think it's good enough to go back."
(3)Athena L.
HOLY BACON! FRIED CHICKEN GOODNESS! This place is bomb and I'm so sad that I've waited so long to try their infamous chicken and waffles. The chicken is AMAZING! It's so crisp and seasoned to PERFECTION! The chicken itself was moist and tender. Insert heart eyes emoji here. The waffles that accompany the delicious fried chicken were amazing as well! They're SWEET POTATO waffles! Yum! The bacon is a must! It's covered with caramelized pecans, cayenne, and brown sugar. I mean, what more could you ask for? The fried oysters were good, but nothing spectacular. A definite must try if you're in the area! Beware of long lines! Totally worth it. :)
(5)Rachel S.
AS A SIDE NOTE: MY FRIEND WHO SPILLED HER WINE CALLED THE SCREEN DOOR TODAY TO FOLLOW UP REGARDING THE SERVICE WE RECEIVED LAST NIGHT. THE OWNER AND THE MANAGER HEARD HER CONCERN, EMPATHIZED, AND APOLOGIZED. BRAVO SCREEN DOOR, BRAVO!! Southern food without the Southern hospitality! I arrived before my dinner guests on a Friday night and was greeted by the only smile I saw on an employees face all night...the host. He took my name, number in party, and told me it would be a 30 - 45 minute wait when I arrived at 6 PM. I wasn't surprised by the wait, and once my girls arrived we grabbed drinks and headed outside to wait and chat. Unfortunately, one of my girls accidentally spilled her $8 glass of house red...all over herself, her purse, and the bench we were sitting on. I went to the bar and explained what happened. The unsympathetic bar tender got me a dry towel from the back of the house, and that was that...he did not offer to refill her glass of wine that had barely been sipped. My girl drove home to change and we were seated for dinner moments before she returned. Once we were settled at our booth, I asked the unfriendly waitress, Jillian, what the policy was when a customer accidentally spilled their wine. No, I couldn't let poor service go. I was told that it depended where it happened and which employee was dealing with it. ARE YOU KIDDING ME, I THOUGHT????? Before becoming a teacher, I worked in the biz, and I can tell you, that if a customer of mine spilled a drink I did everything in my power to minimize the embarrassment and without question, would replace the drink. I can't remember an establishment I have ever been to that would not strive to do the same thing. Shame on you Screen Door! Dinner I have to say was very good. I had the catfish, slaw, and mac, a traditionally southern supper. The slaw could have been tangier, but it was still very good. The cornbread was nothing more than edible. My girls had the pork chop, catfish, beet salad, mash potatoes and gravy, bean salad, and the arugula salad. You can choose sides and order additional sides as well (obviously by the amount of food on our table). Hands down the back of the house did a very good job preparing the meal...they have talent. The portions are much larger than in New Orleans and the entrees are reasonably priced. They carry Abita beer...which having just relocated back to my hometown from New Orleans is a nice touch. The service was underwhelming. Jillian was accurate and efficient, but that was it. No smile, no chatting up the menu, no sense of grace. Nothing....flat line. I thought about checking her for a pulse. A positive I must mention is that the place attracts a multicultural crowd unlike any other restaurant in Portland. That made me very happy. Would I go back? Maybe, because I love southern food and there isn't many choices in Portland.
(3)Gil S.
simply awesome! amazing food at reasonable prices without the bullshit. my kind of a joint.
(5)courtney f.
If you are looking for the best fried chicken in Portland, look no further. Don't get me wrong.... I am a true Southerner, and have sampled some of the best fried foods anyone could ever crave. AND, I understand that some folks like their fried "cheekin" a little sweet, or a little a vinegary, but if you want consistency and perfection of moistness in yo fried chicken, this is your spot! Also: service is great, everything else on the menu is delicious, and get there by 5:15 and jump in line if you don't want to sweat the wait! This place has become an institution in Portland Southern cuisine, so everybody loves it, brunch or dinner!!!!!
(5)Angie T.
Came there with my boyfriend on a tuesday, it was crowed but we didn't have to wait. Our server was awesome. He actually ran after us when we were walking to the car because I forgot my box of leftover food on the table. Had the screen door plate and a side of apple and orange salad. It was yummilous! I wished the sweet tea was sweeter, but that is only trivial because there's sugar cubes on the table which could be easily added in.
(5)Erin W.
I was warned about the wait for weekend brunch, and it was no joke...holy crap, this place is popular! Anyhow, the food and cocktails (specifically, the praline waffle with melt-in-your-mouth candied bacon and crisply fried chicken) were worth the long wait of about an hour and fifteen minutes for a two-top. Also noteworthy is how friendly the employees are. The hostess remained pleasant in spite of being stationed in a sea of eager people who were anxious to get a table and irritated by the wait. It was nice to have self-serve coffee during the linger time as well as access to the bar...the wait wasn't so bad with a gin fizz my hand. Our server, Evie, was also a delight...my boyfriend and I split a single plate and took our time with the meal. I appreciated that Evie didn't rush us all in spite of the huge crowd waiting for an open table and the fact that our bill came to a whopping $12.
(5)Les W.
Oh my !! I got the Screen Door plate - a sampling of 3 items. I had the catfish, jambalaya and local organic green salad. WONDERFUL!!! MY sister got the low-country shrimp and grits it was delicious. I'm not a grits fan but I would order this item on my next trip. Went there for brunch and got the chicken and waffles, and yes-it's as good as everyone says it is. The wait time can be long for a table (30-45 min) and there is not a lot in the area as far as other retail establishments to kill the time but still-I would go there again and again! So worth it !
(5)Tet W.
What can I say! This place is flat out the best when it comes to brunches. I went away from my usual cathead chicken sandwich and potatoes and went with the classic eggs Benedict with potatoes. It was wonderful and full of flavor. It was much lighter than the fathead sandwich which is very rich and the biscuits, fried chicken and sausage gravy can be quite heavy so I was in the mood for something lighter. The eggs were poached perfectly and went well with the seasoned potato wedges. There is sooooo many wonderful choices to choose from. You can virtually choose anything on their menu and you can't go wrong! It's only been 1 day and I'm already excited to go back to try more of their fabulous breakfast choices. Definitely a top choice of mine and if you've never been here, make sure you come about 20 minutes early as people are lining up early to get in first thing when they open. Also make sure you keep your party small and that everyone is there or you won't be seated. No reservations are taken at this popular establishment so expect long waits if you come after 10am. Can't wait to be back for more!
(5)Roxanne C.
My favorite restaurant in town! I can't decide if I like brunch or dinner better.
(5)Aaron H.
Fried Chicken.....Damm good stuff, Infused Vodka's go well in my Bloody M....Great place to take friends from out of town....
(4)Casey H.
I was very excited to dine here. Chicken in waffles are a passion of mine, and people kept telling me this was as good as it gets in Portland. The line out the door every time I drove by seemed to reinforce that assessment. Finally, my wife and I decided to brave the wait and dive in. I have to say, it wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Good, but not great. The wait was 45 minutes, which is absurd--the food has to be excellent to justify that, so perhaps I was setting the bar too high. Once we were finally seated in the cold, drafty outdoor area (which was not equipped with enough heaters to fight off the cold), we ordered chicken and waffles, the pecan salad and a fruit bowl. After 25 minutes of shivering, it arrived. Let me say this--I appreciate a big portion size. But this was absurd. There must have been 3 lbs of chicken breast (no dark meat?) piled on a single, lonely waffle. The portion was enough for 3 people, and the ratio of chicken to waffle was all wrong. The waffle was delicious, but the chicken itself was a bit too salty. The breading was nicely spicy, but it fell off the meat at the gentlest touch and quickly became water-logged. The salad was tasty but over-dressed and covered in too much cheese. The whole restaurant seemed to be an homage to excess. This is fine, but please don't confuse quantity for quality. I would have preferred half the food and for it to be delicious.
(3)Elisabeth B.
Regarding their brunch: I am in love. Sooo in love. I literally get a high just thinking about the food, ha. Currently my top choice restaurant for brunch. :)
(5)Claire T.
Super long lines.... however, its worth waiting for. So freaking delicious.
(4)Chris B.
Best burger and fried chicken in Portland. You cannot be disappointed in this restaurant and while wait is longer, it is no worse than any other great food in Portland. Worth a wait for sure
(5)Lilly R.
This is my go-to restaurant for out-of-town guests! I don't even normally like fried food, but I could eat Screen Door's chicken tenders almost every night of the week. Last time I was there, we had Ben as our waiter, who was so incredibly friendly and warm. Order the Screen Door plate (any three sides off their menu) and you will not be disappointed.
(5)Anna Marie C.
so who knew that southern food would be so popular in the pacnw? years and years ago, i lived in atlanta for a month... and thank goodness it was only a month, because otherwise my arteries would probably be filled with lard by now. so, the short of it is that i do love southern food. and granted, i only had a month experience with it... but i think i made the most of my time. so enter screen door. while i do not love to wait for my southern food, this place may just be worth it. the shortrib special was so ridiculously moist and tender, i literally did not need a fork to cut it. perfectly seasoned. it almost makes me want put my shrimp allergy to the test for their shrimp and grits. so go. early. late. or just plan to arrive 2 hours before you're actually hungry.
(4)Anthony L.
Literally the highlight of my trip to Portland. Had the Cormeal Friend Oyster Eggs Benedict. This was the best Eggs Benedict dish I've ever had in my quarter century of life on this earth. Just having this dish would've earned them 5-stars, but no! There's more! I also tried the chicken and waffles. Now I must say, being a Los Angeles native, Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles set the mark and trend for the amazing combination. However, dare I say, and I'm sure I'll be getting some flack when I say this.... The chicken and waffles from Screen door tasted better and Roscoe's. (Ducks for cover - lol) Honestly, when you have something that good, with the sizeable portions, I'd fly back to Portland, brave the rain and vitamin D deficiency just to have either of these dishes again. 5-stars!
(5)Katie O.
I lived in the south for 4 years, so I became accustomed to southern food and drink. This place didn't really impress me. The sweet tea wasn't that sweet, and the food wasn't very flavorful. My friends pretty much echoed my sentiment, though I was told the brisket wasn't too bad. But come on. When the best part of the meal is the cornbread side, something is really wrong.
(2)Ken N.
Holy fried goodness. Believe the hype. This place gets crazy crowded and the chicken is damn good. We arrived aroundly 6PM on a Saturday evening. The wait was 35 minutes. Within 10 minutes, we overheard the wait jumped to an hour. FOOD: *Fried Chicken - 2 HUGE deboned buttermilk fried chicken pieces. The skin was extremely crunchy with a nice hint of black pepper. The meat was flavorful but not as tender as I was hoping. Still very good though. Came in so hungry I felt like I could eat 10 chickens but 1 piece of chicken did me good. Substituted the collard greens for sweet potato fries which were average. *Screen Door Plate with Fried Catfish, Jambalaya, Mac & Cheese - This was a little disappointing. Catfish was average. The jambalaya was the most disappointing side dish. Mac & cheese was good. Screen Door, I shall see you again the next time I am in Portland. You can count on that.
(4)Nick R.
I feel that it is only logical that my first Yelp review should be of my favorite restaurant in Portland. Having said that I would like to expound upon the magnificence that is Screen Door. THIS PLACE IS CRAAAYY. Best fried chicken in town. Like, THE best. Rich, peppery, and a portion size that would satisfy a lumberjack. Not to mention the Chicken n' Waffles which come with THREE breast sized pieces. Sure, portion size isn't everything. But this chicken is so good that I eat it when I'm already full, cold, and straight from the fridge, like a fiend. I could even eat an entire meal consisting of the fried crumbles mixed with their silklicous mashed potatoes. OK, enough of that. Luckily, I have tried other menu items. The brisket is delicious and comes with some of the best fried shoe-string onions. The beef comes slathered with a particularly sweet BBQ sauce and might not fit the fancy of those who dislike sweetness. I am also a big fan of their Shrimp and Grits. The grits are well cooked and come with some prawns covered in a DOPE pork belly sauce. Mix all of that with the ring of basil/pesto and you have yourself a winning combination. The side mac n' cheese is legit but not so spectacular that you could turn it into an entree. Their collards are also very enjoyable (full of meat) though, they tend to be on the sweet side, which may be a turn off for some. Also, this is a place where we are always pleased with their daily specials. Finally, the desserts are out of this world. My two favorites are the Banoffee pie (Bannanas, whipped cream, caramel) and the Grasshopper (a chocolate pie with home-made mint whipped cream). Even when dinning with a party of two, we always seem to get at least two desserts. DEAL WITH IT. The atmosphere is great; homey, southern, jovial, and intimate. The staff is super friendly and will take the time to be present with you (answer detailed questions, be personable, etc.) even when they're slammed (which is often). This place has it all. And what they do, they do well. SCREEN DOOR 4 LYFE!
(5)Daniel P.
Awesome! I'm sure this has been said a million times, get the chicken and waffles (for the love of God share it) and the praline bacon. We waited for about an hour to get in on Sunday morning but it was definitely worth it. Its heavy food, but nothing will cure a night of drinking like a bloody mary and chicken+waffles.
(4)E M.
Great food but long waits. Usually a line out the door so in the rainy months bring an umbrella and dress warm!
(5)Gary H.
Great for a breakfast outing. Line is very long at times.
(4)Mark P.
This hip and trendy east side eatery is consistently rated as having one of the best brunches in the Rose City, and the chicken and waffles are nearly as infamously legendary as The Reggie over at Pine State Biscuits. So we checked it out this morning, hoping that it would live up to its hype. It did. It was a typically overcast November morning in Portland, and the place was packed, as expected. We helped ourselves to hot cups of coffee and waited outside, amongst the hipsters and dog walkers, enjoying the scene and the hot coffee. After about thirty minutes we were ushered inside, and kicked things off with a couple of Bloody Marys. They were good - a little on the spicy side, which is exactly how I like them - and contained pickled okra in addition to the standard olive spear. That's how you know you're in a Southern-inspired kitchen, boys and girls. The chicken and waffles were every bit as good as advertised: the chicken was served piled atop the deep, fluffy sweet potato waffle, three very generous portions of white meat whose buttermilk batter was crispy, crunchy, and packed full of flavor (and a little heat, courtesy of black pepper and a bit of cayenne). Moist and flavorful, the fried chicken was probably the best in town (sorry, Pine State). And the waffle was amazing - airy, a little chewy, and a little sweet, the perfect accompaniment to the chicken. Be prepared to share, or bring home leftovers - the portion is huge. My girlfriend ordered eggs benedict and cheddar grits, and both were delicious. The grits were nice and creamy and tasted like mac 'n cheese. This is a good thing! I rarely give 5-star ratings, but Screen Door deserves one. The wait staff were all very friendly and personable, and if you are waiting outside for a table, they will come and find you. They are cheerful and never make it seem like a hassle. But even if they were aloof and ornery, I wouldn't care - the food is that good. This is the perfect place to bring out of town guests who want to experience a slice of the cool and hip Portland breakfast scene. I have no doubt we'll be back!
(5)Phong D.
I can't believe that it took me this long to check out Screen Door. OMG. I think I must've had the best fried chicken here. It took forever to prepare but was totally worth the wait. The batter was the right balance of thickness, crispness, and flavor. It complimented and made the chicken better, like Robin to Batman. Another delightful surprise was the Mac 'n Cheese. Again, hands down the best Mac that I've ever had for its orchestration of high-end cheesy flavors. I was tempted to ditch the spoon and eat out of the bowl like a trough. Make sure to arrive maybe 30 minutes before opening to get a good seat inside. There will be a line!
(5)stacy k.
best fried chicken ever! i dont even usually like fried chicken, but wow its soo good! the wait here can be super obnoxious though, i suggest going late on a monday or tuesday night. buttermilk ranch salad is good, but most of the other sides ive tried are all kind of lack luster and under seasoned, which maybe is on purpose since the chicken is so perfectly seasoned, it could take away from that.
(4)Mari n.
I have day dreams about my next rendezvous with Screen Door. The best food in Portland. The dinners and seasonal menu never disappoint. The Brunch is delicious, but only served on Saturdays and Sundays. The cocktails are delicious and unique. The servers are attentive and professional. This is what I would call refined, but hearty southern cooking. Mmmmmm.
(5)Laura S.
So after extensively browsing 45-50 restaurants for my birthday dinner, we decided on Screen Door. It had items we both would eat, was not terribly expensive (actually, it was very inexpensive) as to not break our poor state worker banks, and had great reviews. We showed up right at opening at 5:30pm. The pre-opening line was huge. By the time it was our turn to be seated, our choices were to wait approximately an hour for a table, or sit at the bar. The bar it was! This wasn't a bad thing, I actually enjoyed watching the bartender make drinks and try to guess what they were. I have no idea what 90% of the concoctions he was mixing were, but they looked great! Next time I will have to try one or two, but tonight I stuck with my Sweet Tea, which was excellent. All of the male wait staff had met the minimum beard requirements for Portland. Each had sufficient growth, about a months worth if I had to guess, and they wore it with pride. I don't know why I found this extremely awesome, but I did. Every host and server we talked to was friendly and well informed, not stand-offish or snooty in the least. My friend and I debated on appetizers, and settled on Hush Puppies. They were very good, but slightly dry. I used the sauce, but after a few pups slathered in it, I lost the taste for more. I ordered the Screen Door Plate, my picks were the fried pork-chop, catfish, and mac & cheese. If you order one thing at the Screen Door, order the mac & cheese, it is just pure sin baked into a ceramic bowl. The catfish came with a mustard dipping sauce that was great and the pork chop was alright with it's accompanying gravy. The only problem with this meal was the sheer quantity of food. I ate about a third of each of my items before becoming so full I had to box the rest. Seated to my left, my friend thoroughly enjoyed his brisket, which he said was fantastic, but a little spicy because of the sauce. He had requested mashed potatoes instead of the potato salad, and was very happy with the switch. In addition to his meal, he ordered a side of Texas toast, which looked fine, but only had half of eaten. He ran into the same problem I had, too much food, too little space in stomach. I only wish we had not been so terribly full, I wanted to try the chocolate raspberry cake bad. Oh well, this gives me a reason to return!
(4)Emily L.
Best friend chicken and waffle ever! Don't forget biscuits and gravy. MMMMMMM. Everything was delicious.
(5)Laura B.
Have not gone yet, but wanted to be the 800th review. My daughter loves it.
(5)Jason G.
Yes. I hate this place because now I want to try everything on the menu here, instead of trying different places in town. Screen door has messed up my whole routine. I had a Po Boy. I hadn't had one in ten years since I left Champaign, and I was holding off on it until I found a great place. This was worth the wait, I don't need another Po Boy ever again. Covered in little delicious fried onions and delicious egg, this Po Boy was amazing. There were plenty of specials, and every third plate that came out had chicken and waffles on it. Those looked pretty delicious too. You'll probably wait to sit down, but it very much worth the wait. I don't think I could recomend any other breakfast place in PDX over this place. Incroyable!
(5)Elizabeth C.
It's already been pretty much established here on yelp that Screen Door is the bomb, but I guess I'll throw my hat in the ring, too! We made sure to stop in during our recent trip to Portland, since I haven't had much Southern food in my life and wanted my introduction to the cuisine to be at a great place. We came on the 4th, thinking that people would be at cookouts and whatnot, but the place was still hopping! That's a true testament to how much people love this restaurant--or maybe they were all just celebrating America by eating the most American food possible! Thankfully we did not have to wait too long, and I definitely noticed that despite the crowd, the hosts and servers seemed super on top of it. We got iced tea, sweet tea, fried okra, brisket with cole slaw and baked beans, and a side of mac and cheese. In a surprise touch of Southern hospitality, our server never let our tea glasses go to empty, and we were not about to argue with that! The fried okra was very good, and goes very well with the sauce accompanying it. The mac and cheese is about as indulgent as you can imagine it: covered in melted cheese and smothered in buttery, creamy sauce. The star of our meal, though, was definitely the brisket plate. The cole slaw was delicious, the baked beans were the best I've ever had, and the huge hunk of brisket (10 oz!!) was so tender it just fell apart at the touch of my fork. I will say I was confused by the huge mass of crispy fried onion strips on top--I liked them, but there was just so much of it--but the whole experience was a party for my taste buds. By the way, I thought I had an impressive appetite before I ate here--I was wrong. If you think you can eat a lot, prepare to be humbled by Screen Door. I only got through half of my meal and half of our sides before I had to call it, but hey, that means awesome lunch for the day after! So Screen Door definitely delivers: great hospitality, great food, and great atmosphere.
(5)Shasta L.
Long wait to get seated and long wait to get food. Overall, I like the atmosphere of Screen Door and the food was great, but not so great that I would go out of my way to eat here again. I got the Chicken and Waffles, which I was pretty happy with. As others have mentioned, the fried chicken is excellent, but I am neutral on the waffle. I like nice and crisp waffles, but this one was on the softer end. I tried a little of the praline bacon waffle, which was interesting. Probably wouldn't order it again though, but I am intrigued by the novelty. Really happy that I got to try this place, since I have heard a lot of good things about it. But for me, the wait really killed my mood and the food wasn't good enough to redeem my impression of the place.
(3)Melissa M.
I can't remember the name of my dish but it was excellent. It had golden beets and potatoes in a smoky sauce. I subbed the 2 egg option for fruit to make it a vegan brunch entree. The bloody mary was really good but not unique. I tasted the bananas foster and it is too die for, but huge so prepare to share. It is also too sweet to just eat that.
(5)Danielle B.
Portland foodie heaven exists here. This was probably my favorite meal of my Portland trip and coincidentally the most filling as well. Furthermore, if it hadn't been one of the last meals of the trip, I could've possibly eaten more of this deliciousness. My bf and I shared the screen door plate (which is basically your choice of 3 sides + cornbread): -beet salad: this is what I want to eat everyday for lunch. Fresh ingredients, not over or underdressed -crispy fried catfish: There is a $1.00 surcharge for this one but it was worth it. The catfish was breaded well and the fish was flaky and cooked well. -squash soup: I'm a forever squash soup fan. This wasn't too dense or light. Good flavor development. -cornbread: this was the single thing of the night that was disappointing. I'm not sure if this was a bad batch, but it wasn't moist like cornbread should be. I dug my fork into everyone else's dish on the table: -Mac n cheese: ooohhh myyy cheesy goodness. This is diet-breaking worthy. It is very rich (as any good mac n cheese should be) so you can share it and save room to try everything else. -Buttermilk fried chicken: possibly the juiciest, most perfect chicken ever. Yes, I've hyped it up. Yes, it will live up to the hype. When (not if, but when) I return, there is no doubt that I will get the chicken. -Fried oysters: I mean they are fried oysters so you can't really go wrong. Looking back, I didn't do the best job of ordering, but at least I have friends who share. Of everything I was able to try I am able to conclude that SD does Southern food justice. The service matched the quality of the food. Our waiter was attentive and even cracked jokes when he came to check on us. It's hard to laugh with your mouth full, but it happened. My only wish was that I had the capacity to order dessert. The table next to us did and it was tempting to reach my fork over (just to try a bite!). Absolutely no exaggerations were made in the content of this review.
(5)Pingle I.
What a great breakfast, I ordered an omelette and boy it was good and tasty. It was a nice, big omelette too. The chicken from the chicken and waffle is seasoned quite well and was such a filling breakfast. The atmosphere is great and this is a place I would love to eat again.
(4)Philip B.
Wifey got the bananas foster French toast. Her half portion was even too big. She seemed to like it greatly as the bread was cut thick, but soaked in the love juices. I got the chicken and waffles. OMFG! This was a nice crispy waffle topped with your choice of 1/2/3 breaded chicken breasts. The chicken was cooked perfectly and was crunchy, not greasy, and seasoned to perfection. -1 chicken breast - Don't be stupid, you will regret this choice -2 chicken breasts - A lot of food, but I had no regrets on this choice. -3 chicken breasts - Damn fat ass, you really like this I'm not biased, but I would just take the option for 1 breast off the menu. If you can't eat 2, then share with a friend as Portland is a friendly city. We also got an order of the praline bacon which was like eating a dessert bacon...during breakfast. This is phenomenal. We came on a Tuesday at around 9am and there was no line. I'm sure their dinner would be good, but my impatience hinders me. This place is slightly pricey, but you are paying for quality, which is what you should expect and what you WILL get.
(5)Mi P.
Great food! nice atmosphere... Always like to eat here, but hate the wait... usually not more than 30-40 mins, but the food is worth it
(4)Amanda S.
Yum yum yum! Best fried chicken around. Also the drinks are great, especially if you have wait in line to get a table....
(5)Tim L.
I'm always looking for a great beef brisket and theirs is the best I've ever had. Everything was delicious and the service and atmosphere are great as well.
(5)Joyce N.
This is definitely the place to be seen. The food is good too.
(4)Shannon B.
I have had both breakfast and dinner here! The food is seriously worth the wait! Plan on going early and having to wait for a table. Both times I was with a group of people and we all got different things so we could all try everything! The quality of the food is impressive and I highly recommend the wait!
(5)Mary S.
I've always wanted to try this place but what I hesitant about is the wait. So I went solo, bellied up and got in within 5 minutes. Their Oyster Po Boys were great!!! If you love oysters like I do, get it!!! Their pecan bacon is different but very tasty! It's very decadent so one was enough for me (I eat 3 pieces of regular bacon normally).
(5)Tyler A.
Ok I am a huge fan. the 1.5 hour wait however, man, that is tough! Despite the long wait, I go back because I am a glutton for punishment. There is little you can do to improve on the ginormous chicken and waffles. I have tried many of the other brunch items here (none of them disappoint) but I keep coming back to the C&W. There is nothing like it. Down a few spicy bloodies while you wait (hopefully it's a sunny day so you can drink on the side walk), then when you're good and drunk and hungry, go in for the kill. You can share the dish because it's seriously enough to feed 3 but then you wouldn't have the left overs for later. Besides, I don't share. If you want to eat what I am eating, then you should've ordered it, ya bastard! I have yet to venture there for dinner because really, this type of heaviness after 3pm might kill a girl. But I think I might have a death wish soon to venture over for dindin.
(5)Jael J.
So I've visited Screen Door twice and now feel prepared to write a review. I thought the place is cool. It's a fun environment and I like the the setup. The wait staff is friendly but honestly I wished they were more attentive. On neither occasion did the food wow me. However, other members of the party were definitely wowed. They couldn't get over the taste of the fried chicken. Luckily, I haven't had to deal with a long wait. I think the longest was the first time I went there and that was 35 minutes, which to me is not a big deal. I don't know what else to say, I really wanted this place to be amazing and I just left less than impressed. That being said, I will most definitely return to see if I'm wowed and I like the atmosphere.
(3)Hillary H.
This is one of my all time Portland favorites! I just wish we had the time to go.. it is usually packed and the waits are crazy! Check out the seasonal local sides... YUM!
(5)Christina S.
Came here for the first time for my birthday for brunch and received red velvet pancakes! Great service and amazing food. So much good food like the pumpkin fritters, eggs benedict, and biscuits and gravy. Can't wait to try the dinner! EDIT FOR DINNER SERVICE: Glad I gave Screen Door a 5 star review the first time around, because they totally deserve it. I cant believe I am saying this because brunch is my favorite meal, but I think that the dinner here is even better than the brunch! The catfish, fried chicken, hush puppies, and collard greens are my favorites on the menu. Also they must put something highly addictive in the mashed potatoes because you can never just have one or two bites! The drinks are also amazing. The price for the amount of food you get is totally worth it. I am more of a quality gal and I will always go here any opportunity I get.
(5)James C.
I would give this place 10 stars my very favorite place to eat in Portland the atmosphere is always fun the service is great and the food is amazing huge portions, priced just right, that why. This place is busy everyday of the week and generally has a cue outside before they open
(5)Debbie L.
Picture this... streetcar from the Pearl, bus to the east side and a few blocks over to Screen Door. Then.... we walked in and immediately felt at home! Seated right away, ordered a hefe and dinner. "He" ordered the Pork and Beans which he loved by the way. I ordered a platter of deliciousness that began with a local choosing of apples, raisins, nut brittle, greens and dressing. Side that with homemade mac n chz, sweet and tasty coleslaw and warm cornbread and butter. I truly did not want to leave. We were done so it was less embarrassing to go home than to curl up in the warmth of Screendoor Restaurant. I highly suggest a visit to this dining establishment! by the way... the wait staff was awesome!
(5)Jeff R.
There is no question that the food is consistently great at Screen Door, but what knocked my socks off was the length the staff went to for us tonight. We had come to the restaurant before seeing a movie at the Laurelhurst. When we got there - bad luck - the place was slammed - a full house had walked in just as they opened the door. Things got delayed and we finally asked the waiter to hold our food until after our movie. We would pick it up to go. When we came back, they could not have done more. They asked me to wait while they made some of the items we had ordered over again - they even re-did the french fries! 'We don't want to give you inferior food,' they assured me. Wow! And I was already a devoted fan. Thanks Screen Door. No question. You are the best there is.
(5)Chelsea W.
Amazing Southern food! The service has always been delightful, and the staff is very knowledgeable. If you go for a visit, note that unless you get there right at opening, you'll have a wait (like an hour). The good thing is that they will take your name and you can go down the street to get drinks at Matador. The mac and cheese is delicious, creamy & smooth. And the catfish is my second favourite entree. Though you will never go wrong with anything they make.
(5)Tanaz P.
Praline bacon=sex in yo' mouth! This place delivers some serious goodness on a plate. I'm sure the 1000 plus reviews can attest to that, or the insane line to grab a table and munch. What makes this place stand out: Mile high chicken n waffles done right. Mmmm bloody marys. Seasonal vegetable hash with parsnips and celery root. Fried oyster eggs benedict with dreamy holledaise. Pulled pork scramble, yeah I said PULLED PORK SCRAMBLE! Variations of french toast that made me sloppy in a VERY grow-up kinda way. Praline bacon; Fuck you screen door for introducing me to that. Stellar service. So ummm yeah...I'm hooked.
(5)Emily L.
My fondness for food and drink is sometimes usurped by my absolute loathing of lines, and waiting in them, and seeing them....and summarily, the crowded, loud dining quarters that inevitably follow. It's for this reason that I see this place every day, with its line wrapped around the goddamn block....and I keep walking. I'd rather eat food that will kill me from a Plaid Pantry, than wait in line for an hour to eat delicious food. Perhaps this is why all the reviews discuss overeating here? Maybe Screen Door is a restaurant of geniuses..."We'll make those a-holes wait until they eat $20 more food than they would normally consume.....and everything will taste great, because they're fucking starving!!!" *evil laughter* *strokes cat* Someone is probably wearing an eye patch in this make-believe scenario. So, reread it, and imagine an eye patch. That being said, go ahead and qualify me as a "crazy bitch" and surmise that there is always a line because the food is good, and in a city of a million tasty eateries, this one hardens the gastronomic nipples enough for them to wait in the lines week after week. Every time a friend comes from out of town, they want to eat here...because inevitably they've read about it on Yelp, or a friend raved, or it was published somewhere....so I've been forced to brave the lines on a number of occasions. I will say, when forced to wait, and in a line, and eat around a room full of talking, chewing people.....the staff was ridiculously attentive (and not just for Portland....by normal standards as well), and the cocktails were certainly made with love. And by "love" I don't mean "DNA"....although, probably if I made mention of my loathing of lines. For real real, not for play play.....I have no cause to actually hate this place. Fucking go here. Do it. Cultivate a hunger. Meet a nice person in the line. Have a delicious cocktail. High-five your server. Life is all about the silver linings.....unless you're at Lloyd Center on a weekend. There's no silver lining for that. No. Just no.
(4)Chad N.
One of the best places in Portland. The fried chicken is amazing...but don't be afraid to explore the menu, it's all great!
(5)Joseph M.
If you're looking to get the most bang for your buck and/or just want to eat one meal for the day, Screen Door would be the place to go. The wait was about an hour when we got there, but there is a coffee shop right next door where you can go and chill out while you wait. Both my girlfriend and I got the chicken biscuit with gravy, which was both delicious and enormous. The chicken and gravy both had some very nice heat that lingered and the biscuit was flaky and buttery. I barely touched the fried potatoes that came with it and still just managed to finished the rest. And for reference, while we didn't get the chicken and waffles, I saw more than one plate come out, which contained THREE friend chicken breast on a massive waffle. I honestly don't know how someone would finish even half of that, but if I'm back in town someday I may just have to give it a go.
(4)H O.
Great food at a great price. Only drawback is the wait. You must try the fried chicken for brunch.
(5)Rachael M.
I have come here 4 times now, and each time had a perfect breakfast. Chicken and Waffles has been my favorite so far! The chicken is seasoned perfectly, and fried up deliciously crispy. Served on top of a sweet potato waffle, that even my sweet potato-hating dad loved. I only could get through about half of it, since the portion was as big as my head! But, it made for an amazing lunch later in the day. I went again yesterday and tried the banana foster french toast. AKA the best french toast you will ever eat. The bread was so light and fluffy, it just melts in your mouth. And the bananas are amazing. All I could think about all day was how great the whipped cream on top was.. a bite with all three really is like heaven. Delicious heaven. I don't even care that I have to get there 45 minutes before it opens to get a seat right away, and that it's always loud and crowded. The servers are friendly and knowledgeable, and the food is the best in Portland.
(5)Ben B.
one of the best things you can do when you come to portland. every bite is a parade in my mouth...
(5)Kim K.
So. Much. Food. I ordered the praline waffle that came on a plate larger than my face and with a waffle that might have been even bigger. It was insanely rich - could only eat 1/4 of the waffle. A few friends ordered the friend chicken/waffle. That plate was even larger! The food is delicious - especially if you like intensely sweet/savory food. As I live in the south, I wouldn't say this in full-on southern cooking, but a wonderful southern meets Portlandia fusion.
(4)Alli H.
Hi delicious food, please let me eat you. This was my last meal after an extended awesome trip to Portland. We took it out, which made my day because the lines were ridiculous (and I had a red-eye to catch). My friend and I had a variety of food but I especially loved the mac and cheese. The chicken was good but every time I order fried chicken, I remember that maybe I just don't love it that much. However, once i pealed off the fried part, the chicken was super fresh and very well cooked.
(3)Michael V.
Southern cooking is their thing. The wait for a table is long at any time of the day apparently. I grew up with this type of cooking, but it was pleasant to have it with an urban spin. The fried chicken is their specialty, and I highly recommend it. The butter lettuce salad was amazing, but anything in addition to the entree will have you carrying home leftovers. The portions are HUGE.
(4)Akiko I.
- Locale Destination - It's on E Burnside St and NE 24th Ave in Portland, OR. Neighborhoods: Northeast Portland, Kerns It was very dim for the dinner time, so it was very hard to take pictures. Decor is sorta hippie and cozy. Open kitchen. They have a nic
(2)Chris K.
Food was great. Southern cooking done right finally. Fried chicken was excellent. Pork and Beans was awesome. A big slab of pork shoulder sitting in a bowl of large white beans with a little spicy coleslaw. We tried 3 desserts and the 1 with layers and apples we thought was the best. I can't wait to try it for breakfast.
(5)Holly M.
One of the best places in Portland. You have to try it.
(5)Melanie N.
Delicious Bloody Mary (with pickled okra and seasoned salt garnish) - CHECK 4 breasts of fried chicken on a waffle - CHECK Delicious Southern goodies to make your mouth water and your arteries groan - CHECK CHECK This is my favorite brunch spot in Portland. Amazing selection of great southern inspired dishes, and you'll never leave hungry. Be mindful this place gets packed for brunch on the weekend so be prepared to wait. They often will let you order drinks while you wait (see aforementioned Bloody Mary) but there's also a great coffee shop down the street called Heart. Be sure to ask for a Ginkgo Leaf design in your Almond Milk latte. ;-)
(5)Celine D.
Note : I am most likely going to give it 3.5 stars, but leaning more towards 3 stars just because I don't get the hype. I am usually not a big fan of this cuisine, neither do I ever have the balls to try it. So, with that being said, I was pretty fast to judge the Southern cuisine as something I would never try. I wish I had taken that back. This restaurant is located in the midst of a very quiet neighborhood, but the hustling and bustling of the place is quite amusing, especially on a Saturday night. Upon arrival, the place was obviously packed. People were waiting inside, people were waiting outside, people were waiting near the bar, people were desperately, patiently waiting to taste what the restaurant has to offer. My wait time for 2 people was estimated about 45 mins, but I'd say that I waited no more than half an hour. Was the wait worth it? Not exactly. The boyfriend and I shared the cripsy buttermilk fried chicken and the special of the night, which was the shrimp in New Orleans Sauce. Fat overload. I am pretty sure I'd gained 5 pounds after that dinner. The fried chicken was good, however the sauce may be too peppery for my liking. It was deep fried (d-uh) with crispy layer of skin and the juicy chicken breast reveals itself. I did not finish my portion of the chicken. I, however, did love the mashed potatoes that was included. So soft and creamy................. The shrimps were alright. I think we were too hungry, to the point that we devoured everything in 5. It was very buttery and loaded with a layer of oil. Bread was included for dipping into the sauce. Overall, I feel that this place is rather overhyped. I would actually come again if I am craving for fried chicken, other than that, I'd skip it.
(3)Sarah C.
The food was alright, not "the best ever" as other reviewers have stated. Definitely overpriced. Our food became cold within minutes due to the drafty dining room. As did we...they really need to turn on some heat! Our server was pretentious and screwed up our drink order, probably because it's a little loud in the dining room. Their policy of not taking reservations or seating complete parties is ridiculous. Especially considering the price point of this place. For this reason (and the potential lines) I do not recommend this restaurant for any sort of special occasion.
(3)Catie H.
best southern food I've had in Portland. it's annoying to me when places don't take reservations and the ilnes are always long but if it's what you're in the mood for, it's worth it.
(4)Lilly T.
Came here on a Saturday night to a 1.5 hour wait for a table for 3 people. This place is SO popular and crowded but the wait is worth it. Believe the hype! This place serves up homestyle, comfort food at its finest! I tried the fried chicken and it was crispy, juicy and buttery from their secret batter. It had the perfect amount of salt and surprisingly wasn't greasy. They have delicious jambalaya and fried catfish as well. Definitely worth a stop if you're in PDX.
(4)Janet M.
Over a thousand reviews?what on earth could I add to all that? Well, this. While the food is good, the hype is silly. There are a lot of good places in Portland. I believe this is one of them. We had a good meal, but we have eaten good meals at many places.We made an effort to eat here tonight because I was tired of seeing it on my welcome to yelp page and hadn't been here. I felt left out. The line situation is ridiculous. We arrived at 5:10 on Sunday and were second in line for their 5:30 dinner seating.We planned well and we took their recorded message about when to arrive seriously.I'm glad we did. Hubby kept grousing "this better be worth it".Really we were far better off than the people who arrived at 5:30. I bet they waited an hour.It was cold tonight. We had a pleasant server who kept our water and teas filled. We consumed a variety of food including chicken tenders, pimento cheese, sampler plates with mashed taters, gravy, grits, collard greens, pork chops,and a beet salad with yummies in it. (Princess chose this because it had her three favorite things in it:goat cheese, beets, and avocado).Hubby's pecan crusted trout with fingerlings and green beans was spot on. My special pork chop with brussel sprouts and sweet potato puree was well put together and my only complaint was the puree reminded me of baby food. Cornbread was deemed "ok". Dessert was for one an orange buttermilk pie. It was noted the crust wasn't delicious but the contents were tasty. Another dessert consumed was a pear huckleberry cobbler, the biscuit topping was not sweet and a little heavy.I actually think the sides and main courses are where Screen Door shines. I'd skip dessert next time and eat more veggies. We'd go back...but we wouldn't wait in line all that long.I like Southern comfort food as well as the next person but there are a number of places to get it. (Podnah's, Delta cafe....my house).
(4)Amy L.
Having spent most of my life in Kentucky, southern food is pure comfort. This place has a great low-key comfortable vibe. The waitstaff is always super friendly and helpful. And the food is a Northwestern-interpretation of southern standards which actually blends the best of both worlds really nicely. I love that they have a rotating vegetable menu, which I normally order the Screen Door plate which allows you to choose three sides including their vegetable specials - and fried catfish is a side, who doesn't love that. Most things I've tried here has been great - the hushpuppies are the best I've had period. Other good things are the catfish, collards, red beans and rice. I don't normally order fried chicken out because that seems like something you make at home - but I had some of someone elses and it was divine. The only disappointing things have been the mac&cheese was underwhelming and the cornbread, while having a great texture and taste, is more of a Yankee-style sweet cornbread It's good but when I want southern food, I want southern cornbread too. If only I didn't live so far away! I can't wait to try brunch here.
(5)Cara W.
The fried chicken is worth the wait. Yum!
(4)Benny F.
Great menu and great staff. This was easily one of the best all around restaurant experiences I had in Portland.
(5)Noah P.
Fried everything, is tasty. Fried onions can be ordered as a side for a buck, superior to many haystack onion rings in the area.
(5)Ashley M.
I'm from the south and was excited to try Screen Door and try the infamous fried chicken. After waiting almost two hours, we were sat. The waitress was friendly, but obviously stressed out because of how busy the place was. She did an okay job of keeping our drinks full for the most part. It took about an hour to get our food. I was pretty disappointed in the chicken and found it on par with the fried chicken you can get anywhere in the south. Nothing spectacular, but not bad. The cornbread and mashed potatoes were also okay, but once again nothing special compared to what I grew up with and what I am capable of making at home. My friends from different parts of the country really liked the food, so perhaps this is a better choice for those who haven't grown up on Southern food. Portions are huge, so I suggest you split with a friend. All and all, food was okay but not worth such a long wait.
(3)Myranda M.
Pleased as pie with this place. Wait was a little long but the coffee while waiting made up for. Had a cajun scramble that was aok and my man had a the pork sandwich (he loved it). Portions were great and there's a lot more I want to try when I head back to PDX.
(4)Brett M.
I only went here once with a friend on a weekday night and even though I've heard about the excessive wait times, we were able to be sat immediately because there was only two of us. We had the Crispy Fried Buttermilk-battered Chicken which comes with w/ tasso ham gravy over mashed potatoes and collards. We also had additional sides of Macaroni & Cheese and Smoked Chicken & Andouille Jambalaya. Everything we had was incredible and I must say this is the best southern food I've had in the Portland area!
(5)Chad R.
The only line in Portland that I'll wait in is for brunch at Screen Door. Boneless fried chicken on a biscuit smothered in gravy with a side of pecan bacon is a nap or a heart attack waiting to happen. And I'll gladly take my chances at both.
(5)Opie C.
The only con is that the venue is too darn small & you have to wait for an hour if you don't get there at least 30 minutes before it opens! The food is spectacular though....
(5)Jennifer J.
Stopped into The Screen Door on our way home to Seattle from San Francisco on New Year's Day, and we loved it! There was a bit of a wait (approximately 25 minutes) but we didn't mind, the buttermilk fried chicken and hot toddies were worth it! Delicious food, we will absolutely be back next time we are in Portland.
(4)Jeannine R.
90 minute wait to be seated (full disclaimer-host had told us it would be about an hour and the crowd out the front door confirmed we'd be cooling our heels for some time) and then another 50 minutes before food was served once we'd placed our orders. In a city of great brunch places, not even a spectacular thumbs on the food ... And the food IS very good ... warrants this investment of time. #halffoodiedaymisspent
(2)Cat N.
Thank you YELP for leading me to a winner! By far the best fried chicken I've had to date! Perfect crisp, not too oily, and love the locally grown sides they got here. I came here during the dinner time, and really wanted to try their chicken and waffles. Sadly, I didn't know they only served it during brunch -_- STILL GOT THE CHICKEN THOUGH! It was just the two of us, and my friend and I shared a fried battered buttermilk chicken entree, a beet salad, and the mac and cheese dish. We only ordered one entree because we were planning to eat more at another joint afterwards. BUT BOY DID WE STILL GET STUFFED. Everything was really tasty, rich, and FILLING. Fried Chicken- the buttermilk batter is AMAZING. Now I've also had the infamous Roscoes Chicken and Waffles before (and that is also real gooood), but the seasoning here just suited my taste better. Very light, crisp, and buttery in all the right places! Beet Salad- I was expecting a full blown comfort menu here, but was really happy they served organic and fresh greens too. The beet salad was great! Real refreshing, and def a good add to balance out your hearty meal :) Mac and Cheese- This was highly raved by other yelpers, but I honestly thought it was just okay.. It was too rich for my taste. Wished I had gone for the jambalaya instead. As for the other tidbits: Atmosphere- it was a really chill and lounge-y vibe. lol it was probably because the lighting was REALLY dim. I felt a lil blind after leaving 'cause my eyes were so adjusted to the dark. Nice "candlelit" dinner if you want to take a date though lol. Service- the folks here were all real nice. great service! Screen Door is one of my top recommendations for those visiting Portland!
(5)Kelly K.
This is one of our favorite restaurants in Portland! The seasonal menu is always very good as well as the stand by's.
(5)A A.
I've been waiting to come here again since last year. This place is fantastic simple as that...every dish was raved about, and it's just done right. The vege biscuits and gravy is insanely good (i know, who cares I want the fried chicken...calm down people...if the vege gravy is this good, I'm sure everything else is as good!). I felt bad i couldn't finish my dish, but who eats 4 biscuits covered in gravy with eggs? no wonder we're fat. the staff is friendly, and you will wait. who cares, one of those few breakfast places that deserves recognition for going above and beyond. can't wait to come again!
(5)Scott R.
Fantastic. Best Southern food in Portland. The chicken & waffles fed 2 of us for 2 meals. Waits can be rough, especially for Portland, but well worth it.
(5)Emi K.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOh my goooooooooodness!!! My friend was visiting me and decided to do a little reunion in town with another old friend. What a wonderful opportunity to one of the most spoken restaurants in town! We went in and we had to wait for about 45min, but definitely worth it! The atmosphere of the restaurant is fun and exciting. The waiter was on top of everything, was at our table quick, taking orders quick and also had the patience for the individuals that did not speak English. Their beers on tap were all amazing! And.... the fried chicken.... crunchy, spicy, juicy, pure deliciousness!! The Screen Door Plate allows you to get 3 different dishes on one plate, and their mac & cheese, jambalaya, cornbread, and cat fish were all superb! I also got a pulled pork sandwich, but it was half filled with calslaw, and made it the whole sandwich lighter and amazing! OK... I am just saying that it might be on of the best places to eat in town! All the food sounds heavy but they are not at all.
(5)Andrea T.
After a decently long wait to seat the two of us, we were greatly anticipating our first bites! We had already determined what we were going to order and wasted no time doing so. My husband had the fried chicken with mac n' cheese instead of the potatoes. I had the brisket with mac n' cheese instead of the potato salad. They give you a lot of food! The mac n' cheese was the best thing on our plates! I would have been happy just eating that! The fried chicken was good but different since it was boneless. The brisket was good but I have had better. My green beans were delicious! We opted to get dessert and had the orange cake. That was delicious as well. Short recap: GET THE MAC N' CHEESE!!!!!
(4)Lucy H.
Why does Portland have so many good places to get biscuits, gravy and fried chicken? This place is no exception, the cathead biscuits and gravy are amazing! I also got a side of eggs and sausage and these were both perfect too. There's always a wait if you go for weekend breakfast/brunch, but it's definitely worth it. Just bring a light snack to munch on while you wait.
(5)Scott U.
There will be a line. Got there half an hour before opening on Sunday and there were 10 people queued up. Huge portions no matter what you order. The food was excellent. I had the Bananas Foster French Toast. It was probably a bit sweeter than I wanted, but what did I expect? Even as good as it was, something to give a bit of surprise to the dish (sweet with spicy maybe? a touch of cayenne?) would've made the rampant sweetness more complex instead of a predictable sugar fest. My breakfast companion had the Fried Oyster Benedict and enjoyed it. I understand that busy places are trying to move diners through to make more space, but our waiter was just on the edge of pushy with checking up on us toward the end of our meal. For that, I couldn't recommend this place as a spot to catch up and have a conversation with someone. It's also a bit noisy. That's a shame, because the best meals are the ones you want to linger over and enjoy company.
(4)Wen-Chi Y.
after living at Portland for 4 years, we finally made it here. We arrive 10 min short of 2p, however, the hostess was nice enough to tell us she will see what she can do since they close at 2:30p. So arrive early... and there will ALWAYS be a line! I had Waffle & fried chicken. It was GOOD!!!! The portion is rather large so I packed half home for later. Good place, good value!
(4)Lora D.
Zee Best!
(5)Chuck M.
Yeah. Hype and wait list overshadows the product, otherwise 4 stars. Walk down the street to Eastburn for equal quality and immediate seating. This was only for brunch. Dinner could be a totally different story. Would go back for dinner. Good ambiance.
(2)Megan G.
Came here on a Sunday morning with family. The dining facility is too small for the high demand of people wanting to visit. They need a bigger venue and expresso. I knew this place was suppose to be really good because of the yelp reviews and the big crowd outside. The wait is terrible and the dining atmosphere makes me feel claustrophobic. The hour wait was not too bad with a cup of coffee and don't let the rude employee in-charge of the wait deter you away. The waiters are really kind and offer exceptional service. The food is high quality and the portions are massive.I recommend sharing otherwise you fall into a food coma. The sugared bacon is from heaven and i loved it.
(4)Jennifer M.
My boyfriend and I love sharing plates so we can try lots of different things. He usually hates fried food, but I talked him into sharing an appetizer of the chicken strips since we heard so much of the fried chicken. Oh man...we both could have eaten the whole thing on our own. That was some of the best fried chicken I'd ever had, and the dipping sauce was great! The shrimp and grits were okay - the shrimp were delicious, the grits were bland and kind of flavorless. Cornbread was definitely worth getting. And since it was just the two of us, we didn't have to wait very long to get in. I'd definitely go back next time I'm in Portland.
(4)Madie N.
Let me just tell you, it was worth the wait. My mom and I came into Screen Door about 20 minutes after they opened and it was already a packed house! We were informed we would be waiting about 40 minutes. Over the course of that 40 minutes, we were smashed against the wall in our little wooden chairs as families, couples, and singles piled through the small hallway to get their names on the waiting list or wait in line at the bar. Then our names were called! We were escorted to a small little table in the middle of many other tables. It was a cute, country place. Looking at the menu, I already knew what I wanted thanks to the online menu pdf ;-). The Screen Door plate with organic baby carrots, fried catfish, and mac n cheese. Mom decided to go with the famous fried chicken with collard greens and mashed potatoes. We both ordered sweet tea to drink (which was VERY sweet and we needed lemon to kill a little bit of the sugary goodness). We waited an additional 35 minutes for our food to arrive. The did put a disclaimer on the menu about the wait for food, though. Something about how good food takes time, so y'all need to be patient. And, oh, I was patient. Finally the food!!! I snapped a quick pic for yelp and then I dove in. Mac n cheese was heavenly. So cheesy and savory and absolutely delicious. Those baby carrots were also delicious. I couldn't get enough of the mint-butter goodness that soaked all the veggies. Catfish was real good. A little too crunchy from the frier, but delicious. I dipped those babies in the remoulade on the side and put some of Lousiana's Pure Crystal hot sauce on top. Yummmmmyyyyy. Mom's collard greens were so frickin good. They soak the greens in vinegar and ham hock and it makes a really nice flavor. The mashed potatoes on her plate were also amazing. She said her chicken was so good. It was so flavorful, savory, tender, crispy, and it melted in her mouth. She said it was probably the best chicken she's ever had. At the end of the meal, we were so so so stuffed. I am so glad we stopped to check this place out on our trip to Portland.
(5)Nancy V.
My boyfriend and I went there for dinner one night. It was super busy, we sat my the kitchen. It was my first time eating there. It seemed like everyone was enjoying their food, so that's a good sign. Our waiter was very nice and on point. I got the fried chicken dinner, the portions were way huge. The food was so delicious. I couldn't finished so I asked for a box to take home. As I was packing it into the box, I accidentally tipped it over and the food fell onto the floor. Our waiter came over and cleaned it up. I thought "well there goes my leftovers" but he totally surprised us by getting me a whole new plate of fried chicken to take home!! This place is awesome! I would go back.
(5)Calvin L.
If you go on a weekend, you better plan on getting there 30 minutes before they open. Everyone on Yelp is raving about the Chicken & Waffles, so I tried a bite from one of my friends. Awesome! No way you're going to finish it, but AWESOME. NY Strip Steak Benedict ($13.75) Bomb diggity. The steak was very tender and the Benedict part made the dish what it is. I got the steak medium rare, which tasted amazing over the Benedict. I would definitely get this again! Crispy Fried Chicken Strip ($6.50) Pretty much Chicken & Waffles without the waffles and less chicken. Great alternative if you can't scarf down the entire Chicken & Waffles alone. The is long, but it is worth it! One of the best brunch places I've EVER had!
(5)Caroline Q.
From the positive reviews on Yelp as well as one of the A&E's pick in this year's Diner Guide of the top breakfast restaurants in town, I finally tried Screen Door and it far exceeded my expectations. As many have mentioned, arrive EARLY. My father and I arrived at 8:40AM, 20 minutes before they opened and we were about #15 in line, of about 45 (and it was pouring down rain). As we were eagerly awaiting the front doors to open, I realized that this place must be good as the line continued to grow and the rain continued to fall. Once we were inside, we were promptly seated and served coffee and water. With so many wonderfully tasting options, my dad and I did more of a family style when we ordered, so we could try more than one item. I ordered the fried chicken and sweet potato waffle and he ordered the 'big breakfast' with 2 over easy eggs, potatoes, apple pork sausage, and substituted the toast for a biscuit. We also ordered a side of the praline bacon. First, I tend to lean towards sausage over bacon, and wow, the praline bacon was some of the best bacon I have ever eaten in my life. The combination of sweet and salty is perfect. The bacon is also a bit thicker cut than normal and moist. Secondly, you must try the fried chicken, amazing! Very crisp and flavorful on the outside and moist and chewy in the inside. Add a piece of the sweet potato waffle and fresh maple syrup and you realize why you waited in the rain for breakfast. Thirdly, for your typical, eggs, some sort of meat, potatoes, and toast, the 'big breakfast' definitely will exceed your expectations. The apple sausage links (2) were quite flavorful, the red potatoes were seasoned perfectly, and the eggs were just like my dad likes them. I would say the only downfall of our entire meal was the biscuit. It was a tad fluffy, cake-like for my liking. It was like a biscuit angel food cake in the way it was prepared as far as looks and how it tasted (yet obviously not sweet like angel food cake). I like my biscuit more flaky and creamy. Our service was fabulous, as our water and coffee glasses were never empty. The coffee beans are from Stumptown and did not disappoint. If you wake up on a Saturday or Sunday morning wanting a delicious breakfast that you will continue to talk about the entire day and keep you full for a while (as the portions are quite large, you will most likely have left overs) try Screen Door, it won't disappoint.
(5)Markus H.
The tales of this fantastic shop are all true. Deal with the 30 minute wait because your entire body will thank you later. Our table of three split the fried chicken cathead biscuit with gravy, which came with incredibly flavorful cheese grits, chocolate chip pancakes with potatoes and bacon, and the cajun scramble with bacon, potatoes. Every dish was plate clearing good but the portions were so large none of us could finish everything. The flavors were bold and delicious. Everything was prepared with fresh ingredients and pride. Truly a wonderful brunch experience. I can't wait to come back for dinner.
(5)Laura H.
Really, really delicious REAL southern food done right. Nice lazy Sunday, southern "feel"...I was born in and lived in the South for most of my life, and I can vouch for the authenticity and soul that comes through....the fried chicken is some of the best that I have ever had. I also strongly recommend trying the shrimp and grits....Right on!
(5)Kristina K.
My porch thermometer read 103 yesterday. "I reckon, I'm not cooking dinner tonight. Let's go out," I said to my honey. In celebration of the Southern weather Portland has been receiving, I suggested we dig into some Southern Fried Chicken. I searched Yelp for "Fried Chicken" and Screen Door came in at Number 1 in the results. We arrived at 6:00PM on a Tuesday night and and the place was buzzing. After a couple of minutes, we could feel Screen Door's air conditioning unit struggling to keep up. Thankfully, the first round of diners finished around 6:15, and we were promptly seated by Christopher, the host. Christopher may come of as snobby, but he runs a tight ship. Understandably, he would have to with the hungry diners flowing in and the line growing exponentially out the door. Our server helped us pick out the Corn Griddle Cakes and was friendly and swift, not frantic. Together with her cohorts, they made the place run like a smooth machine. After we received our healthy unhealthy portion of Fried Chicken, we realized that we regretted not ordering Macaroni and Cheese. We were having neighboring plate envy. I am not the only one. I know you get that feeling. The server said it would not take long and soon enough, a bowl of our own arrived to the table. Our nearly complete Southern dinner, minus dessert, consisted of Fried Green Tomatoes, Corn Griddle Cakes, Fried Chicken, Pulled Pork Sandwich and Macaroni and Cheese. Screen Door has the best Fried Green Tomatoes I've had in my life! The order came with four slices of very crispy, Fried Green Tomatoes topped with a shrimp remoulade. The recommended Corn Griddle Cakes were sweet, fluffy and dotted with fresh corn kernels. The infamous Fried Chicken arrived as pieces of boneless chicken breast and thigh, both juicy and flavorful. The chicken was encased in a thick, crispy and peppery breading. The two pieces rested against a smooth pile of mashed potatoes and were accompanied by ham gravy and collard greens. The Fried Chicken was kept dry and crispy throughout the meal. I like Country Cat's Fried Chicken, but Country Cat's gradually lost it's crunch and became soggy from sitting on top of the collard greens. I appreciate how Screen Door placed their collard greens in a bowl, separate from the chicken. The Pulled Pork Sandwich was piled high with coleslaw and tangy pork bits and sided with well seasoned french fries. We're glad we added the Macaroni and Cheese to our table. The al dente noodles were enveloped by creamy, savory cheese sauce. It was really, really good. As each dish arrived, the room felt like it was getting warmer and warmer. The A/C was not getting a break that night. The temperature, the wait out the door and the loud restaurant chatter were all worth it. It's just part of the Southern charm, when it's all about the Fried Chicken.
(5)H O.
+: Wholesome atmosphere that is just as comforting as the food. -: Ridiculous wait. !: Although the fried chicken isn't as good as Country Cat's, get the fried chicken and waffles just to make a spectacle and order a side of praline bacon to complete the
(4)Paige W.
First of all: Portland Yelpers are the shit. I was going to be in town for business and had only a few hours to explore, so I asked for brunch recommendations -- and I was happily assisted by several helpful, friendly Oregonians. And Screen Door was at the top of nearly everyone's list. Southern food...in the Pacific Northwest? Sure. That makes sense. So a friend and I trekked out to this quirky-hippie-indie-I-am-so-not-cool-enough-to-Âbreathe-this-air lil' neighborhood of Portland and put our names on the long, long list of people waiting for a table. A quick glance around revealed a simple interior with pretty bare walls, exposed brick, a clattering open kitchen and tightly clustered tables -- populated by beautiful Pacific Northwesterners absolutely stuffing their faces. "I'll join you soon, Screen Door patrons, and I will show you all how to eat," I proudly said to myself. "I am a Chicagoan, and we are all fat kids." Then we waited approximately seven hours. But this is a place worth hunkering down to wait for; just ask any of the other 6,000 people there with us. Really, just one iced Dragonfly Chai (BY THE WAY, I recycled the cup, Portland) and one unassailably cool vintage shop later -- we were seated in a booth on the far end of the dining room. And there, at the top of the specials list: Breakfast. Corn. Dog. Sweet mother of god. It screamed at me to be ordered, and I cannot resist the siren call of a breakfast novelty. Plus. It was $2.50. That's practically county fair pricing. So. The breakfast corn dog, then, plus a bloody mary and the farmer's scramble. Served with grits and a buttermilk biscuit. Because that's not obscene or anything. The BCD, as I will now call it, was heaven on a stick. (As I knew it would be.) A homemade pork and apple sausage, lovingly doused in cornmeal and deep fried. Served with a side of Grade AAAAAA maple syrup, hot damn. My second course (why do I do this to myself?) actually made me glad I'd had the BCD, because it really wasn't that great. The eggs were strange, though the flavors were nice. There were some great local vegetables sauteed and thrown in, but...nothing too memorable, obviously. I think I blame the goat cheese folded into them for the odd texture. The biscuit was nothing to write home about, though there was a dish of fabulous jam on the table that made it at least postcard-worthy. The grits were a DELIGHT, though. Enough butter to stop the heart momentarily, and a great consistency. I could have bathed in them, though I wouldn't have gotten very clean. Finally, the bloody mary. Can I get an amen? It is so easy for restaurants to screw these up. But Screen Door really came through with a flavorful, spicy drink (the server said it was typically a 4, and I kicked it up to a 6) that doesn't have that bite-back vodka taste. Garnished with pickled okra and rimmed with a seasoned salt, it topped off the entire meal with a nice kick in the mouth. Heartily recommended to any Portland resident or visitor, though if you're staying downtown and don't know the area...the Burnside bus dropped me off in the ass middle of nowhere, and if Google Maps and some very friendly strangers hadn't guided me back to civilization, I might have been hit by a VW bus and left to die in the pleasant Pacific breeze. So there's that.
(4)Julia C.
It seems senseless to review a place with practically 200 positive impressions. None the less, go here, drink a bloody mary and split the incredible chicken and waffles with someone you enjoy immensely. The sweet waffle, the crisp-crackle skin surrounding the perfect piece of chicken, and maybe a side of grits. This food touches the soul. This food is love.
(4)Chris V.
Had dinner here last night for the first time so I had to try the fried chicken. The serving size was big but not over the top. The fried chicken was cooked perfectly and the batter was crisp and peppery. The greens and mashed potatoes were also delicious. My wife tried the screen door plate which is a selection of three side dishes. She had the vegetable hash, English pot pie, and beet salad. She said all were good but the salad was her favorite. The specials sounded really good, too as well as the rest of the regular menu so we will be back for sure.
(4)Kimby T.
loved it. fun, cute, fernet, outdoor patio seating, would love to go back!
(5)Cindy L.
Southern comfort food for brunch? Yes please!!! After reading several fellow yelpers' reviews about this place, I absolutely had to check it out when visiting Portland. Luckily, I was able to go on my last day visiting the city and I'm so happy that I was able to go I went on a Tuesday so there was barely a wait....less than 3 minutes. This was music to my ears since I've heard that Screen Door's patrons have waited over an hour and a half for brunch. We ordered one of their well known specials, fried chicken and sweet potato waffles, as well as bananas foster french toast. The latter was essentially dessert for breakfast - it consisted of griddled brioche soaked in rich vanilla custard with cinnamon, bananas, and whipped cream. Needless to say, we had filled our "dessert" quota for the day after that dish. As for the fried chicken and sweet potato waffles...oh boy, excuse me while I wipe the drool off my face as I write up this review. It was one of the best chicken and waffles that I've had in awhile. The chicken was incredibly juicy with a beautiful, crispy, and flavorful coating of skin and the sweet potato waffle was a yummy medium of sweetness to balance the savory chicken. I highly recommend this dish if you're a fan of chicken and waffles because it will definitely hit the spot! Overall, this is definitely worth trying! Even if you're not a huge chicken and waffles fan, you're guaranteed to find an item on the menu that will suit your tastes. The staff are very nice with helpful recommendations depending on your tastes. Enjoy!
(5)Don B.
In 2011 there was a tragic butter shortage in Norway. People were freaking out. Seriously. I think I know where all that butter went. Well, okay, I have a hunch. You see, I think it must be all stashed away in the Screen Door walk-in. Why do I think this? Well, what else could make the food so down-home good here. Want to know how good it is? Read my prior reviews. I keep coming back to try new things and really, to see if there's anything on the menu that could prove my adoration for this restaurant to be blatantly off-base. And every time I come... every time, it's fantastic. The breakfast - delicious. The dinner? Surprisingly good. The ability of the staff to keep such a well-oiled machine in motion -- to fit so many people in to such a standard sized restaurant, to keep the turns moving fast, and to do it with a smile (in the face of hangry, unreasonable and sometimes abusive clientele). I mean, you really can't go wrong with any meal at Screen Door as long as you follow the simple rules: 1. Plan to wait... a while. If you have a large group - call in advance and have them put your name on the list. 2. Don't come hungry. See #1. You're foolish to show up starving to what you know will be on average an hour wait. 3. Wear stretchy pants. Don't say I didn't warn you...
(5)Teresa T.
For a celebration, 2 other friends and I went to try out the Screen Door. I'm glad I did and am waiting for the next cause for another trip! Unfortunately the restaurant doesn't take reservations but fortunately we arrived 30 minutes before when we had intended and were seated in just under 20...on a busy Friday night. The restaurant was already very full and the big open dining area does make it pretty loud. So I wouldn't say this is a very romantic place but hey you're here to eat good Southern Food but let sparks fly! We started with fried oysters and the shrimp and grits. I'm not a fan of shellfish but my table mates seemed to really enjoy the oysters so they were a hit. The shrimp and grits were alright in my book. I would have wanted a bit more flavor from the shrimp since grits are such a bland food. I ordered the Screen Door Plate with mac and cheese, the seasonal salad, and the fried pork chop. All of which were very delicious. The mac and cheese was great and was the perfect portion for my cheesy-carbs craving. The pork was well seasoned and fried to golden yumminess. My salad was a welcome fresh addition although the dressing was a bit under-seasoned. The accompanying cornbread was a huge chunk but nothing extraordinary to write home about. One table mate got the fried chicken and of course I stole a piece to try. It was so delicious..I still think about that chicken. It was flavorful (if not a little salty) and crispy perfection. My other table mate got the Screen Door Plate also and we maximized dishes by getting the Jamabalaya, red beans and rice, and collard greens. All were solid Southern dishes done well. If you're looking for a major remix of classics this isn't it. It's just good, honest Southern food. Overall this is a great place to meet friends and eat good food.
(4)Matthew T.
Seriously amazing food. Weekend brunch is also awesome, but be prepared to wait.
(5)Eric M.
Is there such thing as to much food, I don't think so! Got the chicken and waffles and boy was it good. 3 huge pieces of chicken on sweet potato waffles boom. My gf got veggie omelette and it was a perfect omelette with not to much egg, more about the filly. The best part about the meal was a homeless man got my leftovers. #screendoorgivesback
(5)Katie C.
My husband and I decided to check it out for Sunday brunch. Taking other brunchies' advice we arrived 20 minutes before they opened and yessir, there was a line. They opened on time and we were seated right away. Despite how busy it was our server was very attentive and friendly, never failing to top-off my coffee. I ordered the farm grits which were excellent in their cheesy goodness; my husband enjoyed their traditional benedict, and we shared the praline bacon. So damn good! Bottom line: totally worth the wait out in the cold. Do it!
(5)Brett B.
I had the largest breakfast of my life here and enjoyed every bite (I was also set for the day, as my stomach couldn't take another bite). The fried chicken and biscuits are delicious.
(4)Camille B.
awesome awesome blah blah blah awesome....every time.
(5)Lauren W.
Amazing food and service! The specials are great!
(4)Rowena T.
If you come for brunch I guarantee you will full for the rest of the day..AND this place really is worth the wait. My bf and I shared the chick and waffles and the fried oyster eggs benyy with some cornbread on tha side. Their portions are huuuuge so be ready to eat and please don't waste it! Love the 3 stack boneless fried chicken-- heavennnnnn. My cousin ordered the bacon praline waffles and, yes I got a taste of that too. If you come to Portland you gotta try it. Definitely worth the wait and fun to come with a group. Ohh.. and to the gentleman taking down reservations on 1/26/13, you were great. You were patient with everyone and thank you for being so nice and calling us when it was almost time for us to be seated. I really appreciate it!
(5)Chrissy N.
The wait is long, but the food is worth it. We got the fried chicken and waffles (of course) and one of the specials which had a giant split biscuit, topped with fried chicken and smothered in sausage gravy. We arrive right during the lunch time rush around noon and waited for approximately an hour and a half. I'm great we waited since the food was worth it. Mighty, mighty tasty! The service was not spectacular, but I understand since they were super, super busy. Our host, a tall gentleman with dark features, was very friendly and all-business. I like the atmosphere. This was my first visit when the bf and I visited Portland..and from now on, we'll be sure to make it a place to visit when we're in Oregon.
(5)Emee P.
One of my absolute favorite restaurants in Portland. My favorite thing to get is the shrimp and grits; favorite drink is the blackberry-lemon margarita thing, can't remember the name but it has "Texas" in it, I think. Just go.
(5)Alison M.
Our friends suggested Screen Door for dinner and Matt & I have never been. I love trying new places, I looked over Yelp reviews and we arrived around twenty minutes early on a Saturday to wait in line for dinner. That was not enough for indoor seating so we ate out on the patio that had heaters and is semi enclosed after waiting another 20 minutes to be seated (obviously it is winter in January, it was tolerable but not comfortable), I guess they stagger the seating of the patio tables right at opening. I was driving that night so I had decaf coffee, Matt got a couple beers on tap. The table shared pimento cheese (great) and hush puppies (fine). I had the fried chicken which was moist & peppery. I was prepared for a huge portion by eating little that day but could only finish half, but if you have read any of my other reviews you may notice a common theme: I am not a big eater. Matt had the brisket, I had a slice and it was tasty and fatty. My dining companions enjoyed their meals. We skipped dessert. The prices here are reasonable and the service was as expected. After moving from downtown Portland to the suburbs my tolerance for long lines and crowded restaurants has gone down quite a bit, I guess I am a reservations kind of girl. I enjoyed my dinner here but it is unlikely I will ever brave the wait for brunch.
(4)Shannon K.
Sorry Portlanders, but I am starting to think that many of you don't truly know what a good brunch place is. Uh-oh, I said it. Will some secret brunch police be coming to my door the moment I hit "post?" Have I somehow ostracized myself in my new city and now no one will talk to me because my name and picture will be posted up on some sort of underground hit list for people who don't like the famous brunch spots? Well, if this is how I go out, then I'm fine with that. At least I will have said my piece. I knew there would be a wait. Fine, no issue with that because I knew what I was getting into when I showed up here. So I'm not writing to complain about the wait or the decor or the service because if the food is good, none of that matters to me. When I go out to brunch, I eat the simple foods. The staples. The foods that any brunch spot should be able to execute better than I can at home. I had scrambled eggs with a side of grits and veggie sausage. It was all just okay. The eggs were fine, nothing special (and yes, you can make scrambled eggs amazing if you know what to do), the grits was just plain (though to be fair, there isn't much you can do with plain old grits) and the sausage was super dry. I know it was fake meat, but I've been to places where they cook up the sausage in such a way that it comes out moist. This was not. And the price for all of those foods together was too high. I could have done this myself at home and that is not why I go out to brunch. My husband had another brunch staple: pancakes. I don't understand why we can't find decent pancakes in Portland yet, but the consistency was way off. It was like eating flat pieces of dense cake, and that isn't what a pancake should be. It should be light and fluffy. There are suppose to be bubbles in the batter when you make pancakes so that they turn out fluffy, and maybe they beat the hell out of their batter until the bubbles are gone. I don't know what it is but I feel like photocopying the pancakes section of my Alton Brown book and distributing it around Portland restaurants so that everyone knows the basics. And our coffee was...wait, they don't have anything but regular coffee. No espresso of any kind, just coffee. This is the second place breakfast place in Portland I have been to that does that. To be fair to the first place, they are tiny and cannot fit a machine in there. But this huge and incredibly popular establishment does not do any sort of espresso drinks? I don't get it. So, we went. We ate. We weren't happy. We couldn't drink our regular drinks and we paid too much. At least I can say that I've been here.
(2)Paula W.
What do you mean, there's a 1-1/2 hour wait to be seated? It's only 9:45 on a Sunday! Yep, the wait is long here when you come with a large group. And yet we all hung out in the sub-freezing (yet dry) temperatures just for a chance at those chicken and waffles. It was actually more like an hour forty-five, but we probably would have hung out even longer. Our server Klyde was so fantastic we gave him a standing ovation at the end. This group goes out monthly in search of great brunch food and this was by far the best service we've had in almost two years of monthly gatherings. One of the perks of going with a group is that you get a chance to try several things (yep we're good like that). And fortunately we all ordered different things so it was like a smorgasbord of flavor. After watching several nearby diners order the chicken and waffles two of our group placed one order to share....and still took a box home. Here's my take on the items I taste tested: Chicken and sweet potato waffles - the chicken was juicy on the inside and the crispy coating was absolutely perfect. And the waffles? Get outta here! Corned beef hash - now this is what I call hash. Big chunks of corned beef mixed with a small amount of potatoes. Even the wheat toast was amazing. Praline bacon - my first thought was 3 strips of bacon for $4.50? But oh my, were those bacon strips worth every penny. And to be honest, I couldn't eat more than half a slice. Texas migas - if a chile relleno, nacho, and an omelet had a baby, this is what it would taste like. Enough said. It's a good thing I don't live closer, I think this could become habit forming.
(5)Courtney C.
Mmmm, best place ever. When I first discovered this place, I went 3 times that first week. Great comfort food, big portions. The staff are always nice, there is often a wait but if you go right when they open during the week or closer to closing time on the weekends, it's not so bad.
(5)Mackenzie J.
I dream of cooking for these people! I was excited to come here because I am from the south but can not get any southern food in Utah unless it is from my own kitchen. My expectations weren't that high, mainly because it seemed like such a laid back atmosphere and very inexpensive compared to most other sit down restaurants in Portland. We arrived around 9:30 a.m. and it was super busy. We put our name on the list and were told about twenty minutes. I was not annoyed at all, this is how it is in the big city for a good meal. We were thankfully seated outside where it was more laid back and quiet. Service was timely. They had breakfast cocktails, such as mimosas which I ordered. I got the chicken and waffles but was excited about trying my husbands biscuits and gravy. I was so stunned by the Chicken and waffles, especially for the price. It came with a giant waffle and not one but three large fried chicken breast topped with a little powdered sugar and a side of maple syrup. There is no way I could have finished even half of it, but it was delicious and beautiful. It was definitely the best value on our week long Portland trip. I will definitely be back, over and over again. When there is something like this up in Portland, why even dream of going back down south?
(5)Megan F.
If your ok with standing in line, then your in for a treat! Screen Door is a wonderful place to get southern food. Try their fried chicken, Eggs Benedict or for that matter anything on the menu and your sure to walk away a happy eater.
(4)Aaron G.
Always have had great service and great food. Catshead special is my favorite. Fried Chicken, biscuit, and gravy. I have not tried for dinner yet...but want to! BTW my wife says the Bloody Mary's are awesome!
(5)Jess P.
Just adding to the choir of those in love- Screen Door is fantastic. Though, the wait dissuades me from going more often.
(4)Ryan P.
FANTASTIC southern food. I went to college in the South and lived there for about 4 years and I do not remember coming across anything better than this. The wait is long but its worth it, put your name in, grab a local beer or custom cocktail and then enjoy some fine southern fair. I recommend the fried chick or the shrimp and grits. The chicken is boneless and incredibly tender and juicy. The shrimp are very fresh and i believe an order comes with four very large shrimp. as for side you cant go wrong with the greens or mac and cheese.
(5)J M.
It's been a year since our last visit to Portland, and the Screen Door once again did not disappoint. We started with a draft IPA, Vodka Lemonade, the chicken tenders with honey mustard dressing and another side of pure honey, and a summer squash and vegetable soup. Yum! what a way to start a meal. As for the main course we had the beef brisket with a side of potatoes, and the daily pork chop special with seasonal veggies. They were both prepared to perfection. The pork chop was delivered a few minutes after the brisket (the chef had dropped the first one on the floor when plating it). The server brought a complimentary bowl of gumbo to make up for the wait. We finished off the dinner with a berry shortcake. The berries were fresh and the shortcake was light and not too sweet. Our server was friendly, attentive, and even took our drinks off the bill for the inconvenience of the late entree (that was unexpected!!!). Screen Door...We LOVE your atmosphere, food, and service...you've got it goin on!
(5)C W.
Best friend chicken ever. I'm visiting from Harlem and the chicken and waffles here blew me away. We also got biscuits and bacon which were good too.
(5)David O.
RiverShore Restaurant, Oregon City is one fantastic "hidden" secret. One of the few restaurants on the Willamette River that gives beautiful views as well as fantastic food. We had dinner Friday night, July 10th and Heidi our waitress was fantastic - as all of the waitresses we've had at RiverShore have been.... We had their RiverShore Salad with bay shrimp and their Blackened Salmon burger....foood is always excellent! Dave & Diane
(5)Gareth W.
Wow... Taste explosion doesn't begin to describe this restaurant. There was a little bit of a wait, but it was totally worth it. The hush puppies and praline bacon are both incredible, and the pulled pork sandwich was perfect. Definitely have to come back here.
(5)Anna W.
Although the food at the screen door was great, the wait and price aren't worth it. The food is typical southern cooking, nothing fancy. It reminded me of any fish joint I would go to back in Oklahoma. The cooking is home style and you do get a lot. It is very expensive for what would be an $8 meal in the south.. the line to get in wraps around the side of the building every day, so if you are going get there a half hour befpre they open.
(3)K U.
This place isn't the cheapest place to eat, but it's a reasonable price. Their food is amazing. I LOVED their fried oysters. Their breakfast is also pretty good.
(5)Casey K.
Screen Door is truly a Portland institution. I recommend the buttermilk fried chicken and basically all of the sides! The customer service is great and they work with amazing speed (the wait isn't that bad).
(4)Stacy S.
First of all, the atmosphere of this place is really great. I like the urban rustic vibe, and it fits well with the type of food they serve. The service was good, and the staff was very friendly. We started with the fried okra, which was okay, but I wouldn't order it again simply because it wasn't mindblowing. My friend got the shrimp and grits, which she thought was fine, but she's had better elsewhere. I got the fried chicken, which was pretty good, there was a lot of it, I didn't even eat half. The mashed potatoes and gravy were surprisingly amazing, I ate more of those than I did the chicken, and the collard greens were pretty good. I think that we weren't hungry enough to get the appetizer, and maybe that's why we had trouble finishing our meals. Overall, I really like this place, and would definitely recommend it to anyone wanting a delicious meal in a cool spot.
(4)Linda M.
This is the place to go for some good southern comfort food. However, be prepared to wait for a table. My hubby and I arrived here at 6PM on Saturday (the place opens at 5:30) and the restaurant was already jam packed and there was a crowd of people waiting outside. We were seated after waiting for 40 minutes and let me tell you if was completely worth it. We tried a number of items from the menu but the one dish that stood out was the lowcountry shrimp and grits. The mac and cheese was tasty as well. Not only was our food extremely good, but waiter was superb (I wish I could remember his name). This place was loud and bustling (in a good way) and we couldn't have asked for a better dining experience.
(5)Kyle V.
Amazing! get the screen door plate with the 3 sides. my pork chop was perfect. the macaroni and cheese was super tasty, if not incredibly filling. i was slightly disappointed with the taste of the cornbread, but everything else was perfect. the wait can be long at busy times, but it's well worth it.
(5)lisa D.
Went here during the heat wave when it was 105 degrees outside. Their AC was stuggling to keep up but it wasn't unpleasant. Being from out of town we went here with some friends who now live in Portland. First off the drinks; bf had the porch swing lemonade and I had the scarlete ohara, both perfect for a hot day. Appetizers: fried ocra and hushpuppies, both excellent. Dinner: based on popularity on yelp I went for the fried chicken and was not disappointed. It's boneless, which I was skeptical about but it was AMAZING. The bf had the shrimp and grits which he liked but wasn't blown away by. Bottom line, definitely somewhere you should give a shot. Now I'll be craving this yummy fried chicken from across the country until our next visit to Portland.
(5)rich j.
Ate here once (so far) and will definitely be back. Extensive menu filled with brunch items that sounded delicious (and seemed to satisfy the large party I was with). Personally I had the Bananas Foster French Toast which was great. Others in my group tried the chicken and waffles and some variations on Eggs Benedict. All thumbs up. The only "issue" was something of a wait, but then I was among a party of 10 on a Sunday, so not dinging them too hard on that. I think smaller parties were getting in and out in reasonably quick time.
(4)Toby M.
These people are dirt bags. I call asking for a reservation. They tell me seating starts at 5.30 no reservation. Be here with your party or you won't be seated. We show up on time, with our COMPLETE party. Turns out they open the doors before 5.30 (thanks for not telling us that), and if you're ahead in line with an incomplete party they'll hold a table indefinitely until they show up... forcing everyone else to wait in their pathetic waiting area. So we were told it was an hour.5 wait with several huge tables empty and unsat when we finally gave up hungry and disappointed. I don't care how good the food is if the service is this bad. If you want southern cooking, Id suggest the Irving Street Kitchen in the Pearl.
(1)Vincci L.
Yes, just as amazing as I remembered. Arriving here at 20 minutes before closing time, it was very nice of them to let us in and enjoy a late dinner. We ordered many dishes to share. Starting off with an apple and frisée salad, it was a fresh complement to all the other dishes. The buttermilk fried chicken is really the best I've ever had- tender juicy meat, and the oh so crispy skin!! I would come back just for that. The shrimp and grits were also good, it was very rich due to the creaminess of the dish. Had a bite of the pulled pork sandwich which was ok. As well, the mac & cheese-this was so creamy, cheesy, delicious! To end off, we shared an cinnamon apple crumble, served with a scoop of cinnamon ice cream. Now this was the perfect ending to a great meal. They never once rushed us out, and still provided excellent service throughout our meal. Now that's a five star experience!!
(5)Josh W.
Finally!! I made it to Screen Door!! Well worth the wait at that... I had called here around the 5th of January and asked if they do reservations. They will do reservations, but it's only from 5:30pm-6:00pm and it has to be a minimum of 6 people. You cant be sat until all 6 people arrive. I really cant blame them, with how busy they were. The food here is fantastic, let me get that out right now. We started off with some fried Okra. I've had it before, but didn't think much about it. They served a heaping pile of to us with a dipping sauce that was tangy and complimented the Okra perfectly. Instant Okra fan. Looking over the menu, I decided on the BBQ Brisket, served with Onion straws, potato salad and green beans. The Potato Salad was absolutely Delicious. It tasted like it had a slight hint of horse radish to it, taters were cooked to perfection and on my next visit I'm going to order an extra side of it because I can! Green Beans were amazing. A small side dish was served that had green beans swimming in juices. It had an amazing bacon flavor to it. I really was in heaven. BBQ Brisket was clearly the highlight of the dish. Topped with onion straws and an outstanding BBQ sauce, the combination of the two were a home run. The meat was tender enough to use your fork to cut it. I inhaled my food, while most of everyone was having standard conversation, I had my face in my plate. The portion sizes are very fair, and the price matches perfectly. Although the quality does exceed the price I must add. I've paid the same price for similar dinners many, many times and never had a tasty southern treat like I did here. Each aspect of the evening was amazing. Service was great, our waitress was on top of keeping us happy, we were able to laugh, talk and be loud without bothering other tables around us, it was exactly what we were hoping it would be. I cant wait to try out the breakfasts! Thanks to Screen Door for a great time. Looking forward to coming back soon!!
(5)Heather B.
Oh my gosh! Ate here tonight and had the fried chicken for the first time. I almost died it was so good! We left with 6 left over boxes...guess we overestimated our eating power! Side note...we arrived 15 minutes before they opened and by the time the doors opened the line was HUGE! Get there early!
(5)Heather H.
to recap --- 1. get here early, or don't and dress to stand outside for an hour 2. take advantage of the free coffee while waiting - it's stumptown and delicious 3. get excited about the huge southern portions that await you once you are seated 4. plan on leaving with a take-home box unless you're superhuman amazing brunch - great (spicy) bloody marys - nice waitstaff (which is surprising with how busy and crammed it gets int here). go tomorrow. go often.
(5)Shelly H.
We went to this place for brunch on a recent Portland visit after 3 friends/family members suggested it. We waited approximately one hour for a table for 4. We went with another couple and each ordered something different from the Brunch menu so we could sample a little bit of everything. Here are the dishes: Eggs Sardou - Creamed Spinach, artichokes, hollandaise, eggs over an english muffin served with roasted potatoes. This dish was just perfect. It was rich, creamy, wonderful. The portion was just right for the amount of creamy this dish packs. *5 stars* Praline Bacon Waffle - Their fabulous praline bacon, chopped up and put in a waffle served with whipped cream and syrup and a single strip of praline bacon on top (if you don't order this waffle - you MUST at least order a side of this bacon). This dish solved my age old breakfast problem of choosing between sweet or savory. *5 Stars* Chicken & Waffles - I have a hard time ordering this dish because I believe we have the absolute best at DW Bistro in Las Vegas but someone at our table ordered it. It was OK - Fried chicken was good but I wanted a little more flavor from the sweet potato waffle - something was just missing. *3 1/2 Stars* Brioche Vanilla Bean French Toast - Good french toast - but it's just french toast - not too much to rave about here. *3 1/2 Stars* Stone-Ground Cheddar Grits - I love my grits salty, creamy, and buttery. The cheddar was a perfect addition and did not overpower the girts. I added just a touch of salt and they were perfection. *5 Stars* Overall, it is worth the wait and I look forward to returning on another visit.
(4)Erin K.
It has been far too long since we visited! From the 1 hour wait at 6pm on Saturday night, I can see that it has maintained its popularity. We were lucky enough to have reservations for a party of 6 (they only take 2 sets of reservations a night, for parties of 6 or more) so we skipped the wait. They really have the place packed tight and I believe that they added another row of tables since the last time I visited, which is fine, because they can seat quite a few people at once. It is quite loud though, so if you are a bit hard of hearing (like me), it's a little difficult at times. I ordered my "usual" the Screen Door plate, this time with collared greens, mac and cheese, and fried cat fish and it was amazing! So much food! I hardly made a dent in it and enjoyed a large second dinner the next night too. I love that the cat fish isn't greasy, the mac and cheese portion is HUGE, and that the collards are fully of hammy goodness. Their cocktails, that center around whiskey, are awesome. The Rhett Butler is my favorite, it is strong and spicy and 2 go down way too easy.
(5)Mickey T.
This place rocks! The food is excellent as is the service. We have been there several times during the lunch hour and there is usually a group of 8 or more of us. I call to give them heads up and they always have the tables set with utensils, water, and menus. I highly recommend this place. The staff is exceptional and the owners are very friendly as well.
(5)Darwin T.
--------------------------------------------------Â--------------------------------------------------Â------- TL/DR: Get here at 9 am, grab a free coffee, and enjoy. The service and quality of the food is better than the taste of the food. -------------
(4)Susan L.
I cannot believe there are so many folks visit this restaurant. This is the worst breakfast I ever had... The Bananas Forster French Toast is just plain sweet. nothing more! Yogurt + fresh cut fruit are normal, nothing special there... The asparagus scramble isn't too attractive either... Maybe we ordered the wrong food.... I do see a lot of fried chicken waffle got ordered, but the portion is freakishly big, everyone ended take away...
(1)Lisa H.
If a Southerner or you've spent time in the South and you go here expecting a least a small taste of the South, you will be disappointed. This is definitely Portland food with a Southern theme. I really wanted it to be real Southern comfort food because that is one of the things I miss. The food tasted good and the service was friendly and attentive, but I wouldn't really put this place high on my list. I've eaten here twice and was greatly disappointed in the food. Not because it didn't taste good, it just wasn't even close Southern. I guess I'll just have to wait until I visit relatives to get the real thing.
(2)Cristie M.
You're going to be too full for dessert, and that's a cryin' shame. But here's the solution: after dinner, get the ban-offee pie to go. An hour after you get home, eat the pie in your pj's. Bliss.
(5)CA H.
Been there twice and had the chicken both times. It's great chicken hands down, but personally I think it has too much pepper in the seasoning as do the collards and the gravy. But it's crispy, juicy and there's plenty of it. Next time though, I think I'll try the shrimp and grits. Saw someone else eating that and it looked great. The rest of my family loves this place so it seems to be just me who has an issue with the pepper taste.
(4)Tami B.
I really have a hard time waiting in line for breakfast. I occasionally make the exception for the screen door on the weekend because they serve ever so delicious food (banana foster french toast people!)and each time I get a server with great personality. I really like the atmosphere but always feel a bit guilty if I linger for one more cup of coffee because I know there are people standing outside waiting.
(5)David J.
Good southern food. Portions are huge. Long long lines- the place is crowded and very noisy. Online menu doesnt always match what they have available. Have had the fried chicken half a dozen time- always perfect but enough for 2 people. Beef brisket has been good as well. Hush puppies were awesome
(4)Ruthann V.
Sunday night dinner last night and the place was hopp'n! I had heard of this restaurant (how could you not!) and expected it to be busy...it was. My daughter and I grabbed the last two seats at the bar so we wouldn't have to wait to be seated. I had the burger and she had the fried chicken. The food was outstanding! The menu is decidedly southern, and the ingredients fresh. the kitchen in partially open so you can see them work their magic. We will be back Soon!
(5)Esther K.
The first few bites are like, NOMNOMNOMNOM! where your brain stops functioning because there are flavor olympics going off in your mouth and the only sounds you can utter are those of a paleolithic cavemen "ooog! ohhh! mmrm!" -- but then the food starts to taste a little too rich as it piles into your stomach. And then you go, nom.. nom.. nom... at a slower and less rabid pace. It's still delicious but you need a sip of tasty beverage in between every few bites. I felt like at first, the fried chicken was jumping off the plate and down my gullet by itself, but the flavor of the breading is a bit salty for my taste so the flavor was overwhelming before I had put a dent in the generous portion. Though, I'm pretty sensitive to salt, so this is probably just me being lame and not appreciating a really great recipe. Oh, and like everyone says, don't come here if you're not planning on ordering the mac and cheese. If you don't order it, people will shake their heads and pity you for being so foolish. I don't care if you're lactose intolerant and have a gluten allergy. Eat it anyway because it is worth the forthcoming troubles. It is creamy and flavorful and moist and filling and it makes your insides feel warm and safe. And who doesn't want to feel warm and safe?
(4)Lisa W.
Went out for date night tonight and tried Screen Door, the food was amazing! My husband had the chicken and I had the pork chop they were both so good, the sides were incredible too. The only down side I could see was how spicy the chicken and pork chop were. It was fine for us but we like spicy, if you couldn't handle spicy then it could be a problem. I could see how the wait could be crazy on the weekends but if it is a really good restaurant what else would you expect?
(4)Jenna L.
We decided to treat ourselves to an actual sit-down dinner since we had been stuffing ourselves with nothing else but food truck food the whole weekend. We had to wait for a while, but the line out the door means that the place is worth it, right? :) They had so many delicious looking things on the menu - we got the shrimp and grits as an appetizer - it was really good, it had pork belly inside too which was amazing. Really good sauce in the grits. For our entree though, we both ended up getting the 'Screen Door Plate' - our choice of 3 of their sides or organic greens, with cornbread. We both got the mac & cheese and the red beans and rice, but for our third, my friend got the fried catfish, and I got the fried pork chops. Everything was SO GOOD, but sooo filling and rich. We could not finish it all, we were not champs. The mac & cheese was amazing. We had tons and tons and tons of leftovers :)
(4)Andria N.
One of my favorite restaurants in Portland. You cannot go wrong with breakfast or dinner here! My all time favorites are the pulled pork, shrimp n' grits and a Dixie to drink!!!
(5)Rob T.
The Screendoor has some of the best southern cooking in town. I particularly like the pulled pork sandwich, it is traditional vinegar and hot pepper based and very smokey. Definitely go early in the evening to get a seat much quicker, takeout is good but make sure you get there in time, they seem to be conservative in their estimates. The service is usually good, despite the crowd. Off-nights during the week are less hectic and the brunch is tasty but again, busy.
(4)Chelsea A.
Dee-lish. Seriously; the Pulled Pork Sandwich, pulled pork.... pulled pork I can sing ode's to. If I was Shakespeare I would develop a sonnet for. They have a fried oyster appetizer, awesome. Sweet Potato fries, who doesn't love those? The Screen Door has all the food that you would expect from a southern restaurant, and is actually up to par with most of the places I've been down south. Yum, yummy food. Next I will have to tackle their breakfast.
(5)Red G.
Simply fantastic. The "Screen Door Plate" allows for creating just the right personal combination of meat & veggie, heavy & light. I enjoyed every mouthful -- the corn bread alone was worth the trip. Not only was the food great, Screen Door scores points for knowledgeable service, upscale indoor dining, casual outdoor patio and a selection of locally-grown/organic produce. A very popular restaurant for good reason.
(5)Nick V.
Brunch on Saturday morning? This is the best place on the east side to go, hands down. Be prepared to wait, grab some coffee as you do, and chat for the hour or so you will wait. Get a side of PRALINE bacon! If you like fried chicken, get the chicken waffles. All options for waffles and French toast are delicious. The wait staff is courteous, the place is kid friendly, ensuring that I have had here has been excellent.
(5)John C.
Excellent place for the best in traditional Southern cooking. Great drinks and large portions. A must visit.
(4)Raman G.
Food coma at its finest. Damn this place was amazing. A little long of a wait but Heart Cafe is a block down so you can enjoy a great coffee or latte and wait until your table is ready. Took us about 45 min but it went fast. Food is simply amazing.
(5)Lea M.
The bacon here is crazy sweet (nuts and brown sugar) but the chicken and waffles was way too good to pass up. Sweet potato waffles and perfectly fried chicken, there's no going wrong here. The service was great and attentive and the coffee was always checked up on. Parking can be a bust since it's street parking, but we were lucky to come in on a Thursday morning and had no issues with lines. The dinning area inside is spacious and the interior design is cute with all their pickled jars scattered all throughout the dinning room. If you're a C&W junky, this is the spot for you!
(4)W M.
Chicken, Waffles, Mac N Cheese, Praline Bacon, Random IPA....Awesomeness.
(5)Ceasar P.
What we had Praline Bacon - candied thick piece of bacon with a crust of pralines. Great smokey bacon flavor up front. I was surprise of how muted the sweetness was, but definitely the right amount. The pralines provide added crunch. Chicken and Waffles - Chicken was a tender piece of breast which was pounded flat. It was seasoned and spiced well. Good flavor and just a tad bit peppery. Crust was nice and flaky. It was was paired with a sweet potato waffle. The waffle was crispy on the outside fluffy on the inside and spiced with what seemed like cinnamon. Vanilla French Toast - it was pretty under whelming. Just French toast with vanilla bean. Had good flavor but if it's your first time I suggest getting something else unless you are a French Toast connoisseur. Hush puppies - these were delicious! Nice and crispy. The jalapeños added a mild spicy was to it which was paired with a molasses type syrup.
(4)C K.
Love this place! The wait is a bit long so make sure you get there early. The fried okra was very tasty.
(5)Shannon H.
If 801 reviews averaging 4.5 stars doesn't convince you - I don't know what will.... The food is amazing and worth the wait. You will wait in line, there are no reservations accepted (supposedly), a group passed us stating they had a reservation - maybe you just need to know the right people here. Service was stellar - definitely southern hospitality. I will be going back!
(5)Jan L.
I know a lot of people like the place, but I didn't like my whole cold waffle and fried chicken dish. I wasn't warned the fried chicken was HOT/SPICY. I sent it back, and didn't eat, basically. I tried friends' dishes but wasn't impressed. Two people like the place; my partner and I don't care to go back.
(1)Samantha M.
Ah, I've got to be against the grain on this one. Fried southern food is fabulous. Paying $13.95 a plate for it is not. I ordered the screen door plate, where you pick 3 items and cornbread. One of my three was awful. It's a season spinach eggplant casserole. The béchamel was too rich or something, the flavor was just so off. I don't know exactly what I was expecting but it SOUNDED a lot better then it tasted. Needless to say, I ate the rest of me meal and left that side alone. When the server picked up plates, and asked if I wanted it wrapped, I told her no because I wasn't a fan. If it had been left at this, that would have been fine. But, she comes back to the table, asking more questions, explaining the manager wants to know why I didn't want to eat it. Fine, let's talk. I explain that it wasn't at all what I was hoping for, and she STILL CHARGES ME the full amount. She could have just charged me for the two sides I DID have for dinner, but I paid my full $14 for a thin fried pork chop, some mac & cheese (which was great, but c'mon it was MAC AND CHEESE!), and a bit of cornbread. RIP OFF.
(2)Kristin K.
Believe the hype... this place is awesome! Have only been for there for dinner so far, but I can't wait to go back for brunch. It's amazing how this place can make southern comfort food in such a "Portland" way. Loved the fried chicken, mac and cheese, fried catfish, cornbread! Definitely expect a wait (an hour for a group of 4 on a Friday night). But the great thing is that they called our cell phone when our table was ready - so we went down the street for a cocktail.
(5)Jav V.
I finally made it to brunch. I usually don't feel like dealing with it, but we were up pretty early so we gave it a try. We probably waited for about 30 minutes at 0930, which I thought was worth it. I really wanted the chicken and waffles, but I decided to save my chicken eating for dinners at Screen Door. I had biscuits and gravy. They were good, but not the best I've had. The potatoes were really good and the praline bacon was amazing. Definitely give it a try. The cheese grits were good too. We sat at the bar and the service was great. They seemed to be going through the waiting list at a decent pace, even as we were leaving, it wasn't too ridiculous.
(4)Erin E.
Ohhhh yum. Dangerous, fattening yum. Fellow vegetarians - don't be scared off by the meat-heavy menu. There may not be any meatless entrees on the dinner menu, but they do have a small list of veggie sides and a rotating menu of vegetable specials. If you have the same small-plate approach to restaurant dining that we've adopted, you will have more than enough to eat. My boyfriend and I ordered five sides to share: Macaroni & Cheese, Hushpuppies, Cornbread, Portobella Tart and Broccoli & Cauliflower Gratin. The latter two were from their specials menu, but the others are all regular menu items. Everything was delicious. Everything was also rich as all get out. In hindsight, five items was a lot of food - we could have ordered four and been just fine. I probably would have eliminated the Cornbread, because for us it was just a little too much bread (when combined with Hushpuppies). Very friendly and helpful service. I'll be back again in six months, when I've finally worked off the calories from last night's sins...
(5)Ann N.
Best dinner ever!!!! I seriously never ate so much at one seating! My bf and I were double dating on a trip to Oregon and it was totally worth it to go here for dinner. At first I was disappointed that we couldn't get to try their breakfast food but dinner blew me away. -we started with hush puppies. First time trying it and hopefully they all taste like the way the screen door makes it! Good enough size for 4 people and the sweet sour sauce was just right - each couple got the fried chicken plate but I replaced my collard greens with more mash potatoes and my friends got Cole slaw (which was so tasty and light). The plate was perfect for two people! -our friends and I were both getting sides so we did the the screen door plate (3 sides and slice of cornbread) it saved us like $2 and got cornbread and butter. We got the jambalaya, mac&cheese, and sweet potatoes fries. ALL of it was amazing! The jambalaya was a bit dry for me but it was still flavorful. Mac&cheese was my favorite! My bf doesn't even like general mac&cheese but he loved it last night. -after that huge dinner I even got dessert. I got the mocha toffee cake which is devils cake with chocolate ganache and whipped cream. I was so full already but it was so good I couldn't stop eating! The cake was moisted and thick. My friend got the ban-offee pecan pie? And it looked good. - our server was one of the best servers I ever had. He was honest and fun. Our food came fast and he checked on us periodically. When I asked him if he tried the cake, he surprised me by saying he hasn't yet since it was new on the menu and didn't comment on it anymore which I thought was awesome cause he was honest and didn't want to make stuff up. And he was so patient with us! We came 30 mins before closing and ended up staying an hour after closing. But he was so chill and joked with us the entire time. Anyways he got awesome tips from our table
(5)Cory B.
Great food! I had a fried green tomato salad that was to die for. Been several times and will go back for sure.
(5)Tony S.
The best chicken waffles I have ever tried. It was totally worth the long wait. The customer service was on point as well
(5)Jas H.
Been here a few times and its always worth the wait. Get the hushpuppies!! :) And the screen door plate lets you try 3 different things at a reasonable price too. Yum! The catfish is really good, and the fried chicken? MmMMMm. Last time I went there, they had fried chicken liver as well, and the portion of it was pretty huge considering it was 1/3 of the screen door plate. Was not dried out like some places do it, and not overcooked either!
(5)Siri Sadhana S.
Excellent brunch, of course. The veggie hash with cheddar grits, virgin Bloody Mary, and coffee is great for vegetarians. The hour and a half wait is great if you're a foodie and Green Bean Coffee next door is a good place to wait. Enjoy.
(4)Steve H.
I don't even want to know how many calories these dishes are, but they were delicious! We ordered the banana French toast (4.5-stars), the praline bacon (4-stars), the biscuits and gravy (4-stars), and the chicken and waffles (3-stars). Location was good, service was excellent and food was very strong. This place is a must if you visit Portland. So glad we went on a long hike afterwards!
(4)Avni B.
Like everywhere else good in Portland, there is a significant wait for brunch. Le sigh. I came here for a late brunch after a hike so I fortunately didn't have to wait too long! I ordered a whole bunch of sides and SO glad I made that decision. All of the sides were perfect and tasted amazing!! Cornbread: amazing Gravy: so goood Fried chicken: extremely flavorful and juicy, ate the leftovers (cold) later in the day and it was STILL amazing!
(5)Joel N.
Fabulous, ever so slightly over prices southern. Get here fast for tasty bites.
(4)Kelly H.
Oh, Screen Door, I fall in love with you all over again every time I visit. I recently was here for dinner on a Thursday night for a celebratory dinner with my sweetie, and a few weeks before that on a Saturday for brunch. This place has never once failed me. The food is always epic, the service is good, and with a coffee or a cocktail in hand and good company the wait will be over in a flash! I had a mushroom and leek bread pudding from the seasonal sides list and it was phenomenal. So was everything else we ordered! Save room for dessert, or take some to go because it's soooo good. I see a lot of people have checked that this is a good place to dine with your kiddos. Yes, the Screen Door is very accommodating of children, here's my caveat: the wait for a table and also for the food is going to be long, and the dining room is full and a bit noisy. There are no kiddie menus (but the mac and cheese is perfect for them!), so you just might want to save this one for date night.
(5)Ann V.
This is one of the best restaurants in Portland, in term of food as well as service. I and the Foodie group members had Sunday brunch here twice and a Sunday dinner. Both time for brunches, we arrived before the restaurant opened; there were already long lines. It was the same for dinner as well. Screen Door offers delicious farm to table down-home Southern cooking. Fried Chicken and Waffle - three huge pieces of battered boneless chicken breast over a sweet potato waffle (8 inches in diameter). The chicken breasts were coated with peppery flour and deep fried. They were spicy but very good. There were maple syrup and butter for the waffle. There were also slices of oranges. Both time, the portion was very generous. I took home the fried chicken and had them on salad for dinner. This is a MUST order when come to brunch at Screen Door. Traditional Egg Benedict - was one of the best cooked egg Benedict with hollandaise sauce, came with red potatoes or muffin. The portion was generous. Banana Foster French Toast - delicious, very rich and sweet. The portion was very generous. Corn Dog-homemade fresh and delicious corn dogs. Fritters - homemade delicious and piping hot sweet fried round doughs. Mac and Cheese- good crust on generous individual portion, very tasty and cheesy. Crispy Fried Catfish - this was more fish and chips style. The Cat fish fillets were coated in seasoned flour and deep fried. It came with a dipping sauce (remoulade). Coffee - delicious endless refilled of coffee for brunches. I've been to Screen Door three times and have never had bad service; the waiters were efficient and very attentive to our needs. Screen Door is a go to restaurant for casual dining and a must visit restaurant for visitors.
(5)astacia c.
Friendly hipsters! Imagine that! Best bloody!
(5)Marissa H.
Sunday morning ~10:30am & the place was jammed...I mean, elbow-to-elbow, fight my way to the bathroom, I'm glad they sat us outside so we could escape via the side-door..that kind of full. And worth it.... The staff definitely seem to have a chip on their shoulder. The "too cool for this gig" attitude but guess that's also to be expected in Portland (? Although it's the only place I've encountered such attitude). Food: 4 of us but I only tasted 2 dishes. Breakfast cornbread which was a special - pear compote atop a nicely grilled piece of cornbread Vanilla Bean Brioche French Toast w/ bananas - subtle vanilla flavor but awesomely fluffy bread not overly cooked. Good reheated the next day too! ;) Although I didn't try them, the chicken & waffles are HUGE! 3-4 pieces of fried chicken atop a fluffy waffle, maple syrup on the side. It looked amazing & so thought my companion. Stumptown coffee for all. We left full & happy - guess that's what brunch is for
(4)Triple C.
Great southern cooking in the heart of Portland! Best or among the best I have ever had of the following dishes... 1. Mac and cheese. Super cheesy with a nice toasted cheese layer on top. Most steakhouses can't do it this well. 2. Beef brisket. Best I have ever had. Tender enough to cut with a spoon. 3. Crusted fish. I just though the fish was ok. Maybe a higher quality fish would taste better. Great crust though. 4. Fried chicken. It's de-boned which usually means dry but it was super moist and Crispy on the outside. Really tasty and it might be the best chicken I have had. We loved it so much, my wife and I came back the second night for the same dish! 5. Banana cream pie. Holy c**p! Best banana dessert ever. Don't miss this place if you are in the Portland area! Long lines so get there early!
(5)Christopher R.
As if this establishment didn't have enough praise, I'm going to go ahead and tell you that it's one of the best restaurants I've been to in Portland with plates under $20. I recently dined here with a some coworkers, and we all shared various menu items to get a feel for their food on the whole. No one was disappointed. Quite the contrary, in fact. Their food is prepared with care (the chicken literally melts in your mouth), the portions are large, the prices are incredibly reasonable, and there's a good reason why you might have to wait a while to get a seat. In case you're wondering? Yes, it is well worth the wait.
(5)Jeanine W.
I came to Screen Door on my way to Seattle from southern Oregon, and despite the detour from the wait, I'd still say the food was worth every minute. Around 6 on a Thursday night, the place was poppin. They only allow reservations for parties of six or more, so if you want to avoid the wait be sure to get there early. At first the super chill and helpful host told us it would be 35-45 minute wait for a party of 3. It ended up being more like an hour and fifteen minute wait. And since we were in three, a few parties of two were seated us before too. Noted in case I make a second trip. This would be a five-star review, but the wait was a little bit off-putting. But the food was pretty amazing to mostly make up for it. While it might seem like a typical place for a younger crowd, there were a solid amount of older couples there too. With dim lighting and a rather loud atmosphere, this could be a fun place to catch up with a group of friends or even a more casual date. The food was a whole new take on "southern". None of it felt too heavy or greasy, and I still felt relatively health at the end of my meal. I ordered the roasted beet salad as an appetizer, (their side salads are on a seasonal basis and on a separate menu), and with citrus, arugula, avocados, goat cheese, pistachios and honey tarragon vinaigrette, it was the hardiest appetizer salad I've had in awhile. The side salad I recently had at Cheesecake Factory would look like nothing next to it. But that's a different review. Our table also ordered hush puppies, fried chicken and the pecan crusted trout for myself. The hush puppies were perfect, and the fried chicken was perfectly juicy even though it was fried. My pecan trout was seriously like no other fish I had ever had before. The breading was just enough for the flavor, but not so much it felt weighed down. With a kind of mustard sauce over spinach and fingerling potatoes on the side, it was just the best after a day on the road. Despite how packed the restaurant was, our waitress seemed like she had a radar for unfilled waters. As dehydrated as I was, she legitimately appeared whenever I needed to be topped off. Her service was genuine and enough to make me a really happy camper. Ambiance: 3...Casually intimate, but the wait was a bummer. Service: 5...Never going thirsty. Taste: 5...Redefining southern. Value/Price: 4...Pretty much standard restaurant prices but probably enough for two meals. Overall: 4.5 stars.
(5)Corrie H.
Screen Door so doesn't need another review, but having just waited 1.5 hours for a delicious meal, I feel I have earned the right to write one anyway. We, of course, had a waffle with chicken. The chicken was epic--meaning that the portion was freakishly generous, the peppered batter was delicious, and the chicken itself was sooooo moist and tender. I will dream about this chicken. It was the best fried chicken I have ever had. The sweet potato waffle was very nice, but, whatever, waffle. I was way too busy eating chicken to care. Well, I say I was way too busy eating chicken, but really I mean that I was way too busy stealing chicken, because it rightfully belonged to my husband. I ordered a ricotta griddlecake special. It was fine, but it was not... stunning fried chicken. Also Not Stunning Fried Chicken were the bacon sweet potato biscuits (they were interesting, but not amazing). Also Not Stunning Fried Chicken was the gin fizz (ditto). My husband's bloody mary was very nice, though. The service was so friendly and quick--I don't know how they manage to be so pleasant in such a madhouse. And a madhouse it is... the tables are crammed together, and you barely have room to move your fork. The indoor waiting area is so crowded that you have to walk sideways to get through. But the decor it pretty and minimalist, and the music is happy and quirky, and everyone seems to have a good time. So, you are wondering if it was worth the wait. Well, for the chicken--yes. For everything else--no.
(4)Heather J.
I don't know if this is really an objective, comprehensive, review, since despite the fact that I've eaten here about 8 times, I've only ever ordered one thing: chicken and waffles.The praline bacon is a nice addition. It is sooo good. Deliciously good. But this should not be consumed by one person alone. This is a two person meal, and even then you will leave feeling overly stuffed. And maybe have leftovers. So, if you're willing to wait an hour you are in for a treat, but then the rest of your day will be a wash because you will need to go lie down. That's a four star for me, but it might not be for you.
(4)Katherine C.
I came here for brunch today, and although we waited about 1.5 hours for two people, I think it was worth it. I had the Smoked Brisket Hash and my friend had the Migas...we also split the Bacon Praline Waffle. The Brisket Hash was awesome. It also came with a Horseradish cream but I'm not big on horseradish so I got it on the side. The hash was also huge, definitely enough for two meals. The Migas was also very tasty and the Praline Waffle was delicious. The waffle came topped with a piece of praline and brown sugar, YUM! I've been for dinner too and enjoyed everything we had. Next time I'm getting the fried chicken, it looked really tasty.
(4)Sandi B.
Great gourmet comfort food, exceptional wait staff, especially with a large group, however, not the greatest experience with the staff member at the door. We felt a bit like wanna-be celebrity groupies, being "managed" by the bouncer. Minus the "too-cool-for-you" door screener, we had a good experience. The food was southern with sophistication.
(4)Joseph H.
Oh my gooodness! If you're looking to spend some of your life's calories on some heart stopping magic, this is it! Granted, they've got non-greasy fare like the catfish and plenty of rotational garden greens that they term "local organics." Most of the time, the magnetic pull of the SD's Fried Chicken hooks on its tractor beam of herbs and spices. The colonel would be proud, this chicken is two white breasts crisped over a heap of mash potatoes. If I have the strength in restraint I can pull off a nice second meal from the event. If you bring friends this will be an easy task as your table will probably fill up with hush puppies, sweet potato fries, collard greens, and it's all top notch grub. Your friends from the south will like it, but what's the point? It's just good food, and a stand out in the fantastic foodie world of Portland.
(5)Emily S.
"What have we always said is the most important thing?" "Breakfast." "Family." "Oh right, family. I thought you meant of the things you eat." I think... I know this is a big statement... that Screen Door is my favorite spot in Portland for breakfast. The praline bacon is what did it for me. I'm not usually a big bacon lady, but I could eat a whole plate of it. I've come here a few times, both with friends and the aforementioned family. It's a fun place to bring out-of-town guests. I haven't actually ordered off the regular menu because the specials always sound so good and I haven't been disappointed yet. The food is not overly fancy and they use quality ingredients in interesting ways. Last time I had a scramble with crab in it and it was good enough to make me stop listening to Mr. S and his mom argue about how much money we spend eating out... Their dinners are great too. Again, the specials are always amazing. Their pulled pork sandwich got rave reviews from my mom and the Screen Door plate is always a good choice if you can't decide what to get.
(5)Bobby l.
Awesome place! Like extra large servings? If so, this is the place for breakfast/brunch! After an hours wait, I got to order an fried chicken biscuit and booooyyyyyyyyy was it a extra large serving! The gravy was awesome and their sausage, like their serving size, is extra extra large!.
(5)Aimee A.
This place is perfect for a brunch spot. They have coffee ready and waiting for you as you walk in. The wait is a bit long, but well worth it. We ordered th Fried Chicken and biscuit special with a side of yummy grits, as well as the highly recommended Fried Oyster Eggs Benedict. A great place, great food and awesome service. Looking forward to visiting again.
(5)Avitania B.
I generally have low expectations of anything Southern food related. Greasy, overcooked, with bits of ham hock thrown in? Sure. Whatever. That is, until Screen Door changed my mind. The meal started with the hush puppies, which we ordered with a side of the remoulade. Those fried balls of goodness made my carb-starved heart smile. For my entree, I ordered the Screen Door Plate, which consists of your choice of three side dishes plus a piece of cornbread. First, the macaroni and cheese. Whoa. I don't know how they make it, or what crack they use in the sauce to make it so amazing, but I could live off the stuff. I could swim in it like Scrooge McDuck swims in his vault of gold coins. I also chose the fried pork chop, which was unlike any fried pork chop I've ever had. It had just the right amount of crispy fried coating: not greasy, with smoky spices. Rounding it out was my third side, the creole black eyed-peas and rice. It was quite spicy -- not the "hot" kind of spicy that makes your nose twitch (I'm looking at you, Sriracha), but a slow, smoky, cumin-y smolder that makes you want to listen to Percy Sledge on a rainy summer night. I wish I hadn't been too full for dessert. I'm definitely making my way back here the next time I'm in town. It'd be sacreligious not to.
(5)Misha J.
The Screen Door is, without a doubt, one of my favorite places to eat. It's one of our go-to places to take visiting friends and family and we've yet to have a disappointed guest. They convinced me that fried okra isn't supposed to be slimy and hush puppies aren't dried up balls of blah. The fried chicken, brisket, jambalaya, and fried pork chops are favorite entrees. I have an aversion to meat that is still on the bone so the fact that the fried chicken are breasts and not a combination of breast and leg is a huge plus for me. What I really love about this place are the side dishes. My father once dubbed me the "side dish queen" growing up because I would eat entire meals of just sides. There are quite a few spots in Portland that make killer brisket, fried chicken, etc. but fall short on the side dishes. This is not the case here. The mac n cheese is amazing. The seasonal veggies are always fantastic. And you can order the Screen Door Plate with just sides! Service has always been great and food comes out fast, even when it's packed. Prices are reasonable for the level of service and amount of food you get-- we almost always have left-overs. I have never driven by this place during operating hours without seeing a huge line outside. We try to get there right when they open or later in the evening on a weekday. The one time we were told there was a 1.5 hour wait, we took our guests across the street to the Matador for drinks as the bar/waiting area of the Screen Door is a bit cramped.
(5)kathy m.
We drove down from Seattle just to eat here...well, that and our son was in PDX for the afternoon and we wanted to see him. Everybody in our family loves southern cuisine and we had heard lots of good things about the Screen Door, so we had to try it. Having been warned about limited seating, we arrived about fifteen minutes before they opened and there was already a line. By the time they opened the line was snaked around the corner, but everybody was seated (with a few tables to spare). Our server was one of those amazing pros who seems to be able to read your mind and anticipate every little whim you might have. Our waters were always full, we ran into a friend of our son's and she brought us another chair, emptys were removed and replaced with fulls before we even knew it. But incredibly well-executed tasty food is the centerpiece of this business. They don't skimp on anything (from quality organic super fresh ingredients to portion sizes). I ordered the appetizer size shrimp and grits and a roasted beet salad from the fresh vegetable menu. The fresh vegetable menu is really a nice feature. Southern food tends to be, well, you know, kind of fattening, and their fresh vegetable menu is a healthy little oasis in middle of a vastly tempting array of offerings. Unlike the other members of my group I was very comfortable when I left. My husband ordered the fried chicken, ate half of it and was still moaning that he had eaten too much. Nobody had room for dessert. Everybody LOVED the freshness and flavor of whatever we ordered. My husband (who is pretty hard to impress) was shouting out "Wooo, that was some good fried chicken!" all the way home. We are already making plans to come down Portland for no other reason than eating brunch at the Screen Door!
(5)C'Hardoney M.
There is always a crazy wait to get into the Screen Door for a reason...everything you will eat here will make your tastebuds do a happy dance. My husband and I dine out alot, it is one of our hobbies. A friend recommended the Screen Door a year ago and I thank her constantly for pointing us in this direction. Usually a long wait (well worth it though). Cool setting not to crammed and seeing the kitchen is neat. Pretty good service, food sometimes takes a little bit but good food has to be prepared. It's a little spendy but it's perfect for a special date night! Incredible Food! Hushpuppies for an appetizer is a favorite choice of ours. The chicken, Beef brisket, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese all delicious. What is really something to talk about is the rice and beans. They are the best my husband and I have ever had. I lived in the south and Screen Door's rice and beans hit the spot! End your night with the red velvet cake, even if your full get it to go (Trust Me). I always leave with a smile on my face and a happy tummy! In my opinon the screen door is one of the best places to eat in Portland.
(5)Ellie B.
This place always seems to be bumpin'. We put our name on the list for Sunday night dinner and got a call about 45 minutes later that our table was ready. I got the broccoli cheddar soup to start and it was great. Very thick and cheesy. For my meal, I got the Screen Door Plate - your choice of three of the organic veggie items or sides. I got the mac and cheese, a mushroom thingie, and a pear salad. The portions were good but I definitely had some leftovers. The mac and cheese was my favorite part. I couldn't pass up dessert so I got the ban-offee cream pie. It was wonderful.
(4)Jacob V.
Scrumptious
(4)Kody L.
The first thing that caught my attention when I entered Screen Door was the number of small children waiting for a table. Who are these parents patient enough to entertain a 4-year-old during a 45-minutes wait for a table -- and then sit through a whole meal with them! Anyway.... Like I said, the wait was, well, waiting for us as expected. Getting there at 6:45 pm gave us 45-minutes of drinking wine from the bar. I would say there were several empty tables around 8:30, so go at that time if you want to avoid the wait. We started with the fried okra, which were excellent. Usually when I get fried okra at a restaurant it's mostly batter and small bits of the green stuff, but these were hearty chunks. I split the pecan-crusted trout and buttermilk fried chicken with my dinner buddy. They were both delicious, but nothing can beat that chicken. It was moist and crunchy; sweet, but salty all at once. It was perfectly done. The trout was also great -- this place really knows their batter for fried foods. I can't imagine finishing a whole plate here. In addition to the main courses, the plates included roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes, and collard greens. So much! I really wish I had room for dessert, but this time I had to pass. Next time you're mine, pecan pie!
(5)Adam S.
One of my favorite breakfast restaurants in Portland... the service is awesome. The portions are big. I enjoyed the french toast, the scrambles, Benedicts and of course the chicken and waffles. I have had chicken and waffles before but the spice of the breading plus the sweetness of the waffle makes this an awesome breakfast. I also like that it is boneless. Also good bloody mary's... can't forget those for a morning pick me up. Dinner is no exception to the great food and service. The service was as amazing as I have had in restaurants that charge $100 plus per person. The chicken on the dinner menu tasted different but was equally as good. Since when did Portland become a place to go for fried chicken? The wait for breakfast is LONG, so be prepared... but it is SO worth it.
(5)Emily W.
the healthy portland version of southern cooking. and delicious. my favorite: the fried okra appetizer. and the screen door plate. and the rhett butler cocktail. yummmm.
(5)Olivia T.
If there's such a thing as an useless review update, this will be the one. It's useless to update this review because nothing has change since my last visit to Screen Door. Fast and friendly service to 18 hungry yeeps even during mad busy brunch time on Saturday morning... *nod* Scrumptious three huge pieces of chicken and waffle... *nod nod* Hot and strong delicious coffee... *nod nod nod* Does this place deserve another five stars?... *nod nod nod nod*
(5)Henry A.
Perfect weekend brunch. Get the praline bacon!! I try to order something from the specials menu...they are usually spot on with yummyness. Expext to wait 20 minutes to 45 minutes. A lot of people know about it. It really hits the spot...great hangover cure. You might need a nap afterwards. I would give it 5 stars but they don't have fried okra which i love...or hushpuppies.
(4)Kristen M.
Screen Door is one of Portland's staples for eating brunch. (FYI: they're also known for their dinner, but get more of a wrap for brunch since it's only exclusive on weekends) This Southern-influenced restaurant knows what's up when it comes to feeding masses of hungry Portlanders and visitors. Notorious for? - FRIED CHICKEN AND WAFFLES: Do you love fried chicken? Do you love waffles? Well you can order this dish and end up having it last you for two meals. Or if you like to be nice, you can share. I just say this because your dish is monstrous. With that, you get three pieces of delightful fried chicken which is very MOIST if I may add. And the waffles? If you love sweet potato, they make their waffles a sweet potato version. And this compliments the dish in the whole Southern essence that it is. You can't go wrong ordering this dish at all!!!!!! - BLOODY MARY: I've never really been a Bloody Mary drinker until I had Screen Doors! I love how peppery their drink is. So simple and garnished with an olive and okra (to give that Southern essence). One of my favorites in my book! It's just as notorious as Tasty N' Sons Bloody Mary. (Which one is better? Depends on your taste palette). - OYSTER BENEDICT: If you are a fan of eggs benedict, try their oyster version because it's quite delish! Served with a side of hash and fresh fruit. The hollandaise sauce is so rich and the oyster adds a bit of salt. You get this rich dish that is quite heavy - in the end your taste buds are thanking you that you ordered this dish. The oyster comes in a scramble version if those of you don't like benedict. - BANANA FOSTER FRENCH TOAST: If you have a sweet tooth and you like your breakfast sweet, then you may like the french toast! Make that the Banana Foster version! You can totally taste the rum-caramelized within the bananas. The French toast come in 4 colossal sized pieces which is accompanied with fresh fruit as well. I couldn't finish this dish either so it'll be nice to share as well. Or have two meals if you want to be greedy. I've never had a disappointing brunch here. I've actually had ordered what they are notorious for and love every single dish! And the service is phenomenal. You are well taken care of over here. Place is hustling and bustling. One of these days I have to try out their dinner fare. FYI: they open for brunch at 9 AM. And people start lining up around 830 AM. Plan accordingly. (Or send one person to hold your place in line and sleep in a little more and get there when it's closer to 9.) And parking is located on the street or neighborhood streets. Come to Screen Door and check out the definite "YUM" factor!
(5)Lauren A.
Best Mac and Cheese I have had in Portland so far. And the cornbread is lovely. The jambalaya in my opinion is not flavorful. I really wanted to like it. Maybe I will return for the Mac and Cheese and cornbread.
(3)Brandi B.
After a gazillion other reviews, I'm prolly not gonna add much to this thread, but I've got two cents to throw in anyway... We've been here a couple of times, both for brunch. And it's really good food (and yep, I'm southern, and I still think it's good even though I make better grits, blah blah blah.) What kills me about brunch at Screen Door is the FREAKISHLY HUGE PORTIONS. We don't take home leftovers. And I'm not complaining about the prices, I think they're quite reasonable. But for the love of Pete, I'd happily pay the same amount for smaller portions and not waste so much freaking food: both times we've been here we've eaten maybe half of our meals before giving up. They do have a "build your own" breakfast option, but take a biscuit the size of an infant, and throw in not one but TWO huge sausages per order, and if you happen to like a bit more breakfast variety, you're gonna get a mountain of food. Didn't you get that lecture about starving kids in China, SD?
(4)Grace E.
Any place that dare serves fried green tomatoes on their menu is alright by me. Screen Door is where its at. We waited a bit to be seated, but no matter, that just enhanced our need to feed ourselves with the scents and smells of all that deep fried cooking. I had the fried green tomato sandwich, and it brought tears to my eyes it was soo damn good. It's a Good thing I don't live in Portland or else I'd be eating there every morning. YUMMM!
(5)Cheyenne M.
Such good breakfast, good dinner. Most everyone has said what I intended. However, I have been here several times, and I have to implore you to not bring your children here! It is not the right space or food for kids and this is the one place I have had trouble with this in Portland. I would not bring my kids here.
(4)Hannah M.
Hands down the best fried chicken in all of Portland. If that's not enough of a reason to come, try the sweet potato fries (which I usually don't like) and the grits. Get here, walk to Starbucks or a bar during your wait, and by the time you get back your table should be ready. So go tonight, because I went on a Friday night, and only had a 30 minute wait. It should be better every other night (except maybe Saturday, which it is...).
(5)Jennifer B.
I should have written this review a while ago. I had originally gone to the Screen Door for a friends birthday in March. He's a boy, he likes fried chicken, so I figured it would be a good combination after one of my friends told me about it. The day of, I knew we were going to have issues because we had a party of 10, on a Saturday night. We got to the Screen Door before it opened and joined the loooooooooooong line waiting to get it. When we got to the front, we were told that there would be over an hour wait for our large party. You know, its ok. We were all kind of drinking anyways, so we head to a bar to wait for our delicious food. They call us in about 75 minutes, telling us our table is ready so we head over. At this point, we had been drinking for a while. We order our food and are speaking in a rather loud, drunk sort of way. When the food arrived (which it all came at once, I was surprised), we all took bites at the same time. Never, has food calmed a rowdy drunk crowd as this fried chicken has. Dear sweet lord in heaven, this chicken was amazing. Usually I do not eat chicken as it kind of grosses me out, but this chicken was boneless, incredibly juicy, and freaking delicious. All 10 of us made some sort of orgasm sounds as we had our first bite. This food is amazing. The potatoes, the gravy, the catfish, the biscuits, really everything was amazing. The food is definitely worth the wait and I have been back many times, the most recently being back for breakfast to enjoy the chicken and waffles (It's so big, two people can share it!!!). You need to eat here. It will complete you. It's even better if you've got about an hour or so to get absolutely drunk before eating here. Makes the wait more tolerable.
(5)Alison B.
Amazing chicken & potatoes. Next up: trying them out for breakfast :)
(4)Bettie P.
over-rated and i dont get why the long line. Pine State Biscuits has much better chicken.
(2)Martin S.
Screen Door has been on my to do list while in Portland for a little while. All you locals raving about the virtues of this little gem and it's delectable offerings made it a must do and again my yelp brethren and sisters you have not failed in marking the path to great things. I have one thing to say to Yelper Ciara G. The quest has ended. I have found the best gravy ever!! Book your ticket. But seriously. My son and I ordered a few things we knew we couldn't finish but wanted to get a taste of. We started off with the praline bacon. Really nice, nutty, sweet, salty. What more could you want? We also had the Pimento / cheese biscuits and a breakfast corn dog. All of which were pretty cool and delicious. For our mains I got the chicken and waffles with a side of gravy and the boy had fried oysters eggs Benedict which I saw on the menu and had serious doubts about because in my experience eggs and seafood have always been a bad thing. This was not the case this time. Although not my favorite thing it was pulled off well. The chicken and waffles were great. A mountain of three breasts piled on a fluffy waffle seemed to mock us knowing there was no way we could kill this tasty beast. Boxes were asked for food was taken home. I'll be back again the next time I'm in town and feel like I can wait a good 45 Min's to an hour for a table ( check the latest Portlandia) Until then Cheers!
(5)Michael H.
The food here is amazing. The collar greens so delish, the fried chicken to die for. I think they have a great taste combo. The establishment was a bit loud and our waitress was very very serious. The place looks for simple and relaxing earth tone colors. I know i def plan to eat there again.
(4)Jen T.
Staffed by young, earnest,, enthusiastic knowledgeable foodies, The Screen Door was the highlight in a week full of standout meals. This is 6 weeks later and I still remember the deep fried mac and cheese appetizer with bbq ribs. The Fried chicken dinner with collard greens and the seasonal heirloom carrots side dish. The only thing I can't remember is dessert, I remember that it was good, but I am not really a sweets person. The menu didn't have a single item I wouldn't order. There were several intriguing specialty drinks, I went with the back porch lemonade- tasty! I loved the seasonal supplemental menu with additional apps, entrees and sides. And clearly, I loved the staff!
(5)Michelle H.
Wait be damned, Screen Door, you win. Breakfast is truly where it is at. Even with a group of 15, the wait was just shy of 90 minutes. That's impressive for a place that boasts a massive wait regardless of party size. The self serve coffee is the perfect liquid crack. What coffee do they have? It's definitely my favorite of breakfast spots. There was absolutely no need for sugar or cream. There isn't much waiting area that's covered. I don't even want to think about the sweet drowned rat look I'd be sporting on a normal Portland morning. Is the food worth it, though? Absolutely. Service is truly genuine and awesome. The server joked about the largeness of our party, had no problem handling the shouts of cocktails and various breakfast dishes, and split our checks without even asking. Seriously, that gets you an even bigger tip when you do it of your own accord, and spare the eye roll and autograt. We're good tippers, honest! The entire menu rocks. The specials make choosing something to eat more than a pain in the ass. It's not like I can easily split two entrees here. The portions are enormous. You don't sacrifice quality for quantity. I've never seen a gut busting $13 dish that tasted as fresh and flavorful as the ones on the table. I am truly impressed. While I went for the fried chicken and waffles, I was equally torn by the root vegetable hash and asparagus and goat cheese scramble. Apple rhubarb hand pies and breakfast corn bread? Damn it, that menu was phenomenal. The fried chicken was still as awesome as it was for dinner. Is three chicken breasts overkill for one sweet potato waffle? Absolutely, but I'm never going to complain. I still had no problem shoveling it in, and taking one home. The sweet potato waffle was light and crispy. I thought for sure that fried chicken grease might turn it into a soggy mess. Not so. Andrew's breakfast po' boy killed it. It was bursting at the seams as much as it was bursting with flavor. And I'll just say it now: BEST BREAKFAST POTATOES. EVER. I thought Mother's held that title, but I think that ship has sailed. I'm actually kind of glad that Screen Door has a most ridiculous wait for breakfast. It means I won't eat here every weekend. I really don't want to work out more than I already do.
(5)Isabel B.
Screendoor is one of those places where the line to get in goes all the way around. So what's all the hype? Only one way to find out. Luckily boyfriend and I only waited for 20min before seating. We got there at 10am on a Sunday. Right before the brunch rush. I decided on the Garden Grits. Boyfriend ordered fried chicken w/ sweet potatoe waffle. My plate was colorful w/ spinach, mushroom, and cheese! Grits have never tasted so GOOD! The fried chicken? Perfect! Not greasy, moist and tender w/ the right amount of pepper. Sweet potatoe waffle was fluffy w/ hints of wheat. A delicious meal washed down w/ fresh squeezed grapefruit juice. Portions are large. Two people can definitely share a plate and be content. And that's why folks wait 30min to an hour to get in.
(5)Ace C.
I looooooooooooooooove this place. I only have good things to say about this place. Every time I eat here I fall more in love with the food. I'm from the South and this is the closest I can get to food back home. The place is has a full bar, indoor/outdoor seating and an open kitchen. I'm a big fan of their chicken and waffles, macaroni,, jambalaya, red beans and rice and the list could go on. I'm sure a few of the reviews will complain about the wait, but it it's well worth it. I would miss the birth of my first child for a plate of chicken and waffles. This is one of my go to places when friends come into town. This is my go to place for brunch. This is my go to place for a hearty dinner. THIS IS MY PLACE! If you see me there I'll be the guy with his head down focusing on his food.
(5)Erin O.
The short and sweet of it is, you can order something called a Cat Head Biscuit. HA. Hilarious. The wait (even for saturday brunch) was completely reasonable. Very vegetarian friendly. Yum. and one more time.... Cat Head Biscuits. *giggle* This place may in fact deserve 5 stars, if the next visit is as good as this one, I'll upgrade.
(4)Richard V.
Seems unnecessary to write a review of this place. The constant line might be an indication that it's pretty good and well known. The brunch is really tasty and the desserts are to die for, but I've never been there for dinner. I feel like I have to hold back a star because my family is from New Orleans. This makes me an expert and anything that isn't located there could never be authentic and is therefore inferior. I'm a dick. P.S. They make a mean milk punch.
(4)JW R.
The staff of Screen Door are absolute champions. For a place that (apparently) doesn't do reservations, they handled our 18 top like private dining pros. They had a line of tables for two ready and arranged to seat them last, to give our party the maximum amount of time to consolidate without screwing any other brunchers out of a seat. Efficient, elegant, the perfect compromise. But you're probably not contemplating getting 18 functional alcoholics up and out of bed from all over the metro area at 9am. So I have to consider that in my review, no matter how incredible this particular performance was. So it all comes down to: Would I return on my own? No. The chicken was really good, but it doesn't belong on a waffle, especially when it's a sweet potato waffle (Portland: stop using sweet potatoes for baked goods. Sweet potatoes are never EVER okay.) The biscuit I tried was meh (not the cathead, the other one). And as good as the chicken was (imagine the absolute best chicken strip you've ever had, increase the size by three times) I didn't need three of them for $13. I absolutely hate waiting to get seated, and arriving before a place opens doesn't really make it okay that you get seated right away. I'm not going to hold their popularity against them, and they service is worth a star. But I can't call Screen Door as good as it gets.
(4)Cam T.
My darling Ms. Door, may I call you S.? I know your dance card is perennially filled with devoted admirers driven to vain attempts at separating themselves from the pack. I know that your charms are unparalleled, defying valiant attempts at purple prose. I know that you are a sweet southern lady that makes a mean cocktail. I know that your prowess in the kitchen has driven people to meowing in delight over cat's head biscuits, savory gravy, succulent crunchety fried shi-cken & then curling up into a ball to savor their food coma. What I didn't know is how truly charming & winsome you are. You're the belle of the ball that stops to talk to the shy awkward wall flower. You're the kindly American beauty that reads to the blind. You're the lovely lady that always has a kind word to say to the crotchety old curmudgeon harumphing by himself in the corner. You took on 18 hungry, unruly, enthusiastic yeeps for your coveted brunch & kept on bringing tables forth for tardy stragglers without batting an eye nor dimming that twinkle in your eyes. And for that & all the rest, you have my heart to add to your legions of fans.
(5)Marcus C.
I guess I can see what all the hype is about. We went there on a night where the line didn't go all the way out to the street. The food was wonderful! Good ingredients. Definitely want to go back for more!
(4)Lillian H.
better get there by 4 to make the first cut. this place is just insane awesome. the chicken just tears apart to easily and does make a difference that they debone everything. I would fly to Portland just for this place.
(5)Sunni W.
First night I got to portland for a 21st bday weekend my cousin who lives here took us out. They got the fried chicken, which I also tried of their plates. I got the trout pecan which wasn't nearly as good as the chicken but was still good. We also sat by Steve Buscemi when we came here (Random). Lol
(4)Shon K.
I will start off by saying that the food is NOT worth the wait in line - if you are craving really good Cajun food. The food here is good, just not that good. Would I eat here again or more often? Sure, if it wasn't an hour or more wait to get in. Sorry I can get better Cajun somewhere else in town. I have family in Louisiana, been there - had authentic Cajun in fact have some in my freezer right now. Now I repeat, I am not saying the food here is not good, it is good but it is not all that. Our table ordered jambalaya, Mac and cheese, chicken, crawfish étouffée and I forget the 4 other dishes we had. My dad is the biggest Cajun food connoisseur in the group and was the most disappointed out of us all. Again - the food was not bad it just did not live up to the hype. Keep in mind most people around here wouldn't know Cajun if it crawled out of the swamp and bit them in the rear so they have nothing to compare it too.
(3)Kine F.
I had the fried chicken and waffles for breakfast. The chicken was dry. The seasoning was too peppery to be enjoyable. Waiting over an hour to sit down at the bar. My bloody mary was watery. This place is over rated. I really wanted to love it. I drive by the long lines wanting to warn the people waiting on the sidewalk in the cold....
(2)Rachael J.
Yum. That really sums it up. Very warm and cozy atmosphere. I had heard you can expect a wait here but I went on a Sunday night and didn't have any problems. Very friendly service. Such a tasty menu it was very hard to make a decision! Lucky for me they have a Screen Door Plate which allowed me to sample any 3 of their extensive list of mouth watering appetizers or local organic mini plates served with a slice of cornbread and honey butter for only $13. Deal. Butternut squash bread pudding = heaven in my mouth. Best food I have gotten for my money in a while. Can't wait to go back and have another Screen Door Plate so I can sample more from their weekly local organic menu. Have I raved enough yet? I could go on... and on... Mmmm brunch....
(5)Barbara W.
Whatever you do, please don't tell my husband how much I miss this place since we've moved out of Portland. I mean, he's southern...AND he's a great cook...but oh, how miss the Screen Door. Their fried chicken is spectacular (and enough for a second meal to take home). The breakfast eggs benedict with spinach...ooohhhh....The Chicken and Waffle has got to be one of the most glorious visions of tasty food excess I've ever witnessed. Definitely check the specials board for new and wonderful goodies. Once they had creamed spinach, and after having it, I always checked the board hoping it would return. And there's nothing better to wash down a gluttonous southern feast than a hurricaine...or the classic, a SoCo and Coke. So when's the next time I'll be returning to Portland for a visit? Sometime in July/August? (insert visual of sad tear running down my cheek here...)
(5)Catherine F.
We FINALLY went to dinner here; we've been regulars for weekend brunch for some time. (Thanks, Cam, for the inspiration.) Ah. Sweet satisfaction. The trick to getting seated immediately appears to be to show up in the last 30 minutes of a Sunday night -- thanks, folks, for feeding us! Fiending for their juicy, crisp, spicy, savory fried chicken, but didn't want to leave feeling like a beached marine mammal -- the perfect solution, of course, was to split one fried chicken plate and one Screen Door plate: three local/organic dishes plus cornbread. I chose the celery root and parsnip gratin with andouille bread crumbs, the roasted beet salad (with arugula, avocado, pistachios, grapefruit, and citrus vinaigrette), and the concord pear salad (with black mission figs plumped in balsamic vinegar and honey, frisee, endive, watercress, toasted almonds & manchego cheese in a cider vinaigrette). Delicious! And aren't you proud of me for choosing such healthy options? The chicken, of course, was perfect. Mashed potatoes, savory porky collard greens, crumbly moist sweet corn bread -- perfect. The hubby almost didn't share -- I distinctly heard a growl from his side of the table when I reached for my half. The hubby even went for the peanut butter pie (after making lame reference to current Salmonella peanut butter epidemic), which was a tad rich for me, but very very tasty. The cocktails were lovely. I had the Rhett Butler, which had perfect Southern Gentleman manners (with a hint of roguish bourbon charm). The hubby didn't share his. Service: impeccable, as always. Friendly and personable, but not cloying; fast and efficient, with great suggestions at the right moments. Some of the least stress-prone servers in Portland. I'm still glowing with satisfaction.
(5)Jenna F.
UPDATE: I have tried new menu items and may I suggest you do not overlook the breakfast corn dog. No, no, you read that correctly - breakfast corn dog. It is delicious and not at all what you might be imagining. The sausage inside is in the breakfast sausage family and the breading is more like corn pancake batter. They serve it with this perfect molasses sauce (which by the way is perfect for me because I hate maple syrup) that is the perfect compliment. It's like a really large pig in a delicious blanket.
(5)Jeannie J.
With the same trepidation one encounters when introducing the boyfriend/girlfriend to the parents, I took my father to the Screen Door this morning. Now dad is a Southerner, and is very particular about his grits, fried chicken, and gravy. I've told him about how wonderful the food is so many times that he decided it was time for a road trip from Olympia. He was ready to be here by 9 to make sure we could be seated without a wait. I assured him that 10 would be fine. Well, I was completely wrong about that! We showed up around 10:15, and the list was already on the second page. The place was packed. Dad was wringing his hands and pacing around (nothing a cup of decaf and a xanax couldn't fix). I was able to find a couple of seats for the wait. Dad was busy looking over the menu, and watching the amazing stacks of food coming out. He still wasn't sold on the whole deal. Time for a mimosa (me this time)! We were finally seated, and we ordered our cat head biscuits and gravy. Dad wanted grits and extra gravy. The food arrived, dad sprinkled his Tabasco, and went to town. He pronounced it the best food north of the Mason Dixon line, and totally worth the drive and wait. The owner/hostess came by to check on us since she knew he made the drive to try their restaurant. He asked what time they opened for dinner, and told her to wake him when it was time. He was just going to be outside camping out taking a nap in his sleeping bag. It was that good. At the end of the meal he could hardly breathe.
(5)Greta D.
I cannot rave enough about the the buttermilk fried chicken over sweet poato waffles and a side of praline bacon. yummerz. I tried my friend's bananas foster waffles and was in heaven. This is the best brunch place in Portland. Worth the wait.
(5)Liz G.
I'm not all that familiar with Southern food. The boy, on the other hand, is from the south and starts salivating at the mere mention of fried chicken. Gabe's ROTD the other day reminded me that we'd been meaning to go here, so we saved our appetites all day and headed over for an early Sunday dinner (no waiting as long as you're willing to eat dinner at 5). Everything on the menu sounded deliciously fattening, but we settled fairly quickly on the fried chicken and mashed potatoes (him) and the Screen Door plate with fried catfish, mac and cheese, and collards (me), along with some hushpuppies to start. YUM!!! All of it. He mentioned that traditional southern fried chicken is greasier and with bones, but thought the less greasy, boneless version was a welcome improvement while staying true to the southern style. He also thought the sweet tea should have been sweeter, but I thought it was sweet enough. We somehow managed to save room for some pecan pie. It was good, but definitely not the star of this place. It was actually the only dessert that caught our eye, so I'd say fill up on the good fried stuff and don't worry about dessert. We also liked the atmosphere. Our server was a little bit awkward, but super friendly and polite. The unique combination of noise and table spacing made eavesdropping possible or avoidable, whatever you're into. There was also some conversing between tables, and admiring of others' orders (the meatloaf looked tasty! And I don't even like meatloaf). Now my only concern is making sure this doesn't become a regular stop.
(5)Esther A.
best fried chicken? best fried okra? best hush puppies? great service? yes to all of the above. HUGE ass portions, nice cozy atmosphere, even though it's really REALLY crowded, didn't seem like it. we all had the fried chicken, shared the jambalaya, shared some okra and hush puppies and an order of corn bread. needless to say, we were all STUFFED. the portions are HUGE... the fried chicken is just delicious! and it was even better the next day! we had a 45 minute wait, but after a few drinks at the bar, we were just happy and looking forward to fried chicken. i will definitely be back! next time, no cornbread. for some reason, it tasted SO gross. i'm not sure if that's how it tastes, but it tasted of flour and no corn. not good at all.
(4)Lester S.
So, its New Year's Day and I had to entertain out of town relatives, solo (well, with my two year old daughter as sidekick extraordinaire). After much conversation about the sounds of letters, singing, dancing, and acting the fool, I decided that my two year old was better able to carry out the small talk category of our time with our company than I was. My wife arrived home from her job, hungry, confused at finding visitors, and frazzled. After explaining to her the odyssey that was my day, she slipped into her most helpful of suits and began to enact a plan to rescue me from the dungeon that had become our home in the hours since she had last seen it. The subject of Food is always the easiest way to bridge the gap of family etiquette and social situations with strangers; in our case family/strangers were hungry, so we had our fix. After short deliberation, my wife and I decided that Pine State Biscuits would be the most well received, providing quality deliciousness that we could present to said out of town relatives with the highest probability of naps needed after our meal. After the trek across the river and through the woods we found ourselves faced with a closed sign almost grinning at us through the glass window on the front door. Never deterred, my wife exclaims" have them follow us to 'Screen Door'" We arrive sometime after 2pm finding a waiting area spilling into the street, huddled under umbrellas sipping the complementary Stumptown coffee. We were in for the long haul and had signed our name to the list. Our group divided and sent the ladies and kiddo into the slightly crowded waiting area out of the rain, while we waited out under the easy Oregon "sunshine" for the waiting area to clear. The patrons streamed out steadily, much like the rain falling on our heads, gaining us a fast progression from in the rain, to the waiting area, and then to our table in mere minutes. We were instantly greeted by our wait person, filling our water glasses and offering coffee and drinks. The room was bustling with the sounds of a happy well fed diners, and the table was clean and orderly with the scents of your grandmothers kitchen if she were southern or fancied herself southern, walls were lined with jarred foods of all kinds, the table held multiple bottles of hot sauce, jams, jellies, sugar cubes, softened butter pats, and the ever so passé salt and pepper shakers. We pored over the special sheet, and menu, from the construct your own breakfast, southern specialties, NW flavored, to VEG & VEGAN Friendly, the menus were approachable from both the wallet and the diners palate. There was something for everyone, old school biscuits and gravy, scrambles, benedicts, and even a hand dipped Breakfast Corndog w/ black pepper cane syrup $3.25 each AMAZING. The table ordered, 1-The Classic Big Breakfast 2 Eggs OE, Sausage Links, Potatoes, White Toast. 1 Bananas Foster French Toast. 1-Plain Biscuit 2-Chicken And Waffles. In no time we were faced with huge plates of heavenly smelling food. The Bananas Foster French Toast was rich and decadent heaped with flambé of banana in a pitch perfect Suzette sauce. The Two Eggs were cooked to perfection, with special consideration for the over sized, properly spiced breakfast links. The biscuit too was picture perfect for a 'bama biscuit, larger than life and dwarfing its small plate, like a giant in midget wrestling. Then there was the "Chicken and Waffles" unfortunately we got subbed out for regular waffles instead of the sweet potato ones listed on the menu, but I am not complaining. The Waffle served to us was light and fluffy crispy, crunchy, with a hint of sweetness, skewered w/ a steak knife was three cutlets of perfect in every way fried chicken breast dusted lightly with powdered sugar and served with a monkey dish of cane syrup, our table quieted down to the low steady sounds of chewing and savoring all that we ordered. Under normal circumstances this would be the end of the story, good service, good if not great food, relaxed atmosphere, naps required afterward, and a not so hard on the wallet price tag, but I was maybe prompted to write this from a secondary experience, some four hours after our meal, my wife stood in the arch way of our kitchen as I played piano, fresh from her visit from the icebox, cold fried chicken in hand, she was enjoying it in such a way a proper husband should never speak of it or heaven forbid write about. I was lured away from my piano as if led by Eve herself into the loving arms of Screen Door's fried chicken COLD. The crusty shell of highly seasoned yet not greasy crispy goodness is a lovingly parallel to the moistest and flavorful cutlet of chicken breast, you can't help but eat the thing out of hand as you strut through your house grinning like its Saturday morning, you're a kid, no school, and "Thundercats" was coming on.
(5)Dusty T.
Screen Door is my favorite "yes to everything" restaurant. Yes to their specialty cocktails--they're refreshing and inventive. Yes to fried chicken--it is the best in town. Yes to appetizers--they are worth it, even if the portions are so huge here you don't need them. Yes to dessert. The staff is wonderful and the food is fantastic. Their local rotating sides are phenomenal. I would give this place ten stars if I could. Try them for breakfast too. The portions are ridiculous, so you can split an order if it feels too pricey.
(5)Henry P.
I just had the fried chicken dinner and it's a must if you like fried chicken. I can honestly say it's the best fried chicken that I've had so far. The meat was juicer than what I'm used to (KFC, Popeyes, Church's) and the crunch of the batter was what sold me. There's a crunch in every bite even if it was soaked in the mashed potatoes and gravy. I wasn't a big fan of collard greens to begin with so it wasn't something that changed my mind. The Mac and cheese was rich and decadent and gets richer as you continue on with your meal. It's also a must try and can be shared with three or four people because it was overwhelming for two who had already ordered the fried chicken dinner. The portion is generous for the price and you will surely be full by the end of the meal. I'll be back for brunch this weekend!
(5)Jason S.
The Pictures don't do this place justice. Chicken and waffles is 3 large fried chicken breasts on a sweet potato waffle with a steak knife stuck right through them to keep them together for you. The breading is thin and crispy and slightly "peppery". Very flavorful. My friends and I came here for Sunday Brunch and all four of us decided to order the Chicken and Waffles with a side of Maple and Praline covered bacon. Officially I expected to like the bacon better, but it was just good, not great. Bacon wasn't crisp. The fried chicken was the best I ever had. Long wait at the door but well worth it.
(5)Michael J. Smith S.
My wife and I decided to treat ourselves to a Southern Food breakfast a couple of months ago and I was excited on the drive over. Since I moved here in 2005 I had heard much about it and most folks would suggest this place whenever I'd whine about the lack of "soul food" in PDX. We arrived before brunch closed down on a Sunday around 2:15pm The service is "A-Ok", tasty Stumptown coffee from the bar while you sit on a bench by the entrance waiting for a table to open. Diverse clientele in almost every way; age, male-female ratio, ethnicity etc. dressed in typical Portland, low-key thrift shop style. "A-Ok" in this regard and at this point I was "feeling" this place and believing ALL of the hype. My wife ordered the fried chicken brunch with a side of fruit and I ordered a tofu scramble.....after placing the order I was still extra pumped! Then the food came, huge portion of chicken, the scramble, fruit and more coffee, I couldn't wait to try the chicken and my wife shared one of the pieces (servings are too big for most people) and I took my first bite. Man oh man was i disappointed....very dry, very salty and over seasoned with pepper. The tofu scramble was "ok" and the potatoes average, but I was so crushed by the lack of flavor with the chicken I really didn't notice. The tofu scramble and potatoes at Byways in the Pearl are both a few steps ahead of what we had here and with the same outstanding Stumptown coffee. I've had lots and lots and lots of soul food & creole food in my life at home from mom and dad, from relatives and friends as well as restaurants from L.A, Oakland, New Orleans, St. Louis, DC etc. I've enjoyed Southern cooking and cajun food from Louisville, Kentucky to San Antonio, Texas and beyond. While widely popular here in PDX, the food here does not hit the mark with any of these past culinary experiences. I was really disappointed and my wife could tell the minute I took my first bite. Too bad, great service, nice people and clientele but the food just didn't do it for me.
(2)kristen l.
Go for Saturday and Sunday brunch. I waited an hour to get in and it was worth every second in the cold! They do have coffee for you as you wait which was wonderful. Or a full bar for those that need a little hair of the dog! I ordered the Chicken and Waffle and my husband got the Chicken cathead Sandwich. There was enough food between us for 4 VERY hungry people. You will be taking food home! I was happily surprised to find that the chicken was all boneless skinless breasts! Makes eating it a liiitle easier. They DO turn tables quick, between the hostess being on top of the waiting list and the bussers cleaning and rearranging tables it is always busy in there. The nice thing is even with all of that around you, you never feel "rushed" by any means.
(4)Doc O.
Worth waiting 2 1/2 hours for. Hasn't anyone heard of eating a snack before you leave the house? Do that before coming here on a weekend morning........ Outstanding food here. They still got praline bacon? Damn good stuff.
(5)michael b.
Always a top pick for the City of Roses brunch lineup. They claim to have a Southern flare but I would not consider it Southern. The food never disappoints though. Most recently had a fried chicken sandwich with fresh biscuit and sausage gravy. Hard not to like that! The only issue with thus fine eatery is the wait for a table. Almost always a 20-45 minute wait....but worth it most of the time. A definite recommend
(4)Matt R.
Well my review is simple. If your that successful and your food is that good. Why wouldnt you open at 6 or 7? 9am? Really? Guess I will never get to try it out. Quit being cool and give the early birds an opportunity to be in and out. FYCNWN.
(1)Catty C.
Oh mah gah! Holy moly this place is good! We went here for brunch and were particularly inrigued with the idea of "Pecan maple encrusted bacon" since the SB (Sweet Baby) loves his Bacon. Wow, super delish. I had a Fried Green Tomato BLT, SB had Fried Chicken and Waffles and SP (Super Pal) had a scramble. All of the food was amazing but this is not the kind of place you could eat at regularly, the food is super rich and heavy. Lots of frying etc. Because the thing is, I am sure they serve salads but when you are at a place like this you are not going to be able to resist the bacon, fries or grits, it just doesnt work that way. We will definitely be back on our next trip to Portland.
(3)Liz M.
We went with some friends, and it was great! I was expecting it to be really fancy and over-priced, but it turned out to be quite reasonable and very tasty. There are several vegetarian options, and something called the Side Plate, where you pick three of their sides (out of about 10 options). That was really tasty: I had some a fantastic breaded pork chop, macaroni and cheese, and mashed sweet potatoes. I would have licked the plate, but I refrained. The drinks were tasty too, I thoroughly enjoyed my first mint julip there. The ambiance was relaxed and comfortable. Even though I went on a Friday night and the place was full, it wasn't really loud, which was nice.
(4)Mike G.
Came here on a Monday night expecting to find a line but finding none with one of my Southern Boy friends. We shared the pork belly dinner, and three Southern Sides of corn hash, grits, and collard greens with bacon and hocks. Started w/ pimento cheese and ended w/ pecan pie in pure heaven. Strongest recommendation for great service, nice atmosphere, strong drinks, and a hearty meal that drew my friend's praise. Definitely coming back to try more!
(5)Coach K.
Wow this place should be illegal cause it's soo good. Ordered the Chicken and Waffles and it could probably feed a family of 4. It was spicy, juicy, and everything was perfect about it. I couldn't even find C&W like this in the south. Wow very good place!
(5)Karen F.
Fried chicken was delicious. Huge portions so it was hard to leave room for dessert. Wish I would of ordered the chocolate cherry layered cake. If the waitress takes it home to eat it must be good!!
(4)Sandy A.
Two eggs, grits and bacon. Yum! Stumptown coffee and a taste of my friends fried chicken and waffles! Enough to feed 2 or 3 people! So good. The hostess was very sweet :)
(4)Kelsey G.
The fried chicken is absolutely the best I've ever had in my life. And the corn bread! Can't even stop....
(5)kasi R.
We got there before they opened, we were told to. The door opened and the line slowly came in. Knowing if you seat everyone at once you would over stock the kitchen and the bar and make for bad service we waited with smiles on! There was two large parties in front of us so we didn't expect to be seated but be hold there was room at the bar and being that we were a party of two it was prefect! It was my birthday and I heard this place was known for southern soul food and I grew up eating some good home made soul food! I order my drink a tasty back porch lemonaid. yumm It had rum lemonaid and sage very crisp and lite it wasn't full of rum and no taste but it had a kick that slowly creeped up on you. We ordered the hushpuppies.. I would love to eat those again! delish making the expectations for dinner even higher! We both got the fried chicken dinner.The first thing I tryed was the greens you know your in the right place if they have great greens and these greens where soooo good I couldn't stop to taste the rest of my plate until I ate them All! and I did!! Now for the chicken, I cut into a chicken breast that was bonless and flat not use to that but was still open minded the skin was still on so there was flavor but a little salty and under seasoned I expecting a little hint of pepper and paprika ect. no bland but ... The gravey had all the spice I wanted so I asked for extra gravey and devoured it I also had a side of cajun cat fish I have had some of the best cat fish so realy was expecting a spicy fried cat fish and got bland bland mildewy cat fish! yuck! I pored this hot sause over it and try to finish but couldn't The mash potatoes where ok .The corn bread was chewy overly mixed and the cake with pb filling DRY DRY DRY yuck! The crumbled the first bite left me with only one thought GOT MILK! The service was top and the bar tender was awesome! He really knows his stuff! I think we got such great service because we sat at the bar he checked on us lots and kept my water glass full! I gave a 3 star for the bland seasoning and the baked goods. it had nothing to do with the service at all or the drinks. p.s on the way out I noticed the party that was a head of us barly had sat down and had their drinks in front of them go there with a small party or just with one other!
(3)Spencer T.
Everybody's saying it's worth the wait, but that's not how it worked out for my friends and I. We arrived before they opened to get in line but once we entered we had to wait. They had to seat smaller groups of people, in line behind us, instead of us. Finally they told us that if we waited another 20 minutes they would know if we could be seated an hour later. I say "finally" because we'd been waiting for more than 50 minutes at that point. So we had waited for 50 minutes (or more) and were told if we waited another 20 we might be seated an hour later. Delicious. I may not have tried the food, but after waiting so long and being left with a gamble I didn't really care to. I'll only consider going back if my party is very small. 2+ hours of waiting is silly. I'm happy the place we ended up going to was great, and got several hundred dollars from us.
(2)Cierra P.
We arrived at Screen Door after seeing all the great reviews. There was an about hour wait for a table, but since we were on vacation and weren't rushed, we decided what the heck. Waited an hour (in the rain) when we were finally sat. Great place, packed with people both at the bar and tables. The kitchen is exposed, which is pretty neat. The restaurant have jars all over with preserved veggies. The coffee was amazing (they serve unlimited Stumptown!) and we also ordered the Bloody Mary which was top notch and spicy. The service was a little slow, but I imagine it was because they are just so darn busy. It took maybe 35-40mins for our food to arrive after ordering. For our entrees, we ordered the fried chicken and waffles and the Catshead biscuit sandwich. Chicken and waffles were delicious (and quite a lot to eat) 3 large chicken pieces piled high. I added the house hot sauce to give them an extra kick. The Catshead was even more delicious! The biscuits was fluffy, served with a piece of fried chicken and topped with creamy-good gravy. I would absolutely recommend both dishes and this restaurant. It was well worth the wait, but we weren't on a schedule or anything.
(5)Rich J.
Sorry, but I really don't know what the fuss is all about with Screen Door. Long wait times to get seated for good, but NOT great food. I grew up in Virginia and spent a lot of time in the Carolinas and parts of the South and I'm very familiar with Southern food. Delta Cafe is better. Probably won't go back. Somewhat overpriced. Service was great though, I have to admit and the drinks were decent.
(2)Timothy C.
The food quality is decent. The biscuits and sausage gravy were unimpressive. The lemon fritters with blackberry sauce sounded better than they were. The servers are friendly and accommodating, and the music and vibe are nice. My fiancée thoroughly enjoyed the huevos rancheros. The smoky brisket on that plate was superb and up her alley. Not as much my ideal. The no-label hot sauce however was amazing! Price is very cheap too. Good value for what they are charging, but be prepared to wait.
(4)Beaverton R.
INCREDIBLE. Only thing is it's best to arrive 30 min before they open. There's a coffee place next door to grab a drink while you wait in line. It's hands down some of the best breakfast/brunch food you will have.
(5)Craig G.
Best fried chicken ever! Just do it!
(5)Suhasini J.
Big portions and bigger on taste! The only thing which I wish would improve is the wait time. Be prepared to wait for an hour at least.
(4)Bob T.
Got here around 6:30pm. No wait for sitting outside. 30 minute wait if we wanted inside. We sat outside. Bloody Mary had good flavor, nice and spicy but barely tasted the alcohol. Chicken strips were good, crunchy and moist. Mac and cheese was really good. Lots of cheesey flavor. Cole slaw and collared greens were both pretty good as well. I thought the jambalaya was on the salty side. Rib eye steak was okay. Ordered medium rare but got medium well. Really wanted to order the chicken and waffles but they don't serve that during dinner. =(
(3)A V.
The Jambalaya in Disneyland tastes better. The Creole Jambalaya itself didn't have much chicken/seafood/andouille in it. It was small pieces of everything mostly rice. Maybe i'm expecting too much b/c i've always had homemade Jambalaya. My BF wasn't impressed by the BBQ brisket either. Although he did enjoy the hushpuppies. No parking only street parking so you gotta walk a bit because there are lots of cars parked on the streets nearby. It was muggy and rainy that day yet it was hot inside the restaurant..trying to replicate the south perhaps. Indifferent service by waitress but I don't think that applies to every other server there, this lady was a zombie. Gave me a dirty water glass that had lipstick on it from the previous customer which was fixed right away. When the nice lady with the water pitcher poured more water into my glass I saw white stuff floating in my glass. If I lived in Portland I wouldn't go back maybe brunch is better? Sorry screen door but you didn't live up to the hype.
(2)Annie N.
I have been to Screen Door for breakfast a few times and dinner twice. it was awesome. The owners are very cool people and the staff is generally happy. The food is FANTASTIC and the service is excellent. YUM.
(5)Shane P.
One of my favorite resturants. I've been quite a few times. If you haven't been, go - just not if you're on any kind of diet.
(5)Paul B.
probably my favorite restaurant in pdx right now. only issue is the crowds, but as long as you know that going in, you're ok (for example, some people may not be into standing outside at 8:40am on a saturday in order to get in for the 9am brunch opening). this week I was there for dinner around 6:30 and the wait was about 15-20 min. however, the food is awesome, the staff is great, the drinks are solid... there's nothing bad to be said here.
(5)Kimberly F.
when we arrived there was a huge crowd of people outside and we knew we had to wait. normally, we don't like waiting long for food, but since we were on vacation and not sure when we would return to portland we decided to wait. tip: while waiting, head over to heart and get some coffee. once we were seated we browsed the menu and settled on the chicken and waffles (sweet potato waffles) and the po'boy made with their housemade andouille sausage. when the food arrived it was unbelievable how much food there was. there was wayyyyy too much food for two people. the chicken was piled high on top of a waffle and the po'boy needed to be smashed down in order to fit it into anyones mouth. in short, portions are huge. the chicken was moist and boneless. i didn't care too much for the breading on the chicken, it was more like a large chicken tender. i prefer the more classic fried chicken. the sweet potato waffle was on point. the po'boy was good, one thing i wish was different was the tomato jam... i wish it were a bit sweeter. it would have then complemented the spicy sausage a bit better.
(4)Barbara R.
I can only echo what others have said; it's worth the wait. I have been twice for dinner and while there is no ambience to speak of and it's quite noisy, the food is fabulous. I couldn't stop thinking about the fried chicken the first time I went and it was every bit as good as I remembered. Best fried chicken ever and I'm not a fan of fried chicken. The mac and cheese was also delicious and everyone at my table was thrilled with their food. And the portions were large and reasonably priced.
(5)Ben D.
I had the no reservation and wait outside 30 minutes before opening system they have here. So I hate to admit that this place is worth the wait! The hush puppies were a bit bland but all the rest was stunning! The crusted fish dishes are to die for.
(5)Maxene A.
Worth the wait! -that's easily said by all, when all is sober! This is the perfect sunday funday brunch start-off or better yet, BEST PLACE to start preparing for another night of melting the walls or killing that hangover! Start your time clocks because an hour wait is a given during peak 8a to noon seating. Get your name on the list and head down to Grand Central Bakery and grab a coffee and head back til the time dwindles down... Skip everything on the menu and order the Fried Chicken and Waffles, and a Bloody Mary! DO IT I say!! The fried chicken at Screen Door is rated top honor in many ways that I have previously read but cannot recall, but the fried chicken is coated in a fantastic crunchy coating with generous amounts of black pepper and spices adding to the amazing contrast of the fluffy sweet potato kind, enough said!!! O and did I mention the friend spicy goodness is stacked 3 high!! THAT'S LEGIT business and they know their business. HIGHLIGHT: you'll wait, order Fried chicken and waffles, drink a bloody mary.... relax, you have passed phase one: the long line!
(5)Travis M.
Great food and good portions. Biscuits and gravey were some of the best I've had.
(4)Brigitte O.
Delicious comfort food. The sweet potato fries were so delicious. Also thoroughly enjoyed the salad as all the ingredients were fresh just like we used to make from the garden. Also got BBQ brisket which was tender and rivaled my favorite BBQ place back home. Parking is street parking in the local area but we didn't mind the walk because this part of Oregon is absolutely gorgeous. Stopped here to eat on the way to California from Washington for a good meal on the road and was not disappointed. Would come again!
(4)Allen C.
During my visit to portland, this was my favorite restaurant because...Chicken and Waffles. I've been missing out. I've never had chicken and waffles before until I ate at Screen Door. Its an amazing combination. I can't really compare it to other chicken and waffle places but all I know that this place place had really good chicken and waffles and the other dishes we had were good too. -Praline Bacon: Bacon with maple syrup, pecans, brown sugar and cayenne. This dish was really addicting. I wasn't blown away when I took my first bite because I was expecting crispy bacon. I love my bacon crispy but for some reason I kept eating it and wanted more. The bacon had amazing flavors. It was perfectly sweet and salty. I couldn't stop eating it. The pecans added a very nice crunch the bacon and all the flavors worked well together, nothing overpowered the other. -Mac & Cheese: Amazing mac & cheese. It had a nice crispy top and it was nice and gooey in the inside. Very flavorful and delicious. -Chicken and Waffles (2 pieces of chicken): Broooooooo, my life has changed. I dream about the time I had chicken and waffles here. The sweet potato waffles were perfect. It was crispy and wasn't too sweet and complimented the chicken well. The chicken was absolutely perfect. It was seasoned perfectly, perfect crispiness, juicy, tender, and just mouth watering. The syrup wasn't too sweet. The chicken and waffles here would probably one of my "last meals on earth". Just be careful and don't order two pieces of chicken unless you starving. I decided to get two because I was starving. I was put into a chicken and waffle induced coma afterwards. I slept the 15 minutes back to our friends house and couldn't move. My only complaint was that the service was kind of slow. The waitress didn't know the beers well enough. She brought back the wrong beer and took it away and I had to reorder a different one. The food took a while to come out and I was disappointed at first, but now that I know how good it is I am willing to wait a LONG time for those chicken and waffles. This is a HIGHLY recommended place. Next time I go to Portland I need to make sure I visit twice so I can get chicken and waffles, KO, and then go again to try another dish.
(5)Rebecca G.
Screen door, you've never disappointed me. Every dish I've had has been worth eating, and much better than bland.
(4)phil w.
This place was just perfect for me. Sit outside on the warm evening and enjoy a slice of excellent comfort food. If they're offering fried okra that evening, do yourself a favor and order it. It's fantastic. I was actually quite amazed at the size of the servings. I'm a big eater, and I'll say this is a big meal. My buttermilk fried chicken was so good that it rightfully put me into a food coma mood. My girlfriend ordered the screen door plate (choice of three sides) and I couldn't believe how much food that was. I would definitely be back when I stumble into Portland again.
(5)Eric S.
The Screen Door rocks! This funky little eatery on East Burnside in Portland is incredible. I eat here every time I'm in Portland, and am regularly blown away by my meals. From brisket to hush puppies, to pulled pork and buttermilk fried chicken tenders, the food here is straight from the south! Plan to get to this joint early, as the line goes out the door and around the corner (especially on weekend nights). But believe me, it's worth whatever wait there is!
(5)Rachel S.
The screen door has some of the best food in Portland. We got there right before 5 and there was a line all the way down the street. Luckily when we didn't have to wait after the doors opened because there were enough tables for everyone that was in line. Anyway the food was great! So delicious and flavorful! I ordered the 3 side meal with cornbread and my boyfriend ordered the fried chicken. So yummy. It was all a little carb and cheese heavy but that's what you get when you order this style food. We knew what we were in for! Again it was delicious
(5)Rich H.
I'm not sure I even need to write this because their business is doing so well, it might not even matter. You should go here if you get the chance for brunch on the weekend. NOTE: portions are huge, you should consider sharing ANYTHING you order. Our table highlights were the Apple Fritters, Corn Beef Hash (best I've ever had) and the Po' Boy with extra napkins. Best breakfast I've ever had with flavorful and original recipes. Wait staff was great, waited maybe an hour to get the table.
(5)Denise C.
Amazing! Awesome. Yummy. Can't say enough about this place. Food and service are great. Prices are affordable. Portions are HUGE. We are always to full to eat dessert. Last time we went we started with dessert. You should try it. Dessert rocks! Go early or late to avoid the wait.
(4)Gene B.
I'm always jealous that PDX has so many great breakfast spots and my hometown SEA has so few. When a place has serve yourself free coffee at the counter, you know you're in for a wait. It was well worth it. We lucked out and scored a booth with a good vantage point of looking into the kitchen, well actually the whole restaurant can look back into the kitchen. I ordered the corned beef hash, but kept 2nd guessing my choice as I saw order after order of chicken and waffles come out of the kitchen. Oh well, next time. The hash was terrific, big cubes of corned beef brisket with perfectly seasoned potatoes, onions and spinach ( a first for me in hash, but it worked) to add some color and texture. It was huge and a great deal. Service was great, which was quite a feat considering how jam packed the place was.
(4)Mike R.
Heirloom tomato salad - top notch. Fried chicken - fantastic. Long lines? Yeah, esp. at brunch, it's one of those places, lots of people want to eat there, but not just because lots of people want to eat there, because it's REALLY good. Consistently good (three visits from out of town over two years).
(4)Stevio x.
Dinner was good. If your comfort food is one that's deep friend, you're going to love it here. The menu is almost overwhelmingly broad, but you can always do as I did and order the Screen Door Sampler. Good way to limit the breading and fried process for much of the DELiCIOUS food. Our waitress was terrific.
(3)Allison P.
Delicious! No need to say more than past reviewers. We ordered chicken tenders to start and those are hands down the best chicken fingers I have ever had. Main dish was pork shoulder plate, super tender and those gigantic beans are so good! Also got a screen door plate, we chose fried cat fish, salad, and jambalaya. Everything was so good and the portions are huge. We ordered a lot on purpose so we can have leftover for lunch :) 2000+ reviewers can't be wrong, go there, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Kelly M.
There's nothing better than Portland brunch... And the last few times I've been to Screen Door, I did not have to suffer the customary wait that accompanies most good breakfast places! What a relief to be able to walk right in, start sipping coffee and order some grub. The vegetarian biscuits and gravy were excellent and they had many appetizing scrambles to choose from. (Many yelpers have noted the steep(er) prices of the Screen Door, but it seemed par for the course for breakfast prices).
(4)John A.
Great southern cooking. We started off with the hush puppies and they was great. We also had the pork belly appetizer that was a special and it was to die for, paired up with pears and polenta. But now to the best, they have the best fried chicken in town. Two good size boneless chicken breast great flavor and the two sides was mashed potato and cole slaw both very good. My friend got the pork chop and it also was good. I recommend this place and it's worth the wait in line.
(5)Cora L.
The food and cocktails are amazing but the wait, given the restaurant's current popularity, is unreasonable. At 8:45 pm recently the wait was 45 minutes. At 5:00 pm once, the wait was 2 hours.
(4)Carrie M.
Cute, funky and really pretty large with the back patio and bar in full swing as it was the Saturday morning i visited. I would have been there right at the 9 am opening except that the Burnside Bridge decided to pop up and let a paddle steamer through. By the time I got there, around 9:25, it was already on an hour-long wait! But wait I did, and it was really more like half an hour. And SO worth it. I hate waiting in line and having a mediocre meal but this one was memorable, bordering on singular. I had a delicious fried oyster Benedict -- four nice sized fried oysters, perfect Hollandaise sauce, crispy bacon as a bonus meat and toasted english muffins, A far too large serving of yummy oven roasted potatoes and I washed it down with a spicy bloody mary. My dining companion, who I met in line, had the tower stack of perfectly fried chicken and waffle, and we shared. She had coffee, asked for a shot of bourbon, and was brought a small tumbler full! Size matters, even with perfect food, and this was take-some-home sized. Friendly, cheeky service. It's worth a bit of time in line.
(5)Zenia R.
abundantly delicious food, had the brisket, it was perfect. should have gone with my classic Manhattan but had the Rhett butler instead, it was so so
(5)Anna V.
Finally at Screen Door. And yeah, the seriously incredible fried chicken and sweet potato waffles were worth the wait. Creole Pecan Pie - 'nough said.
(5)Andy C.
Fantastic food (the fried chicken is AMAZING), great service. The only challenge my wife and I have when deciding to come is how long the wait is! If you haven't been here, you need to go.
(5)Sabrina P.
Tried to go here on a weekend, but it was so packed we held off until a Monday morning - no line! For the amount of hype this place gets, I wish the food lived up to the expectations. Ordered the fluffy biscuits with gravy, bacon, and scrambled eggs, and my boyfriend got the praline bacon waffle. My biscuits weren't soft or fluffy, and were actually a little hard. My boyfriend's waffle was delicious, but too sweet for my liking.
(3)Anna C.
Go here for mouthwatering and delicious fried chicken in a loud, family friendly environment (think lots of toddlers) with larger portions (emphasis on why the entrees are a bit more pricey). The wait is long every night at every time but you can order drinks while you wait. Worth the trip, but take your family/friends not a date and leave the vegetarian gluten free at home.
(4)Rian H.
This is probably my favorite restaurant in Portland. Every time I come here I am not disappointed. When I first came I was a little wary about being vegetarian at a southern style restaurant. There are no worries with their weekly rotation of vege-friendly organic selections. I always order the 'Screen Plate' which gives you the option of 3 sides from either the menu and weekly organics along with a huge slab of cornbread. I always want to come back here to see what's new for the week. The servers are always friendly, helpful and very laid back. The only problem is this place gets packed quickly, so be prepared to wait!
(5)Mark W.
Oh how I love The Screen Door...... Yes, there's always a wait, but it is soooooo worth it. In the past three years, I think I have had almost everything on their menu. If you're going for the first time I would order hush puppies for an appetizer and fried chicken for an entree. The are the best I've ever had anywhere...and I've eaten a lot of Southern food. Fantastic!!
(5)Marty X.
Hells yes. Great for meat eaters AND vegetarians alike. The service was friendly and accommodating, the food bursting with flavor, and the entire experience a delight. The prices were also reasonable. This is the type of brunch spot that makes you feel good about your life, even before your breakfast is delivered. I ordered a mushroom scramble, thought it was the type that didn't have eggs but I guess I didn't look at it very well. Well, my mistake was MY GAIN because it was absolutely incredible. I really want to know how to make a scramble like this. My Mom had a tremendous dish of banana-pecan-maple french toast. I love that they dress the FT for you rather than just giving you a cup to dress yourself. I love the view of the bustling kitchen. I love you, Screen Door.
(5)Wiley G.
Don't remember what I had, but it was excellent. I remember my breakfast being more like $9, and it didn't even have any meat in it... Still well worth it.
(5)Jim A.
I walked out of here repeating one thing to myself. The only thing I could think was "Don't puke. Don't puke. Don't puke." I had just (over) eaten the BEST damn chicken and waffle of my life, and didn't want to lose it on the sidewalk. I could go into more detail, but what else could I say that the other 100+ yeeps haven't already said? You need to know one thing about Screen Door. It's a Portland must. If you are coming in for a visit you should do everything within your power, including selling your first born or even offer up your wife's services to a millionaire, to come here.
(5)Patricia W.
Excellent! So full.....must nap now.
(5)Orian I.
Brunch time Portlander and yes we do love our brunch! I've decided any place that doesn't have a wait is not worth it's muster. that being said. holy mouth gasim. yes, there was a wait but thankfully not raining, sat on the little porch sipping on marys and chatting. inside hustle and bustle with the smells wrapping me up like cocoon. ordered the fried oyster Benedict, praline bacon and chicken and waffles. First of off..seriously large portions that chicken and waffles could have served 4 not even kidding. I think all bacon should taste like that, perfectly salty and sweet. I was making porno sounds and rolling my eyes back into my head as a noshed on that right oyster benny. seriously? that's the best thing I've put in my mouth(that's what she said) the chicken was slightly hot awesome, crisp batter paired with that sweet potato waffle was a delight. The service was impressive fast, funky and fun. exactly what I'd want. All in all it was a quintessential brunch must.
(5)Matt K.
Came back to Portland to help my cousin move into her new condo. Where to eat, she asked...SCREEN DOOR!!! This time we had the Sticky Buns (we got the last order), Fried Chicken and Waffles (have eaten this for 3 meals now), Bacon and Chard scramble (eggs were so fluffy and flavor was great), and of course the praline bacon (need i say anything about this?). My opinion has not changed about this establishment. I will be coming back EVERY time that I am in Portland visiting. My only disappointment is that there isn't one in the Bay Area in California. =(
(5)Jennifer T.
Wow, from top of the line to very disappointing - maybe it was an off day. Well it must have been, because the fried chicken was so overcooked that the ends of the chicken breast on all three pieces were hard as a rock, and dry and tough inside. I was SO disappointed! The waffle, too, was haphazardly made, and nothing like the crispy, hot and melting inside like I first had it a few months back. Sigh. The husband had a good meal with biscuit & fried chicken & gravy - he didn't mind the overcooked chicken at all. And he really liked the gravy!
(2)Richard L.
Finally found some good food in pdx and by far the best. So far I have tried the dinner beef brisket, shephards pie, and shrimp with grits. Being a huge food snob and critic, I have nothing bad to say. Food was amazing and unexpectedly good since many restaurants failed me in pdx. Another side note, I had a lot of coworkers (about 20) from the south who agreed this was one of the best southern food they had. Kudos to Screen door!
(5)Danny S.
3 words, 1 reaction: Buttermilk Fried Chicken and HOT DAMN!. Thank you, have a nice day.
(5)Sonya F.
We almost left because the place was packed and we were told it was an hour wait but we decided to stick it out and boy were we glad! The most amazing southern cooking I have had in the Northwest. I am originally from the South and was a little skeptical but they "put their foot in it"! We had catfish and it was excellent! The fried oysters were some of the best I have ever had hands down. They didn't skimp on the seasoning. The Mac & Cheese will knock your socks off and you must get a piece of that Red Velvet cake. You will have to get it to go because you will be much too full. Great food, great portions, decent prices. We will travel back to Portland just to eat here again!
(5)Giovanna M.
OMG. This is my new favorite restaurant. I spent some time in the south, and came to really enjoy the good home cookin' I experienced there. So imagine the treat I got when I ate here. So delicious. So well thought out. Organic, local food is what they prepare here. I love that! DRINKS: The Porch Swing Lemonade is just beyond amazing - the muddled sage was a new twist I'd not experienced in a drink before. I liked it. A lot. I tasted the blackberry drink my husband ordered (it's got tequila) and that was good too. But I'll stick with the tricked out lemonade. FOOD: Their catfish is sheer perfection. I don't think I've ever had it done so beautifully. The Collard Greens were the best I've ever eaten and would loved to have had seconds. The mashed potatoes & gravy were very tasty! AMBIANCE: The staff is super sweet and friendly. The decor is modern rustic, slightly bohemian. I really liked the vibe, from the aesthetics of it as well as the people and flow. Dang, even the other patrons are awesome! The ladies bathroom was clean, however it's a one-person room, so you may have a little line. Try not to wait 'til the last minute to go is my best advice. You will probably have a bit of a wait, but both times we came it was under 15 minutes and they'll let you drink while you wait. They'll even offer you water. But order your alcohol from the bar, and bring it back to where you're waiting. We ate here twice in our week-long visit. I wish I could have more right now. I tell you as I sit here writing this review another week later, I'm salivating at the memory of how awesome their food is. I can't wait to move to Portland; I am sure I'll be a true regular in no time at all.
(5)Priscilla T.
The line is ridiculous, but the food is delicious. Ordered the Chicken and Waffles and the Pork Belly Benedict. Both were delicious and came in good portions. Loves this place and it's a must go, just make sure to arrive a bit earlier because the wait time can take quite a while!
(5)Rachel C.
Landed here by a karmic sign... Street parking, typical in-neighborhood dining logistics. Waited a really long time for a table, waited equally as long for my drink as well as food. Had the porch swing lemonade... That was good. The Orchard salad was delicious but no light fare... It was rich and a little heavy for a salad... Plus I added the praline bacon (why not?!).. So kind of my fault... But the flavors were great. Atmosphere was typical Portland grub spot, chill and yummy. I'd go back sometime...
(4)Catticut P.
Screen Door doesn't really need another positive review, but yeah, their fried chicken and waffles was a game changer for me. You could share this between 3 people, easy. Their fried oyster Benedict is an excellent runner-up, but they really need to work on their Bloody Mary - or this could just be a difference of tastes. Other than that, well worth the wait, the space is open and welcoming, and it's understandable why this place is Portland's most happening brunch spot. Oh, and get there early on Sunday to start the queue, unless you have a really good book.
(4)Alysen P.
40 min. Is well worth the wait! Very yummy drinks and food.
(5)Ben W.
Waited about 1-hour this morning for breakfast, we considered going somewhere else to eat just because of the long wait, but we decided to stick it out and we are glad that we did! This was my first trip to Screen Door and it definitely lived up to the hype. I ordered Fried Chicken & Waffles, and my girlfriend got the Fried Oyster Eggs Benedict, both were great dishes! The fried chicken was amazing! I think next time we will try to show up earlier and hopefully avoid the long wait.
(5)Carrie R.
My husband and I decided to check this place out after reading so many positive reviews on yelp. We were not disappointed! When we arrived this past Saturday around 7 pm the place was packed. For a table of two it took about 45 minutes. It was well worth the wait because the buttermilk fried chicken & beef brisket was the best we have ever had. In fact even the side dishes were incredible which was creamy mashed potatoes & gravy, bacon potato salad, and bacon and green beans. Do you see a bacon theme here? It was a lot of food (enough for a small lunch portion for both of us the next day). The best part was sitting at the bar counter and watching the chefs in the kitchen and also watching the cocktails being made. The atomsphere was warm and friendly and this is a great spot for large groups to eat out at. I love the surrounding Portlandia suburb that we had to park our car & check out. If I could live anywhere in Portland, it would definitely be within walking distance of Screen Door. This is on my very short list of favorite restaurants that Portland has to offer. There are so many other dishes that I can't wait to go back and try...
(5)Gad F.
Huge portions even for the appetizer plates and a very long line at the door even in the pouring rain. Bring an umbrella even if no one else does. I think the huge portions are the key here. Very reasonably priced for the HUGE portions. Did I say huge? The food is fine but not great. The chicken seems to be the best thing on the menu and it has a nice crunch but is pretty heavy-handed on the pepper. It is fun and the service is hurried but friendly. Try the chicken and bring a HUGE appetite.
(3)Scott P.
Wow! Simply amazing. And the price was very reasonable. Fun, creative drinks. Amazing food. Appetizers through desserts. Wow. Don't miss the specials board! We did, but maybe that was good. Already too much great stuff to pick from on the menu. Well worth the 1 hour wait! And, it was helpful to have a drink in hand and some nice weather to hang out in until our table was ready. Food was quick to arrive after ordering. In general they do not take reservations, but if you have a group of 6 or more, give them a call... if they don't already have a couple big groups scheduled they may take a reservation.
(5)Carolann L.
All I can say is--wow. We walked quite a bit to get to this restaurant, not knowing the closest the MAX would take us was the Lloyd center. We got there and were seated right away (we got lucky, as soon as we sat down a huge line formed) and took a glance at the menu. I got the fried chicken, which was boneless white meat cooked to perfection, and my husband got the pecan trout in this tasty mustard sauce. The food was brilliant and we had great service. Atmosphere was really nice and relaxing. Would love to go back!
(5)Carsolina W.
I ordered the shrimp and grits and they were very runny. Also the Macaroni and Cheese was not great. I feel like a lot of non southerner's amp this restaurant up....As a true southern gal I was not impressed.
(2)Jim S.
WHY would you change your fried chicken recipe??!?! (Play "Price is Right" sad music) We hadn't been back to PDX for a couple years and stopped in to Screen Door last night. I was horrified to find that the fried chicken is now boneless and the batter is much more peppery than it used to be. Still good, not what it used to be. 45 minute wait at 8 pm on a Tuesday. No thanks.
(3)Stacy M.
We went with a large party on a Saturday morning and the service was great. The waiter was laid back and organized. I had a breakfast po-boy and it was delicious. The only down side was that it was so much food I couldn't finish it all!
(5)Aaron S.
decent food...long wait. my husband's eggs were a little overcooked.
(4)Jennifer J.
While I LOVE the food, I don't like the fact that if you get there before your group, even if there is an hour wait for a table, they won't put you on the list. I hope they wise up with that one, or I'm going to start saying that I'm alone, and then when I get seated say "Oh look! A friend of mine is here, what a coincidence!".
(3)J A.
I love this place. I agree the wait is a bit much, but who cares once you get your meal! Not a place for a private dinner since it can be packed and always is...but again, the food is worth it.
(5)Jessica P.
What can I say? Hands-down the best meal I ate while in Portland. Arrived right at 5:30 on a very rainy Monday night. The last four-top had just been filled so we had a thirty-minute wait. No big deal. Great music, nice lighting, helpful staff, menus to check out while you waited. When we were seated we already had drink orders in mind, so I tried my first-ever mint julep. I'm sure it was marvelous but now I know I'm too prissy for bourbon-based drinks! Our server was super-helpful and answered all of the questions that my group had. Two of us opted for Screen Door Plates, one had the special (chicken wings) and the last had... something meaty? Anyways, I built my own Screen Door Plate from the list of vegetable specials (which changes all the time based on what's fresh- see a huge sample of what you might encounter on their website). I had creamed kale (amazing), roasted carrots and sunchokes (amazing) and butternut squash bread pudding (amazing), served with a big slice of cornbread. If Daily Grill almost turned me into a carnivore, the food at Screen Door probably could have converted everyone in a twenty-block radius to vegetarianism. We were way too stuffed for dessert (vegetables have never been so filling) but next time I would take it to go and eat it for breakfast the next day! I can't recommend Screen Door enough, especially for vegetarians.
(5)Elena G.
The Screen Door lives up to its hype. The food is tasty, the service is good, and the atmosphere is original. Aside from having to wait 45 minutes for a table one time, and then waiting well beyond a normal amount of time for our food to arrive, I don't have any complaints. Just make sure you try to make reservations, or be prepared to wait on a busy night. I gravitate toward the Screen Door Plate, which gives you the chance to try three of their sides. Of the sides, I highly recommend ordering the jambalaya, the mac & cheese, and something from their local/organic vegetable sides. The pulled pork sammy is pretty damn good as well. Be prepared to feel like a pig, because these plates aren't small, and slowing down doesn't feel like an option. The best appetizers are the fried chicken tenders and the fried okra. I always opt to eat outside, on the small corner patio. The inside gets a little loud, so dining outside is a bit more enjoyable and intimate. They have some great candlelit picnic style, wood tables and benches. If you like Southern cuisine be sure to give Screen Door a chance.
(4)Angie Q.
We waited nearly an hour to be seated for brunch and it was worth it! I ordered a fried chicken biscuit sandwich with gravy and potatoes with a side of praline bacon. My friend ordered a andouille sausage scramble. We both thoroughly enjoyed our meal! Given the biscuit wasn't as good as Pine State's, both the fried chicken and gravy were better! And the praline bacon was amazing! I will visit again!
(5)emily r.
Yes yes yes. The 1.5 wait was sooooo worth it today (new years day). Our server was amazing, the food was killer, and the coffee was freeflowing. I wish I could eat the decorative pickles.
(5)Joey Y.
I was about to write about how amazing their fried chicken was. How I never tried fried chicken that was so tender, juicy, and buttery as Screen Door's. And how their mashed potatoes melted in my mouth before they even reached my tongue. But I'm not going to write about their food. Why? Well, read the rest of 700 reviews. So in order to pitch in this conversation, I'm going to write about something that might save you time when you go here. I arrived here at 4:55 in order to save seats for my family (3 adults, 2 children, 2 infants). The guy told me it was going to be at least an hour wait. Ok. That's reasonable. I waited and waited. After an hour, the guy comes back and ensures me that I'll get seated within 20 to 30 minutes. Fine. I can wait. Around 6, four people came in and wrote their names on the list. Within 15 mins I was seated with my family; and at the same time the party of 4 was seated ALONG with another party of 5. SOOO. Go here around 6:30ish and you can find seats quickly. FYI, I went here on a Saturday. I'm giving them 4 stars not for the wait but for the service. The waitress (I think she was very stressed out or something) was very pushy and passive-aggressive. I guess that happens when you table has 4 kids but don't make it so obvious.
(4)RJ L.
Incredible fried chicken, incredible everything. Even my drink was mixed perfectly. There are very few places that I would say are worth a wait upwards of 90 minutes, and this is one of them.
(5)Kay R.
Worth the wait to get in. Just trust me with this. It's absolutely amazing. Delicious. Orgasimic :)
(5)Kimberly V.
No offense to the Southern transplants who love the dish, but cole slaw is gross. Let's take a vegetable notorious for causing flatulence and slather it with a rancid-flavored cream to make the eater even more gassy, maybe throw in a little nausea, too. That's a great idea! Now pass the pipe. But after my pulled pork sandwich experience at Screen Door, where the cole slaw is spread onto the moist pork bits to elevate the taste to Elvis-like greatness, I must admit that I was uninformed. Mistakes were made. I did not have gustatory relations with that side dish in the past, but now I am open for negotiation with cole slaw as long as it's made like it is here. Seriously, what doesn't Screen Door cook well? Veggies? Seasonal side dish menu. Starches? Corn bread and potatoes in all sorts of forms, all of them amazing. Desserts? Don't be mean to the ice cream! To sweeten the pot, they have a fabulous wine selection and one of the friendliest waitstaffs I've ever encountered, in Portland or any place. On the one occasion my order got lost in the brunch shuffle, the meal was comped and the bacon waffles were still the food equivalent of listening to Boston with the volume turned up all the way. Screen Door - it's more than a feeling.
(5)Jacob G.
All these reviews make this place sound good, so I went here on a Saturday morning. It took a while to be seated as the place was busy as it should be. I totally recommend the bananas foster french toast, as it was pretty damn good. It was a pretty big portion, too. Maybe I was really hungry but it was tasty. I'll go here for dinner one of these days but all I can say is that it's good brunch food.
(4)Brent F.
I should have gone here sooner, but finally I got to enjoy the screen door Sunday brunch that I've heard so many raves about. The bloody mary was spicy and strong - the way it should be! The portions were LARGE. The staff was ON IT. And the chicken and waffles looks like a cardiologists dream. (Not my speed, but looks good if you're into that.) I like their open kitchen and the warm feeling of the space. Very Portland and very inviting. : )
(4)Janet H.
A great place to feed your soul. Large portions of yummy good food! I want to try breakfast there the next time I am in Portland
(4)Katie D.
If you asked me my favorite restaurant in Portland, I'm not sure but the Screen Door is definitely high on the list. It's one of the few places I return time and time again because it's so dang good! The staff is great...are they all co-owners or something because they all seem so friendly and happy and proud of what they're accomplishing there. The menu is small, but everything on it is delicious, and there are daily specials to choose from. My favorite is to get the plate of sides..it's so hard to choose from the 20 or so sides they have, whether I want cajun rice and beans, delicious mac n cheese, greens, or maybe some froo froo organic local produce. I went there for brunch and it was amazing as well. I got some sort of mixed drink called a brandy milk punch which was the tastiest brunch cocktail I've ever had.
(5)Sinoun S.
Super portion for your money..bit of a wait..but I'd say its worth the wait..Had your basic macaroni,restarant style..there fish special of the day..it was def. Filling
(4)Fatina S.
food was good and the waitress was very attentive. i was craving catfish and i was very satisfied. only thing was that i remember noticing the piece of cornbread that the party next to us had on their plate prior to us receiving our food. i swear on everything that i got the left over cornbread they had, that kind of through me off, but the rest of the food was ok
(3)Adrienne I.
If I had enough money I would eat here every night. By far the BEST fried chicken I have ever had and I dont take fried chicken lightly!
(5)Chris B.
Redonkulously good.
(5)Dennis S.
If you like great, southern comfort food, there is no better place. The wait, a little ridiculous maybe. But that speaks to it's popularity; it's worth the wait. I had the fried chicken and loved every bite. I also loved the macaroni and cheese and collard green sides. The service was good, even though we were sitting at the bar. I think this would be a great date place: the wait gives you time to talk, the food is amazing and a great conversation starter and then there are decent dessert places nearby if you don't decide to stay and try one of their's.
(5)Michelle S.
REAL Hollandaise. To me that is a HUGE issue. I asked for a taste before looking any further than Eggs Benedict. Our server was nonplussed and back in a snap with a dollop of REAL Hollandaise. From there it just got better. I had the Eggs Benedict with bacon and OYSTERS!!!! The oysters were deep fried in a crispy, light, crunchy, corn meal breading. They were perfectly cooked and worked beautifully with the rest of the Benedict. My dining partner got over medium eggs, (PERFECTLY cooked) with sausage milk gravy and beautiful biscuits. Huge portions. Great attention to service. We sat next to the kitchen where I was able to observe the making, by hand, of each deep fried breaded chicken breast, and mound of eggs that was ordered, cooked, and delivered with speed and good natured staff. The only down side was the potatoes. Bland, small red new potatoes. Not bad. Not great. I want to go back there again, soon! Oh & BIG PLUS is their doggie boxes are GREEN recycled and compostable paper. Good work!
(4)Thilo W.
I absolutely loved the food at this place. Went there the other night and we had the following: Hushpuppies -- a good version with corn kernels, but a bit dry Fried oysters -- wow, great -- perfect cornmeal crust Mac and Cheese -- very tasty, well-cooked pasta and a crispy top Shrimp and Grits -- very good, wish there were more grits Pulled Pork Sandwich -- this was truly great, the best version I have had, the fries with it were superb as well Side dish platter -- very good greens, beets, and corn fritters and came with a very tasty cornbread as well Peach pie -- an individual pie about 5 inches in diameter with a very nice vanilla ice cream, great pie crust. Blueberry/Lemon layer cake -- This is the best layer cake I have had in a long while, deeelicious! Overall, great food in a very busy setting. Don't be in a hurry since service can take awhile. It is, however definitely worth the wait.
(5)Abe I.
I wish to come down with some sort of malady restraining my freedom of movement, in which case I would have that special privilege of the infirm to make random & time sensitive requests. To appease at such a time of distress, I would have to take the opportunity to order out for a to go order of Screen Door mac and cheese. To die for. Seriously. You must go. I must go, again. If you choose to eat out, then you should not be disappointed. It is not cheap by any means, but you will get what you pay for. An excellent selection of Southern food that did not fail to please a good friend of mine, a harsh critic from the South, as well. The southern themed drinks are not to be passed up.
(4)Jeff M.
my friends always recommended this place if I ever visited the Portland area.. and it did not disappoint.. BEST fried chicken n mash potatoes n collard greens I have ever eaten.. had to wait a good 45 mins but boy was it worth it.. will def be back!!
(5)C G.
I LOVE the Screen Door. Everything I've had is delicious, from the hush puppies, mac&cheese (DEVINE!), butter lettuce salad, etc., etc., etc. Highly recommended, but be prepared to wait in line for a table!
(5)Andrea V.
How do you say something that hasn't been said in the previous 692 reviews? One of my new faves. Dad loved it, although it turns out he still doesn't like okra, even if it's deliciously fried and served with perfect remoulade. Turns out I love Screen Door's okra more than any other in town. Delish drinks. Get there close to opening time, or you'll be waiting. Screen Door goes on my list of solid favorites.
(4)Brady R.
THis place is great! I had the Brisket Hash with horseradish sauce for breakfast. It was awesome! I had 6 people with me for Saturday breakfast and it was crowded. But, the service was great and super-friendly. They got us our meal and kept us full of coffe and water. I am from Eugene, but can't wait to get back to screeen door!
(5)Ricardo C.
Trust the reviews! I'm a HUGE breakfast person and this place is officially my favorite breakfast place. The pancakes are SUPERB! I've been to so many breakfast joints in the northwest looking for a place like this. The wait is long, no doubt, but it was worth the 45 minutes I spent standing out in the cold! I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!!
(5)Adam R.
The concept of chicken and waffles is beyond me, seems like a very strange combination. Where does the syrup go? Regardless, as Alissa R (who only knows the greatness of the biscuits and gravy because I shared with her) pointed out "this place gets it right." Heaping amounts of great food and enough variety to satisfy the most finicky eaters. If possible, order one item and share it with someone as their servings can easily fill 2 people. Either that, go nuts and have some awesome leftovers for later. 4 stars instead of 5 since the hostess and server were both rude, hostess more so. We waited 30 minutes and didn't complain once, don't take out your anger on us because its busy.
(4)Coral C.
MMMMMMMMMMMMM. Met up with a couple friends from out of town to check out Screen Door. I had heard a lot of good things about the place, and was not disappointed. We rolled in around 12:45 or so, and as anticipated, there was quite a long wait list going. The hostess said it would be around 45 minutes, but again, we knew there would be a wait, so we just hung out and caught up with our friends. However, we ended up being sat in about 25 minutes, so kudos to that! All the food was really good, my only reason for 4 stars is the service was a little spotty. The food didn't come out together, my partners waffles being dropped at least 5 minutes after the first plate of pancakes was. Had to flag the server down for more syrup and coffee/soda refills...but no big deal. It's a mellow kinda place, and we got mellow kinda service. More please :) MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.
(4)Krista T.
Will it shock you to know that I'm a wee impatient? No? Ok, then. Screen Door is one of the very few places in PDX that I will actually wait to get a table for breakfast. It is THAT good. They are open for breakfast on weekends only, hence the massive crowd huddled outside. They've got a pretty big space (and outside seating for the few summer months here) so waiting and seating always moves surprisingly quick. When looking at the menu I suggest you ignore the fact that all signs point to excessive calories, thunder thighs, and very, very full stomachs. It is down home cooking and its fantastic. I actually never understood chicken and waffles until Screen Door. I get it now. I had also never even know about something called praline maple bacon. Let me just go ahead and repeat that for you: PRALINE MAPLE BACON. Its like a bacony, breakfasty dessert. Genius. I also recently stopped in for dinner. It rocked since there was no line or wait and the food was just as awesome! Come hungry since they don't hold back on the portions.
(5)Michelle C.
Screen Door, you had me at praline bacon. This place is just off the hook! The service was exceptional, and the food was just fabulous. We are still raving about our first recent experience at Screen Door. I intentionally did not over eat on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day only to save my calories for Screen Door the day after. And OMG, it was so worth it! The fried chicken and waffles were better than Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles! And I loved me some Roscoe's up until I had my first tasting at Screen Door. These waffles weren't just any kind of waffles. They were sweet potato waffles! The fried chicken was phenomenal... it was just the right amount of crunchy, peppery fried goodness that coated the most moist and tender chicken. We also had the brisket hash and the apple bacon cheddar biscuits, which were all freakin' delicious. We also ordered the praline bacon, but unfortunately they forgot to bring it out. But by the time I realized they forgot it, I was so stuffed that I couldn't imagine putting anything else in my mouth. So it worked out well, but I am still disappointed that we didn't get to try what I initially wanted to visit Screen Door for. I am looking forward to our next Portland trip just to visit Screen Door again for the praline bacon and other tasty menu options.
(5)Mary M.
I have consistently had amazing food and service at Screen Door. The wait can get a little long, but in my opinion worth it. Our 1 year old had a total meltdown there and we had get breakfast to go. They were completely understanding and comped our meal, which was above and beyond. We will continue to recommend this restaurant to locals and visitors as one of Portland's must go places.
(5)Mike D.
I have eaten here a few times for both breakfast and dinner. Ya gotta try the chicken and waffles. It's bomb.com . Pretty much everything on the menu is great. They have a cool bar with some interesting drink options. The restaurant is very popular and small so it can be a wait at times. For dinner they take reservations, but on weekends and for brunch you just have to wait it out. Because of this, if you don't have a reservation I would suggest a party of 4 or less. Big groups are going to be hard to for them to serve well and accomodate because of the size of the restaurant. They have always done a good job and have great options for good hearty southern food. Trust me the chicken and waffles is the way to go! And the Mac and Cheese is great too.
(5)Sally Q.
I can't remember the last time I had fried chicken just because I tend to stay away from fried foods, but tonight I made an exception. I had there Monday special, fried chicken wings with a side of rice and red beans and corn bread. The fried chicken was really tasty, the beans were good, but the corn bread didn't have enough of that corn taste to it. The atmosphere was pleasant, romantic even. The service was pleasant and we were seated quickly since we arrived a bit late in the night. I definitely recommend eating here if you're in this part of town. I'll be coming back for more!
(4)Michael S.
First time here place was packed with groups we had a party of 2 sat down quick food was so good I was double fisting the utensils had the fries chicken amazing!!!!!!!
(4)Z Z.
Screen Door has been on my list for a long time, ever since I first heard about the organics menu. This is the perfect place for my husband and I to visit as he loves Cajun/Southern spicy food and I love organic/locally grown/vegetarian options. We waited until my folks were in town who also love Cajun/Southern food and I am happy that we did as everyone loved their food! Both my husband and my mom ordered the jambalaya. The both really loved it, in fact my husband commented several times during the meal how good it was. He does not do that often so, that automatically places Screen Door high up on my radar. I did not taste the jambalaya but from what both my mom and husband said it was decently spicy, had a nice smoky flavor to it and the sausage was actually good. The portions were fairly large, neither of them finished it. Both my step dad and I ordered the much talked about Screen Door plate which is any three side dishes or any three items from the organics menu along with a piece of corn bread. My step dad got the catfish, the cucumber salad, and the melon salad. He enjoyed everything, he did mention that the catfish was quite crispy though but aside from that he did not have any complaints. I ordered the cucumber salad, the melon salad, and the summer squash salad. Everything was delicious and the portions were all quite large. I couldn't finish everything. The cucumber salad was light, had a nice sweetness to it, and the ingredients all meshed together well. It had different kinds of tomatoes, a bit of shredded cheese, and cucumbers of course. I am not sure what else is in it, the most recent organics menu isn't online yet but it was all fresh, tasty, and quite good. My step dad enjoyed it, he said it was different than what he was expecting but overall he enjoyed it. The melon said was completely different than what both my step dad and I were expecting but it was fantastic. I think I expected the normal chunks or melon balls type deal but this was completely different. It was slices of both watermelon and another type of melon that had a bit of salt on them. I wasn't super excited about the sea salt but it did draw out the flavors a bit more which was nice. I loved the bits of fresh mint that were on the salad, that was my favorite part. The summer squash salad was one of the more interesting/unique dishes I have had in quite a while. It was strips of squash, zucchini, and tomatoes in this light cheese sauce. Now, normally the words light and cheese sauce do not normally go together but somehow they pulled it off. I am not sure what all of the ingredients are but it was nice...it wasn't thick like some cheese sauces are, this was quite nice, not heavy at all. I enjoyed it, it was really great. My husband rarely gives restaurants five stars, so last night when he declared Screen Door five stars I was more than happy to both agree and write the review right away! Screen Door was really fantastic, I can't wait to go back. I would especially love to go back and sample to mac and cheese on a day when I wouldn't get a disappointed glance from mom about the amount of calories I was ingesting! Because we all know, thinking about the fat/calories in mac and cheese ruins it for you, right????
(5)A P.
This place is pretty good. Nice atmosphere and good food. I've had both dinner and brunch here and everything has been great. The Eggs benedict is the best i've had in town. I believe this place buys local so there are always different specials of sides and dishes. The outdoor seating is really nice too. Good luck getting brunch on the weekends now though, cuz half of portland is already waiting.
(4)Mary Sue D.
First of all, I am not so into Southern food... typically. I think of it as deep-fried junk that no one can stand to eat without being battered (ahem unripe green tomatoes?). But, I think my feelings are starting to change. The first time I came here I got the Screen Door Plate, which for $13.75 lets you pick three items off their side or local plate menus. This is an awesome deal, because included on the sides are pork chops, catfish, beans, vegetables galore, and that isn't even what is listed on the local menu (heirloom tomatoes, sauteed sweet corn, squash)! It is a HUGE meal. So, last time I tried the collard greens (which I must not like in general), the mac and cheese (meh), and a veggie (can't even remember what it was...). I remember my fellow diners thinking the food was fantastic, but I didn't really get it Now I have been transformed... Last night I tried a bit of everyone's from my table: the brisket is INCREDIBLE, the fried chicken is probably the best I have ever had, and my trout was delicious. We also started by splitting a beet salad, heirloom tomatoes, and a peach salad - all fantastic. This is a great restaurant - price, service, food - all worth consuming food not worth eating without being dumped in a pot of hot oil. (Okra, I am looking at you!)
(4)Ben M.
The food? Ridiculous (as in good). Um, whatever! Seriously good food and very reasonable prices. We went for brunch and everyone at my table had amazing food and good service.
(5)Katie W.
Be prepared to wait - but the wait is worth it! Great southern food :) So many good things I wanted to try on the menu~ I had the fried green tomato BLT and my boyfriend had the fried chicken piled high on top of waffles (I can't remember the official name). But both were oh-so-good! Tons of people, great energy, and you leave with a happy stomace~ Only one criticism...for a southern restaurant their Sweet Tea is not that great~ Tasted like a Lipton to me :p
(4)Bob S.
I think this place is always busy no matter what time of day. I've never not waited to get a seat. Its worth it though. Definitely on my top 10 restaurants in Portland. Trust me Breakfast/Brunch is a tasty tango for your taste buds. Service is OK but the food is great southern style.
(4)Colin B.
Oh my god, a real southern restaurant. A place to get authentic fried chicken and okcra. The food here is to die for, if you like southern food you won't be able to stop coming here. Its right down the street from me too, I'm screwed. Especially recommend the screen door place, mix and match and make your own.
(5)kaitlin p.
Never have I been to a restraint with so many Yelp reviews, and now I understand why. This food was more than worthy of a positive yelp review, although mine will inevitably be drowned out amongst the rest. Nonetheless I must give my quick two cents about the quality, natural, untainted deliciousness of this little quaint restaurant we walked two miles to find and then waited in the long, but quick line out the door just to get seated. It did not disappoint when it started with a local beet salad, followed by our fantastic meal. I ordered the burger, my classic go-to (when I know the meat is quality farm-raised beef) it was amazing with a crispy charred crust and perfectly juicy on the inside. The French fries were nothing special, and compared with the mac and cheese, jambalaya, and mashed potato sides I got a bite of from my dinner mates, they didn't hold a candle. The few bites I got of the fried chicken and chicken tenders might have been the single greatest, juiciest chicken I've ever eaten. Props to this restaurant
(4)Michael O.
From Texas and just passing through....I gotta say this place is LEGIT! I had the pork shoulder and my gf had the fried chicken. Damn this food is great. Only down side was how long it takes the kitchen to prepare them. But in retrospect the food is well worth the wait. Some ice in their water wouldn't hurt either. They serve regular room temperature water when you sit down. Not sure if that's a Portland thing or not.
(5)Coleen C.
Let me start this review by saying I'm not from this area and this is a 4.5-star establishment. Our beautiful Portlandia host and hostess put us up for a few nights and we had the pleasure of buying them breakfast at Screen Door, among other places. We arrived not early enough (8:45?) on a Saturday morning and the place was jam-packed, cram-packed, what have you: it was very crowded. I thought, "Ah crap... this is going to be one of those places like Clinton St Baking Co (in NYC) that suck, but the locals blow it up like Christmas!" Wrong. This place is off the heezy. I never associated Portland with sassy Southern cooking, but there it is. We LOVED it, and it's one of the places people talk about long after they return home from their Portland trip. On to the food: *Fried Chicken and Waffles - usually, my husband gets this dish at Roscoe's in Long Beach, so there was some skepticism. The plate had so much fried chicken, all of it deliciously prepared, tender and juicy, stabbed through the center with a knife (to attach it to the waffle). The waffle was crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Perfect. The only tragedy here was that there was only one waffle. Boo! We could've actually done with slightly less chicken and more waffle. *Brioche Vanilla Bean French Toast - Perfectly prepared French toast, a winner. You know how some French toast is a little stinky, a little too egg-y? Not this one. It's the right combination of bread, egg and sweet and it was so easy to clear that plate. *Praline bacon - holy moly, this bacon is tasty, but really bad for you. Probably about a million calories and sweet. Even a decadent person can only have one piece before regret starts to set in. More of a novelty side order for the whole table. Moral of the story: get there early or late because your ass is gonna have to wait for a table, especially if you have more than four people, you need to prepare. The food and service is worth it, so just set your alarm and skip the shower!
(4)Christy H.
Just had my mind blown with one of the best breakfasts ever. No joke. This place is amazing and that is why you will be waiting at least an hour if not longer to grab a seat. Get ready to have a heaping plate of food that will leave you needing a to go box for some sure left overs. The plates have heaping mounds of things like fried chicken in between a heap of gravy and biscuit, thick chopped corned beef hash with spinach, mushroom and stout-creamy mustard, eggs benny, biscuits and gravy (mushroom or sausage), chicken and waffle, breakfast sammies......etc. Everything they do here is good. Hands down. The chicken is piled high on a few dishes adding to an abundance of southern flair. You can get some tasty bloody mary's or an order of champagne while you wait for your table. Coffee is also self-serve while you wait. Nice to warm you up on a cold morning if you are waiting outside. They have an awesome dinner menu as well with more fried chicken and sides of greens or grits. You really can't go wrong with this place. Dinner was great. I think the breakfast was even better. Yummy yummy in my tummy tummy tummy. Totally worth the wait. If you haven't been here you just might me missing out on the some of the best food in town so go check it out!!!
(5)Clarence E.
It's a Christmas Miracle! I live in Seattle but come down to Portland every couple months. I've been trying to eat here ever since a friend kept going on an on about their fried chicken and waffles. Alas, It was never meant to be. The line has always been crazy long. Until last weekend. I stopped in Christmas Eve morning, because everywhere else was closed, and what the hell!? It was open and no wait whatsoever! The food was great. I had a ridiculously huge sandwich of biscuits, gravy, and fried chicken. I'm no food critic, but it was so, so, so good. The chicken was perfect. The biscuits where light and huge in size. On the other end of the spectrum, my friend is one of those hard core vegans that complains about everything. He had some sort of vegetable concoction and also concluded that it was about the tastiest breakfast he'd ever had. I probably won't be back ever again, because of the ridiculous, never ending line. But, if you're patient or can manage to wake up at a decent time it's highly recommended to check out.
(5)Jeremy E.
Always come when I am in town... fried chicken is a must.
(5)Jasmine L.
There's a good reason why this place is always packed and there's always a line... the food here is exceptionally tasty! We came here for brunch and got the candied-pecan bacon, biscuits & gravy, eggs benedict and bananas foster french toast. The candied-pecan bacon was excellent, my only issue was the bacon was a little soft and I prefer bacon to be more well done, but other than that the flavor was really intense and it tasted like candy. The biscuits and gravy was awesome - the biscuits were flaky, moist and warm and the sausage gravy had a nice spice to it. The eggs benedict, which is my favorite brunch item to order was nearly perfect - the only thing I would have liked was for the hollandaise sauce to be hot (it was cool so brought the quality of the dish down a bit). And the bananas foster french toast I wasn't that big of a fan of and I thought it had an awkward taste. Regardless of the french toast, everything else was super tasty and the service was great!
(4)Sean M.
Shit man! Why didn't anyone tell me about this earlier! Sweet potato fries, mash with gravy, cornbread, and two huge chunks of boneless fried chicken for $20. Geezus man! This place was fantastic. Wait out the door though. About an hour so be prepared. Especially if cold or rainy. GO HERE!
(5)Jessica W.
This is one of our very favorite restaurants in Portland. It is the place we take our friends out to eat, as well as our out of town guests. I have tasted nothing on the menu which I would not recommend. Both dinner and brunch are well worth the visit. The crispy fried buttermilk-battered chicken is the best I've had, so at least one person at the table should order it (this goes for both dinner and brunch). The mac & cheese is yummy as well. The one downside of this place is the extreme wait. Pretty much always expect to wait up to an hour. Screendoor is in an area with other restaurants however, so you can put your your name in and go elsewhere for pre-dinner drinks and/or appetizers. Once seated, the experience is great and I also leave eating more than I should - the food is so good, I can't stop!
(5)Phillip B.
Wife and I made the trip to visit some friends in Portland for the first time. Came straight away after arriving at Portland International. Screen Door is located in a cutesy spot, just a bit out of downtown Portland. We walked up sometime around 11 a.m. and the place was swamped. No worries, we're enjoying catching up while helping ourselves to some complimentary coffee. We finally get seated and it's a bit cozy, but I like that intimate type of atmosphere. I'm really not a big breakfast...eggs and toast kind of guy. Most breakfast spots give the same reiteration of eggs/sausage/bacon/bread. In other words, nothing new; no interesting element; no twist, et cetera. Not with Screen Door. When you think of your classic foodie spot, this is it. They've got Texas Toast, bacon & hock collard greens, and piemento cheese! C'mon maaaaaayne! I ordered the Fried Chicken Cathead Biscuit, as well as the Prailine Bacon as a side. The plate comes out and there is a giant hunk of savory fried battered chicken sandwiched between two homemade buttermilk biscuits and covered in country gravy. It came with homefries spiced just right. See picture: tinyurl.com/ct6yayl The prailine bacon was unbelievably good. It had the perfect combo of salty sweet and was one of those times when something is so good you savor it. The waitress could not have been any nicer and put the proverbial cherry on top of the experience. This was such a great way of starting off our trip to Portland. I would emphatically recommend this spot if you visit "Bridgetown."
(5)Mark B.
One of my absolute favorite restaurants in all of Portland! Lucky for me, I live a mere 10 minute walk away from this bustling, yet cozy, neighborhood jewel. While the service isn't always "with a smile", you can usually always count on attentiveness, at least, with not TOO much attitude.
(5)Chad C.
I've been meaning to go here for some time now, and a friend was finishing up a volunteer gig close-in SE so he and I headed over, after having read through Yelp and Google for what was nearby. The wait ended up being about 35-45 minutes (we spent a bunch of time in the car after we got there because I was fixing his stereo; long story). This place has a really great ambience, a bit noisy but not loud...it never got on my nerves, and I'm really quick to get irritated. After we were seated, the server came by promptly with some water, and was more than happy to talk about the weather, what drinks we were interested in, knew the specials in detail...and was just so friendly! I'd been wanting to try a Hot Toddy for a while (I've never lived, apparently) and when I discovered it looked kind of like TheraFlu and tasted mostly not-alcoholic, she was genuinely disappointed. We were so enticed by the description of the specials my friend and I just ordered both, along with sweet potato fries as an appetizer. The specials were a braised bone-in pork chop on a bed of vegetables with some sort of sweet sauce and a bowl of rice and beans topped with fried chicken. The fries were sweet potato fries - amazing! And our entrees were beyond any human capability to describe. The pork chop...Oh, the pork chop. Every bite of this was moist and delicious. Seriously, the next time I come here, I may ask to substitute a second pork chop for the vegetables. While the beans and chicken were equally fantastic, my friend said he didn't care for the rice, but the pork chop...this was truly something to write home about. I'll probably mention it in my autobiography. Did I mention the server was beyond friendly and genuinely happy? I will definitely be going back to this place. Gave it 4 stars this trip because of the wait, next time I'll be making reservations (if they take them)!
(4)Dice K.
Fried chicken was great! Nice service. I'd have to come back to try their desserts. Also, there're lots of interesting restaurants and pubs right around the corner on 28th street. Have to remember that for my next visit.
(5)Melanie F.
this place was super busy on a sunday night at 7pm. hot damn...i guess it must be good. got the pecan crusted trout and substituted the fingerlings for creamy grits. YUM. the sauce for the fish was a dijon mustard butter sauce. REALLY GOOD! and it comes with some greens too. very visually appealing, and even more appealing to my tummy :)
(4)Laura G.
Screen Door is one of my favorite places to eat when I'm in Portland. The weekends require an early arrival or the risk of a long wait if you want brunch, but the sacrifice either way is well worth it. The concept is simple, the drinks are strong, and the execution is fantastic. My favorites are the waffle with bacon baked in + praline-crusted bacon. I like bacon, okay? The cat head biscuit sandwich, chicken & waffles, and biscuits & gravy are other fantastic choices. Be prepared for portions that are bigger than your head, but you won't regret strolling out like you need to loosen your belt a notch. The one suggestion I would make is to avoid sitting at the bar, if you can help it (or if you can put off eating for that long). The only reason for that is because the bartenders do double-duty with the drinks and with distributing food, so the service might feel a little slow.
(5)Miriam M.
my god the pecan bacon
(5)Kyle G.
Got there at 9AM and the line was already around the corner. didn't get sat until 10am but the wait was worth it. The atmosphere inside is very comfortable and the food was amazing! Be warned when you order, you better be ready to eat a LOT! Chicken and waffles included THREE WHOLE chicken breasts on top of a full Belgian sweet potato waffle. It was dam good :)
(4)Eric M.
This place rocks. True comfort food, prepared perfectly in a lively setting. The fried chicken is to die for. It is ultra moist, crunchy with a peppery finish. The brisket melts in your mouth it is so tender. And when the check came I was pleasantly surprised...$78 for all 5 of us (including 3 beers). This was probably the case because we shared 3 entrees, a salad and a few other sides. Our group of 5 showed up on the Sunday evening before Thanksgiving at about 6:30 pm and had to wait 45 minutes. This gave us time to scope out people's orders and we all knew we had to have the chicken. By the time we left there was no line at all. The only drawback is the calorie count. I would hate to know that number!
(5)Ann m.
The food here is really wonderful. I've eaten here twice and both times had the Screen Door Plate which is a choice of 3 menu items and cornbread. The jewel of the menu for me is the local/organic vegetable sides and of course the mac and cheese. I also really loved the fried okra starter. Come hungry and early as the place fills up early and the waiting list is long after 6:30 each evening!
(5)J L.
Decadent and delicious. They do not skimp with the portions here. Had the egg/grits special and chicken n waffles.
(4)Rowan H.
I'm originally from the South, and I absolutely love this place. The food is so good (I recommend the fried chicken and the pulled pork sandwich). Sometimes they have homemade ice cream that is insanely good. THEY HAVE SWEET TEA. LET ME REPEAT. THEY. HAVE. SWEET. TEA. To anyone not from the West Coast, this is a big deal, because it is very difficult to find sweet tea at a restaurant. When I go there I drink glass after glass of it, but the servers dutifullyrefill it constantly. Brunch is also very good, although I don't recommend the biscuits and gravy, because they have these bizzarre square biscuits that I cannot for the life of me understand. This is one of those places that I will just keep coming back to again and again. The only problem is that its a bit pricy for my college student budget, but when I want to take a girl out to a nice dinner, this is where I go. (I'm under 21, but you better believe that when I turn 21 I am going to try the drinks here, because they seem pretty awesome.)
(5)Emily W.
Charming little diner that really just snuck up on us (not literally) as we cruised by on the bus for some AM exploration. We were in need of some morning fuel the Screen Door fit the bill! The staff was super friendly and the food was very good. The praline bacon was worth the triple bypass I will need one day.
(4)Ed B.
The Screen Door ROCKS. We went here last night for my partner's birthday dinner and had a fabulous experience. The food was sublime, the service was excellent, and the prices were affordable. I honestly could not believe how hopping this place was on a Tuesday night. We arrived just before 8:00pm, and there was about a 15 minute wait on the sign-in sheet. Right after we signed in, several more groups arrived, pushing the wait time to probably 20-30 minutes for those groups. No worries, though, as we ordered some drinks and perused the menu while waiting. I got a Scarlett O'Hara (Southern Comfort, cranberry, and lime), and my partner ordered the Texas Black Gold (tequila, blackberry puree, and lemonade). Both were tasty and STRONG. We were seated at a tiny 2-person table in the middle of the busy floor, but I didn't feel squashed at all. The service was truly superb - friendly, attentive, and responsive, without hovering or being in your face. The vibe you get from the employees is that they are really enjoying themselves, which makes the dining experience all that much better. My water glass was never empty, even though I had insatiable thirst last night for some reason. We started off with an appetizer of mildly-spicy pimiento cheese spread with crackers. Dinner for me was the buttermilk fried chicken, which was divine. The chicken was moist, bursting with flavor, and not the least bit greasy or oily, and was served with a peppery tasso ham gravy on the side that added perfect kick. The mashed potatoes and the collard greens for the sides were just okay. My partner ordered the pecan-crusted trout, which was also absolutely delicious. I am not a fan of trout, but this was prepared so well that I scarfed up the sample bites that I tried from his plate. The portions are huge - neither of us could finish our meals. I agree with some of the previous reviews that the chicken could serve as a meal for two. Instead we just had our leftovers boxed up and now we have something tasty to bring to work for lunch. We saved room in the dessert compartments (which as anyone knows are completely separate from your main dish compartment) of our stomachs to split an order of the chocolate cake. The cake was served with fresh vanilla bean ice cream and a gorgeous drizzle of raspberry sauce... as stuffed as we already were, we somehow polished off this plate as well. As we headed out the door after paying our very reasonable bill (about 50 bucks including a generous tip), the manager (owner?) approached us and asked how our evening was. He seemed more earnest than just the "how was everything" forced-smile query you often receive at other restaurants. We gushed about how much we enjoyed everything, and he chatted with us for a moment before we headed out. All in all, it was a wonderful evening and I can't wait to go back.
(5)Gordon M.
Two words: Fried Chicken! As of this writing, I've been to Screen Door four or five times for dinner. I actually had my birthday dinner here last year with six friends. The staff is very friendly and helpful, and not afraid to share their opinions on their own favorite dishes. While I've dabbled with the menu quite a bit on each visit, I finally decided to try the fried chicken. The chicken is boneless, with a corn flake crust. Light, not oily, and served with this delicious spicy gravy on the side. The serving is quite large and perfect for two. They also make a really nice Sazerac (rye whiskey and bitters), which is a traditional drink from New Orleans and very well done here (unlike versions I've had elsewhere in Portland). The wait can be horrendous if you don't arrive early. I usually like to get there about 15 minutes before the place opens for dinner and then I'm assured a timely meal. If you like southern style cooking, then you should try the Screen Door.
(4)Deez N.
Recently brunched here a trip through Portland and loved it. The place is pretty big and busy so there is a wait, but things do keep moving. I had a good view of the kitchen from my seat and everything looked so amazing, fresh, and quality coming out of the kitchen. The most amazing thing anyone at our table got was the fried chicken and waffle. The fried chicken alone is awesome. They do something great to the batter and it's a little spicy and the chicken is perfectly cooked. They present it with three pieces piled on a sweet potato waffle with a knife stuck through the top, through all the pieces, and into the waffle. It's served with maple syrup and is a big portion. Fucking yum. One thing I'm deducting a star for is the biscuits. I am a biscuit kind of girl and was really disappointed. I like a biscuit that melts in your mouth and is crispy/flakey on the outside moist on the inside and ready to melt butter. The biscuits at Screen Door are kind of dry and flavorless, square cut out from a pan, and not butter melting temperature. It was like a lukewarm buttermilk bread.
(4)B B.
I'd give this place 3.5 stars, but since they were pretty friendly people, I'll bump 'em to a 4 star review. Crap, it's been too long since I ate here, I can't really remember what I liked about the restaurant. I remember water spilling and it being promptly cleaned up. I can't remember if we spilled it or if the waitress did. I remember being talked to by at least 2 different tables nearby (real friendly atmosphere). I remember a REALLY long wait to get a table and tons of people waiting outside. And I remember eating lots of comfort food with tons leftover to take home. Oh, and we started with hush puppies, and then I think we all went for the Screen Door Plate, which lets you pick three items. While the rest of my party picked light veggie-type dishes, I went for two orders of crispy catfish (heh heh, wanted to get my money's worth), and some seasonal zucchini. It was lots of food.. But let me tell you, I also remember eating the leftovers the next day and it tasting real good. Yes, even the crispy fried catfish. Would definitely go back, but hopefully on a day where it's way less crowded like the Super Bowl or Christmas.
(4)Rachel R.
Have only been for brunch, but that was really quite amazing. Definitely recommend the chicken and waffles and the Bloody Mary. The chicken and waffles were huge, chicken wasn't dry at all. Bloody Mary was the perfect amount of spicy. Only thing to be aware of is the line... It goes out the door.
(4)Dahlia S.
Bottom line at the top: best fried chicken I've ever had. -- First dinner out in portland and it was amazing!! Thought we'd cruise right through because it was raining but the line was still super long and people were prepared with umbrellas. Sat at the bar and had the fried chicken (super peppery and crispy and yummy), and the screen door plate with Mac and cheese (good crust but the rest was too bland), the best cornbread and butter EVER, lentil off the special menu, and a goat cheese salad also off the special menu. Wayy too much food for two but so worth it.
(5)Andy V.
Great experience for breakfast and soooooo muchhhh foood. The chicken was piled high and the waffles were hot and toasty. Fried chicken was crispy without being too oily. We also had the tofu omelet. I was a bit skeptical with the meatless option, but it was still rather tasty. Top it off with a bloody mary and a double of vodka and it was great. Our server was also a very nice fellow. Be prepared to wait in line though, because it gets packed fast.
(5)Ryan H.
I recently handed out a five-star love-fest to Simpatica and I felt it only right to lavish some praise on an almost-perfect competitor. As a matter of fact, had I been to Screen Door first, it may have received the coveted five-banger. As a tyke, I developed a lust for country gravy, as my Oklahoman grandmother (yeah, my REAL grandma, Laura) made it a few different ways and it was always on the dining table, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Savory, peppery, thick, consistent, and adaptive to whatever meat she decided to mix in - most often a pork variation - Grandma Edith's gravy brought her Baptist co-brimstone-ers to the trailer park mid-week because they couldn't wait until Sunday. This affinity demands that I order the biscuits and gravy or whatever dish features gravy at every breakfast restaurant I initially patronize. So it was at Screen Door and unless I'm waterboarded into trying something else, I'll order it again and again. Their mildly dense corn meal based biscuits were a perfect, never soggy, vehicle for the sauce which featured huge, and I do mean huge, chunks of country sausage. The size and quality of the sausage is what clearly sets this gravy apart, and above, from others in town, including Simpatica (who still gets five instead of four because bison ain't no biscuit, baby). Really, the only reason Screen Door gets four instead of five is because our server, though a total sweetheart, repeatedly forgot requested items, coffee was slow, and our food took forever to get to the table. Yeah, it was super busy...it's called Saturday at 10:30 in close-in SE. Screen Door...my Grandma Edith is smilin' knowing that her skinny little grandson isn't living in a gravy-less world.
(4)Nanielle T.
I think screen Door is one of my new favorites. I recentley went there with a group of friends and the wait was long but worth it. I had the eggs benedict and my boyfriend had the fried chicken and waffles-which really tastes surprisingly good together. The service was pretty good for how busy the place was and there Hollandaise sauce is heavenly. If you're a bacon fan, try the prailine bacon sooooo ....good! I really like this place and can't wait to go for dinner sometime. If you do go just so you know... it's definatly not low fat.
(4)Susie J.
So, we decided to start trying a restaurant we haven't been to at least once a week. Why did we have to start with this place? It's going to be hard to talk my husband into trying something else. I can hear it now " Why don't we just go to the Screen Door?" I started off with the Texas black gold. Tequila, blackberries and lemonade. The husband loved it too. The people that work there are amazingly nice and welcoming and you want to be their friend and just hang out with them. I had the pick 3 sides plates with fried catfish, sweet potato fries and an amazing salad. He had the fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy and collard greens. All of the above were some of the best I've had anywhere in my whole life and I'm from the south and I'm old enough to be your mama. I also got cornbread with mine. ditto. Actually maybe it will be me saying let's not try anything new. Let's just go back to the Screen Door.
(5)Ann K.
Date Visited: Sunday 4/13/08 (Brunch) Before the restaurant opened at 9 a.m., there was a swarm of people waiting to get in. We had a group of 12 or so and had a reservation (I think, so when our host got a table and the rest of us started to just streamline in, I could tell some people weren't so happy we were being seated before them. With a line like that, the food has to be really, really good...right? I thought it was okay. I ordered the Tofu & Egg Scramble. It came with your choice of potatoes or cheddar grits and white or wheat toast. I made the mistake of wanting to try grits for the first time. In one word or sound...EWWW. The tofu/egg scramble was pretty good and I'd probably have it again. The coffee was really good. I guess they use Stumptown Coffee (I say that as if it means something personal to me though it means absolutely nothing). The toast was good. Service, all things considered, wasn't too terrible. They came around to fill up our coffee cups on a regular basis, so that kept us content. However, it seemed the food took a really long time. However, we did have a large group of people and we got in just as a bunch of other (smaller groups) got in and just had to deal with our food when they could prepare it. Not sure if I'd take my Meetup group for brunch here, but I wouldn't rule it out either. They had a decent amount of vegetarian and/or vegan options on their brunch menu, so you never know. If I do, I'll update this review.
(3)Meghan H.
Food: southern-fried goodness Service: always efficient, and the food comes out fast Alcohol: they got it, even for breakfast Fave dishes: chicken 'n waffles, biscuits 'n gravy with eggs (or other dishes with 'n in the name) Warning: do not sit outside until after May 1st, or until the tree out front stops dropping its little pollen-coated pods into your food and coffee.
(5)Paul S.
Praline Bacon... Get it. Trust me on this one. Worth every calorie and cholesterol point. The southern fare is done up right with a bit of a northwest flair. Chicken and waffles, biscuits and gravy, etc etc etc They brew Stumptown coffee and have it out for you while you wait. Not overly saturated with butter and fat but not a plain salad healthy either. It's great for a meal to settle in your stomach after a long night out. Portions are on the slightly larger than normal size but sometimes that's just right. Expect a bit of a wait at the door but it's worth it.
(5)Tabitha R.
I'm not sure I even need to review this place ... seems everything I could say has been said. Yummy ... yummy ... yummy. We've been twice - once for dinner and once for brunch. Both were delicious. I highly recommend this place ... and it's worth the wait.
(5)Frank Lee F.
Dave (one of the owners) is charming - calm under pressure, warm and gracious, and knows how to serve up (an abundant plate of) food to satisfy my soul. Maybe it's the mint julep or old fashioned, lubricating my experience each meal, but I see god a little every time I dine here. Have to pace myself cause it's easy to order too much, and everything tastes so good it's hard to stop once it's in front of you. Butter lettuce salad started a love affair with radishes... low country grits with shrimp make me drool (a common theme here, I see)... sweet potato mash, one of the best burgers in portland, beautiful seasonal specials - a tribute to local foods. This is the place I go, and take special folks, when I need a serious recharge or want to bank on a great meal. My only disappointment - I never have room for dessert. Guessing they're spot on as well. Someday I'll find out for sure.
(5)Laura N.
I have a southern relative whom we all call Grandma Mamie. To be honest, I have NO clue how we are related to Mamie Garner, because she is most certainly not my granny, but we all just role with it. Every so often we'll visit Grandma Mamie. We'll watch as she lovingly scrapes a single tablespoon of tater-tot casserole into a Tupperware container. We will marvel at the strength of her gastrointestinal tract as she thaws, cooks, and refreezes a pork roast until the poor little piggy just sits up and squeals to be put out of its misery. And we will ogle her ever-growing jar (homemade, no less) of bacon grease. (Note to non-Southerners...do NOT attempt to throw this "essential cooking ingredient" out - what will happen will be a complete blur, but the reaction will be swift) 2004 was the last time I saw Grandma Mamie and at the time news reports were flooding in of this so-called "Fat Virus." Grandma Mamie was a big proponent of the theory (big being the key word...) "Bring it on," she said, "I have a lot of skinny friends I need to sneeze on." In my daily life, I run quite happily on a menu that essentially consists of air and tofu, so a trip to Screen Door is like a journey directly back to Grandma Mamie's double-wide. I ate hush puppies, brisket, cornbread, and collard greens - all while sipping on a mint julep. I almost couldn't help but throw in phrases like "I shoulda could," "precious and dahlin," and "y'all." Grandma Maime will be so proud.
(4)b t.
Hands-down my favorite spot in all of pdx! The fried chicken and waffles for brunch is amazing and the low-country shrimp and grits is the best in the world! Sure, you may have to wait for a hour+ sometimes, but it is worth it.
(5)Amy A.
This place is fab. Nice service, casual, great atmosphere-classic "portland urban comfy." The "local organics" list is chock full of great options. Everything was delicious! My dinner partners had the carolina bbq (just thinking about the vinegar tinged dish is making me salivate right now...my poor keyboard is drowning in my drool. Gross, but true.) and the ribs-ribs so tender and moist, I think I'll ditch my current dinner plans and go there...right...now.
(5)Mark B.
I'm just saying fried chicken breast is NOT my fried chicken. Gimme a leg, a thigh, wing, I might even eat a back if I my dog was starving(I own no dog). Yes, I ordered it (Fried Chicken) expecting some pieces of chicken but I got a 2 fried chicken breasts. I can say it was decent, the pepper was there, the moistness was there, the breading was a little hard, but overall decent. I'm trying to find Fried Chicken nirvana in Portland and I'll need to keep clucking along... We went on a Friday night (2 of us), got seated in less than 10 minutes, great time. The butter lettuce salad was bomb, I could have had two of those and gotten up happy. Normally you go to a nice place and they have every color of lettuce in a salad but green, however this one was exactly as I wanted. Crisp, bleu cheese (my second favorite cheese), bacon and some dressing. I'm a southerner at heart, the sweet tea was unsweet, I'd hate to see the unsweetened tea or better yet, it probably was that thing they called water also on the table. My wife's catfish was good according to her, to me the batter could've been better but it was fried not too hard and not too soft. Service was around a B, the wait for food was like 20-30 minutes, and when the server was asked about it, she said yes it is taking long. Where am I, Burger King? Could she check on it, no.... Other than that she was pleasant. I like the menu and may go back to give it another spin. This should probably be a 3.5 stars but I only can select the half stars when I've had 4 more drinks.
(4)Jes P.
I initially went here for Breakfast (I drug myself out of bed at 8am on a Saturday to get into line before the doors opened) and didn't think it was worth it at all. There are MUCH better breakfast spots in town (Pine State Biscuits, Mother's Bistro, etc). And breakfast is important to me. My problems with the breakfast relate to my Southern persuasion: 1. It should be said that nobody in the South actually eats fried chicken for breakfast- this is a total NW creation and spin on Southern food. My friend ordered the Sweet Potato Waffle and Fried Chicken. They were both pretty tasty, but 3 MASSIVE fried chicken breasts for breakfast is an insane portion (there were leftovers for days). Anyway, I just don't want anyone thinking this is usual Southern tradition or fare. 2. The Cheese grits were AWFUL. I have never in my life not eaten my grits. Hell, I like instant grits, but these grits were atrocious. I was so dismayed that I got up early and waited in line for horrible grits, I think it overshadowed the rest of my meal. The waitress insisted they used Tillamook cheese, but I had just made cheese grit casserole for my derby party not long before, using Tillamook, and it was no where near that color or flavor. Anyway, she didn't offer to remove it from my bill but I insisted. However, since that time I have gone back for dinner and find it much more enjoyable. The dinner options are delicious and original, particularly the local organics menu. And the cocktails are delicious. My one negative for dinner is the service. The bar service can be a little slow (we had a 20 minute wait on a 2nd Mint Julep) and the food always comes out a bit staggered. Plates are brought 1 or 2 at a time so it seems one person is always waiting for 5 minutes while the rest of us eat. Regardless, the service is friendly and well intentioned so I will continue to frequent this place for dinner. But I would say the wait for breakfast isn't worth it. June 3, 2008 Update- I am upping this place to 4 stars because I love the dinner SO much. It is currently one of my faves- YUM!
(4)Lemonjelly L.
Ooooof. I could not turn down the opportunity to try the chicken and waffle. Oooof. Four fried chicken breasts on a waffle. Oooof. I ate one. I gave away the second at the table. The third was breakfast at the airport. The fourth was lunch at the airport, wedged into a small loaf of sourdough bread. And it sure as hell beat the best airport food that SFO could offer. A small group dined there easter sunday. We were sat within 35 minutes. Of all the meals, the fried oysters benedict and the chicken and waffle were the impressive ones at the table. The breakfast corndog was good, but totally upstaged by all the other food. Everyone loved the gin fizz. "Propa!" seemed to be the word at the table on the gin fizz. Extra props for uber nice people sitting around us. I was caught by another diner with my "omg" face looking at his praline bacon and he responded by handing me a slice.
(4)Dennis K.
This is the most flavorful and tender fried chicken I have ever had. The hamburger is also amazing. I think everything I've tried here is good: soups, desserts, drinks, etc. It is a homey/rustic environment. The tables are packed in close together.. The atmosphere is open and noisy. The lights are dim. Prices are very reasonable for what you get. If I lived in Portland I would come here once a month. Be prepared to wait in line a couple of hours.
(5)Brad W.
The Quick & Dirty: - Awesome food - Crazy fast service - Great decor - Eclectic East Portlanders all around The Details: My girlfriend and I had Easter Sunday late brunch at The Screen Door and were blown away. The decor is really cool and totally East Portland, as is the clientele. I had the Fried Oyster Benedict with a Creole Bloody Mary and she had Eggs Sardou with a Mimosa. I absolutely love when a restaurant puts a tasty twist on breakfast, like they do here. The Oysters were perfectly salty and crispy, as was the bacon atop the benidict. Coffee was hot and always full and the food arrived almost as fast as our drinks were prepared. I'd go back and recommend it to anyone that loves a good breakfast that's beyond the old staples of pancakes and eggs. Two very enthusiastic thumbs up.
(5)Sheila Y.
K...everything I ordered this Saturday literally rocked my world...Fried Oyster Benedict was mind blowing....Maple Pecan Bacon was trans-formative...and the Biscuit rivaled that of my all time favorite Brunch spot in Boulder (see Lucile's above). My spicy Bloody Mary had just the right amount of kick to tingle my tongue and heat up my stomach. It definitely impressed this Seattleite that they served bottomless Stumptown when I walked in and to be honest the wait was not that bad. And let me tell you...the wait is soo worth it. Service was attentive and super sweet. We never felt bad for actually being customers (take note Seattle). Also I just basically felt a great vibe off the clientele. There is something about Portland that makes me fall in love with it everytime I go.
(5)T. C.
I was astounded to find a place up here that had fried chicken and waffles. Having spent four years in LA, I immediately recalled memories of the original thing from Roscoe's Chick'n n Waffles...sounds strange, but amazingly yummy. This place isn't Roscoe's, but it is darn good. They give you three HUGE pieces of fried white meat chicken strips on an enormous sweet potato belgian waffle. The whole thing is dusted with powdered sugar and held together by a knife plunged through those honking huge pieces of chicken on top of the waffle. It takes some maneuvering to assemble the dish properly As my sister and I have discovered through many trips to Roscoe's, you have to pour the syrup onto the waffle, then lay the chicken on top of the waffle, then pour gravy (which you have to order on the side) over the chicken. Then dig in! (oh, very importantly, chicken and waffle go in your mouth at the same time) Their chicken here is great...they might be lacking the juicy dark meat chicken that you can order at Roscoe's, but it is fried perfectly, not at all greasy, plus they make their batter a little spicy so it's got this incredible kick to it. I was only able to finish a piece and a half of it before my stomach protested. They had a special of ham and asiago biscuits that morning (deee-lish!!) which were absolute perfection, not too greasy, but flaky and flavorful. They didn't require any butter or anything else. Their coffee is bottomless. Their eggs fluffy. Their potatoes are big and chunky slices but roasted and crispy on the outside. How can this not be the perfect brunch place? Be prepared for a wait however since it seems that others have also realized this fact as well!! Overall, this place gets a solid four and a half stars. The only reason I took anything off is because my heart will always beat for the original Roscoe's.
(4)Rajesh K.
I have tried to come here for brunch couple of times only to be disappointed by the long queue on weekends. Instead I tried this place for dinner on a weekday and I was able to get seated within 15 minutes. I have to admit I love screen door. The fried chicken was so good I have had dreams about it. I mean what was i eating before. Damn the perfect crunchiness of the fried skin and the moist chicken was unbelievable. The mac n cheese is another such dish. I mean wow so cheesy and tasty unbelievable The food portions are HUGE and I was able to save the leftovers for dinner the next day. Man writing this review is making me want to go back now. I will try my luck again this weekend to see if I can get in early for brunch.
(5)Chris M.
Wow! This breakfast is with the wait! I had the Cats Head sandwich with the roasted potatoes. Perfectly fried chicken on an amazing homemade biscuit with gravy. Our table shared some of the delicious praline bacon with a hint of cayenne that was to die for! The waiter was very friendly and knew his menu very well. The Bloody Mary was delicious, and my wife and niece were blown away by the chicken and waffles they had to split! I definitely recommend this establishment to anyone looking for a great southern home style meal!!!
(5)Nathan L.
Great service and amazing menu selection. Prices are surprisingly reasonable for the quality and portions of such wonderful food. The only downside like any good spot is the long wait times. Get here early and be prepared to wait in line before they even open.
(5)Larry H.
This is a relatively new restaurant that took the place of a furniture store that no one went to apparently. The interior looks dim and muted, which is nice with the candles. They have a pretty full bar that makes decent drinks, but the food is crap for the price you're paying. If you get the appetizer of shrimp and grits, you get 3 bland measly shrimp and passable grits for $8.95 which is a huge scam. The fried green tomatoes at a little under $6 were 6 small slices undercooked with a bland cornmeal crust and served with a remoulade that tasted like 1000 island dressing. Again, friggin' tomatoes for $6, ridiculous. The smoked pork sandwich for around $10 is really just braised pork with almost no flavour whatsoever. The cheeseburger, also around $10, cooked medium rare tends to be well done, although the fries were decent. The seasonal seafood might be good on some nights, but when it's the most expensive thing on the menu, you expect quality and not undercooked potatoes and tough fish. The chef at this place is either just a schmuck or his cooks are crap, but as the chef it reflects badly on him if he can't control the quality of his food through his staff. Really, being a chef is all about preparing good food, but it seems like this place passed on quality food to concentrate on decor. Unfortunately, this place is a restaurant and not a friggin' lounge. Altogether an unenjoyable experience that left my stomach hungry, as well as my wallet. It'd probably be a good idea to get the furniture store back.
(1)Cindy T.
1 hour wait. Food came out fast. Portions are HUGE! I thought that I would be a savage and eat everything especially since I was so hungry waiting. I could barely finish half of my food. Definitely 2 meals worth of food. Inexpensive but impressive quality. I ordered the catfish biscuit sandwich (fried chicken as big as a catfish head on a biscuit covered in gravy with side of grits or roasted potatoes). Fried chicken was crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Biscuit was fluffy in the inside and crispy on the outside. Perfectly balanced by the gravy for dipping the chicken and potatoes in.
(5)Jon R.
Well it's official: Screen Door is huge on Yelp. And with good reason. I had the best fried chicken I've had in my life here. But I've got some facts to back it up. I have Wii Fit which weighs you on a daily basis. Returning from Screen Door I weighed myself: I HAD GAINED 4.6 POUNDS! Well that was mostly the food-baby, because the next day after taking care of some morning business I had lost 2 pounds! That's right 2 pounds of you-know-what (3.5 Courics). So my net gain from my Screen Door meal was 2.6 pounds and 100% worth it. This is some of the best comfort food I've ever had. Their mac n cheese is phenomenal, I've only had better at Cafeteria in NYC. Also they had some interesting Mint Julep type cocktails, I tasted a real Gin-ny one which was bitter and yummy (but I'm mostly a beer guy). I can't wait to come back for breakfast. And please no one read this because the lines here are brutal.
(5)Holy-foo' X.
This review is based on multiple group take-out experiences @ Screen Door. After we finally brave the crowds to experience brunch on the scene, then I'll reconsider and write again to determine whether or not this truly is "As good as it gets" 5 star. First, I and my entire group absolutely love their catfish. And their pan-fried chicken. The pullet of course is SO hyped I thought a let-down was probable, if not inevitable. Alas we got a huge order of it, and it was devoured instantly, as were the creamy, buttery taters and chicken gravy. Damn, how is it that ANYONE south of the Mason Dixon line lives past the age of 35, eating such victuals, even occasionally? After multiple trips through the south, and long before I discovered the Screen Door, I came to recognize southern cooking not as regional cuisine or even "really, really good" regional cuisine, but a gift from the heavens, bestowed on humanity for the ages. Screen Door does a very nice job bringing we in the PNW a very reasonable interpretation of that divine gift... If lovin' Screen Door's brisket is wrong, I don't never, ever wanna be right. Like crushed velour, it tickled the senses, tickled the palate, then tickles your fancy. This is precisely the sort of slow cooked mastery that enables you to savor the meal hours, and perhaps even days later. Take a nice hot shower, or steam sauna, and you'll experience the meal anew, erupting through your pores.... I also loved Screen Door's vinegary, spicy, ham-infused Collard Greens. I for one am someone who never tires of eating his greens! SD's dirty beans and rice are also top notch. The mac n cheese, while good and even note-worthy, suffers from the saturation in the market we now see; EVERYBODY has what they think is off-the-chain mac-n-cheese. Very hard for anyone to separate from the pack and distinguish themselves w/this dish--- though my personal favorite @ the moment remains Pepper Box, w/the chorizo. Lawd a-mussy! Screen Door's pulled pork and deep-fried pork chops are odd dogs out on the menu. Didn't care at all for either.... there are natural human limits, vaguely understood and forever unseen, but known by all of us instinctively to protect us from certain lines that just should never be crossed. Will I get much resistance, or flak, for stating outright that deep-fried pork chops are just NO... not just a skirmish on the frontier, but a flagrant violation. It's sort of reminiscent of recent, very disturbing news stories about how numerous other countries are fully immersed in experimentation, cloning human-animal hybrids. Some lines you just DON'T cross, capisce? It's like tampering in God's Domain.... allow me to step AWAY, so the coming thunderbolts don't deep-fry me, too! ;p Someday soon we'll be coming by for that unbelievable brunch I've heard and read so much about. In the mean time, thanks so much to the Screen Door. Gotta go out, now, Christine McVie style 'n' sh*t... b/c Screen Door, what's to say but that you make lovin' fun.....
(4)Ryan F.
We went to Screen Door to celebrate our friend's birthday. We had never been there for dinner before but we have always enjoyed there breakfasts. We got there at 6pm on a Friday night and shockingly enough we got seated outside on their porch within 5 minutes of arriving. We started off with some fried okra which was crispy and delicious. The flavor of the okra wasn't over powered by the crispy batter used. For dinner my wife had the fried chicken with mashed potatoes and collared greens. The chicken was crispy and had a nice little peppery kick. The potatoes were tasty and the greens were very authentic. I had their screen door plate which was a side of cornbread with a choice of 3 of their sides. I had the catfish, jambalaya, and their mac and cheese. The catfish was crispy and in a very light and flavorful batter. The jambalaya was delicious and my friend who is from the south said that it was very authentic to what she enjoyed as a child. Finally, the best for last, the macaroni and cheese was simply amazing. The type of macaroni and cheese that makes you want to lay down and take a long nap after enjoying the cheesy goodness! We will definitely be returning to Screen Door!
(5)Scott H.
The cathead biscuit and chicken was worth the wait. Would have been 5 stars had the home fries been hot on the plate with everything else. All in all, worth the wait to get in. I will be trying the bananas foster on the next visit.
(4)Thomas M.
I can't believe what I have been missing out on for so long... I finally had dinner at screen door, when the line for Laurelhurst was 1.5 hours long (like it usually is), I said screw it I will try something else close by, and I sure am glad I did. I thought this place was just known for its awesome breakfast where hipsters line up 30 deep outside or fried chicken and waffles. But the dinner here knocked my socks off. I had the brisket with mashed potatoes and green beams. AMAZINGLY good, I have found a new replacement for Bernie's and Podnah's for some great BBQ. I also had the Bourbon flight which was a very reasonable $11, where I was served 3 shots of excellent and expensive bourbon. I will return very soon.
(5)Hilary F.
My new favorite alternative to flying home to Alabama! Wow! This place is awesome! Once I got over the pain of paying too much for Southern basics (what my family always called 'poor country food') I fell in love with the place. The sweet tea is awesome and very accurate. The shrimp and grits were perfect and the cornbread (though it doesn't seem to be cooked in a cast iron skillet) was very moist and NOT sweet (which is a good thing). I actually paid money for banana pudding, don't tell my Grandmother!
(4)Brandy S.
Ok. I think the fact that I have eaten at the Screen Door 3 times in less than two weeks should say something about the variety and quality of the menu. Not only do they have an outstanding selection for meat and vegi eaters, but they also have a rotating seasonal menu that changes every week. Overall: what more can a girl ask for than a roasted vegetable soup and french fries?
(5)Amy S.
I'm only giving this place 4 stars because of minor cons which I will explain first. Followed by the much more important pros. This place is packed, and therefore very noisy. It's good for kids and families which I enjoy because I'm a single mom, but... it's very noisy. If you go there with a date, sit next to them so you can talk to each other. The server went over things really quickly, made me feel rushed, but at the same time I appreciated the quickness when my son was crying and we needed to get out of there asap. He was on it. We tipped him for that. Now the pros. The food is delicious. It's my new favorite BBQ and Southern food place since Delta Cafe is now kinda far away for us. I thought everything was very fairly priced for how organic, local and amazing it was. Plus, the portions are huge. You don't leave hungry. And now, I'm going to finish my meal from home, since a temper tantrum shortened my meal. :) I will absolutely be back. The menu rotates, and I bet everything is awesome.
(4)Korin W.
Screen Door is delish! The menu had so many great options, my date and I decided to both get the Screen Door Plate'. The SDP is your choice of three sides or local organics. My SDP consisted of the jambalaya, sweet potato fries, and the local organic honey crisp apple & mixed greens salad. My date's SDP had the mac n cheese, fried catfish, and chili. All sides were absolutely yummy!! My favorites are in order as follows: catfish, apple honey salad, jambalaya, sweet potato fries, mac n cheese, and the chili. We also had the cocktail that has sweet tea vodka along with blood orange juice in it...I could have had 5 of those :) The atmosphere is great! Not too big of a place, and lots of tables, as well as a big enough bar to comfortably sit and have dinner. We went on a Saturday night and it was packed, but we only waited about 10 minutes for a table. Our waiter was lovely and the service was great. I can't wait to go back for brunch!
(4)Jim W.
Can't go wrong with a place that has Praline Bacon on the Menu. My onlly complaint? It is not open for breakfast during the week days ... and when I go on weekends - I've gotta get up early to beat the crowds. Can I just go sit in the kitchen and eat? I can't wait to go back. Can you open a location in every city I visit? I hate chain restaurants in general - but I'd love to walk through your door more often.
(5)Matt S.
I wish I could give Screen Door a 5-star review. If not for the owner, I would be writing a horrific review; one that rants and raves about some of the most terrible service I have received in this fine city. The night we came to Screen Door, the service was so terrible that everyone in our party of four was shaking within the first 15 minutes. It appeared that our server simply disliked us from the moment we sat down. And throughout the duration of our visit, the server yelled at us for ordering incorrectly, scolded one of our out-of-town guests for not knowing one of the local beer labels and then spent the rest of the time ignoring us. The next day, I called the owner and explained everything. She was more than gracious and offered to make things right. I can't say enough right things about her. She very much understands how guests need to be treated and for that, I will continue to come back to her restaurant. I understand that every establishment can have a bad egg here or there, I just hope that Christian (not Chris, as we were abruptly instructed before even saying his name) was dealt with for his terrible behavior.
(4)alvarei a.
Amazing food an the crappiest coffee you can ever find. But that's a common rule in the US... Also the wait on a Sunday morning is ridiculous. Go sign up for a table and go run some errands and come back.
(4)Tasha D.
My friend and I did the Portland thing and stood stoically in the rain waiting for Screen Door to open on a Sunday morning for brunch. The wait was long, cold, and wet. Once we were let in, we were swiftly seated (which makes sense since we were the 3rd party in line), and immediately served beverages. We then ordered our food, and I was absolutely impressed with how immediately packed the entire dining room was, and with how well the staff and kitchen handled the influx. Food and service flew by with amazing precision. I went a la carte for my meal because I live dangerously. The eggs and bacon were wholly acceptable; the cheese grits rocked my world. The coffee was not so good (bitter), which I was surprised about since Portland is sort of the home of expensively tasty coffee. My friend ordered some fantastically complicated french toast, but ended up wishing she'd gone the savory route instead. I have to say, the piles of fried chicken on top of waffles, staked through with a massive knife, looked very impressive. And like about enough food to feed a family of four for a week. (This is why you're fat).
(4)Paul Y.
This might be my absolute favorite brunch spot in Portland!! But be prepared to wait for 45 minutes to an hour or more on a Saturday or Sunday. I have tried so many things on the menu here and have liked everything so far. My favorites are the chicken and waffles, the cathead biscut and chicken with gravy, and the brisket hash with horseraddish cream sauce. They don't skimp one bit on portions size, or flavor. This place is one of my brunch staples!!
(5)Kerri H.
45 minutes after I placed my order, the kitchen realized that they didn't have one of the ingredients. I told them to go ahead and make it anyways. The mushroom/egg scramble sadly lacked from the lack of roasted peppers and would have benefited from carmelized onions, garlic, anything to pep it up. In fact, it would have been much better had they just cooked it until it was dry. As it was, it was a wet and sloppy mess. My dining companion's pancakes were rather leaden, as they had been held back while my food was being prepared, but the potatoes were excellent. Our waitress apologized no less than five times for this and other mishaps during brunch. At that point, you begin to expect that they'll do something to "make it up to you." No such luck.
(2)Lynn W.
My husband I count Screen Door as one of our fave places to eat! While it might be a wait to get in, the arrangement they have with the bar down the street allows you to leave, grab a drink and get called when a table is ready. Food is always delicious, atmosphere is cozy and fun. It can be a tad loud at times but this is a minor inconvenience when compared to the delicious eats that await you! We almost always order the 'screen door plate' where you can choose three sides; I always have a hard time deciding but usually I go with the Catfish, mac n cheese and greens. Hush puppies are to-die for!! Nothing I can say that hasn't already been said about this place, it is fantastic EVERY time we go there. This place is nothing but consistent with it's delicious food and efficient staff, somebody clearly knows how to run a restaurant.
(4)Jen C.
Bustling brunch spot that's always packed and serves up huge portions. Great food, the portions are literally ENORMOUS, so keep that in mind. A friend told us the biscuits here were really good, possibly better then Pine State, so knew I had to have them! So I ordered that with the friend chicken and wow was it a lot of food! The chicken was extra crispy, which I guess it to be expected since its Southern food. Chicken also seemed a little well done for me too. In any event, it was a heavy breaky for me. Husband got the fried chicken and waffles and they were really rich. Come here when you want to indulge.
(3)Joe S.
The wifey and I have been scouring PDX for the perfect breakfast and right now Screen Door has the crown. Their standard menu was amazing and well executed and their daily specials were interesting without trying to over think it. I can't wait to drink too much, be hung over the next day and soothe with Screen Door.
(5)Mel B.
Saturday night in the rain. Wait: about 25 min. Service: Good, not overly friendly. No warm fuzzies, but I can appreciate service without a fake smile, as long as it's efficient, and it certainly was. Food: Great! Shrimp and grits app: delicious! I haven't had a lot of grits, but if they always tasted like this, I'm sure I'd be asking for them a whole lot more. Four large prawns for the appetizer and a good size for the price ($9). As we were patiently waiting for our table, we took some time looking over the menu, and the specials for the day. I quickly picked the short rib pot roast and was on my merry way until the host crossed it off the chalkboard. Damn! Our waitress recommended the slow cooked pork shoulder and thank god she did. It was amazing. Fork tender and oh so good. We added an order of buttered carrots and those too were just amazing. Why not 5 stars? We were a little disappointed with the corn bread. How can a place do shrimp and grits and pork shoulder so well, but screw up corn bread? I don't know, but it was dry and flavorless. Go figure, because the hush puppies were delicious. Their mac and cheese was good, but not great. We love trying new places when we're out here visiting, but we'll make this place a regular spot. It's just that good.
(4)Bay Area F.
I love restaurants that give you the option to order lots of a la carte options. I did the make your own breakfast and ordered a biscuit, veggie sausage, veggie gravy, grits, and fruit salad. I will detail the magic that was my breakfast: * biscuit: perfectly flaky, buttery, but not greasy - must order * veggie sausage: above average - not a must order * veggie gravy: BEST I've ever had, it was mushroom, which most veggie gravy is and had just the right amount of pepper. It came in a gigantic tub, which I thought was excessive, but what do you know, I finished it all and wanted more! - must order * grits: pretty good, creamy, but still light and flavorful - not a must order * fruit salad: very good, grapes, pears, grapefruit, and pomegranate, not a must order, but definitely a good addition to what was otherwise a pretty heavy meal One of my friends ordered a pimento cheese and bacon sandwich and he loved it. The other made his own breakfast too and also was very pleased. We also shared winter squash and ricotta beignets tossed in cinnamon sugar with powdered sugar, which was a special and were very good, not too sweet or greasy, reminiscent of hush puppies - almost a must order, but not quite. I would love to make it back to Screen Door for dinner some time. This is a must visit place in Portland.
(5)Amanda M.
The fried chicken was fantastic! The wait was long, but the staff was wonderful. I will definitely be back.
(4)Caroline R.
My favorite brunch spot in town. I don't mind the wait because I know it will be sooo worth it.
(5)Ngoc-Diep P.
Alright Alright, I was not the biggest fan of Screen Door's corn bread that comes with the screen door plate. However, I need to give a shout out and say, excellent job!! It has improved compared to a year ago. Last night was my 100th time or something like that at Screen Door and the corn bread was not dried out and nasty. The honey butter to put on the bread was UH-MAZING!! It completely compensates for any residual lack of goodness the cornbread may have! WHOOOO HOOOO! Love this place!
(5)JG H.
The food was fine but some of the employees were totally rude, I don't want to misrepresent what I didn't like about the experience. I was just taken by surprise since I've usually found the restaurant nothing less than great, food and service. The service though... Well I think maybe the host and the woman behind the bar might have been hungover or something. We were seated at the bar, the host misrepresented it as the only place to sit. Did I mention that my wife is 9 months pregnant? It would have been nice, given the open availability, others seated at the same time were offered a table, to have a choice. I asked our server/bartender about the pork cheeks. She grabbed her cheeks as if to say these are what cheeks are and stares at me. I'm thinking, "why is this woman so angry," I had ordered drinks while I waited and tipped pretty well already, I was courteous too. Then the host comes by and admonishes us to move over so he can fit more people at the bar. Did I mention that my wife is 9 months pregnant? I looked over and thought, "why doesn't he offer us a table" (like the one five feet away that is open) if he doesn't like the way we sit at the bar. The worst part is that we don't get to go out very often these days and we were hoping to have a nice night. Instead of having a special night with my wife we had our night hijacked. The bearded gentleman that was also behind the bar (bar-back?) was great, really nice guy.
(2)Kat M.
As two people hailing from VA, we are skeptical of places claiming to make exceptional southern food in the Pacific Northwest exists. Well Screen Door does it! We ordered the special appetizer for the night: braised pork belly over spoonbread. Had great accompanying flavors: apple, fennel & butternut squash. Delicious. I got the Screen Door Plate: Fried catfish, mac&cheese, and from the seasonal menu a roasted beet salad. Although I wasn't sure if I'm into catfish I went ahead and tried it. Still not thinking fried catfish is for me but it was well made, nice cornmeal breading which wasn't too heavily fried. Quite possibly the best mac&cheese ever (I don't take that lightly either). Creamy cheese sauce inside with a crusty cheese top (see the photos from others). Beet salad was nice, liked the goat cheese/pistachio combo, nothing special though. Nice balance to all the heavy food though. The other meal ordered was the beef brisket. The 1st photo on here is the beef brisket - it's topped with thin crispy onions, yum! This was fantastic! I heard the horseradish potato salad was pretty tasty too. My partner reported the sweet tea being just as good as his granny's homemade. If you appreciate southern food, are in Portland, and can handle the extensive crowds and wait then make it a must!
(5)Melissa T.
Love this place because service is great and they are so accommodating for special orders.
(5)Calvin Y.
You know that feeling when you get when you're so full that if you eat another bite you'll burst? How about the feeling that follows it where you know if you don't order dessert, you know you'll live with a burden of regret that you can never live down? Welcome to Screen Door, where their food is so good and big that you'll just eat and eat. And then eat some more. I recommend their Beef Brisket -- the tender beef brisket which is swimming in their barbecue sauce is to die for! Their collard greens has chunks of pork hock and bacon and it is super flavorful. I ended the night with their Peach and Blueberry Pie with the Buttermilk Ice Cream a la mode. The Buttermilk Ice Cream is what sold me -- the tanginess of the blueberry and peach is neutralized by their delicious Buttermilk Ice Cream. If you want a table, then expect a wait. Since we were flexible and were willing to eat at the bar, we were seated immediately. At the bar, there were three servers helping us and they were all lovely! Thank goodness I don't live in Portland because I think I'd eat here everyday and gain loads of weight!
(5)Amado L.
Brunch at the Screen Door is never a bad idea. Our group of 18 descended upon the small but lively restaurant like a touring company for Cirque du Soleil but with only slightly weirder costumes. Despite the size of our group, service was still pretty top notch. There was only one time when I felt the coffee refilling was remiss, but my cup runneth over the rest of the time. I almost had the Chicken 'n Waffle again but was thankfully swayed to trying one of their Cat Head Biscuit sandwiches, opting for one with Bacon, Cheese 'n Egg. It was huge and I could finish only half of it before relegating the rest to the to-go box. I'd also ordered their Breakfast Corndog because, well, it's a corndog dammit so I've gotta have it. It's not enough to warrant a decrease in star rating, but the corndog was slightly disappointing. I prefer my sausage tightly wrapped (wow, that sounded kinky) and Screen Door's version was a little loose. Of course, it probably didn't help that I was eating it all proper and all with a knife and fork rather than chowing it down street fair style. The maple syrup with which it was served was interesting. I had expected some sort of mustard, but the syrup added a sweetness one wouldn't expect from a corndog experience. Overall, a great brunch with very cool Yeeps, whose tirades included every topic from strip clubs to food cart innovations to tourist deaths. And no other group of people can make a discussion about Tonya Harding reason enough to lose one's appetite.
(5)Ron T.
Good lord almighty! I need more room in my tummy. I must have recently awaken from my food coma. It was a little bit overwhelming for me. The other reviews are dead on when they said that the fried chicken is the bomb. It definitely is. I ordered the fried chicken cat head biscuit with gravy and potatoes. I thought I did order for myself but it looks like I can share it with another person. Our battalion of 18 people came in prepped by coming in early and the staff was more than welcome to accommodate us. They were fast and efficient. I believe there was already a line even before it opens. It feels like a Black Friday morning but instead of shopping for socks and whatnot, we were getting our food on. Real, good, delicious food. If you are coming in for the dining experience, I would suggest coming in early or you need Moses to part the sea of people waiting.
(5)Kari M.
Just got back from having a lovely brunch with some of my fellow yeeps and I must say they put up a 5 star performance. We had 18 people show up (10 to start and 8 more trickled in). They were extremely accomodating, saving a few extra tables for the stragglers and then adding an extra one last minute for our final two. They definitely went above what most restaurants I have been to would do for such a large group considering there was quite a line outside of other people and they don't take reservations. The food was as usual, delicious. The portions, ginormous. I think they should rename the chicken and waffles breakfast "chicken mountain" because that's what it looks like. I don't think a single person actually finished the food that was set in front of them. I had the bananas foster french toast, and I didn't quite make it halfway through my plate before my tummy was waving the white flag in defeat. Screen door 2, Kari 0.
(5)Robin S.
I love the Screen Door! I took my boyfriend here last night for his birthday after hearing rave reviews from multiple friends. The Screen Door has a nice open and simple feel to it. It was pretty empty when we arrived, a little after opening. We were so involved in our delicious food, we didn't even notice how packed it got around us until we left. The staff were very attentive, helpful, and nice. The food was amazing!! I had the fried chicken which I could not stop thinking about after we left. I was sitting at the Rose Garden, watching the Blazers spank our opponent saying "gosh that chicken was sooo good." If I am ever pregnant, I think this may be the food I will crave. The chicken was so moist and not terribly greasy for being fried. My BF got the Screen Door plate with catfish, mac n cheese, and coleslaw. I tried everything but the catfish and it was all very good! BF also said the catfish was very tasty and fresh. He was quite impressed with the food and kept saying "great choice!"
(5)Karen M.
It's 5pm and I'm the midst of the praline bacon sweats. We strolled out of Screen Door a little before 2 after getting there 11:30 ish. Yes, there was a long wait but if you're with good company (one of whom produced peanut butter M &M's from the depths of her purse to tide us over)and have a bloody with pickled okra in front of you who cares? Was warm enough to wait at the picnic tables anyway. We were some hungry girls by the time we plopped down. To wit: apple cinnamon coffee cake, a breakfast corndog, two orders of praline bacon, a blue crab omelette, fennel sausage-yukon gold-brussels sprout-poached egg hash and a wild mushroom scramble. My friend ordered the hash before me and got the last order (damn, maybe the best taste of breakfast I've ever had). Mind you there were only three of us and one was a tween. She wanted to get cheesecake to go after all that. The force is strong in this one. We all ordered off the specials menu after an ad hoc committee was formed and the decision was made that we could eat off the regular menu next time (next week?). Malted waffles? Yes, please! Farm grits? Drool. General consenus among those of voting age was that Screen Door should be open everyday for brunch so BlackBerry pics of food could be taken and transmitted to the minor whilst she is at school. Ah, the joys of having finished 6th grade already! But everything was outstanding - super friendly staff - running around like crazy but keeping their cool. And the kitchen looked like they were barely breaking a sweat - now THAT impresses me. No one freaking out on each other, orders coming out at the same time, no knife throwing (yes, I've seen that happen, it stuck in the wall) - just total...flow. Mom o' tween summed it up best "next time I'm wearing sweatpants." Non-binding resolution across the age brackets was that there would be much working out this week to compensate for what was, truly, gluttony. Oh lawd, here come the corn dog sweats.
(5)Wayne R.
This is also one of my favorite places to eat. REALLY good southern style home cooking. The only downside to this place is that it is almost ALWAYS totally packed. Brunch is BRUTAL if you get there later than 10am. I think they take reservation for groups of 6 or more. Everything I have had to eat here has been great. The service is slightly slower than average, but completely understandable since they are so busy. Completely recommended.
(4)Francis C.
I came for breakfast, so this is a rating of that experience: The food gets a very solid good rating; but OMG - do not come here for breakfast. Especially if you have kids/family or come in the winter. You'll almost certainly be stuck waiting outside due to the fact they have a tiny hallway to wait in. And the average wait on weekends is 1-2 hours from the few times I went. I saw one group of 4 wait 3 HOURS one time for breakfast food. That's 100% totally unacceptable. As for the food, I had the biscuits and gravy breakfast - and it was above par. You could tell a lot of care was put into the food; but the general experience of a weekend morning completely ruined it. Lots of jostling and rushed people around. Every table is packed and every server running around like a frantic chicken. I want to start a movement in Portland - it's called the 'We're not going to stand for 2 hours outside your stupid restaurant and get food we could cook up at home in 10 minutes' movement. It's a pandemic around Portland and it's time it stopped. I simply won't go to restaurants that make you stand outside forever and wait. What is this? Communist Russia where we all get to stand in lines to get food? If I can't call in and make a reservation - I don't go to them. There's far too many great breakfast places without lines around Portland to put up with this garbage. Where are those places? Well, I'm not telling you because I like being able to go there, get a seat as soon as I walk in, get lots of leisurely coffee refills, sit at a nice warm environment on a rainy winter day, get my food in 15-20 minutes, and can sit and read a paper or chat with friends. Not the hap-hazard swing-by every now and again service, getting knocked about by people coming and going because the tables are too smashed together, and feeling constantly rushed to get up and get that table to the next guy. So go out people and stop being lead around by the foodie crazes and find great places without lines. It's all hype. Really, Portland is a foodie town - there's hundreds of other places out there to enjoy just as great an experience. Just don't start coming to my favs. :)
(2)MK R.
Coming from Texas, I was not really expecting Portland to do justice to Southern food...boy was I wrong! This place was soooo good! We arrived at 5:00p to stand in line in the rain for dinner before the restaurant opened. We were one of the 1st in line so there was no wait for the table when it opened. My only wish is that they open a similar restaurant in Dallas! A trifecta: great food, great service, and great prices! Screen door, Oh How I will miss you! My order: Screen Door Plate All of these items were seasoned and cooked to perfection. 1.) Thin-sliced fried Pork Chops 2.) Crispy fried catfish w/ remoulade 3.) Cup of Gumbo soup
(5)jennifer s.
After hearing a girlfriend talk on & on about this place, we decided to take them up on it and see what all the hype was about. I have to say I was not impressed. Mainly due to the tiny waiting area, not taking reservations & a very limited menu. It's cramped, not kid friendly & just not a great dining experience for me or my family. I would not go back.
(2)Mats A.
Simply awesome southern food! We arrived around 7pm on a Friday and the wait was around 30 minutes but it was worth the wait. The fried chicken with mash, gravy and greens with tasso was just incredible. The chicken had just the right amount of heat, super moist and a good super crispy crust. Service was really fast and good. We will definitely come back here.
(4)Puanani L.
I like it. A lot. Now I know why all the folks exiting the place look so blissed out. I thought they were just being smug because they were smart enough to come early and get a table. This may be part of the reason, but the bliss definitely comes from the food. We have been twice now, once for brunch and once for dinner. Both times we left completely fat and happy. Our first dinner experience was heightened because we got the last table in the house, the cozy booth in the corner. Yeehee! My sweetheart and I ordered a bunch of sides to share, little ramekins filled all sorts of deliciousness. It kept us primed for dessert, did I mention they have Banoffe Pie?? Banofee Pie and I have thing. Shh. Don't tell anyone. Go. But go early, like before they open, lest you may have to do The Bliss Walk in front of a crowd of envious future diners.
(5)Steven K.
I write this review still buzzing from the tremendously delicious dinner shared with my cousins, this evening. Wednesday evening, the night before Thanksgiving, and our table for 3 required a wait less than 10 minutes. Sam, our waiter was bright eyed, friendly, and patient. My meal was the 'Screen Door Plate' which for $13.95 offered a selection of three plates from the sides / local organic selections, along with cornbread and honey-butter. I chose the plum and fresh fig salad, the catfish, and macaroni and cheese. My cousins had the buttermilk fried chicken with collared greens, and another Screen Door Plate of hash with chanterelles, and two other dishes. The food came to the table after a short wait, even though the restaurant was pleasantly crowded. Each of our plates were presented beautifully but simply. The portions were also very generous. Each of the dishes were delectable. The bill for the three of us for the three dinners and two drinks came to about $50.00. Wow. With a warm, dark maroon ambiance that was inviting and unpretentious, excellent service, and most of all delicious local and organic food, combined with large portions that are very reasonably priced, I easily give Screen Door a 5-star review. I will be coming back here again soon for their brunch which I have heard is equally as pleasing. Thank you so much for this wonderful meal. You have made my evening! _S
(5)E D.
Our favorite restaurant in Portland! Everything we have is awesome. Had Sunday brunch recently and our food got delayed behind a large order. They ended up giving us a significant discount which was very nice of them. We did not ask for this and we really didn't mind waiting for the food at this place. The fried chicken is worth waiting for too! Does not take reservations and a line forms at opening, so come about 15-20 minutes early. Good size place so they can seat a good sized line.
(5)Jennifer A.
This has been on my wish list forever. Finally waited outside on a chilly Portland morn, with a hot cup of coffee to try the recommended fair. crispy Chicken and Sweet Potato Waffle, with a side of gravy filled us up quick. Daily special Bacon Praline Pecan French Toast definitely satisfied my sweet tooth. Our waitress was fantastic too.
(4)Jen J.
Best fried chicken I have ever had! (And it's saying alot because I love fried chicken and eat it about once a week....both at restaurants and fast food chicken joints) First, the wait for seats were RIDICULOUS! We waited for almost an hour for a table for three on a Wednesday night around 7. This is a good sign and points to the desirableness of the food, but nonetheless the wait was painful in that tiny hallway (especially considering it was raining outside and most shops had already been closed, which prevented us from walking around while waiting). Service was quick and efficient after we sat down. We had the smoked and cured plate for an appetizer....oh my! If you love pickled anything, you will love this little plate of curious items. I had the beef brisket, which was smothered in sauce and had rich flavors. My coworker had the fried chicken and chicken tenders. I tried the fried chicken...best fried chicken ever. There may have been a little too much crust for me, but the meat was incredibly tender and not at all dry. Delicious! All the portions were huge, which justifies the slightly higher price. It was definitely worth the wait and the drive for us (from Vancouver, WA).
(4)Stanley T.
Oh so close to five stars! We arrived at the 5:30 PM opening time and got seated right away - they filled up rather quickly. So many yummy sounding choices on the menu, but I was on a mission for fried chicken. We started with the hush puppies - crispy, not oily, exterior and moist, steaming goodness within. They came with an excellent honey mustard sauce, but they were so delicious I couldn't stand to adulterate them. Ronda ordered seared scallops and a roasted beet salad. The scallops were perfect and perfectly presented on a bed of marinated artichoke and steamed spinach. The salad was fresh and lightly dressed, with generous wedges of roasted beet. I ordered the fried chicken (of course). I was disappointed to learn that it would come boneless (I really enjoy primal gnawing) but have to admit that this was some of the best chicken I've had in a long time. Half a breast plus a thigh, crispy (again, not oily) coating with moist meat inside. Certainly five star stuff and very close to perfect. The mashed potatoes and gravy were just fine. The greens were good, but not nearly to the standard of those from Russell Street. Not realizing I would be getting a vegetable side, I ordered the Brussels sprout and rainbow carrot side. This disappointed me. The vegetables were fine, but they came bathed in a creamy dressing that just didn't do it for me. The food seemed a bit slow to arrive (in comparison to the tables around us) but not too bad - service in general was good. We had no room to try desserts but after reviewing that menu we made mental notes to order less food next time to indulge at the end. So, if I hadn't ordered the Brussels sprout/carrot side, this would have been a five star review. Hardly seems fair, does it? What can I say? I'm a hard ass.
(4)Aaron R.
Some of the best food in the city! Been there a number of times and never had one less-than-spectacular bite. My only constructive feedback was that it gets a bit loud, but they have the best fried chicken, greens, and fried green tomatoes in town... and although they're not uber-cheap, you get every dollar's worth. Plus, their breakfasts are great on the weekend...
(5)Jens J.
Bursting with good food, positive vibes and happy people! There was a wait, but like the maître d' said - patient people are awarded a booth! And we were! It was great too that if you were waiting by the door, they made sure that you still had an opportunity to get a drink. Service was crisp and error-free from start to finish. Loved the shrimp grits and the hush puppies appetizers. Also got lots of pleasure from the Rogue Dead Guy Ale! A bonus too that our plaid-shirted waitress asked if we wanted fresh glasses for our second round of ales. As expected the signature fried chicken was perfect, which both JP and I ordered. The smoky taste of the gravy that came with the mashed potatoes evoked in me an image of a crackling campfire. The pecan pie was very good, but it came with a little dollop of whipped cream, not the vanilla bean ice cream advertised on the menu. I do have one suggestion: ditch the sickly sweet poppy seed dressing that comes with the hush puppies. I was much happier using the shrimp grits as my dipping sauce.
(5)Chrissy S.
Screen Door, I love you. Let's get married and have Buttermilk Fried Chicken Babies. Let's ride off into the sunset on a sea of fresh peppery Shrimp and Grits. You have won this Southern gal's heart. And to you i pledge my unending love of okra and black eyed peas. The food. Not the band. I'd never pledge on Fergie. You are instant Prozac and your Rhett Butler cocktails make my toes curl. And all the big bad ass cooks I know back in Alabama and Louisiana would not only save you a seat at their table, but also applaud your biscuits. And so do I. XOXOXO Chrissy
(5)Alex W.
One of the best places to go in Portland for breakfast and that is saying a lot! Unfortunately they don't take reservations but if there is a line (as there often is) there is a cafe next door to spend your time in. The eggs sardou is my favorite, a play on an eggs benedict where the poaches eggs sit inside artichoke hearts on top of creamed spinach and biscuit. But everything I or my friends have tried has been pretty amazing, and with a list of new specials every week there is always something new. I also always get a side of the praline bacon. Crumbled pralines pasted onto a strip of bacon with some brown-sugar syrup. At first I thought it sounded pretty strange but once you try it you'll love it. One of my friends even fantasized about filling a bathtub up with praline bacon and eating his way out! Deliciously rich, a side consists of only three pieces but well worth it. And of course there are the bloody mary's. I never would have thought to put okra instead of celery in a bloody mary but it is a terrific idea!
(5)Josh B.
This place seems to get is right every time. I look forward to a good experience every time I go. Along with breakfast, I have went here for dinner a few times and thought it was equally as good. Some place, back in that open kitchen, someone cares about the product that comes out. This is an awesome example of why we all should support more local businesses... (what if 25% of all the IHOPs you seen were a locally owned place serving food like this....) Do not fear the lines... The food is great!
(5)Randall H.
With how busy this place was on a Sunday afternoon, I was really impressed with how friendly all of the staff were! The wait was almost an hour with a line around the side of the building, but it was so worth it. The atmosphere was upbeat and fun (even though it was pretty crowded), not to mention the food was AMAZING! Everything I had heard about this place was spot on. I'd highly recommend it to anyone willing to wait for the best!
(5)Ashley G.
Everything I've tried here is phenomenal!
(5)Richard S.
Southern Fried Chicken and Waffles ROCKED !
(4)alexa c.
I absolutely LOVE Portland. And I LOVE eating Portland even more!! I had heard about Screen Door for quite some time from my friend so we of course had to add it to my Portland Food Tour. I'm not sure how I didn't manage to grasp that it was southern food in advance, it was only once we arrived that I picked up on it. Sometimes southern food can be limiting for us veggietarians but not in this case. . . . The specials menu was very tempting, especially the squash frittata. Once I got wind of ALL the ingredients, the decision was made! Three different squashes, leeks and cheese? It's on!! Naturally I ordered a Bloody Mary! It seems that I will always have at least three drinks in front of me at any given moment in Portland. The three usually consist of 1) water 2) coffee and 3) a Bloody Or Mimosa. ANOTHER AWESOME aspect of Portland, the bevie options are plentiful almost anywhere you go! And wonderfully delicious! The service was great, we loved our waitress! The bartender was adorable and don't think for one minute I wasn't checking out the kitchen staff! Cuties!! All in all, a good experience. Comfort food in a comfortable setting, Just what the doctor ordered.
(3)Ally E.
Oh, Screen Door, Oh, Screen Door... Fried chicken, fried catfish, and buttery greens, creamy mashed potatoes, oh my goodness oh my goodness .... sorry, I had to pause and daydream a bit. Now that I"ve wiped the drool off the keyboard, let me continue. I would eat at Screen Door every day if my arteries and the crowds outside would let me. The trick, I've found, is to get there right after they open up for dinner, or maybe even before, and then there's no nasty stressful waiting to interfere with your meal. Obviously, it's delicious. The menu is seasonal, staff are friendly and funny, the decor makes me smile as I lean back in my chair (to give my stomach more room to grow). And the prices are really, really decent. God, I love this place.
(5)Caroline N.
Southern food, meet brunch. Brunch, meet Southern food. The weekend brunch here is on point. Those chicken and waffles... noms. I love the shredded sweet potato inside the waffle, and the chicken is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. 3 boneless pieces, seasoned to perfection! It's a huge portion, so I would definitely recommending sharing with someone because based on experience, it doesn't taste as good when you get your leftovers to go. Lately, however, I've been ordering off their specials menu because there is always something that catches my eye. The pork sausage scramble that I had over the summer was one of the best scrambles I've had - the eggs were still wet and the sausage was really good. I've never had to wait over an hour because I'm always there 45 minutes early. You do this, and you're in on the first round of seating. So get your butt out of bed and get there early, I'd rather wait 45 minutes earlier in the morning than get another half hour of sleep and wait 1.5 hours to get in. The service here is top-notch, everyone is very friendly and attentive, and my coffee mug is always refilled before it truly needs to be. Hats off to Screen Door!
(5)Gloria P.
Maybe I ordered the wrong thing. Sigh, I really really really wanted to like this place because it was one of the first top-rated restaurants that popped up on Yelp but when my friends and I went my experience was really just... mediocre. We went on a Thursday night for dinner, and two of us ordered the Screen Door plate (comes with choice of 3 sides, and cornbread) and my friend ordered a hamburger. I chose mac&cheese, the garden salad, and their chicken & sausage jambalaya as my sides. My friend chose the potato gratin and garden salad and something else.. I forgot. But the food really was just okay. Everything tasted good 3 bites in, but then like 6 bites later.. It was all too heavily seasoned and salty and.. blah. And the cornbread was kinda dreadful. It was really dry and crumbly and bleck.
(3)Vesper H.
Opposite experience from most reviewers here.... really did not think the food was all that. The flavors were bland, and the fried chicken was just so so...
(2)Jean P.
Screen Door is my go-to place for southern food. Food and drinks are consistently good as is the feeling of gluttony after you've finished your meal. The stand-out plate awards go to: Fried Chicken w/mashed potatoes (seriously, eat this now!), and really any variation of the Screen Door plate - though I always opt for catfish with a couple of rotating seasonal sides. Come hungry, come thirsty, worry about your cholesterol levels tomorrow.
(4)Evan V.
Came here after seeing a friend's picture of a giant knife securing a piece of fried chicken to a waffle. Even though that's what got me in the door, we went for dinner instead of brunch and I was not disappointed. A NW take on Southern comfort food, I really couldn't ask for more being born and raised here in the NW. Everything sounded good on the menu, but even though it was a tough choice, in the end, you really couldn't beat the Screen Door Plate. You get to choose from three house sides or "local organics" accompanied by a slice of cornbread. The local organics change from week to week, but the house sides stay the same. Of these house sides, which none have disappointed after multiple visits, two are a must: 1) The macaroni and cheese: Comes baked in a bowl of heavenly cheesy goodness and 2) The crispy fried catfish: A nice light coating with just the right amount of spiciness (which is a lot coming from a guy who hates spicy food!) and a fish that is like no other, lots of unique flavor. One warning, this place is so good, the line starts forming before they open and the place can fill up fast, so come early and come hungry!
(5)Ivan S.
This place is a perfect mix of traditional Southern and Creole soul food with Northwest ingredients and flair. When our party first arrived we were told there would be a 30-40 minute wait. We figured the joint was busy for a reason so we got some drinks while we stuck it out. It was my first Sazerac experience, and it won't be my last. The Herbsaint rinse gave the rye whiskey a nice aroma, it was the perfect sipper for a cold night. We got the pork spareribs and fried oysters as appetizers. The ribs were smoky and fall of the bone tender and were fantastic with the house-made pepper sauce. I am not a huge oyster fan, but I tried a half and found it pleasant. For our entrées, three of us got the "Screen Door Plate" which allowed us to sample almost all of the "Local Organic" side dishes. For my three I chose a barley and kale pilaf with winter herbs and shaved manchego cheese, a gala apple and endive salad with frisee, brie, and a Dijon mustard vinaigrette, and a helping of the jambalaya with smoked chicken and andouille sausage. The barley and kale dish was superbly prepared. The salad was light and flavorful, and the jambalaya was rich and satisfying. This place will receive a return visit. Possibly for brunch, and a sampling of the chicken and waffles.
(5)Vi B.
Twice I have been to Screen Door and yet this is the first time I'm writing a review. Shame on me! The proper punishment must be for me to go back and eat until I can't eat any more! First, the service is always good. And depending on what time you show up to eat, the wait isn't always so bad. And the food? Fantasmically orgasmically- I mean, really really amazing. The portions are fantastic and everything is made from scratch. Because I went there for brunch, I had a salad and french toast (both well-made), though a few other stronger-stomached patrons took on what I will take on during my next visit: the chicken and waffles. That stuff looked unbelievably monstrous (in a delicious way).
(4)Jan B.
Last night was the first night we went here. And boy oh boy can these folks cook some kick ass grub. We had the fried oysters, chicken and cat fish yes lots of fried goodness, but being our anniversary we had to splurge. I do have to say, everything from the Texas black tea (purred black berries with tequila) was worth the wait and the price. Not a place to go to every week on a budget but a place for special occasions and good company. To top it off we had to go back for the brunch menu this morning. Something to be said about having to go twice within 24 hours, but that just goes to say how awesome everything was. Come check this place out!!!!!!!!!!
(5)Kristina A.
Screen Door has always been one of my all time favorite restaurants. Since moving to the south from the PNW, I can now say it's not only one of my all time favorite restaurants, but it's also one of the the best VEGETARIAN FRIENDLY southern restaurants I have ever been to. I can't tell you how many restaurants get rave reviews in the south that have absolutely no veg-friendly options other than a salad. Screen Door takes the very best that southern cuisine has to offer and puts a decidedly PNW spin on it. I miss it terribly and make a point to visit every time I'm in Portland. There's always a line, but it goes by fast if you're with good company and have a drink to hold you over. You definitely don't want to show up ravenous, or you'll be cranky before the line moves inside.
(5)Sophie P.
AMAZING food and service. I had the fried chicken and it was heaven. It is worth the wait in line to eat here. Looking forward to coming back the next time we are in Portland.
(5)Camille Y.
My sunny Saturday afternoon spent at Screen Door's breezy outdoor patio ruined brunch for me, because nothing else can now compare. I'm a huge fan of brunch, and Screen Door served up the quintessential brunch experience in my book: gleefully decadent, classic Southern comfort food doled out in recklessly large portion sizes (probably nothing on the menu under 2000 calories), fabulous and cheerful service, homey/cozy-hipster ambience, and yes -- long waits. However, not only is it well worth it to enjoy a crazy epic meal at the most perfect venue ever, it's simply part of the experience of kicking back on a leisurely weekend morning with some top-notch company and a coffee! (Or, you know, a mimosa.) We had the fried oysters benedict and the cathead biscuits, and while both were deliciously food coma-inducing, I'm haunted by the damn chicken and waffles I saw being scuttled out of the kitchen. The towering stack of fried chicken ridiculously held together by a protruding steak knife through the middle was so huge, they may as well have just put a whole chicken on top. Sheer ridiculousness. My hands down favorite brunch of all time. A must visit when in PDX and for fans of brunch!
(5)Di Yin L.
Truly excellent fried chicken. Comes deboned, and flavorful. Juicy, delicious brine. Order early, as they run out.
(5)Evan H.
Love this place! Great, fresh southern style cuisine--outstanding drinks and desserts, too. Brunch is phenomenal, as well. You really can't go wrong at Screen Door. Just know that you're likely going to have to wait...and that the wait will be worth it.
(5)L M.
freaking fantastic. lives up to all the hype. worth the wait on the long line. not very vegan friendly. I'm a vegetarian and could find ample selections. great service.
(5)Holly D.
I see the line out the door every time I drive by. So we planned to get there just before they open to make sure we didn't have to wait long. It worked. Our two year old guest had a big bowl of oatmeal which was devoured surreptitiously. Two orders of chicken and waffles complete with the expected maple syrup. I had the grits. A bit salty for my taste but everyone else said their meal was great. I am a southern food snob so am very hard to please in this cuisine.
(4)Theary K.
This place does not need anymore reviews or stars, but I want to post a review here so my friends can know about it because this place....is...awesome. A must visit if one find themselves wondering the God Father of Hipster-town that is Portland, OR. Beards, Bikes, Tats, Dark Frame glasses w/food truck galore, great coffee, and finger-licking good southern soul food. Who would have guessed that one of the best chicken and gravy is found up north in the west coast. Because it is so awesome, expect a wait :)
(5)Kelsey M.
We waited an hour and a half in the freezing cold to get in on a Saturday morning... which then turned into a Saturday afternoon. I was pissed. There is no way any food could make up for an insane wait like that, I don't care how good it is. Oh, how wrong I was. The food was something really special, and yes, I'll eat my words (ha!) and admit that it was worth the wait. I would even be willing to wait again, and for longer, because it was that great. I got the Breakfast Po'Boy. It was so tall I couldn't bite into it, and I had to smash it down with my hand. It barely fit on the plate. All the spicy cajun flavors blended together so well, it was like a big bayou party was happening in my mouth. I experienced a sudden and overwhelming urge to travel to Louisiana. Now THAT is what I call a good sandwich/breakfast/culinary creation. I'm not an expert on southern cooking, but my tastebuds told me that this must be southern food done right, something that's probably a rare find in a place so far away from the Southeast.
(5)Kathleen Y.
My friend flew in and we decided to go to the screen door for a late lunch. There was a really long wait and we had the option of sitting inside or out, but the hostess ended up seating us inside because it was freezing outside. After being seated, our server was very prompt. We ordered the eggs sardou benedict and breakfast cornbread. The portions were big definitely needed to share. The benedict was really good. It had a poached egg on top with artichoke and spinach on top of a half muffin x 2. Perfect for sharing. It also came with a side of potatoes. The cornbread breakfast it was pretty sweet and a perfect compliment to the savory benedict. Good dessert to end off with.
(4)Adrian L.
Been twice. Enjoyed everything I tasted both times. Once I had a wonderfully filthy martini that was perfectly made, and once I shared a bottle of great wine. Everyone complains about the wait, which I thought was not bad at all, but I'm used to San Francisco, so there's that. We were sat within half an hour each time. The catfish is incredible, and whatever cajun mustard sauce they serve it with is good enough to just drink by itself. Really everything is great, If going for the first time, I highly recommend getting a screen door plate and trying out some of the starters and fresh local options.
(5)Katrina W.
I was all ready to voice the same complaint about The Screen Door that I have about The Funky Door -- namely, the audacious absence of the key architectural feature after which the given establishment models its moniker. How. Ever. I have been informed that there IS, in fact, a screen door, back by the restrooms somewhere. Not exactly good enough for me, but I suppose if I'm going to be a stickler about the [Insert Adjective] Door formula, it will have to do. Having had a not-so-great experience here for dinner with my parents, I returned for breakfast with friends, and with the perspective of peers instead of parents, the noise was not too terrible after all. I still don't know that the place lives up to either the wait or all of the hullabaloo, given the wide array of great breakfast spots in town, but I have raised my star rating from 2 to 3. Maybe next time I'll crawl another star up the ladder, but for now I'm leaving it at just OK.
(3)sharon m.
i went to screen door twice when i lived in portland... the first time i went was during brunch when my bf came to visit. They served huge, wholesome portions that screamed southern cooking. I was sad they didn't serve cornbread during brunch ...but I ended up going there again during dinner with a couple friends a couple days after. Everything was yummy, except the cornbread was toooo southern (aka not too sweet). It was still good, but I like my cornbread sweet and grainy... oh well. Screen door, you totally won me over. I miss you already.
(4)Albert L.
Was it worth waiting in 32-degree weather for 2 hours starting at 5:20 pm after having walked all the way from the Pearl District (and flown all the way from San Francisco)? YES. Two words: fried chicken. Three more words: fried pork chops. Many more words: mac 'n cheese, fried oysters, fried catfish, pork shoulder This is place is the real deal. The fried chicken was some of the juiciest fried chicken I have ever had... and it's white meat! Breast meat. Two large, juicy, fried breasts, from what must have been a very busty chicken. Georgia Brown's in DC was my favorite upscale low country restaurant, but no longer. However many years it'll be until I eat at Screen Door again, I'll be eagerly waiting all that time to try the chicken and waffles.
(5)Malyssa C.
During my visit to Portland with the bf, this was our absolute favorite restaurant! And trust me, this was a trip that was full of eating and drinking! We arrived around dinner time, and there was quite a crowd of people, but we didn't wait too long before we were seated since it was just us two. We decided to go with the Buttermilk Fried Chicken with collards and mashed potatoes and the Screen Door plate (a trio sampler of your choice of sides + a cornbread) with the jambalaya, gumbo, and mac n cheese. Holy. Moly. The portions were super generous, but we had no problem with that! Everything was so delicious! The chicken was perfectly fried and all the sides definitely exceeded our expectations. We forced ourselves to finish everything because we couldn't let one bite go to waste! Definitely a must try, and you can bet I will be back again! The wait seems to be consistently long, but they have a bar upfront if you'd like to order something while you wait.
(5)Gio A.
What can I say? The food and service exceeded our expectations. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Julie F.
This restaurant is undoubtedly very popular. People were lined up more than half an hour before opening time. I love Southern and Cajun food. Too bad there isn't a place like this in L.A. I ordered the buttermilk fried chicken with mashed potatoes, gravy, and greens. The chicken was very moist but a little too fried. I cut away many fried pieces of the skin. I can only imagine how many points my cholesterol shot up today. I was curious about the mac and cheese and ordered a side. It was creamy, tasty, and cheesy. It was a generous portion and I could only eat a few bites and took the rest to go along with some of the greens. Portions are generous and the food is very attractive. The next table had chicken and dumplings, gumbo, and jambalaya. The server said a popular menu item is picking four sides as an entree. It would be hard to choose!
(4)Alison W.
We were so excited to finally go to screen door. We waited about an hour and a half to get seated, which we knew would be the case. Once we were seated we got our menus, and ordered. We all got the chicken and waffles because that's just what you do at the screen door. They were alright, tasty, and it didn't take long to get the food once we ordered, but it is definitely over rated for the price and the wait.
(3)Gordon M.
The wait was about 45 mins but they have complementary coffee available. The ambiance was casual but there was a mix of Sunday Best and Not too worried about it that all equally fit in. The wait staff was prompt and able to answer any of our questions and helped by making a few recommendations. First were the Breakfast Hush Puppies we asked about when we saw all the other tables munching on them and the Praline Bacon. All of the food we saw in the room looked incredible and hefty. You could share if you wanted. I ordered off the specials menu - Mushroom Omelette. I loved every mushroom morsel so much I only let my gf have 1 taste. Screen Door is well worth the trip and/or wait. Expect a wait and enjoy the coffee.
(5)Nikee W.
I figure it takes me a year to finally get in here for some fried chicken, whats another 20 minutes in line in the rain? Fried oysters, fried chicken, perfect mac and cheese. I ever liked the collards! Next time, we are going for breakfast.
(5)Al S.
Screen Door plate and the banoffee pie are a must.
(5)Liz J.
There's a reason you have to wait so long for a table. The food is de-lish! I had a cajun omelette and it was fantastic. The place was a little crowded, and a bottle of hot sauce was busted right behind my chair, but the staff was very quick to clean up the mess. I had a bite from all of my other friends' dishes, and everyone seemed to be pleasantly surprised with the quality. When I have out of towners visiting, I'll make sure to take them here.
(4)Alea L.
Delicious food, delightful staff. 5 star on drinks, apps and food. Make sure to come early or dress warm to wait in line. There is a reason this place always has a line out the door.... amazing. Fresh ingredients. Such a warm cozy atmosphere. I had the butter milk fried chicken, so good. I only couldn't finish it because I was full off the amazing creamy tomatoe soup, possibly the best soup I've ever had. And the muscles. I've never tried muscles before but my friends convinced me and they were great. The drinks are also on point. Our server was Jesse. He was a real gem. Ask for him!! And thank you Screen door. We will be back.
(5)Michelle K.
I live a couple buildings away from Screen Door, which is great -- it's always fun to watch the crowds milling around from 9-2 on a sunny weekend. It's even better when I go in there! Attentive service, free coffee while you wait, and a constantly rotating menu of local products. I invariably get the Fried Oyster Eggs Benedict -- the sauce is the best I've ever had and the batter on the oysters is corn-filled but not cloying. Yum! Get there on the early side if you don't want to have your heart broken when your favorite dish has run out.
(4)Barbara D.
Where's the Screen Door? I got take out here and although the trout was yummy, the portions were small. The veggie menu was tiny, greasy but GOOD. I had some cauliflower cheese & potato mix and gritz/potato cake thingy...not bad. A little too hip-hoppy for a brunch joint on a Thursday evening for me though.
(3)PDXtransplant -.
Good: - Great service - Highly unique ("southern fried") breakfast menu So so: - The scramble was good, but not exceptional and not unique from others in Portland. - The Cinnamon roll must have been microwaved and quickly became harder than a hockey puck. - Is this just hipster spin on a greasy spoon? I'd gladly go back and I'd like to try some other items on the menu, but I guess I was expecting more based upon the reviews.
(3)Alissa R.
Mmm Mmm Mmmm Mmm Mmmmmmm! Helz yeeeeah. Finally a breakfast joint that gets it RIGHT! Yeah, you have to wait but I can finally say without hesitation, ITS WORTH IT! Cotton-eye Joe would be Proud! I quick glance at the menu should sell you immediately but if it doesn't (and I think you need psychiatric help) Go inside, grab a free cup of stumptown goodness and re-read the menu. Goat cheese scramble - yum, Mushroom scramble - yum, Bananas Foster Waffles - yum, Cheddar grits - yum! They even have their own version of what Pine State calls the Reggie exept is Bigger and Better! No, for reals... WAY Bigger and Better. To top it off, I experienced what I believe to be the best Bloody Mary in town. The hostess was a bit of a seating nazi, and the waitress copped a little bit of a tude when we asked for separate checks (you would think she would ask when the group of seven of us sat down but I guess she didn't find it intuitive). However, I can overlook all of that because the food (and the speed at which we go it) was spectacular.
(5)Elaine N.
Oh Screen Door, you are an evil temptress. The highly acclaimed fried chicken and waffle alone could feed a party of four was perfectly share between us ladies. The cheesy grits and ham tasted absolutely delicious like a grilled cheese (plus ham) sammy. Want something light? Go for the Alabama scramble with fresh fruits and tasty biscuit. I did not forget about you carnivores. Get them hash with scramble eggs and tortilla to fill that belly. Your southern cuisine is good, very good, and you're going to make me gain extra pounds just in time for winter.
(4)Sarah C.
My boyfriend eats like 5 times the amount of food a normal person does, and he is a cheap ass bastard. I am a food snob. This is our go to restaurant. Everything is always outstanding and plentiful and affordable. I always get the screen door plate because I love the seasonal local veggie menu and I can't seem to stay away from that thin fried pork chop. I think it's battered in crack.
(5)Stephanie L.
Go with 3 people for brunch. drink a mimosa (or coffee) while you wait... its worth it. Get ONE order of chicken and waffles. add a sausage corn dog or two (meat on a stick for breakfast!) wish you had room or the awesome grits, sausage gravy, biscuits, praline bacon waffle, or crab benedict. come back next weekend with the intentions of trying another item ..and yet somehow order the chicken and waffles again...you just can't say no. ok by "you" I mean "me" but you'll see what I mean.
(5)Rachel A.
The lines are ridiculous, but they make it worth the wait. I went this morning and split the breakfast corndogs with friends to celebrate National Corndog Day. Then we split the praline bacon. Then I had the shrimp and grits. And the server didn't even treat me like a crazy lady for ordering more than I could possibly eat. In fact she, and everyone there, was as nice as can be. If you've ever doubted that Portland is the best city in the world just take a trip to the Screen Door.
(5)L C.
I love this place. The chicken and waffles are delicious
(4)Rick K.
Best Fried Chicken I have ever had...that is all!
(5)Jennifer C.
Years later and I am still thinking about how good this food is. Praline bacon need I say more? The eggs benedict here is fantastic. I remember there always being a lot of hungry people standing in line but always satisfied faces leaving. My husband loved coming here for the chicken and waffles. I always had left overs for the next day.
(5)Samantha R.
"Throw yo hands in the ai-yer. And wave 'em like you just don't ca-yer. And if you like fish'n'grits, n all that pimp shit, errybody lemme hear you say 'Oh Yae-yer' " Yeah, Outkast basically reviewed this restaurant in this song 12 years ago... The food was tight ass tight. I tried a lot tonight, and not a single piece of it was disappointing... In the appetizers: the fried okra is something I've never had before...but I would definitely have again! It strikes me as something that Oprah would rave about in her magazine as if she discovered it, and after hearing it America would love it and it would become the next potato skin. The crawfish cakes were amazing. They were the perfect combination of actual seafood meat and breading...it was more crawfish than cake, and let me tell you--me likey. The shrimp and grits were pretty sweet too. How many of you don't ACTUALLY know what grits are? Well...they are like cream-of-wheat cooked with a flavor mixed with something else...in this case, shrimp. Perfect trifecta of appetizers to start the meal. I got the weekly special of chicken and dumplings, and my family got the fried chicken with mashed potatoes/gravy/collard greens, and the creole jambalaya. The jambalaya was one of the best I've had (especially when firing it up a notch with the hot sauce) and the chicken was cooked extremely well with a perfect breading crust even withOUT the secret herbs and spices...the dumplings were out of this world though. Chicken. killer. Broth. KiLLeR. Dumplings. HUGE and KILLER. Me? Dead~~ Polished it off with a little peanut butter pie. Basically a decadent peanut butter cup that greased the way to rolling ourselves out the door. Oh did I mention the drinks? Porch swing lemonade...don't listen to them about the sage--this is an imposter Mojito in disguise. The hurricane? Strong as ever...delish. Glad to see there's some good southern food in Portland. East Burnside is the place to be...make sure you show up early, because the place was packed. Next time I wanna try the breakfast...chicken n waffles baby!
(5)Jordan K.
I'll just say this. If you like fried chicken, at all, even a little bit, you must immediately plan an excursion. This will change your life. The good way, like you want. Trust the anonymous guy on the internet, have we ever steered you wrong?
(5)Chris L.
Although I wasn't wearing pink sunglasses looking like Trevor Horn of Buggles I still felt comfortable here. In a sea of hipsters (more so the diners than the workers), I sat there enjoying some of the best grits in town (not soupy like the Tin Shed) and great gravy and biscuits. A long wait but worth it.
(4)Donte P.
I waited an hour. The table next to me was having a familial breakdown, involving a son on drugs, a mom's enabling ways, and a dad who "couldn't take it anymore." And even with that the brunch I had was completely pleasant (as was the service) and this place is one I'd visit again. The Fried Chicken Cathead Biscuit Sandwich was a nice choice on my part, although it looks incredibly daunting with all of the breading involved. The key to finishing was to put a biscuit half to the side to take with me, and going easy on the breading. The chicken was tender and juicy, the breading and gravy flavorful. The one letdown there was the grits. They were cheese grits, and the cheddar completely dominated (not in the good way). They were also a bit on the watery side. Another note for you is to try the breakfast corn dog. Instead of a hot dog it's a breakfast sausage. It's a nice take on the corn dog, but get one to split, as it's definitely a bit intense with the amount of salt and grease.
(4)Daniel P.
SUPER SIZED ME! WOW! It was a 90F day/night and we decided to step into the oven for what turned out to the be a week of B-day dinners for my wife. It was our first time to SD after hearing fabulous reviews for months about the "to die for" fried chicken and brunch. Hands down this was the best fried chicken I have had. First of all it was HUGE! We had already attempted to consume a few appetizers - hushpuppies that were worthy of the visit alone - perfectly crispy cooked accompanied by this creoley mustard that we all fought over...and finally asked for a second cup of so we could all take turns trying to lick the last goodness out of it. Butter lettuce for around $7 seemed a bit much until they backed the produce truck up to this platter sized dinner salad. It must have been at least two heads of perfectly fresh lettuce with yummy blue and bacon. There is another meal unto itself. Simple salad done way well. Add some of the best shrimp & grits I have ever had and we were done & stuffed and way happy before the main meals even hit the table. We all almost jumped back from the table when the fried chicken arrived. It looked like an entire chicken on a plate it was massive - steaming hot, uber crispy and perfectly seasoned with secret herbs and spices. YIKES! We wanted to asked for a bucket right then and there! Did I mention it was 90F outside and ...maybe the same inside. HOT STUFF! None of us could resist and had to start picking at these birds. OMG! There has to be some sort of crack in these things, because we could not stop eating them even though every part of sanity and our waist lines were crying out like babies for us to stop the madness. We had to keep going. Thank god the server came by and asked us how things were going so we could beg him to take the fried chicken away...it is evil (good)....my precious. Ate an entire other meal from the leftovers - and it was nearly as good cold the next day. I was sad when it all ran out... must have more soon!
(5)Kitty P.
It's all true. I won't repeat the other reviews. Or be redundant. It would have been nice if they'd prepared me for the size of the portions though. It made my heart scary! Like the chicken and waffles, it was a goddamn tower of chicken. Tender, moist, boneless, engorged breasts heaving out of heavenly crispness. We got there at 9:30 am on a Saturday and only waited 1/2 hour...and they do set you up with coffee for the wait. Nice! I especially appreciated that, though it could feel like a flurried madhouse of brunch craziness, the servers were all on their A-game, calm and did everything one could ask.
(5)Jenny C.
I luv their grits! Great service- We waited over an hour to get our table for four during Sunday morning brunch- but it was worth it- next time, I am going to avoid coming at peak hours- what was great about the wait was that they let you drink coffee outside while you wait.
(5)Abby M.
I waited awhile for a girl's breakfast here, both literally and figuratively - it took us gals at least a month to pick a date and I think it was 45 minutes on a Sunday late morning before we got seated. But it's weekend brunch, so I'm not really complaining. Fun atmosphere meets Southern cooking in a fantastic way here - we tried the Fried Green Tomatoes and weren't disappointed, although we were too full from our grits and such to try the coconut cake. I would go again. And again. The waiter even laughed at our jokes.
(4)Cindy I.
Another great southern cuisine restaurant. If I hadn't had Bernie's fried chicken first I would have thought it was excellent here and it was very good but I still tip my hat to Bernie's for the fried chicken. But my husband had a plate here of all sides and he said it was excellent and liked them much more than the sides at Bernie's. So I know we will be back. It does seem more popular than Bernie's so be prepared to wait. The staff her was very attentive and seemed to enjoy working there. They will call you if you want to go down the street to a bar while waiting for a table.
(4)Jonas T.
Long line but the food is worth it. Everyone is so friendly here. The chicken and waffles is huge. Share it. My favorite is the praline bacon. Salty and sweet is a nice combo. Get it. JONASAPPROVED!
(5)Jomae S.
My husband and I had brunch here this morning to celebrate our wedding anniversary. I had the fried oyster benedict and he had the eggs sardou, both unique dishes that you don't find on many menus which is what attracted us in the first place. The portions were healthy so definitely bring your appetite and the food was absolutely delicious. The staff was extremely attentive and food and drinks were served promptly. We have been to Mother's Bistro and Meriwethe'rs for brunch also and we feel that Screen door had better service and food than both!
(5)Violet B.
the wait was longggggggg once we got the food it was worth it though. the food is the best part. not something i will eat very often but the chicken and waffles were crazy. seating is so cramped i wish they move to a bigger space.
(4)Kathleen B.
After reading the reviews, I thought: maybe the fried chicken will be good, but fried chicken is fried chicken right? Wrong. Their fried chicken was to die for. Service was good--we showed up about 20 minutes after opening and didn't have to wait to be seated. I recommend the side door plate where you can pick three side dishes to make up your meal.
(5)Mandarin Y.
Finally got the chance to try this place on my birthday and it was soooo gooood. This place is the real deal. I've been looking for a good and authentic Southern style cuisine restaurant in Portland and I found it. We went all out . For appetizers we ordered : - Deep fried oysters (so fresh and tasty) - Deep fried okra (yummy) - Shrimp and grits (melt in your mouth) - Deep fried chicken livers (this was one of their specials, so decadent) As for the entrees, we ordered: - Buttermilk fried chicken (fried to perfection) - Smoked and barbecued beef brisket (very tender). The portion sizes are also pretty generous which makes it ideal for sharing. Also their sides are delicious and done right. I highly recommend getting there early for dinner (even on the weekdays) and waaaaaaaaaay earlier for brunch because this place fills up fast.
(5)Felicia P.
I must admit, I was very skeptical when my friend told me that our mutual friends took her to a "soul food" spot in Portland. You mean I can get southern cuisine like my grandmama's in Portland, OR? No way. Yes way! My meal of collard greens, red beans and rice (with cornbread), and mac-n-cheese (the best I've had, ever!) was more than tasty. It was, in fact, delicious! When one patrons a restaurant that prepares food from one's culture and/or homeland, expectations are usually low. So, when a location is found that has that "homemade-like-grandmama-mama-and cousin Tiffany" taste to it, you are thrilled, as I was/am. I look forward to visiting the next time I'm up north, except next time my order will include the fried catfish--which is one of my favorite dishes, but I didn't order it due to being 'skeptical.' My friend, however, did order the cat and it was perfectly and lightly breaded and seasoned.
(4)Porsha M.
I'd give screendoor an A on the food, E for effort on the ambiance. I went for dinner, had the creole jambalaya (beware if you're not one for spicy food), and a vodka concoction involving mint leaves and lemonade. I was sure that my entree couldn't be topped...until our server broke out the red velvet cake. Nearly fell out of my chair from it's gooey richness. I'll be going back for sure.
(4)Reg B.
best soul/southern food ever! i could live and die on their ribs.... it would def be my last meal... be prepared to wait... always a line, but worth it...
(5)Matt W.
Okay, I have to edit my previous review. We have now been there twice for brunch and really enjoyed it both times. If you aren't in the mood for traditional soul/southern food (and are just looking for a great meal) its a great place to go. The line is long, prices are comparable to most brunch places in Portland, but the Chicken and Waffles (the fried chicken isn't really 'southern style' but fantastic nonetheless) is a great value - you end up with 4 huge pieces of chicken and a huge delicious waffle. The chicken makes a great chicken sandwich for the next 2 or 3 days.
(4)Natalie B.
I want to give the Screen Door five stars. The food and service were perfect. I had dinner there with two friends and we all tasted one another's dishes making approving noises with our mouths full of delicious food. Our server was charismatic and super personable. BUT, we were seated outside, in a tent with heaters. I suppose that could have been ok, but its cold out there tonight and we were at the tail end of the tent, the flap was pulled up and servers were using it as a door from the kitchen. It was a little too chilly. So, if its a cold night, ask to be seated inside - where its cozy and the atmosphere is more festive.
(4)Kristen E.
Get there early and wait in line before they open! Delicious meal. Best fried chicken I have had in years. Our group had mac and cheese, sweet potatoes, grits, and sea bass as well. We all loved our food.
(5)Cindy Y.
i have been here twice and the first time was awesome. Waited an hour, had great fried chicken, left full and def wanted to come back. Second time went a little differently.. still waited an hour (expected), i wanted the fruit cup plus the fried chicken, mentioned to the waitress that i was allergic to melon and she told me that the cups were freshly made so they could make mine without melons. that's when i thought, SWEET, COULD THIS PLACE GET ANY BETTER? definitely spoke too soon. this guy brings over my cup, and it looked divine, i dive into it, only to find a couple strands of hair on a mango. i send it back, i know it happens, no big deal, i just want another one. (note: no apologies or sense of shock from waitress). The second one comes, it looks even better with more berries .. and freakin', there's a WHOLE WASP in the middle of the cup. um, NOT COOL. and again, no apologies whatsoever from anyone in the restaurant. i know stuff happens and things like hair happen, but a wasp? really. like REALLY? I didn't mind that it happens, but an apology would have been greatly appreciated screendoor. i was legitmately shocked that there was no shock from the waitress either. i've worked in the customer service/restaurant/hospitality market and ... i was rubbed the wrong way. fried chicken was still freakin' delicious though. i'd sadly have to say that i won't be going back. they seem to have gotten a little cocky and forgot their manners to say sorry when they serve you hair and a wasp in your food.
(3)Giggly C.
Yummy fried chicken. The dinner portion is more moist than the appitizer. I love the changing menu insert... I get the screen door plate with a side of fried chicken. So good.... Grits are surprizingly good- hubby likes it with shrimp which adds more flavor.
(5)Jes R.
How could you improve Screen Door? Accept reservations for Sunday brunch for small parties! The food is the best in town. The wait staff is prompt and friendly. The prices are acceptable. The only downfall they have is the long line that greets you at the door. The good news is that they have coffee for while you wait.
(5)Ryan G.
My friend Jon took me and my girlfriend to the Screen Door when we visited Portland. This place had comfort food written all over it right when we walked in the door. They have several good locals beers on tab that were pretty pretty tasty. So to the food. I totally recommend the fried chicken dinner, it was totally amazing. Great food, great service, great beer, and reasonable prices. Check it out.
(5)James M.
Oh this place is goooood. Nice atmosphere, perfect for hangovers, thank god :) Best part? The server was on the fucking ball! about filling my water glass so that I never ran out. Bravo, my friend, bravo. The food was a perfect hangover squasher. My only peeve has absolutely nothing to do with the restaurant. There was this women who was sitting next to me, she ordered a huge platter of food, gigantic potatoes, two eggs with spinich and hollandase sauce, something else that I can't remember and a side of the straight from HEAVEN Praline Bacon (can you believe it!?). She then proceeded to eat and egg and a half then she paid for her food and LEFT leaving an almost ungodly amount of food completely unthouched. If there is anything that is more distasteful to me on this earth it is the wasting of food. She could have gotten some togo boxes, but she decided to waste it. WTF is wrong with people? The rest of that food could have fed me for an entire day. I hope karma kicks you in your wasteful butt women who's name I don't know. Grrrr. Other then that I looooove this place, kick open the Screen asap! :)
(4)Jason L.
You have wonderful food. You reminded me of all the days I've spent in Texas, South & North Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia and others. Only you were in Portland. So, it was like good southern food - without all the Republicans. How could I not like you? You have so many southern staples but bring a very creative twist. Your atmosphere is nice and you have a great outdoor area - when I forget about all the cars whizzing by me on Burnside. But hey? What are ya gonna do? Of course, I do wish you work with me on keeping my Men's Health figure but, it is southern food so I did get what I expected, a lot of fried things and HUGE portions. But, again, you did save me the Republicans so, I'll take my winnings. Can't wait to return.
(5)Josh W.
Brunch here isn't just good - it is epic! After a rousing night of revelry, my companions and I took a long and arduous trek to the Screen Door. It was said that one who gazed upon its bounty and lived to tell about it would be forever victorious. Those who brave the wait are rewarded greatly. Soon enough, a tower of fried chicken, impaled with a mighty knife atop a sweet potato waffle, was set in front of me. Thoughts of King Arthur swept over me. A heavenly glow shone upon the dish as I grasped the hilt... Huzzah! To the King! A tale of glory, indeed!
(5)Sierra R.
I have been here three times, twice for dinner and once for brunch. The food and service is good, but the portions are ridiculously large and pretty expensive. I would rather have smaller portions and a little lower price. Other than that, this is an enjoyable spot. Be prepared for a long wait at weekend brunch...45 mins +. While the food is pretty good, it is not THAT good. There are a a lot of other good spots for brunch in Portland that are cheaper and have a minimal wait.
(4)Alex C.
What can I say about screen door that hasn't already been said? Best southern food in Portland? That goes without saying... But I will anyway. The food is amazing. The fried chicken plate is as big as my face! The braised and glazed pork is delicious and tender. I haven't had anything that wasn't great from here. Best hot sauce in Portland. Each table comes with a little bottle of house made hot sauce that is actually hot and has a great flavor that doesn't overpower the flavor of the food like tobasco would. They don't sell it tho.... As I understand from conversations with the waiters, this leads to bottles being stolen off the tables pretty regularly. To business owner: please sell the hot sauce to us!!!
(5)Lilia P.
Pros: Well seasoned fried chicken, mac and cheese Cons: Extremely long wait to be seated, long wait for food, bland and blah tasting catfish, dry salty cornbread My husband was raised in the South and this was quite disappointing. It was definitely not worth the wait.
(3)Mike I.
This place is busy, and popular and loaded with hipsters. If you can get past all that they serve up truly remarkable food. The chicken and waffles were top class. The breading on the waffle was spicy with just the right amount of kick. The waffle was really good too, but just a bit overshadowed by the chicken. Super big portions too. Really hard to finish it all. The praline bacon was insanely good and rich. Bottom line: if you are willing to wait for it you will get a great meal.
(5)Aaron G.
We were excited to try this place and had no problem waiting for a seat. The problem was that not only did we wait for 45 minutes to be seated but we then had to wait another 45 minutes (after we ordered) to be served our food. It was particularly annoying when a larger party that was seated after us was served their food before us. That extra 45 minutes after we ordered our food made us agitated and ruined our experience. The waiter was irritated when we asked about the status of our order and he couldn't have cared less. Food was OK...not for the hassle though.
(2)Amanda I.
This is my favorite restaurant in town! The food is local and delicious! There is always a wait but you can take a walk around the neighborhood while you wait. I have been here quite a few times and always leave full and satisfied.
(5)Mike C.
Have you been to Roscoe's in LA, well this place is exponentially better! Gotta love the free Stumptown coffee why you are waiting to be seated. Fried chicken and waffles plus a large bowl of organic fruit. LOVE IT.
(5)Lisa H.
Best fried chicken I have ever eaten. Although the wait was long, I can easily say it was worth it.
(5)Mark P.
The perfect place to stand in line for breakfast.
(2)Lynne S.
I've been trying to think of a way to accurately describe the food at the Screen Door for a while now, but that's just it--no description can really do it justice. If you're hesitant, consider the following: The fried oysters are everything that fried oysters should be but never are--crisp, oyster-y, exquisitely cooked perfection. The fried chicken is gorgeous, with deep crenellations like miniature canyons--juicy and insanely delicious. The only implement I used to eat my braised pork shoulder was the accompanying spoon, a testament to the fall-apart tender meat that peeled gently away, landing in the waiting arms of a glorious molasses-based sauce and hammy beans. The collards are waiting for you in a bath of broth that makes them tender and oh-so-tasty. The cornbread seems too savory, until you add the sweet cream butter to top the whole confection. And the mint julep packs a punch, but proves a great backup dancer to the whole performance. And a performance it is. You'll be asking for an encore, guaranteed.
(5)Candace G.
worth the wait everything is amazing i love the french toast and the biscuit and gravy!
(5)Luis C.
Great food! It is a bit of a wait, so recommend getting there right before they open for dinner. But it is worth the wait.
(5)Cathy S.
The food was terrific! The service was satisfactory. The room was very very crowded and noisy. I would go back but I would try to find a quieter time. Update 5/9/2014 I have gone here every Thursday night at 8:30 pm for several months now. The food is consistently fresh, delicious, new items on the menu which are a creative dish from seasonal vegetables. The waiting room is always full but it is usually a short wait. I still find the tables very close together. I don't overhear other's conversations but I personally wouldn't have an intimate conversation with my partner there. They are friendly and very happy to help us split a dinner, the portions are large. One of us usually takes a small 'doggie bag' home. The wine list seemed good, the number of beer offerings seemed average. We love this place, take friends who love it too.
(4)Darby M.
All I can say is YUM. Will be back here again. For sure! It is small so the tables are very close together, and the wait can be long, but the food is worth it!
(4)Oregon D.
Love, Love, Love the Screen Door! Get there early! Line up 30 minutes prior to opening if you want to be seated in the first group. Otherwise you will be waiting around a while.
(5)Jen I.
I come to Portland once every couple of months to visit friends. I've been doing this ritual for 2 years straight. Every time I come there is a brunch spot that is a staple to their weekend routine. The first place was Mothers. Excellent. Loved it. Perfect. The only drawback, it's on the other side of the river. My friends got lazy, so the place then became Holeman's. Divey, smokey and sub par food (but dirt cheap!). It took me a couple of trips to realize they only came to Holeman's for the bloody mary bar. Once that trend died down (dear god it took a year!!) and some people moved again, I was told, this past weekend, The Screen Door was a must. A couple blocks from where I was staying, it was a great location to boot. The wait was to be expected. Saturday morning around noon, a party of 4 took about 15 minutes, which wasn't so bad. The place is packed and the space is awash with the sounds of chatter and silverware hitting the plates. I was warned of portion sizes. Ok, I'm used to getting more food then I can eat. It IS America where excess is everything. BUT... I wasn't prepared for the 4 boneless chicken breasts stacked on top of a sweet potato waffle. Who says no to Chicken & Waffles? It seemed like about 5 lbs of chicken. I barely got to eat any of the delicious sweet potato waffle (belgian style) as I was so busy with the fried chicken. The coating was spicy and crunchy. The leftovers made an excellent drunk midnight snack, cold straight outta the fridge. I sampled my friends plates and can vouch for the breakfast corndogs (get a serving to share as a brunch appetizer, you can't go wrong!), the vegetarian biscuits and gravy and the cathead biscuit bacon sammich (don't worry, cathead means the biscuit's the size of a cat's head...not anything gross you're thinking about). We decided, almost immediately after finishing eating, that we needed to come back Sunday to get something different. Sunday, the wait was more like 30-45 minutes for our party of 5, but it was still well worth the wait. Even in the rain. Breakfast corn dogs, were yet again, a must. The Sausage Biscuits & Gravy were excellent. The cheese grits were awesome and cheesy (and you could taste the cheese!!) and the Bacon Praline Waffle was off the hook. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this place. The wait for a table on the weekends should be expected, but trust me, it's worth every minute. I've posted pictures. I love looking at pictures of past meals that were so good to me. There was no gravy fallout and for that, I am grateful. I'm amazed for "Southern Cuisine" the fried items were far from greasy!
(5)Rachel S.
I was only in Portland for two days and determined to get the best meal possible. I succeeded with an evening at Screen Door. Granted, I live in Louisville, KY. But this place blew the southern food I'd had at home away. I ordered the Screen Door plate, where you get to choose three items: I chose crispy fried catfish, macaroni and cheese (OMFG!) and the arugula, roasted beet, goat cheese and avocado salad. The plate that arrived could have fed a family. The catfish was light, crispy and delicate--delicious! Macaroni and cheese was my favorite food as a lass, and this was cream-of-the-crop sharp cheddar crust, creamy and al dente pasta greatness. The salad provided a light palate cleanser for a potentially gut-busting meal. I might have liked a bit more dressing on my salad as it didn't appear to have any, but otherwise the meal was perfect. The table next to us shared a gigantic hunk of chocolate cake--maybe next time. The atmosphere was warm, lively and had nicely subdued lighting. It was the kind of place where you just walk in the door and you know you are going to have a rockin' meal. I am a food snob, and this place soared to the top of my list of restaurants--anywhere.
(5)Brad C.
I think the only word that could describe how much I enjoyed my brunch at Screen Door would be AWESOME. Sure waiting outside to get in sucks but the end result is so tasty I would of waited longer for it. When seated I instantly turned over my cup for some stumptown and started looking over the menu. I had already read it over a little while waiting outside but just to be sure I needed to see if I missed anything. I wanted to try the Chicken and Waffles but I figured I could get those at a lot of places so I went for something I had never tried. I went with the Fried Oysters and Bacon Egg Benedict, I knew anything with bacon was going to rock but I had no idea fried oysters in the morning was so excellent. My fiancee who was with me ordered the Fried Chicken Cathead and Biscuits. Good lord that thing was gianormous! One of the largest portions for breakfast I have ever seen. A wise one once said "with great size comes great taste" and they were dead on! Another person at our table ordered a very tasty tomato, fresh basil, goat cheese scramble. If you aren't a meat eater they do feature a good selection of vegetarian options... it is Portland how could they not. All in all awesome, with gianormous portions that are excellent at a super price.
(5)Edward J.
I don't care what people say about the price and the long wait, this is probably one of my favourite restaurant in town. As a vegetarian, I am telling you, I am not missing out on the southern comfort experience. Screendoor offers weekend brunch, lunch, and dinner. They have a full on bar, patio seating, a restaurant dining hall. It can get really noisy in there! Okay, so apparently the pork roast is really really amazing. The fried chickens are excellent. As a vegetarian, I enjoyed the other amazing stuff. The Mac and Cheese is one of the best I've had in years. The quality of the cheese and macaroni noodle, man, to die for. Fried green tomatoes? YES!!!!! Cornmeal covered. Fried Okra? OH MY GOSH, SO GOOD! The salads are amazing too, the cold chilled squash salad is sweeten with sliced apples. I also highly recommend the tomato with basil and balsamic vinegar, a classic. AND YEAH, to top all of this off, get a Mint Julep. Bulleit Bourbon with mint and cane sugar on the rock. It doesn't get better than this! PS: they've also got great iced sweet tea! PSS: Get the Screendoor Sampler, you get to pick three sides. Okra, catfish, green collard, corn cob, mac/cheese, ...etc. you pick them!
(5)Dan D.
Excellent food. Excellent service. Long wait but totally worth wait. If you order the chicken and waffles, be prepared to take it home with you.
(5)christina v.
My first true Southern food experience. I was not a big fan of Southern food because I'm not a big fan of fried food. This place really makes me think twice about Southern food. I love the food here. The Pork spare ribs was marinade with a very special sauce of root beer bbq glaze. The pork spare ribs was delicious; it had a mixed taste of spicy & bbq sauce. Delicious... The meat was sooo tender, it just slips off the bones. I love the crispy fried buttermilk-battered chicken; the meat was very juicy and tender; never going back to KFC. The macaroni & cheese was fantastic, very creamy and yummy. I also had Spring Strawberry & Pluot salad, very fresh,crispy salad; They don't overload the salad with dressing.
(5)Duane C.
HOLY FRIED CHICKEN AND WAFFLES BATMAN!!! After an impromptu drive up a nearby hill to watch the sunrise at 6am this Sunday, Sarah said, "We should go to Screen Door one day." To which I responded, "Well let's go this morning for breakfast." So we went back home grabbed a few things, checked the internet for directions and we were on our way. Screen Door didn't open until 9am and we made it out to Burnside and 24th by 8am so we stopped at the Starbuck's just down the street to grab something hot to drink. It's a good thing we got their early. We've heard that the line can be major so thankfully we drove back to park closer to the place and got in line at around 830am which was perfect. There were maybe 10 people ahead of us. I peeked at the menu and immediately saw "Shane's breakfast corndogs" and "Fried Chicken Cathead Biscuit Sandwich". NOM! The door opened promptly at 9am and we were ushered in. The first thing you notice is the delicious smell of the place and then the full bar...very nice. After looking at the menu and seeing that they also had Fried Chicken and Waffles I was torn. Cathead Biscuit Sandwich or Fried Chicken and Sweet Potato Waffle. Needless to say we will be going back to try other things but at that moment I had a desire for something smothered in gravy so I picked the sandwich. The sandwich comes with your choice of potatoes or grits. I opted for the potatoes wanting to give my plate a balanced landscape. Our neighbors to the table at my left said everything on the menu was good and that the Fried Chicken and Waffle was a hefty serving. Thankfully, I also took that into consideration when deciding on the sandwich. Our neighbor to my right however went big and ordered the chicken and waffle. When it arrived Sarah quickly grabbed my attention and urged me to take a picture. Our neighbor was kind enough to let me photograph four monstrous pieces of boneless fried chicken stacked one atop the other on a gorgeous sweet potato waffle with a steak knife down the middle to keep it from falling over. WOAH! My mouth watered. Shortly after that our food arrived and while not as vertically stunning as my neighbor's plate the Fried Chicken Cathead Biscuit was still impressive. A whole boneless fried chicken breast rested on top of a massive biscuit, was then smothered with sausage gravy and then topped with the other half of the biscuit. To the side was a healthy serving of home fried potatoes and a side of ketchup. Sarah had the biscuits and gravy with eggs and she and I both commented first on the gravy. It truly made a statement with its chunks of sausage spread throughout the perfectly seasoned gravy. I typically add a little pepper and sometimes salt when needed but this masterpiece needed neither. I sliced a piece of fried chicken, dipped it in the gravy to get a little extra coverage and then my taste buds were off to the races. BLISS! The crispy batter had the perfect amount of salt and spice and the chicken was succulent, cooked through and not at all dry. Not wanting to give the potatoes a backseat to this flavor joyride, I popped one into my mouth without ketchup at first to get the full effect of the seasonings. Wow, very nicely done Screen Door! Potatoes were cooked through and seasoned well. The potatoes were cut fairly big but still had the right crunch on the outside while the inside was nice and fluffy. We were happy and content. We even had food left on our plates to take home. Now although I noticed the full bar upon walking in, I chose to stick to a cup of Stumptown coffee (my favorite). Sarah on the other hand bravely ordered a Bloody Mary. It was garnished with an olive and pickled okra which she happily reported was delicious. The drink she says was a bit on the spicy side but she enjoyed it nonetheless. Next time, I will be sure to join her in a drink and have a Mimosa seeing as I am not a fan of Bloody Mary's in general. Overall the food was great, the service awesome, the drinks tasty and effective and the price very affordable. The biscuits and gravy with eggs, biscuit sandwich, egg and biscuit for the little man, Bloody Mary, and refillable coffee came to just $32 before tip. Awesome! As mentioned before, we will be going back for more. The regular menu and the specials just beg to be conquered. Of course as always, don't take my word for it. Go out and try the place. A hui hou!
(5)CeeCee P.
Screen Door is more like a 3.5... but I rounded up because despite the crowd, our server was helpful and our wait time for a table at 7 PM was about 25 minutes! Now that that's out of the way, we can talk food!! Overall, my cajun experience at the Screen Door was OK... I tried the fried chicken, and yes... the chicken very moist on the inside and wonderfully crispy on the outside, but it just tasted like fried chicken. The mashed potatoes were a nice addition, but I'm confident that I can live without the collard greens... We also tried the jambalaya and I think that the spices (in terms of both seasoning and heat) were lacking... the flavors of the andouille sausage and chicken did help the dish. Though the main entrees disappointed me, my favorites from the evening (and perhaps a reason I'd return) are the side dishes... I LOVE sweet potato fries... ok, maybe that was too much... I love sweet potato fries!!! so delicious! these fries were perfectly sweet and salty and definitely not greasy. I also liked the mac && cheese... the cheesy baked goodness totally nailed my mac and cheese cravings... It was good to try Screen Door, and though I'd like to say that I will revisit the place, I'm not sure if side dishes would justify another trip.
(4)Catalina D.
Excellent southern comfort food. Absolutely ginormous portions, so come hungry! The drinks are good and I especially liked the shrimp with grits. Pleasant service and comfortable environment.
(4)Kumiko M.
It's been a while since I ate there, so I can't really remember the exact dishes my friends and I had. But I can remember that it was delicious. I've never had true Southern food before, and it was a great introduction to true comfort food! It's not that expensive for what you get. The waiter was really friendly and helped us out with our decisions. All I know is that the next time I go down to Portland, the first thing I'm doing there is grabbing a seat at the Screen Door!
(5)Brian F.
Very good breakfast, we has corn beef hash, and crab cake benedict. Great service food was awesome. I will return again.
(5)Stephanie J.
Alright... If I think pambiche deserve a 4.5 star then this place get a 3.5 stars. Came here w/ great expectation since it has such a high yelp review. Got to say this place is a- ok. Group of us walked out without much impress. So for group of 4, we ordered the famous fried chicken, jambalaya, screen platter where can make 3 side dishes, and BBQ brisket. So here is what I think... For their famous fried chicken. Its not too famous in my opinion. The skin was cripsy... The dipping sauce was good. But for 2 piece of chicken, mass potato and small cup of collared green, I really dun think it worth $15 bucks. To me that is just expensive. The jambalaya... It was not bad. There is a hint of spiciness, but nothing too spicy that a normal non-spiciness person can't handle. When I was trying that, I can't help to think the jambalaya paste from cheesecake factory taste better than that. Their BBQ brisket was ok too. Good sacue and the meat was soft. I must agree with one of the yelpers review that if u like their side dishes than maybe it's worth it to order their side dishes alone. Its worth it.. I seen the portion. It decent. For the 3 side dishes platter, we ordered the some kind of fried fish, pork chop and sweet potato fries. All 3 were pretty good. They are busy... That is for sure. I dunno... For that much high yelp review I thought it didn't meet my expectation. O well... At least I tried it.
(3)Nicolette B.
This is at the top of the list for when my other half and I go out to eat a good meal, which we do probably more than we should. I think it's pretty much impossible to get a dish that isn't, at the very least, good and most of what is offered is beyond exceptional. This is true for either breakfast or dinner. In fact, the chicken and waffles is to die for! I did not understand this dish until I ate it at the Door and now I dream of it. I could say the same about their burger, brisket, mac and cheese, on and on and on..... The staff is also very friendly and helpful. Having the kitchen open is also neat, especially if you get a good enough seat to be able to see. We have also sat at the bar, which I was hesitant to do, but it was actually a very nice experience, chatting with the tender and being helped even quicker than normal. Although I'm not a huge fan of the cornbread, there is little about The Screen Door that is not quality. Five stars for sure!
(5)Rebecca H.
Another visit 5 years since my last. Same good food, same crowds and lines, same hour wait from order to table. In my previous life I didn't care, just drink through the wait! Now as a mama to a one year old, just get my food so I can feed my kid and get her home before bed! Waited in line for 530 opening, left at 730. Good thing my kid is a rockstar and was a cute non screamer through 98% of it. I just won't go back til she's older and can tolerate waiting. Screen Door won't miss me, they have enough business.
(3)Jacob H.
Love the food so much here. The all-sides plate is my personal fave, though you can never go wrong with chicken n' waffles. Be forewarned though: This is some heavy-assed authentic faire; so if you over do it you WILL learn that comfortable bowel movements are a privilege, and not a right. Just sayin'. But yes. If someone asked me for a recommendation for places you have to eat at in PDX, it would be here, Gino's or Beast
(5)Chirag Y.
We stopped by this place while visiting Portland. I would say this is an average brunch place. The line is WAY TOO LONG. I don't know what the hype is all about (not a Portland native so can't say). I wish I would have came back for lunch or dinner to try the cajun/southern food items. I would say that the portion sizes are HUGE, especially the chicken and waffles. I have def not seen that size in any brunch place in CA. I also ordered the madamme croque which was surprisingly really good.
(4)Tina B.
My kids took me here, the food was awesome. The wait was long, but worth it.
(5)Tabitha T.
Great food but almost not worth the wait. Huge hype! Get in and try on a not so busy day.
(3)Priya C.
Best fried chicken ever. Perfectly crispy on the outside, tender, moist chicken on the inside. Though inconsistent quality of other dishes, especially the jambalaya and gumbo. First time I tried both dishes, they were fantastic, the second time they were severely under-seasoned =/ Overall great and worth the wait!
(4)Shayne T.
Long line prior to opening but some pretty good food. We got the Chicken & Waffles and Eggs Benedict today. Can't wait to try other menu items.
(4)Carlee K.
Decent bloody mary's, greasy food. This is a hangover spot, don't go for fresh delicious food.
(4)Denise M.
This place, if hasn't already, will be one of Portland's landmarks. If you haven't tried it, you must. The service is the best... friendly and attentive. When I asked the server what was in my dish, he found out for me and explained that the smoky flavor was not from bacon *shudder* but from roasted corn, I was quite relieved. I had the scallops appetizer for my main dish with sides of corn bread and broccoli casserole. The portion size was perfect and allowed me to indulge in dessert. I chose the Old Fashioned Balsamic Raspberry Pie with buttermilk whipped cream... it*was*heavenly! I have never experienced such a perfect combo of sweet, tart, and creamy. I savored every rich, delicious forkful. When I finished, I was tempted to lick my plate... but I resisted and left wondering why I had never been introduced to that most perfect treat before. Go to this place, you will not leave hungry.
(5)Erick R.
Wow! Expect at least a 30 minute wait, but damn... it's worth it! Go for brunch and get the Chicken and Waffles! It's a huge serving of fried chicken and possibly the best waffle around, easily shared by 2 people!
(5)Jodi H.
Recent Dinner and Brunch experiences were amazing. I'd give this place 6 stars if I could! Everything was great - but these are the things that stood out: Fried Chicken Fingers, Pimento Spread, Macaroni and Cheese for dinner. For brunch - the regular French Toast (we got a half order as an appetizer) Fried Chicken and Gravy with a Biscuit that they said was as big as a cat's head - and I would agree, it is actually bigger than either of my cat's heads! The only downside is the wait since they don't take reservations, but I'm willing to wait for this food. There aren't many places where I'll wait beyond 15 minutes, but this is one of those places! I can't wait to go back (even if I have to wait) - maybe this weekend??
(5)YW T.
Recommend: chicken n waffles, banana foster French toast, bacon prailine waffles Portions are HUGE. The chicken breast was moist and tender and the batter was crunchy with a little kick. One of the best fried chicken I've ever had. The banana slices on the banana foster french toast were perfectly sauteed and the sauce was amazing. It would be even more perfect if the bread was a little crispy on the outside.
(5)sarah M.
so so good. the collard greens...well, I could eat like 3 servings. i love this place.
(4)Sara B.
Portions = HUGE Food = so friggin good, I ate til I was hurting The only down side is that I can't afford to eat breakfast out every day. The fried chicken and waffles are fantastic and there was enough chicken left over for lunch and dinner. Bonus!
(5)Paige H.
I was surprised at how quickly we got seated, I guess the lines are just for brunch, but I thought the dinner food was super tasty, and really liked the appetizer servings and the local/fresh menu insert. My only complaint, all of the desserts had nuts in them, even the one that I ordered that didn't mention nuts at all in the description, has almonds on top. Kind of spoiled my buzz honestly, as someone allergic to nuts, I don't like to have to ask every time, I think common allergens should be included in the descriptions.
(4)Rob S.
If you have to complain about anything, it's because you have to wait forever to get in. Seriously, it's like standing in line at Disneyland for a ride...long, boring and the minutes seem to slowly tick by. When you finally get on and the ride is over, everyone starts high five'n and talkin about how it was so worth the wait. If you haven't figured it out....it worth the wait! Hang in there and you and anyone around you will be high five'n...probably much later though because you'll be to full and carrying left overs!
(5)LizzieJ B.
Love Screen Door! The food is delicious. The BEST macaroni and cheese I've ever had (still dreaming of it), exceptional mashed potatoes, delicious collard greens! My mom loved the fried chicken! The service is wonderful: friendly, welcoming, on-top-of-it! The restaurant has lovely decor and is casual, clean, special. They clearly take pride in everything they do. I highly recommend trying out Screen Door!
(5)Michael C.
I ordered a hamburger at this place...and I must say, it was one of the best hamburgers I have ever had. OK...it wasn't as good as one I had in Omaha NE, but given that I was in Omaha, and hamburgers and steaks are all they eat there, it isn't a fair comparison. Anyways, the hamburger was fantastic. Honestly, it's kind of hard to describe what a great hamburger tastes like. But given Screen Door's practice of sourcing from local & organic producers, I must say that whatever they are doing works miraculously. The Screen Door was one of several restaurants I ate at on a recent trip to Portland that contributed to convincing me that the Rose City is one of America's hidden gems when it comes to eating out.
(5)rachel p.
the ambiance is great, it's portland's very smart take on southern. somehow they managed to turn a big rectangular box into a cool airy dining room. it feels down home cool and the service also reflected this--attentive, timely and friendly. so the good stuff...chedder cheese grits, spongy biscuits and a west coast twist on southern fried goodness. typically when i eat southern my california girl stomach can't deal, but this place treated me right. i admit, i went decidedly california on them and opted for the frittata with chard, some yummy melty cheese and truffle oil. it was AMAZING. i thought i died and went to truffle heaven. the grits were good too, and though i prefer biscuits flaky, these were still delicious. my girlfriend got the porcini mushroom scramble with hotbox tomatoes. also quite good, thanks to those seriously organic, local, bursting with sunshiney flavor tomatoes. the coffee is from stumptown. arguably the best coffee in the world. i don't know why seattle gets all the credit. i can't wait to visit portland again!
(5)Katie M.
Oh my goodness. I had passed Screen Door a few times so I finally decided to check it out the last night a friend was in town. How could I not love a place that has sweet tea, hush puppies, mac and cheese, pulled pork sandwiches, sweet potato fries, and a separate extensive organic/local menu that changes weekly? I haven't been for brunch yet, but I will definitely have to go.
(5)Trinh T.
The southern style brunch here is amazing!!! Grits, buttermilk biscuits and gravy, fried chicken and cajun scramble.....some of these breakfast dishes are a "heart attack on a plate" as a local P-town friend so aptly stated. In addition, the prompt and friendly service, casual, log cabin-ish setting with available outside seating to boot, makes this a 5 star kinda place for brunch in my book.
(5)Dr B.
Finally, sweet iced tea just like Mom's. This is a welcome addition to Portland, and it feels much more authentic than the Delta to me. My only complaint is that when I want biscuits, I don't want Alabama biscuits. Yech.
(4)Kyle J.
With a friend in town, I had to take them to Screen Door. Went in for dinner on a Wednesday, skipped the wait and sat at their quaint bar. The decor is simple, but it really works with the southern no-fuss atmosphere. An open kitchen shows the chefs hard at work. We shared the fried chicken liver appetizer, and not being a liver fan myself, I was still very impressed. For the main course, I ordered the BBQ beef ribs special. WOW! So well prepared, the meat fell from the bone and was so tender and juicy. The house BBQ sauce was great as well. It's not hard to find good BBQ, but it's rare to find great BBQ. But most of all, I still dream of the corn bread!
(4)Eric H.
I am not a Portland native but this place is one of 2 places I really like to go when I'm visiting. Everything I've tried was excellent. The place is mad busy but the staff is very efficient and friendly. Expect to wait to be seated. First time I was there I waited 30 minutes (that's when they're not busy) second time there was a line down the block (father's day might had something to do with it and it rained). Bring an umbrella or wear a water repelling hoodie. Portland gets a lot of rain.
(5)LYNSEY L.
I. LOVE. SCREEN DOOR. For real - we go here 2 or 3 times a months and never get bored of it. When we try other places we always say "Its okay, but its no Screen Door". When people come from out of town, Screen Door. The food is amazing, and they have a "local organics" menu that is ever changing, plus nightly specials, and a changing dessert menu as well so its pretty impossible to ever get bored there. The prices are great (you get a ton of food, I have never been able to finish though I have wanted to because its so tasty), and the service is brilliant. After visiting 2 or 3 times the staff already remembered us by name and now greats us with hugs and smiles, and asks us our honest opinion about new menu items. Please please try the screen door, you will not regret it - its a gem!
(5)Scott N.
hands down some of THE best southern cuisine i've had outside of the south. real fried chicken, grits, greens... mmhmmm. and to boot, NO TABASCO IN SIGHT!!! crystal sauce on every table. i mean, it really doesn't get more down-home in the pacific NW. kudos, y'all.
(5)Melissa L.
some of the best eggs benedict i've ever had. yeah the wait for brunch on weekends sucks, but it's worth it. service is meh. but the food again, is worth it. i went with a group of "foodies" and everyone was satisfied with their food. i find myself craving it often. definitely my favorite place for brunch in portland. sorry cricket : /
(4)Angelyn N.
Delicious cocktails. Delicious catfish. Delicious greens. I'm a Southerner, and it's the closest I can get to home. No other place in Portland even comes close. You will likely have to wait, but it's worth it. Sit on the patio when you can, it's awesome.
(5)Justin C.
I can't think of a better way to have started my day trip to Portland than with a stop for breakfast/brunch at the Screen Door. My only regret is not making it there 15 minutes earlier, to avoid the massive line ( flickr.com/photos/wedoit… ) which was wrapped around the restaurant waiting to get in, and caused me to just barely miss the coveted first seating of diners (they open at 9am). Even though I had to hang out at the bar ( flickr.com/photos/wedoit… ) for a bit and wait, I didn't mind too much since they had free coffee to pour yourself while you stand and chat with the people around you, trying to figure out how best to fulfill your appetite. There are quite a few specials here each weekend, so be sure to take a look up at the board to get the full descriptions (if I remember correctly the smaller menu handout only has a blurb). The hostess here was super nice, a trend I enjoyed for most of my time in Portland, and when she saw I was just by myself she managed to squeak me past a few other people who were ahead of me and sit me at her "favorite table" (although I'm not entirely sure why) right as the first person was leaving from the initial seating. The people dining in front of me seemed to be really enjoying ( flickr.com/photos/wedoit… ) their meals and the servers definitely seemed like quite the characters. I love it when people actually appear to be enjoying their job instead of just acting like you're another number and more money in their pockets. By this time I had already had a couple cups of the free coffee at the bar, and I was pleased to find out that the never ending cup continued once you sat down, so I had another while I waited to place my order. I already knew what I wanted, although I have to admit after seeing plate after monstrous plate of chicken and waffles come out I was really tempted to go in that direction, and if I ever get the chance to come back that's going to be at the top of my list. The prices here are so fantastic, especially when you consider the portion size, that I found it hard to stick to just one thing (which if you know my dining habits you would realize is virtually impossible regardless). Up first was a plate of brunch's finest stars combined into one amazing serving which they called "Fried Oysters Benedict." It consists of cornmeal fried oysters with poached eggs and bacon over English muffins, topped with hollandaise, and served with potatoes (or cheddar grits if you choose) and is pretty damn intimidating once you have it set before you ( flickr.com/photos/wedoit… ). I can assure you, if you are fortuitous enough to order this you will leave a happy person. It was one of the single best dishes I've had anywhere, regardless of course or time of meal, as each ingredient stood out so well on its own, but combined to form fantastic bites when eaten together. The eggs were poached perfectly, and provided that wonderful yolk spillage you would expect, softening up the biscuits just right. The crispness of the bacon was a great contract, along with the fried oysters, neither one too overpowering to wash out the flavor of the egg. The potatoes acted nicely as a backdrop for the main part of the meal, sort of a palette neutralizer in between bites, allowing you to fully appreciate all the flavors. Unable to settle for just one type of bacon, I decided to also have a side order of the house specialty "Praline Bacon," which I highly suggest for anyone dining here at any time it's offered. This stuff is just too damn good, and even though I already had bacon on my other plate, I kept coming back to this one ( flickr.com/photos/wedoit… ) because of the ideal pairing of sweet and salty. I'm not sure how they cook it to get all the elements so cohesive, but it was pure magic. I also wanted to try one of the daily specials, so I had a single serving of one of "Shane's Breakfast Corndog's." They take a sweet sausage, fry it like a normal corndog, top it with powdered sugar and serve it with maple syrup on the side to dip in ( flickr.com/photos/wedoit… ). I had no idea what this would be prior to ordering it, I was sold on the name alone. Although it was a bit too sweet for me, I still really loved the creativity, and I ate about as much as my quickly filling stomach could handle. Screen Door is definitely a Portland experience you should not miss, especially if you're only here a short period of time. The people here are great, as is the food, and best of all it won't hurt your wallet on the way out. My total bill for more than one person should ever eat only came out to $26 including tip.
(5)Bev L.
Who doesn't love comfort food, right? After a long, tiring drive down from Seattle, our first stop was at the Screen Door for dinner. A bit of a wait at 6pm - about 40 minutes or so, but to be expected for such a popular place. We started out with the hush puppies and fried green tomatoes. The hush puppies were light and flavorful, and the tomatoes were very good and something we had always wanted to try. For our mains, my husband ordered the beef brisket with 2 vegetable sides. He enjoyed the brisket, but didn't find it to be specatular and noted that the veggies were just "ok." I had the Screen Door Plate with a thin, crispy pork chop, grits, mac & cheese and cornbread. Cholestrol city! The pork chop was perfectly cooked although underseasoned. Loved the mac & cheese and grits. Just what I would expect - yum! I really debated between 3-4 stars but after much discussion and thought, had to go with three stars for the following "misses." The heavily touted cornbread was dry. Really, really dry. Same for the humongous slice of red velvet cake. Sahara desert dry, and unfortunately, quite tasteless to boot! We managed a few bites with lots of vanilla ice cream but then just gave up. I'd like to give the brunch a whiril next time we're in town, but not sure that I'd make an effort to stop for dinner. Not bad.. some items quite good, but too many other places to choose from.
(3)Bobby A.
HOT DAMN!!!!! I was doing the Great Pacific Northwest road trip and of course had to stop into Portland so I checked out fellow Yelpers had to say on great eats in this area and Screen Door came out on top so naturally of course I had to go check it out. I came in at 10:30am and there was already a crazy line-up outside. I gave my name to the hostess and because it was just me, I was able to get a seat at the bar, but it was a good 40 minute wait. Not that I minded, I got to people watch and look over the menu. FYI: if you're looking to get a table for 2, waits are about 2 hours by 10:30am on a weekend. When I was finally seated, I ordered up a Bloody Mary, it was spicy and tangy to perfection with a pickled okra to boot. The bartender who also took our orders does a stellar job. The people here work their asses off and it was easy to see why given the crowds. But the crowds are huge because of one thing only: the food. Of course I ordered the fried chicken for my first time here. And some monstrous piling tower of three large chicken breasts, perfectly spiced, breaded and fried with a giant knife pinning it together on top of a sweet potato waffle showed up. It was fried food heaven. There was no way I was ever going to finish off such a huge portion. This is dinner for a couple or a small family. Thankfully, there was another lone diner seated beside me at the bar and she was having their super-fluffy French Toast. We got chatting together and she said she was a regular and always has the fried chicken but wanted to try something else today and so I proposed a trade, I gave her a piece of my chicken and I got to try that awesome French toast This is definitely Southern cuisine done right. I saw omelets with oysters, Bourbon sauce bread pudding, and a ton of other stuff I wished i could have tried. If I lived in Portland, I'd be here all the time. Great food, good prices and amazing service. Try this place first before you go anywhere else.
(5)Kourtney N.
Portland loves the Screen Door and I'm pretty sure all of the other reviews cover the great food & the inevitable long wait for Sunday brunch. Our table happily devoured our biscuits & gravy, chicken & waffle, special heirloom tomato benedict, jambalaya omelette and the heirloom tomato and summer squash scramble. All tasty and large portion sizes. I wanted to add my review to the masses because we had exceptional service--which isn't as common as it should be in Portland. When we sat down, we were greeted with a special plate of fresh lemon ricotta fritters with an incredible berry dipping sauce because they 'heard we had a long wait.' And then when my friend's Benedict was taking longer to come out than the rest of our dishes, they brought her some fresh fruit (and not just random fruit thrown together but a nice size dish with blackberries). Our server Kayla took good care of us the entire time and happily split up the bill before we even requested it. So go put your name on the list, wander next door for a cup of coffee and know that great food & service will be at end of your wait!
(5)Courtney D.
Open screen door to authentic fried chicken If you're hankering for the best fried chicken this side of the Mississippi, head on over y'all to the Screen Door. The name alone echoes the vibe since you feel like you're eating in someone's southern home. Their fried chicken was like no other I've tried with it moist buttermilk batter, yet it didn't taste greasy at all. Many places overcook it, so the chicken ends up dry inside but not here. If that wasn't tasty enough, the chicken comes with mashed sweet potatoes, which I've never had before. Your mouth will be watering during the entire meal, trust me. The only drawback about this place is the cost. Most items are priced higher than your average barbecue. The fried chicken platter will set you back $14.75, but then again, it's way above average in taste. Tip: Order the sweet tea to wash it all down.
(4)H M.
2100 hundred reviews and 4.5 stars is no joke. Yelpers must be on to something, no? With the weather fluctuating between 30 and 40 degrees and this place literally down the block from our place, we thought some good ol' Southern food would be just what the doctor ordered. Although, I can't say I know of too many doctors who'd recommend crispy fried buttermilk battered anything! Food here can be described in one word: Yummmmmy Order the screen door plate. Savor the deliciousness of the cornbread and the mac n cheese. And remember to leave room for dessert...you'll end up in a food coma after your finish, but you'll kick yourself if you don't. Screen Door, I look forward to gaining weight with you.
(5)Tasha D.
Can't get enough of this place!!! We drove and hr to get there while on vacation in the area. We did have to wait an hour to get seated but I'll tell you what... I'd do it again! The chicken and waffles are bomb! We had the praline bacon also. My boyfriend had the cathead breakfast sandwich and ate the whole thing! If your patient and want good food this is your place!
(5)Jennifer D.
I came here after reading all the amazing reviews on Yelp. We arrived at 5:45 PM on a Monday evening (15 minutes after opening) and there was already a short wait. I have to admit I don't eat meat so I can't comment on the fried chicken. My husband said the fried chicken was pretty good. We ordered the beef brisket, fried chicken, mac n cheese, fried cat fish, corn bread, and beet salad. My husband said the fried chicken and beef brisket were both pretty good. I had the corn bread, beet salad, fried cat fish, and mac n cheese. I think the best dish was the mac n cheese. It's definitely one of the best mac n cheese I've ever had. It's so cheesy but not too salty...it was delicious. The fried cat fish was way too salty for my liking. The corn bread was not good at all. It was very dry and bland. I am not sure if I will ever wait in line to eat at this place but if there isn't a wait I'll probably stop by.
(3)Michelle M.
Nutshell: Food - Good. Service - Good. Kitchen etiquette - Questionable. A group of friends and I, total of 5, decided to try Screen Door after the rave reviews. We expected a long wait because we were a larger group and it's a popular place. Our wait was approximately an hour and because we had so much time, we already knew what to order. Therefore, right when we sat down we ordered our food. Time passes by and the wait gets excruciatingly long. We notice that a group of 4 who came after us got served. Odd. Then a LARGE group of 10 who also came after us got their food. The waitress thanked us for being patient and tried to buy us off with 2 small plates to snack on. However, after an hour wait there was no formal apology that either the waitress or the kitchen screwed up our order/queue. If a mistake was made, that's fine but OWN IT. Restaurants can be crazy but that does not mean etiquette goes flying out the window. If it were the owner and his wife, would the staff had acted the same? Pretending nothing happened and throwing the food their way after a 2 hour wait? I would hope not. The food is not sprinkled in gold, nor orgasmic nor heavenly. It's just tasty food. I had a much better and normal human experience at Tasty N Sons and I imagine there are a hundred better brunch places in Portland. The hype for this place is ridiculously off the charts.
(3)Jimmy S.
Darn good food at an extremely reasonable price. The wait was a bit outrageous but overall, I'd say very enjoyable.
(4)Shane L.
I haven't been to another spot in town that is so consistently excellent as this one. Food, drinks, service, long lines. They have it all. Go in a small group, during the week, and get there early to avoid a long wait.
(5)Kimmy W.
The most amazing meal we had in Portland. We came on a Sunday morning and of course there was a wait of course - 30 mins goes by pretty quickly when they let you order coffee and people watch. My husband and I knew to get the chicken and waffles - the best in the world. The chicken was spiced and dipped PERFECTLY. It came out hot, crispy and deliciously juicy... we still talk about it to this day. The waffle was also perfect - soft on the inside but crunchy on the outside. I also got the hush puppies cuz they sounded yummy but I shouldn't have - the chicken and waffles was more than enough for us to share and I had no room for the puppies. Perfection... but you new that already from the 2000 other reviews. Great, now I'm starving.
(5)Macy T.
The food and drinks were really good, however it took forever to get it, probably our bad for going on a Sunday morning, they had a lovely selection of tea and coffee for the people waiting, but did not make it very clear that you would be charged for that, I think the idea of that was wonderful but the prices were a bit steep. However over all if was a good experience! I just won't go back on a weekend!
(4)Jason T.
It was my first time in Portland, and I saw this restaurant was highly rated on yelp. I intended to dine here for breakfast but kept arriving too late. Finally got to try the food out -- the wife & I had dinner there. my first time trying some legit (to me) Louisiana cookin! I thought it was delicious! Ordered the Bbq brisket -- the meat was r super tender and not chewy at all. The sauce was the right amount of spice and sweetness, rather than other places where it's too overpowering. The onion strings were nice and crispy, so they didn't feel like they had been cooked and left out. The side dish was some kind of greens with bacon in it. And I was pleasantly surprised the "slaw" meant "potato salad" to this Californian (I thought it meant "coleslaw " Wife had the Screen Door Plate: cornbread, Mac & cheese, collard greens, and jambalaya. Loved everything but oddly wasn't a fan of the cornbread! I know -- I'm crazy. It's personal preference that's why I didn't ding the star ratings :) If I ever find myself in Portland, I will definitely be back.
(5)Prisilia P.
Our favorite restaurant for the entire trip! Food portions are huge! Everything that we tried are really good. We ordered foods for to go, since the line is very long and we don't feel like waiting. Plus, parking is a hassle in this area. We got the crispy fried oyster, beef brisket, screen door plate(mac and cheese, pork chops and catfish) and pecan pie. I don't usually like oyster, but Screen Door's oysters are delicious! pciltraveldiary.blogspot…
(5)Brook W.
One of Portland's iconic breakfast spots. The food and bar are amazing. Well worth the wait, even though that can easily extend to an hour or two. Two tricks to avoid the wait: 1) get there at 8:30 (they open at 9) and get in line for the first round of seating; or 2) show up whenever, put your name on the list, go wander around the neighborhood or visit the antique shops just up on Sandy until about 20 minutes before your wait time is supposed to be up. First-time visitors must try a Spanish coffee and Portland's best fried chicken and waffles (get it praline style for extra awesomeness).
(5)Lana T.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Ok, just had to get that out, that's how excited I am about this place. A group of us went out last night for Rachael's birthday. Adam and I arrived tired, and not very hungry. After browsing the menu, we saw the perfect thing! The Screen Door plate. It's your choice of any 3 sides, or plates off the "local/organics" menu (a smaller, rotating daily menu of exactly that..local/organic dishes) for $13.95. We got mashed potatoes, quinoa salad, and fried catfish. It came with a piece of corn bread too, which I liked more than Adam did. It's definitely a steal if you do it right. The friend Catfish was on the sides menu, and alone was $8.95. The potatoes were heavenly, and the catfish divine. I tasted a bit of everyone's food including mac and cheese, braised greens and fried okra. Everything was DELICIOUS. YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMÂMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.
(4)Brandi M.
KILLER breakfast. Killer. Best gravy I have ever tasted. Had Screen Door's version of chicken and waffles exactly one week after having Thomas Keller's version at his Bouchon restaurant and both were phenomenal albeit very different takes on the legendary dish. Haven't been here for dinner yet... Only down side is that they open late for breakfast and the line is so dang long. But who can blame people for waiting? It take serious guts to open for breakfast at 9am. SD can get away with it.
(5)Molly M.
Went here couple months ago so I am writing this from memory. That fried oyster, oh my gosh that fried oyster. I need to get some back in my life. I have never had one that tasted anything like this before. SO FRESH! That batter did not make me feel like I just gained 5 lbs from eating it either. Lightly battered but with soo much flavor. I highly recommend trying it. We also tried the chicken and waffles. Please NOTE: this will feed about 2-3 girls!! Their portion is HUGE, i mean, geez now I know why people in the south are more....endowed. Chicken was tender and juicy, not at all dry. Yummy waffles. The wait really is not that bad, it can look intimating but seemed to move pretty fast for us. Seeing as how it is one of the top rated restaurants in Portland for tourists, we were worried that getting a table for 8 ppl was going to be tough, as they do not do reservations. It did not take as long as what the host had told us. Funny because we actually went to get our nails done at the little nail shop down the street, and they called our name while we were doing our nails. We had to put our name back on the list but even then, it did not take long at all to get, yet another table lol....oops on us. Their service is great! Go try it!!
(5)Meana K.
I've been a few times now. Each time I've been, I've waited no more than 5-10 minutes. Just gotta time it right -- be there before they open for dinner or show up for a late brunch. Over 2,000 reviews, I'm sure one or two people mentioned the fried chicken is fantastic so I won't start there. The banoffee pie is definitely worth saving some room for. For me, it's not a 5 star restaurant because I don't love everything they make. The grits are only okay. The mac and cheese is not among the best I've had and it's actually a bit overwhelmingly heavy/rich. The bloody mary is good. The collards are really good. The burger is pretty good. The brunch items I've had were great (except the potatoes were a little dry). Their kitchen is busy and while I'm sure they strive for consistency, it's not always achieved. So why 4 stars when the food isn't always perfect here? Let me tell you about the service. The staff here are so easy going, friendly, and attentive. You feel welcomed despite how busy they always are. 5 star service. It's part of the Portland experience and I enjoy it. And the fried chicken and banoffee pie alone are worth 5 stars for me.
(4)William H.
Blah blah blah, we all know their fried chicken is great, and the mac n cheese is probably still the best I've had in Portland (at least it won't dissappoint). What keeps me coming back is the other things on the menu are excellent--it's just not the fried chicken. Pork Belly--Get it. In any preparation. Sweet potato fries. I was skeptical when someone ordered it, but they were the best sweet potato fries I have had in some time--crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, you actually taste sweetness and flavor of the sweet potato. I would skip the shrimp and grits. Had them twice and the shrimp was fishy both times and the second time the grits were bland (needed more salt). That also goes for the cornbread and butter--an afterthought. This place is also relatively cheap for the amount of food and quality you receive. I would probably give it 5.5 stars. Service is always excellent, they do get backed up so you might have to wait a bit longer for your food.
(5)J. B.
Seriously...AMAZING! My hubby and I shared the fried chicken and sweet potato waffles plate...and we agreed that it was worth the wait (over an hour to get in-YIKES). I kept wondering how it was possible for one person to eat 3 fried chicken breasts plus a waffle as big the plate, but I saw many ordering it just for themselves (it's no wonder heart disease is the #1 killer in the US-sorry to be a buzz kill, but really guys, c'mon...)! At any rate, it was great tasting, service was awesome and you can taste the love in everything they make. Just do me a favor, folks...after this coma inducing food fest, drink a lot of water and get some exercise. It's what your mother and doctor would want you to do...
(5)Erin L.
The Mac n cheese is so awesome here. Tried the fried pork chops, and jambalaya and fried chicken. All worth getting! If you're ever in Portland, you definitely need to try the screen door.
(5)Dan T.
The food was amazing, surpassed my expectations. Will definitely go back next time I'm in town!
(5)Jesica F.
There was a line when the first time I came to this restaurant. I have to wait 30 min. to get in. And Of course I get the waffle fried chicken since that's their signature dish. I have to admit it that it was good. If you like fried chicken then you will like this place!
(5)Laura C.
For my mom not to crab about the slow service, means she was really enjoying taking the whole thing in. For my mom to gush means the food was excellent. The 20 minutes it took for the best mac and cheese I have had in a very long time - to reach my table was well worth the wait. The cold slaw, jambalaya and chicken strips with honey dijon mustard was also worth waiting for. The prices seemed a tad steep, for being such a casual place and casual fare....but the portions were huge and I ended up with quite a few leftovers to take home for lunch the next day. My suspicion is that they hold off serving you until you're hungry enough to eat most of what you ordered. I love the area, and the free parking, but I would recommend getting there when they open...around 5:30, because you'll be waiting an hour just to get a table, if not. The decor is really unique because it's simple Southern; neither or which screams Portland Hipster. They even have a wall lined with pickled veggies...not that I'd partake, since I was there for the fried food. I'd heard about this place from numerous friends - all of whom love it - so we knew about the wait (and was prepared for it) and that we would not be disappointed.
(5)Kathleen B.
The meal: Fried green tomatoes, dipped in crunchy corn-mealy batter and fried crispy. Topped with cool, salty shrimp salad. Mixed plate for dinner (I recommend this: you get to try lots of stuff; Mr. T and I both got this and shared dishes): catfish fried in the same corny batter, fresh and salty and heavenly when dipped in the tangy side sauce. Collared greens, slow cooked so they are silky and tender and salty. I was fishing through the sauce, looking for any leaves I missed, when I looked up to find the host offering me a spoon. At first I didn't get it; then, with utter embarrassment, I realized he was delivering another utensil for me to sop up the rest of the collared greens. I was enjoying myself too much to blush too hard. Mac'n'cheese; I am now a believer that this dish can be elevated to the divine. The red beans were also surprisingly delicious, nothing like beans and rice I'd had before. (And giving new meaning to Sir Mixalot's line "red beans and rice didn't miss her.") Next time we'll try to save room for dessert, but it's hard to do! Great service, fun, open dining room with a view to the open kitchen, which I love! Great cocktails as well.
(5)Krista G.
Finally made it here on Sunday for Brunch. They offer up coffee to help ease the wait and it's a great place to people watch while you wait and wait and wait. Once seated about an hour later we all ordered up different things so we could share. Someone got french toast, another got pancakes, another had the frittata, and I had the fried chicken on a biscuit. After tasting everyone's I knew I had the best dish. Although I do enjoy Sunday brunch every now and then I really think dinner here is better. Sometimes when restaurants get too busy the food shows it was rushed, but I'm glad I gave it a whirl.
(4)akzidenz g.
3.85 stars the fried chicken was the best ive tasted anywhere. even beats nawlins! ingredients were fresh, but the fish special the waiter recommended was just not very tasty. we dared ppl to eat it. hehe. the jumbalaya was aiite, ive had better. the hush puppies tho.....they were good. would definitely return and take my friends here from out of town. that says alot.
(4)April C.
mmmmmmm, butter.
(4)Lisa S.
If you like fried chicken and you admit it and you like waffles --- like really really good ones -- you'll love this place!
(5)Spencer D.
Best Fried Chicken EVERRRRRRRRRRRR. It's a big plate...I recommend splitting it, unless you're so hungry that you could eat...well...a giant chicken breast and thigh deep fried to crispy perfection.
(5)Ross M.
If I could take away a star for the line and feel justified, I would. I've only been here three times, despite how much I like the food, and the line is the only reason. Oh well.
(5)Regenia B.
I love the food! Just have to wait!
(4)Kristen C.
I think I've been spoiled by all the chicken & waffles spots I have in the Bay Area, so I thought this meal was just OK. It was also February and they sat us outside on their patio so that could have added to the overall experience.
(3)Danette R.
I have to say I wasn't in love with Screen Door, and that was mostly due to the experience, not the food. We initially were told there would be an approximately 45 minute wait. I'm no stranger to waiting for tasty food, and based on both the reviews and the sheer volume of people outside, this was to be expected. Unfortunately, it was closer to an hour and a half later as we were FINALLY debating just bouncing that we got called in (for our enormous... party of two). Once inside, the food was a delight, the mimosas not shy. And while our server was friendly, I was a little uncomfortable with his comments about previous guests... apparently some customers shortly before us had been rude and given him some attitude. While I get that this can be upsetting, as someone who has worked in food service and is also a human being, I didn't feel like this was something he should be talking about to the other guests? You go in the back and bitch to your coworkers, you don't come out and talk shit to the other diners. We did the standard, "Hi, how are you?" "Good, how are you?" with our server, and he responded with some comments about guests with attitude and how he hoped we would go over better. It was obviously a joke, but it definitely made me feel like maybe we would do something to upset or offend him, and would be next on the proverbial chopping block? I later heard him regaling the story to the table of guests next to us, so it wasn't a one-off comment, but a guy looking for validation from the wrong people. Again, the food was good and not expensive, but there are lots of good or great breakfast places, that are not expensive, that don't require an hour and a half wait in addition to awkward service. All and all, I would probably head elsewhere for breakfast.
(3)Jocelyn A.
A lot has been said about this place, but most of the emphasis seems to be on brunch. Since I am not a fan of standing in line for 1.5 hours with a bunch of hangry people, I decided to check it out for dinner instead. I am here to report that this was a fantastic decision! We arrived about 35 minutes prior to dinner service on Labor Day. There was already a sizable line formed, with around 30 people ahead of us. Once they opened the doors, 5:30 pm on the dot, the staff was quick to get tables seated. We easily got a table during the first seating - they squeeze in a lot more people than you would think. We sat outside on the patio, which was lovely, except for the fact that I had someone else's dog sitting right underneath my seat during the entire meal. Every time I moved the dog would would get startled, or start licking me. I think it is just too close of quarters to allow pets on their patio. For the meal itself we decided to try the "screen door plate", which includes your choice of three side dishes and corn bread for $14. We both selected that option, so that we could try as many things on the menu as possible ;). First let me say that these "side dishes" are very large. This provided us with a ton, A TON, of food! We had two of the seasonal specials (sweet corn griddle cakes and stewed flageolet beans), mac n cheese, jambalaya, collard greens, and catfish. The catfish is an extra $1, but it is a 6 oz portion, and is more than worth it. Our favorites were the jambalaya and the catfish, but all of it was delicious (except for the corn bread, it tasted old). As if that wasn't enough, we shared the blackberry cobbler for dessert. It was topped with cornmeal biscuits and peach ice cream. It was a perfect way to end the meal, not as over the top as it sounds. The service was wonderful as well, we will return.
(5)Shannon C.
The wait was way too long, not worth it. The food was alright, not amazing, definitely not worth the hype
(3)Vincent R.
Great place. The food is good. Not enough vegan options, but the vegetarian options are good. Very down home style food. Always a line though. When you order a chilled bottle of champagne, you have to request an ice bucket, that's weird, but that's okay because the place is fabulous. Def check it out if you like down home southern cookin'
(4)Ngocly L.
There was a long line outside the restaurant before dinner time. They filled up the restaurant quickly, but couldn't seat everyone in line. The wait was 45 mins to one hour for a table. We opted for takeout because we didn't want to spend up to two hours for a table and food. We waited for one hour to get our food. The hostess was really helpful and attentive to our wait. She made sure we got our beer quickly to accompany the wait. She frequently checked up on us to ensure we were doing okay and kept us posted with the status of our order. We ordered the crispy buttermilk-battered chicken and thin-sliced pork chops and dined at the nearest park, which was about 10 mins (walking distance) away. The chicken and pork chops were savory and delicious!!! We had nothing to complain about our dinner. We did not regret waiting and having takeout at all, because we saved time and experienced a little bit of the epic Portland life - just how we wanted to end our last day in Portland!
(5)Jenn S.
Since I've now been here twice, I will average out my experiences instead of bogging you down with two reviews. First time: Dinner on a Friday over the summer. The place was packed and it smelled like heaven. We waited for a good amount of time to be seated but they offered us drinks during the wait. There was a blackberry something or other that was pretty much better than life itself. There were 5 of us and we were seated right in the middle of the restaurant. Our waiter was wicked fast with his attentiveness and despite how packed it was, we never felt neglected. And he was hilarious. One of the fastest talkers I've ever seen in the food industry. And that's saying something. Great experience, amazing food, a true summer delight. Second time: Brunch on a Saturday. Wow. The line was enormous. We decided to wait it out because of how great dinner was the last time around. We drank coffee and waited outside because it was just too packed inside. Every time someone opened the door, the flavors wafted out and enticed us and then as the wait time grew, it teased and tortured us. There were only two of us this time around and we ended up waiting for close to an hour. Ouch. We were starving. Our server was right there though. She also was very attentive despite how crowded it was. Our food finally came and it was not the blow-me-out-of-the-water breakfast I had been salivating for. I had the blackened tofu scramble and my boyfriend had the cajun scramble. My eggs were a little runny and both of our potatoes tasted like they had been sitting there all morning. But it definitely didn't suck. He had a bloody mary that was spicy and delicious and served with a pickled okra! Yum. Don't know if we'll come back for the brunch but we certainly haven't ruled this place out.
(3)Alice B.
Huge fan of the fried chicken dinner and porch swing lemonade (sage, yum!) Unlike a previous reviewer I actually enjoy the corn bread with the deliciously sweet butter. This place gets pretty crowded and sometimes the service can be a little slow but there's always an interesting scene to soak in while you wait. I enjoy the open kitchen and rustic-modern decor. I have brought several friends visiting from out of town and they have all really enjoyed their experiences at this restaurant. Overall I really like Screen Door.
(5)Jennifer N.
I have an obsession with brunch. So, whenever I make a trip somewhere..I always try to find the perfect brunch place. Well, Screen Door definitely did not disappoint me! We drove down to Portland from Seattle on a Sunday and our first stop was Screen Door. We arrived around 11AM and put our name on the waiting list, which the wait was around an hour and a half. If we waited there for an hour and a half I would probablyyy not be so happy with the food because it takes a lot for me to justify such a long wait. They don't take your phone number or anything, so you do actually have to keep track of time. They told us to come back in an hour, so we left the area and went to Powell's Bookstore! :D Although you definitely need more than an hour to explore Powell's...it was a great way to kill time! That made the wait feel like nothing because by the time we got back we only had to actually wait for 15 minutes or so. We were seated and I instantly took a look at the brunch cocktails. I ordered the Rum Apple Cider...it tasted pretty good although I realized I'm not a HUGE fan of warm alcoholic drinks. My friends ordered the Gin Fizz and Bloody Mary - both were really tasty. For our brunch entrees we ordered the following: Smoked Brisket Hash: It came with two eggs - which I ordered them over easy and broke the yolk over the hash. Ahhh perfection. It was delicious! Perfectly seasoned and a hefty amount of brisket, which was cooked to perfection. Fried Chicken & Waffles: HUGE portion. Chicken was nice and crispy and paired well with the waffle. Seriously though, the portion size was enormous. Basically three chicken breasts. My sister took most of it to go. Fried Oyster Benedict: What a unique combination! And it was executed pretty well. They put the oysters on the side so it doesn't get soggy from the hollandaise sauce. The texture of the oysters were good, but could have used a bit more seasoning. Something was missing to bring all the flavors together. Overall it was a great brunch experience! Don't be discouraged by the wait!
(4)Angelene G.
Best fried chicken in Portland! Absolutely worth the wait and won't disappoint.
(5)Mike W.
Best Sourthern food in Portland. Period. Know that if you come here for brunch, the wait will be about an hour long. While you wait you have access to the bar and you can order bakery items to snack on. If you have been to Pine State and love the Reggie Delux then you need to come to screen door and have the Cathead Biscuit Sandwich. It's better! The gravy is plentiful and the side of cheesy grits will make sure that you cross the line into a blissful food coma. Also, try the praline bacon. For drinks, the upgrade to the double on a mimosa is worth the price because it's really about triple what you get in a regular mimosa. They are happy to substitute other juices like grapefruit if it floats your boat. The hot spiced rum apple cider is pretty sweet but that's just the way I like it. It boils down to this: Is the food really worth the wait? YES! 1000x's YES!
(5)Tiffany L.
Shrimp and grits was amazing! With 4 jumbo shrimp and some pesto to mix it in! the bf got the fried chicken! ooh YUM you can not go wrong. Worth the wait! they make simple dishes exquisite! genesis blend of red wine! Pretty good service~
(5)Ashley L.
This place is ok. The wait is long and after then take your food then the wait is long for your food. The customer service is great bu t the wait is just too long. Waited 2 hours.
(3)Stephanie D.
We eat here every couple of months and it is ALWAYS fantastic. My friend from New Orleans says that "Screen Door does southern food better than the south does southern food", and I couldn't agree more. I am someone who will not order a chicken entree from any restaurant but this place is the exception. After a dozen visits, I have had everything on the menu. I always get the shrimp and grits for the appetizer (as well as 1-2 salads and chicken livers if they have them) and the fried chicken for the main course plus a dessert. The shrimp and grits are the best I have ever had and I could say the same for the chicken livers. The fried chicken is boneless yet still so flavorful. The breading is perfectly seasoned and the mashed potatoes are killer. I could eat the potatoes by themselves but the gravy is also delicious. My boyfriend loves all of the salads and anything on the seasonal menu. The Screen Door platter is perfect for anyone who wants to try several different things. Screen Door continues to be one of a handful of restaurants that we always take out-of-towners. It is impressive to even some of the most discriminating palates.
(5)Don S.
Some of the best southern food I've had! Their boneless fried chicken melts in your mouth! Mac and cheese is amazing! Get their early, everyone else likes it too! Worth the wait though!
(5)Huntting B.
So much foooooood. Chicken and waffles are great. All white meat chicken but still tasty and not dried out. Way too big a portion for one human being The huevos rancheros were a hit as well. The corn bread was slightly sweet. Hearty. Small grains of corn. Nice with honey... Though they were missing the butter requisite in SC style corn bread. The breakfast corn dog was very tasty. Sweeter corn crust than the bread. Well cooked and rather large. The sausage wasn't very flavorful but was very tasty. The hot chocolate was incredible. A must get if you like hot chocolate. Would definitely come back. We arrived at 840 and were two away from having to wait for the second seating... We were also the last to get to order so our food didn't arrive till 10:15. I would highly recommend you get here at 815 for the first seating.
(5)Mrs. B.
My friend was raving about this place and told me we had to eat here. This place did live up to the hype. I was surprised how delicious the food was. We ordered chicken and waffles and the bacon cinnamon rolls. I wish I could go back for seconds. I really can't add much to this review that hasn't been said already, you just have to try it for yourself. Just get there early because the line is super long.
(5)Veronica C.
Yum. This place was amazing. We got there at 5:10 pm on a Sunday (they open at 5:30) and there was already a line. We ended up waiting about 45 minutes but was totally worth the wait. The food was delicious and fast. My only negative thing to say about this place would be our server that he had. He wasn't the friendliest and had really long hair and I kept seeing him swipe his hand in his hair and that kind of grossed me out. But as long as he didn't touch my food, it was delicious.
(5)Priscilla O.
My friends and I were in Portland for a wedding. A couple friends recommended screen door and looking at the pictures...we had to go! We arrived at the restaurant around 8:30 and was told that the wait was an hour. We got a couple drinks at the bar and hung out around the patio till my name got called. My friend and I ordered the screen door plate, where you choose 3 "sides" and make up your own dish. While our SO's got the fried chicken plate. For my plate, I chose the fried catfish, gumbo, and mac n cheese. The food did take awhile, it was around 10pm when we started eating. But, every bite was so freaking fantastic. I had about half my plate left over, and it was still awesome the next day (I ate it for breakfast...shhhh). I had a bite of the fried chicken as well, and they know how to do it. It was crispy yet juicy. It's very well priced considering how much you get. Service was nice and the ambiance was very cozy. I highly recommend giving this place a try if you haven't already. Just expect to wait a bit, but know it'll be worth your time.
(5)Rebekah H.
From the south and decided what the heck. The BEST sweet potato fries I've ever eaten. No lie. Mac and cheese was killer as well as the pork belly starter. Cornbread and mashed potatoes were definitely not the greatest.
(4)Brittany F.
We were originally told that the wait would be an hour and half for brunch on saturday and about 15 minutes later they had a table ready for us! We ordered the brisket hash and the bananas foster french toast. The has was so good, it was super savory but the eggs and potatoes brought it back to breakfast, I would definitely get this again. The french toast was insanely sweet and the portions were huge! We ended up splitting the dishes so we each got a perfect amount of savory and sweet. Don't order the french toast if you don't plan on sharing with something savory, it's crazy sweet and decadent for one sitting. Next time I go I'll try to plan it on a cool day though, no AC and that many bodies got too sweaty for me.
(5)Kevin C.
OMG. Best bloody mary I've ever had, and HUUUGE and delicious chicken and waffles. Unless you're a veg, get the chicken and waffles, I don't know where there is better. The batter has a kick to it, and the waffle is something special too. Just slather that maple syrup all over and dig in. Unless you're a beast, you'll have some leftover for tomorrow and it tastes even better then.
(5)Stacie S.
Omg! The best food ever! Can't go wrong with anything you order! And the staff is super nice! Nothing else to say except awesome!
(5)David H.
Excellent southern food with a Portland flair. Meaning their fried chicken is not greasy, but crunchy and moist. Also, their grits and shrimp is what to order for a buttery cheesy frolic in flavor country.
(5)Peggy N.
This place is The Best! It's busy for good reason! Not only is the food fantastic--good ole Southern Comfort--but the staff is extraordinary! We took my disabled sister there for dinner; they got us right in--without having to wait--which would have been agonizing for her. The service was wonderful, the wait for our food worth it! Thanks again for the extra-special consideration--we will definitely be back!
(5)Lola C.
Uhhh, f yes! Went there last night. Arrived at 5:15 and there was already a line, which quickly grew. We were seated by 5:32. Server was friendly and very efficient. The space is super Portland. Table jammed together, retro feel, pickles etc on shelves lining one entire wall, open kitchen, Bobbie Gentry on the iPod. Love it. Started the meal with a Mint Julep. Tasty. Apps were hush puppies and fried green tomatoes. I lived in the South for 6 years and these were the best of both that I'd tasted. Dinner was fried chicken and brisket with a full side of cole slaw. Fried chicken IS worth the hype. Light, crunch, not greasy, boneless, melty in your mouth goodness. Mashed potatoes are rich with butter and light. Greens: meh. Not a greens fan. Brisket is delightful, especially when forked in my pie hole with a big scoop of cole slaw. Potato salad is full of bacony goodness. Dear Lord make it stop. We cleaned our plates and even looked at the dessert menu. Just. Couldn't. Do. It. Next time for sure.
(5)C T.
After three unsuccessful attempts to eat at Screen Door, my friend and I finally made it in!!! How did we do it?? We actually got there a little bit early before it opened at 5:30. The funny thing was that there were already people waiting both outside and inside their cars. I had the beef brisket and my friend ordered their fried chicken. After trying a piece of my friend's fried chicken, I didn't want to eat the rest of my brisket. The brisket was very tender. The only downside was the sides. Something about it didn't taste right... maybe it was just me? I will definitely come here again one of these days... but will have to come early, because the place packs up fast!
(4)rudy L.
whenever i come here i always know i'm gonna have a great meal! the waiter that normally serves us is an AWESOME guy and is on the ball! oh ever had pecan pie? the have it here and its as godly as it gets!!!! and for all you fried chicken lovers out there, this is the place to come to!
(5)Fleurdevie C.
Fantastic southern food right across the bridge in Portland. Went late on a Sunday night (around 8 when they close at 9) and had the "screen door plate" of catfish, collard greens and macaroni and cheese. I also had a great cocktail called the Scarlett O'Hara (soco, cranberry and fresh lime). Everything there is reasonably priced and delicious.
(5)Annelise K.
What a scene! A line out the door for 9AM opening on Sunday, and a bit bewildered about reservations: having reservations does not get you out of the line. We were sternly warned not to be 15 minutes late, but I think we spent 15 minutes in line before we were identified & seated. The server was great--attentive, not intrusive, kept me jacked up on the coffee--thank you! The food was fine. My broccoli scramble did sport some fancy extras (broccoli-walnut pesto, vinegary tomato topping) but still wasn't Wow--it was good, though. The winter squash/spinach fritata--a bit dull. The biscuits & gravy, both veg & non--really good. The migas--really good. The brioche French toast--wow!! really super good. The portions are HUGE, the room is pretty noisy & friendly. The prices are decent. I'd like to come back for dinner, and the freakin' TOWER of fried chicken served on a waffle--I'd like to share that with 2 or 3 friends next time I come for brunch.
(3)Nathasha S.
My second time back and I fell even MORE in love with this place. This time we tried brunch! Although we did have a hefty one-hour wait time, it's definitely worth it. The star of the meal: **Fried Chicken & Waffle - honestly, the sound of chicken and waffles doesn't really whip me into a verbal frenzy, but oh was the fried chicken perfect - cripsy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Not to mention it was a sweet potato waffle, not too sweet, soft and just yummy. **Praline Bacon Cinnamon Roll (a special item) - oh, was this delicious. Two cinnamon rolls with bacon bits rolled in inside. It was wonderful, not too sweet. Overall, I really enjoyed their brunch and would recommend them to anyone! :)
(5)Dwight P.
frying food in oil and adding a lot of salt to it, doesn't make it soul food. The food was also very salty, and since it's "soul food", I felt the waiter could have shown just a little southern hospitality. Some of the food was good, but for as long as we had to wait to get in, it wasn't worth it.
(2)Wayne C.
This place is amazing and worth the wait for the food. Simply amazing!!!
(5)Jessica B.
Sunday morning breakfast! Be prepared to stand in line. It's worth the wait. You can have coffee while you wait and when you get to the table your cup will never be empty. Amazingly fast and efficient servers. They have the best biscuits and gravy in the world and I have their specials and loved ever one of them. This place needs to be on your to-do list for Portland!
(5)Jay V.
Awesome food and menu. Looooooong wait for a Sunday brunch. However, it gave us time to catch up with friends that we haven't seen in a long time. Server was very nice and helpful. I'd go back there again, but hopefully wouldn't have to wait as long, unless I had more friends that I haven't seen in a few years. Especially, since I don't know anyone else in Portland.
(4)Per H.
Great southern cooking meets the NW. Super friendly staff and a great experience. The wines are pretty basic, but priced accordingly.
(4)Kayla G.
Amazing. The first time I went here I waited at least an hour to be seated, and I didn't even care. I had the fried chicken and it was amazing. SO flavorful. The collard greens they served on the side were the first I'd ever tried, and they were so good that I learned how to make them and cook them at home about once or twice a week now. My boyfriend got the brisket on one occasion and it was delicious, but after you've tried the chicken it's possible you won't want anything else. I've tried a few different cocktails since the first time I've been there, and I've liked them all. They make a decent whiskey sour, which I'm pretty picky about. The only reason that it didn't earn a full fledged 5 stars from me is because of the mashed potatoes that came with my meal. They seemed like instant potatoes to me. Not a lot of flavor and pretty smooth and runny. I don't know if they make them from real potatoes or not, I'm just not really into them at all. That being said, I still salivate just thinking about this place and can't really talk about it without getting a hankering for it so I better quit while I'm ahead.
(4)Adam F.
My family was in town for the day and I decided to treat them to some southern food. I had never been to Screen Door, but heard multiple people rave about it so off we went. Looking back, it must have been sheer luck that we didn't have to wait long for our table. Shortly after we were seated, a line started to snake around the building. We were served by a typical-looking Portlander. Waxed mustache, v-neck shirt from Threadless, and some acid-wash jeans. Check, check, and check. He was attentive and made sure our water was topped off throughout the meal. The food was pretty good. I'm from the south and have had my fair share of real southern cooking. I think this was as close to the real thing as Portland will get. We ordered the catfish, collard greens, corn bread, and some other appetizers to share. The catfish was slightly overcooked and the collard greens were a little too mushy and sweet for my taste. Also, my family enjoyed savory cornbread rather than sweet, which is what was served. All in all, not a bad meal, but I felt it was slightly overpriced for what it was. Will I be going back? Maybe, but I wasn't blown away as many people apparently were.
(4)Trina K.
Brunch here is amazing! Portions are huge, food is tasty, and the line is long. I had the fried chicken and waffle. I keep thinking about how good it was and I want to go back!
(5)ryan n.
This place has delicious BBQ and southern cooking... the mac and cheese was delicious as a side, as was my BBQ brisket with green beans and onion strings. Their grits were also very good. Be forewarned though, there can also be a very long wait here... I almost want to take a star off for having to wait nearly an hour to sit down and eat.. but that seems unrelated to the quality of the restaurant itself so I won't.
(5)Ben Z.
Fried Chicken: It is not exaggerating when they say this is the best fried chicken I've ever had. The chicken was super soft, coated in a perfect amount of batter and seasoned perfectly. The server actually spilled water on me accidentally and I still gave it 5 stars. I think that puts it in perspective. When it's good food, there's little else to complain about. The wait was about 1.5 hours. Plan ahead.
(5)Lerma S.
I super love this place food was amazing and service was excellent i wish they have this in seattle
(5)Jennifer C.
Wow...this place was packed and I know why. Decent prices with HUGE portions and a whole lot of fried food. Probably a foodie's dream. We enjoyed our experience here and we would probably come back to try other things. The only downfall was everything was so fried and oily. We felt a little sick after and our faces screamed out oily murder. Now, this might not be a bad thing to most so that's just a preference thing. The fried chicken with collard greens and mash. DANGGGGGGGGG girlllll, hella big chicken! It was almost the whole animal on the plate. The batter was just okay to us because we've had better elsewhere. It was pretty oily and fatty, but the meat was SUPER tender. The gravy was meh. We also had the platter where we can choose 3 sides. We got the mac and cheese, sweet potato fries and the fried catfish. DANGGGGGGGG girl, hella fried stuff. The mac and cheese was the BEST part of our meal. Yummy crusted cheese on top and gooey cheese inside. The fries were good, nothing special. The catfish was okay, nothing special. We also tried the fried oyster starters and it was yummy! Good to share with 3-4 people. All in all, good experience and good atmosphere. I'll open this screen door again.
(4)Diana L.
Worth the wait, which was only 45 minutes on a Sunday morning. CHICKEN and WAFFLES- chicken was tender and lots of crunchy batter. It was seasoned with a lot of pepper but it added a nice kick to the sweet potato waffle and sweet syrup. I will dream of your chicken and compare it to all others. PRALINES and BACON WAFFLE- Maple praline bacon sitting on top of the waffle was the best part, would've got just a plate of the bacon if I knew how damn good it was. BISCUITS and GRAVY- the gravy was so creamy and then you get these big chunks of salty sausage, so good. Add Tabasco and bam!
(5)Katy R.
This is hands down one of the best home cooked meals you can get at a restaurant. It is a little crowded, and their hours are weird, so make sure you get there BEFORE it opens, a LONG line forms. But I have to say this is one of the best kept little places in Portland that make Portland! The staff was friendly, people were nice, even waiting in line. BEST FOOD can't go wrong! And the servings are LARGE!!! So expect to take some home! Love this place,l highly recommend it to anyone new or seasoned in the area!
(4)Shaedyn M.
My family was visiting from the south and wanted to go out to eat, leaving me with the final decision of where to go. They have big appetites and aren't looking for my regular healthy stuff, and I remember hear about this place over and over, so I knew exactly where to take them. The wait looked extremely long, but I called them to warn them that we were coming and she put our name on the list. If you have a bigger party, I recommend doing this! We were taken past everyone to a table immediately. The service here is incredible. It is a PACKED place, and yet we felt like we were the only ones. There were so many weird requests on our orders and the waitress took it all so well, and had an amazing personality! When the food came, everyone was so excited and didn't want to wait for me to take a picture before they dug in. My dad, who is usually super picky and wary about anything I suggest, pretty much died with how good his Chicken and waffles were, but he was about to order 5 more of his Praline Bacon Waffle. Everyone around the table had a bite, and I would order one next time I went too! My grandparents were also impressed with whatever they got. Which is saying a lot. I couldn't decide if I wanted the biscuits and mushroom gravy or if I wanted the Blackened Tofu and 3 Egg Scramble. The customer service wins again and I settled with a small side of biscuits. The scramble was sooo good, and I really liked the potatoes on the side, and the biscuits and [mushroom!!!] gravy wasn't my favorite, I prefer cakier biscuits, but it was still delicious. The Benedicts won around the table, though. The fried oyster benedict had all good reviews, and I've never even heard of it before! I did get to taste the Eggs Sardou, and it was such an amazing combination with the artichoke hearts and spinach. YUMM. This is a great place to go for that hearty breakfast. Everyone deserves some Praline Bacon Waffles. Everyone.
(5)Lisa T.
We got there around 830pm on a Saturday night and the wait was it was about a 40 minute wait. We had Mac and cheese & hush puppies for appetizer. The Mac and cheese was thick and delicious!!! Hush puppies are just hush puppies. We also got the fried chicken with mashed potatoes and pork shoulder. The fried chicken was so crispy and moist! My favorite fried chicken everr!! The pork shoulder was really tender, I didnt like the beans it came with though.
(4)Jason B.
Great establishment with great food! I originally heard about Screen Door on one of the Food Channel networks. They raved about their fried chicken and collard greens. They did not disappoint! The food was really great and I definitely recommend getting the fried chicken, collard greens and their mashed potatoes with ham gravy. The wait is a bit much, which is why I'm giving 4-stars. The service was excellent, just a hard place to get a meal without waiting 45-60 minutes. No complains though!
(4)Freddie L.
The best French toast! It melts in your mouth and everywhere you look there is something pickeled.
(5)Megan D.
Okay I LOVE this place! My boyfriend and I had brunch here while visiting Portland and will definitely be back once we move to the area. My boyfriend got the chicken and waffles! I mean, one of us had to! :) They serve you 3 pieces of chicken atop one delicious sweet potato waffle. I will say that it would be fine with only 2 pieces of chicken, since the chicken to waffle ratio is a bit off with three pieces. Buuuut nobody should really complain about more chicken. I had the braised pork shoulder hash which was seriously phenomenal. I'm not much of a breakfast food person but this was just amazing. It had potatoes, pork shoulder, chiles, red mole, an avocado cream sauce all serve with two eggs and two flour tortillas. We also got the side of chicken strips with the honey dipping sauce. So good! Absolutely cannot wait to eat there again. I'm sure their dinner menu is just as good.
(5)Amelly L.
Went there for dinner. My husband and I were told it will be 30 min wait. We waited for an hour. Then we were seated in the patio. It was 28 degrees in the patio. Our server Erika took our order and we saw her once more when she brought the check that we had to ask someone else for. The food arrived 45 min after we ordered. No server approached our table for an hour. It was so cold in there that we eat our food in 10 min to eat while the food was warm. The hostess kept closing the door between the patio and the restaurant. The little warmth that we would get from the restaurant was minimized with her closing the door. Frankly I think it's so rude that they even have the patio option available when in there is 28 degrees. The food is not that good for me to ever go back. There are plenty other restaurants in Portland that serve that food quality.
(1)S M.
A group of friends and I really enjoyed this place. Food is awesome and good service. The wait was about 30-45 mins for brunch but definitely worth the wait.
(5)Jeff R.
I love shrimp and grits. Sadly every single time I've had them at Screen door it was more like Shrimp and the shits.
(1)Savy M.
I was super excited to come to this place. Not much to look at at first but with the hole in wall corner family style restaurant this place has lots in store for you. I'm not much of American or southern style foods I prefer Asian eats but I applaud this place for their tasteful plentiful hearty meals that will surely keep your tummies full for the whole day! The chicken was a delight with a kick of spices that made my mouth flip! And if yall knew me spices and extra spicy food is my thing so to be able to taste a kick just satisfied my taste buds. I'm also not a bacon person but their pecan praline bacon was mouth watering. It was worth the wait considering the line was out the door when we arrived. Busy place! Parking was a bit difficult. I recommend this place if you are ready for a big meal and good atmosphere you have to check this place out!
(4)M W.
Yep, there is a reason they are lined up outside the door. It's noisy, crowded, and some of the best food I had in Portland. You can tell that these guys have a Chef...not a cook. We had the bacon, potato and corn soup, then ordered from the seasonal menu. I'd suggest the House Sampler to try three different sides. We liked them all. The carrots with roasted poblano chilies tossed in a cumin, cilantro and lime vinaigrette were awesome.
(5)Stephanie G.
We visited during the prime time of Saturday night dinner. We were hungry, almost hangry because we only ate breakfast in the morning and saving our appetite for this well acclaimed restaurant. Well worth the one hour wait, but should have came earlier! Otherwise, it was nice to walk around the hawthorne district area. Due to my hangry-ness, I refused to share with my husband and try another dish - thinking that the portions were only enough for one person who already ate lunch. The fried chicken hands down was delicious! I still think about the crunchy, crispy outer layer. However, unless you can handle eating two HUMONGOUS pieces of crunchy chicken goodness, I would recommend sharing it and trying another dish (especially if you're only visiting PDX). In retrospect, I should not have been so greedy and gotten the brisket to share. That was one regret I had since I didn't foresee the portions being that beastly, though my husband and I were both very happy having our own fried chicken plates. Thankfully since we didn't eat lunch, we were able to down it and happily go home. I was a fan of the hotlips pear soda - complemented well with the hearty meal. :)
(4)James C.
YUM. I am a transplant from the South, so this is a welcome treat. They serve the huge breakfasts from my childhood with a Portland twist. The tofu scramble is delicious. There are not enough vegan options here. Vegans need to be very careful when ordering the veggie sausage, since they contain egg whites. The servings are GIGANTIC (probably too big) but no one is complaining. Be prepared for a huge wait during weekend brunch. Go early.
(3)Art Y.
Owners were originally from Louisiana and true French speaking cajuns. The interior is a little tight and quite old and quaint. Waiting period: there is a line if you arrive at the peak dining period. If you are here for dinner, come after 8P and you should not have to wait. Service: Nice, friendly, and unpretentious servers. I like this very much. Foods: Quite authentic cajun foods. Friend okra, fried catfish, grits, etc.. Tasty, fresh and worth the money. I will return!
(4)Erika S.
The line outside almost discouraged us from eating here BUT we stayed and waited and BOY am I happy we did. We waited at the bar patiently while my BF drank an IPA and I had sweet tea. When we were seated I was facing the kitchen and watching the production that went on in there was very entertaining but also very telling of the food they served here. The kitchen is NO JOKE. It is a well oiled machine and the servers/sous chef/chefs were cogs that just worked really well. We ordered the pork belly for starter and the fried okra. OH EM GEE. The okra was delicious and even if you didn't like okra you would eat this one BUT the star was the pork belly appetizer. uhm.... I was speechless because I wanted to eat every single bite of this thing - it was accompanied by a slaw made of apples and cranberries which made it over the top and beyond perfect. For entree we shared the fried chicken and the mac n cheese. I am speechless. The chicken is cooked to perfection. The batter was crisp and perfect and the chicken was tender and juicy inside. The collard greens were on point, the mashed potatoes were buttery and melts in your mouth and the mac n cheese... don't even get me started with it. First of, I don't really crave or like mac n cheese all that much BUT this mac n cheese - I crave, even as we speak. It is baked so the cheese on top is a bt crunchy and burnt in a wonderful way and the inside is a cheesy goodness. The pasta is cooked not al dente but not soggy soft. Just perfect for mac n cheese. We loved this place so much we were tempted to come back the next day to eat brunch but we really wanted to try different places so we opted not to. We will definitely return when we are back in Portland.
(5)Casey M.
Great food for the price. I came here with some 3 other friends during a busy breakfast rush. Awesome self serve coffee for the wait. The portioning is great for the price. Will definitely be back.
(5)Mike R.
My favorite PDX restaurant, and the one place my kids want to go when they come home from school. I would love to give you a full menu review, but the first time there I got the fried chicken and have never tried anything else. It literally is the best fried chicken in the world. I was initially bummed when instead of bone in pieces of chicken, they brought boneless skinless breasts. However, it was so moist, I soon forgot about the bones. The portions are big enough to share and there are lots of great sides to go with it. Get there early if you want to get seated, they usually have a line at the door when they open.
(5)Omar N.
Great place for a filling brunch! Be prepared to wait, but there is a reason the place is so popular. A filling brunch for two was around 30 dollars with drinks, making this a reasonably priced meal. Don't be turned off by sitting at the bar, it offers a great view of the kitchen and great service to boot.
(4)Una M.
Ate New Years brunch here. Food was phenomenal and we enjoyed our 30 minute wait by walking along burnside.
(5)Lisa H.
Yes!!! Food here is indeed delicious. Service is great. Vegetarians and meat eaters will both find wonderful menu items. If that's all you need to know, stop reading now. If you want strategy and my opinions, keep on, and I'll give some advice as I see it. Wait times are long so consider going with a party of 2 or have a wait plan with your big group. Some more detailed options: Brunch 1. Go early (8:30am to wait in line for 9am open) for weekend brunch. 2. Just suck it up and wait in line. This may mean 1 hour or more. (Plan for it. Go to a nearby bar for a drink. Or bring a book. Chat with your friends.) Dinner 3. Go for dinner late night. I have been seated late on weeknights without waiting. 4. Go for dinner at opening. You'll have to arrive early to make sure you are in the first seating. 5. Go whenever and just plan to wait. About my favorites: Catfish head is my regular brunch choice Seasonal/special fresh veggies are always delish! Fried chicken entree also great Dessert - banoffee pie Leftovers: Portions are large and I always bring food home. But, I love that! Then I get to have 2 more meals! Don't want leftovers, share an entree with a friend. Or share some sides/seasonals.
(4)Melissa L.
I have never been to such a great restaurant with the most amazing atmosphere. Our waitor Ryan and out host Ben were simply amazing. I have never been happier with such service. The food is so good! The battered chicken is delicious and I will most definately come back to screen door. Missing Ben and ryan already.
(5)Christina U.
FRIED CHICKEN! This place has set such a wonderfully high standard for fried chicken, I don't think i'll ever find a place to top it. There have been so many times when places just don't live up to their hype, but Screen Door is not one of them...the fried chicken is flavorful, moist and deliciously crunchy. You will not be disappointed with it! My mouth is watering just thinking about it right now.... Their menu has many delicious item, but their stand out dish is definitely the chicken, so i'll just leave it at that.
(5)Sebastien N.
Solid, stick to the ribs food southern cooking with the best cornbread ever. Best veggie items I've had in this style of cuisine. Our server was top notch with a perpetual smile (wish I could drop your name--guy in glasses and curly-ish hair?). Warning: The portions are epic. Like mythological creature epic. Like its a Sisyphean feat or Herculean Labor. Like slaying some organic collard green hydra...also known as leftovers.
(5)Keke M.
I'm in love with this place!!! We can't leave Portland without eating here. The atmosphere is relaxing, the people are friendly and the food is amazing!! I love that specials are made from local ingredients. :)
(5)Edna H.
Our experience at Screen Door was excellent. The food and service was great. There was definitely a wait to be seated but that's expected when dining at a good restaurant. The Bloody Mary was delish, the Fried Oyster Egg Benedict, the Fried Chicken and Waffle as well as the Praline Cinnamon Rolls are great dishes to share.
(5)Evelyn R.
I came here this past Sunday during my visit to Portland with my boyfriend. We looked up the best restaurants and The Screen Door popped up. It happened to be right down the street from out hotel also. Once we got there around noon, there was a wait but it wasn't too bad. I couldn't wait to eat, it smelled so good in there. The Cajun/breakfast food combined with the coffee was heavenly. Once we sat down after about 20 min, i ordered the fried oyster Benedict with cheddar grits. Omg, best tasting food I have put in my mouth in a long time! Everything was so flavorful, and that homemade hot sauce they had was phenomenal. My boyfriend got the chicken and waffles and I had a taste and it was equally as amazing. You can tell they use really great ingredients. Overall, awesome place with awesome food. It's a great deal too. Good food, huge portions and all under 30 bucks for us. I will definitely be back on my next trip to Portland.
(5)Erik L.
Really good food. Long wait any hour of the day, but it's worth it on occasion; plus if you're waiting outside you can buy a drink and relax on the patio. Perhaps a bit overrated, but that by no means takes away from the quality of the place. Fried chicken is out of this world, as are the shrimp and grits. Great hush puppies as well. AMAZING mustard greens, mmmmm. Service is really great, prompt and patient. The atmosphere is pretty cool, hip with a southern flair (jars of pickled goods lining the walls etc). Definitely recommended.
(4)Brett N.
Why 4 stars? Because it was just craziness. --- --- --- We had to do it. We were in Portland. We braved this line, and we braved it well. Starring at the Portlandia bungalows as we waited was worth the experience alone. I swear, Fred Armisen has to have been on this street a few times. It's everything you think of when imagining PDX. As for the food, I'll say this. I've definitely had better chicken and waffles. I've never had bigger chicken and waffles, though. It's not even close. The only contradiction to the theory that bigger is better, is that it was disproportionate. I like an even distribution of C & W. This was 48 tons of chicken, on top of an eggo. I mean... I guess I can't complain about too much fried chicken (what am I, Al Qaeda?) but my OCD wonders why they give people more chicken than an average man can handle. I'm sure they routinely fill up entire dumpsters full of leftover, untouched chicken. I feel like this review has gotten off-track. I might have a contact-buzz just from reviewing something in Portland. At any rate, I'd love to go back and try something else. The place is great, the people are awesome, and anytime you have that many people waiting in line, you have to figure that the restaurant knows what it's doing.
(4)Kim F.
Seriously, the Screen Door does not need any more five star reviews and I can't add anything that hasn't already been said. Flat out, the best fried chicken EVER!!! My new favorite spot!!
(5)Valerie K.
Went here again, about a year later. As usual, super long wait. We look a walk around the neighborhood. If you go here knowing that you're going to wait, then it's fine. If you're expecting an immediate table, you'll be disappointed. Anyway, I ordered one of their benedicts. Yum. Wow. I thoroughly enjoyed every bite. Their bloody marys are also really good. This place is definitely a must-go when we're in Portland.
(4)Brooke G.
There is something so comforting about comfort food, isn't there? I love Screen Door, especially, because of the slight kick that their comfort food dishes boast. Fried chicken, macaroni and cheese...you can't go wrong. But, I've enjoyed the catfish, salads and po'boys, too. Because it's Portland and Screen Door is awesome, they also have a gluten-free menu available for those who need it. I love their accommodation!
(4)Isabel N.
Amazing! My favorite restaurant in Portland!
(5)Nick W.
If you've found out the restaurant exists and have taken a look at how almost no one has given this place anything but 4 or 5 stars... I imagine you've been convinced already. As you can see by the 4 stars above this review, I obviously agree. So instead of gushing about the place I'll try and be informative. Wait on a Sunday at noon: Just over an hour. Bloody Mary: Garnished with an olive, spicy pickled okra, lemon, and cajun spiced salt around the rim. Somewhat thick, somewhat mild. Fried chicken cathead biscuit sandwich: Phenomenal, gut bomb, fried chicken and gravy goodness. Grits: Meh, nothing too great, their homemade hotsauce did a lot for them. Service: Top notch. Check: Surprisingly not painful.
(4)Allen L.
i've had a lot of fried chicken in my life. From all over the country. Including my brief stint in the South. And this place ranks as the best fried chicken I've never had. The competition isn't even that close to be honest. The jambalaya was good not great. The cayenne pepper was a bit overpowering. I'm assuming it was an off night. The best character of the restaurant is that there is no wall between the kitchen and dining area. It is a VERY nice touch. Gave the dining experience a nice communal feeling.
(5)Vania K.
I love the Screen Door! I love Roscoe and Sarah even more for waiting in line for 30-45 minutes while we were getting ready and getting lost on the way here. Our group of 6 came to the Screen Door around 12:30pm on Sunday and thanks to our lovely friends of friend who patiently waited in line much earlier, we were seated in less than 15 minutes! The place was loud... it's one big hall with tables squeezed together, leaving just enough room for the frenzied servers to navigate ever so skillfully through the maze of tables. Our server was funny, thoughtful and semi-attentive (he was super busy, I'll give him that). You can't really go wrong here, but if you're trying to decide between sweet or savory (one of the biggest decisions in life), I'd strongly recommend going with savory. I wanted to order the chicken and waffle, but I'm not a huge fan of waffle and THREE chicken breast seemed a little excessive (does that mean three chicken died for my meal?!). Instead, I opted for the chicken strips and the brioche vanilla bean french toast. Oh, I also forced James to split a side of bacon with me. For $2.50, you get bottomless Stumptown coffee. This was actually not as good a deal as I thought, partly because they were so busy that they only swung by once to refill my coffee (and my water sat empty *pouts*... okay, I'm done whining, I swear!). The chicken strips ($6) came with a honey dipping sauce. No, not honey mustard, it's literally a small cup of honey, and that flavor combo actually worked! The chicken strips were AMAZING. Peppery, flavorful, juicy, crunchy, piping hot, all-white meat chicken, with just enough breading. The brioche vanilla bean french toast was a-OK. The presentation was great, but the french toast didn't really taste like vanilla and it was too doughy, not all the way done. The screen door bacon was thick and crispy, just the way I like it, but a bit over the top. I ended up scraping the pecan off of the last bacon strip because I firmly believe in leaving no bacon behind, but that praline pecan coating was overwhelmingly sweet and heavy toward the end of the meal. Roughly an hour or so later, we all waddled happily out of the Screen Door. It had been a while since I last overate this bad and all this pigging out only cost me $20 before tips. I thought it wasn't bad at all and I would absolutely come back for those chicken strips.
(4)Henry Y.
Great food and absolutely stellar service. We arrived close to 9pm on a busy night and both our server and hostess were incredibly nice. The hostess even helped us with getting a baby stroller folded and out of the way put in the back! The server was neither overattentive or underattentive but what I'd call perfect. And very genuine. The food and ambience were just great. I had the fried chicken with mashed potatoes and collard greens, while my wife had the screen plate (3 sides) with the fried catfish, sweet corn fritters and stewed beans with eggplant. Huge portions and fantastic quality and flavor! And very reasonably priced. This is a winning combination in any book. We would certainly come back, especially to try dessert which we sadly had no room to try on our first outing.
(5)Rob H.
This place was great. I got a pulled pork sandwhich and my pal got the pick three sides deal. Also got some fried chicken. My sandwhich was delicious. Pulled pork was delicious. Fried chicken was perfect, though I wasn't quite as big a fan of the sauce as him. I couldn't stop eating it all and left no room for my ice cream desert later.
(4)Hulk I.
Great fried chicken and excellent oysters. I still love KFC. Chicken was a bit spicy but very tender and juicy.
(4)Nettsy V.
Hands down best fried chicken and Mac n Cheese! FYI the portions here are large. Awesome food and great service! Get here early if you plan on having breakfast here.
(5)nisa c.
Overrated! I really don't understand the big deal about this place. The food was good.....nothing over the moon. Service was alright. But why is this place so packed!? Its a mystery! The Mac and cheese was delicious but the pulled pork sandwich was too spicy! The prices are great....but really almost a five star rating? It really makes me question the palettes of all those cool hip Portlanders.
(3)Jay R.
Good but not sure that the wait is worth it anymore
(3)A. B.
Their biscuits and gravy is so amazing and the mac and cheese at dinner is probably one of the best in town. Gotta try it!
(5)David J.
These people know what they are doing! Southern food at it's finest and the service is top notch! The fried green tomatoes and fresh, crisp salad were excellent starters! The fried chicken is a must MUST have! The Mac N Cheese is truly southern and the veggies are so fresh!!! One of the best farm to table restaurants I we have visited. Definitely a must if your visiting PDX.
(5)Joel T.
Screen Door is amazing. I've been twice and loved everything I've eaten. I'm a huge fan of southern comfort food and this is some of the best I've had so far. Excellent fried chicken, mashed potatoes, red velvet pancakes, and much more. The bacon praline cinnamon rolls are to die for. They sell out EARLY though. The portions are quite large so I'd recommend sharing a few dishes and taking a box home. The dish I was most excited about getting on my first visit was the fried chicken and waffles. I quickly changed my mind after seeing the guy next to me ordered them. The plate held one waffle with 3 large fried chicken breasts stacked on top with a knife through the middle holding it all together. I'm a big meat eater but the proportion of chicken to waffle looked kind of ridiculous. Everyone I saw eating then took at least an entire chicken breast home with them. The wait is usually out the door and around the block so have a snack beforehand and go grab coffee or a beer while you wait. I plan to go back again soon to indulge myself again.
(5)Harley L.
This is the best food in Portland. The fried chicken is better than any I have ever had. The wait isn't a big deal as it gives you time to check your phone, or watch a movie.
(5)UJ W.
Yes the food was fabulous and the service was excellent too. I'm just not sure that any meal is worth waiting in-line over an hour for. Is there something innately wrong with taking reservations? Or if reservation seem like a bad idea it would be great if they could think of a better system for waiting in line - texting while you go somewhere else... possibly somewhere else to eat while you're waiting.... since you'll be so hungry by the time your table is ready. I've only survived the line at screen door once and I had the basic dinner - fried chicken and mashed potatoes and greens. It was delicious and I believe that it fed me for three days. I'd love to go back (especially to try brunch) but I'm not sure I'll wait in that line again.
(3)Gina H.
I waited at least an hour for a table for 2 for Sunday brunch. On top of that, it took a really long time (about 20-25 minutes) for our food to come out? I shared the fried chicken + waffle with my friend because we knew 2 orders would have been a lot of food for the both of us. I was very satisfied with the fried chicken. It was super crispy and the chicken was tender, moist and still hot from the fryer. I'm thinking the food took awhile to come out because the fried chicken comes out super fresh...otherwise it just takes forever because there are so many people. Also, I really liked the sweet potato waffle that comes with the chicken. I would definitely recommend this dish to anyone who is a first timer to Screen Door. Other than food, the atmosphere is a great spot. Service was attentive and they always made sure your water was full. Overall: Tasty food, attentive service and great vibes. Try it out! NOTE: MAC AND CHEESE IS ONLY SERVED DURING DINNER. I was not aware of this and was totally disappointed, but the fried chicken was good enough. :)
(4)Coleman N.
I discovered Screen Door in June of 2011 shortly after arriving in Portland; my soon to be new home. It was love at first bite for me and this restaurant continues to be my very favorite eating establishment. Purely divine Southern comfort food. The place is always packed as is expected. One try and you'll be hooked too. This restaurant needs no favorable review from me for their awesome food. Everyone in town already knows how good it is. That's not why I'm writing this review. Six weeks after I arrived in Portland I met an amazing fella and of course I had to introduce him to Screen Door. He loved this place as much as me. He died two years and a month after we met and fell in love. I continued to go to Screen Door after he died.....alone. The owner David and ALL the staff were so extremely kind to me comping my entire dinner on many occasions. I went there again tonight and completely unexpectedly my dinner was again on the house. This place is not just a restaurant. Having lived in the South for 30 years, it epitomizes Southern hospitality with food and kindness. If you haven't been yet, you don't know what your missing. A forever loyal customer; thank you so much, Coleman Nagy
(5)Serena H.
Great food. Wait wasn't too bad, only 45 minutes. My only gripe is that I wish my drink would've came a little bit faster, but maybe because it wasn't coffee or an alcoholic drink (diet coke) it got pushed down the line.
(5)Biraj G.
Long wait but it was worth it. Very generous portions and it was yummy. Blood Mary's was very good and well seasoned. I got Chicken waffles and it was the best I had in west coast for sure. My friend got biscuits and gravy and it was decent. Their coffee was surprisingly good. Definitely going back next time in Portland.
(5)Kathleen C.
I was warned about the wait time. I arrived at 830am, when tehy open at 9am. There were probably about 10 people in line already. I think I could've gotten there around 845am and still get a table when they open, but beyond that, probably will have to wait for the next batch of seats. Food: Tons of stuff on the menu sounded good, but I can only eat so much. I got a hot chocolate that was super yummy, but prob super fatty. I can taste it. It's like drinking chocolate. Even the whipped cream was extra heavy. Bf and I shared the Chicken and Waffles and Fried oyster benedict. Probably could've fed 3-4 people actually. The chicken and waffles was huge. One waffle with 3 fried chicken breast on top. I only ate 3/4 of a chicken breast. Very hefty, I would only want this again if I could share it. Way too much for one person. It was good though. The fried oysters were perfectly cooked! The hollandaise sauce was yummy too. I just wish I had room to have more of it. I wanted to order corndogs too, love them, but there's srsly no room. We already had to pack leftovers. Price: I think the prices are cheaper than Seattle brunch spots. Chicken and waffles was $15 and the benedict was $12. Could totally see Seattle spots tacking on an extra $4-5. Good food. Just really heavy and big portions and lots of people. Plan accordingly.
(5)Lauren S.
A lot of people talk about how amazing screen door is- especially the fried chicken. I love screen door. I love it. BUT..I think the fried chicken at Pine State is better. However, there are a million things there that I've tried that are just as delicious. For example, their brisket is the best I've had in Portland. This place is also an incredible place for brunch. The drinks are always exceptional, and the fried chicken and sweet potato waffles are unparalleled by anything else on their brunch menu. Service is consistently good, and even though the wait is long, they're good about turning tables while also not making you feel rushed. Good place for a group! Or anyone from out of town you want to really wow.
(5)A H.
Best home style comfort food in the city. Can be REALLY packed and crowded. Noisy. Just excellent tasting simple food done right.
(4)Tamara H.
I personally think this place is overrated. I had catfish with mac and cheese. The catfish was dry and tasted fishy. The mac and cheese was alright but hoenstly, I've made better myself. I think the atmosphere was cool but I'll stick to making my own southern comfort food.
(2)Jonathan N.
Screen Door is great! I tried out saturday brunch. I had the breakfast po' boy - WOW better than i had in New Orleans! This place, like all the great places in Portland gets very busy on the weekends, so I did have to wait about an hour to be get a seat.. but it's worth it.
(4)Janet W.
I honestly don't know what all the fuss is about. It's a solid 3 star restaurant, but I wouldn't wait an hour to get in. It was a slower evening, so it was only a 20 minute wait for our group. The service was fairly attentive, even though they were very busy. But, no one checked back after our meals arrived to see how we were doing. We weren't doing well, so that was fairly frustrating. They seemed too busy to follow up with us. The hush puppies were very good. The person in our group that had the BBQ Beef Brisket thought it was great and the Fried Chicken was good. The Pulled Pork Sandwich was too spicy for the person that ordered it to eat. I like spicy food. so I tried it and was even put off by the heat. It was as if they were too heavy handed with spice. They need to warn you on the menu if it's got some heat to it. The cornbread was not to our liking. We also ordered the roasted beet salad. When it arrived, there were no beets in evidence. A hunt through all the greens finally unearthed a few diced beets. How this is billed as a beet salad is confusing. The person that finally cleared it away asked how I liked it (since most of the greens were still there). They ended up taking it off the bill, which was nice. Maybe all the hype set my expectations too high.
(3)Romin I.
Best fried chicken in America. Hands down. Gravy is amazing too! Also please make sure you get the Mac n cheese. Delicious. Surprisingly the only thing I didn't love was the cornbread and I usually love cornbread.
(5)Christine D.
Came here on a Monday night and it was PACKED. We had to wait about an hour for a table for 4. There's nothing a drink from the bar won't cure though, so that helped pass the time a bit. Plus Voodoo Too is nearby so some of my friends walked over to grab some donuts (to eat afterwards) while waiting. Once we finally got seated, the waiter was really friendly and cracked some jokes even though we could tell he was extremely busy. A little sense of humor is always appreciated! My friends each got the brisket, trout pecan, and pork chops (it was a special for that day), and I got the screen door plate with mac'n'cheese, heirloom tomato salad, and cucumber salad. Portions were generous, and I can't comment too much on the meat dishes but I think my friends liked it. I remember both of them saying the meat was nicely cooked and very tender. The trout pecan was a hit on the table. My meat friends liked it better than their dish. The mac'n'cheese was really tasty as well. Vegetables tasted fresh and offered a nice counter to the heavier mac'n'cheese. Overall, everyone had an enjoyable meal with a very friendly staff!
(5)Matt R.
The food is exceptional and if you are blessed to be in Portland on the weekend you must stop in for brunch. Grab the sweet potato waffles and chicken.
(5)Dem B.
chicken & waffles tho!
(5)Erin M.
10am weekend #1: boyfriend and I show up at Screen Door hoping to try out their legendary waffles & fried chicken. Line around the block & we are hungry so we go to Sanbourns instead. 1pm weekend #2: boyfriend and I show up at Screen Door, expecting the brunch crown to have cooled down. Crowds of hipsters and 20 names on the wait list, so we take off for Baker Spice instead. 8am weekend #3: boyfriend and I wake up early and decide today's the day-- we are going to screen door and we'll beat the crowd. We show up 10 minutes before opening and there is a line around the block. WTF?! We figure, okay, screen door must be pretty excellent and we wait it out (about 20 minutes). The consensus: waffles & fried chicken was a hit with the boyfriend. My veggie biscuits and gravy was a disappointment (imagine a southern biscuit. Are you thinking big, fluffy, soft? Now imagine a slice of thick bread. That's what Screen Door calls a biscuit). The conclusion: Screen door is decent but over-hyped and trendy. Now that crowd of hipsters out front is starting to make perfect sense.....
(3)jill c.
Maybe holiday time is NOT the best time to eat here, because when we were in Portland early in Dec, we had one of the best meals we've EVER eaten (including New York, Paris, and Barcelona). Our waiter was wonderful-very professional and attentive, and every part of the meal was superb! We knew it would be crowded and that we'd have to wait even though we had a reservation (there were 5 of us) but it was worth it! I wish I could eat there more often-Santa Cruz needs a restaurant like this!
(5)Kilia S.
I come to screen door every time I'm in portland. The most filling and satisfying meal you can ever get. It's a modern twist on southern food, all local ingredients, and just enough grease to make it sinfully good. They always have weekly specials that are delicious but they run out quick! Also expect to wait a good hour for seating. We usually come here for dinner. The fried chicken and shrimp grits are by far my favorite but very entree is honestly good. Never under seasoned, cooked to perfection. Definitely try the hush puppies for appetizer. The cornbread is a little plain for my liking. This is only my second time getting breakfast here, but always good. The chicken and waffles are humongous. The eggs Benedicts are on point. And who doesn't like perfectly crisp French toast with a soft inside?! Yummmmm
(5)Akshata R.
I really wanted to like this place! Umm, maybe I was just expecting too much. Or maybe going to dinner instead of the more famous brunch, and being vegetarian to boot, was not a great idea. I was looking forward to great southern, but I had to make a mixed dinner out of starters and small plates (which I usually enjoy doing by the way) - fried okra, mac and cheese, sweet potato fries, etc. It was A-ok. Long waits, spacious interior and friendly staff even when they're busy.
(3)Willie G.
I ordered the brisket. It was dry and covered in sweet candy bbq sauce. I told the waiter and he looked like he couldn't care less. I have this place two stars because their bloody mary was good but if you're looking for meat, I wouldn't come here
(2)Kimberly G.
Rating for the fried chicken and oysters. Don't expect to eat healthy here at all. It's fattening food. Even the salads. Service was great and friendly. Shrimp and grits were just not worth the price. Lacking flavor and consistency a little too runny for my taste. I would not order a Bloody Mary here again as it is kind of thickish but has good flavor. If they switched the consistency of the grits with the Bloody Mary they would both be better. We'll go back again to try more me u items. We didn't have to wait long. 30 mins.
(5)Dayna D.
If you love brunch and southern comfort foods, this is the place for you! The wait is pretty intense, so be prepared to hang around for a solid hour and half on a Saturday morning, but it is well worth it! Newbies, be aware that EVERYTHING comes in huge amazing portions. This is definitely the kind of place you should come with a group of friends so you can try a little of everything. Some tasty things to note from my last visit - lemon ricotta fritters, breakfast corn dogs and some sugary caramelized pecan crusted bacon....so good! We will absolutely be back soon for dinner!
(4)Lucy S.
I had been avoiding checking this place out because I've heard stories of how long the line is. I finally made it out here with some friends and it might be one of my favorite brunch spots now. We showed up early (~20 min before it opened) and that was perfect to get seated right when they opened. We sat outside in a very nice open patio area and the food was incredible. Their bacon biscuits with peach compote was delicious, just like everything else we got. One thing was getting jealous when I saw the server walk by with chicken and waffles for other tables. What was I thinking not getting that enormous pile of food? When I come back, I'm still going to show up early because that line never got shorter as we were sitting there eating.
(5)Sophia Y.
Let's just say that this was worth the 1.5 hour bus ride and then the 1.5 hour wait! I had my eye set on 2 things: the Oyster Benedict and the Chicken and Waffles. Oyster Benedict: Uh. YUM. They oysters were fresh and cut like butter and were fried in a light but well seasoned batter topped with 2 delicious lava flowing egg Benedicts. The fries were good as well, but the oysters and eggs will leave you pretty full. Chicken and Waffles: People are not exaggerating when they say this is the best fried chicken they've ever had! It was super moist, coated in a perfect amount of batter and seasoned just right! The waffle was really good as well. Perfectly crisp on the outside and soft on the inside with a hint of maple flavor. Overall, it was a long wait, but you can grab drinks while you wait. The food is DELICIOUS and the service was good considering how busy it was. I would totally come back and I would totally recommend!
(5)Jamie C.
Protip. Order 1 Chicken and Waffles. Feeds 2 easily. Chicken was moist, and well seasoned. Candied Pecan Bacon, totally perfection. Lines and waits are horrendous, so go before they open. 10/10 would go here every time I visit Portland. It's a fat foodie's paradise.
(5)James A.
Me and my girlfriend were looking for a place to try southern food for the first time and this was our first and likely last stop, since we won't want to eat elsewhere! The food was excellent, I strongly recommend the country fried chicken, it was very crispy and moist. The service was also great. I've heard there can be long waits but we got right in and the appetizer and entree were both out fast.
(5)Vivian C.
5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars!!!!!! I can't say this enough. I absolutely love this place. There is quite the wait but it's totally worth it. If you come here when you're not super hungry, the wait plus the smell of all the delicious food will definitely get you hungry. 1) Atmosphere: Just your "typical" nice restaurant feel. Casual but still polished. It's very very dim and most tables were lit by candlelight so it's a nice place for a date except it can get a bit loud since there's so many people. 2) Service: A+ service. Our waiter was busy but always made sure our glasses were full. He also answered all the questions we had and made some nice convo. 3) Food: -Fried Oysters: Best part of the meal (besides the mac & cheese) so we started on a high note. Super clean and fresh and it just melts away in your mouth. The dipping sauce just went soooo well with it. Absolutely amazing (5/5) -Fried Chicken w/ Collard Greens: This was my friend's meal but both of us agree it is absolutely delicious. There was just the right amount of salt, the chicken was so moist and the batter was crispy and delicious. The greens paired with it well and they were also cooked wonderfully. (5/5) -Screen Door Plate: I couldn't possibly decide what to get so I was so happy to see an option like this. I got the mac & cheese, catfish, chicken & andouille jambalaya and a piece of cornbread. Gonna start from the worst and move my way up. a) The jambalaya just wasn't for me. The flavors were amazing and the sausage was great but it was just too dry especially the chicken. (3/5) b) Cornbread: I'm very picky about cornbread and I love that there's some nice kernels of corn in it but it was also a bit too dry. (3/5) c) Catfish: Delicious. Very light batter, flaky fish, absolutely amazing. A bit salty but I would eat a ton of this if I was provided with enough water. (4/5) d) Mac & cheese: God bless this mac & cheese. I LOVE this mac and cheese. It makes up for the few shortcomings of this meal. It is hands-down the best mac & cheese I've ever had. It is super cheesy, has a wonderful crunch baked top, and I could eat it forever. It is very rich so if you don't like a lot of cheese, this isn't for you. (5/5) I want to eat here forever. I wish I could bring all this goodness back home with me. If you're in Portland and you have some extra time, you must give this place a try!
(5)J R.
Who doesn't love Screen Door? It certainly has earned it's place in the Portland brunch scene. Service was fast and friendly. I am very much not one to wait but it was worth it for this breakfast. In a lot of ways Screen Door has old school Portland charm, and in others it's the new flavor. The food really was awesome and hot! Sometimes I had wished for a more intimate setting, was a little like eating at outdoor school.
(4)Sandra T.
I still dream everyday about the chicken and waffles here and it's been over a year since I've gone to Screen Door. From the super high Yelp rating we had to go!! Went in the morning for brunch and there was already a bunch of people waiting outside. I think I had just missed the first seating and had to wait for the second. Waited about an hour but it wasn't too bad. It's nice that they allow you to grab a cup of coffee while you wait outside, refill anytime, and pay for it with your bill at the end of your meal. We ordered the chicken and waffles (absolute must), a corn dog with syrup for dipping, and some sort of pastry. We couldn't believe how crispy and nicely seasoned the chicken was. You get three huge pieces and a big thing of waffle and it's really almost a meal for two its so big. The service was particularly great, but it was good. They were super busy when we went and it's a diner, so don't expect GREAT service. Definitely would come here to eat again.
(5)Anita W.
I love the Screen Door and have visited several times when I have been in Portland. Yes, it's busy, but isn't that a good sign? I have to say that this is one thing I look for when I am going to try a new place. Why would I want to go somewhere that is empty? With that being said...go early before they open and get in line. It's worth it! The fried chicken is as good as everyone has said it is. My husband gets it every time. I get the brisket and beg for macaroni and cheese as my side instead of the potato salad. The potato salad is good, but I loves me some mac n cheese. ;) The brisket is so tender and just falls apart, and the barbeque sauce is very good. We have never had bad service, had to wait too long for our meal, or had cold food. Quite the opposite in fact. Love the decor and all of the canned vegetables on some wall shelves. Gives the feeling of being in my grandmas kitchen. I love everything about this place and can't wait to go back!!
(5)Adam N.
So good, I have been twice now (brunch & dinner) lucked out and had the same waitor (Maxwell) he is phenomenal, we now plan to request to be seated in his section for future visits.
(5)G W.
High quality, flavorful food. Huge portions--and a great place for both carnivores and vegetarians. The seasonal offerings were delicious. The wait was an hour, which was pretty long. We got in the list around 8 pm and didn't start eating until close to 10, on a Thursday night.
(4)Stamper W.
great, no complaints. Good fried chicken.
(5)Jac L.
This place is definitely worth my wait time. I got the smoked steak hash and my boyfriend ordered fried oyster Benedict. I love their fried oyster, it's not too oily but still crispy and crunchy on the outside and fresh and delicious in the inside. I also really like the smoked steak hash with tortilla wrap and over easy egg. Also their cheese grit has lots of flavor too. Their waitstaff are pretty friendly and attentive. But be aware that the one time is about an hour during peak time and they no longer have the wait list after two o'clock.
(4)Taylor W.
I have been here multiple times. Great food, love the Carolina pork sandwich and the hush puppies are to die for. If you have never had pimento cheese get that to start off with too. Ooh and the fried okra .... I am getting hungry just thinking about it. My only complaint would that when it is cold out, not a big area for the long wait times that occur. All in all, great southern food.
(4)Annie L.
We came here for their saturday brunch and ordered the chicken and waffles and the broccoli and goat cheese scramble.I really wanted to try their mac n cheese but they don't serve it during brunch - bummer :( The portions here are huge so you might want to look into splitting the dishes. The fried chicken was cooked and seasoned really well but a little too spicy for my taste (this should be stated on their menu). Good thing I had the waffle and maple syrup to tone down the spiciness! Overall, it was still an amazing dish! The scramble was also really tasty. I usually don't like goat cheese but I liked it in this scramble. We ordered it with the potatoes which tasted like seasoned potato wedges. If I'm ever back in Portland, I want to try their oyster benedict, biscuits, and mac n cheese!
(4)Chi N.
We came for dinner. Didn't get to try the food bc we had to wait for sooo long that we ended up leaving. It sounded amazing but seems overpriced and hipster-ish. Prob won't come back to try the food if we had to wait that long every time.
(3)Tanya F.
This is where my husband and I go for all our fancy dinners, and it's a must when we have relatives in town! It's super delicious but I'm not a huge fan of the wait. Not exactly their fault, but that's why it loses a star.
(4)Lori S.
Normally I would give the screen door 5 stars, I just love the fried okra. However, having sat here for 30 minutes, of what was estimated a 45 minute wait, I am very disappointed in the staff. Seems the gentleman (and I use the word loosely) seating people only uses the wait list a a rough guide. Apparently if you're a well known, to said gentleman, bimbo you can skip the wait! To heck with the rest of us. As much as I love the fried okra I can make it myself and skip discrimination!
(3)Bill H.
Fried Chicken -----MIC DROP------ the only reason I will add more is that is what yelp wants. Simply, the Fried Chicken best I have ever had. The hush puppies are good. We sat at bar and had great experience. If you are looking for classic Southern Food you will feel right at home. Co Worker had the Brisket and had great smokey profile. I will be visiting again on my next trip.
(5)Trudy E.
Wonderful place with great food...always a line on the weekends.....but still love it! Thanks!
(4)Ellie C.
Surprised by the level of good dining during my stay in Portland. Portland has perfected the indoor arts....restaurants, microbreweries, and strip clubs. As far as my Screendoor experience goes, it was fabulous. The molasses pork was ridiculous. The pork literally melted in your mouth. I decided to add on a Jambalaya and the pear salad. I ate like a champ. The jambalaya was pretty good but a bit dry. The pear salad was off the charts good. The blue cheese was sweet and creamy. My only complaint about the pear salad is the pomegrante seeds.
(5)Lindsay R.
This was, by far, one of the best places my husband and I ate at while we were on our West Coast road trip a couple months ago. Hubby got the shrimp and grits and I got the brisket. Both were drool-worthy and delicious. If we ever make it back up to Portland, I want to hit this spot again.
(5)Justin C.
Take out review, so just food. Holy hell this is some of the best fried chicken in the city. Well put-together take out -- sauces, butter, napkins, everything. Great mac n cheese. I'm a fan and will be back. (2nd best fried chicken: Friar Tuck, which is a bit more traditional)
(5)Lavenda M.
I am from Texas originally and haven't tasted good fried chicken in years! Screen door knows how to do it. Amazing cocktails, the fried squid taught me to LOVE squid and their collard greens are perfection!
(5)Brian S.
Been here several times over the last four years. I find I must go back once I start dreaming of their fried chicken. The only way to get sleep is to satisfy the craving, complimented by one of the special appetizers. Always worth the wait, just love it.
(5)B. F.
The best food I've put in my mouth! The fried chicken is a must.
(5)Bri B.
If you are going for breakfast and don't get there at least 30 minutes before they open you will be waiting! So if you don't like to wait, you probably should not visit Screen Door anytime during the weekend from 9 - 1pm. Having said that, the food is absolutely worth the wait. I have never had anything that disappointed me. I have tried Bloody Mary's all over Portland and Screen Door still has the best one in my humble opinion! Of course the Chicken and Waffles are what everyone talks about, and for good reason but there pancakes and biscuits and gravy are among my favorites as well. The last thing I will say is the staff here are fantastic! They are friendly and engaging despite a full restaurant and a line out the door. Keep it up!
(5)Toni C.
Worth the wait. Go early. I've been twice for breakfast and I've ordered the Corned Beef Hash twice, because it is just THAT GOOD. Thankfully, I've managed to convince others accompanying me to order the Fried Chicken and Sweet Potato Waffle both times, too, because I *LOVE* fried chicken, and Screen Door's is probably the best I've had in town. Can't wait to go back and try their dinner menu.
(5)Marcel C.
I like Screen Door. I don't like the outrageous waits. The long lines have driven me away. I don't think they are proportional to the quality of the food. But the food is good. The lines are not. It's not really their fault. But my advice if you want southern food is: GO TO COUNTRY CAT! They aren't nearly as busy and the food quality is better. Sorry Screen Door, but it doesn't seem like you really need my business anyways :)
(3)H-cat H.
If you ever want to eat fried chicken again (at any other venue) do not come to Screen Door as you will be ruined. After you eat the bahhhhlicious boneless, perfectly moist and deliciously seasoned fried chicken...you will never be able to put your momma's fried chicken in pie hole without wishing it was Screen Door. Every dish (and side dish) everyone in my group had was knockout...but really, the chicken is crazy...like insane in the membrane crazy good. On the downside, the wait can be long for a table. And I looked everywhere for an actual Screen Door and did not see one.
(5)Isabella B.
It was silly of me to go to Screen Door on Father's Day, but I really wanted some fried chicken and have only heard good things about their brunch. I ended up waiting for about an hour for a table but it worth the wait. I went traditional brunch style and had their Bloody Mary which came with an olive and pickled okra. It had nice flavor and rimmed with cayenne salt which gave it a nice kick. We started off with their strawberry blitz that was filled with ricotta and mascarpone cheese. It was tasty and a lot of the sweetness came from the strawberries. I should also mention that their whipped cream is always perfectly whipped. I ended up ordering one of their specials called Fried Chicken Cathead Biscuit Sandwich-fried chicken, sausage gravy, a biscuit and your choice of potatoes or grits of which I picked the grits. It was definitely a sandwich I had to eat with a knife and fork but oh so tasty. The chicken was crunchy and the meat was still moist, the biscuit was of a cakey sort and the gravy was rich and full of chunks of sausage! The grits were also good, nice and creamy and full of flavor. We also ordered their Screen Door Praline Bacon, OMG. If you love bacon you have to try this which I believe they only serve at brunch. You get three strips of bacon and they are packed with pecans. They salty and sweet and not really on the crunchy side but that's because there's so much happy goodness going on on that piece of bacon. It just begs for an accompaniment of a good waffle. I can't wait to go to brunch there again and maybe that time I'll order the fried chicken and waffles...with a side of praline bacon. For those of you that like watching the bustle of the kitchen, they have an open kitchen. It's one of my favorite places to watch, seeing the fantastic dishes come by begging to eaten and the quiet dynamic of the cooks while enjoying your own fantastic meal.
(5)Clayton T.
Went here on a very busy Saturday night and was impressed by two things; the food and the service skill. We sat at the bar otherwise there would have been a wait. The bartender was very busy all night but managed to serve us well and keep a smile. She watched over us and even kept our water glasses full. I started with hushpuppies which were not as spicey as I normally like but still very good with an excellent mustard dipping sauce. Then I had the beef brisket which was excellent. Very tender with a rich sauce, potato salad and greens beans. Couldn't even finish it all but had cocoanut cake anyway which was not dense like I'm used to but still quite good. Some things to expect. This is very much a family restaurant so there were a lot of kids including a crying baby for a short period. Large groups go here for dinner so table space can get scooped up quickly. The noice level is also quite high so don't go here if you want a quiet night out.
(4)J I.
so, im officially in HEAVEN! Honestly, i see myself planing trips to Oregon JUST TO COME BACK! The food was BEYOND amazing! Everything was perfect! The brisket, greens, mac n' cheese, catfish, cornbread and even the AMAZING honey-butter spread they give you for the cornbread! Throughout the meal my expressions were full of ooooo's and aahhhhh's and I just honestly feel like I have hit the peak of life! There is NO PLACE BETTER for soul food! doesnt hurt that the service was spectacular, the environment was bust but still very homey and the food preparation was quite timely considering that there were soooo many people there! Thank you Screen Door for this experience ;-)
(5)Wendy Y.
Last week I had the opportunity to re-visit Screen Door. Instead of having take out like the first time, a group of us (4) got seated. The wait was 40 minutes but thanks to two 2 oz Bourbons, 40 minutes wait was a walk in the park. Amongst the four of us we ordered (obviously) chicken and waffles, hush puppies, some sort of bacon marinated in syrup and covered in chopped nuts (f*ck that was amazing), and cubed corn beef with potato hash topped with crème fraiche, two corn tortillas, and two sunny side up eggs. Mimosas were ordered as well and everything was just delicious. The hush puppies were pipping hot when they arrived. They contained bacon bits and were served with a side of honey, cane sugar type of syrup and it was really good. The cubed corn beef with potato hash was robust. The corn beef cubes were on the chewy side but otherwise the sunny side up eggs were PERFECTLY cooked with runny rich egg yolks and they just ooze out when you poke your fork in them. Screen Door, we heart you.
(5)Sarah M.
LOVE THIS PLACE Came for mine and best friends birthday outing in Portland and were looking for somewhere new. I'd heard about how amazing their mac and cheese was and wanted to come and try it for some time. Wait was about 45 minutes, but it was dinner and the wait staff was very kind and worked very hard to try and keep things running fast. The whole menu sounded delicious, and everyone around us recommended everything. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive, we got our food in only about 10 minutes, and everything was to die for. The fried oysters where the best I'd ever had, along with the mashed potatoes, so buttery with the most delicious gravy! I don't even like gravy! The Cat fish was cooked perfectly, as well as the mac and cheese was just as good as I had hoped. Wonderfully creamy and garlicky. The only thing that wasn't great was the corn bread. very dry, unsweetened, not a whole lot of flavor. But for some reason actually sort of complemented the rest of the meal. I will with out a doubt be back for more.
(5)Momo B.
HURRY UP & WAIT It just so happens that our table was close enough to view the kitchen's prep table. There's no doubt that the Fried Chicken & Waffles entree was the most popular amongst the waiting diners. I usually don't order chicken breast, but this will be an exception. My Yu-go chauffeur chose to add Screen Door's very own habanera sauce to both the fried chicken and oysters for the predictable beep beep afterburner. BTW, their bacon is finger licking oinky tasty too. Coffee served is Portland's very own Stumptown. After downing three cups full and thirty minute wait, the most moist tender tasty four pieces of fried chicken breast and oysters this afternoon will not take a ride home in a takeout box.
(5)Dan G.
Consistently good menu, with rotating specials and significant wait-time. One of Portland's best breakfasts.
(4)M R.
Well worth the wait. If I could eat everything on the menu in one sitting without my stomach bursting, I would. However, since I cannot each that much, I do recommend the pecan encrusted bacon and the chicken and waffles (the portion is so large that you will have some for leftovers). Just thinking about their food is making my mouth salivate.
(5)Elizabeth D.
Phenomenal. Best I've ever had.
(5)James K.
We had dinner here the other night, along with roughly 500 other people. We were told at the desk, once I made my way through the crowd inside and out that were waiting, that it'd be an hour. Well, it took us at least that long to decide to try SC, so it didn't seem like to long a wait. Setting an alarm on my phone (no pager, no call when table ready), we headed down to Matador to make our way through some tequila. We came back to SC after about 45 mins and checked in again. I was told shortly as we were only a 2 top and the should be able to squeeze us in. Low and behold, after a pleasant 5 minute wait outside, boom, seats at the bar. I won't make you read too much more, but I will say that we had really tasty food for the price. Fried oysters and gumbo to start, both perfectly done. I had the braised Pork Shoulder with spicy slaw and my lovely had the SC Plate, a pick-your-own, for which she chose the catfish, grits and......something else that was good because I had it the next day for lunch. As I said, all of it was nicely done. Throw in a few good beers and a barman who didn't seemed the least fazed by a crowd, and it all made for a great dinner out.
(4)Christopher M.
I've been here many times but have never bothered to review it. Everything was great on Saturday. I've had the Shrimp N Grits, Pork Shoulder, Fried Chicken entrees and they are all wonderful. The Local/Organics menu options were great as usual. Perhaps the stand out of the night was the service. Ariel was one of the best servers we've had over the last few years.
(5)C. R.
I was about to come on here and write a very positive review of this place, but I have to say our last meal there wasn't up to their usual standards. Maybe they were just having a bad morning, but the tofu in the tofu hash tasted like it had just come out of the package, barely cooked at all. The mushroom hash was tasty, but heavy on the potatoes, seems like it could use something else. The veggie biscuits and gravy are some of the best, if not the best, around. While the room is loud, it's great if you have a loud kid! I'm sure we'll give them another try, as the food is usually good, but I'll be sure to ask for my tofu well done.
(3)Rick S.
Bottom Line - This continues to be my favourite brunch spot in Portland. I am a huge fan of the cheddar grits and praline bacon. My friends and I came for Sunday brunch on 30 May 2010. We ordered the following: Farmer's Scramble ($8.95 + 1.00 + 0.75) - My buddy ordered this scramble with only egg whites and a biscuit. He enjoyed this and would order it again. It looked really healthy and I wouldn't mind having this dish right now myself. Oyster Benedict ($11.95) - I'm a sucker for benedicts. I ordered this with the cheese grits. SO GOOD. The eggs were perfectly poached! I usually get one of the benedicts here, and they never disappoint. Sides ($2.95, 2.95, 1.95) - My other friend doesn't eat wheat, so she ordered sides of cheese grits, grilled ham and a cup of yoghurt. She was really happy about the ability to build your own breakfast. Praline Bacon ($3.95) - How can you come to The Screen Door and not order a side of the praline bacon?! We shared this dish, and my favourite thing to do is eat the praline bacon along with the grits and my benedict (a little of each in every bite). YUM. Along with two grapefruit mimosas and a small orange juice, the total for the three of us came to $45.95 + 10.00 tip = $55.95. Our server, Klyde, was really nice and he seemed to enjoy his job! I was glad fate gave him to us, and I hope we get him next time (=
(4)Brandi W.
Why did my first bite have to be the praline bacon??? After that everything else in front of me faded away into a sugary, fatty, happy haze.
(4)Jenn C.
Amazing breakfast and great service! You're gonna wait, but that's ok as long as the weather is cooperating.
(4)Melissa L.
[I don't think there's anything I can say about Screen Door that hasn't been said in the other 300+ reviews, but here goes:] Aside from the wait (even at 9:30AM on Sunday!), this restaurant BRINGS IT. Even the wait was made more pleasant by bottomless self-serve Stumptown coffee and great country & blues music on the PA (Lucinda Williams, Neko Case, Nina Simone!) The decor is spare but warm, and homey with the wall of home-canned veggies and jams. They also had a shockingly-good tap list at the bar. I mean, a Southern style restaurant with Terminal Gravity IPA on tap? I think I'm in love. Also, we were shocked at how much food you get for the price. Brunch for 2 yesterday was about $35. We've spent that much at various other breakfast places in town, and we sure as heck didn't walk out with a box of leftovers. We ordered the praline bacon, a plate of bacon apple cheddar drop biscuits, the smoked brisket hash and the fried chicken cathead biscuit sandwich (which really should be called "fried chicken biscuits & gravy". The praline bacon was just as delectable as it sounds, and the drop biscuits were light and tender, and the entrees both delicious and enormous. We're fans.
(5)Niki C.
Thank you Yelp, for another great location! My parents and I are on a road trip to Seattle, and we are spending a night at Portland. I came online to see if there was a great place for dinner and came here. This was on Memorial Day (Monday) at around 6 pm. The Mehs: OMG, 45 minute wait, then another 25 minute wait for the food The Pros: everything else! The servers, bussiers, hosts, and cooks move really fast. I timed how long it takes them to seat someone after one group leaves (yes, that's how long I was sitting here), and it was exactly 3 minutes! The food portion is really big, and food was really good. It was first time for my parents to try "southern" food and they loved it. We ordered pork shoulder BBQ with beans, Beef BBQ with potato salad, jambalaya, rice and red beans, and gumbo. They were all really good, servings really huge. I also noticed half the people ordered fried chicken or chiken and waffles. If I ever come back to Portland, I would love to try fried chicken and waffles. I hated the ones from Roscoe's but the chicken & waffles here looked so much better.
(5)Marty C.
I went here twice. The first time I waited in a line of over 100 people. It took about 40 minutes for me to get in. They are extremely popular, so be prepared to eat in a very crowded & noisy place! For some reason they are only open on the weekends. The first time I was there I decided to get the chicken & waffles because I had read all the reviews about how great it was. The food was very good, but fried chicken for breakfast was just not the right thing for me (I took the chicken with me & had it for lunch the next day). I went again on Sunday, got there early & this time I got the asparagus & sugarsnap pea scramble, along with strawberry rhubarb turnovers. The scramble was good, but not great imho. Just seemed sort of bland, like it needed something else added to it. The turnovers on the other hand were excellent. The cheese grits were very good. I do like uniqueness of their food, and the servers were polite, fast, and very attentive to making sure my coffee was refilled. However, next weekend I don't think I'll go there again. Still, I'd recommend you give it a try if you want to have a breakfast with a unique southern flair to it. TIP: if you want to get towards the front of the line get there about 8:15. They open at 9:00.
(4)Karli K.
Delicious and great service, expect to wait. Waffles are soggy, don't order those!
(4)R T.
Chicken and waffles stacked so high it fed us for days. It's worth the wait in line, someday I'd like to wait in that line when it's not raining.
(4)Dave K.
As a restaurant manager and southern food enthusiast, I am always a little skeptical when there are good reviews for a southern joint. But I will go back here every time I am in Portland. We were in Saturday night with a group of 6. Good service, there when you need them, but not hovering. The food shines though. We started with the fried green tomatoes and the fried okra. The FGT are some of the best ever. Great dredge that is seasoned well and the shrimp salad goodness on top really takes this from good FGT to great. I tried two entrees, I ordered the fried chicken and my friend was nice enough to give me a slice of his brisket. The chicken was really good. Moist and seasoned well, I can say that I have never had boneless fried chicken that was that good. It comes with heavenly light mashers with a gravy that is tasty with a nice little kick in it. Also on the plate are collard greens that were good but a little too wet. I would order it again when I return. The best thing we ate was the brisket. I was jealous that I did not order it myself. Though the chicken was good, the brisket was the best on the left coast that I have had. I will order it next time I am there without even looking at the menu. DO NOT MISS IT. If only my brisket was that good. After our meal I spoke to the sous chef who was really pumped about the summer time and all the great produce that will be coming in. I can see great things coming out of that kitchen in summer, I will be back.
(5)Matt M.
OK, I figured it out. The way the chicken is done is SUPERB for eating with a knife and fork while slathered in gravy and between a huge biscuit. I ate the whole thing, including the potatoes, minus a few bites to the present company. Shit's good. I'll be having that every time I go back.
(4)Kimberly E.
This restaurant is worth the wait to be seated. I am a big fan of the screen door plate that lets you mix and match various items from the stellar menu. The local/organics menu changes frequently so you get to try something new every time you go! I highly recommend the mac and cheese as a side. It comes in a piping hot ramekin with enough to share or take home for leftovers!
(5)Nina N.
Thank goodness for yelp, and all it's glory!!!! So I wanted to come here for their praline bacon because of those wonderful pictures on yelp butttt.... and that's a big butt... IT'S ONLY SERVED ON THE WEEKENDS! wtf, so unfair..... so yes, I ended up ordering.. daaa daaa ddaa dummmmmm... Fried chicken, collard greens, with shrimp and grits... So the chicken was very different, but good. They de-boned the chicken then deep fried it. Good, not great, but good. Also, their shrimp and grits were also pretty mediocre but the grits were kind of congealed, which have been the problem in all of these fine dining soul food restaurants. I just want greasy yummy grits, but not.. they have to be fancy and cold.. wtf. All in all good but definitely not worth my five star rating.
(3)Angel T.
Long lines for brunch, so get there early and expect to wait 45min to 1 hour. But the food is worth the wait. The fried chicken & waffle is delish!!! Tender and juicy meat paired with fluffy waffle. I would come back for this and more on the menu.
(5)Mui K.
Decently priced Cajun food. Long lines. Worth the wait. +Fried chicken was crispy and tender in the inside. +Collard greens were tender and nicely flavored. Tasted like it'd been slow cooked with pork. +Roasted corn, yum! There was bell peppers in it too and it added a nice contrast. +Catfish, again crispy light and delicious. -Long wait, we got there 30 minutes after dinner service started and waited 1-1.5 hours -They make everything from scratch so it took a while for food to come out -The outside patio area looks like someone's backyard and strongly contrasts the nicer inside ambiance of the restaurant
(4)Ryan P.
Fried okra, and oysters are the best I have had here in Portland. Best fried pork chop I have ever had. Catfish was okay nothing to go out of the way to get. I would definitely would go back. Parking Is a pain no lot all street parking.
(5)Jerry B.
This place is sooooo yummy! You will wait to be seated, but it's well worth the wait. I had biscuits and gravy, which was a meal for two. My wife had chicken and waffles, which is a meal for four! I also ordered bacon and french toast! :D The food was so delicious. We ordered so much because we aren't from Portland and wanted to try everything! :D
(5)Sugey L.
Fantastic! This is one of my favorite places in Portland. Their chicken and waffles are to die for, their bloody Mary is delicious, their service is outstanding. I will, every time, without a doubt in my mind wait in line just so I can eat their beautiful food. I normally go if for brunch on Sunday or Saturday, because my favorite item is featured there. Dinner is really good as well. This placed is just delicious!
(5)Wade N.
Time you got here after waiting a long time. I had heard wonderful things but I just hate dealing with the crowds. Food was fantastic. Staff was friendly and proficient. In order to bypass the crowds we chose to share it with another couple. Turned out to be a lot of fun the other couple made us enjoy the evening even more than we had thought. Newfound friends were Southerners, hearing their opinions was of interest. We all had a wonderful experience and would highly recommend this place Best fried chicken ever.
(5)Linda J.
This place sucks (for lack of a better term at the moment). The service was god awful. The wait was well over an hour, if not two. It took forever for the waitress to come over, then even longer for her to take our order. We watched as people that sat down long after us got their food before we did. My friends' plates came out way before mine (they were done eating and staring at me when my meal arrived, and ironically, it was lukewarm (no, it wasn't complicated). Then we had to sit around and wait for the waitress to reappear, then wait even longer after we asked for the check. Then surprise! We had to sit there and wait, again, to pay our bill. My friend had to go inside (after we sat there for half an hour or so) and try to pay. The food was sub par, not worth the money AT ALL, and I am never going back. I guess Portland just doesn't have any decent breakfast spots, or maybe people just love over-priced food, long waits, and horrible service. I guess that's what makes this place hip? No thanks. I'd get my breakfast faster if I made it myself. Meaning straight from the farm. Eggs from the chicken, the whole nine.
(1)Will V.
I love this place. The food, the people, the service: all super. If you have a sweet tooth, check out the french toast, if they still have it. It's so good, but I could barely finish it- it was so sweet and heavy. If there's one downside to screen door, it's the noise level. It's quite loud just from the people in it, almost always. There's a lack of noise-dampening- the walls, floor and ceiling are all hard, flat surfaces, and what fabrics there are do not suffice to lower the racket. That does not stop me going there, although, lately the 30-60 minute wait times have been a bit of a drag. Still. Love Screen Door.
(5)Jeff L.
The chicken was good. So juicy and crunchy. Dissapointed they only serve it with waffles for brunch. I am usually a fan of collard greens, but I don't know about the bowl I was served. Too salty. The line/wait is ridiculous, as well as the wait time for food. The service was excellent, but again. The wait. Come early if you can. And parking is horrible if even existent.
(4)Bryan A.
We go here every year for brunch for my wife's birthday (plus other occasions). There are a lot of great things on the menu, but how could you pass up the fried chicken and sweet potato waffle?
(5)William M.
Yummy southern fare with a wait. Nice bar and atmosphere. Even the collard greens were memorable.
(4)Travis S.
If you aren't drinking the koolaid concentrate that is served en masse here in Portland, and/or you've lived in other cities, you'll know what I mean when I say that some restaurants have really high reviews for no apparent reason. This disparity becomes even more apparent when one EATS at said restaurants and is most compelled to invent time travel for the sole purpose of getting their money, stomach real estate, and afternoon/evening back. This is one of those places.
(2)Kent R.
It's all true. The Screen Door has it going on. I can't vouch for authenticity, but can for deliciousness. There's a nightly choice of ~8 farm fresh vegetable dishes for mixing and mismatching. Everything on the table - jambalaya, red beans & rice, greens, catfish, chicken, hushpuppies - was tasty. And plentiful. Go starving, take some home, or order lightly. The cocktails are fair, and the beer selection is limited. But it's enough. The food has the spotlight here. It's a busy place, deservingly so, but we've had less than 15 minute waits around 7:30 on weekdays.
(5)Aaron D.
Holy shit those chicken and waffles are insanely good. I had the 2 piece chicken and waffles on my last visit and definitely couldn't finish it but left overs are great and when you're drunk they're even greater. The waffle is actually a sweet potato waffle which I don't believe I've ever had before. It is sweet without syrup but I like my waffles drenched so I used the whole cup of syrup on mine. I've never had anything else from here but I will definitely be back. We lucked out a couple of weeks ago when we showed up on a Monday and they had a sign out that said "welcome to our first Monday brunch!". Normally when we're craving good chicken and waffles or just screen door in general, they're closed... But I'm pretty sure they're open on Mondays now which is awesome.
(5)Christine G.
SCREEN DOOR YOU BLEW MY MIND. I finished my Shrimp and Grits without sharing with Mo. This never happens. I clearly was too lost in the mesmerizing spell that ye call grits...more like screen door's gift to mankind. I will return. The end.
(5)Casie M.
Food is great, but kinda overrated (hard not to be, honestly). The wait and the stressed out staff make the food seem less worth it. Great prices for good, interesting southern food though. You get big plates here, and the drinks are good! But yeah. Not worth the wait.
(3)Heather C.
Saw the reviews on Yelp for Screen Door and thought this was definitely a place I had to go because we were in Portland. The wait was one hour but that was not to big of a deal for me at all we were a group of six so we definitely understood. Our server was awesome but our food on the other hand not that great at all. Half of us got the fried chicken with the waffles and the other half got the eggs Benedict. The chicken did not taste good at all. The waffles were not to bad. When I tried my girlfriends hollandaise sauce it was not good at all. Sorry guys I would not be back and would not suggest it to others.
(3)Lorri E.
I have no trouble with wanton excess when it comes to food, unfortunately (unfortunately for my waistband, not my happiness). Wanton excess comes in several forms: too much food, or too much of the wrong un-healthy food, or too many calories in the food, or my-eyes-are-bigger-than-my-stomach ordering one of every food on the menu kind of excess. You know. You fellow Yelpers are with me. We are a eatin' out kind of crowd. So, it is with this attitude of wanton excess that I eyed the menu of Southern food at Screen Door. Hell no I didn't come here wanting healthy food. I didn't come here thinking I could kid myself into eating less than a 2000 calorie meal. I didn't come here thinking about salad (although the butter lettuce salad was mighty fine). I came for the fried chicken, period. Da-aaaamn. That was a tasty plate of chicken. I was so full by the time I was done that I rolled on out cursing the fact that I would have to do two or three extra workouts to burn it all off, but fat and happy nontheless. It was delicious! This was a case where the wanton excess was worth it! (that cannot be said of all meals, alas). I recommend the chicken, the greens, the salad (with butter lettuce, and what isn't made better with bacon?), and the tomatoes tasted like they came off the vine moments ago. The mashed potatoes were fine, too. Yeah, if you get there much past opening time then you are going to have to wait. So either go early, or go prepared to wait. But if you want the wanton excess of real tasty fried chicken with all the Southern food fixins, then it will be worth it. I only take one star off cause the prices did seem a bit too high to me. Yes, fantabulous fried chicken! Yes, yes, yes! But a bit spendy for chicken.
(4)Mac M.
It doesn't seem to matter how annoying the hipsters are waiting to be seated, or how offending the forced affability of the servers are, the food at the Screen Door is just to good for me to get angry. I got the garden grits...stone ground cheddar grits, grilled tomatoes, and perfectly cooked spinach all topped generously with provolone cheese.....f#ckin A, friends...I can't find anything better to eat for brunch. I can't wait until I have enough money to go there again.....guh, I hate being poor......
(4)Pepper P.
The line is indicative of the high quality food... And delightful service. Thank you for a super terrific breakfast experience!!! Chicken and waffles, I love you. And your friend, hot, delicious coffee too. I can hardly wait to go back!!!!
(5)Diana M.
Love the chicken and waffles! I wish they would have that ALL DAY so I didn't have to wake up so early to wait in line. That's probbably the biggest downside is the line and waiting for the food but I will return again because it's my favorite dish!
(5)Mike J.
Absolutely love this place. The food is awesome! I'd have given it 5 stars if it weren't for the usual wait, which is a conundrum. If there wasn't a wait it would probably be because the food wasn't as good so would still only get 4 stars, go figure... OK, just changed my rating to 5 stars, it's that good.
(5)Elle K.
Meh. Really? Really. Was prepared for the 1.5 hour wait but once inside - meh. Stifling hot, cramped, chair rickety (for authentic feel?) but uncomfortable. First entree I ordered was no longer available. Same with the second. Same with the THIRD (it was only noon). So I figured I'd try their famous chicken. It wasn't bad but it wasn't, well, great. Meh. The praline bacon was soggy. My friend's Cajun Scramble was ok but not great - and a but runny. The grits were good! We downed our (yummy) sweet tea quickly and had to ask twice to get it refilled which we finally did towards the end of our meal. The meal was adequate. Nothing special. Maybe I was expecting too much after reading the glorious reviews? Possibly. The Screen Door slapped shut my desire to go back.
(3)Karena G.
Make sure you carve out extra time, you'll be waiting to get a table for a little while. Use that wait to build up all your anticipation, because it won't let you down. Delicious fried chicken, amazing biscuits and gravy. I don't remember what kind of hash I ended up having ... probably because my mind was so overwhelmed with the wonderful melody of flavors in my mouth. Just go. Don't hesitate. Just go. :]
(5)Nami S.
Dang, people in Portland know how to eat! A San Franciscan, I ate myself through Portland last weekend and got myself a food baby at Screen Door. The chicken and waffles were GINORMOUS -- largest portion of C&W I have ever seen (3 huge pieces of chicken, 1 waffle). I also ordered the veggie grits, was like an enormous sea of corn meal -- in a good way. In an amazing, awesome way. The side of praline bacon was a bit much, I think - I'll order the regular bacon next time.
(5)Marty S.
This place can not be described. It must be experienced! The food is amazing! The huge portions of delicious comfort food will leave you needing a nap . The wait to be seated was over and hour and well worth it. You'll have a hard time deciding what to order because everything looks so good but trust me, it's all good!
(5)Anna R.
We came here Friday night because we noticed there was no line and had to see what all the fuss was about. All in all it was an awesome experience. Our server was fast and friendly. My boo and I shared the fried chicken and pulled pork sandwich which was out of this world. We also had a order of the corn fritters and a couple beers to wash them down. The food came out fast even on a busy Friday night. We will be back for the much talked about weekend brunch.
(5)Joo Hee K.
I had chicken on waffle. The portion was so big, I only finished half of it. You could definitely share that with one other person. Everything was good overall, but I regret ordering the sweet potato waffle, as they give you three choices. I should've just gotten the regular waffle. The sweet potato was not as good as I thought it would be
(4)Kelley J.
We've been to the Screendoor many times throughout the years, and we've never had a reason to complain...we've always left raving to our friends about how amazing they are....well, last night we dined and it was amazing, as always, but we had one little issue and when I called today and talked to the manager, he was very concerned and heartfelt!! I could feel his love for this restaurant. He was so helpful and it made me feel like he would take of it, no questions asked!! Bravo to the spirit of this establishment!! It shows in the way you handle all situations that arise!! Thank you!!!!
(5)Sarah S.
Great food, friendly service, reasonably priced. Unfortunately, prepare for a long wait because everyone loves it so much.
(5)Manh C.
The food quantity is definitely a five star, while the flavor is only a three star. As for the extremely long wait...you can skip it to find a better breakfast and brunch place without waiting part of your day away. It is definitely a place you have to try at least once to fulfill that hype on your to try list.
(3)J. O.
Easily my favorite restaurant in town! I've eaten my way through most of this city and always come back to Screen Door when I want a great breakfast or dinner. I always tell new-comers, 'it can be as healthy or unhealthy as you want it to be.' The Screen Door plate and seasonal menu options mean you can always create something new and different for whatever mood you're in. Of course, the fried chicken for breakfast or dinner is the best anywhere. Everything I've ever tried here has been amazing. Yes, there's probably going to be a wait on weekends but it's entirely worth it, just prepare yourself mentally ahead of time and go grab a coffee or drink at any of the other new places that have popped up around this neighborhood anchor. Always a cool atmosphere and friendly, unpretentious servers too.
(5)Ruby O.
Praline Bacon Waffle. I'm not sure if I could say any more than that.
(4)Stephen M.
The place is just the best.
(5)Shayla B.
Everything I put in my mouth at this place was delish! Fried chicken, sweet potato waffle, lemon ricotta fritters, praline bacon, roasted potatoes. Let me use separate sentences to explain the fact that their fresh biscuits are to die for! Piping hot and incredibly fluffy, I can only hope to one day produce such a gem from my own kitchen. The soft butter left on the table melts effortlessly into these little pieces of heaven. The outside is firm and slightly crunchy, but oh so billowy on the inside. Add to this a full bar... I am already planning my return for dinner.
(5)Steve S.
As legit as it comes. Got here 15 min early on Sunday PM and a line had already formed. Fried chicken was some of the best I've had. Sides were terrific. One of the best restaurants in Portland.
(5)Chenruo Z.
Great place for brunch, but you'd better be prepared to wait in a long time for about 40 minutes.
(4)Dean D.
Plain and simple, best BBQ we've ever had. I know - in Portland you ask??? Each plate had its own distinct and complex flavor. Don't miss this place when you're in Portland!
(5)Josh P.
I grew up in Southeast Georgia. For 28 years I traveled amongst, visited and lived in various areas of the "deep south." Screen Door has very tasty food, but in no way does it taste authentically Southern. Not necessarily a bad thing, but perhaps worth mentioning. To me personally, it was a very "Portlandy" take on Southern food. Very enjoyable, but certainly not how these dishes taste in their natural environment. That said, it still tastes good. I'll go back.
(3)Anna B.
chicken and waffles. period. be prepared to wait a long time.
(4)Ashr B.
Great brunch on Sunday, although we had to wait 1hr to get a table ! Worth the wait time.
(4)ro b.
Friday night in December. My party ordered fried oysters, pork chops, salad and pork and beans. Crowded house, but service was great. The pork and beans were fabulous, well actually everything was great. But I would definitely order the pork and beans the next time. I also ordered iced tea and perhaps first time on west coast I've had the question, "sweet or unsweet?" Fresh and refreshing.
(4)Carolyn M.
Crazy good as usual. Chicken and Waffles are excellent...big portion with a little kick of heat in the breading. Bananas Foster French Toast is very yummy ordered with excellent Pork Sausage. Sub fruit for potatoes for no upcharge. Fresh assortment and large portion of fruit. Staff is solid, moving like a well choreographed ballet, albeit southern ballet! Go and enjoy the Screen Door... Well worth it.
(5)Ang L.
Loved it! The only real downside is the amount of time you have to wait to be seated. I had the biscuits and gravy and my friend had the chicken and waffles. They give you enough to feed two people. Next time we decided we would get one order of chicken and waffles and split it by just ordering an extra waffle. Skip the cocktails though. Too expensive for what you get. If you're in town definitely head down there.
(4)Vinnie B.
Fried chicken done right ! "when you see a line get in it" i was told years ago and it's true with this place. It's so worth it, the food is awesome and the prices are nice. Service is warm and they don't rush you. It's on the loud side but i'm ok with that. Enjoy.
(5)Sophie L.
Is it sacrilegious to leave anything less than 4 stars for this place? After a 2 hour wait, I ordered the classic fried chicken and waffles. It was good as far as fried chicken goes but for the more petite girls like me, i could only finish HALF of ONE piece out of THREE. The chickens that have died for my meal must have been hulk-mutant chickens. Oh and there really wasn't any flavor to the dense white mean once you get past the skin. Bottom line: if you like deep fried, large portions this may be the place for you. Personally, I enjoy the smaller bites full of flavor. The wait, I'm sorry to say, was not worthwhile for me.
(3)Kathryn K.
I had the bananas foster French toast. Oh boy were they good. Very sweet and the caramelized banyans really took it over the top. The breakfast po-boy was also tasty. Smoky flavor from the sausage and the tomato jam was just divine.
(4)Janet L.
I have been enamored by the Screen Door reviews for several weeks... borderline obsessed. Would look at the menu and drool every few days. I came up with the idea to not do anything special for Christmas Day food and go here the day after for brunch instead. The first restaurant indulgence in 3 months (we've been eating at home more to save money and be healthy). I intentionally ate like a bird yesterday so I'd be starving this morning for this meal. we ordered: butternut squash & fontina frittata (seasonal menu) with potatoes biscuits and gravy with scrambled eggs praline bacon smoked bacon breakfast corndogs blood mary all of it amazing. and despite my planned gluttony, I could barely eat more than 10 bites before declaring fullness. Portions are HUGE. There must have been 5 eggs for my husband's scrambled eggs side. However I am now enjoying my leftover frittata as dinner and it reheated beautifully. Can't wait to sub another occasion's meal for Dinner at Screen Door. At 10:40am on the Saturday after Christmas, our wait for 2 people was about 15 minutes. Service was perfect.
(5)Greg K.
Trying to avoid a review that reiterates what every other yelper has diligently reported seems difficult. But in this case it might be easy. If you are hungry and hungover on a weekend there may be better options, bear with me for a moment here. The lines are always long, the wait staff generally slow, and the food overpriced. The place is always overcrowded inside as well. Now I know this could be construed as a positive, being that big crowds usually indicate fabulous food, service, and atmosphere, or all three. Well, in this case, only one of those three elements is completely there. It's the food. The food is good, but not worth the slow service, the long wait, and overcrowded cramped room. Don't fool yourselves. This place isn't is as good as its cracked up to be. Although, if you get in here on a weekday, maybe it would be worth it- without the crowds and frustrated work staff (funny at times). With that being said, the menu does offer some interesting twists on northwestern brunch cuisine. Well done kitchen staff!
(3)Bill W.
Best Meal in Portland! Pork Chop with Bourbon Sauce over Kale and Mashed Potatoes was out of this world!
(5)Patty M.
Great food! Order the screen door plate. Great apricot salad and wonderful cornbread. We had to wait but it was worth it. Do not pass it up.
(5)Jordan L.
OH MY FRIED CHICKEN.....seriously the chicken here is truly amazing. I'm sure you will find multiple positive reviews about their chicken. But it's not just there chicken, Those servers work harder than any other restaurant I have experienced in Portland. I have never seen servers multi task like that. SO - Yes, there will be a wait at the door and a line of people some times but that's because every one is trying to get a hold of that chicken. Paula Deen herself would wait in line. Once you are seated you will receive fantastic service and delicious food. Try the mac and cheese it's out of this world.
(5)Straits V.
I haven't been a big fan of fried chicken, but Screen Door convinced me there is substance to this favorite Southern dish. The meat was tender and succulent, not overly greasy, and the batter was crunchy. I opted for mash potatoes and collard green as sides and they were delicious and paired really well with the meat. Washed them down with a pint of local brew did it for me.
(4)Kyna E.
The food was wonderful! The fried chicken was out of bounds! The service was the best I have EVER had in Portland!! They are so........busy, but they NEVER treat you like a pain in their side. Our sweet little guy was on top of EVERYTHING, always smiled while working like a speeding bullet! When you have both, great food and fantastic service, five stars are not enough!!!!! We had a wonderful time, even with so many people there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(5)Monica B.
Waited almost an hour but was definitely worth it! Service was super friendly despite the crazy amount of people. We shared the chicken and waffles and winter vegetable hash. One word, amazing. Coming from New York I was skeptical that this brunch could live up to the hype, but this was probably the best brunch I have ever had. Chicken had the perfect amount of crunch, was seasoned to perfection and most of all was so so so moist. The waffle was the perfect amount of sweet and was light and airy. Vegetable hash was the perfect accompaniment to the chicken and made us feel less guilty because after all we included vegetables on our meal! Love love love this spot!
(5)Christina C.
Waffles and Fried Chicken - portion size HUGE, chicken tastes amazing! It's worth the wait even on a rainy day. The biscuits and gravy is also really good!
(4)Sara W.
Brunch is supreme in my book, and Screen Door does brunch the right way! This was my first time here and I will definitely return. Let me take you through my amazing culinary experience here... First of all, the restaurant itself is a bit small, but there is also a little patio for more seating. The decor is older looking. It actually reminded me a lot of Besaws in the way. I loved it! Nice open dining room with a bar. Very inviting. Now onto my experience... Arrived at 8:40am on a Saturday (they open at 9) and there was already a line. My dining companions and I were slightly worried we wouldn't get inside on the first round, but to our excitement we did! We were seated at a lovely table inside. Our waiter was adorable and very patient. I ordered the Chicken and Waffles (obviously). BUT I ordered it with just one chicken breast instead of the usual three it comes with. I really appreciate the fact that they offer the smaller portion. Let me tell you... BEST FRIED CHICKEN I'VE EVER HAD! And I'm not usually a fried chicken person either. This was crunchy on the outside and perfectly moist on the inside. Usually fried chicken has a tendency to be dry, this was not! So good. The Sweet Potato waffle was yummy too! I tried eating both together, in one bite. It was fine, but I just preferred to eat them separately, as they were both delicious on their own. Food did take a long time to come out though. Our waiter apologized, saying a bunch of orders went in right before ours. That's fine, I don't fault the wait staff for kitchen issues. Screen Door definitely lived up to the hype in my book. I will gladly return, as I want to try other things on their menu.
(5)Annie C.
ordered some chicken wings to go....and I got undercooked, over salted poorly dredged chicken. blegh! *see picture for evidence* on the other hand, the staff was very friendly and the place is beautiful with a lively atmosphere.
(1)Darryl S.
I'm a fan. But this is a classic example of eating breakfast in Portland: Lines everywhere. To each brunch at this place you have to plan the night before, just like you'd plan your strategy for getting decent Peter Cetera tickets! It's absurd. When we pulled up to this place, I was convinced that some superstar athlete was putting on some type of weightlifting exhibition on the sidewalk or something of that spectacle-like nature. Was J.K. Rowling signing copies of her new book? Did something obsene happen? The cops? Who knows? But it's a big-ass line. That's not the restaurant's fault at all, it's their cooks! The food is very solid though, kinda like that Alexander O'Neal concert in 1986 at The Omni in Atlanta.
(4)Michael K.
Two words.... Praline.... Bacon.... If bacon is the candy bar of meats, this stuff is truly the candy bar of bacon... I'm not sure what magic they perform back there, but the praline bacon is the greatest thing I have eaten in a very long time... Went there for Brunch with some friends and the food was amazing. Read the 60,000 other reviews for the quality of the food, and it was as good or better. What I loved was the service. Our server was funny and attentive. We lingered much longer than we should have visible line outside and never felt rushed. I love this place!!
(5)Woo K.
Screen door is one of those places that gets A LOT of hype, and with hype USUALLY comes disappointments. Not in this case. I went in on Christmas Eve morning for brunch and luckily seemed to have missed the rush. It was still busy, but there was no hour wait as I had expected. I got super antsy while we were waiting for our chicken and waffles, as well as the alabama scramble. Everything was to die for, but the chicken and waffles is a MUST HAVE. Don't forget the PRALINE BACON either. I'm capitalizing my words because it is that good. I hope you sense my enthusiasm from miles away.
(5)Dorothy P.
Went back to Screen Door for breakfast. We are early birds so waiting til 9 to eat is hell for us...but wait in line we did. Sometimes a restaurant is just worth it. My husband has been craving chicken and waffles for like, ever, so we had to go here to at least shut him up for awhile. Ok this chicken and waffle thing, I was skeptical. But we watched other peoples orders go by. Holy crap, that thing was huge! A big sweet potato waffle...belgian style...with 3 gi-normous pieces of fried boneless chicken breasts piled atop with a steak knife jabbed in to hold it all together. This was my hubby's order, because, as I said, I was a skeptic. But after trying the strange combo, I'm sold! Next time we'll be splitting this huge thing. Not to diminish what I ordered, which was bananas foster french toast. Very good, very decadent. All about dessert for breakfast...I did add a side of bacon just to get some protein in. Breakfast and dinner here is as down home as it gets in Portland OR. Great stuff!
(5)Ricci L.
me and 4 of my favorite boys went to dinner saturday night around 8. the wait wasn't unbearable... i've been one time and it was for brunch. that was awesome as well.. but the highlight of dinner was the fried chicken. it was my bf's first time and he was speechless. SPEECHLESS! and he's never speechless. he liked the chicken so much, he ate my leftovers.. after he ate his brisket. actually, everyone at the table had some of my chicken, and everyone liked it. yum! can't wait to go back. and it's only a 5 min drive from my house! ps... the macaroni and cheese side is ginormous. it's another meal in itself.
(5)Greg H.
Great food an for once not just a hyped restaurant. And yeah, the chicken are organic ;)
(5)Feuy S.
The first time my friends brunched at the Screen Door, they left their apartments at 730am on a Sunday in order to arrive at the restaurant by 8am (they open at 9am). Did I want to get up at the butt crack of dawn and wait an hour in the cold and wet Oregon weather for brunch? Uhhh, no thank you. But after hearing their rave reviews about the Screen Door, I immediately regret not going. =( Fast-forward a few months and hallelujah, I was finally able to try the Screen Door this past weekend. We arrived at 1015am and it took over an hour an over to seat our party of 8. And the food was definitely worth it. It really was all that and a bag of chips. I ordered the Fried Chicken and Waffles and it was a mountain of artery clogging goodness. Their bloody mary was a glass of spicy goodness. My entire party ordered something different so we were able to try a variety of dishes. Every dish was spectacular, I especially loved the fried oysters they put in a hash and as part of an eggs benedict. Just a warning: the portion size is HUGE!! Next time I go, I will split with someone because right now, I have 2/3 of my Fried Chicken and Waffles meal in the fridge that will see the dumpster tomorrow.
(4)Molly H.
Yes, the fried chicken is that good. I've only been for brunch, but it's amazing. Go hungry and don't make dinner plans. We got there 1/2 hr. before close and waited only 10 minutes. I would definitely go back for dinner based on brunch. The pickled okra in the bloody marys is great.
(5)Kelsey P.
The hipsters are right!!! This place will not disappoint. Even for me, a gluten free-er, I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. Worth the hour wait. Pecan bacon is recommended.
(5)Laurie S.
Chicken was Amazing.. Service great, evening going above and beyond to accommodate one of us who has a food allergy, recommending solutions and alternatives was a great bonus to our evening. The food was amazing.. fried chicken.. perfect. The steak was a bit over seasoned, for those who really like steak to shine on its own. We also got the appetizer of pork and cheese, it was one of the specials and worth every penny, I think we were licking the plate before it was taken away. The wait was 45 at 6:30 on a Friday evening, so not bad for prime seating. Service great with never a lag in attendance. Definitely a good choice for any outing. As with most small Portland restaurants, its loud but I don't know how to get away from that any more so I just learn to deal with it.
(4)Devon S.
One of the best. Screen Door plate is the way for newcomers to try a bunch of awesome stuff. The brunch is rad but who wants to wait an hour for some chicken...not me. If I were a rich man I'd eat at Screen Door every night and live a short, amazing life.
(5)Marissa H.
Go here for dinner. The brunch line is way too long.
(4)Monte R.
It's true about the Screen Door. This is some of the best fried chicken you'll ever eat. We ate here last week on vacation in Portland, place was great, loved the experience. Sides were great, too. Large portions. Reasonable prices. This is a winner!
(4)Marie B.
Wonderful food and a fun place to take our of towners!! Slow, slow service and get there early (with your whole group or they won't seat you)! The food is completely worth the wait!
(5)Raynaldo M.
Three things to mention. 1. Don't show up hungry. Long wait list at least an hour long. 2. Very, very ,very good food. 3. Huge portions. I suggest sharing. Breakfast food doesn't travel or reheat well.
(5)J P.
Amazing food, long wait (to be expected). I won't beat a dead horse by droning on about how good the food is because there are 800 other reviews that say the same thing. I will say that I ordered the fried chicken, which comes with two large pieces of chicken (breasts?). They decided the second piece was on the small side so they gave me a third one for good measure (score!). The fried chicken is so crispy you can take home your leftovers, put them in the fridge for a day and a 1/2, and it's STILL crispy. MMMMMM.
(5)Halley L.
The drinks were great me n my friend had the Scarlet. I ordered the screen door plate. I chose a side from the organics menu and it really had no flavor.. The corn bread wasn't very good it, was way too dry and not sweet. I also had thin sliced fried pork it was ok.. Fried cat fish was ok too I loved the fried oysters ! Me n my friend were very surprised at the price of our bill it was a lil high!!
(3)Lucia C.
Arrived at 11 am on a sunday, and there was a 1.5 hr wait. Normally I would leave, but i decided to tough it out after hearing so much about their chicken& waffles. (mmhmmm chicken&waffles) And luckily, the wait went by quick- i ended up buying a dress from Moxie, a boutique across the street, and snacking on a homemade oreo from Heart, a coffee shop, down the block. &1.5 hrs later, like the server said, I was promptly seated. My group ordered the chicken& waffles, the cajun scramble, the biscuits with a vegetarian gravy & ONE buttermilk pancake to top it off. group consensus: we ordered wayyy too food for 4 people. My favorite was the cajun scramble- it was like an scramble omelet with bell peppers, sausage, mushrooms with a side of really good potatoes. The much-raved-about chicken&waffles was alright. I've had better at Roscoe's chicken&waffles in LA (word on the street is they put crack in their waffles because it's sooo good; i think i agree). The chicken&waffles were bland compared to Roscoe's but I will commend them on their presentation. The biscuits with gravy was above-par. It was fascinating that the gravy was vegetarian and still so creamy &rich. The biscuits weren't so amazing though- not the soft&fluffy kind i adore. So -1 for the wait. -1 for poor biscuits& average chicken&waffles. I'm going to explore portland's other brunch options next time ;]. p.s they take reservations for parties of 6 or more! so bring a lot of people&make a reservation if you want to avoid the wait.
(3)Stefanie D.
This was a chance discovery by a friend of mine who overheard someone talking about chicken and waffles (Thanks, Jillie-Mack)!! I went with my foodie group, some of whom happened to be with my husband and I in Vegas when we had chicken and waffles for the first time (Bouchon at the Venetian Hotel)...Sorry Thomas Keller, but The Screen Door has the best Friend Chicken and Waffles EVER!!! Can you say OH MY GOD?! Well the 8 of us at brunch this morning did - several times. I will give you a run down of what was ordered and a quick review of each item: -Fried Chicken and Sweet Potato Waffle: If Snoop Dog lived in Portland, this is what he would eat EVERYDAY!! -Bananas Foster French Toast: Sugar Crack on a plate with Bourbon Syrup! -Bacon and Fontina cheese Frittata with potatos: Sooooo good and the potato's were not greasy, AT ALL!! Just de-licious. -Eggs Benedict (one order with potatos - one order with grits): Perfection on a plate - I think the hollandaise sauce can be used as a condiment on any breakfast item. -Praline bacon: FOOD PORN -Breakfast Corn Dogs: Yes, read it again - I said it - BREAKFAST CORN DOGS with some kind of amazing sweet/savory/slightly spicy dipping sauce that made my food guru friend stop talking. If you need more convincing, read Paul W's review - otherwise get yourself to The Screen Door and wait if you have to, rain or shine, for total glorious food perfection!!! And, yes, our service was terrific!!
(5)Eric B.
I'm usually not one wait in ridiculously long lines to eat in restaurants,but given the excellent food and service me and my friend had here, i will gladly do it! We started out with sticky buns that were buttery and delish, and moved on to the main feast: she had the cajun scramble, w/andouille sausage, green peppers, onion and cheddar cheese, i had the Mexican scramble w/chorizo, fried tortillas, cheese, onion and salsa with home fries and wheat toast. Money!! They nailed both dishes, as evidenced by us puttin' a serious dent on the plate. Eggs were not overcooked, tortillas weren't grease-laden, scramble was well seasoned with cilantro and salsa, very well executed. A few tips whilst patronising this establishment: -If you're comming for brunch, be prepared to wait. It's a small place and can only seat so many people. -For us waitstaff was friendly and attentive, which I found amazing, given the huge amounf of people that moves thru the venue. This may not be fast enough for y'all, but I'd try to cut 'em some slack, cuz it ain't for a lack of effort on their part -ITS VERY LOUD HERE! So if you're expecting to have an intimate conversation, fuggetaboutit! Finally, our bill came to 35 bucks, which was significantly lower than other brunch places I have been to. Come here with a healthy appetite, cuz they will satisfy it!
(5)brian c.
Southern Cooking at its finest. Lets start with the atmosphere. If this place was empty it would feel cold and boring. But its never empty. I feel that the type of people that fill this great place makes it warm and inviting. The food is outstanding! Bananas fosters french toast is unreal. Every tasty bite that I take, makes me feel like I'm eating dessert by a wood burning fireplace. Also the chicken and biscuit with gravy was excellent!! The breading on the chicken has a great taste with just a hint of spice. Also there is a great ratio of chicken to breading. Our waitress was a delight, she had a great personality. The wait on weekends can be very long, but its worth it.
(5)Rainey E.
loved the food, there was a wait but it was not bad, we had a large group and the waiter was very accomodating
(5)Bryan H.
First time here and it was incredible. Best fried chicken. Best fried green tomatoes with pork belly (appetizer special). But what really sets this place apart is the staff. Easily the most friendly and attentive staff I have had serve me in recent memory. We will be back and often. The wait was worth it but it might be time for a second location.
(5)Cassandra D.
Great food, but not worth the nearly two hour wait for brunch that my friend and I experienced. Like crazy Portlanders, we were willing to wait an hour but when we started nearing the two hour mark we were pissed. And famished. Please Portland restaurants start taking reservations.
(3)John K.
The BEST fried chicken I ever had. It is super moist in the inside and super crispy on the outside. When you bite into it, you go through the CRUNCH and then the juice will be bursting and dripping everywhere. Most go place when visiting Portland. The only thing that sucks is that everybody loves it too, so super long lines.
(5)Michael C.
A lot of coworkers and friends suggested this place to my wife and I. We had heard the wait was typically really long, so we aimed to go after dinner hours and didn't have a hard time. I wouldn't say southern food is my favorite, but I LOVED Screen Door. I didn't know fried chicken could be SO GOOD. Then the mac and cheese was UNBELIEVABLE. We were pretty hungry and the portions were giant so it was a great place to eat dinner. All around great experience. Get the fried chicken and mac and cheese.
(5)Rex N.
i've only ever eaten at Screen Door on the weekends, for breakfast, but if nighttime was only HALF as good as the daytime, i'd still be floored by how awesome these guys are. like many reviewers say, it is WELL WORTH THE WAIT. if you intend to have breakfast/brunch here on the weekends, it is IMPERATIVE that you are on premises 10-15 minutes before they OPEN and get in that first seating; otherwise, you will wait well over an hour-sometimes two- before you get to a table top, number one favorite breakfast item?? fried chicken and waffle. hells yes. that's a lovely sweet potato waffle and three gi-freakin'-normousm, spicy, breaded, fried chicken breasts stacked in a complicated tower, impaled with a steak knife and dusted with powdered sugar. the biscuits and gravy are a close second. biscuits and gravy is a breakfast standard, a go-to dish for me. biscuits and gravy reminds me of home and better times and is a dish so easy to make, is also a dish that is very easy to ruin. ordering B&G at any restaurant is a good way to gauge what the rest of the outfit will be like. these are the best biscuits and gravy i've ever had. no lie. they are quickbread behemoths slathered in thick, fatty gravy served with eggs and potatoes. i bet when people die from heart attacks, many are smiling.
(5)D. N.
My hubby was very sweet last week and brought home take-out from this great neighborhood restaurant. We were craving ribs and then we expanded our search to Cajun and found Screen Door on Yelp. No ribs on menu but the brisket satisfied us. So did the jambalaya, the shrimp, fried oysters, salad with bleu cheese, potato salad, sweet potato fries and hush puppies! Yumm. We will be frequenting this business often.
(5)Annie H.
As if this place needs another raging review, but I love this place. When you eat here you get all your calories for the day in one meal. Always a long wait no matter when you get there for breakfast, but well worth it. Huge portions and the food always tastes amazing!!! One of my favorite breakfast places in Portland!
(5)Steve S.
Fried oyster benedict....rebenedictulous!
(5)Jayson L.
My favorite breakfast in town: Farmer's grits...topped with country ham steak, a couple of eggs over easy and melty cheese. Sold! Also...my beloved "Maker's and Ginger" with proper grated ginger and a splash of soda. One star ding quite simply because of the wait...I guess I'll just have to get my fat ass up earlier so that I can get there before the line starts so that I can give them the fifth star that you and I both know they deserve...
(4)Lori K.
My hubby and I came here straight from the airport on our recent trip to Portland, and were looking forward to a delicious and filling meal to satisfy our hunger. Well, it was Saturday around lunchtime (in other words, we waited, and waited... and waited). After an hour, we were finally seated, and I quickly put in my order for their famous fried chicken and sweet potato waffle. My hubby said it was the best fried chicken he's ever had. And that's coming from a non-foodie, "food is food" type of guy. The chicken is perfectly crispy with just the right amount of batter, and a pretty good kick to it. The chicken was also super moist. Oh, and I just have to mention that the leftover chicen we brought back was still pretty darn crispy the next day. And unless you're sharing, you will most likely be taking some home. You get 3 ginormous pieces of chicken piled high on the waffle. The sweet potato waffle was very tasty. The sweet potato added a nice savory component that went well with the chicken. I did wish the waffle was a little crispier though... I guess after supporting all that chicken, something's gotta give? My hubby got the cajun scramble with a biscuit. The scramble was pretty good and the potatoes were very flavorful. The biscuit was just eeh. The prices were very reasonable for the amount and quality of food you get. Service is quick and friendly. If you're up for a long wait, the Screen Door is an excellent brunch spot.
(4)Elisa F.
Oh yes. If you come on a weekend for brunch, bring a snack and book. You will be waiting, possibly upwards of an hour. But once the wait is over? Best Chicken and Waffles in Portland. This meal can easily feed me for three breakfasts total. The sweet potato waffle is heavenly and light, with just enough egg to make it a sturdy foil to the chicken. And there is a ton of chicken to contend with. If you aren't coming for that, their biscuits are top notch. Born in Texas, I'm a bit of a biscuit snob, but these guys come out with just enough fluff and butter flavor to make me a happy lady. One of the unsung stars of this menu is the pimento cheese. Yes, it's cold cheese and pepper dip, but this is a fairly traditional southern staple smeared on crackers or as a sandwich filling. Screen Door gives you crackers and celery, but my personal preference is topping one of their biscuits. If you're going to eat like a southerner, at least drink like one too. As much as I love their Bloody Mary, the Ramos Fizz on their menu is my go-to. A little sweet and very refreshing, it's a great pairing for the spiced and slightly spicy fried chicken.
(4)Wes M.
This is one of our favorite restaurants in Portland. Fried Chicken, Fried Oyster Benedict and their Corn Beef and Hash are my favorite dishes. Top notch!
(5)Mara M.
Such a long long for average food. Try Country Cat!
(2)Gina C.
Worth the wait. Wonderful menu with so many appetizing options. Love the fried oysters, praline bacon, spicy bloody mary, and chicken & waffles. Some notes for the chefs, if you read this thing: "Garden" grits (while yummy) could have had more veggies and less cheese. Fried oysters would have been yummier with your tomato jam than traditional tartar sauce. Great service and a very beautiful restaurant. Love the music and vibe.
(5)Jennifer L.
In all honesty, I'm not really understanding the hype. First of all, why does southern food always have to be so expensive when it's found outside of the South? I understand the novelty of it but come on, even foreign foods from other countries don't carry such a heavy pricetag. I ordered the pork chops and fried catfish with sides. While the sides were pretty good, the pork chop did not taste good at all, to put it nicely. It tasted like fat and that was it. I thought maybe it was just me so I had my fiancé-who is from Georgia-try it and he thought the same. The catfish was decent but lacked any wow factor. Who knows, maybe I need to try the fried chicken or something, but I probably won't be going back. Roscoe's in LA is much better. Expensive? Yes, but at least your taste buds will thank you.
(3)Evelyn S.
I have had this restaurant bookmarked for a really long time...For the life of me, I can't understand why it has taken me this long to try Screen Door...Well, that's not true, I do know why I haven't been there in the last 2 years - because I have a 4 & 6 year old who I am pretty certain would NOT enjoy (and being with them - neither would I!!!) the long wait. Today was my mother's birthday. THIS IS HOW WE CELEBRATED her 73rd year old life - eating food that you could die on and know that it was THE BEST meal you have ever had!!! And not having 2 restless & demanding children with us!!! We got to the restaurant early (1 hour before opening) and there were already 18 people in front of us at 4:35 PM. We were seated at 5:35PM and there were 70+ people behind us!!! By the time we had eaten and were leaving, there were still 30+ people waiting to be seated. WE ordered the pork belly appetizer: Slow roasted pork belly with a candied rhubarb glaze topped with frisee, asparagus and torn herbs. The flavors were so delicious and completely complimented each other! The pork was SO tender, you could cut it with your fork and it melted in your mouth!!! PORK BELLY is THE PORN STAR of pork products... It makes you feel giddy, dirty and guilty all at the same time!!! And yet, you just can't help yourself!!!???!!! My mom had the fried chicken, mashed potatoes and collard greens. This was the best fried chicken - EVER! Completely deboned, pounded and fried to crispy perfection. I consumed most of the collard greens and I must saw - YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMM! I ordered the beef brisket platter. It came with BBQ sauce, Cole slaw and baked beans. I was only able to eat 1 (out of 4) slabs of brisket...The Cole slaw was super creamy and delicious and the beans were sweet & spicy good!!! My mom & I both ordered dessert: 1 Creole Pecan Pie and 1 Lemon Layer Cake with homemade buttermilk ice cream. BOTH WERE OUTSTANDING in portion size, flavor and presentation!!! I have read previous reviews of persons saying the portions sizes were too small...SERIOUSLY?? You must either have had too much to drink - or- you are person who consumes too much on a regular basis!!!???!!! I saw many plates arrive at different tables - all the portions were massive and most people shared plates or had plenty of left-overs!!! I was the latter...and my husband thanked me!!! The service was stellar! The food was the best southern food I have had!!! The ambiance was great!!! The only complaint I have is they don't provide you with a wheel barrel to haul you out after your meal!!! 2 hours later - I am still super stuffed... I can't wait for my next visit to Screen Door...I am hoping it will be for brunch!!!
(5)Larry B.
Everything here is unbelievable. I don't know how they do it. Another awesome experience, this time with the beef brisket. Best barbecue brisket I ever did eat.
(5)Nadia P.
If I knew how to play the fiddle, I'd have been atop the table come end meal. Lawd willin' and the creeks don't rise - I'll be back. Repeatedly.
(5)Jon C.
Without question one of the best restaurants I've eaten at in Portland. They redefined what I consider to be a "perfect" waffle. Everything else (hushpuppies, chicken and waffle, biscuits and gravy, shrimp and grits) was amazing as well.
(5)Gary L.
CHICKEN AND WAFFLES WAS AMAZING!!!! I'm not a fan of waiting in line for food but this place was well worth it... Three juicy pieces of fried chicken over a delicious waffle... JUST AWESOME.. highly recommend
(5)stacey k.
The fried chicken is the shit. You cant go here and not have it. And while you are at it have a bloody mary. This place serves great food at great prices. the staff is friendly and accomodating. YOu may have to wait but it is worth it.. fried oysters? c'mon
(5)Paul P.
That fried chicken with waffle was sensational. The only gripe I had was that they could use less salt on chicken. Also the waiting area could be bigger. Overall totally worth waiting for 45 minutes.
(4)Peter C.
Haven't been here in awhile, definitely have to get back. Fried Chicken. Yum.
(5)Ian H.
Really good food here. I'm just not a fan of waiting in long lines unless I know the food is going to blow me away. With that being said I have been here a few times and I will definitely come back, but I just have to have the time and be in the mood to wait. Breakfast is solid. Had some of the best Cajun jambalaya style Benedict ever. Big portions and decent prices. Bring a big appetite because you won't leave hungry.
(4)Orange M.
I can understand why this place is so popular. The Chicken n' Waffles was really good but I don't know if it's worth waiting in line for 1 hour. I like that they have huge portion. My dish came in three big pieces of chicken breast on top of a big piece of waffle. I was able to finish two and a half pieces of the chicken. Overall, I like this place but I probably wouldn't come back again due to the long wait.
(3)Lindsey K.
I've been here a few times and love their dinner menu. The weekend brunch wasn't as good. The potatoes were really hard and seemed like they died under a heat lamp. We asked for new ones and received more of the same. Disappointing. I would recommend dinner though! Worth the wait for sure.
(4)Mark L.
Went here with a bunch of friends. It's busy. Restaurant opened at 5:30 and there was already a line to get in. Thankfully there's something called a "reservation." Ordered the Screen Door Plate, which lets you pick three sides. Mac n Cheese was recommended and it came out hot and creamy with a crisp cheese topping. Also had the jambalaya, which was solid. Last but not least was the catfish. Big portion, nice and crispy, and not muddy tasting at all. Also tried a bit of brisket, which was also solid. Gumbo was good too. Oh yeah, and this place is cheap! At least compared to the Bay Area. I could easily have ordered and entree and drink for under $20, including gratuity.
(4)Albree M.
Cool place. Good food, though my friends from Louisiana got them beat by a landslide! I'd definitely give them another shot but they're not a Must Visit place for me when I come to Portland. I had the combo plate, jambalaya, catfish & cauliflower hash. It came with a side of corn bread but it was dry and not near the top of my best cornbread list. Good service, good food, I hate street parking but it seems that's all Portland has to offer so I can't fault them for that.
(4)Chris B.
They have the most amazing brunch menu, and it's worth the wait. I had chicken and waffles that blew me away. Definitely one of the reasons to go! If you're looking for a sweet place to eat dinner, it's really good Southern cooking. Fried chicken, collard greens, mashed potatoes, catfish, etc.
(4)Eric R.
Very unique food but everything is excellent. Visiting from out of town this is a must do. There is a long wait (sometimes an hour) usually but it is well worth the wait. If you are a couple dining there is a place to sit at the bar sometimes; the 2 times I've been 10 minutes and we're sitting at the bar.
(5)Conni K.
Service was impeccable and food was absolutely superb! Went on a Tuesday evening in a party of 7 and they were very accommodating.
(5)Christina N.
This place, by far, has the BEST breakfast meals I've ever eaten!!! I'm from Vancouver BC, and I would definitely drive down to Portland OR, just to visit this restaurant again!! I love the Fried Chicken + Waffles!! The Fried Chicken is done perfectly, and the waffles has a hint of cinnamon / tangy taste to it. There might be a bit of a wait / line up, but it's all worth it!!
(5)Kaleb F.
It was great food, but worth all the fuss? I'm not too sure about that.
(4)Stephanie S.
Got there 20 minutes before opening on a Saturday morning and still waited for an hour to get a table. It was pretty cold, but luckily there was a coffee shop next door that warmed us up for the wait. Good thing I wasn't hangry. Order the Blackened Tofu Scramble with grits 'n' wheat toast (believe it was Dave's bread). I'm not a huge fan of smoked foods so it was my mistake ordering the blackened tofu. I still enjoyed it, just left most of the tofu bits out. The grits were bland, just the way I like 'em! Our table shared the Chicken and Waffles. Three large slabs of deep fried chicken on top of a sweet potato waffle. Can't really go wrong there. I would definitely go back, but maybe during a time it's not so busy.
(4)Peter S.
Come here and wait. Put your name on the list and stand out in the cold. Well, if it's October - May. Look around and see all the beards, plaid shirts, orange beanies, tight pants, fancy boots, tattoos and sleeves, dark-rimmed glasses, army green coat with a bunch of pockets and zippers; soak it all in for the next 45 minutes. When you finally get inside, order the chicken and waffles. It's effin' delicious. Three honkin' slabs of crispy yet tender fried chicken skewered with a steak knife on top of a thick, delicious, golden waffle. Accompanied by a low-viscosity syrup and a sprinkling of powdered sugar, and you're one step closer to heaven; both in taste and a failed heart. Had ourselves the blackened tofu and cajun scrambles, both good but pales in comparison to the chicken 'n waffles. Grits were mighty delicious. The only thing that was a disappointment were the potatoes. Blek. You ever chew on an old marshmallow? It's like that but with an avalanche of spices. Pass. Nonetheless, if you have all the time in the world and you're fixin' for some good eats, this is the place. May I also note that service was also top notch but, is it just me, or are waiters/servers in Portland really touchy? Got a gentle back rub at Pix Patisserie and my lady got a tender shoulder graze here. I'll be looking forward to my hug next time I come, Portland.
(5)Mat M.
I went back for dinner after having brunch at Screen Door. The dinner was equally amazing and the service was on point. Wow, this place is pretty much the best southern style restaurant I've been to... in and out of Georgia. I will be returning on my next trip to Portland. Well done to a great well oiled team of people making it happen. It's no easy, but you've stood up to the challenge.
(5)Annie C.
HANDS DOWN, the BEST fried chicken I've ever had. Get there maybe half and hour to an hour early so you'll get seated once they open. It's definitely worth the wait! The service is great, their staff definitely is knowledgeable as well! I absolutely love everything about this place and would recommend it to anyone and everyone!!!! Perhaps the only downside is that I found myself gulping down tons of water since I personally wasn't used to how salty some dishes were. But I will definitely be coming back here and bringing new people as well! Thanks for a great night!
(5)Katherine C.
the besttt fried chicken! i've tried the fried chicken both for dinner (served with greens) and for brunch (served with waffle) and they both have been amazing, generous portions, and so affordable! a MUST TRY for both locals (although i cant imagine any local that has NOT tried it yet) and visitors!
(5)Michael S.
Well, kiss my grits, lick my chicken, and open the Screen Door ... cause we have a winner-winner-chicken-dinner nominee for G.O.A.T. ... aka Greatest Of All Time ... aka Yummiest of all-time. A plate of Crispy Fried Buttermilk-battered Chicken is like the Tupac of Southern Food in Portland ... Yelp Lifeeee yea yeaaaaa... Sometimes the best things in life are free. Sometimes they're fried and sometimes they're fried and cost $15.75 plus about 90 minutes of your life thanks to the horde trying to get in the Screen Door. Knock knock. Who's there? Chicken. Chicken who? I'm just chicken to see if our table is ready ... To completely fry our minds, Olivia Z. and me also split an appetizer of Fried Cauliflower, another of Fried Okra, and a Screen Door Plate with 3 Sides for $14.75 with Low Country Grits, Mac & Cheese, and Fried Catfish ($1 extra). Our diet's Coup de Grace, was a magical slice of Ban-offee Pie ($5.75) with layers of Caramel and Bananas in a Shortbread and Pecan Crust topped with Whipped Cream. Skip some of the fried appetizers and save room for your own little slice of heaven that tastes even better than it sounds. Ok, so, what have we learned so far. That's right. Get the Fried Chicken ... with a side of Mashed Potatoes & Gravy and bowl of Collared Greens. Mix in some other fried foods, plus Mac 'n Cheese, Grits, and a slice of Ban-offee Pie ... and you'll taste why Screen Door has nearly 2500 reviews, 4.5 stars, and ranks near the top of the list for G.O.A.T.
(5)Josh S.
Worth the 2 hour wait!! Came with some Friends who live in Portland and waited 2 hours on a Sunday at Opening.. Went to The Standard Bar around the corner.. Fun and Friendly!! Had the Brisket!!! Oh My Gawd!! These people need an award!! 5 STAR all the way! Glad I am not in Portland on a Regular basis,, I would be Fat and Broke!!! Kudos for the almost Gluten Free Gravy!!
(5)Emily K.
I'm not sure how anyone can go to Screen Door and not give it 5 stars. Maybe because they waited a really long time in line? Frankly, that's because the food and the service is some of the best in the city... not just for brunch, but for dinner. And not just for meat eaters, but for vegetarians too. I've had chicken, and waffles, and biscuits, and collard greens... I'm actually getting really hungry just thinking about it... are they still open?...
(5)Mysterious K.
Sunday morning I came to eat here, but I was unaware that they only served brunch at that time so I left and came back today. I waited in line for about half an hour. service was very prompt. Unfortunately the food just was not that great. Everyone talked so much about how delicious it was that I did not mind spending the gas to drive here twice from Vancouver. It was definitely not worth it! The chicken was overly seasoned and kind of hard (it literally scratched the roof of my mouth). The greens were overcooked and bland...very minimum flavor. The mac and cheese was okay, but not enough for me to go back for. The best thing I had here was the gravy that came on the side of my chicken. I will not be hurrying back here! I'm giving two stars because the service was awesome!
(2)Mala H.
The food was amazing. As far as I know, they don't take reservations. We got there right at opening and waited in the long line. However, we got in right away because there was room at the bar. I had the bbq brisket. It was heaven. I wasn't even interested in the bacon potato salad or green beans on the side, the beef was so good. The bartenders that served us were nice. My friends had vegetarian combo plates and were happy. Despite being full, we split a dessert (I don't remember which one), but it was awesome. All the portion sizes were pretty large. Best food I've had in a long time.
(5)Rachel C.
Screen Door is amaze-balls. The only downside is there is always a really long wait so if you are hungry or getting there-- this isn't the place to try. Everyone will be so hangry by the time you are seated it'll get crunchy fast. But, one of my favorites in the whole town and a must-visit for out-of-towners.
(5)Amy E.
We decided to try Screen Door around 8:15 PM on a Saturday night for a more fun anniversary dinner. The wait was about 50 minutes, which was no problem at all since we were expecting a wait ad it was a nice night out. Once seated, we decided to try an app and two entrees. For our app, we chose the pimento cheese which was served with these thin, crispy, sesame-covered "crackers" (for lack of a better term). Delicious. My husband ordered the plate where he got to pick three sides and he enjoyed that. I had to try the southern fried chicken that I had heard so much about. We are both from the south, born and raised in Texas and have never lived elsewhere, and I can confidently say this was the BEST southern fried chicken I have ever had, hands down. Perfectly peppery, moist, cooked perfectly, and served with a delicious gravy, this was it. Wow. Even the collard greens (which I usually hate) were fantastic, and the mashed potatoes were the perfect compliment to it all. Waitress and hostess were both very friendly and efficient despite having so many people around. So glad we decided to check this place out - definitely worth the wait!
(5)Grace C.
Completely overrated. Good thing we only waited 30 minutes. We ordered the fried chicken/waffles and the praline bacon waffle. I took a bite of the chicken and it was over seasoned. Gross. There was so much pepper and salt it was hard to eat. I had to order their mushroom gravy (now that was delish) to make it edible. The chicken wasn't even juicy but it was cooked thoroughly. Over seasoning aside, I've definitely have had better fried chicken (there's is just a fancy country fried chicken so don't know what the fuss is all about) from local diners. The waffles were just OK. The praline bacon was awesome though and I would go back for that. Other than, I think Roscoe's still has better chicken and waffles so if you are ever in LA go there so you know how that dish should really taste like (or go to the south for a authentic experience). I say skip the stupid line and make your own.
(3)Michael K.
Awesome!!!! The hour wait is worth it!!! Must try
(5)Gary Y.
I had the best chicken and waffles here. The chicken was so tender and properly seasoned that I thought I was eating at some fancy pants restaurant. Mad props for the super friendly staff even though the place is busier than a New York subway station during rush hour. It's totally worth the wait. You can just put down your name and go walk around the neighborhood to kill time. There are plenty to see along Burnside Ave. Will come again next time I'm in Portland.
(5)Lisa E.
It's ok. Not really worth the long wait.
(3)Penelope J.
I was visiting Portland for a conference. After speaking with a local, and getting a glowing recommendation about Screen Door and the southern food, I made sure this was one of the restaurants I would visit. I knew I wouldn't be able to sit for dinner, so I ordered take-out. Simply HORRIBLE. I ordered oysters, fried chicken wings, coleslaw and mashed potatoes. The oysters were not properly cooked and were extremely wet and raw smelling when I bit into them. That went into the garbage. The chicken wings were white. Ummmm...WTF WHITE? They were not properly cooked. That went into the garbage. The cornbread was crumbly, dry, and completely tasteless. That went into the garbage. The mashed potatoes and coleslaw...Absolutely delicious. Best I have eaten in a while, and that is why I did not give Screen Door zero star. I didn't walk 7 blocks, take a bus and a train to eat mashed potatoes and coleslaw. Never again.
(1)Magen M.
Did not live up to the hype. I tried to go here on two separate occasions for dinner. The first time it was an hour wait (on a Wednesday?!) & I was way too hungry to wait. The second time, I sucked it up & waited the half hour because I just had to try this fried chicken. The fried chicken was amazing, don't get me wrong! I also enjoyed the overall romantic, relaxed atmosphere. However, everything else was just okay - the mashed potatoes, my friend's sandwich, the service. The mac & cheese was actually in-eatable, the flavor was disgusting. Overall, it didn't live up to my expectations and there is much better southern food in the Portland area.
(3)Julia C.
Amazing brunch! Thankfully we got lucky and didn't have to wait that long even though there was quite a line. Hope to come back for dinner someday!
(4)Isabel V.
When I first came to eat at the screen door for dinner, I had to wait 1 hour just to get a table. It was very crowded the first time I went to the Screen Door. The place was dark inside and kind of cramped in my opinion, but My friends and I got a great table outside where it wasn't so loud. Since I wasn't that hungry that night I ordered the crispy fried buttermilk chicken tenders. It came with a great dipping sauce with several pieces of chicken. I was very pleased with my dish, it was the perfect amount of food. I personally LOVED the chicken! (best chicken I have ever had in my life). I am giving this restaurant 4 stars because of the wait, but otherwise they have the BEST food.
(4)Tammy C.
Decided to drop by The Screen Door for brunch on a Sunday. I ordered the chicken and waffles and it was delicious! I don't think that it was the best fried chicken I've ever had but it was pretty good, especially because of it's unique seasoning with hints of southern flavors. And yes, it was juicy. The serving is very large too. I had a lot leftover and packed it to go for a second meal. I also ordered a mimosa and that was great as well. My boyfriend ordered the oyster and eggs benedict with grits and we both though it was alright. It tasted like standard eggs benedict. We were seated outside. At first I didn't want to sit outside because we were there on a cold morning. But then to my amazement, they had heaters outside and that helped a lot. Our server was friendly and attentive. A+ for customer service! Final Verdict: I can't wait to come back!
(5)Novalina N.
Amazing food and service! The wait is a bit long, but it's pretty common for a brunch place. They have a lot of seatings tho, so don't let the line size deter you. Food: - Fried chicken and waffle, which chicken is so yummy and crispy. And they give 3 big pieces of them! - Bacon praline. Yummy gluttony! - Migas. Fresh avocado and great seasonings on the migas. Service is outstanding. Our waiter was extremely friendly and always make sure that we have water and coffee at all time. Wish we have a place like this in San Francisco!
(5)Kenny P.
Ah yes, screen door baby! My friend from Portland took us out to eat brunch here during the weekend, and the anticipation of eating here was psyching me out a bit. Especially after having such a great meal out at Tasty N Sons after arriving in Portland. This is one of those places that can probably be compared to Bills Cafe in SJ (which I still haven't had the luxury of eating at yet). I'll have to see how Bills rates next to Screen Door soon. Anyhow, the wait was pretty long but easy when you have three other friends to talk to. The place had an outdoor patio eating area and was essentially packed. They had some pretty good free coffee inside for all patrons waiting (both decaf and regular I believe). The interior was nicely trendy and slightly modern from what I can remember. I was pretty decisive on ordering the fried oyster benedict and damn the portion was big. I couldn't finish the whole thing, and had to box up like a third of it. The other food ordered looked f-ing delish which I had pictures of. I don't usually take pics of food before eating but should think about carrying a point and shoot for that more often. I remember seeing a guy next to us pull out a full sized Samsung Galaxy Tab, first time seeing someone use that in a restaurant... hehe. Anyway, I really liked the restaurant setup and the seemingly reasonable menu prices, quality food, and relatively fast service all around. I'd have to admit that I have underestimated what Oregon has to offer for the true everyday foodie!
(5)Aaron W.
This place was jam-packed on a Saturday morning for brunch, so I decided to get my meal to go. I got their Bananas Foster French Toast ($9.95): four thick slices of French toast with rum-flamed caramelized bananas, whipped cream, and cinnamon. This French toast from Screen Door just may have won me over for the best in Oregon. The French toast slices were very thick and cooked to a perfect golden brown. I liked the cinnamon and the whipped cream put together...just so beautiful for presentation. The cinnamon also helped to balance the flavors. But let's face it, the rum-flamed caramelized bananas were the star here. They were still temperature-hot from cooking on the stove mere minutes earlier -- and you can definitely taste that rum in there! When combined with the toast, whipped cream, and cinnamon, I was completely blown away by how amazing this was. I couldn't stop eating, no matter how hard I tried. And then I just started speed-eating and literally finished all of it in about two minutes. It was sweet, but not sugar overkill, which pleasantly surprised me. To me, this is just about the perfect sweet breakfast. It was very loud in there, and also real busy. But that also tells me this is a successful business.
(5)jeff V.
my fist time was on a tuesday night and there was a line out the door and around the corner for this mouth smiling room for eating. we sat at the bar and watched the bartender make what seemed like hundreds of handcrafted cocktails in the hour or so we spent there. the food was great the chicken was crispy the mack and cheese was crispy and gooey, the local veggies where bright and fresh. good stuff i tell ya good stuff
(5)R Clark G.
My friend, our tour guide for the day, had this place recommended as being "very Portland." It is definitely an interesting joint; it's somewhere between southern (mason jars and fried chicken) and urban/trendy (tealight candles and gourmet dining). It was definitely a unique experience. The service was good. Our waitress attended to us well and knew her stuff regarding the menu and the options. We had plenty of questions and she answered them all. The food was ok. I think we could have had better for the price. The portions were small and I didn't find it to be all that stellar. I did love the pickled watermelon rinds, I'd never had those before. We ordered scallops and... I liked Ivar's fried scallops better. These didn't seem to have the same great flavor. Presentation was nice, but that doesn't cut it for me. Basically, it was overpriced but generally appetizing. Maybe I just needed someone to help me order next time? I will give them credit for having a variety of vegetarian options, which I always appreciate.
(3)Juju M.
Having recently moved here from NC, I'd have to say that it's really quite pleasant Southern food. Not completely authentic... but very very tasty!
(4)Jenna Z.
I don't know what to say other than this place is OVERRATED! Maybe I've had better Soul/Southern food coming from Cali. I ordered the buttermilk fried chicken, hushpuppies and skirt steak? (that's how memorable the meal was) Anyway, the chicken was over seasoned and too salty in my opinion. The hushpuppies were decent but some were over fried and dry. I don't remember the steak other than it again being too salty! I'm giving this place 2 stars because the food was TOO SALTY! Fried chicken does not need to be battered in salt and steak doesn't need to be marinated purely with salt. I think I'd prefer more homey, family-run, mom and pops places for Southern or Soul food.
(2)Jackson B.
Southern food without the hospitality (or a turn and burn establishment)... We have been to the screen door several times over the years (prefaced by saying we live in Seattle and travel for work to Portland almost every week). I am from the deep south and have found the food to be a fairly high quality reproduction of blue collar soul food available in most southern states. With that being said, we have enjoyed the food. The problem that we had was the customer service of the owner. We called a week ahead and asked the manager specifically if they would mind doing a catfish and waffles instead of the regular chicken and waffles. They have catfish on the dinner menu and they told us that it would be no problem. They said to just tell our server who could quickly pull some catfish out to fry up. When we arrived that same weekend (and excitedly waited over 1.5hrs for a table), we told our server of the catfish request and he said no. We explained that we came specifically for it and that we had called in advance. He left and talked to the owner (who was expediting) and she said no. Long and short, the food is good at the screen door. The problem to a southerner is : dont offer southern food with less than hospitable service. For anyone who has worked in a restaurant in the past, you know it is faster to fry catfish than chicken and is a simple - take out of the bucket and put in a fryer. I know it is busy but if we call ahead, whether or not the other manager should have said yes, you should honor the request. The main issue that we had - the place came off as little more than a turn and burn. It says a ton when the owner of a well known and established place is working and turns down a well-thought-out request. If you, or anyone on your staff, offers a certain level of customer service - stick by it. They are certainly not hurting for money so just take the time to stand by your word. Now i am sure this comes off as petty, but seriously, southern food should be served with unhurried care and service. Just like it is in the south...
(1)Tommy Jane R.
Put our name down at 10:10 a.m. She said an hour. At 11:30 we were seated. Ordered our food within 10-15 minutes. Got the food at 12:30. Left at 1:00. So.... if you don't mind that amount of wait, you may like it here. My food (broccoli frittata) was good. Others with us were not as complimentary. One friend's hash looked like it was burned. Biscuits were great, though. For the quality of food and the time spent waiting, it is definitely not worth 3 hours of my time. (Esp. when 1.5 hours is spent standing outside.)
(3)Kenny H.
I am split. I mean, the coffee is good. The place has a nice vibe... but everything seems sort of dry when I order it. I ordered the Eggs Sardou and it did not settle well. The hollandaise sauce was alright, not the best I have had. I will give this place another shot, try something else soon. Last time I went I ordered the vegan biscuits and gravy, and it was dry and not full of flavor. The portions were good though Not sure it is worth the1 hr long wait we had at 1045am on a Saturday.
(2)Lana R.
This southern girl had to visit Portland to find the best southern food that I've ever eaten. Sorry Grandma. I wouldn't have believed that collard greens could taste this good. This was insanely good food. Absolutely delicious pimento and cheese, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, sweet potato fries, fried okra, and pork dish. Extraordinarily fast and friendly service.
(5)caitlin m.
omg. this restaurant is so good that i couldn't stop myself from typing omg. i'm not entirely sure what i can say that hasn't been said in the 600 previous reviews, except to give you my wholehearted endorsement to suck it up and wait the hour it'll take for you to sit down with your breakfast of choice (notable options in my party were the breakfast po-boy (by far the best breakfast sandwich i've ever eaten), chicken and waffles (easily serves two!), praline bacon waffle (like breakfast and dessert all in one meal!) and eggs benedict (most notably, the cheesy grits that accompanied them)). cute ambiance, great service, and did i mention the breakfast po-boy? try not to drool on your computer as you think about eggs, homemade andouille sausage, tomato jam (WAY more delicious than you can imagine), pepper jack cheese and those crispy little fried onion things all between brioche-type bread). dammit, i just drooled.
(5)Mike V.
Always great food and always great service. The only problem is when you have to wait too long for brunch!
(5)Sam K.
Doesn't look like this place needs my positive feedback ;) it is an awesome place. I got the hushpuppies, ah-maz-ing. Then the pulled pork sandwich which was also great, only tip I would say is that if ur not a big cole-slaw fan (aka me) make sure to tell them to go easy on it, or even hold it, as I didn't really think it made the sandwich and better (imo) Will be back! And can't wait to try Breakfast there...
(5)Kevin L.
Delicious, huge pieces of fried chicken. Excellent batter, very moist chicken.
(5)Jennifer C.
On our approach to Screen Door, the driver asked where this place was, and I replied, "Just look for a giant crowd of people standing around". Sure enough, we found this Portland institution without any trouble. Coming from Vancouver, the idea of waiting for anything longer than half an hour for a meal sounds a bit ludicrous. While we were waiting and drinking coffee at Heart (also lovely, and conveniently close to Screen Door), we debated whether the food could possibly be worth an hour and 45 minute wait. Once we were seated with Bloody Marys and coffee, and our biscuits and gravy for the table arrived, we felt that we'd made the right choice. When the fried chicken and waffles, and various bennies arrived, we marvelled at how close we had come to missing this experience. The portions at Screen Door are enough for at least two meals. The fried chicken was perfectly crisp and juicy, and the waffle underneath was nice, though a bit overshadowed by the meat. We also had the benny with fried oysters, which I was also a big fan of, but they didn't go over as well with the person who ordered them. I think that it's not unreasonable to split the mains if you are not looking to take home leftovers. That said, having fried chicken again the next morning without a two hour wait was also nice. Service was fast and friendly. There is a warning on the menu about the fried chicken and waffles possibly taking a while to cook, but our server explained that once the kitchen was busy, there wouldn't be any delay. Would definitely head back on my next trip down there.
(4)Melvin T.
If there was a Mount Rushmore of Portland restaurants, Screen Door would definitely be on it. Tonight, I had a pan seared rock fish atop a leek custard and sautéed corn, sweet peppers and green onion with toy box tomato salsa! So many components executed perfectly. The fish was cooked to perfection, the leek custard was outrageously good, then balanced with the sweetness and crunch of the corn and brightened by the toy box tomato salsa. They hit every note and texture a perfect dish is supposed to have. This fish special was only $16.95. (Side rant: I mean there are people out there who throw $17 away at Applebees and the such...what are you thinking?) I would order this fish special 15 more times if I could. I have been here 3 or 4 times and every time it is a home run. The technique and passion put into every dish is phenomenal. I waited at least 40 minutes for a table and I didn't care one bit. I knew my patience would be rewarded.
(5)Andi S.
Look, there are 600+ reviews for this place and it's still a 4.5 star rating. Why are you still reading? Go! But if you want my take on it, this is what I was thinking as I was harvesting the last streaks of gravy from my plate: "Rare is the meal moment when you are so full you are almost disgusted with your meal, and yet simultaneously wishing you could open up a reserve chamber in your stomach so you can do it all over again." Screen Door is that place, and it lives up to the hype. Also a plus, it was casual and fun without being pretentious. You're going to have to wait in line, but you'll be rewarded.
(4)TJ M.
Vacation bias alert! Another breakfast place that I went to once when I was visiting a friend in Portland. How odd that I live in Atlanta, yet loved the southern breakfast that I got at the Screen Door way more than any of the local places that I've been to. The food was that good! The coffee was excellent, and they give it out for free while you're waiting. Speaking of which, expect a wait, since this place is pretty popular. Plenty of street parking available.
(5)Chad F.
Had the 'screen door plate' (mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and thin sliced porkchop). Everything was fantastic and the service was delightful even though we arrived 50 min before closing and lingered a bit. Bring an appetite as you will leave stuffed and probably with leftovers! Parking is hard to come by unless yer biking :)
(5)Daniel P.
Yummy scramble! Yum-yummy fried chicken! Grits and pancakes that make my pulse quicken! Don't call me a hater If I hate the wait/waiter, But when the grub comes: finger-lickin'!
(4)Nathan C.
My wife and I went here with friend for Sunday brunch we ordered the Cajun Scramble with Grits, the Chicken and Waffles, Praline Bacon Waffles as well as an extra side of Praline Bacon. It was all amazing! I especially recommend the Chicken and Waffles. Delicious! It was worth the 45min wait in the rain. :P
(5)Gabe K.
Absolutely fantastic. One of my favorite restaurants in this town full of fantastic restaurants. The fare is real, down-home southern food, made the way it should be. The absolute best fried chicken anywhere. And I can get a side of fried pork chops? Sold. Great desserts, sides, drinks, everything. Probably shouldn't eat here every day (or risk looking like the people in the south who do), but a delicious treat once in a while. Like 3 or 4 times a week.
(5)Harlan M.
We tried Screen Door last night for the first time and I left very satisfied and feeling well-taken care of. You'd hope good southern food would be accompanied by southern hospitality and it was. As someone who has lived in the South I feel qualified to judge this restaurant and I give it 5 stars. We started with their seasonal organic roasted beet salad which had avocado and pistachios. Super delicious. For entrees we had the Lowcountry shrimp and grits, and the fried chicken. The grits were creamy and good and had medallions of pork in them. The shrimp had a flavor you don't get very often. The chicken was excellent and the collard greens were soaking in pig butt. Drinks were good as well - tequila and blackberry puree and martinis. When we got to our car, we turned around to walk back because my wife left her sweater and there was the waiter who had just run it out to us. Overall - a memorable experience and worth the time an money.
(5)Kristen B.
A smaller place so you are going to wait at time, but it is sooo worth it. The host was very nice and got us a table on the outside patio for our friend's birthday celebration. Looking over the menu it is so hard to decide because it all looks good. Make sure to go hungry!! So, we all got something different and shared. We started with the hush puppies (came with a delicious spicy jam), buttermilk chicken strips and the pimento cheese. All delicious as we devoured them in minutes. One person ordered the butter leaf salad with blue cheese and bacon...probably one of the bet salads I have ever had. Then I had the screen door plate with mac n cheese, jambalaya and sweet potato fries. All fantastic! We took it home for leftovers and it even reheated well! Would highly recommend!!
(4)Jenni L.
Screen door I want to marry you and have your babies. and about half of us at the table wanted to bang one of your servers. I came back to visit with a small group of friends one night when one of my besties, Lisa G., was in town for the weekend. I racked my brain to think of a place to impress her with and of course you were the obvious choice. We bore your lengthy line with drinks in hand. The Scarlet O'Hara No. 2, filled with sweet tea vodka and a blood orange puree, made us happily wait your queue while dreams of homeade cornbread, fried chicken, and jambalaya danced in our heads. When it came time to order we opted for good ol' southern gluttony, with three of us ordering the fried buttermilk-battered chicken with mashed potatoes, tasso ham gravy and collards and one opting for the smoked & bbq'd beef brisket with bacon potato salad and a butter lettuce salad to start. We also ordered two sides of the ridiculously good cornbread to go with our meals and a side order of macaroni and cheese as a starter which turned out to be the end all of life as we knew it. I'm not kidding. This macaroni inspired one of the most henious and disgusting things I have ever taken part in at a restaurant. And by taken part in I really mean...I was the only one that did it... This is how it went (I'll even edit it this one out a bit so I don't seem like such a foul mouthed hussy): Lisa G. and I decided macaroni and cheese needed to be ordered as a starter and shared instead of a customary appetizer like the oysters or okra. Table: We want three orders of this and two orders of that and and order of this and this. And then we also want to start with the macaroni and cheese because we have decided to be digusting gluttonous human beings tonight. Female waitress: That sounds good, I'm on it. Can I bring you another round of drinks. Table: Um, yes. A few minutes later drinks were served and a short few after that a different male waiter (who we now refer to as hottie boy waiter at Screen Door) delivers the starters. Lisa G.: Did you see that? Me: Can we order him too? Lisa G.: I really hope so, he's expletive hot! Me: I want to verb on his expletive noun. Lisa G.: You would say that you foul mouthed hussy. Me: Expletive! Taste this. Lisa G.: This is the best expetive mac & cheese I think I've ever had. Me: OMG it's so hot, but I can't stop eating it. Expletive! It's burning my mouth, but I don't want to stop. Lisa G.: It's SO expletive good! Expletive! Me: Hey Eric C., hows your expletive salad? snicker snicker. Eric C: Good, wan't a bite? Me: Expetive no. And then the aforementioned happened: I dropped macaroni on the table. I looked at it for a few seconds. Looked at Lisa G. waiting to see what she'd say. Silence. Then I took my fork and ate it off the expletive table. Lisa G.: Did you really just do that? Did that just happen? Me: Um, ya. Ya, I think it did. I was actually waiting for you to do the same. Wouldn't you have? Lisa G.: I'm not going to confirm or deny that. Me: Worth it. Lisa G.: It really probably was. Me: It was so good I bet you'd like to eat it off hottie boy waiter's body? Lisa: It really probably is. By the time our main coursed came out, it was safe to say that we were no longer interested to the extent we would have been if we had never ordered the expletive mac & cheese. The fried chicken at Screen Door is good, not the best I've had, but pretty decent. It made awesome cold leftovers out of the fridge the next day after I was only able to take two bites at dinner. Eric C.'s brisket was better. I snagged a bite and it was literally fall apart, melt in your mouth good. When the female waiter came over to ask if we'd like boxes and give us our check she asked us the customary question: How did you like everything? I looked her straight in the eye and said: That mac & cheese was so good I ate it off the expletive table. No shame shown. Alot of shame inside. Screen Door I expletive love you. ...and I still want to bang your hottie boy waiter.
(5)Mimi L.
My girlfriends and I went to "Screen Door" for dinner while on vacation touring the northwest. We ordered the fried chicken because of the rave reviews on yelp, and I must say that it did not disappoint. The fried chicken is the most flavorful, moist, and deliciously crispy fried chicken that I have ever had in my life. And believe me, I have had my fare share of fried chicken. We also ordered the fried catfish and the beet salad. Both were also delicious. What can I say? Hands down, wonderful experience. The food is to die for and the service was impeccable.
(5)amber a.
My husband and I have been dying to try this place for months! We debated on taking the kids but last week we pretty much said screw it, packed up three kiddos (7 yrs and under) and a grandmother and headed out. I should preface with the fact that we did call ahead to ask the approximate wait time for a party of six. The host was extremely kind and helpful and put our name down on the list and said to just come in in an hour and a table would be available. He also explained that if there were an opening sooner he'd call and hold the spot for us! Within 20 minutes we received a call and zipped on over. As usual the crowd of patrons were spilling out onto the street lining up on Burnside. We found street parking immediately and took this as an omen that it was gonna be a good dinner. We were promptly seated and were salivating over the menu. Lots of Southern classics but as soon as I saw Buttermilk Fried Chicken everything else went black! :) I loved, loved loved the fried chicken! The skin was perfectly seasoned and the perfect amount of crispiness. the inside was moist and delicious. it was served with creamy mashed potatoes and collard greens. My kids ate fried chicken and a side of mac & cheese - allow me to point out that the mac and cheese was gooey, creamy and extra cheesy! My mom, who was visiting out of town split my fried chicken with me and ordered herself the brisket (which was FANTASTIC)! The atmosphere was warm and a bit loud. But with three kids in tow, I'm okay with loud its better to drown out any noise that may come from my table. Although there weren't any other kids in the restaurant while we were there, other customers and the servers were polite about sitting next to a table of 3 small kids (this is a huge plus since we've been to places that people roll their eyes when they see they'll be sitting next to us). For the record the kids were well behaved and people even commented at how well behaved they were! So take that you damn eye rollers! I'll definitely be going back and already on my mind is the pulled pork sandwich!
(5)Stacy C.
I rarely boss people about with regards to food but.. go. Just go. Get there for breakfast/brunch. Order the fried chicken and waffle. There's nothing more to say.
(5)fon z.
Not your typical southern comfort, but the food is good enough to make me say who cares. The plates are huge, the food are plenty, and your stomach will be happy for 2 meals.
(4)Allen K.
A great place for brunch on the weekend! I always get the cathead biscuit with chicken and gravy -- Best Ever! Check out the pictures for what it looks like. It's generally about an hour long wait on the weekend, but there's plenty of Stumptown coffee you can drink while you wait.
(5)Samantha D.
I went here awhile ago with a friend of mine. There was a really long wait, but I wasn't super hungry, so I didn't mind. My friend and I ordered the fried chicken with collards, red beans and rice, and macaroni cheese- amazing. On top of the good food, the waiting staff were very nice and helpful. We had to move tables at one point, because a friend joined us late. They helped us move our plates and chairs, and were very accommodating. All of it was delicious, and I cannot wait to go back!
(5)Dave R.
Friends who love southern cooking rave, but I wish I loved the hush puppies as much as they do :-)
(3)Jim D.
Damned solid food. Really good fried chicken. Nice cornbread, good beans and rice. I really need to go back and sample the menu more. Next time I'm in PDX I will absolutely be stopping by...
(4)Alex G.
Do you have 75+ minutes to spare waiting on a Saturday or Sunday? Do you enjoy absurdly delicious brunch fare? If so, Screen Door is for you! It's all about expecting and managing the wait. About two months ago, my boyfriend and I planned a visit to Screen Door for Sunday brunch -- the nicest Sunday of the year thus far, of course. Being lazy people who woke up late and were forced to go during peak hours, we planned ahead in full -- with our phones and Kindles fully charged, we headed over to get our name on the list. We arrived shortly before 11:30, and we were told it'd be a 75 minute wait. Knowing this, we walked over to Heart, ordered coffee, and read for 45 minutes before walking back and people watching until our names were called at 12:45. (Also, kudos for the accurate time estimates!) When we did get our table, the service was wonderfully prompt -- presumably, a reward for holding out for our seats. For what appears to be a fairly small restaurant on the exterior, I enjoyed the interior -- it wasn't too loud or cramped, at least compared to similar restaurants. I ordered the biscuits and gravy (with fried chicken strips on the side, of course), and the boyfriend ordered -- what else? -- the famed chicken and waffles and a breakfast corndog (a new and delicious experience, I might add!). The biscuits were fluffy and delightful, the gravy borderline heavenly, and the chicken just as advertised -- amazing. Being southern fare, the portions were also massive -- I was barely able to finish my biscuits and gravy, and I had to take a few chicken strips to go; my boyfriend was overwhelmed by the amount of chicken and waffles, and took most of his chicken home. This is by no means a complaint -- it only meant we were able to enjoy our meals through the rest of the day. It seems absurd to wait so long for food, but in the case of Screen Door, it's worth it. For the sake of your lifespan -- both in terms of the time spent waiting and calories consumed after waiting -- I wouldn't recommend making it a daily stop, though.
(4)Sara M.
Fried Cat Fish Red Beans and Rice Mac N Cheese Fried Chicken Pulled pork Cocktails All Very amazing. Sure, its busy and super loud in there, and you might have to wait awhile for a table, but completely worth it.
(5)Dorothy C.
One of the few places in Portland where the food is totally worth the line. Order the Screen Door Plate and get the the local/organic sides from the specials menu. You will have to wait at least an hour for dinner.
(4)J. K.
Incredibly long wait every single time but, if you make it, fantastic chicken and waffles await. Screen Door has one of the best fried chickens ever, though it only makes it with white breast meat, not the flavorful dark meats. It's juicy, crispy, savory, and expressive. Accompanied by sweet potato waffles, the combination is excellent. If anything, the waffle can be a bit sweeter (for contrast with the chicken) and cooked more crispy (so it gets less soggy sitting under the chicken). If you want the chicken and waffle, it's way better to eat it for brunch/lunch than dinner. The dinner version is more expensive and only comes with 1 piece of chicken, instead of 3. Also recommend the cathead aka biscuits and gravy.
(4)Logan S.
Get: Pork and Beans, Fried Chicken, potato and bacon soup, the berry pie thingy Pass: Corn bread I would really give this place 4.5 stars because the corn bread was so disappointing. That being said, everything else was amazing!! BEST pork and beans I have had in my life, and the chicken was really moist with a great crisp to the outside. The bacon soup was not too creamy and just thick enough, and the berry pie at the end was amazing. Get here early or expect to wait at least an hour. The bathrooms are cold for some reason, and there is only one for each sex
(5)Cynthia Y.
came here on my first night in Portland on a Monday evening. No wait for a table at around 8pm. all i remember trying was the fried chicken, gumbo and fries. this place has one of the best fried chickens i've ever tasted. yummyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! boneless, perfectly battered and flavored. wasn't a fan of the greens it came with. i'd come back.. sorry, i can't remember much from my experience here, it's been about a month but i do remember the fried chicken. GET THE FRIED CHICKEN!!
(4)Colleen W.
Delicious southern comfort food + drinks is what you'll find at the Screen Door. We stopped by for a birthday dinner, complete with crispy fried chicken and low country shrimp and grits. It did not disappoint. I felt transported to Charleston. The brunch line that wraps around the building has kept me away but I hope to experience Screen Door morning magic, soon.
(4)Chanchala R.
Texas toast and broccoli casserole were awesome. And the onion rings were super good!
(4)pat d.
damn..... went here upon a recomendation from one of the folks at rogue. The place is cozy and small with a patio on the side. Get here early as it fills up fast. the staff was attentive and friendly. The server knew his menu and specials The food was really good. Fried green tomatoes where great. The fried chicken with tasso gravey was really good. The chicken was moist and the breading nice and crisp. I can see why this is a local favorite.
(5)M R.
Not bad, but not healthy.
(3)Jeff P.
Worth the wait, every time. The fried chicken and gravy is excellent, but for me the real standout is always whatever vegetables are in season. If you had to complain about something, it would be the wait, or possibly the noise of all those people, but when the food is so good, I can't mark them down for that.
(5)Dan M.
Always a long wait but easily worth it, everything on the menu here is phenomenal (the large fried chicken pieces even come carefully de-boned), including the drinks. Large portion sizes so fair warning to come very hungry. You will not be disappointed by the food.
(5)Marianne S.
My friend's have been raving about this place for quite sometime. Finally, a few days ago, I tried it with a few friend's for one of my friend's birthdays. It was a Monday night. There was a long wait, about 45 minutes, then more of a wait to order, and even more of a wait for our food. There were 4 of us, finally 3 plates came out. They said the other one would be up shortly. Sadly, the plate we were waiting for was for the birthday girl. And it wasn't up shortly, they forgot to put it in, it took about another 20 minutes. They ever so graciously comped one of her beers. ONE BEER! Couldn't they have at least comped her meal? Given her a free dessert? Those were my complaints. As far as the food goes, it was good, but didn't live up to the hype for me. I think maybe the wait took away from it and the mess up. Also, I have heard better things about their brunch, than their dinner. I will be back for brunch, but not worth it to me for dinner.
(3)Stacey J.
My favorite place to take out of town guests for breakfast. The lemon ricotta pancakes are wonderful as if the friend chicken on a waffle! Always very busy so be prepared to wait in a line. It is always LOUD inside.
(5)Shannon M.
Fantastic food! A great Southern/Cajun experience. Great for taking the family out for a nice dinner. Service was also great. I will definitely return! I recommend the shrimp and grits to anyone!!
(5)Rochelle V.
Cant beat the Chicken and Waffle!!!!!
(5)Kyle H.
Great breakfast. Big portions, unique menu items and great flavors. The wait can be WAY too long on the weekends.
(4)Alvina C.
Do I even have to tell you all what it is that makes this spot so great!? FRIED CHICKEN. More specifically, FRIED CHICKEN & WAFFLE. The only reason why I'm rating it only 4 stars because I have yet to venture beyond their specialty. When I do (someday), I will update my review. As for now, it is 4 stars as it is.
(4)Wendy R.
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens and the Fort Bragg Rhododendron Society deserve kudos for partnering to produce the biggest, brightest rhodie show ever. The gardens are simply glowing these days and new specimens in the perennial garden promise successive surprises all summer long.
(5)Joe E.
Took my (previous) steady here a while back and thought I'd "bite" on the Yelp-invite to review it. Southern Cooking like it says. Rather eclectic not specific. The two things I remember are: not much ambiance in that tables are jammed together unless you like that kind of ambiance where you can actually see everything about the order at the next table. The outside seating might be more fun for a crowd. and second : the fried chicken was perfect. A clear indication that they know their frying. both correct temperature and I'd bet frequently changed frying oil.
(4)Elise F.
As a vegetarian often accompanying carnivores to Screen Door, a place famous for its Chicken & Waffles, there is still plenty to eat. The Mac and cheese is always filling, and every rotating salad I've tried has been delightful. The Rhett Butler cocktail hits the spot. Only thing stopping this place from perfection is the consistently long wait.
(4)Diane P.
The line for brunch is a bit crazy, but it's worth it. Also it's usually nice to catch up with people while waiting in line before eating! Fried chick'n n waffles. oyster omelette. praline bacon. the hash. pretty much good food. Dinner on the other hand... the atmosphere is a little different. The food isn't my type, but it is still pretty good. I guess when it comes to Screen Door, I think of brunch, not dinner.
(4)Jenny P.
This place is amazing. Delicious breakfast, cocktails and dinner. Always worth the wait, even if its over an hour. Shrimp and Grits and Fried Chicken are my favorites.
(5)Ron M.
These guys have awesome southern food and their brunch is exceptional!
(5)Kevin W.
Ridiculous. Like many have said, expect a wait....but then at the same time expect some of the best fried chicken you've ever had. And then expect to get K.O.'d from food coma right afterwards. The portions are huge, heavy, and hella good. I had fried chicken and gravy and biscuits...w/ extra gravy...definitely had to loosen my belt. Only qualm I had w/ Screen door was that the Bloody mary that i ordered wasn't that great, kinda watery. Other than that, this place is awesome.
(5)Scott C.
So we arrive in Portland with a lot of ideas of where we were wanting to eat but not an exact plan for night 1. I am so happy that our first meal was at Screen Door. We live in Nashville TN so I wanted to see if these north westerners could throw down on some fried chicken like all the reviews claimed. I was not let down. Probably the best fried chicken I have ever eaten anywhere in the US. App: fried okra - corn meal batter with a wonderful dipping sauce Entree: fried chicken with mashed potatoes and greens. Entree 2: pecan trout with fingerling potatoes and asparagus Not only did we have a lovely dinning experience but the bartender was very knowledgable of other places that he recommended we try. If you like southern comfort food, this is the place for you.
(4)Lori J.
I don't know what all the hype is about. Little food and a very rushed atmosphere.
(2)Jessica S.
Had the biscuit sandwich with chicken and sausage gravy. The food took about 45 minutes. We waited for about an hour. Had to sit at the bar right by the door, not very comfortable. Ordered drinks and they were, meh. Not too keen for the bloody mary; got a sweet tea instead, it was tasty. Being from the south this place isn't that bona fide.
(3)Ben H.
Amazing sized portions of delicious, comfort food? Yes PLEASE! Sure, you'll probably have to wait for a table, but it is completely worth it. I live 25 minutes from this restaurant, but have eaten here more times than any other restaurant in Portland.
(5)Jenn S.
Ok I will be the redudant one. One of the best places in portland for Brunch! Veggie option, fab bloody marys and best of all a whole portland vibe. Yes there is a wait and yes this is explained by everyone that has even heard of the place so be ready for it. If i didnt do brunch with a large group of people we would be here so much more!
(5)Linda T.
oh my gosh....when in Portland, must come here for brunch! they open at 9am for brunch, but when we got there by 8:20am, there were 9 people in front of us. cute corner restaurant that has a French inspired feel to it. I would not have guess it hs Creole/Southern influenced food. MUST GET: 1) Banana Foster French Toast!! 5 slices of brioche bread soaked in syrup topped with sauteed banana with a side of home made whip cream that taste decadent. definitely one of the best french toast I've had. As my friend said "it feels like bread meant to be made into french toast than bread forced to be french toast." 2) chicken and waffles: the plating looked awesome! a huge sweet potato waffle topped with a knife through 3 flat pieces of fried chicken. Sweet potato definitely added a zing to the waffle. Fried chickens were crispy, moist, and most delicious. breading was perfect and it did not feel heavy or drenched in bread crumb or oil. love the spice from the peppers. DELICIOUS! I think i will never have any other fried chicken, ever. they serve Stumptown Coffee which added a plus! friendly service and the staff fits in. definitely will come back when Im in Portland. Just go early to avoid the wait! Patio seating on a nice sunny Portland day was awesome!!!!
(5)Gorman E.
I don't care if it is an hour and half wait. Just know It is worth it....Dam it! What to order you might ask? Everything is Dam GOOD! Screen Door's menu is a from the South Carolina Lowcountry cuisine to soul food and Cajun to the refined Creole and French preparations found in New Orleans. We ordered and highly recommend the following (see pics): *Bloody Marys -J ust like I like it...Spicy!!! yelp.com/user_local_phot… *Buttermilk Drop Biscuits w/ sausage country gravy and 2 eggs - Hearty!!! yelp.com/user_local_phot… *Benedit w/ grilled ham, poached eggs, and hollandaise- Tasty!!! yelp.com/user_local_phot… *Breakfast Po Boy homemade andouille sausage & tomato jam, two fried eggs yelp.com/user_local_phot… - So GOOD!!! *Best Chicken n waffles - Chicken is crispy and tender inside with a kick. The waffles had tiny apples & hint of cinnamon to give added taste with the syrup. yelp.com/user_local_phot… *Side order of Screen Door Praline Bacon - GET THIS!!! YUM!!! yelp.com/user_local_phot… I was in foodgasm and ready to wear sweats after this....it was that good! If you are in Portland OR, come here for the Best Brunch. Highly Recommended.
(5)Thao P.
I woke up one morning and just craved....seriously craved...chicken and waffles. My boyfriend suggested we go to screen door, but he did warn me there would be a wait because of how popular this place is. He was not kidding. We waited for an hour to get a table...I'm glad they let you order drinks to enjoy while you are waiting!!! When it was time to get seated, the whole open area is tinted in a warm yellow tone due to the same colored fabrics adorning their walls. It made you feel very welcomed. The noise level was pretty high considering it was just a big open space, but still was able to converse with my meal partner. As soon as my food got to the table, my eyes turned into saucers....piled on top of my waffle were four pieces of fried chicken all held in by a steak knife driven through the top!!! The chicken was crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. Perfect!!! The only downside...needs more waffle to get a nice ratio between the chicken and waffle. but that's such a minute detail ;p
(4)Michael B.
This place served up huge portions of good food, but it was definitely a case of quantity over quality. Having waited more than an hour to get a table, I had hyped this place to myself so much that getting what is basically pretty normal food was a little disappointing.
(3)Pete B.
Screen Door is a wonderful establishment with a nicely balanced menu to satiate a hungry diner's yearnings for a bit of 'Southern' food. They do a wonderful job of countering any concern of fried food overdose with a rotating selection of fresh vegetables. For brunch, their chicken and waffle plate is amazing in terms of portion and price. A hankering for biscuits with a choice of country sausage or vegetarian gravy is also an option if a light breakfast doesn't seem like it'd be enough. A shared appetizer of hushpuppies (I prefer honey over their pepper jelly dipping sauce but only because of personal preference) and a small helping of their chicken and andouille gumbo is also a nice way to ease into the main meal. For dinner I'm constantly drawn back to the crispy fried buttermilk chicken plate with a side of crispy crusted mac'n'cheese. Recommending one particular dish over another is hard to do. After sampling a variety of their starters, entrees, sides and deserts I would have to recommended trying them all. Definitely look over the specials board above the host station as seasonal specials change on a regular basis. Because of its single location and popularity the only glaring dislike is the wait to get seated. If you're impatient and temperamental you might find it challenging. There have been three times where I've been bumped off of the waiting list. The task of host/hostess is the only weak spot that this restaurant needs to overcome but in all honesty, it is not an easy job. The proprietor's could open a second location and easily maintain a large waiting list at both locations.
(4)Julie P.
After one visit, easily one of my favorite restaurants in the city. Down to earth, not double-check-your-vision pricey, and excellent food that in my book, is a winning combo. The fried chicken lives up to the hype. As does the mac n' cheese. Same for the fall-off-the-bone pork shoulder. And those hushpuppies? There is nothing bashful about 'em (esp. with that pepper jelly which I need to replicate asap). GO. Now.
(5)Af R.
Long waits but man, that fried chicken is worth it!
(4)Jessica G.
Doesn't get much better than fried chicken. The breakfast is really good too. Worth the long waits.
(5)Desiree I.
Everything we ate was delicious. I had the pecan crusted fish. I can't wait to go back and try something new. Having moved to Portland from the South, I'm on a mission to try as many of the Southern style and BBQ restaurants in the area so my husband and I can have a few go to places when we're craving a taste of home. This place is definitely high on the list of great places. I need to try the fried chicken next time. I have been craving some good fried chicken.
(5)Erik G.
Stopped in for brunch after a failed attempt on Mother's Day (could not wait the estimated hour). We arrived about 5 or 10 minutes before they opened and we were a bit surprised by the length of the line. We just missed the cut off for a table inside but waited the 20 or 30 minutes to get seated outside on the patio. As we had our young daughter the patio was the ideal spot anyway. I really enjoyed having a cup of coffee as we waited, glad they allow customers to help themselves. We started with a Bloody Mary. While we are not big drinkers we both enjoy a good Bloody Mary from time to time. And as it was a holiday we indulged. Nice spice, not overly strong with a delicious pickled okra garnish. Next came the rhubarb turnovers, a nice treat to whet our appetites. The filling was well prepared with a touch of tartness. They vanished as fast as they arrived. My wife ordered the bananas foster french toast, simple but oh so good. Love the hint of orange, the soft but not mushy bread and the fact that the plate could have fed us all. After having look at the menu a few weeks back I had expected I would order a scramble. However, when we were waiting to be seated I spied plate after plate of chicken and waffles. Never having had to combination it seemed this would be the ideal circumstance to give it a try. And I was not disappointed one bit. The bird was crispy with a nice peppery finish, a prefect compliment to the bloody as well as the waffle. The sweet potato did not stand out but the waffle was still great. I have seen the light, we will be back for more! I would suggest that it is worth the wait but that is a personal decision. We all had a great time, service was excellent and the food was wonderful. I would give the Screen Door four and a half stars if I could. There was nothing I would change about our meal, I'm just not one to give five stars too often.
(4)JT T.
Came to Portland on Memorial Day weekend and was looking for some great places to eat. After reading all the great Yelp reviews, we thought we would give it a try. After a 45 minute wait, we finally got a table. The group of us orders fried chicken, trout & pulled bbq pork sandwhich. The food was good but not really worth the 45 minute wait...Wiling to give them another try on our next trip to Portland..
(3)Brandon M.
Um... Yum! Why not? One of the best breakfast/brunch (depending on the time YOU wake up on a Saturday/Sunday) places in Oregon. This little place will always share something in my heart; other than cholesterol. Chicken and waffles has a new spin and meaning - the spices on the chicken are better than any you've had, this is a real southern style/home made and fried perfectly. The waffle is a sweet potato of perfection, fluffy and light (not normal for a sweet potato anything). But it's not the only thing they have, specials are always great - and ask what the waiters and waitresses what they like cause they know who's in the kitchen for the day and what the best dishes are. A GREAT TREAT! Quick note - Either get there early or wait in line. There really is no other choice at breakfast time. 5/5 FOOD - amazing brunch and lunch (haven't had dinner yet) 4/5 SERVICE - very busy, almost always busy - the servers rock 3/5 WAIT - weighted on FOOD and SERVICE (CEPT if you do not get there early from brunch. Then it's off the charts; you WILL wait.)
(5)M K.
Not getting the hype of this place. Having grown up with authentic soul food, Screen Door misses the mark. I was hoping for the best, but the fried chicken was extremely average. I almost NEVER order gumbo out because it never tastes like true gumbo. Unfortunately the gumbo just tasted like an average soup. I really wanted to love the place after reading reviews and seeing the lines. Oh well.......
(2)Celine B.
The Screen Door plate is the best deal. I often order catfish, mashed potatoes and something off the local item. If you order an appetizer, too (fried green tomatoes or pimento cheese are my top choices), you can split it with one other person and be out of there for $20 for two.
(5)Allyson G.
This place is always good. Their fried oyster benedict is pretty much amazing, and always good when you need comfort food!
(4)Cola V.
The best food I've ever had in Portland. Went here on a Monday night, surprise they were packed but the wait was only about 30 minutes so we grabbed a drink at the bar. The bartender was slammed but gave us good service as we watched plates of amazing food pass us by. We sat at the bar, I had to shrimp & grits - WOW. Never had a basil type sauce with my grits but goodness that was delicious and good sized, cooked just right shrimp. My boyfriend is from Memphis and said hands down they were the best grits he's ever tasted (sorry granny). He had the Screen Door Sampler with the catfish and it was breaded just right and cooked to perfection. His sides of greens were amazing with chunks of ham like he had back home, the mac and cheese is a joke how good it is. We will visit again very soon. We talked to a couple that were at the bar and they said they take everyone that visits Portland to this place, & we'll do the same. AMAZING.
(5)Jack W.
The food here is awesome. I'm not a fan of catfish, but here it's one of their best selections. It's fried, but it's not greasy at all. I highly recommend selecting this as one of the items in the combo plate. The fried chicken is one of the best I've ever had, and possibly the BEST cause they managed to remove the bones, making it easy to eat with a knife and fork. The jambalaya is good, but I expected much better since everything else was exceptional. Mac n Cheese was also very good and recommended. Shrimp n Grits is an excellent appetizer. I'll give this place 4 stars instead of 5 for the following reasons: This place doesn't take reservations and the line is ridiculously long. Be prepared to wait for a while during dinner. If you're visiting from out of town as we were, it'll be about a $12 cab ride from downtown Portland each way, if I recall. If you like Southern food, this place is definitely worth the inconvenience.
(4)Eve T.
This is just another review on Yelp telling you how AMAZING, WONDERFUL, SUCCULENT, JUICY, TENDER, HUGE, and AWESOME their fried chicken is. It is worth the 30-60 minute wait. That's all.
(5)Chrystal B.
I had a lot of Southern food during my trip to Portland (many would say too much Southern food), and Screen Door came out as the top winner. The fried chicken was outstanding, and their mac & cheese was one of the best I've ever had in a restaurant. My friends know that I rarely order mac & cheese as I have found many places to serve disappointing versions, but Screen Door came out the door with a hit. I went for a late dinner, so we only had to wait about 15 minutes for a table, but I know why some folks have had to sit along the sidelines for an hour. It's definitely that good.
(4)Phil N.
Went here on a Saturday afternoon at about 11:30am to give you an idea of what the wait time is. 45 minutes! I am from San Jose and 45 min is like a blip compared to the some of the more popular restaurants (try two hours AND with a crying baby!). I expected to find all of Portland's east side here but there it was a melting pot of all ethnicities and that to me is a very good sign this place will leave me smiling and satisfied. They have free self serve coffee which I didn't know about till after I walked back from Starbucks (3 blocks away) while waiting for our table. Seating in the waiting area is pretty limited so be prepared to bring an umbrella if it rains and a jacket if it's super cold. Before we even sat down we were drooling at all the huge servings being dished out by the waiters. That's torture if you haven't eaten breakfast. Once we did get seated my wife and I decided to share the chicken and waffles. Yes, I said the word share. From my experience gorging on good food, well, it doesn't really end up as good memories if you try to stuff yourself. We both reason that we were still hungry we would order some more. Our chicken and waffle surprisingly took a while to arrive at my fingertips but boy was it worth the wait! To give you some background on my "chicken and waffle" experiences, I've been all over the place including the famous Roscoe's in SoCal. Well, I am happy to say that this place makes Roscoe's taste like KFC! I was actually looking for wings or drumsticks but surprisingly they used boneless breast meat. I was really skeptical because it's very hard to get white meat moist especially the breast part. To my surprise, it was extremely moist as if somehow they injected chicken broth into the chicken before frying. It's that moist! I usually HATE breast meat (dark meat kinda dude) but I kept tearing and tearing at it hoping to find a dry piece. And just like in Powerball - no luck at all! How about the batter? Well, I am getting to that! The batter outside was as perfect as can be. No burnt, over fried areas, or too much batter on one side and not enough on the other kinda deal! In addition, the chicken meat itself has got some kick to it.! My wife's theory is that they must brine their chicken with the spices. She says this because you can literally taste the spices inside the meat even if the batter is removed. Well, whatever it is whether they raise magical chicken with spicy genes, it's hella flavorful. And the waffles? They are to die for. I was told the waffles are sweet potato based. Yes, they were amazingly good and didn't taste like the run of the mill waffles you would find at every chicken and waffle place. Definitely a plus for flavor originality. We were given three pieces of chicken breast and one good size waffle. I finished two pieces of chicken and a quarter of the waffle while my wife finished 3/4 of her chicken piece and a quarter of her waffle. Yes, we were stuffed but not to the point where we didn't enjoy it. I am glad we shared and will try another dish the next time we are here. We were with another couple and they ordered biscuits and gravy in addition to the chicken and waffles and they regretted it. Unless you are a hot dog eating champion, I recommend you don't let your eyes take over your stomach. As personal tip, I recommend the gravy on the side (without the biscuits). It's the meatiest gravy I've ever eaten and goes well with the fried chicken as a dipping sauce. Finger sucking good!! By the way, our waitress was extremely polite, courteous, prompt, and most importantly always had a smile on her face. Well worth the trip and the wait!
(5)Amanda K.
Institution: 1: an act of instituting : establishment 2 a: a significant practice, relationship, or organization in a society or culture;the institution of marriage; also: something or someone firmly associated with a place or thing. b: an established organization or corporation (as a bank or university) especially of a public character; also: asylum. Portland is full of them. Institutions, that is. For Yelp's sake, however, we're talking about food institutions, which again, Portland is FULL of them. Pok Pok, Le Pigeon, Ringside, Veritable Quandry......I bet you've never seen all four of those restaurants lumped into one category, but you see, they're institutions for different REASONS. Be it the food, the customer service, the cult-like following of fans/customers, or simply because it's "been around forever". We love these places, and we'll continue to talk about them for years to come. Screen Door is, undoubtedly and arguably, Portland's southern food institution. Because this place is so damn happenin', i've actually been waitng for years to dine here.I hate waiting in line for food. I don't care how crispy/delicious/freshly prepared it is, that's just my quirk. We finally descended upon this place last night, and now I see what all the hype is about!! And we only waited fifteen minutes for a table, which was certainly lovely. ....OBVIOUSLY.................this big-bottomed girl ordered the fried chicken. No question. This is where my four, not five stars, comes in. The chicken was perfectly delicious and the gravy that came with it was damn-near drinkable, but I prefer my fried chicken "midwest-style". Simply dredged in flour and spices, then fried to perfection with shortening. They use some kind of cracker or panko crust, and it was great, but it's not my preferred style of fried chicken. Thanks for the great meal, Screen Door! Oh, and your hush puppies are off the chain. You have indeed become Portland's institution of southern food, and you've earned it a million times over. (Fried chicken fried chicken fried chicken fried chicken. There. That's six solid "fried chicken" mentions in this review--well shit, now it's seven.)
(4)Brenda A.
You need to eat here. I'm not kidding you. Get in your car, get to the airport/drive to Portland and put your name on the waiting list. The wait is absolutely awful, very true. Put your name on the list and find a coffee shop to play cards at, or something. Doesnt matter. What matters is the food here. My friend and I split the asparagus frittata, and the chicken and waffles. The fried chicken puts every other fried chicken I've ever had in my lifetime to shame. The waffles are sweet potato based and they are astounding. The portions are huge. And both meals were less than 25 bucks TOTAL. It is far and away so worth the calories and the wait, it's not even funny. This may be a stop for me every time I take a trip to Portland.
(5)Blaine E.
It's always crowded and there's always a wait But it is totally worth it!!! The food is amazing the staff is friendly and helpful despite how busy they are. I have been here several times and can't wait to go again!!
(5)Jamie C.
My friends and family went on a random evening for an amazing time! I moved to Portland a little under a year ago and we have been using yelp for recommendations on culinary expertise. I was NOT disappointed with the Screen Door. We had a little of everything. I had a sampler platter, my husband had the brisket and my family had the fried chicken. Not only are the proportions well worth the price, the taste is undeniably hands down amazing. The Macaroni and Cheese has to be the best macaroni and cheese I have ever had and the green bean casserole. AMAZING! The ambiance of the restaurant is very southern and down to earth, kid friendly, romantic in a sense, and personal. If you have been doubting standing in lines during our sprinkling season, bust out those rain boots and umbrellas and come down to the Screen Door, you will not regret it!
(5)Theresa S.
Screen Door never disappoints! Even when you drive by on the weekend, and there are a billion people outside, it still moves pretty quickly. The fried chicken and waffles are like none other.
(4)Miss H K.
I came here for dinner with a group of friends while visiting Portland. We had to wait a bit (about 30-40 minutes) for table on a Thursday night but it was worth it! The restaurant is cozy inside and dimly lit and there's also outside seating. I ordered the fried chicken with mash potatoes and corn bread. The chicken was really tasty, it was very moist and also boneless. Also tried some of my bf's chicken and dumplings (the special) that was also hearty and good. For dessert we had the red velvet cake with ice cream... delicious! Our waitress was friendly, prices were reasonable for the large portion of food and the menu had a nice selection. I saw alot of people order the Screen door plate where you can choose 3 of the side dishes as your entree- seems like the way to go! I'd definitely return here again in the future but would prepare to wait during peak meal times.
(5)Katie V.
Holy cow! This place is amazing! I normally wouldn't wait an hour to be seated for breakfast, but I realized that almost everywhere in Portland has a wait and everywhere I went with one was good food. Free coffee while you wait is a bonus...and they have soy milk. Yay! I noticed several people ordering chicken and waffles. I'm not normally a fan but their chicken is freaking amazing. So juicy, tender and flavorful. I got the croque monsieur - which was the best one I've ever had - even better than the one I had in Paris. Everyone I was with really enjoyed their food. I highly recommend it!
(5)Michael K.
Screen Door is an awesome restaurant! One of my favorite spots in Portland for sure! The fried chicken meal is one of my favorite meals of all time! The chicken is FANTASTIC! The collard greens is awesome as well! My girlfriend and I split that and a screen door plate. I love how you can choose three of the sides! The Mac and Cheese is AWESOME! I wasn't a fan of their cornbread but I didn't even care cause the rest of the food was so good!
(5)Mike M.
We went for dinner last Saturday night and had one of the best dinners out we've had in months. The fried chicken, pork shoulder and brisket were amazing! Also tried a shrimp and grits dish and the jambalaya. Everything was perfect. We waited an hour to be seated, but it was DEFINITELY worth the wait!
(5)Sarah C.
We've been for dinner twice, and I took the inlaws here for brunch when they were in town. My husband loves fried chicken, so he hasn't tried anything else on the menu. My first meal here was amazing, my second meal was just OK, my brunch was just OK. Their cornbread is not sweet, and I wasn't really a fan of the greens either. It's also really crowded once you finally do get seated. I get why people really like it, but I don't think it's particularly different from most decent places in Portland.
(4)Hannah E.
Good Food. Pretty decent service. But like all the hip places in Portland, the wait is horrendous and filled with hipsters. Which I am becoming increasingly annoyed with. Another typical trendy restaurant annoyance is the squeezed in seating... why not pull a few tables out? We're all waiting 1hr+ anyhow... I'd rather wait and sit comfortably than cramp into a crowded dining area. There are tons of booths though, which is cool. Bloody mary's are delicious and so are the eggs bene
(4)Barb C.
Best. Fried. Chicken and waffles. Ever. Worth the wait, that Crispy Fried Buttermilk-battered Chicken. Order a side of grits, sooooo delicious!! Cornbread is also tasty and not dry. The menu was well priced. Probably best to share the chicken and waffles, there is more than enough. We also made another visit for dinner. We did the beef brisket and the screen door tasting plate. Crispy fried catfish was good, not greasy. Buttery Mashed Potatoes are pleasurable, Great portions, fun ambience, amazing flavour.
(5)Kyle M.
Great hushpuppies, fried chicken, and corn bread! Yummy to the max, even if the wait was 30-40 minutes.
(5)Heidi P.
I loved the Screen Door! I'd give it a solid 4.5, but I'll be generous and round it up. The wait was probably 40 minutes long, but it was worth it! I had the fried catfish head biscuit sandwich, aka fried chicken on a biscuit sandwich style but doused in sausage gravy. The only thing that would have made it any better would have been a fat poached egg on top. My dining partner had the banana's foster french toast. It was yummy. Both dishes were HUGE. Mine also came with a side, which I chose grits after the suggestion of the bartender. The other option was home fry stile potatoes that looked bomb. I was slightly disappointed by the grits. They needed salt and more cheese. I added a touch of salt and a splash of house made hot sauce and they were pretty damn tasty. The biscuit I had was perfect. The top and bottom biscuits were huge, and I didn't touch the one that was on the top of the sandwich. In addition to the house made hot sauce, they also had jam, which was yummy smeared on the biscuit. The coffee served was also the bomb. We sat at the bar because it was so busy and the first thing that came available. Our server was personable and very efficient. Our food also came out pretty quick. I think I may have spent $15 total and I got a TON of food. It was so yummy, I want to go back and try everything else on the menu!!!
(5)Vicky L.
Like my quick tip stated.... Thomas Keller, you've been dethroned. Prior to my experience at Screen Door, the perfect fried chicken in my book was Addendum's or Ad Hoc's. Came here for dinner, had the blackened fish special of the day served with patty pat squash and polenta and the fried chicken dinner. FRIED CHICKEN ALL THE WAY. It was the most flavorful, best fried chicken I've EVER had. It's boneless. Brined. Flavored. Deep fried, and eaten with love. I was not a fan of Portland given all the hype but I would fly back to have the fried chicken IN A HEARTBEAT!
(5)Stacey N.
No doubt this is the best place to eat fried chicken!! We ordered some along with the screen door plate--wowee! I'm amazed at how good everything was. The place is also dimly lit and a perfect for a date. I am smitten.
(5)Sarah T.
thumbs up on fried chicken!!! Not so thumbs up on fried okra. the orka is sliced and the breading is textured with some kind of seed. Stays really hot on plate but not very tasty and you don't get the nice slimy texture of okra. I was hoping it was battered like beer battered fish but not.
(4)Felicia R.
The Macaroni and Cheese is BETTER THAN MY MOMS. I told my sister and she could not believe it. How could I say a restaurant made a better mac and cheese than my angel of a mother's own???? BUT THAT'S HOW GOOD IT IS. Who cares about anything else on the menu (well a lot of people care, they have good stuff)---you need to try this cheesy dish, it will change your life. (Skip the buttery mashed potatoes and pork chops, not great. Just get all mac.. The hushpuppies are a good appetizer, a lot come through maybe 10-15 quantity? great for sharing)
(5)Janice S.
Came here on a Saturday afternoon with a group of 7. The wait time was about 45 minutes to an hour but we were seated in 30 minutes. We ordered chicken and waffles, fried oyster Benedict, build your own breakfast, etc. I don't remember the other orders but everything was delicious. The chicken and waffles can definitely be split between two or even three people. There are about 4 huge slices of tender, flavorful chicken breasts. The BF was able to get order a slice of chicken on the side that we took to go. The chicken was so tender and flavorful with a hint of spice. The eggs Benedict was perfect and I am not a fan of oysters, but the fried oysters were delicious. Great flavor and the oysters were perfectly cooked. They serve Stumptown coffee here which went great with my brunch. Expect a long wait and also a long wait for your food as it is very busy here, but worth it!
(5)Bobby H.
A satiating smorgasbord of Southern delicacy. Try the low country grits with shrimp - amazing! I've heard about (and seen) the lines, but you get in very quickly. One particular visit was met with less than pleasurable server, but we can't all "be on" every day, right?! 5 Stars!
(5)Chris L.
My wife and I had a wonderful dinner here. We tried to make last-minute reservations, which isn't something they will do. So we drove there on a whim in hopes of scoring a table. In 20-30 minutes we got our wish, though we sat on the patio which was a bit brisk (especially after 5 glasses of iced sweet tea!). The menu is filled with your standard southern foods so the decision was difficult. For starters, we got the macaroni and cheese (phenomenal!!). I got the brisket as my entree, which was very good with a tasty BBQ sauce. The brisket did have quite a bit of fat on it, which I'm not into so I cut that off. The brisket came with green beans (ok) and potato salad (VERY good with a spicy mustard flavor). My wife got the fried chicken, which she really liked though she noted how black peppery it was. Her dish came with mashed potatoes and collards, both of which were very good. As per usual, I'd hoped to have dessert but was far too stuffed to even attempt it. But I'll definitely come back to try more in the future so will have some dessert then.
(5)Trevor V.
Absolutely amazing food!! Everything I have had on the menu is delicious. The wait can be a little long sometime but it's well worth it.
(5)Piper G.
amazing. worth the wait.
(5)Tom M.
This is one place that deserves every bit of 5 stars. Thank goodness for Yelp! or I wouldn't have even known this place existed. Absolutely amazing food. Everything on the menu looked great, I decided to go for the Fried Chicken, mash and gravy and collard greens....DAMN! They can cook some southern food. My girlfriend said that it was like eating along because I was so involved in chowin down this deliciousness. The chicken was perfectly crispy, the mashed were creamy and rich and the collard greens were tenders and seasoned well. One of the best meals I've ever eaten. Girlfriend got the shrimp and grits and it looked awesome, along with a cup of the bacon and potato soup which was very, very good. Really excited about this place. Cool vibe, great food, great prices, really what Portland is all about. Thanks Screen Door!
(5)Antonious M.
The food is really solid . A very tasty marriage of flavors . It will almost always be an insane wait and parking in the neighborhood is a drag but that's generally what good food in Portland is . I will return as I can . The stand out for me above all else - Prailined bacon , cannot live without it :)
(5)Patricia C.
Went back on a recent Friday night, prepared for the worthwhile wait and were delighted to be seated in about 15 minutes. Service was friendly and efficient, food was stellar. Maybe all this talk about long waits is a blessing in disguise.
(5)Dominic V.
Y they call screen door? When I go there, I know see any screen on door?
(4)Chenda N.
if it weren't for the obscene wait, i'd come back here for the food. service was laid back, aloof and got the job done. i asked for a non alcoholic bloody mary and when i tasted booze in my drink, i asked our server a few times if there was alcohol and she kept acting cool (not like awesome cool but more nonchalant cool) and said no. after i started to feel buzzed, i walked up to the bartender to ask and he said yes, he remembered my drink and knew there was alcohol and apologized. good grief! normally i wouldn't mind, but i was the DD that day for gosh sake (and the what ifs pregnant, allergies...) anyway... we ordered two of the famous chicken (and waffles) which were seasoned to perfection and were really tender and crispy. salads came with a generous portion or blue cheese and bacon. omelettes were ok, a bit bland and sandwich was ok. food came out piece by piece which was weird, there was 7 of us including 2 kids. so that leads to the seating thing... we drove from seattle to all meet in PDX at the restaurant and i talked to the hostess many times on the phone letting her know we were on our way, long story short.. a hostess knows it takes forever to find a table for 7 and even though their policy says they can't seat til everyone is there, give me a break, we were missing 2 people, who were on their way...she couldn't even get a table ready..so finally when the 2 ppl came, we had to wait an additional 45 minutes until a table opened. LAME! it was a bday brunch, we paid for the dessert but our server was nice to bring us a candle with dessert.
(4)Jenn T.
Pretty much the most amazing meal I've had here in portland! This is a southern style food joint and is wildly popular, only open for brunch on the weekends and open for dinner on the weekdays. The line is long, but definitely worth it. I came here for some good ol brunch and I love that they have free coffee for you while you wait! When finially seated, we sat at the bar and had some amazing service from Sam, the bartender. I was very amazed with his bartending skills as he made this cool drink in front of us, complete with flames and burning sugar. We ordered the chicken and waffels, the corned beef hash and the biscuits and gravy. They were ALL amazing, just as everyone had already commented. The chicken and waffels were very delicious, the chicken had a tinge of peppery flavor and the waffels were fluffy and delicious. The corned beef hash was also amazing and probably one of the best I've tried ever. It was mixed with potatoes and was so well flavored. The biscuits and gravy was also super yummy, with lots of gravy. I was super glad that we split those 3 dishes, because the biscuits and gravy went AMAZINGLY well with the corned beef hash, I wish they had a combo of those 2! And the chicken and waffels was a great addition. I highly recommened this place and I wish we had one like it back in my hometown. The wait may be daunting but it is definitely worth it, I promise!
(5)Khiem L.
I was born and raised in the South, Houston bred in fact. Holy crap, I have never had better chicken and waffles in my life. EVER. We were warned that we'd wait for a long time but we waited in line for maybe 30 minutes only. While waiting we enjoyed some of the plentiful drinks so there were no complaints. The area itself is also highly conducive to people-watching with an interesting mix of people. When we sat, our server was awesome. Instantly knew the group's personalities and easily communicated with us. Most of us were out of towners so many of felt obligated to order the chicken and waffles. Someone did venture out and tried the corned beef hash. HOLY CRAP. The chicken was spicy battered well and mixed with enough spices for a good kick. It was fried to perfection. Every bite was as moist as a fresh piece of fruit. The waffles were perfectly sweet and didn't need any syrup. The corned beef hash was just as unbelievable. I can't recall the plethora of flavors but I do remember liking it all. At first the prices did make me hesitate but the portions more than justified the cost. On top of that, the flavor made it more than worth the cost. I am definitely stopping by this place again the next time I am in Portland.
(5)Michael P.
I've only visited Portland once, and I'm sure as heck glad I found my way to Screen Door for dinner. The long lineup was a bit of a turnoff at first, but the wait turned out to be worth every second of it. Seated next to the kitchen, my friends and I were able to witness all the chefs hard at work and perfecting every single dish that leaves. What astonished us Canadians the most were the massive portions that were being plated. I'm not talking about a meal fit for a king. Rather, a meal fit for three kings! It'll be difficult for me to list all the dishes we ordered, but I highly recommend ordering their beer battered chicken (an apparent signature dish), the fried catfish, anything with their bacon mashed potatoes, cornbread, and (if you dare attempt) their burger. I, myself, ordered the pork loin daily special with seasonal vegetables, mashed potatoes, salsa, and some other items of delicious. For the amount of food we were presented with by our sociable and friendly server, we'd expected ourselves to pay at least $30 per person. Guess what? It was more along the lines of $14 (excluding tip)! Yes, there is no tax in Oregon. Screen Door had me thinking about their food and somehow integrating my visit in several conversations for days, even weeks after my dining experience. If only they were open on Labor Day because I prepped my stomach for a lunch feast. Cheap, delicious food, massive portions, a friendly, vibrant atmosphere, and staff that are on their toes and willing to answer all your questions easily earns Screen Door a 5-star review.
(5)Jason H.
Super good place for soul food--their fried chicken is tender and juicy with an epic crunch, and their specials will always make you salivate! I also think they make some of the best mac & cheese in the city and have a nifty atmosphere that's casual and a bit romantic for a foodie! However, the times they are open are mostly inconvenient for brunch and dinner and the lines can be long with waiting times in the hours some nights. There are other great places for similar cuisines and I think the place has gotten way too much hype recently. Go here if you're in the area or you haven't tried it--it's definitely worth it.
(4)Sasha B.
Great Souther style food and good drinks too! We tried the "Garden Grits" and the chicken and waffles... It was enough food to feed an army even tho both dishes were right around $10!!! I'd definitely come back to try dinner if I have the opportunity to get to Portland again.
(5)David G.
Incredible prices and worth the wait....get the Fried Chicken & Waffles and if you are a Vegan I'm Sorry...you don't know what you are missing....MMMMMM Good!
(5)Betty N.
YUMMMMMMM.... Talk about food porn! Ordered dishes that were part of the specials for the day. Appetizer: fried green tomatoes with shrimp, entree: pork cutlet. Both were incredibly delicious, esp the appetizer and mashed potatoes. Even the Broccoli was delicious. It's worth a trip back to come back to Portland and eat here again, esp since Portland is a beautiful city (when the sun is out).
(5)Rod C.
My family liked all of it but I only liked the eggs Benedict and the waffle chicken. I suppose if you are into cajun spice, you'll like the food because it seemed like everything was spicy. My daughter ordered a waffle and says it was the best waffle she had ever had. I had the corned beef hash and all I could taste was the cajun spice. There really is an hour wait outside adn they won;t seat you until you're all there. I wouldn't go back. It wasn't worth the wait for me...sorry.
(3)Heidi R.
I love screen door. In the interest of full disclosure I am not from the south nor have I ever been so I don't know if the food is authentic southern cuisine. I just know it tastes great! My favorites are the fried chicken and the mac & cheese. If you are in the mood for a drink the porch swing lemonade is great! The wait can be a bit long, but I've noticed if pick an off time it's not so bad.
(5)Rebecca R.
I love the praline bacon. Do not order it if you have the following conditions: diabetes or heart disease! Also, hubby and I had the chicken and waffles. It is one of their signature items and is quite good. If you don't have a huge appetite, share with some one else. One huge waffle and three, yes, three fully breaded chicken breasts. We had leftovers that we used for an extra meal so I guess we got more than our money's worth. My only issue is that the line is soooo long. I refuse to wait two hours for food. Get there long before it opens to ensure you will be seating early.
(5)Linda L.
Okay, the food was great and all, but I loved the dessert even more. Their Ban-offee Pie, freakin derish! Shortbread pecan crust, layer of banana and caramel, and then a layer of whipped cream...... it was so good. It sounds really sweet, but it's not. Definitely go right when it opens though or else you'll be in line for a while. Next time, I'll probably just order to go.
(5)Stephanie H.
Lines out the door and a 45 minute wait. Host was nice enough to provide us coffee no charge told us to help ourselves. If waiting wasn't enough parties that weren't waiting as long as us that was larger had reservations and was placed by the host immediately. Well if that wasn't a screen door in the face! So after 45 minutes we were seated. I expected for that wait nicer service. Our waitress had no personality was like talking to a corpse. We orders our drinks 15 minutes later they came out. Thank goodness their bloody Mary was amazing and so was their spiced rum hot apple cidar my husband ordered. My husband ordered the chicken and waffles which should be called the chickens and waffle. I ordered the vegetable grits which was so so. My husband love his dish. I had a couple of bites but must admit I have had better. This restaurant should be renamed butter the sides to fit you through the door after a meal. All in all too overrated and don't know what all the fuss is about. If your looking to gain weight and expand a little come here. But as far as the service goes the screen door hits you in the face and the food hits you in the gut!)
(2)Raja S.
Good Southern food (as long as you can put up a wait of 1+ hours). We were there for brunch on Sunday and we ended up waiting for 1.5 hours. We ordered the following: Fried chicken and waffle: Pretty good (huge quantity) and had a little spicy taste. Fried Oyster Benedict: Pretty good as well (should have asked the eggs to be well cooked). Even the veggie dish (cajun scramble without sausage was pretty good) corn bread: just fine. Very nice service. Lots of street parking. My previous review for the same restaurant is not as great: Food: The one item that I liked in most southern restauarants is Jambalaya... the Jambalaya here wasn't good (not rich in flavor)... We were a group of 6, so we got to taste several of their items... I liked the appetizers (Hushpuppies, fried okra was decent). The Creole Jambalaya was okay, nothing to brag about, however the Crispy Fried Buttermilk-battered Chicken was good. The trout pecan was decent as well. Comparing to Montage restaurant, it does not even come close (fried chicken was the only one better in Screendoor).
(4)Cayla C.
Jambalaya was delicious. The mac & cheese was a little much. Make sure you get in line early. Also note to all of those who stand in line alone for their group, if your whole group isn't there you won't be seated. Simple!
(4)Linda V.
This place is a gem. The food is amazing--best fried chicken ever. I was so sad that I couldn't come back for brunch--chicken and waffles sounds amazing! I had the fried chicken-- the sides weren't anything special, pretty classic and standard, but the chicken was just so good. It wasn't super greasy, so flavorful, not the least bit overcooked. Just amazing. My friend had the special of the day which was some sort of rock fish. It had a really delicate, clean and crisp taste. The plate was so colorful. We were extremely full but I insisted on blackberry cobbler. Usually when I've had a fantastic meal somewhere, I want to top it off with dessert. It didn't look that special, but it was delicious. Warm blackberry filling topped with these little crumbly biscuits that had a hint of lemon. There was a giant scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Uh-Maze-Ing. This is where I'm coming for brunch next time I'm in P-Town.
(5)Jacob B.
I've lived in Portland for 6 years and one of the many things I love about this city is the food. Screen Door is one of the reasons Portland's food game is on another level! I typically order the screen door plate because ordering 1 dish is not enough. Although every plate, breakfast, lunch or dinner, has been amazing. As for the 'other' menu items... order an old fashioned and hushpuppies the minute you arrive, and make sure you end with the pecan pie. The ingredients, preparation and attention to detail is what sets this place a part.
(5)Dian K.
Yes, yet another 5 star review for this place. But deservingly so! I've been here many times for brunch - here's a secret trick that I'm sure I'll regret announcing - they DO allow reservations! But it has to be for their first seating (9am, not as early as others). Then you'll get the stink eyes from the hoards of people waiting around the block for their seats. This week I finally got to go for dinner. Fried chicken was awesome. Yes, I'm beating a dead horse. But it's so crunchy on the outside and juicy in the inside. My mouth is watering now thinking about it. Not big on greens, I skipped the collard greens and went for mac and cheese instead. Mac and cheese is awesome. 'nuff said.
(5)J L.
The best southern food in the NW! I live in Seattle and visit here every time I'm visiting Portland. Love the food here and staffs are so friendly and helpful. Love, love, love this place.
(5)Latoya H.
This food aint spicy. I guess its aight southern food. However i never see black eye peas or ox tails on the menu. I forget how bland portland is sometimes when it come to heat in ur food.
(4)Chee K.
It's hard to add another 5 star rating to this restaurant, but I'm gonna do it! It took me about a year of living in Portland to finally go to this venerated restaurant, but once I did, I was hooked. I've gone to brunch and dinner and wish they opened for lunch during the weekday cause I need me some more Screen Door. My main staple would be the fried chicken and waffles offered at brunch. The fried chicken is spicy and crunchy, large pieces of tender breast. The waffles are made with sweet potatoes. Delicious combination. I've also had the Screen Door plate, gumbo, jambalaya, fried catfish and of course the collard greens. Collard greens are so good here, you can taste their long slow cooked with flecks of bacon and pork. The fried oysters are large, perfectly cooked deliciously coated in corn meal concoction. Their cocktails are nothing to sneeze at, they are perfect to pair with the spicy, tasty fried Southern goodness. YUM! I will be back to try everything.
(5)Tiffany M.
Ah, nothing says the weekend like hanging out on a random sidewalk on E. Burnside for an hour with a hot cup o' Stumptown in my hand. This may sound awful, but in fact I quite enjoy it, because I know that this food is worth the wait. If we have folks from out of town, or are just in the mood for some deliciousness, we come to Screen Door. The mimosas are good, the Bloody Mary is better. I can't stop ordering the cajun scramble: the veggies, the andouille sausage, the amazing potatoes on the side... Ahh. Ask for a biscuit instead of toast, there's an upcharge but (again) it's worth it. If you're in the mood for trying their chicken and waffles you will be so so happy. I'm not a big fan of either generally but, Oh Baby is that batter crispy and is that chicken beautifully moist. It's also boneless which is a huge plus. The benedict is always a winner with my husband, and my friend who ordered the bacon praline waffle almost lost a finger once I caught sight of that beauty. The service is always a team effort, and it's the same hard working group every time I'm there. They are a well-oiled machine and it's no surprise considering the demand. The prices are also incredibly reasonable, they could easily charge double and be just as busy. Take a few friends, write your name on the list, and settle down for a long winter's nap on the sidewalk until that glorious moment when it's your name that's being called. At least there's the hot coffee and good company while you wait.
(5)KC U.
Best fried chicken ive ever had! We had to wait about 40 mins to get a seat but well worth it! Service was great and will definitely be returning SOON because I just cant make fried chicken like they do. Thinking about getting a job there just to learn the recipe hehe :)
(5)Vicky L.
Since I'd just be another fantastic raving review amongst ~1000, I'll simply say this: First time in Portland, and Screen Door was THE PERFECT OPENING DINNER. LOVE LOVE LOVE! Oh! Came with Stephanie S. - read her review!
(5)Lynn H.
Great food. Well worth the wait. even at 900PM we say people lining up to get in for dinner.
(5)Abbe and Jebby E.
Many Portlanders already know the secret of Screen Doors magic, so if you want to eat here expect a wait. If you have a party of 6 or more you can skip the line with a reservation, but don't dare be late or show up without your complete party, Screen Door's policies are strict and an empty table doesn't sit empty for long. Screen Door uses all local and seasonal ingredients so they can "maintain the connection between farm and plate" as they put it. Their southern inspired menu brings a fresh perspective on down-home soul food cooking to Portland and definitely gives some of Portland's other Southern inspired eateries a run for their money. You won't find a lot of kitschy Portland art or clever and snarky chalk board specials, but you'll find it comfortable and that's all that matters when your knees deep in your Mac N Cheese pouring Hurricanes down your gullet. All around Screen Door offers a new way to eat Southern in Portland and a better way to get tipsy enough to sing Karaoke two blocks down.
(5)June P.
OMG! So I'm on a road trip from Los Angeles to Vancouver I decide to bust out the Yelp app and see what there was to eat around the area I was in (Near Portland)... Well Screen Door popped up as a near by restaurant with an amazing review so I decided to hit this place up... Well Yelp reviewers were right, there was a huge line but the wait was worth it, the food was amazing.. nom nom nom.... Eggs Benedict's were amazing... I don't know what is in that hollandaise sauce but it was amazing! Very creamy and flavorful and the eggs were cooked to perfection, one slice into the egg and the yolk oozes all over the muffin and sauce.... I think this has to be the best Eggs Benedict i've ever had... Closet I think is Bogarts in Hawaii. Oh and I can't forget the restaurant staff were amazing, very nice and attentive. One other thing is we had ordered a togo item and was told it would take 30min or less so my husband and I walked next door and got coffee while we waited for our togo order, well the waiter was nice enough to go outside and search for us just to tell us our order was ready, how awesome is that? You don't get this kind of service in Los Angeles. I think the only gripe i have is that they were closed mid-day!!! I was so looking forward to one last bite before I headed back down to LA and was totally bummed when I found out they were closed for a few hours.... Next Time!!!
(5)Brittany E.
As many others have said, one should be prepared to wait in line if you go here, however the food is well worth the wait! I love cajun/creole cuisine, so finding this little place was exciting. Even more exciting is the fantastic food. I went for breakfast and had an omelet. Regrettably I forgot which one, but I would try anything on the menu without hesitation and probably enjoy it immensely. Go give it a try!
(5)Daniel R.
This place is amazing!!! Chicken and waffle is near perfect, ambiance is fantastic, and the bloody Mary is pretty darn good. There is always a wait, unless you have a group of 6 or more. Then you can use the call ahead service, which is convenient!
(5)Stephanie S.
Be prepared for a bit of a wait, the giant portions however make up for it. Good place to bring a group, so you can order a bit of everything and share. Everything we ordered had a good punch of Southern flavor to it. The fried chicken crispy, the brisket fall-apart tender, the mac-n-cheese cheesy, and the veg fragrant and light.
(4)Sean K.
I just read my last review on Screen Door and couldn't understand why and how I gave it 4 stars instead of 5! So far I have tried their signature chicken dish, screen door plate, and smoked $ BBQ'd beef brisket, and all three of them were fantastic. I will save you some time from describing how great, flavorful, delicious, filling and amazing they are since there are a little more than 900 reviews... wow. One thing though, going there too early can be troublesome. Street parking is the only means of parking nearby so I try to avoid being there around 5pm. My friends and I went there around 7:30pm (I know it's late and I was dying to devour that chicken...) and we were seated immediately. Also I'm sure going there on Tuesday night helped us too. It wasn't as busy as typical Saturday or Friday nights. Duh. Anyway, Screen Door definitely sets the bar high in terms of fried chicken... 1. Good fried chicken 2. Great fried chicken made with happy chicken 3. Amazing, heavenly fried chicken made with chickens from heaven = Screen Door Fried Chicken
(5)Yaz H.
I don't give many/any five star ratings but this was hands down an out of body food experience...Brown-sugar-pecan-bacon...Need I say more...You can build your own breakfast which allows you to sample some of the items...I got the brown-sugar-pecan-bacon, a biscuit with gravy and roasted potatoes...Momma got the fried chicken and sweet potato waffle and her only complaint was the chicken was boneless and momma loves to gnaw on some fried chicken bones and that the chicken was a bit too peppery, other than that we barely said a word to each other while eating so, you know that means it was crazy good...We saw someone eating the fried oyster benedict and that's what I'm gonna get next time...Get there right when they open or wait till after noon cause the wait is no joke and they run out of specials...Its all about the brunch!!!
(5)Tricia M.
We were in Portland 2 days, and went both nights because this place was so good. But, it almost didn't happen. We called numerous times the first night and the phone was never answered. We arrived an hour and a half before close, and the host told us that for our party of 4, he didn't think he could fit us in, and that we should come another time. We saw several open tables, and there were 3 names on the waiting list! I told him we would give it a shot anyway. We were sat in about 25 minutes, so not sure what that was about. I do know 2 other groups that came in while we waited were told the same thing and left. The host seemed really annoyed both nights. Last grump before the good part: We had a baby with us when we sat, and the table beside us must have made a remark because the host looked at them sympathetically and said, "I am so sorry!" Seriously fella? We don't need you to apologize for us, as if we were doing something rude or wrong. Now, on to the food: I loved the option to choose from the sides to create an entree. The mac and cheese was pure heaven, there was a to die for cucumber salad, and a black kale special side that was scrumptious. My husband said that his shrimp and grits were a bit t'aint ("there ain't" enough on the plate), but was better than most he'd had in the south. Oh, and the grits were really creamy. The cornbread was just okay, so the honey butter helped heaps. When we go back to Portland, we will be sure to revisit!
(4)Joseph C.
There needs to be a Screen Door in Seattle. I love visiting PDX and checking out this place. Foodgasm.
(4)Mollee F.
Screen Door, yours is the meal I won't be able to forget after our trip to the Pacific Northwest. We enjoyed Sunday brunch here a couple weeks ago and I'm still trying to recover from the deliciousness. Yes, there will be a wait. We seemed to luck out, arriving around 10:45 and being seated before 11:15 (though we were told it would likely be an hour). We overheard a man later saying he had arrived before the restaurant opened at 9:30 and was seated just before us. I don't know that I could have sat around smelling those amazing dishes for two hours. Pure torture. This is a busy and energetically noisy restaurant, but you won't need to worry about conversing once the food arrives. You'll be way too busy stuffing your face. Be forewarned that the portions here are ridiculously huge. If you can find a dining partner that wants the same thing as you, for heaven's sake, just share it. My husband encouraged me to try the fried chicken and waffle. I was fearful of the size of it and rightfully so. The waffle alone is the size of a dinner plate and big and fluffy. Then you get three giant boneless chicken breasts with it. The woman next to us was smart enough to just get a box for two of the chicken breasts right away. She had her dinner all set. I wished we would have had the capability to refrigerate and reheat so we could have done the same, but alas, we were hotel bound. This was, by far, the best fried chicken I have ever had. The seasoning is amazing with a bit of a kick to it that will give your mouth something to remember. The chicken itself is moist and flavorful. The waffle - that's almost an afterthought by comparison - but it was also good. My husband ordered the bananas flambe french toast. It's four huge pieces of challah bread dipped in batter and topped with rum-soaked bananas. It was super rich and boldly flavored, but also good. There are so many things on this menu I would go back for and I literally can't wait to. You know a place is good when even the orange juice is the best you've ever had. Bravo, Screen Door. You deserve all the praise you receive (and if you want to open a second location in Minneapolis, I'll be the first in line.)
(5)Andy J.
Fried chicken is some of the best I've had and I couldn't stop eating the fried okra. The greens were respectable as well. It was a Monday night at 630 and the place was packed.
(4)Oanh L.
There was a long list of names ahead of us but it only took 30 minutes to get us seated. This place is worth the wait. My bf and I went here last year. This year this was the first place we ate at. Their chicken and waffles is the best we ever had. The waffle is thick and a good compliment to the chicken. The huge portion of chicken is so crispy, full of flavor and the black pepper balances the sweetness of the maple syrup. It even tastes good without proper heating(we used a blow dryer because we're staying at a hotel). The praline bacon comes with 3 strips of thick cut bacon with a sweet glaze. Its breakfast and dessert rolled into one. Bacon with sugar is a win win combo. This is a little sweet if you ate it alone, I recommend eating it with your meal. The oysters egg benedict has perfectly battered oysters. The batter adds an extra element to the oysters. The egg benedict has strips of bacon instead of ham. Everything tasted so good and was reasonably priced.
(5)Sarah A.
absolutely delicious! totally worth the wait.
(5)Lynn M.
Delish brunch: nicely spiced & crunchy moist chicken n waffles, fried oyster benedict, praline maple bacon (!), and cornbread w blueberry compote. Wow!
(5)Patrick K.
Oh Sara! Let me just give some major props to our server Sara who made our evening at the screen door even more wonderful than it would have been without her! Where to start, better yet, where to end?? Got there at 5:20, line already accumulated for 5:30 opening. We started off with the amazing fried green tomatoes in conjunction with a deliciously fresh cucumber salad. I continued with a cup of gumbo that would be a bowl in most zip codes (not complaining!) and savored every last bite of the uh-mazing shrimp and grits. Holy hell that was good. My boys (8 and 11) loved their choices as well; this place is a solid solid home run.
(5)Jae S.
This will be a quick review. The food is really good, but if you want to get good customer service you better be straight. It is apparent to me that the gentleman owner does not like the gays, he made this abundantly clear with his rude service. It was my first time there and went with my straight friend who has been going there for years and wanted me to try something new, it was embarrassing to have her apologize to me repeatedly for his rude behavior. It was an awful experience I'll never go back:(
(3)Esther J.
They get 5 stars because they have the best grits. PERIOD. Ridiculous portions of fried chicken and waffles. Fresh ingredients and dishes made with absolute touch. Burgers take awhile because it's just ginormous and they make their own patty... It's a great brunch place just be ready to wait.
(5)Jeff H.
Yup. The fried chicken rocks. And the gravy that comes with it is beyond excellent. Colour me tickled.
(5)Lucas C.
This place very well could be a 5 star locale, but unfortunately we had to get our food to go. Quite possibly some of the best fried chicken I've ever had. Mashed potatoes were great too. Cool vibe in the restaurant. Somewhat family friendly. Nice place all around.
(4)Frank D.
Awesome joint. I had a cup of the gumbo (it was a pretty large serving for a cup, but I thought it was just 'okay'), and the pulled pork sandwich (woooooweeee blows your fucking socks off). The pork was perfect, super tender and super moist and extremely flavorful. It had a really hearty layer of cole slaw on top of it. Loved it. The corn bread was super hearty, but be forewarned one order is probably good for two (one order had two huge cake-like pieces of dense, delicious cornbread). The (presumably whipped) butter that came with it was what I imagine crack to be. Above all of that, friendly service. A+!
(5)Dave S.
I came here on a rainy Saturday morning a half hour after opening. I waited 5 minutes for a table for two, which was located outside on the covered patio. The server was very gracious and attentive. He made sure our coffee cups were filled and had no problem going over the menu and making recommendations. The wait for our food, however, was pretty bad. After ordering, we waited 40 minutes for our food. I understand the kitchen was slammed, but that's still a long time to wait. The food was worth the wait, though. The chicken and biscuits were AWESOME. Crispy and moist, with a side of well made grits that complemented the saltiness of the meal perfectly. A+! The pancakes were also great-- I think they used ricotta cheese or something to make the insides extra moist and tasty. A Eat here!
(5)CL B.
Sat on the patio to celebrate the 1st 85 degree day! Hubby loved his brisket , but I loved the homemade pecan pie. I gave this a 5 for the pecan pie....
(5)john l.
Good food but the wait is annoying. They should just open during off hours so people like me can go in when it's not crowded and loud. I probably won't go back because of that line outside... I really don't like feeling like I'm standing in a depression era bread line, and when you finally get a seat the little match girl is peering at you through the window waiting for your seat. Luh-huh-ahhh- Aim! (lame)
(2)K F.
I would easily give this place a 5 stars except it is really noisy. We sat inside on a Saturday around noon. Maybe it would have been a different experience sitting outside on the patio. But let me tell you about their fennel sausage scramble or their chicken fried waffles - actually, you will want to try them for yourself!
(4)Theresa E.
Holy taste buds!! Thank you Jesus for the Screen Door! My sister suggested this place and raved about the fried chicken and waffles. Growing up in Texas, I have a soft spot for southern comfort cooking. So me, my sis and mom decided to dine here for lunch. Check out this list of food we ordered.... Praline maple bacon- SO GOOD-YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS Chicken apple sausage Biscuits and sausage country gravy-OMG YES OMG!! Pulled pork sandwich Strawberry rhubarb pancakes Creole Bloody Mary - I LOVE THIS SPICY DRINK! Now according to my sister, this place normally has an hour long wait (sometimes longer). We were blessed when we went. We arrived at 1:30pm on a beautiful sunny saturday and there were plenty of empty tables. I think everyone was out enjoying the sun. But even if I had to wait 2 hours, I would do it! If you love southern comfort food, go to the Screen Door. I wish they had one of these in Los Angeles.
(5)Stephenie B.
You can't go wrong with the "Screen Door Platter". So many lovely choices I take forever. Wait staff is very friendly and welcoming. One of our favorite places to meet up with friends.
(5)Cherise F.
My impression of Portland brunch is this: there are a few wildly popular places in the city, those places don't take reservations, and everyone is happy to wait 45-90 minutes for their food. Screen Door is one of those places. (It was, after all, mentioned by name on Portlandia). My boyfriend and I came here on a Sunday at about 10 am for brunch. We had to wait about 45 minutes, as did everyone else. Everyone seemed happy to wait, and enjoyed their free coffee or coffee from the cafe next door. It must be a cultural thing about Portland that I don't really get. I don't think anyone in Seattle would tolerate having to wait that long for brunch. I was excited to try this place but their Southern-themed menu looked appealing to me. I ordered the the blackened tofu and egg scramble ($7.95). It was delicious, hearty, and a great value. My boyfriend got their famous brunch dish- the fried chicken and waffles ($12.95). A thick Belgian waffle is piled with 3 or 4 thick pieces of fried chicken held together like a tower with a steak knife. The wait was long and the noise level high, but the prices were great, the food was excellent, and the service was excellent and efficient.
(4)Kay N.
Heard this place from a co-worker. All I have to say is order the chicken and waffles! The chicken was crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. It also had a hint of spiciness which I liked. The waffle had a nice crunch to it, yet the inside was soft and fluffy. I would definitely recommend this dish. Other people on my table had the pancakes (huge btw), fried oyster eggs Benedict (she said it was so-so), and the customized breakfast dish of eggs, praline/brown sugar bacon, and sausage. The praline/brown sugar bacon is really sweet, so if you have a sweet tooth, i would say go for it! Our service was great, overall I would recommend this place for breakfast food!
(4)Sherry S.
Hype does not exist here. No way, no how! No flies on them. Must be due to the screen door, dunno. I didn't even bother bringing my camera to take food pics etc. with almost 900 reviews at this place. Nothing more to see here. And thought that my 600th review would be worthy enough for them instead. At 515pm on a Saturday we got in their line, which was around the block. I hate lines but it was pretty much a moot point. We managed to get in at the first rush anyway. The servers, bussers were "on" from the get go. No table left unturned. Well choreographed.. and never got to see them sweat. They were helpful, attentive, and yet not impatient. 8 huge prawns in this most amazing sauce atop the most creamy and flavorful grits.. Prawns cooked absolutely perfectly. I asked for the dish sans bacon, and I did not miss it. Sometimes when I ask for a dish without the meat it tastes like it's not complete. The chef was on top of it here. I ate all of it, every bite. We sat outside in the nice summer breeze enjoying their home-like cooked meal, sipping on our drinks. It was marvelous.
(5)Caty W.
I've been going to the Screen Door for a while now and you can't go wrong with anything on their menu. I had the soup of the day today which was the carrot velouté and it was simply orgasmic!!!! Their beef brisket and catfish are my absolute favorite and the way they make their mashed potatoes with gravy, the potato salad, or the coleslaw is pure art. The fact that all the produce used is from local farms makes the food so much more enjoyable because you're eating natures finest. Long story short, the Screen Door is a monthly must for me to get my fix. Now go get yours!!!! ;)
(5)Sylvia B.
Best Breakfast ever! I have been meaning to write a review about this place. I ate here last year and the Screen Door STILL makes me yearn for the Vegetable Hash. The restaurant is a house, small in size but large enough to where you don't feel like you're sitting in the laps of the diners around you. This place was packed when we went but the free coffee made the wait bearable. The Vegetable Hash was made up of butternut squash, brussel sprouts, onions and potatoes. The vegetables were roasted then mixed together with a bit of seasoning. The mixture of vegetables were heavenly! My husband had a great dish of a biscuit with a piece of fried chicken and of course gravy. Everyone that worked there was friendly and made sure we were doing alright. I love the fact that they did not follow the "normal" breakfast. A must try place when you visit Portland!
(5)Lindsay F.
best friend chicken of my LIFE! the chicken and waffle is what happy dreams are made of. Service is good, wait was less than I was expecting and the sausage gravy is to die for. LOVE this place.
(5)Lina C.
I visited this place on a Saturday morning at 9:30am. There was a 45 minute wait for a party of two. The wait was expected...what good breakfast joint doesn't have a super long wait on weekends?! Grabbed coffee next door and came back 45 minutes later to be seated immediately. I ordered the chicken and waffles which was DELICIOUS. My waffle was a little overdone but the chicken more than made up for it. The chicken was well seasoned, moist and just plain delicious. I have never had fried chicken from any other place that I liked as much as this. It was also a huge portion size. I also tried the biscuits and gravy. It wasn't served with the traditional biscuit but rather a bread; however, it still worked because it was one of the best I've tasted. The service was good and our server was efficient as well. I will definitely return and I am happy to say the food was well worth the wait.
(5)Sylvester I.
Unbelievable food! Try the Pecan crusted trout amazing! This place is a great twist on southern cooking.
(5)Roman S.
review #890.. what's not to like about screen door besides the wait. this place serves really delicious, well - prepared southern food. portions are nice and everything i've had did not disappoint (more sauce on the brisket please!) best place in portland? not really.. but, if you want southern food you will be satisfied.
(5)Frank H.
My wife and I like to go here for breakfast when we're in Portland. There's always a line of people waiting to get in. We park around the block, put our name on the list, get coffee next door and we're usually seated shortly there after. The fried chicken and waffles is a strange but delicious breakfast. Good service. The servers act like they own the place because of how they hustle. It is impressive to watch. Everything that I've eaten here has been very tasty. It can be loud though because of the size and open seating arrangement . This doesn't mix well with hangovers.
(4)George C.
Waited an hour for some tasty food. I ordered the biscuits and gravy and they were the best I've ever had. The gravy was yummy but the fresh biscuits were the deal breaker. They were slightly browned on both sides which made them crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Very tasty! My eggs were cooked perfectly too! The cheese grits were yummy but I prefer them to be a little less runny. Just my personal preference. Overall they were very good. I also tried a few bites of the Alabama Scramble and potatoes. Enjoyed both! Our server was probably nice but didn't say much because she was so busy running around. Good job overall. This place is always packed so be patient when waiting for a table and for the food to arrive.
(5)Aimee L.
Damn fine breakfast. Asinine wait for a table but hey, it's Portland and having the bartender making bloody mary after bloody mary made it definitely worth it (why don't more restaurants do this?!). Shrimp & grits is the finest I've ever had, even better than my homemade version. Tasty. 'nuff said.
(4)Kimberly C.
Yum! If you visit Portland, you must eat at Screen Door. It's a small restaurant in the Burnside neighborhood. No matter what time you eat here, get early and be prepared to wait online, outside or inside. Yes, the food is that good. My family and I ate Sunday brunch here. We arrived at 8:40 am waiting for the 9:00am opening. A long line wrapped around the building had already formed! Promptly at 9, the doors opened and we were seated in a booth on the left side of the restaurant. I knew I wanted to try the sweet potato waffles (sans the fried chicken-I heard it was good though). My parents ordered Oyster Benedict, my sister had Shrimp 'n grits, and I happily ordered sweet potato waffles topped with banana slices. Our food came out quickly and our waitress was efficient. Everyone was happy with their food. My waffles were beautifully arranged on a white plate. They were fluffy, sweet potatoey, and delicious. They have something for everyone on their menu, from the pickiest eaters. They also have a full bar so you can enjoy a libation with your meal. I would totally return to this restaurant when I return to Portland!
(4)Ferm B.
I have only eaten here for brunch, but it was awesome! If you are anywhere near portland during breakfast time, you have to try it. It was worth the wait.
(5)Alaina W.
It was a Sunday night, and the wait was long. It was a Sunday night, and the wait was worth it. Our server was... odd. Bad night? Feeling sick? Don't know what her problem was. I got the fried chicken which was supposed to be the best-selling dish. It was tasty, but didn't have soul. The mac + cheese was good. Huge, bubbly serving. Still don't know what our server's problem was. Stop ignoring us. The brisket was very good. A little more sauce, please. Sweet tea was good, but not sweet enough. More sugar, please. Our server still had a problem. It doesn't hurt to smile. It's loud. It's got a great view into the kitchen. It's got the most fantastic strawberry shortcake I've tasted in the world. So far. Fresh. Ass. Biscuit. Delicate. Delicious. Our server had a problem. And she didn't care if she got a good tip or not. Oh. The women's restroom has the smoothest, quietest paper towel dispenser ever. I hope you get a different server than we did. Because you'll want to stop by the Screen Door.
(5)Phuong K.
My family and I made a trip from Seattle to Portland just so we can try this place out. We came here for brunch and it was still very busy when we got here, but it is well worth the wait. My family and I got a bunch of different dishes to try such as: -Shrimp and grits: very very good grits!!! -Fried chicken with sweet potato waffle: Fried chicken was super crispy and juicy in the middle. The waffle was very good as well -Praline maple bacon: AMAZING -Eggs Benedict: Good, but they over poached the egg -French toast: Very very sweet -Corned beef scramble: Very good but had a strong mustard taste to it -Homemade sausage and egg sandwich: AMAZING. Very flavorful and delish!!! Probably the best breakfast during my trip. Everything was very good and flavorful. I love that they have different twists to their food. This place is a packed house all the time so be prepared to wait, but of course it is well worth it. Definitely a go to place when you are in Portland.
(5)Amanda S.
If you come here for weekend brunch as I did, you might be disappointed to find an insanely long wait. Let me assure you that you will be even more disappointed if you do not eat this food. My friend and I, in a fit of gluttony after just having run, ordered about half of the menu. Everything that we had was delicious, you cannot go wrong. As a vegetarian, I'm ashamed to admit that I could not resist the praline bacon. N matter what or how much you order, do not miss out on the praline bacon. You can order much of the menu a la carte, allowing you to sample just about everything. The service was pretty good, but this place gets 5 stars because the food is phenomenally good and I'd go back despite an inevitably long wait. If you do find yourself waiting, I'd highly suggest walking to Holman's on 28th and Burnside, as they have an excellent Bloody Mary bar.
(5)S P.
Their food is obviously very good. 5 stars. But that can only take you so far. Wait staff and service overall was a little meh. Thought they could have been a bit friendlier. Minus one star. The wait was long. Place opens at 9 on weekends but even at 8:30 there was a line round the corner. Put our names down a bit after 9, didn't get seated till 10:40. Minus another star.
(3)Amy L.
Love their fresh greens menu and brunch. I tried some of the sweet potato waffles, very tasty and crispy also the best biscuit I've ever tasted. I prefer the biscuit here more than Pine state. The biscuit is flaky yet soft and buttery. I also tried the veggie hash....I don't recommend it cause it was a bit salty. Next time I will try the tofu scramble or the grits. I love the feel of the place and they have quite a few options for vegetarians. I would go back for the waffles, biscuit and other items. Wait not too long for brunch 45mins.
(5)Lauren K.
The wait was INSANE...but then again, shame on us for thinking that we could get a table for two by arriving at 1030am. My friend and I ordered a lot o a la carte type of stuff, mainly because we wanted to try everything. We didn't realize how GIGANTIC the portions are. We could have ordered 1 dish with 1 or 2 sides and still had more than enough. It was all very good but we shied away from ordering the mainstays such as the chicken & waffles. Again, ginormous portions. You could easily put half aside in a to go container at the beginning of the meal and walk out feeling like you over ate. Hello, food coma. Or better known back on the east coast as "the itis."
(4)Dale C.
soul food that is prepared and served by some of the most outgoing staff around town!
(5)Lemmy E.
Only 875 reviews? I better put my 2 cents in. Great for brunch and dinner. Top 3 brunch places in town. You will wait however, but its worth it. If you don't like waiting go elsewhere.
(5)Ben C.
Good lord! how are people in portland so fit and beautiful with this place slinging the best fried (boneless) chicken I've ever had, at such a great price? The stars are obviously the deep fried birds, but the deep fried oysters are a close rival - probably your best bet is to order them both ;)
(5)Casey R.
There is no doubt the Screen Door has made a name for themselves in Portland. They are in foodie and travel magazines and even the valet attendant at our downtown hotel knew where we were going for Sunday brunch just by telling him the street it's on. Burnside is a very big street mind you. My wife and I were given strict orders by a local friend to show up at least 15 minutes before they opened the doors at 9am. We showed up 20 minutes early, found relatively close street parking and made our way to the back of the line that had already wrapped around the block. We waited a total of 45 minutes before finally being seated...outside in the cold. This was no big deal as I was just excited to finally be seated and eat. The hostess and waitress weren't the friendliest, but hey, I came here to eat, not make friends. This has little effect on my review. I made sure to order their "Creole" Bloody Mary. It was very good. Super spicy and strong. Just the way I like my daily pre-9:30 cocktail. I am a big fan of chicken and waffles so I knew I was going to get this before even coming here. Once it arrived I was in shock at its enormity. It was beautiful. Three huge boneless breasts of juicy chicken meat stacked on top of each other lying like a sexy bitch on top of a buoyant sweet potato waffle. I couldn't eat it all but I really wanted to. My only complaints about the dish is the breading on the chicken tended to separate from the chicken itself rather easily which left myself with a mouthful of just chicken meat and no salty deep fried orgasm to lend a hand. The sweet potato waffle was also pretty bland. It just couldn't hold a candle to the chicken. However the homemade hot sauce and maple syrup helped with that. The texture of the waffle was rather nice as well. Overall this is a great place. I want to try everything on the menu. It's obvious why this place is packed but I can't see myself waiting in line again for breakfast. Maybe I will come back for dinner and try my luck then next time in Portland.
(4)Rebecca C.
I had come here months ago for dinner with my family and couldn't figure out what all the hype was about. Then I came for brunch a few weeks ago and now I know. This place has one of the best brunches around. Most of my party ended up getting the chicken and waffles and other sweet things, but I couldn't take my eyes off the eggs sardou. Holy crap, it was delicious. The egg, the artichoke, the spinach. I loved it. Next time I will request it on a biscuit instead, because frankly the english muffin seems too... pedestrian for this meal. I tried bites of the chicken and waffles, the praline bacon, and their country gravy and biscuits. I'm so coming back. Now if only I can talk myself out of eating the same thing twice in a row...
(5)Kirsten K.
I came because of the hype. Will only be back for the mac. Lol Best mac and cheese I've ever had in my life. Sweet potato fries were disappointing, pork chop was blah
(3)Julie R.
I just rode my bike 200 miles from Seattle to Portland. 5 minute wait on a Saturday evening around 8:30pm. Freshest tasting, rare, 10oz burger I've ever eaten. Just $10.90. With fries. Best fried chicken, moist, spiced with lots of black pepper. A server (not even our own waiter) bought my brother a beer for riding the STP. Great place, highly recommmend, I will be back!
(5)Rosetta S.
I've been for dinner before, totally 5 stars! So of course I had to try brunch. I tried the Bananas Foster French Toast, which was AMAZING! The rum sauce complemented it perfectly. And the texture of the brioche was awesome. It is tied for best french toast in Portland (or that I've ever had). But I also tried the Brioche Vanilla Bean French Toast, which I'm pretty sure was the same as the bananas foster, but not doctored up and not quite as good. I also had the Eggs Sardou,poached eggs over artichoke hearts and creamed spinach on an English muffin, topped w hollandaise. It was okay, but not the greatest. Everything was well made, but the flavor combinations just weren't snazzy enough for me. The service is awesome! Our server was friendly, funny, and helpful. Very prompt, and didn't pressure us to be quick. Brunch was a 4.5 stars for me. This is a must eat at in Portland!
(4)Nichole K.
Best fried chicken and brisket in town! Get there early because there tends to be a line out the door, but it's well worth the wait!
(5)Shad A.
A very southern breakfast theme for the Sunday scene. Come hungry and stay patient. The line may be huge but so are the portions. A good place to wear your stretchy pants or bring the neighborhood and share a plate of chicken and waffles.
(5)Troy R.
Heard about this place from a few locals. So while working because I'm on a business trip, I thought of this place at the first sign of hunger. Ordered take-out and I'm glad I did because this place was packed, with more people waiting for a seat and did I mentions IT'S WEDNESDAY! So let's just get to it....the rumors I've heard about their tasty fried chicken are oooooo sooo deliciously true! Not the best fried chicken I've ever had (sorry Ad Hoc still holds that title) but still very good. Everything else was not as spectacular. The mashed potatoes are tasty for a few bites, after that my stomach began to hurt because there was so much butter in them. The mac n cheese sure does look the part but the taste ...it's almost undescribeable. Smooth, creamy but ......again hard to explain and I've had way better mac n cheese. Lastly, the collard greens were decent but if I make it back again, I'm not going to get them again. I'd probably try something else. This is still a decent joint and I'm pretty impressed that a place in Portland can make chicken like this. Because of the sides I want to give them 4 stars BUT they get 3 stars because if someone orders a chicken dinner for takeout, you probably want to give them some utensils. NO you do want to give them utensils. Even though I have my fried chicken champ in the bay area, this is probably the best fried chicken in P-town.
(3)Daniel S.
I ordered the fried chicken tenders as an appetizer with the BBQ brisket as my main with green beans and potato salad as the sides. Overall the meal was satisfying. I ordered the chicken as I did not plan on getting the fried chicken as a main. The breading is as everyone else describes, not greasy and not The brisket was nicely cooked and varied from fall apart cooked to a little bit of chew. I prefer some texture to my meats otherwise they get a bit boring and homogeneous. The sauce was only okay, I have had better BBQ sauces at other dedicated spots this was a little too slathered on and a bit too sweet.
(4)Marcie C.
Yu. Um. Loved every bite. And sips. I will definitely return. 4.5 stars, only because we ordered coffee to have with our desserts, and was never once offered a refill on the coffee. Bummed, because I brought an out of town guest (first time for Stumptown coffee for her too) and we lingered over dessert to visit and catch up. There were only two to a few people waiting at any time by then (we were keeping an eye on this and wouldn't have lingered if the line was crazy.) The short line was accommodated quickly and my small coffee cup emptied well before I finished my dessert. People need their coffee refilled or they get a little cranky!
(4)Joseph K.
This place is awesome. They need to open more locations because this place does get busy. But it is completely worth it. If you're a true foodie, you'll wait in line for days for great food ... ok just me? You can't consider yourself an oregonian/portlander if you haven't been here. This is one of those restaurants. I always have to compare chicken and waffles to this place's. It is top notch. Exactly what you want from a Chicken and waffles. The waffle has a hint of sweetness. Has a good crust but nice soft fluffy inside. Goes well against the amazingly moist off the bone chicken. (Yes off the bone, but still amazingly tender) The marinade/seasoning is awesome. One of the best fried chicken i've had. The contrast is the best. Not too salty, not too sweet on each extreme. Perfect balance. I managed to eat the whole thing...but I eat alot. This was crazy filling. Amazing stuff. Everytime I go back to pdx, I make it a priority to go here. I'm drooling just writing this review. I miss pdx. i miss Screen Door.
(5)Cassandra C.
The hype was justified. It was delicious. And it took forever to be seated. But if you can handle waiting 45m-1h to be seated, you'll be glad. I had two cocktails and the fried chicken dinner. Delicious. And those drinks were strong. Or maybe I went on an empty stomach and that was the culprit. But either way. Awesome place with really good chicken. My BF got the burger and after sampling my fare decided he missed out. Fried chicken +1, burger -0 Had the Texas Oil/Gold (or something?) cocktail and also one that had Scarlet in the title. They were both great but the Texas one was better, with raspberry syrup or muddled berries or something delicious. Great place. Would love to come back. With a snack in my pocket. Also, they'll serve you liquor in the vestibule before you're seated.
(4)Sydney K.
Yes, we waited for over 30 minutes for a table, but to be fair, there were 7 people in our party, so what do you expect? I would waited an hour - the food was incredible and completely worth it. I'm still thinking about the sweet potato waffles with the tower of fried chicken on top, the corned beef hash with buttery little piece of corned beef and crispy potatoes, the pork and apple sausage, the mound of fresh summer veggies with perfectly over easy eggs, the apple cider mimosa, the croque madam...we tried almost everything and it was all transcendental. This is the best breakfast/brunch I've had in my life, and I eat a lot of brunch! I wish I lived in Portland so that I could go every weekend. If you visit, put this place on the top of your list. To top it all off, the waitress was super friendly and even split our check up 5 ways!
(5)Jack S.
Incredible!!! Everyone should come enjoy this delightful place!!!!
(5)John S.
Hands down best fried chicken I've ever had. The only complaint is that I foolishly didn't order it so had to eat half of my wife's. We sat at the bar because the restaurant was mobbed, but the service was great and the people watching was nearly as good as the outstanding food. Great neighborhood place, and worth coming in from outside the neighborhood.
(5)Leslie B.
It's no wonder why this restaurant has been featured in a lot of top ten restaurants..I'd have to agree with them, it's that good. The line can be a bit long, but hey what good restaurant doesn't have a line. The vibe is super laid back, just like Portland. The service is excellent, I don't think our drinks were ever empty. Now to the food, I had to try the fried chicken since it was what most people raved about. It did not disappoint! They used a boneless chicken breast (Yes!) but yet managed not to make it dry. The crispiness was just right and the batter was flavorful. It came with mashed potatoes and gravy as well as grits but I substituted that with mac n' cheese and thank goodness I did. It's probably one of the best mac n' cheese that I've had. Nice, gooey and cheesy! I dipped my chicken in their homemade hot sauce.....sooooo good. I wish they sold it, cuz I would stock up on some, but they don't, bummer. My bf had the cheek pot roast which came with mashed potatoes and vegetables. He said his only complaint was that they gave him a knife because it was so tender that the knife was not needed at all. I think he could've licked the plate if there was no one else around, lol. To sum it up, great food, fantastic service, price is a little high but it's so worth it. I can't wait to go back when I'm in Portland again.
(5)Kris P.
best fried chicken! love that it's boneless! it came with a side of mashed potatoes with gravy and really good collard greens. for the screen door plate i had the following three: fried pork chop- well seasoned and really crispy! mac & cheese- soo soo good. love the crispy gooey cheesy crust on top. smoked chicken & andouille jamabalaya- it was so dry. i had pieces of dried crispy rice :( -not sure if it's usually like this. really good southern food that hits the spot. i'll definitely be back!
(5)Jihae H.
Cannot believe that I haven't reviewed this place! This is a destination brunch place - by that, I mean that once you are there, you are destined to be there for at least 3 hrs! :) That being said, as long as you go with the knowledge that you are likely to be waiting for a while, you will leave very happy you were patient. I had the chicken and waffles...and just about died from sheer bliss. I am a SUPER fan of this southern comfort dish and when I try it at new places, most times I leave unhappy. It's not a hard dish to make, but it sure is easy to mess up! The breading on this chicken was seasoned and cooked to perfection - tender inside, but still crunchy on the outside, with the light fluffly waffle soaking up the greasy goodness at the bottom. Bloody Mary was also fantastic...and we were able to order them while we were waiting, helping our patience levels greatly :) Really recommend this place - can't wait to go back for dinner.
(5)Albert W.
Had the fried chicken.... it was good and loved the slaw. You can tell that it was home made. Very laid back environment and they use locally sourced ingredients. Seemed very popular with the local folks. I think I need to go back to try more items from the menu.
(4)Leigh F.
I always say I'm going to sit down and write a review and then I don't. This place had great food so I want to give them their props! Went tonight. I expected long lines and there were a few people outside, no big deal. There were even more folks inside waiting of course! Ha. We were told the wait would be about 30 min but I think it moved a lot quicker. Inside is pretty dark, the tables are very small and very close together but they fit a lot of folks in there and they do bar seating. There's a small patio with a few tables outside too. Pro: The wait moved by nice and quick and the gentleman sitting everyone was very personable. Con: I don't like dark and loud, I would have liked to have sit outside but I was happy to finally get to eat. When we finally got to sit our waitress who took our order didn't ask us how we were doing or give her name or anything. Not great customer service skills. She looked at me blankly like I knew what I was supposed to tell her first and took our drink and dinner order all at once. Not really my idea of great service but it was busy so...whatever. We had: Butter salad - yum! Mac and cheese - nothing special Fried chicken with mashed potatoes, gravy, and collard greens - get this! Shrimp and grits - I prefer cheese in my grits but these were very traditional and had lots of nice big, perfectly cooked shrimp on top. I drank some tequila thing with blackberry puree - very good and the bartender brought it over with a flourish of his hand that made me smile. At the end of meal I was too full for dessert which was kind of a bummer because the pecan pie looked really good. We'll have to go again! Darn! The tab was about $50 for 2 - not so bad. And the food was great. Def go for the chicken your first visit I'd say and try to sit outside on the covered porch if its warm enough. My pictures were not great because its dark so good luck with taking some!
(4)LaQueanya H.
Chicken & Waffles...ENOUGH SAID!! There is never a question of where to go to breakfast when we want to eat out for breakfast/brunch!! I have only been for breakfast/brunch but have never been disappointed!! Deliciousness of the food has been consistent every time! I can't say one bad thing! And yes I am willing to wait in line!!
(5)AaRoN G.
This place is a must try if your craving that Southern-style cooking while visiting the Great Northwest. Their Crispy-Buttermilk Fried Chicken is definitely worth trying. Every square millimeter is super juicy and flavorful. Fried oyster didn't disappoint, but the Jambalaya and country fried steak were very dry though which was a far cry from their moist fried chicken. Dimly lit, tightly packed and super-friendly, this place has major appeal to all foodies, and the spicy and savory level of their entrees perfectly counters the gloomy and melancholic weather of Portland. I just hope their Jambalaya is less gloomy next time I visit.
(4)Paris O.
i really really want to give the screen door 4 stars, but after our recent dinner experience i cannot. brunch/breakfast definitely gets 5 stars!! chicken n waffles, nothing better!! really, anything on the breakfast menu, you can't go wrong with. dinner on the other hand, totally unimpressed. at the table we had the pulled pork sandwich, fried chicken, and a burger. the pulled pork was eh. the chicken was eh, and the burger average. like many other people have stated, you will more than likely have to wait for a table. we have found, that if you arrive 45min-1hr after opening, you'll hit the first round of tables leaving, and get seated quite quickly. brunch or breakie on a weekend though...your bound to wait an hour easy.
(3)Stephanie W.
I went last week, and I already, really, really want to go again! It's definitely worthy of all its rave reviews! The Screen Door had a wait of around 30 minutes on a Monday night, to give everyone a fair warning - people sit around patiently in droves for their food! But I must add that all staff on the floor that helped me and my friend were incredibly nice! I feel like nice restaurant staff around Portland, especially in busy, popular restaurants . . . can be hard to find. It was nice and appreciated! Once seated, I of course pounced on the opportunity to order their famous fried chicken with a side of okra and cornbread. This too was a wait. But my goodness! When all of my plates sat in front of me, the smell alone nearly put me into a euphoric food coma! The chicken was boneless and so, so, so tender - not to mention a little deliciously spicy. The collards were tasty, the cornbread was amazing with butter that I'm even quick to rave about, the fried okra was moist and was taken up a notch with a delicious dipping sauce. Even the sweet tea is something I find myself dreaming about! I can't say it enough, go at least once you've got the time. My leftovers were just as good the following night as they were when they arrived fresh and hot on my table. Stellar food!
(5)Joel B.
Hard to say, but this is probably my favorite restaurant in Portland. I have been here 3 or 4 times and everything that I have ordered has been delicous. Be ready for a wait though, probably an hour or so. I Would try going for a late dinner or putting your name in then walking around the corner for a drink or 2
(5)Ashley C.
I realize I'm just a "voice from the maddening crowd" at this point (look at all those reviews!) but this place rocked and is so different from what we have out here behind the Orange Curtain. I had the fried chicken. Perfection. My husband has some Cajun shrimp and grits dish that was amazing; the sauce was perfect. We also tried the Mac n' Cheese which was definitely worth it (what is it with that Oregon cheese?) and the corn bread; good, not mind-blowing. Husband had a great brew, too. I'm so glad we went here for our last dinner in Portland, it definitely did not disappoint. Makes me more sad than anything though since I live here, and Screen Door is alllllll the way up there. Oh well, when's our next vacation?
(5)Tommy W.
Be prepared to leave this restaurant in a food coma. We decided to attempt this restaurant on a Saturday, despite other reviewers warnings on long wait times. We showed up around 12:30pm and the wait wasn't long at all. First, we tried the fried chicken on a sweet potato waffle. The chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside and the flavor was delicious. The salty chicken with the sweetness of the waffle with syrup (or jam) was a good combo and a great brunch choice. We also tried the praline bacon waffle and was blown away. There are actual bacon pieces in the waffle batter, and on top is a thick cut piece of bacon covered in a praline crust. The waffle is also topped with whipped cream and more pecan pieces and comes with a side of maple syrup. It was the perfect balance of salty and sweet and it was incredibly filling. The restaurant itself is a just a big open dining area with about 15 or so tables, plus a bar and patio seating as well. The service was good and everyone was very laid back and friendly. Definitely had the Portland vibe going on. The prices are about what you'd expect anywhere else, and I'll be back.
(5)Megan V.
We found this plate on Yelp when looking for someplace to go for a Sunday brunch with the daughter and son-in-law. The wait wasn't as bad as we thought; but none of that mattered once we got the food. Both the husband and I got the chicken and waffles. I can't remember what the daughter and son-in-law got; I do know they liked it. The chicken and waffles were AMAZING. I am still looking for some as awesome as those in the Bay Area. So if you're lucky enough to live in Portland, you need to definitely go.
(5)Kevin A.
The ambiance was warm and inviting, the food was fresh, seasonal, and local, and the prices were reasonable for the quality you received. It was my first time having fried oysters...thought I had died and gone to heaven! My brisket was cooked perfectly and smoked very well. The fried chicken was out of this world tender!!! Well worth the wait for classic southern food.
(4)Allie R.
My romance with Screen Door has gone something like this: First visit (dinner): Amazing. Life-changing. In love. Dreaming of mac and cheese for days afterward. Counting the days until I can come back (and promising myself that I'll show more restraint in ordering dinner so I can order dessert afterward). Second visit (breakfast): Praline bacon? Yes, please. Oh, and the bananas foster french toast too. Totally enjoyable. Arrived right before opening and (miraculously) only had to wait about 15 minutes for a table. Third visit (dinner): Still great food, still great service, and I especially enjoyed the drink specials on this visit. But my enthusiasm is starting to wane. It's good, don't get me wrong... but the wait is often obscene, and the more things I order, the more convinced I become that the mac and cheese is the best thing on the menu. If I visit again, will this drop down to a three-star review? Only time will tell. For me, Screen Door is more about the novelty than anything else. There are lots of places that are less indulgent (i.e. more calorically reasonable), easier to get into, and equally delicious.
(4)Kamille Gino C.
An hour wait on a Saturday morning, good food and awesome service. The sunny-side up eggs were cooked perfectly!
(3)Laura C.
Ok, so, I don't like fried chicken, and I love their fried chicken. I think that kinda says it all... I'm not a huge fan of southern food, but my mom loves fried chicken in just about any incarnation, so we indulged here and went to the screen door. Boyfriend and I both had the Screen Door Plate where you pick three things. I had a local/special salad, a pork chop, and the jambalaya. We also started with a plate of friend okra. It was all really good - even the okra (well, it's still okra, but it was pretty darn good) After tasting the fried chicken, I wished I'd gotten a piece :) it really is the best. Desserts are similarly fabulous. Even if you're borderline on southern food, this is the place to try. The staff are really friendly and know the food, the food is made really well, and it has a fabulous atmosphere. It really does pay to stand at the door starting 10 mins before they start seating for dinner...
(5)Terra H.
We were food snobs before, but this place has ruined breakfast for us. In the sense that we will never have a breakfast as good as the one we enjoyed at The Screen Door. The wait was super long (about an hour) and usually I'm not one for waiting, but something about this place told me it would be worth it, and boy was I right! The food was delivered within 15 minutes after ordering and was DELICIOUS! I had the biscuits and gravy and as a southern girl I can be quite the critic but these were right up my alley! We had to try the maple praline bacon and I have spent the last few weeks since trying to come up with a reason why we must return to Portland immediately just to have more of it! We will definitely be returning here, often!
(5)Piper S.
Great food and drinks. Family friendly. We will come back for sure the next time in Portland. I'm not a fried chicken eater but it came recommended by our server. It was the best I"ve ever had!! Get there early, it fill up quick.
(5)Kate F.
I love the screen door plate. If you want brunch line up around 830 or be prepared to wait.
(4)Krista M.
When my boyfriend and I decided to visit Portland from LA, we started looking up great places to eat. Screen Door was on every list of top eats that we came across. We had to wait an hour but they supplied free coffee and it was worth it. I had the biscuits with mushroom vegetarian gravy and it was delicious. It's extremely hard to find vegetarian gravy and this is the best I've ever had. My boyfriend had the fried oyster florentine with veggie sausage instead of bacon. His was amazing as well. The bloody Mary was spicy but perfect. I would definitely recommend Screen Door to anyone visiting Portland or anyone who lives there and hasn't been yet.
(5)Kim K.
I probably don't need to review a place so highly rated and frequently reviewed so I'll keep it brief. The hype is for real. Go here, get the fried chicken, and enjoy the atmosphere. The service is excellent, prices are great, and quality is out of this word. Pro Tip: The wait gets LONG. Opt to sit at the bar! It won't change your experience at all and you'll be entertained the whole time - the bartender HUSTLES.
(4)Jack L.
Chicken and waffle! Gotta get that. Three huge pieces of fried chicken breast! One well made waffle. Best deal ever! Oyster Benedict's with cheddar grits. The eggs benedict were perfect. Oysters tasty. Cheddar grits I finished even as I was complaining how full I was. Service was very good and prompt. We even lucked out and avoided the line somehow. Definitely a five star experience.
(5)Anthony B.
Oh baby! we waited in line for 20 mins before they opened and would have waited an hour!!
(5)Kristine A.
I still love this place but my husband hated the macaroni and cheese the last time we were there. Just an FYI. Pork Chops was not my favorite either. Fried Chicken is still Aww-mazing!
(5)Lucky B.
Yummy food, excellent friendly staff. Order the winter or summer hash! OK we all know typically we have to wait in line for breakfast but this place is ridiculous which is why I removed one star.
(4)In B.
I believe they have thEE best chicken in the universe! Heaven in your mouth.
(4)Pete C.
This place is a must go when your in portland! Whether it be for brunch on the weekend or for dinner, they have the best fried chicken ever! If you go during brunch make sure atleast one person orders chicken and waffles, its the best chicken and waffles, well a close second. But if you do go for dinner, make sure to go a little later in the night or like 10-20 minutes before they open or you can be waiting up to an hour and half for a table. I guess that also counts for brunch, its literally busy all the time. Love the vibe from the place and honestly the best southern restaurant I have tried! Also make sure to try their mac and cheese and for desert get the banana cream pie (forgot what its called) but its the only banana related desert they have and its amazing. If your ever in portland, make sure to hit this place up!
(5)Michael K.
Clara, my girlfriend, and I have been trying to get into Screen Door for a while, always seeing a line around the block. When I was able to get a Sunday off for a local convention and saw that Screen Door offered brunch on the weekends, we attempted to go. Alas, the line was once again around the block. We went to the convention and came back at about 1:30pm and no line! Just a small wait in the waiting area. We had to option of sitting outside, which we preferred, and luckily was seated there. The outside area was covered and had clear plastic separating the dining area from the sidewalk. It would have been nice to have a more open air seating area, but oh well. The brunch menu is very short, with fairly standard breakfast fare but done with uniqueness. The chicken and waffles had a sweet potato waffle for example. I opted for biscuits and sausage gravy with soft scrambled eggs as I tend to rate a breakfast restaurant on this specific item. Clara got a breakfast poboy. From the description it sounded almost like a hash on bread: andouille sausage, fried egg, crispy onion straws, and tomato jam on bread. Clara and I decided to give each other half of our meal. They wait for the food was a bit longer than expected, but the waiter was very attentive and came by our table very often. The anticipation of the meal grew every time another table was served mounds of delicious looking sustenance. Finally our food arrived. The biscuits were shaped in rectangles and weren't cut out, which is fine with me as they were some of the best biscuits I've ever had. The gravy was definitely made to order with several large chucks of sausage. The eggs were perfectly soft scrambled (the first time correctly done since I started ordering them this way) however could have at least had some salt and pepper added when cooked. Clara's poboy, however, was the hit. A nice slab of andouille sausage, not chunks, a perfectly cooked fried egg, so much so that when you grabbed the sandwich, the yolk streamed out onto the plate, the crispy onions were made in house, not those yucky French's ones, and the tomato jam was very flavorful even against the spicy sausage. Clara commented that if she were to buy a poboy like that in New Orleans it would cost way more than what our meal cost here. Our bill came to less than $30 for some of the best food we've had. I really want to come back for dinner as I have heard great things about that, however the next time I'm in Portland I'll only be there during the brunch time and I don't mind that at all!
(5)Chris P.
We always take our visiting friends here. If you get there 15 minutes before the brunch opening you will get in pretty quick. Food is all fantastic, and at least one dinner should have the waffles and chicken (Gus once ate the chicken for the next three days). Great staff, friendly, local crowd.
(5)Abigail Y.
Candied praline bacon! Go!
(4)Helen F.
Best fried chicken, hands down. It's pricey @ 15.75, but absolutely worthwhile.
(4)Joe S.
This is a really good place for us to bring friends from out of town. It's different from what they are used too. The restaurant offers some really good breakfast items. My favorite is the fried chicken waffle. Service is pretty good. The only con is having to wait in line, sometimes in the rain and cold, for an open table. Nonetheless, we'll be back.
(4)Fenny G.
First to last bite.... WOWW!!! WAAAAAA!!! HOWAAA!! YAYY!!! * interpretation, I enjoyed every bite of it* MAC CHEESE! FRIED CHICKEN! Make sure come a minute before they open because you might see people eagerly waiting to get in to the screen!
(5)Conner W.
Despite the nearly hour-long wait outside Screen Door for a table (Saturday at Noon), I was blown away by the dishes they had to offer. Looking around the dining room after being seated, I was glad I brought my appetite. The meals are HUGE! Fried chicken breakfast items everywhere! I ordered the Croque Madame...with sunny-side-up eggs...and praline bacon. Holy Crap! What an amazing meal; every bite was delicious. And by 'every bite,' I mean all 10,000 of them...the dish is gigantic. So after being put into a heavenly food coma, I downed another mimosa and was completely satisfied. Three cheers for the Screen Door!
(5)Bucky M.
It's probably better to go here for brunch, the dinner menu wasn't as special. I got their signature dish at dinner, the fried chicken, which comes with mashed potatoes and collard greens. I mean, the fried chicken is good, but it's still just fried chicken. Plus, I'm not a big fan of white meat, and the entire thing is chicken breast. Next time I wouldn't come for dinner, I want to try the po boys and oyster benedict. Fried chicken - 4 stars. Chicken breast. Collard greens - 5 stars. Best collard greens I've ever had. Very flavorful, not overly salty. Mashed potatoes - 5 stars.
(4)Hola A.
Fried Chicken! I love me some fried chicken and Screen Door sure knows how to cook up some good fried chicken! We came here about 30 minute early this past Friday, worried that we were actually going to get stuck waiting in line since I read reviews of how notoriously long the wait was. Well, at 5pm, you can imagine our surprise that there was no one waiting in line. I would have to say a line started forming about 15 minutes before they open so luckily, the wait/line wasn't bad - at all. Either that or we just got lucky. Anyhoo, the ambience is cute, of course, it had a Southern feel to it. We got the fried chicken with mash potatoes and bacon collard greens. Perfectly breaded, perfectly juicy, and the portions are huge! I couldn't even finish a whole chicken, that's how big it was. And we got the screen plate which consisted of 3 sides: macaroni & cheese, jambalaya, & catfish with cornbread. Only misses was the cornbread & jambalaya - both tasted dry. The mac & cheese was very tasty, I loved eating the top of the crisped over topping crust. Yummy! Service was all around good, food came out quick and service was attentive. Anyways, finished off dinner with some creole, warm pecan pie & I left the night a happy, full girl :)
(4)Michelle S.
I visited this with my friends on a trip to Portland from Seattle and was so lucky to have found it! We ordered the pulled pork sandwich, fried chicken (what they're famous for), macaroni and cheese, and brisket - Everything was fall off the bone, melt in your mouth, best thing ever for under $15 each! I would highly recommend! Sure stop on our next trip to Portland! Ps. House cocktails were a good mix for also a way good price (~$6-7)
(5)Steve M.
This was a highlight on our visit to Portland. Crazy good fried chicken. Very pleasant service. A must try if you haven't been.
(5)Donald W.
It's very hard to give out a perfect rating. Most places lack the consistency or services needed to get that kind of a true rating. But I must say this place has achieved that goal and by far has the best southern food I've ever had!! The Screen Door specializes in Southern, Cajun and creole food and they do it all really well. Let me start of with a disclaimer that the food is very fried, rich, and totally unhealthy, but that's what's so great about it. It's not like you could eat this stuff everyday anyways. But if you did you would be in food induced heaven. It's considered the number #1 ranked Resturant in the Portland metro area, and very deserving of that rating. I went with a group of ten friends and surprisingly we had no wait time for seating. As a group we ordered a plethora of food spanning the majority of the menu. I personally ordered the fried chicken that came with mashed potatoes and gravy with a side of collared greens. I also had a side of macaroni and cheese, just because it's my favorite dish. The collard greens were tasty and well cooked. The chicken was moist and was made with just the right amount of tenderness. However, The mac & cheese was on another level of deliciousness. It's Creamy, filled with gooey cheese and could've been an entire dish on its on. Luckily for me it can be ordered as a side dish as well. When it came to time, There was very little wait time in between the dishes. It was practically non existent despite the fact it was a full house. So I complement the staff and cooks on speedy service. The waiter we had was fun and maintained a great energy with us the entire night. He was an all around joy. He cracked jokes but still conducted himself with a professionalism that's rare in the dining service, at least in my opinion. I personally loved this place! For my first time here is was truly a dining experience. I just wish they had a Screen Door in California, just so everyone could enjoy the incredible food here. Now I know anytime I go back to Portland, my first stop will always be at the Screen Door.
(5)Ana M.
First time today I went to brunch here. The wait to get in was about 45 minutes I ordered the bananas foster french toast which was really sweet and delicious. My older brother ordered fried chicken and waffles and the chicken was cooked really well. We did have to wait a long time for our food but they thought we did too so they paid for the drinks on our tab. Great place for brunch and loved my hot cocoa.
(4)Ali K.
Heard a lot of great things about this restaurant so I was really excited to it out. I was prepared to wait a bit, so I wasn't put off by the hour wait to be seated. It was very crowded inside the restaurant so we went across the street for a drink and came back just in time for them to take us to our table. Our waiter was friendly but very busy and inattentive. The food was mediocre at best. We ordered the fried oysters as an appetizer and I had the shrimp and grits. Maybe I'm being critical because I lived in the south and had enjoyed better versions of both dishes. I am disappointed but think we may've just gone on a bad night. I will probably go back to give the famous chicken and waffles a shot.
(3)Aaron W.
I LOVED this place. I was really glad I stopped in seeing as other places were a little closer from the hotel. This place did not disappoint! My girl had the fried chicken..... Awesome, but...... If you are a MAN (or girl who loves beef) then you must try the beef brisket. WOW is all I can say! I cut the brisket with my fork and never picked up the knife. I was very impressed with the quality of the food they served plus the Abita Turbo dog beer (New Orleans beer) was off the hook! I'm a sucker for comfort food and this place did not miss the mark.. Paula Dean... Go Fuck Yourself (Has nothing to do with anything but I always wanted to say that).
(5)Andrea G.
So I've been to the Screen Door three times now, which I think is well deserving of a review. I didn't have much of an appetite during my first visit, but I was sure to have that fried chicken that everyone raves about during my second visit. It is seriously some darn good fried chicken! And the mashed potatoes are super yummy. I love mashed potatoes and good textured mashed potatoes earn bonus points for me. I've had a couple of the cocktails on the list, but none of them are as good as their bloody mary. Holy yum! It's thick and has lots of spices and taste. I will most certainly judge a place by the quality of its bloody mary and Screen Door has a great one. If you visit at the normal dinner times or on the weekend, there will most certainly be a wait. I've been lucky to not have to wait very long on the times that I have dined here. Definitely some good comfort food and lots of amazing fresh, local ingredients!
(5)Nuria C.
I go to Screen Door almost every Sunday. My boyfriend and I always order the same thing: Fried Chicken Biscuit Sandwich (SO GOOD) and I get the Texas Migas (SO GOOD). I don't have anything bad to say about this place. Everything is great quality and the biscuits, chicken and gravy are about the best.
(5)Dany S.
Get the fried chicken for sure! It is delicious but everything on the menu is delciious! I can't get enough of this place.
(5)Brenda G.
Cole slaw, cole slaw, cole slaw! Order it. The Mac n cheese was the best I've ever had in a restaurant. I don't usually order Mac n cheese either, but luckily my daughter did. It was delicious. Jumbalaya? Pass on that. Mine was dry. Chicken tenders good. Two of us had Pork chops, tasty and crispy fried. Pretty tasty. If I'd had my druthers, I'd eat a side of coleslaw, a few bites of Mac and cheese, and a side of grits with crushed pepper. Yum. Oh and a small butter lettuce salad (blue cheese, radish, bacon, and buttermilk dressing.) rogue mocha porter. Done deal! 'Nuff said ;-)
(4)Mike K.
Great southern style chow. Turbo dog on tap. Yes, get the fried chicken and I'd take a bath in the tasso gravy then lick myself clean like a giant man-cat. Long wait, but they HAPPILY called us to tell us our table was ready, so we went someplace for libations while we waited on a busy Friday night. Why don't more places adopt this practice? We all have cell phones and stuff. It's a great idea and makes the long wait a non issue. The staff was SLAMMED because the joint was full, but they all were working hard and cheerful about it and the service as a result was very good.
(4)Brad S.
After a lo-o-o-ng wait on a Tuesday (wow, really?), we were seated in the comfortable din of the dining room...okay, the place is charming and open in an industrial way, the staff helpful and speedy and the bar nice and close to the front door (drinks while waiting? yessir!). We ordered the fried okra and hushpuppies appetizers...yes, expect a lot of fried food here : ) Both were tasty...a bit on the bready side, but worth ordering again. For entrees, the vegetarians at the table had the salad combo (mushrooms with creamy polenta, amen!) and mac and cheese. The carnivore had the brisket...all were happy and voted thumbs up. Don't come here if you're starving...you'll probably pass out before you're seated. Cocktails were so-so...will probably stick with beer or basics like a gin tonic next time.
(4)Leo T.
Wow. If I ever get a chance to return to Portland, I'm coming here again for sure. -Fried chicken is pretty bomb. Spices just enough to kick it off. Batter is perfect. Not too much, not too little. The meat itself is juicy and tender. YUM. -Mac & cheese was awesome. Great mix of gooey cheese on the inside, with a covering of a slightly salty cheddar on top to give it that last touch. -Jambalaya is good! You usually expect folks to put too much pepper or too much of everything that some sort of sausage will overtake the rest of the dish, but nope not here. Good, subtle, but distinguishable mix of flavors. -Catfish. NOMNOMNOM! -Collard greens were decent. Perhaps needed a touch of salt OR MORE BACON! Can't go wrong with more bacon :) I REALLY wanted to try the grits but I've decided that it will have to be one of my long term goals to return to Portland just to try them, taken that nothing changes about Screen Door. One thing I really enjoyed about yelping in Portland was that you guys really have a good set of taste buds. Something Orange County, CA could use... LOL
(5)Mich M.
WOW! I thought I was back in New Orleans. Everything we ordered was presented beautifully and the food was beyond delicious. We even talked to people next to us with different orders and they couldn't say enough good things. It is a bit crowded, but that is some sort of an indication how good it is. We went on Sunday evening and left about 8 p.m. And there were still people waiting, xcellent choice!!!!!
(5)Soojin H.
I've decided that my favorite "American" food is Southern Cajun food. This is probably due to the fact that Southern food has similar bold impactful flavors that remind me of Asian food. I was scrambling to find a last minute birthday restaurant, and thankfully yelp led me here.The vibe of this place was hip and cozy and loved the gajillion mason jars filled with pickled veggies?/ fruits? decorating their walls. First things first, I absolutely LOVE grits. Anytime a restaurant offers it, I will order it. Their appetizer portion low country shrimp and grits were huuuge. This was the best grits I've ever had. Shrimp and pork were so tender/juicy as well. Got it with a side of fried oysters, again huge portions for an appetizer. Best part was the breading which I believe is the same breading used for their chicken. The bf got the fried chicken dinner and said "it's the shit." Only thing I regret is not ordering dessert, but seriously it was impossible to take another bite. Get the chicken. Get the oysters. Get the grits. Heck I bet if you ordered anything here it would be equally delicious. Can't wait to go back and try everything else on their menu!
(5)Susan c.
Delicious food, very very good shrimp and grits. And the desserts are to die for. Only complaint would be the poundage I must have put on that night and the 'over-full' feeling I had when I left (because of course I couldn't actually stop eating the crazy good food). But over-eating is probably a given with outstanding southern food in a wonderful welcoming atmosphere with wonderful staff and a full bar.
(4)Ian L.
This is definitely a brunch place that you have to try while in Portland. It offers southern style food that is both filling and delicious. The prices are rock bottom too, especially for the chicken & waffles plate, which includes 3 large pieces of chicken skewered by a knife to a waffle. The chicken & waffles plate can easily feed 2 people, and you'll often see people sharing it for exactly that reason. Portions for other dishes are also quite large, so many people leave with a takeout box in hand. Although almost one person at every table had the chicken & waffles plate, no one at my table dared try it (I did contemplate it, but I knew the girl would not be impressed). I ended up ordering the fried chicken with biscuits and gravy, which was quite good. The one piece of chicken was filling enough for me, especially since the biscuits and pork sausage gravy were a sizable portion. As an accompanying starch, I opted for the grits, which were savory. Finally, we had read about the desserts being a must-try item, so we decided to share the ban-offee pie at the end despite the 4 of us being incredibly stuffed. The pie was a great choice. It had bananas, caramel, and whipped cream, but the crust was my favorite part, being made out of pecan shortbread. The food here is delicious, and the atmosphere is interesting, so it's worth checking out just to see what all the hype is about. Lastly, they seem to have a pretty good lineup of hoppy beers on tap, although I didn't get around to trying any of them. Maybe next time. Oh, and the praline bacon looked delicious too.
(4)Hayden N.
This place never disappoints! I have been here numerous time and it is consistently delicious. Dare I say it, best fried chicken in town! If you go for dinner and have no idea what to order, the Screen Door Plate allows you to pick three side dishes for a variety of different options. Although, dinner is good...the best value for your dollar is Sunday brunch. The chicken and waffles is my pick every time. Most of the brunch items are delicious. Praline covered bacon, I don't even like bacon! And the sausage gravy is incredibly good. Delicious finds comes with a LONG wait, I have waited 2 hours for brunch before and when I last went for dinner--there was a long line wrapped around the corner of the building half an hour before it opened!
(5)Steven C.
came to check this place out because of the great reviews it received on yelp I sat at the bar and asked the bartender for some referrals on beers and food to try he recommended I try this pale ale and it was delish! for the main course he said i should try the beef brisket I didn't have to wait too long for the food to arrive and the portions are pretty big. the brisket was so tender and tasty, had a little spicy sawce on it too! if you are in the area, check this place out and get the brisket!
(4)K W.
Had take out from this restaurant. Fried chicken was delicious and French toast was ginormous. Would like to try this at the restaurant this time.
(4)Paul E.
I was expecting a long wait for dinner, but we were seated at the bar within five minutes of walking through the door. The portions coming out of the kitchen looked enormous, so we decided to to go for mains only: fried chicken ($15.75) and shrimp and grits ($14.75). The chicken was indeed enormous, and truly excellent: very tender with a crisp, hot and peppery batter. The accompaniments were less impressive with the mash lacking a little in texture, and the collard green disapointing by being watery and bitter. The shrimp and grits were uniformly excellent - creamy and well seasoned grits with big chunks of peppery shrimp and melt-in-the-mouth pork belly mixed in. Overall it was a great dinner, but the average mash and disapointing greens stopped it from being five stars. Drinks were a good IPA and un-sweetened iced tea, and the whole thing came to $42.50 with tip.
(4)Peter C.
I was visiting a friend in Portland this weekend, and we came to brunch here on a saturday morning. After waiting about an hour for a table (enjoying the delicious coffee while we did), we ate, and I quickly came to understand why we'd had to wait an hour. Best brunch I've ever had, and I say that in spite living in brunch-happy NYC. The restaurant itself is fairly simple, with a wide-open layout past the small bar by the door. A bar, I might add that is stocked with an ample supply of nice bourbons, but also knows how to mix a mean bloody mary. The open layout with somewhat sparse decoration gives it that mish-mash-of-conversations atmosphere, but at a volume level that doesn't interfere with your own tables' conversation. But I digress. This is really all about the food. I got the fried oyster benedict. Wow. Incredible. Oysters were large, although actually not the best oysters I've ever had. But still, fried to perfection in kind of a cornmeal breading. The only real knock I could think of on the dish was that the hollandaise was pretty darn bland. Buttery, smooth and delicious-style bland. I sampled: the farm grits (hands-down the best grits I've ever had), the apple-and-pork sausage (straight up incredible - and try dipping it in a side of sausage gravy, because the more pig the better (c)), the praline bacon (kind of like a sweeter version of the more-common maple / brown sugar bacon), the cats head sandwich (we opted for calico. just kidding, there's no actual cat in it that I know of, but it included the best biscuit I've ever had), the chicken and waffle (wow, nearly the best fried chicken I've ever had...this list of "best of"'s is getting ridiculous!). Anyway, I'd say the side of apple and pork sausage is the can't -miss side option, but that's just saying it's the brightest star amongst many. The point is, everything I had here was extremely good, and there were plenty of other things on the menu that looked equally enticing. If you live in Portland and haven't been here, you'd cheating yourself. If you're visiting Portland, don't miss it.
(5)lindsay w.
I've been wanting to try the Screen Door for some time now but have always been daunted by the incredibly long wait times for their sat/sun brunch. We decided to try dinner instead (on a tuesday night) and got there a few minutes before they opened (there were already people waiting outside!). By the time we left at around 6:30, the place was packed. Onto the food...we started with the fried green tomatoes which were very good and came with a perfect tangy sauce. We also had the hush puppies which were a little bland for my liking but the pepper jelly for dipping was nice. For the entree I ordered the screen door plate where you can choose 3 of their sides or their local organic specials, this is the perfect meal for a vegetarian! I had the roasted beet salad, the sweet corn saute, and the macaroni and cheese. I can honestly say that this macaroni and cheese is the BEST I have ever had. So rich and perfectly crispy on top, and the portions here are huge. The salad was lovely, and they accidentally gave me sweet potato fries (which were also yummy) instead of the corn that I ordered, though the waiter was quick to accomodate for his mistake. The service here was excellent, the waiter was really on top of everything, especially refilling drinks. I can honestly say this is one of the best restaurants I've tried so far in Portland! I am now determined to suck it up and endure the 45 minute wait for their saturday brunch!
(5)Ann T.
This was our first stop when we arrived in Portland, OR for vacation and it set a high bar for the rest of our trip through the Pacific NW. We got to the restaurant shortly after 5:30 PM on a Saturday - there was already a line, but we got seated outside within 10 min. We started with the special salad - the blackberry / blue cheese combo hit the spot. I had the fried chicken which was perfect. I'm not usually a fan of fried foods but was very happy with my decision. Everything about it was delicious. My boyfriend got the brisket which was also tasty. They had a good selection of local beers and were kind enough to comp one of our drinks when it turned out that the keg had been kicked before we ordered.
(5)Adrienne S.
There is a reason this place is the best brunch place in Portland. My friend and I got there at the worst possible time, 10 am on a Sunday morning. Perhaps fifteen people were in front of us in line, so we got coffee and prepared to stand outside in the rain for awhile. Lo, we were seated within 20 minutes. Service is fast and efficient without being untidy or unfriendly. Our cheerful waitress filled my water and coffee were filled whenever it went past the halfway point. The fried chicken was better than Pine State's, and when you order the chicken and waffles there's a HUGE pile of it, about ten inches tall! I stuffed my face and still had half a waffle and basically two chicken breasts to take home with me! Screen Door doesn't need any more five star reviews, but it's such a relief to find a great brunch place that doesn't suffer from pretentiousness or trendiness. I will be back.
(5)Apolinaras S.
DAMN DAMN DAMN! That is what I was screaming in my head when I was thinking how many calories I just ingested :-) Had chicken and waffles first time in my life and I was absolutely floored by all those flavors. DELICIOUS! I basically got a mountain of chicken for $11. I had three more meals out of leftovers and still probably consumed 2K calories per. Absolutely delicious food, but you are guaranteed a heart attack, if you eat it more than once per year.
(5)Nga H.
My FAVORITE brunch spot in Portland. So what if the wait on a Sunday is ridiculous. I order up a Bloody Mary at the bar (comes spicy already, that's just how it's made), and - zip! zing! woohoo! - I gladly take a seat, chit chat with whomever happens to be sitting next to me, and wait. A must for at least one person at the table is their Chicken and Waffles. It comes out as a tower, stacked one on top of the other, with a steak knife plunged right down the center. The chicken is crispy and well-seasoned, and yeah, delicious! Plenty of chicken and waffle to be shared amongst the table, it's huge.
(5)Brittany S.
This is one of those places where I've spent a lot of time reading the reviews. Mainly, I look for the ones with two or three stars and think about what sorts of things might be wrong with those people. Screen Door is the best unless you are a whack-o or on a silly diet. The atmosphere is lively, the service is friendly, and the food, good god the food. Get the fried chicken. Get the friend oysters. If you've had the fried chicken, get the screen door plate with at least two of the local organics selections. The salads are always fantastic. I had the heirloom tomato salad last week and it was divine. Oh, are you complaining about the wait? Well don't. This is Portland where people love to go out to eat. The guy who hosts on Friday nights is a total gentleman and always polite. He will kindly take your name and even take your number and call when the table is ready. Go to The Standard down the street and play pool until then. Grab some great Southern food at Screen Door and you won't be disappointed.
(5)Kea D.
Honestly and truly, it's a shame that I haven't written about Screen Door before now because it is simply divine. I've only been twice, but I will never consider having anything other than the fried chicken. Perfectly crisped and seasoned on the outside, with lots of extra to munch on, but incredibly juicy and moist on the inside. My boyfriend, who is a chef and very critical about his food (which is why I'm petrified to cook for him -- but another story for another day), simply said this about the chicken, "Wow. That's bad ass." Not that I needed his validation, but I was glad to have it. When (not if) you go, try the following: 1) Fried chicken 2) Shrimp & grits 3) Greens 4) Macaroni & cheese Oh, and did I mention the fried chicken? Enjoy!!
(5)Robert J.
The best in the city! The use of fresh in season foods as well as forest mushrooms is a real bonus. Expect a long wait.
(5)Cheryl H.
Pros: The food and drinks are fabulous and the staff are helpful and friendly. Cons: This place is very busy and the wait is long. It's also very loud inside.
(5)Stina L.
chicken and waffles are to die for. I'm not normally a big fried chicken fan but they top the delicious soft waffle with 4 pieces of thick, juicy and perfectly breaded chicken i just had to try it. it came out and you could still see the oil sizzling on top of each piece. the wait was a bit ridiculous. we got seated on a busy saturday in about 35 minutes which wasn't a big deal, but it took us over an hour and a half to get our food and our server also forgot my bloody mary. she was really nice but i think watching every one else eat made us pretty sad. my boyfriend was starving and i asked if maybe they could just bring out his food first as soon as it was ready, she said she had to wait til the entire ticket was ready. and my dish was causing the holdup because the fryer was backed up. kind of a lame excuse but i would just recommend coming really early, maybe bring a snack to nibble, because the food is definitely worth it.
(4)Gabbie D.
I went here for brunch with some friends and let me tell you, this place is well worth the long wait. And that wait gave us plenty of time to ogle the menu, debating about what to order because everything looked so good. Although this place is highly reviewed and always busy, the atmosphere was pleasant but casual; not stuffy or snooty. My friends and I decided to order several dishes and share everything family style. We had mimosas, the burnside brandy milk punch, the fried chicken & waffle, brioche vanilla bean french toast, the golden yeasted waffle, eggs (we asked for it with onions and bell peppers, and they gladly obliged), a buttermilk biscuit, chicken & apple sausage, praline bacon, and lemon ricotta griddle cakes off the special menu. We initially asked for 2 orders of the chicken & waffles, but settled on 1 after the waiter advised us 1 order was plenty, since all the dishes were pretty large. Even so, every inch of our table was covered when the food arrived, so we set to clearing the dishes for them to take away before the last 2 dishes came. We DEVOURED this meal. We must have looked like a hungry pack of wolves, and I'm surprised we didn't finish every scrap of food, it was so good. The fried chicken was amazing--so tender and crispy with just the right amount of spice. Probably the best fried chicken I've ever had in my life (sorry Ezell's). The sweet potato waffle was good but I'm not sure the sweet potato flavor was very noticeable. The brioche vanilla bean french toast was good but not amazing. Same goes for the golden waffle (well...it's a waffle). The biscuit was flaky and delicious. The chicken & apple sausage was lovely. The lemon ricotta griddle cakes were served with fresh blueberries and they were sooo delicious. I want to find a recipe like it to make at home. And the praline bacon was sinfully good. I could sense my arteries clogging with every bite but it was so frickin' worth it. And I'm usually not a big fan of bacon. But the slices were so thick and tender (I don't like crispy bacon), and the salty/sweet combo was to die for. The mimosas made for a very happy/giggly brunch though the brandy milk punch wasn't to our liking. And yes, our waiter was rather cute. My friends and I want to find a place like this in Seattle.
(5)Jason B.
Spectacular. Don't let the long lines deter you. Just park your car and get in line. Wife had the bananas foster french toast which was VERY sweet and rich, also a huge portion. I had the chicken and waffles which was also huge (3 boneless chicken breast cutlets!) and delicious! Big props for using boneless chicken which makes cutting your waffle and chicken together a breeze! We also ordered one biscuit with gravy and it was so tasty! Got an order of the praline bacon too and it was sweet and smoky and incredible. Finally, we couldn't leave without also trying the breakfast corn dog, which could be a meal for one in itself. Bottom line: This is probably the best breakfast I've ever had in Portland. People with hangovers beware: This place is LOUD, so if you're nursing a headache, better head somewhere else!
(5)Opal D.
Over an hour wait this past Sunday, but absolutely worth every minute. The food is delicious. The best biscuits and gravy I've had in the Northwest. Bacon praline... no words. The fried chicken and waffle looked amazing and I really wish I could have tried every dish - I'll be back for sure!!
(5)Amy C.
The best. End of. I LOVE this place. The wait is worth it! Chicken and waffles, breakfast corn dog, and cajun scramble were awesome and the coffee was great. Fine for kids - bring stuff to color or play with as the wait is a little long, but the food is so great... We'll be back as soon as possible!
(5)Angela V.
Had the mac n' cheese, fried catfish, creamy grits, mushroom hash, and a strawberry shortcake for dessert. Was so good, definitely will order the mac n' cheese again, and will try the chicken next time...saw a lot of that going around to the tables nearby :-)
(5)Arry Y.
My very resourceful husband found this place on Yelp when we did a spontaneous trip down to Portland with a couple good friends. 806 reviews, 4.5 stars, line out the door when we drove by it? Hells yea we're going to try it. We did. Solid 1 hour wait from 1220PM to 120PM for a table to seat 4. We drank coffee, stood around, walked around, drank a Bloody Mary. Solid 30 minute wait from 120 to 150PM for food to arrive. Outdoor seating with heat lamps - was actually nice. Good fresh air, but not cold at all. Not too loud either - think I'd prefer the outdoor seating over the inside one. We ordered: -- mushroom scramble (delicious) -- fried chicken and waffles (delicious delicious delicious and GINORMOUS). -- corned beef hash (delicious - was voted our favorite dish) -- home grits with cheddar, ham, poached eggs (delicious) -- bloody mary is delicious, good spice, but not too much -- good stumptown coffee The place needs some sort of process improvement though... the wait for a table and the wait for food is just atrocious. Food is good enough I'd go back and subject myself and possibly others to the wait. Again, VERY large portions...
(4)Yekta A.
Try their sticky bun, SO TASTY! So we get up Sunday morning and decide to come here, not knowing that the line is EXTREMELY long! The food is so good and so worth the wait! We ordered the mushroom omelet and spinach omelet, they are huge meals, theoretically sharing a meal would work! They have red Velvet pancakes and chicken + waffles on their menu, maybe next time if I'm bold enough I'll order one of those!
(5)Edna G.
I was in Portland for Spring Break with my family and we wanted to eat some place where it was popular and had great food selections. I used Yelp and it did not stir me wrong. Our wait was not bad as we called in early to be in the waiting list. They only offer a few reservations for large groups. There were many others already waiting to be seated but we only took about 15 minutes to wait for ours since I called. My family shared all the foods dishes so that we could try everything that they had at one time. We loved the chicken and mac n cheese!! Sooo yummy!! Place was loud and happening. I thought all our menu choices (5 dishes) were great with only the exception to the corn bread. It was dry. I definitely recommend this place to try as you will always see a crowd in front. Expect to wait an hour or so as they do not really have reservations.
(5)Annette V.
I updated with an additional star because even though the wait can still be atrocious and unacceptable...I can't deny the fact that their mac and cheese is unbelievably good. I've never had better mac and cheese in my life...pretty much cheesy perfection in a bowl that would definitely make my "last meal" list. Here's a tip if you are going for dinner....if you go later in the night, say-1.5 hours before closing on a weeknight-your chances of grabbing a table is infinitely better.
(5)Tori M.
A definite must-try for Portland brunch. Amazing southern food. Worth the wait for sure. I ordered the bananas foster french toaster and my husband ordered a biscuits and gravy/friend chicken sandwich concoction from the specials menu. Everything was very tasty. We left way too full and needing a nap. But I would definitely go back and bring all my friends.
(5)Leah K.
I left Screen Door: happy and a few pounds heavier. Came here on a Sunday morning at approximately 8:45 (15 minutes prior to opening). There was a huge HUGE huge (very huge) line wrapping around the corner and down the block. Freaked out for a second and then realized that SD hadn't opened their doors yet so the wait shouldn't be too long. Probably sat down around 9:20ish. We were lucky. The indoor seats were all taken and my group (of 3) took the very last table in the outdoor patio seating. SCORE! We felt relieved and thankful that we wouldn't have to wait for everyone to finish eating before we were seated. And I know what you're thinking, patio? No worries, the patio has a roof and the sides are covered with a plastic see-through tarp and there are heaters on the ceiling, twas cozy. Literally every single dish on the brunch menu sounds mouthwatering so deciding what to get was hard. I ended up trying the Eggs Sardou - poached eggs over artichoke hearts & creamed spinach, and an english muffin, topped with hollandaise sauce. The spinach paired with the artichoke heart was just fabulous and the hollandaise sauce was perfect! Not too thick but just right with a hint of spiciness. Both male fellows who accompanied me had the Chicken and Waffles. Holy cow. SD does not joke around. Leaning tower of Chicken and Waffles is more like it. Friends said that the meat was perfect, juicy and succulent and the waffle was delicious. And yes, one of them finished the whole plate all on their own. Our server said that he wins a pair of Screen Door granny sweat pants for finishing, haha. Service was friendly, quick, and attentive. Will be returning again, to try their dinner dishes.
(4)Darth M.
It would be easy to dismiss fried chicken and mac & cheese as been there and done that. No. You. Have. Not. I don't know what they do these staples of comfort food, but it is magical. You will be dreaming about it days after your visit. Getting in is a challenge. Wife and I were traveling and ended up at arriving 35 min before they even open for business. There was already a line forming, and likely 40 or more waiting before the place opened at 5:30.
(5)J. B.
Be prepared to leave this restaurant in a food coma. My husband and I decided to attempt this restaurant on a Saturday, despite other reviewers warnings on long wait times. We showed up around 12:30pm and the wait wasn't long at all. My husband got the infamous fried chicken on a sweet potato waffle. The chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside and the flavor was delicious. The salty chicken with the sweetness of the waffle with syrup (or jam) was a good combo and a great brunch choice. I got the praline bacon waffle and was blown away. There are actual bacon pieces in the waffle batter, and on top is a thick cut piece of bacon covered in a praline crust. The waffle is also topped with whipped cream and more pecan pieces and comes with a side of maple syrup. It was the perfect balance of salty and sweet and it was incredibly filling. The restaurant itself is a just a big open dining area with about 15 or so tables, plus a bar and patio seating as well. The service was good and everyone was very laid back and friendly. Definitely had the Portland vibe going on. The prices are about what you'd expect anywhere else.
(5)Joe P.
I took my Wife here for her birthday and from the reviews we anticipated a wait to be seated. The wait wasn't long maybe 10-15 minutes during the dinner rush. The food was fantastic, some of the best fried chicken I've ever had. All crispy and delicious.Seriously it's been like 4 months since I've been there and their chicken is still on my mind. I think I need to make plans to return, but coming from the Couve (Vantucky herp derp, gosh you Hipster DB's are so unoriginal) it's a trek so can't frequent Screen Door as often as I would like. We also tried the hush puppies for the first time and they were quite delicious as well. My Wife ordered some kind of grits and rice dish that she wasn't happy about (she sucks at ordering) but thankfully the fried chicken plate came with plenty to share.
(5)Rachel V.
CRISPY. FRIED. BUTTERMILK-BATTERED. CHICKEN. This is no joke! Screen door is the REAL DEAL. I LOVE fried chicken and I can't believe it's taken me 30 years to discover that THIS place actually exists in the entire world. Oh why oh why must you be all the way in Portland!?? For $16 you get a MASSIVE portion of moist, crispy fried chicken, mashed potatoes and collard greens. Personally, I would recommend sharing it with your significant other or friend but, unlike the bf, he did NOT want to do so. He attempted at conquering that monstrous plate but sadly he failed. Wilson: 0 Screen Door: 1 The only downside would have to be the hot sauce. I'm not a fan of it. I prefer something a bit more sweeter or I may just be used to mixing my syrup with the Red Rooster sauce from Roscoe's. Other than that, A+ on the fried chicken. Well done, Screen Door. Well done!
(5)Mona W.
SO AMAZING. Fantastic, juicy, hearty, and just plain DELICIOUS chicken and waffles. I really savored each flavor-packed bite, as Screen Door really nails it in the flavor department. I was also amazed by the pecan bacon. I mean how can anyone dislike bacon? Bacon by itself is already amazing. I thought SF's popular millionaire bacon was already crazy enough, but who knew there was such thing a PECAN BACON? I highly recommend trying it out for yourself. So bomb diggity. I loved everything we ordered, and loved the price of everything even more. Portland dining is such a bargain compared to the Bay!
(5)Rebecca L.
This place lives up to the hype. It was definitely in my top 2 favorite meals while visiting Portland. We arrived around 7:30 on a Thursday evening. It was packed but we were seated within 15 minutes. The bar serves yummy drinks to keep you occupied during the wait. I ordered the barbecued beef brisket and switched my sides to the mashed potatoes and cole slaw. Hubby and I split the macaroni and cheese. The brisket was very tasty and tender. It would have been perfect except that it was a bit on the fatty side. Not a deal-breaker though. But the macaroni and cheese... OMG. Best I've ever had! The sweet tea was on point, very authentic southern style. And the Ban-offee pie for dessert was DELISH. Like banana cream pie, but better. We will definitely be back during our next visit!
(5)Mimi T.
Yeah, the hype is real! Fried Chicken- Yes Yes Yes!! I cant describe it, but its THAT good. Their locals/organics- I loved the beets salad that I got, it was fresh and the cheese was local!! How often do you dine at a restaurant that supports your local farms? It's rare! I definitely can respect that. I send all my out of town guests here to Screen Door, its my #1. You can't leave portland until you've tried Screen Door!
(5)Trang T.
HOLY HEAVEN! I visited Oregon for the first time and before venturing up there, tons of people told me that I must try Screen Door. At first it was tentatively put on our itinerary. When we were up there, a girl on the rental car shuttle bus told us that we MUST try Screen Door cause their chicken is amazing and their waffles is truly something else. I was sold! We tried to squeeze it in our weekend plan but found out they only open for breakfast/lunch on the weekends. So our gameplan was to wake up early and head over there a little bit before they opened. That way we can hopefully get in, get out and continue our Portlandia adventures. They open at 9am on Saturdays so we decided to get there at 8:30am. We waited outside in line and was probably the 4th group in line. By the time 8:45am hit, the line was seriously wrapped around the building! THANK GOODNESS we woke up early. 30 minutes waiting outside was perfect because once they opened, we were able to be seated immediately. The restaurant isn't huge but it does seat a good amount of people (including the patio area). I imagine that this place is so popular that there is always a wait. Portions were HUGE. I tried the chicken and waffle dish which consisted of 3 pieces of chicken and the most amazing sweet potato waffle. I must say it was the most amazing and glorious waffle I've ever had. The chicken was delicious and perfectly seasoned. Their portions were however so huge that I was only able to get through one piece of chicken. I think one order would've been perfect to be shared. Their staff was extremely quick and attentive. I'm sure they have tons of experience getting customers in and out. I highly suggest this place and would definitely come back if I'm ever back in Oregon. Best thing that worked for us was coming 30 minutes before they opened.
(5)Alison V.
Mmmm fried chicken. I must go back for their brunch as that's all I hear about - chicken and waffles! I got the fried chicken for dinner, collard greens, and mashed potatoes. Yumm. The chicken really is as good as people rave about. There is always a wait. We went next door and got a drink at Matador while we waited 1+ hours. It is worth it!
(4)Braedie T.
DBF and I went here for Sunday brunch November 2014, we waited an hour and a half for a table for the two of us so get there early! I didn't add a picture because there are so many accurate pics already. We ordered the Chicken & Waffle, Bananas Foster French Toast, 1 Biscuit w/sausage gravy, a bloody mary and a Mimosa. Chicken & Waffle was the best! Highly delicious! Bananas Foster FT, VERY sweet! I had one bite and it was enough for me. It was two pieces of FT and he at less than one piece. Good but sweet. The Biscuit was good, I didn't care for the gravy, my boyfriend put salt and pepper on it and said it was better. They do have free coffee for you while you wait or you could order a drink from the bar. We MIGHT come back, we for sure won't wait another hour and a half though. I'd like to try dinner there.
(3)Steve R.
Holy crap. Where has this place been? Awesome food. My new favorite. Went on Halloween night. No line, got right in even though nearly every table was taken. The fried chicken that my wife ordered was the best I've ever had - I'm getting that next time. The Ribeye was good, not great. I'm not a fan of gristle, but it was flavorful and done perfectly. Everything else was really, really good. Seriously, REALLY good. The side dish of kale - believe it or not - was one of the better sides I can remember, and I don't really care for kale (go figure). The mashed potatoes and gravy tasted like somebody's grandmother made it - really good! My wife had the duck fat baby potatoes as her side and - wow - those were also really good! The place is sparse and crowd was a funky mix of all types (a plus in my book). The wait was short, but that was Halloween night. The service was great - attentive but not overly so, and knowledgeable and super friendly. The prices were very good for the quality of the food so the value factor here is a huge bonus. All in all, great, great place. We'll be going there often.
(5)Ashlan C.
I love the food here. Been to the Screen Door for breakfast and dinner a bunch of times. Always well worth the wait. For breakfast the monkey bread is always great. The bananas foster and all the egg dishes are good too. For dinner I always like to have the Screen Door plate because you can mix and match a little bit of everything. The specials are always changing and using fresh fruits or vegetables. Nifty tip - if you have more than 6 people call ahead to get a table!
(5)Emily Z.
Twice I have been to Screen Door, and both times had their seasonal trout dishes. Hands down they made the best trout I have had (other than that I have caught myself). Only complaint: for a neighborhood restaurant (whether they like it or not), we felt mightily out of place taking our children. SD would win a lot of hearts if they were a little more kid-friendly. Our icy waitress' obvious irritation aside, all-in-all a delicious and worthwhile venture.
(4)Monica R B.
Wonderful fried chicken and fried oysters. Mac n cheese was good. Waiter not so warm and friendly.
(4)Nikolai A.
Not going to lie, this place is amazing in many ways. The portions are outrageously large and wonderful for sharing. The food is like nothing other, and so are the wait staff. Everyone who works here is wonderful. I have never been so impressed with such proper southern comfort food that is cooked to perfection. Yes. Here in Portland. The only reason I take a star off of the review is the average 45 minute wait to get into the establishment, then another 30 to get seated. If this place could seat us in a timely manner or take reservations I would give The Screen Door a full five stars. Definitely go here if you're at all curious of "how good" it is. It really is amazing. But give yourself an hour window before you actually get to eat once you've arrived.
(4)Stephanie J.
Southern cooking in Portland, OR? How could this Virginia girl resist that? And boy, am I glad I did. We went to this restaurant on a Thursday night and this place was hopping, for that reason I recommend reservations. We didn't have reservations but were quickly seated on the heated, outdoor patio. Our server was attentive and quickly greeted us and took our drink order. The Screen Door focuses its menu on locally sourced items and organic produce and meats. We started our meal with delicious hush puppies with honey butter and red pepper jelly and then shared an order of the fried chicken and mashed potatoes and gravy. The fried chicken certainly did not disappoint. The breading was crispy and flavorful and the chicken was moist and delicious. We sampled the Ban-offee Pie which is a combination of shortbread & pecan crust layered w/ caramel & bananas topped w/ whipped cream -- oh la la it was an absolute treat for our taste buds. Shockingly, this southern girl highly recommends Screen Door and considers it a must visit when in Portland, OR.
(5)Laura T.
Have to take off a few stars from Screen Door... which truly brings tears to my eyes! This used to be one of my favorite Portland restaurants... one I would drive 30 minutes to get to, then wait another 30-40 minutes in line BEFORE they opened in order to get a table during their first seating. Chef Rick Widmayer left in early 2013 and there's no doubt in my mind that their food has suffered. It's not as inventive or flavorful as it once was. We were there last month and ordered the pulled pork and chicken tenderloin app (tried & true for us) and they were ... meh! Not worth the wait. The time before - same. People STILL do the wait as if nothing has changed! Things have changed. Can no longer recommend. :(
(3)Mark M.
Wildly overrated and the lines are absurd to say the least. Chicken and waffles are good but nothing your couldn't do at home
(3)Kayla S.
I really liked this restaurant...just wish there was more seating. I waited outside for what felt like forever, but once inside I was very happy with the food and service... I can see why it's so popular!
(4)Von A.
Southern charm in hipster Portland. A go-to place for me - especially if I want comfort, belly busting foods. The ambiance is cool, not stuffy, very relaxed and chill and a bit noisy. The staff was friendly - expect a wait at high dinning times - but it's worth the wait. The dish I got was the Smoked & BBQ Beef Brisket - which was amazing, my mouth watered from its juiciness the entire time, smothered in a tangy bbq sauce which I wish they bottled and sold separately. I had to slice around the fat - which i wish they cut off before hand. It was topped with crispy onion strings, and with a side of potato salad, and green beans.
(4)Angie W.
Screen Door Plate is the best!!!
(5)Miranda N.
LOVE everything abut this place. All From the cute decor to the food and service. This was my first stop when I arrived to Portland. We got here at 8:30 on a Wednesday and there was no wait ! Our host and server were very friendly. The server kept comin back to check up on us and even gave us good tips on where to go In Portland :) We got: SMOKED & BBQ BEEF BRISQUIT- the beef is so soft and melts in your mouth. This dish is super flavorful !! SCREEN DOOR PLATE- 1. MAC n CHEESE- best Mac n cheese I've ever had. 2. GUMBO- Also the best gumbo I've ever had. 3. FRIED CAT FISH- this was just okay for me. the first two pieces were bomb, then I got tired of it. 4. CORNBREAD- good but I was too full so I couldn't eat more than one bite lol. They give you soo much food ! I definitely recommend this place if you're looking to eat something really hearty or if you just want to have a drink.
(4)Stanley M.
Best fried chicken in town, love this place.
(5)Alex O.
This place is simply amazing and well worth the wait. I ended up getting shrimp and grits which had pesto sauce lining the grits simply amazing. Drinks were good and prices reasonable for quality of food.
(5)Peter S.
Best Chicken and Waffles hands down! The chicken is perfectly seasoned, just enough kick to accompany the fluffy and delicious waffle. Expect long waits on the weekend, but worth the wait!
(4)Norris T.
absolutely delicious. I fail to find the words to articulate how much I loved my meal here. Came here on a tip from a guy on the sidewalk and the rest is history. Crispy Fried Buttermilk-battered Chicken: A huge piece of chicken. Ridiculously moist on the inside but still perfectly crispy on the outside. I can't figure out how they do it but applaud the magic that they do. w/ tasso ham gravy, mashed potatoes & collards: The gravy was rich yet not too heavy allowing me to keep eating far beyond my usual limits with this cuisine. Oh yes and the collard greens melt after they hit your lips and getting a "wow" out of more then one of my friends seated with me. Macaroni & Cheese: Get this. If you read my reviews I usually put a goto dish in them and this is it. Seriously if your not allergic to delicious you need to get this without question. My only complaint is that I didn't have enough room for dessert. One or two more trips are protocol for me before I can give a 5 star but I like their chances. Will there be a next time. You bet your @## ill be back.
(4)Peiran S.
This review is for a take out order of their fried chicken and cat fish. Ranking by rate, this one seems to be the #1 restaurant in the entire Portland metro area. Hence, naturally it fell on our radar here after a day of serendipitous shopping trip. It opens at 5:30 but when I got there at 5:15, there were already a huge crowd of people lining up there. It ended up most of those people were able to get in in first round. But with limited waiter availability, it still took about 25 mins to seat those 1st round. That said, tip of the day, be there at 5:10 to secure a seat and the fried chicken will pay you back for your wait. We decided to order take out due to shortage of time. We ordered the flagship fried chicken with catfish as side. Order was served faster than promised. Fried chicken was amazingly tender, juicy and flavorful especially with their gravy on top of it. Even our serious weight/calorie watcher finished half of the fried chicken plus catfish. I didn't enjoy the way they battered catfish never the less.
(5)Tony L.
Most excellent service and food. I had the brisket which was incredible and the wife had the pulled pork, rave reviews. All good and will be back. Word of warning, the menu on yelp isn't always current on dessert.
(5)Mary L.
Delicious food. Love their cornbread and mashed potatoes. I wish they took reservations.
(5)Steven H.
Pretty darn good. If you don't mind falling asleep about 10 mins later and feeling like a zombie, then this is your spot.
(4)Carissa B.
I have to say it's *nearly* worth the wait. I only had to wait 15 minutes because my friend and I timed it right. However, if we hadn't, I'm fairly certain that we would've moved on. I had a winter hash with root vegetables and they were perfectly seasoned, as well as perfectly cooked. Definitely check it out if you have the time.
(4)Suzanne S.
SHUT THE SCREEN DOOR. I can't even. I wanted to write this review last night after we ate there but I was speechless from all the yummyness. I had no words. If you do not eat here, you hate food and your life. I don't mean to be so blunt but seriously, love yourself enough to go here and EAT ALL THE GOOD THINGS. We found this place by accident. I literally was just searching for restaurants in Portland on yelp and this was the first one that popped up. It had great reviews and so we decided to check it out. The reviews said to expect a wait up to 40 minutes. We got there shortly after it opened and we were hoping the line would not be too long since we were going to a Jimmy Buffett concert and so we didn't have a ton of time to spare. To our delight and surprise, we got a table right away in their outdoor seating area. At first I was skeptical because I thought it would be chilly but it was covered and had hanging heaters and it was actually very comfortable. The host and the waiter were extremely friendly and helpful. On the waiters recommendation, we both ordered the fried chicken, mashed potatoes with ham gravy, collard greens and mac & cheese. Oh and hush puppies to start. (needless to say, we ordered way too much food and took half of it home...) The fried chicken was boneless which was awesome and it is literally the best fried chicken I've ever eaten in my life. The seasoning is great, crispy on the outside and juicy in the inside. The mashed potatoes were so creamy and delish and with that gravy on top of it... Fuhgeddaboutit. I am not a fan of collard greens but the husband had those and he pretty much licked the bowl. I don't normally order mac & cheese in a restaurant because hello... I can just have that at home but you guys... I can't even begin to describe this mac & cheese.... you just have to trust me and EAT IT. Sooooo creamy and cheeeeeeesy. And then the hush puppies! Let's not forget the hush puppies. Again, these are the best hush puppies I've ever had and they came with this yummy pepper jelly that we had to get some to go. Very reasonably priced and we will definitely be back to this place when we are back in the area. Don't think about it. JUST GO.
(5)Dillan T.
This place. Wow. I'm a Cajun girl and my husband is from the land of Mississippi catfish so we can be extremely critical of southern food. Actually, we try to avoid it outside of the Southeast. That being said, the food here rocked! And, IMHO, the prices could be raised and i'd still happily pay them. Fried catfish was cooked and seasoned perfectly. And I kept looking for things to possibly dip in the tartar sauce because it was that good. Mashed potatoes were creamy and the Tasso gravy just made them near perfect. Seasonal squash with pecans was quite flavorful. Oh yeah, the cornbread was delicious as well. Husband enjoyed the pecan crusted trout. Those green beans....man oh man. Just a hint of onion. The item that didn't meet standards were fingerling potatoes. They were dry and boring. But that was easily overlooked. Didn't wait longer than 10 mins for bar seats. Kitchen pumps out meals like a machine
(5)sarah y.
Fried chicken (with no bones to worry about), Mac & cheese, and a menu full of other comfort foods at an insanely affordable prices?! No wonder there's a line wrapped around the corner of screen door before they even open each day! Get there early and you too can indulge in this comfort food heaven. Plan on sharing dishes though, as the portions are large (what a value!).
(5)Ray M.
TOP 3 FRIED CHICKEN IN THE NATION It's hard to believe how wide the spectrum of fried chicken from really bad to really good. This fried chicken is unbelievable. All fried chicken aficionados out there just have to make their way to Portland to give this a try. It's so good. We also had the beef brisket, Mac and cheese (another huge highlight) and the low country grits. All good. I love how the portions are humongous. The decor was spot on. The service was excellent. The place is expanding but only in this current location. I kept begging them to open a location in NYC and SF but alas they have no plans to do so anytime soon. All the staff kept on saying that we have to come back for brunch which we just might do!
(5)Amanda I.
My fiance and I went here after Google searching Chicken Fried Steak. I actually ended up getting the trio with catfish, gumbo, and jambalaya and they were all delicious. I will say I've had better gumbo and jambalaya but it was still worth it. We did wait in line outside for a bit. I think we caught them right as they had a bunch of waiters coming onto their shifts. The atmosphere is great, and even though they were busy, we never felt neglected.
(5)Julie G.
Best fried chicken in portland. It never gets old - i would go more often but I'm always stuffed and in a food coma afterwards. Their mac and cheese is the BEST I've ever had. my husband raves about the collard greens, gumbo and jumbalaya. One of Portland's finest.
(5)Shea H.
What can I say that hasn't already been said?? This place is amazing. Admittedly, I did not like my dinner as much as I anticipated but the appetizers were so good, I'm willing to give it another try. Let me think of what I can talk about that's not already represented in the other reviews... The peanut butter cake is amazing. It came out cold (and I tend to hate cold cake) but they warmed it up for me...how nice is that? He didn't quite do it right but he tried! Parking is challenging. Just keep looking though, something will come up. They have a bourbon flight....didn't get to try it but I don't see too many restaurants with anything other than beer and wine flights. You leave smelling like fried food...that's kinda not cool but I moved on. We ordered two appetizers and two entrees and our bill was under $50...pretty impressive, if you ask me. Go give this place a try, you won't regret it.
(4)Chereta M.
YUMMERS!! I ordered the Smoked bbq'd brisket with mashed potatoes, green beans, and a side of mac n cheese! Wtf?!? The food I ordered was delicious. Well seasoned, but the portions were huge. I had food left over for another meal. I tasted the: fried chicken: cripsy, well seasoned! Cornbread: bland...really no flavor Fried fish: crispy and flaky I went with 5 other friends, we shared our meals and it was delicious There is a long wait for this place, and the waiting area is very small. We waited two hours to get a table for 6. Don't get me wrong, it was well worth the wait. Just have a couple of drinks at the bar while you wait! If you go to the restaurant 2-3 hours after it opens, maybe the wait won't be too long.
(5)rose f.
so good! the screen door special is what i always get, because i don't have to choose just one thing. they have a great selection of local organic salads etc. highly recommended!
(5)Jenny H.
Their FRIED CHICKEN & WAFFLE ($13) is a must try!! Portions are pretty huge here, so two people can share the fried chicken and still be stuffed. Definitely the best fried chicken I've ever had. The waffle was perfectly crispy on the outside and soft not the inside too. Yummy~ I also tried the CAJUN SCRAMBLE ($8) which was good but wasn't as amazing as the fried chicken.
(4)Philip O.
The fried oyster benedict, the fried chicken & waffle, the pork & apple sausage and the buttermilk biscuit for sides was an utter assault on my senses and stomach and was worth every single bite.
(5)Asthe G.
This place is solid, although I don't go there for the Fried Chicken, I go for the burger. It gets looked over, but it is one of the best in town. Good size, juicy, house made, with lots of fixins. Get it with the sweet potato fries and a side of creole mustard. Boom. Brunch=f. yeah. Fried oyster eggs benedict with bacon.Boom. Service=harried but good. Wait=expect 45 mins minimum unless its right before closing.
(5)Sarah L.
They had me at the Bloody Mary. That alone is so worth the hour plus wait that always seems to exist there. Luckily, you can drink gallons of coffee, if you can actually weave through the crowd to reach the coffee thermos. Yes, there is a crowd. Yes, there is a wait. Yes, there is amazing food! Chicken and waffles. Biscuits and Gravy. Bloody Mary heaven. I really need to make another visit asap!
(5)John L.
Went back for dinner recently. We got there 20 minutes before opening. There was already a line. We had a large group of 8. Didn't make in the first round. They take 2 reservations and both were taken. They quoted us 1 hour. Took 90 minutes.... quite a wait with 3 kids under 3 years old. We stopped by Alder's across the street, was pleasantly surprised. the wait was crazy long but the food was worth it! The food was again fantastic! Chile was fresh, bold, with just the right amount of spice. 4 1/2 stars. The roasted beet salad was good, but not my favorite. 4 stars. The fuji apple salad was really good. 41/2 stars. The brisket was pretty good but just didn't quite compare when compared to the fried chicken. 4 stars. The side of green beans and horseradish potato salad were both very good. 4 stars. The fried chicken is as always the star of the show. 5 stars! Can't get enough. It lays on a bed of delicious mashed potatoes. The mac 'n cheese is also fantastic, one of the best. 5 stars. On a side note, for whatever reason the beef brisket tasted even better the next day as leftovers.
(5)Chris O.
Wow..the food here impresses. Such a long wait..but so worth it. The bloody marys are spicy and delicious.
(5)Kaitlin P.
Screen Door is absolutely my favorite brunch spot in the city. This is the one place that I am more than willing to wait for an hour+ to get a table - even in the rain! I mean, you can sip boozy brunch drinks on the patio while you wait, so. I've always had excellent service, from the hostess to the servers to the bartenders who pour those stiff drinks. It can be loud in there when it's busy (who am I kidding, it's always busy!), but not so loud that you can't have a conversation with the person next/across from you. Whenever I have out-of-town company, I always always taken them to Screen Door for brunch. I love to see their expressions when they first spot an order of chicken + waffle being delivered. And I love it even more when they are brave enough to order it for themselves.
(5)Alanna M.
I am a huge fan! We went in a large group so I got to taste and sample a lot more dishes for a first time visit. Everything was so delicious! You can't go wrong. Although I hear their fried chicken is very popular. It was definitely amazing. They were so accommodating. i can't believe I only had to travel 2.5 hours south instead of across the country to find good Southern cooking and hospitality. I had the catfish which was just heavenly. Ambience is a typical noisier restaurant... Great cocktail selection! Definite must try spot -- unless you're on a diet!
(5)Dan R.
Here for dinner. My wife's from Texas and a fantastic cook but seemed a good try, and yes it was. The food is rich and filling, but more importantly tastily done, with fine ingredients. The screen door platter giving you 3 choices is a great way to go, especially with the vegetarian specials-- slow roasted rainbow carrots & parsnips, very yummy, and a gratin of potatoes, cauliflower & mushrooms w/ a cream sauce so buttery, maybe maple. But somebody at the table needs the fried chicken, crispy on the outside & juicy on the in but one thimble of gravy nowhere near enough.) I liked the jambalaya much, & we all loved the fired okra. Excellent, attentive (if not completely informed) service. Yes you gotta wait.
(4)Sarah K.
The food here was AMAZING!!!.. I had a bite of everyones plate :). Quite Busy- but definitely has a warm cozy feel. I liked the living room effect. The fried chicken is boneless and PLENTY with the perfect amount of crunch and moist meatiness. The mac n cheese is made homestyle with melted chesse. I am not a huge fan of cat fish and it just seriously melts in your mouth. The brisket literally fell apart with some yummy BBQ sauce- and the griddle cakes are OH SO GOOD! Def recommend, but expect a wait..and make sure you have time to dine!
(4)Cliff L.
i am rating this 5-stars based on the FRIED chicken. my wife ordered the chicken. i did the screen door plate with mac/cheese, fried catfish, and some beet salad. this is no mamby pamby portion place. the plates are enormous. the fried chicken was delicious. quite possibly the best i have ever had. and there was no bone!! boneless chicken has a flavor disadvantage as far as i know..and this place rocked it. my wife usually does not eat white meat chicken because it is on the dry side..nope. it was moist, hot..delicious. so good, you brave the hot food, and will risk that tiny blister on the roof of you mouth. just breath in cooling air as you try to swallow...not the most polite way to eat on date-night but eff it..this is good chicken. let me tell you, we got full off of her plate! my fried catfish had a bit of a muddy flavor. wife loved it, but i wasnt a fan. the beet salad, was mostly spring greens with a few beets. and not every beet salad requires a feta cheese. (who decides this stuff?)..the mac and cheese was a huge bowl sitting on my plate. it had a crusty surface from a brief stay under the broiler. FANTASTIC!! the top was crusty and bubbly, and the noodle pile underneath was rich, creamy..and hot. yum. i could live on screen door's fried chicken and mac and cheese..five easy stars. good food, great portions..wash it all down with sweet tea. not the best place in the world to practice portion control...
(5)Brittany B.
5 stars and I mean it! My vegetarian cousin declared this as one of the best veggie meals she's ever eaten, and I tend to agree. We waited ~45 mins for our table, but were able to take a quick walk around the surrounding neighborhood, so it wasn't bad. The host was extremely friendly, which was an oddity compared to some of the restaurants we went to in Portland. I was there with four other girls, and most of us decided to get the Screen Door Plate - a choice of 3 sides or half orders of the local veggie specials, plus cornbread. I had: - Slow Cooked Flageolet Beans - Black Mission Fig & Ebony Heart Pluot Salad - Roasted Beet Salad These were all very tasty, if you couldn't tell by just their titles! Be warned though - the portions are huge. Another girl in the party had shrimp and grits and loved it too. We were all so full that we couldn't fit in dessert, but it looked amazing too. All in all - great southern cuisine, lots of local flavor and good veggie options.
(5)Alison P.
You absolutely CANNOT go wrong with brunch at Screen Door. The portions are huge, and the food is beyond delicious. You could seriously just close your eyes and point at anything on the menu, and be more than satisfied with your meal. I have had the biscuits & gravy (sausage gravy, that is), and the banana foster french toast. Let me just say, I want to do terrible, terrible things to the biscuits and gravy. Just dirty, nasty things. And the banana foster french toast...I would like to take it out to an expensive meal, softly caress it's face and tell it how much it means to me. Really make sure it knows I don't know where I would be if it weren't in my life. My boyfriend has had the famous fried chicken & waffles, and the po boy breakfast sandwich. Now, I'm not sure if you've heard already, but you get FOUR huge, fried chicken breasts stabbed through the waffle with a steak knife. Holy hell. I would highly recommend eating that with a buddy....unless your main goal in life is to clog your arteries. then go for it. The po boy is...it's...it's just sooooo goooood!!!! It's messy as hell to eat, but who freakin cares, it's deelish. Other highlights: Breakfast Corndog, Praline Bacon, along with the Raspberry & Ricotta Blintz. My only drawback, is the wait. They don't take reservations, and if you show up after 9:30, even if it's just for two people, you're going to be waiting at least a half hour, most likely closer to a full hour. However, if you can make it through that wait, you will be HANDSOMELY rewarded. I have not been for dinner, but I have only heard mediocre reviews about it. Not going to lie, I'm curious though. In conclusion, please, please, PLEASE go to Screen Door for breakfast/brunch. You will not be disappointed!!
(4)Adam S.
I've been here twice and really enjoyed the food both times. The fried chicken is excellent and I'm also a fan of their mac and cheese. On my second visit I tried the shrimp and grits, which was tasty but not on par with some other versions I've had. The Screen Door plate is another good option and comes with a ton of food. The wait for a table can be ridiculous but it's definitely worth doing at least once.
(4)Devin P.
I think it was a bit over hyped. There was a line outside and I was glad I got there early. The service was very good; all of the staff is very attentive. I thought the food was...ok. The grits were ok, the chicken apple sausage was a little salty, the eggs were fine (its kind of hard to screw up eggs) and the biscuit was pretty good. I think we have better Southern cooking in the SF and Eastbay area, but I'm glad I went and experienced it.
(3)Matt S.
I believe that there is a conspiracy afoot aimed at convincing me to move to Portland. My wife and I stopped into Screen Door and loved it! I had the creole onion soup (pretty good!) and the fried chicken (fan-freaking-tastic), and my wife had a screen door plate with the pork chop, zucchini ribbons, and a fig and plum salad. I may have mentioned that I liked the fried chicken, but let me clarify... I rarely get fried chicken when I go out because I know that I am going to be disappointed. The waitress told me that I needed to try it, and WHAM! It was moist on the inside, crispy on the outside, and the gravy was really good with it as well. I also greatly enjoyed the collard greens with the homemade hot sauce. The food was tasty, the service was friendly and good, and the whole meal cost us $30 before the tip. If this is typical for Portland, we are leaving New York for the west coast!
(4)Fred G.
Simply the best fried chicken I have ever eaten. My wife (a fried okra fan) also rates their okra as the best she has ever had. Collard greens, hush puppies, cole slaw, brisket and onion straws are all great, BUT ... They have the best fried chicken a man can eat.
(5)Joy R.
Went to the Screen Door late Sunday morning with 7 others. We waited 2.5 hours to be seated. The wait staff comped us an order of crepes because we had waited so long. Nice touch. However, when the food came the only folks that were happy with theirs were the ones who ordered fried chicken waffles. I ordered brisket hash. It was way too salty. The brisket was terribly dry. The person sitting next to me had potatoes that were severely overcooked. I just don't get what folks see in this place. The food was just not worth the wait.
(1)J P.
I've only been to Screen Door for dinner, and apparently I am missing out. Screen Door features large portions of all your southern comfort food favorites for dinner. The Hush Puppies are a delicious starter and you cannot go wrong with either the Boneless Fried Chicken or the Pulled Pork sandwich as your entree. Be sure to check out their signature drink menu. If you can show some restraint and box some of your meal to take home so you save room for dessert, you will truly be rewarded with the most delectable homemade pies and cakes you've ever tasted.
(5)Greg T.
I think the 611 reviews have pretty much cover it for this spot. get the fresh, fried oysters and be careful not to burn your mouth. If you do I recommend cooling it down with one of their many whiskey drinks. or butter. mmmm...butter and whiskey....
(4)Ashli A.
My goal was to come here and leave uncomfortably full. Well.... mission accomplished!!! I had their bacon waffle and it was the shit. If you are from Portland or even just visiting, you HAVE to go here. Get in my belly, so freakin delicious.
(5)Matt R.
Great food! Fun atmosphere, nice staff. If you go around dinner, there is most likely a wait, but it's not long. Did I mention they have great food?!
(5)Toa S.
I went here on a Saturday with a friend. We got SOOOO EYE HUNGRY just looking at the menu. There was a wait, which was a given but it was soooo worth the wait! This place it the typical American Brunch place. It is very heavy but it is very good. I got to split two plates with my friend and we got the fried chicken with gravy and biscuit. My friend got a hot sandwich kinda thing ( I forgot what its called) but it was AWESOME! we also got a waffle on the side and some bacon.
(5)Matt B.
It might be worth the wait... If your hung over drink some whiskey and eat some chicken Glen D
(5)Janet S.
Over priced. Overrated. Dirty. Slow service. We were seated at a dirty table. They didn't take our order or give us water until 15 minutes later. The host was rude by the way. There were specks of food in the water. The utensils, plates, cups were sticky and had food cooked onto it. The bartender accidentally spilled my hot cocoa on the table, then told me that she'll come back and wipe it up. She never did. She could've dropped off some napkins or something. She can also learn how to smile, it's called customer service. The host can take some lessons in that too. I had to grab one of the bus boys and ask them to help me clean it up because their coworker didn't want to do her job. Boy, they must think I'm the real jerk! The food came 45 minutes later, because it takes 45 minutes to make pancakes. No it doesn't. And they had like 20 people in the kitchen. I don't believe it takes that long. I KNOW it doesn't take that long. I was hoping to give them 3 stars, but their pancakes didn't taste like anything. Their syrup also didn't taste like anything. I should've went to Shari's or IHOP's for some pancakes AND syrup that taste like something. I still can't believe they had so many people working there, yet none of them were really useful. Because if they were useful, I wouldn't have waited 45 minutes for some pancakes in my mouth. They should use that handful of staff and teach them something useful, like washing dishes, the proper way. Oh yeah, the music is way too loud. So I'm never ever coming back. On the positive note, the pancakes were very pretty. :)
(1)Jeff W.
Second time here and just a great southern experience! Hush puppies, fried chicken and mac and cheese! Loved it all!
(5)Tommy B.
1 hour 's wait on Mother's day was well worth the wait. All 5 in the family loved the food & Juliette was a real blessing during this special occasion with her smile & pleasant attitude on this very busy day for the house.
(5)Carrie L.
This place was recommended to me by more than one friend -- so I was super excited to try it. Luckily it met all my expectations. I came here at 11am on a Saturday and there was already a throng of people. The wait was about an hour -- but since I'm used to waiting in SF-- it didn't bother me that much. My friends had already warned me to come early if I didn't want to wait, but I don't really feel like eating brunch at 9am. The waiters/waitresses worked pretty fast to turn over the tables, so it really was just a lot of people coming -- not the lack of efficiency. As for the food -- it tasted great! The only issue was that my boyfriend and I kept underestimating the portion sizes in Portland. We shared an order of lemon ricotta fritters as our appetizer and then EACH ordered our own fried chicken and waffle. The lemon ricotta fritters were great. It reminded me of a doughnut coated with sugar and you could taste hints of the lemon and ricotta. It was fresh and hot when we got it, so the inside was soft and melty -- so good! It was airy, so it didn't have that heavy feeling a doughnut sometimes give you. As for the fried chicken and waffles -- it wasn't the best I had, but was pretty damn good. Sometimes with fried chicken, the chicken itself isn't well flavored because it's just battered and fried and the restaurant doesn't do anything with the meat itself, but at the Screen Door, you could taste flavor in the meat. Also, the meat was cooked so that it was moist on the inside -- which takes skills. The reason I didn't give this place five stars is because I like my fried chicken in drumstick and thigh form and here they give you in the form of flat pieces of meat (chicken breast?) Also, I've had better fried chicken skin. Other than that one thing -- everything was awesome! One more tip though - for two people -- split one entree and appetizer(s) and/or a salad. Two orders of fried chicken is A LOT.
(4)Bill E.
Screen Door is crack and I am an addict! There are too many amazing places in this city to wait for brunch like this town waits for brunch, so I just don't do it. Dinner time here is my jam, the wait is generally brief, never been over 10 minutes, and often as easy as sidling straight up to the bar. Speaking of the bar, my friend with the bitchin' mustache. Yeah, he makes the best Spanish Coffee in town. Now I know what your brain is thinking, "But, have you been to Huber's?" All pomp and circumstance aside the Screen Door has a gem in their cocktail professionals. There is showmanship with the mixology but the cold hard facts are the drinks are wonderful. Oh yeah, the fried chicken blows the doors off of any place that I have ever tried the fried goodness...and I used to be a long-haul truck driver so I know my way around a piece of fried chicken or two! See you soon friend.
(5)Caitlin W.
My all-time favorite brunch spot in Portland. Worth the enormous wait time every time! Eggs Sardou....soooooo goooooood :)
(5)Angeline A.
Their website speaks the truth! The Best Southern Cuisine in Portland! I'll leave it at that. Go look at the pictures. Once you start drooling, go get some fried chicken & grits, y'all!
(5)Belinda C.
Ok Oregon, it's my second time visiting your lovely state, but i really wished your food places were open past ten. We came here around 9:20 and were lucky to have evenly been seated. The place was still packed, all the tables were filled. I wished the waitress was more attentive to us, but i understand that it was a busy night. She didn't make any recommendations, so we decided on own. We got the following. Fried okra- this was my most favorite dish of the night. I love okra and they cooked in a batter where it was lightly fried. Making it super yummy and super hot! Be careful when you bite in to this dish, it's super hot. Smoked and bbq beef brisket. - this was so tender you don't even need a knife to cut into it. The potato salad that came with this was huge, making it impossible to finish. Screen door plate - you get to choose 3 sides. I picked the cat fish, mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. The cat fish was ok, i wished i was more lightly fried instead of deep fried. The mac and cheese was very very cheesy and it would have been perfect if there was truffle in it. The mashed potatoes was my favorite. It was thick, just how i like my mashed potatoes I'm giving them 3 stars because of the service, I know the waitress was busy, but i felt like she paid more attention to the table next to us. She checked up on them more and she didn't even ask us if we wanted dessert. Even if the kitchen was closing, she could've came by and told us.
(3)Sarah S.
Delicious!
(5)Jim Spagg X.
the fried chicken is the chron'. the place is too loud, they should install some of those acoustical tiles that absorb sound, other than that, this place is the tits.
(5)Gayle R.
We recently had carpet installed by Classique Floors. I was not happy with the service (or lack of) I received and wrote a very bad review... Today I the privledge of talking to the owner Judith H. She was very concerned about my complaints and addressed them all one by one. After talking to her, I feel really good about my purchase at Classique Floors. I would recommend them to anybody buying carpet. Judith went above and beyond to make sure I was happy. I will use them again when I'm ready for my 2 bedrooms...Gayle R
(5)Brian D.
our experience at screen door was probably the best service we've ever had at a restaurant. had 4 servers keeping my water filled at all times and checking up on us. my wife ordered fried chicken which wasn't fully cooked in the center. it didn't look bad to me, but our waitress agreed with my wife that it was a little pink inside. she took the piece and brought back another full order of chicken w/ mashed potatoes and greens. then the darndest thing is that they took both orders of chicken off of our bill. we left a 40% tip which is the most i've ever tipped. it's hard to get good service these days, and the team that worked that night did a great job. now if i can just pop in for the brunch menu...
(5)Melissa S.
Wonderful service. Cool vibe. Excellent food. I'm from the South, and this place does it right! The only small caution is that it is small inside, so not best for groups or for young kids.
(5)Liz W.
The best chicken and waffle I've had yet. Everything is outstanding. I've been here for dinner and brunch, and well worth the hour wait! Every penny is gladly spent here. Eat here now!!!
(5)Es M.
Good I had the fried chicken and mash potatoes, I think the fried chicken could use spices added into the batter. Other than that it was good
(4)Whitney D.
We waited just a bit over an hour for a spot for brunch, but man, it was so worth it. My girlfriend and I split the brisket hash, put a dash of hot sauce on the side, and then decided that the balance of flavours was too delicious to taint with any spice. I think there were a fair number of slow motion fork-to-mouth action moves, as well as audible moans.
(5)Frances V.
ok.. This place is a bit of a oxymoron, Gourmet Southern food?? My son is the first generation not born and raised in the south, I'm sayin Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, S. Carolina. I know my southern food. Don't get me wrong, this place is D.E. LICIOUS!! Everything is cooked perfectly. Presentation is beautiful. Service is attentive. Menu has all the classic southern favorites. The things that cocked my head and made me chuckle - ~ pimiento cheese as a appetizer : HAHAHAHA. my mom made sandwiches out of this stuff. BLAH!! and for $6.50. You can buy a bucket of it at the Winn DIxie down in Texas for that price. ~ sauce with okra?? : who needs sauce with fried okra. That is just a sin!! ~ fried chicken with no bone : uuuuhhh. totally a Northwest thing. That's where all the flavor is!! A few tips - ~ Get there early!!! I don't mean when they open. I mean 45 min. before they open. Yes. People are getting in line 45 min. before they open. But, on the bright side, I didn't fee like the service was slow because of the crowd. They are very well prepared for business. ~ Order the Pecan Pie!! SOOOOO GOOOD!!!
(4)Amber L.
Not much more I can say to add to the reviews, but I'll give it a try... I'm a Southerner born and raised, and this is truly good, inspired and upscaled Southern cuisine. It's like Sunday at grandma's but with fancier ingredients and a nice Portland touch.
(5)Pat D.
The Screen Door serves Southern style food. They don't take reservations, but you can call in advance and be put on the waiting list which is good because the waiting can take quite awhile. Finding available on-street parking can take awhile also. However, it is worth the wait. The food is spectacular. Our group had fried oysters, fried catfish, fried chicken (no bones), chicken and sausage jambalaya, braised collard greens, mac & cheese, calypso beans, and sautéed veggies. All of it was exquisite. The ambiance is casual and relaxed. The specials are up on the board. The service was prompt and friendly. I thoroughly enjoyed the sweet tea. Except for the long wait, this was a superb dining experience.
(5)Casey D.
If heaven were a smell, it'd be Screen Door brunch. Especially in the winter, when it's crummy out & the windows are all steamed up with the goodness & breakfast here is likely to be the best thing that happens to you all day. I've eaten here dozens of times & have never had a bad experience on any front: consistently awesome food for brunch or dinner, reliably friendly & prompt service across the board, and totally reasonable prices. Where dinner's concerned, there are many fine things, and I'm sure you'd enjoy any of them, but I can't stop ordering the Screen Door plate - any 3 sides from the menu (catfish strips are a side? I won't argue...) or the seasonal specials list (if there's any manner of savory bread pudding on there, and there usually is, don't even think, just get it). Breakfast, though, is where they shine brightest, and be warned: they have the line to prove it. But if anyplace is worth waiting for, this is it. It's the only place I've ever ordered extra breakfast entrees for the table. And you won't blame me: with choices like fried green tomato BLT or bananas foster french toast, the eternal sweet-or-savory breakfast conundrum is more than my morning brain can wrestle with. Go, go, go here.
(5)timothy a.
I MUST SAY I WAS IMPRESSED, good food great service and the meals are traditionally prepared like my grandma made them....although i did not see any grandmas cooking.........go there ....you will be glad you did....
(5)Ali S.
Good brunch! Love the country grits! They make an awesome leftover breakfast or lunch. The line is worth the wait!
(4)Duane P.
Where else in Portland can you get to a restaurant 15 minutes before they open and still have 50 people in front of you? That is the way it rolls at SD. Good news is they have roughly 55 seats or so. Susan was in town and I wanted to take her somewhere special. I'm glad we got a couple of the last seats of the first turn. It is the first time I've had the Oyster Benedict and it was fabulous. Susan had the Praline Bacon and Waffle. It was a little sweet for her but also great. The only downside was service was a little slow initially as they were slammed and food took awhile to come out. But once we got it the wait is always worth it. Make this restaurant your special occasion restaurant too. You won't be sorry :)
(4)Dan H.
So many more reviews have been written about this place since the last time I reviewed it over 2 years ago. I'll make this one quick. It seems I only ever go here when my dad is in town. No reason for that. I really like the food here and it is very convenient to where I live. Dad always raves about the fried chicken and always wants to come back for it when he is visiting. Who am I to deny him that? On this visit I had the Trout Orleans ($15.75) which I don't remember being on the menu the previous time I was here. Pan-seared Ruby Red trout with New Orleans bbq shrimp butter over a buttermilk chive biscuit with seasonal vegetables. The shrimp butter makes this dish. I would smear it on the walls in my apartment and lick it off if my landlord wouldn't have a problem with that. She would. I think this review has gone far enough.
(5)Jenn R.
Definitely worth the wait and lives up to the hype! We ordered 3 dishes: 2 orders of the chicken & waffles, & the chicken & biscuits. The portions here are huge! We didn't even touch the 2nd serving of the chicken and waffles. The sweet potato waffles were delicious. I'm normally not a fan of waffles, but these were soft and fluffy. The chicken is the bomb! It's got a spicy kick to it, and the fact that the chicken is a breast makes it easier to eat! You don't have to work for the goodness. The biscuits are square instead of round. It's also worth ordering! Of all the southern style places I've eaten at Roscoe's (LA native), Hard Knox (San Francisco), and the chicken & waffles spot in Oakland (near Jack London Square)... Screen Door beats them all!! What put them over the top and got me to give them 5 stars: the maple praline bacon!! It's hella delicious. It tastes like tocino on steroids. I know all y'all Pilipinos love tocino!! It's tocino * 1,000! The only downside: they don't have an extensive drink menu but that's probably on purpose because that'd be a waste of space in our stomachs. We were extremely stuffed! Love the food. This place is soooo busy so it probably makes sense that the service was just ok. Not that great. My feeling is this must be a stressful place to work. The best part was the guy in the kitchen that had on a headband (like in the movie "Dodgeball"). The music they place is random: funk, Prince, and some jazz.... Love that!!
(5)Won O.
hands down the best fried chicken ever! everything they have on the menu is really good. if you wanna get seated on saturday morning... please go alone or as a couple... if you have a large crowd, it will be hard to get in... but the wait is well worth it.
(5)Chris E.
The food and drink is SO DELICIOUS!
(5)Tiffany S.
I can't give that fifth star to the "Stand in line forever" restaurants. I just can't. Not that Screen Door doesn't deserve it, because I'm drooling all over again just thinking about brunch. We agreed to sit outside just so the wait wouldn't be 45 minutes. It was more like 15-20 and our teeth were chattering on an unseasonable May morning, but the minute the rhubarb turnovers showed up I didn't care if I was sitting on an iceberg. My Migas were actually just ok, but between the Praline Bacon and Chris' Po Boy I had ceased to care about minor incidentals. I'd pay just to watch the stacks of fried chicken and waffles get delivered. Service was fantastic, food was both gorgeous and delicious, a nap was necessary. Can't wait to go back, even if it means standing in line.
(4)Warren D.
A friend brought me here on a Wednesday night and I didn't know what to expect (so i'm hinting that I had no expectations). There was a small line and we waited maybe no more than 10 minutes. It was nice out so we sat on the patio. I really liked the atmosphere they had set up. I got the Smoked & BBQ'd Beef Brisket.... it was really good!!! The horse-radish/bacon potato salad was a tasty surprise. I definitely recommend this to anyone who likes brisket. The happy ending to the dinner... "which will make you orgasm in your mouth" is getting the Ban-offee Pie!!! Pure awesomeness in every bite!! I left the Screen Door happy and content with my experience! I definitely recommend.
(4)Erik H.
The fried chicken and the jambalaya are excellent. Still, the best is the local fare menu which is always rotating with the season. Another interesting way to attack the menu is to build a plate of sides for a true soul food experience.
(5)Lisa C.
Southern food with PNW flair. Not EXACTLY like what you would get in the drty dirty, but that could be a good thing, right? Service was a little slow, but we went to mother's day brunch so that is to be expected. To be honest it was worth the wait and I would not say that about many places. Should have had a second bartender, or at least someone helping out back there- it took about 10 minutes to get a drink while we were waiting for a table which is excessive in my book. BF had the biscuits and gravy and it was good, but not at all authentic and there was VERY little actual sausage in the gravy. Very light and flavorful- tasty, but not the typical southern plate of starchy goodness I am used to and the lack of meat was disappointing. The chicken and waffles was a sight to behold for sure. The breading was delicious and well seasoned- the chicken itself was not dry, but not exceptionally moist. I found it strange that they used boneless skinless chicken. In the south it would have been whole pieces of chicken- not chicken tenders. Delicious, but not authentic. We also ordered a hazelnet honey bun that was OK. The star of our meal was the praline bacon. Holy Shit. Order it.
(4)Frank C.
Had a great breakfast - waffles. Terrific service.
(5)Tim M.
OK, these guys rock. I live in the neighborhood, and I have to admit that I've left their door for lesser pastures after a quick calculation on the line that wound out their door and down the block. I've only done that when I had a posse of out of town guests (the family kind) in a huge number that were grumpy and eager to get fed and get gone. Here's what you'll find if you brave the line: food coma of the "guilty pleasures" variety that will knock your shoes off, leave your socks on, and leave you napping on the living room couch with a sly grin on your face while "Melrose Place" drones on in the background. (Editor's note: We felt that the inclusion of the barely-used roll of Charmin and the fact that the older brother and his new bride walked in just as the reviewer was dozing off was irrelevant to this review.) Screen Door makes great, honest, and inventive food. My company recently hosted the Taste of the Nation here in Portland, and I had unlimited access to the best food by the best chefs in P-Town. The booth I kept (sheepishly) coming back to was the Screen Door's. They made a smoked meatloaf nugget with whipped potatoes that made me its bitch. I came back to their booth six or seven times, greedily taking more each time, and I literally got the last one (just ask them). I'm not sure if they take reservations (most of the good ones in Portland don't), but I can tell you that Screen Door's take on southern comfort food is worth the wait. And if it's just you and your honey, you'll be in and out and... not having sex because she ate too much... in no time at all.
(5)Marla S.
Not like I need to add fuel to this fire, but this place is oh so good. Super long waits on the weekend, but sometimes ya just gotta do it. They recently switched out my favorite trout dish, but I have hope it will return, it was perfect. Here is my official plea: Dear Screen Door, Please bring back my pecan-encrusted trout with creamed spinach and fingerling potatoes, it was amazing, my favorite go-to dish. Thank you for your consideration. Everything you hear is true, from the fried chicken to the mac n cheese, and OH MY the giant burger! And no matter how full I am, I always stuff in dessert. And the cocktails are good. And the service is good. Have yet to try the buzzed about brunch. Until next time...
(5)Cee A.
I came here for one reason: chicken and waffles. It was definitely very, very delicious. But you know, I'm just not feeling the delivery here. For starters -- boneless, skinless chicken breast. Really? Why you gotta take something that doesn't even begin to flirt with being remotely healthy and do that to it? What good, southern-style fried chicken is skinless? That's just weird! And as amusing as it was to see, stabbing the chicken breasts with a knife and serving it that way? What's up with that? And only serving it during the brunch session? Come on dudes, chicken & waffles is an all-day type of thing. Presentation issues and type of chicken aside, they were pretty freakin' tasty. And I guess in the end, that's the most important thing. The waffle was pretty impressive too. Sweet potato flour is a nice touch. But as much as I enjoyed the taste of it all, I just couldn't get over all of the aforementioned. On another visit, we tried the buttermilk fried chicken dinner plate. Now THAT was working for me. They say it's crispy, and they do deliver. That's some serious crispiness their batter delivers. The only quirky thing about that I found was that they serve ham gravy with your mashed potatoes, rather than say, chicken gravy. It went well, just didn't expect it. I have my issues with this place, but it's not like I'd ever hesitate to visit. It's dang good food. Someone described this place to me as southern with a PNW twist. That makes sense to me.
(3)Emily L.
OMG, amazing. I had the Screen Door Plate with Mac-n-Cheese, Jambalaya, and Asparagus salad and it was fantastic! The other people in my party had the Rib-Eye steaks, and they were cooked to perfection The services was great, and prices inexpensive relative to the quality and quantity of food you get. The only downside is the noise level. If you are looking for a place to have a quiet meal this is not the best place, but I will give it a pass for the quality of the food! Will definitely be back when I am in town!
(5)Paul L.
Let me start by saying the hour wait was worth it. The creole bloody Mary's are the best right down to the pickled okra and green olive. I ordered the biscuits and gravy and it was good. My girlfriend had the chicken and waffles and I must say the chicken was delicious. Now I've been to South Carolina and had southern fried chicken and the chicken at Screen Door was exactly the same if you took only breast meat and pounded it out, battered it in something great and fried it to perfection. Definitely a place I want to return to maybe not on mothers day though.
(5)Neeva D.
I had heard about the terrible lines that this place generates, so one night we decided to pick up some orders to go. I got the screen door plate with the pork chop, the mac and cheese, and the mashed potatoes with tasso gravy. I was extremely excited to try the mac and cheese, as it is one of my most favorite-est things in the world. Welp, color me disappointed. They should have called it macaroni and mustard for all the cheese flavor it had. I couldn't even eat it. So gross. Yes, the pork chop was yummy and the mashed potatoes were good, but I can't really say I enjoyed my meal. All the rave reviews make me want to give this place another shot, and maybe some day I will after I get over my bad mac PTSD.
(2)Jennyfer N.
I really, really wanted to like this place. Even more since I saw them on Unique Eats. I even planned an entire evening there because my friends and I were visiting Oregon for the hiking and just to enjoy a plain girls trip. Much to my dismay, sadness, and sheer disappointment...I really did not enjoy this place. The food is not southern in it's purest form. I am a Texan girl. Maybe that's my fatal flaw. I went to Portland thinking I could get great Southern cooking. But now, alas...no. I had the fried chicken, my friends had the burger and the North Carolina pulled pork sandwich. With the exception of the burger, nothing was really as it should be. FIrst of all, my friend is from North Carolina. Grew up there her whole life. This was not North Carolina inspired barbecue. The sandwich we received was bland, the coleslaw was watery and dripping even more water onto the pulled pork, and there was no vinegar-y tang which is the defining factor in Carolina based barbecue. Me being from Texas, I don't care for Carolina barbecue (tomato based sauce all the way) but even I knew this sandwich was bland. First strike. My fried chicken was okay. The chicken was admittedly fried well. It was juicy, well breaded, and hot from the kitchen. Can't complain there. But the chicken itself had no flavor. I HATE doing this but I've had more flavorful chicken from Popeye's...which, IMO, does a pretty good representation of cajun cooking. The greens were sour and lacked that hint of bitterness I was hoping to get. More sour than bitter, which just seemed all wrong. There was no resonance of herbs or flavorings. Just sour. The mashed potatoes were flavorless. I couldn't even taste the butter or the cream, which I know they must have used. I'm from the south! I know mashed potatoes. The gravy, which was supposed to be made from ham drippings, lacked all the well-rounded porcine flavors that I love. Instead, it was bland...and the only discerning flavor I could find was cayenne pepper. It tasted like it was thrown in as an afterthought rather than as a complement. Strike two. The burger was tasty, not cooked to order, with a passable level of crisp fries. But honestly, how can you mess with a burger? All in all, I'm sorry Screen Door. Despite coming 15 minutes prior to opening time, waiting in your line, getting seated out on the patio on a 50 degree day...I still couldn't love your food. I really did try. Despite your waitress being obviously overwhelmed with the demanding patrons as could be visibly seen on her strained facial expressions when passing our table. She was nice but obviously rushed and not very personable because of this. Oh, and it took us 20 minutes to finally get her to come back to our table to take our orders. Strike three. And WHO on God's green earth sells fried okra as an APPETIZER and not a side accompaniment?
(1)Don S.
Love this place Often crowded but the food is great. The fried chicken is my favorite.
(5)jenny m.
I was drawn in by the hype surrounding this place, oh yes I was! While in town for a visit, one of my traveling companions requested we find a great brunch spot one day. So I put Yelp to the test and consistently what came up through searching and in Talk threads was Screen Door. So we got up early (on vacation none-the-less), put on our comfy shoes (anticipating a long wait) and made the trek over to Screen Door to see if the hype was worth it. We arrived about quarter of 9 and the line was about half way down the block. We were prepared for this though so it was no surprise. I had fingers crossed that we'd still make it in for the first seating but alas, we fell just short (literally, there was one couple ahead of us and then our party of 3...so close!). I'd say you probably need to get there by 8:30 to guarantee a first seating. Luckily since we were about first in line now, we got seats inside, helped ourselves to some coffee and prepared to wait. We finally got sat after waiting about an hour after they'd opened the doors, so about what we'd expected. Our server came over right away to take our beverage order and while I was super tempted by the Bloody Mary's I'd seen a couple ladies in line drinking, I decided I needed a caffein boost and ordered some tea instead. Since we'd had plenty of time to look over the menu, the 3 of us were pretty set on what we wanted to order. That was until I saw the daily specials menu and it threw me for a loop! I had my eye on the grits up till that point because it's a Southern style restaurant and I figured I should get something southern. (Let me preface at this point by saying none of the 3 of us eat meat...so the much lauded chicken & waffles/biscuits & gravy dishes weren't on the radar for us). One of the specials was scrambled eggs with peppers, onions, & fresh greens and it sounded right up my alley. So I went against my gut instinct and ordered that instead of the grits. It was good, although I will admit I kind of wish I had gone with the grits. Not because the dish I ordered wasn't well prepared and flavorful...but I realized that it was something I could have found on a menu just about anywhere....where as grits are something you don't see most brunch spots. Oh well, something to look forward to next time I'm in Portland!! The two girls with me went the sweet route and ordered the bananas foster & vanilla bean french toast dishes. The clear winner there being the bananas foster. I believe it elicited an 'OMG' from all three of us. It was plate licking good!! After leaving all 3 of us realized that to really have gotten the full experience of this place, we probably should have ordered more of the Southern style dishes, then the typical brunch dishes. But I can understand the hype. I saw the chicken & waffles rolling out all around us and judging by the somewhat orgasmic looks of those eating it, I'm assuming it's as good as it's hyped to be. So Screen Door, you still impressed us with your great food, quick service and fun brunch atmosphere. Next time I'm in town, I will head back for the grits!!
(4)Zuzana K.
No need to elaborate on the food, they got that down just right. However... The four of us arrived on Sunday morning 15 minutes before opening. Not early enough! We didn't get table in the first round so we had to wait for the lucky ones to finish their breakfast. What eased our pain was the fact that we were waiting inside (it was a chilly morning) and there was unlimited coffee available. One hour later we finally got our table and it felt like we have won a lottery. Our server was very nice and the food arrived quite quick. Was it worth the wait? Yes. We will be back for more. But if Screen Door took reservations (and not just once a day, parties of 6 or more) we would come more often and I would have happily given them all five stars.
(4)Rachel K.
Not only is the food and drink fantastic - they work magic with fried chicken and bourbon cocktails, but the service is phenomenal. Even when the place is packed and the wait for a table is over an hour, the host (s) are sure to welcome you to the bar, make sure you have a drink and check back with you . We've been here for dinner and for brunch several times and are never disappointed. And the servings are generous so you never feel cheated by the prices. We've brought friends and come with our kids -- it's a wonderful restaurant!
(5)Kylie A.
Oh goodness. The dear Screen Door. How I love thee. My first breaking the fast meal of my stay. And it definitely set the stage. Arriving around noon time for Sunday brunch, the one hour wait was pretty inevitable. Running on practically nothing and ready to eat a horse, I convinced myself it would be worth the wait. After looking at their sample menu online (brunch, veggies) multiple times before I arrived, I would not be discouraged. Talk about dream menu! Every single item on the veggie menu sounded completely GENIUS. Any restaurant that incorporates winter root veggies like butternut squash, sweet potatoes, beets, parsnips, or chard is a winner in my book. GIVE IT TO ME. The atmosphere was lively, loud, and full of beautiful Portland people: young, tattooed hipster parents with their gorgeous well-behaved babies, groups of fixie-riding hungover friends nursing their Bloody Mary's, and couples so cute they make you wanna puke. I knew I was in the right place. Basically: sweet potato waffles, bacon, root vegetable hash with chard on a bed of parsnip puree and over-easy eggs, toast and jam. Need I say more? Thankfully my eyes weren't much bigger than my stomach. I was happier than a pig in shit. Pretty much all of my favorite foods coming together in one awesome meal. Words cannot describe the degree of foodie contentment that came over me. Most delicious comfort food ever. One of the best breakfasts of my life. This breakfast CHANGED my life. Excellent, excellent, EXCELLENT! I hope you're convinced now. What else do you want me to say? Patience pays off.
(5)Clover A.
Do I need to write a review that covers all the same stuff that the other reviewers already have? Probably not. Do I want to let ALL MY FRIENDS KNOW THAT THIS IS THE BEST F-ING BREAKFAST EVER? yes, yes I do. If you are in Portland, go there. Do not mind the long wait, chat, drink coffee from the little place next door, and eat you some chicken and waffles and then some banana's foster french toast, and waddle out and enjoy the wonder that is Portland full on the best breakfast EVER.
(5)Stephan C.
I heard great things about this place, but I can't say why people would wait 30 minutes to an hour to eat here. Maybe this restaurant lives and dies by the pork; I don't know. I had the fried chicken and tried the beef brisket. The former is good. It also has a lot of pepper. And I mean a lot! I wonder how many people would eat it if they saw how much was added. Same goes for salt, the life force - with half and half - of the delicious mashed potatoes. As for the beef brisket, it should be taken off the menu. You shouldn't have to use a knife and fork to cut brisket. And it shouldn't need to be slathered in sauce. Go on a research trip to SE Texas. If I had ordered that I would have sent it back or left hungry. the many sides I tried were good, as were the drinks. Prices aren't so bad either. But all the mad love this place gets just doesn't make sense.
(3)Zach B.
This place truly lives up to the hype. It's the best southern food I've had in Portland, by far. I had the Carolina pulled pork sandwich, which was fantastic- really good pork, not over-seasoned, and the coleslaw was really good- and I generally do not like coleslaw. I also tried some of my friend's fried chicken and it was literally the best fried chicken I've ever had, so juicy and crispy- and boneless too. The chicken came with collard greens, though, which were not good, but that's most likely a matter of preference. Anyway the food was really really good, and the service was prompt and friendly- I will definitely be returning.
(5)Justin P.
So the roomy and myself woke up saturday and decided it was so nice out lets find somewhere to eat that involved a stroll to get there, so we settled on screen door... what an awesome decision! As we approached we noticed the all to familiar line out the door but said screw it lets eat here anyway, once again good decision. 45 minutes later we were sitting inside sipping on some tasty breakfast cocktails trying to figure out which of the delicious looking menu items would satisfy us, I went with the fried cathead chicken and biscuit sandwich and the roomy went with the breakfast po'boy. Holy lord let me tell you that was one of the crispiest on the outside juiciest on the inside pieces of fried chicken I have ever eaten, place that in between a wonderfully made biscuit and cover it in sausage gravy done the right way and you have pure gold on a plate! I am a huge fan of Pine State biscuits but Screen Door just blew them out of the water when it comes to this tasty breakfast offering. The po'boy was no less spectacular, homemade andouille sausage on a fresh roll topped with soft boiled egg, fried onions, greens and house made aioli made it spectacular! It was a bit pricey but its worth it and i would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a good weekend brunch experience... I also hear Dinner is insanely good to.. especially the fried chicken
(4)Katie H.
I think this place got over-hyped. I went to this place with tremendous expectations and was just not blown away at all. Don't get me wrong...the food is good. The mac and cheese, the fried chicken, grits, and even the greens were good. But for the line I had to endure and the cost for Southern food I'd rather stick with the Delta cafe.
(3)David H.
Southern/creole style food can be a real treat when done right, and this place does it *right*. The fried chicken is the stuff that dreams are made of and the desserts match the entrées in taste and quality. If you decide to make it for dinner, get there early - like 1/2 hour before it opens. Otherwise, prepare to wait... for a while. If it's a Friday or Saturday night, show up at least 45 minutes early. Once you see the line that forms, you will be happy you did. Summertime is especially fun since the outdoor seating is perfect for a lazy evening with friends, southern inspired drinks, and fried (artery clogging) goodness.
(5)Justin T.
Great service, awesome food.....really crowded :)
(4)Sasha V.
This place was amazing. Went there for Saturday brunch and got there around 9:30 so had to wait for around 30 minutes to get a table for 5. The place was packed which was a good sign. The hostess was completely arrogant which is not a good first impression. But once we sat down we were excited cause everything looked and smelled great. The server asked if we had any questions and all I did was ask if they can do a side of fried chicken with the biscuits and gravy because I lived in the south and there is nothing better than the "big nasty." He quickly and very arrogantly told me "We don't do chicken on the side here." I was like "OK next time just hit me over the back of the head with a chair why don't ya." The worst part was one of the specials was a big nasty but with a different name and he did not even suggest that. So big minus on service on this place. He was rude and just bad all morning. But the food is so amazingly good that beside service taking this place down to one star they were able to jump back up to four. We had so much food and were happily stuffed to the rafters. I will definitely go back next time I am in Oregon but won't be expecting to be treated like a decent human being.
(4)Sudeep B.
Appetizers are good. Friendly staff. Food was not bad though my brisketshad waaaay too much salt on them...not sure what happened there....they ran out of most desert by the time we finished out main course (around 9:30 or so)...good place but probably not worth a return visit.
(4)Hali S.
The food is fantastic! The only reason I don't come here more often is because the wait is way to long and the place is way to small for how many chairs and people they seat, way to crowded. You have to get here about an hour early in order to get a seat in the first wave of people and if you don't get in with the first wave then who knows how long you'll have to wait. Hopefully they get a bigger place and I would be there all the time.
(3)David P.
The only time I have ever been to Portland and boy-howdy... What a fantastic way to greet a new place! This place is OUT OF THIS WORLD good! The only reason you should not try this place is if you are in a hurry. I was by myself and just like all the other reviews say, you will wait. The wait, however, was SO WORTH IT! The praline pecan bacon in combination with their famous chicken and waffles is as good as it gets! True southern soul-food. The people that go here are also top-notch. I strongly recommend finishing up the Portland experience with a tour of downtown.
(5)Jennifer W.
Went here last sunday for dinner and I thought coming in when they just open (5:30 pm) would be a safe bet... i'm wrong! The line was creeping out from the front door to the side and by the time it was our turn, the whole restaurant was full except for 2 tables outside on the patio. The crispy buttermilk fried chicken was yummy (came with kale and mashed potatoes) but my fave of the night was the shrimp and grits! OMG... it was that good!! Very tasty and not only it has shrimps, it also adds pork belly. Everything looks so good. we ordered the crispy fried chicken tender, fried oyster, and fried catfish. the oyster was delicious! so juicy and melt inside your mouth. the catfish is awesome. the chicken tender is kinda normal. After all those 5 dishes (we must be two hungry hippos to almost finished those), our tummy were protesting but our eyes were saying different things :) we couldn't stop gawking at the dishes that the servers brought out for other tables. Next time, we are definitely going to order the Screen Door plate - you got to choose 3 side dishes and mind you, those side dishes are huge (the popular mac and cheese and the catfish are under this side dish menu)! I'm a happy foodie - but the wait is a turn off for me...
(4)Jae K.
Tried their famous brunch. Ordered the big waffle with fried chicken. Was okay, but not enough to go back for it. The service was not horrible, but was not great. I would have to say I was bit disappointed by the venue.
(3)Kia R.
This LA girl was in Portland visiting a good friend when I was brought to Screen Door for brunch. MY GOODNESS!!!! This place had some of the best southern food I've ever tasted in my life. Their chicken and waffles was absolutely amazing. Mind you I'm from LA where we have the famous Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles and I hate to betray the restaurant native to my city but Screen Door kills Roscoe's. In fact I will probably will not visit Roscoe's ever again. My palete will never be the same. The chicken was crispy, succulent, and bursting with flavor. I had to pause and reflect on my life after eating here. I also tried my friend's oysters and I was brought down to my knees. This place is were a die hard foodie comes to get owned.
(5)Lisa S.
This place is always busy, I waited about an hour on a sunday for a party of 3. I first came here on a weekday which wasn't as busy. The food is awesome. Fried chicken was crispy and fresh. My son had the chicken and waffles which is a huge portion food. I love this place but I avoid going there anymore because of the huge line. Definitely a must try spot in the portland area for southern food though.
(4)Julie T.
super bummed that i can no longer have the yummiest thing ever...the chicken and waffles....super excited that the beet, grapefruit, pistachio, chevre, arugula, baby red leaf lettuce, and honey sherry vinaigrette. i love this. the reason 5 stars are not present is that, the last time i was there, our server seemed really annoyed that my bf and i each ordered small things. there was not a wait, and not all of the tables were taken, so i don't know what his deal was, but he was very ungracious.
(4)ReviewInHaik u.
Mother's arms. Warm bed. Footie pajamas and milk. And now, add Screen Door.
(5)Maryna P.
I went there on a Wednesday night in a group of 4. We got to the restaurant 15 minutes after they opened for dinner, and there was already an hour long wait for a table. That turned out to be more like an hour and a half, but it was completely worth it! If you get there and there's a wait, just leave them your cell number and go have an aperetif beer up the street by Laurelhurst - they will give you a call with plenty of time to get back there. We got a pear salad, the fried chicken and the baked pear crumble desert to share between two people. All of the food was to die for good! The salad was fresh and delicious, a perfect appetizer. The chicken was so juicy and tasty, and perfectly seasoned that I kept eating the fallen off crumbs of the fried batter. It wasn't at all greasy which is something that I was afraid of.! You can definitely share it too, since it is one of the pricier dishes at $15 a plate. The deserts were amazing too. I can't give this restaurant enough praise. It's definitely worth the wait.
(5)Brandi S.
This place kills me. I haven't had anything off the menu that was short of amazing. Tried the roasted cauliflower with capers and it was great. Not to mention the staff is friendly and helpful.
(5)Tom P.
If you are a lacto-ovo vegetarian...this place has the best variety of amazing veggie dishes. The sides are all super-local and creative and you can get a platter of 4 that will fill up two people for not much at all. Every time we've gone we've tried different things and every time our minds have been consistently blown with flavors so majestic we budget time and make excuses to come here. There is almost always a wait and I must say it is always worth it. Best customer service experience I've had recently here as well...I lost a credit card and had no idea where I'd left it. After tracing my steps much farther back in time than I thought, I asked if it was here. They had kept it for me the whole time and were very nice about giving it back to me after checking my ID. Thanks again, guys!
(5)Forrest S.
It has taken me a long time to try the legendary food at the Screen Door, but I finally have, and I can say that I will die with one less regret, after just having experienced the best fried chicken of my life. Words may not adequately describe the experience, but I will do my best. I came here with my cousin who was visiting from out of town, and we were both in need a a breakfast that would fill us up for the rest of the day. Starving as we were, we were a bit apprehensive about the wait, but it was nice sunny day, so the wait outside wasn't so bad, especially for a Saturday. After a half hour we were seated by our very friendly server, and ordered the holy grail of breakfasts: Chicken and waffles. In spite of the place being so packed that we were nearly rubbing elbows with the people at the table next to us, our food was out in less than 20 minutes. One Belgian waffle, with a tower of three massive pieces of golden fried chicken skewered to it. The waffle was great, not too soft, not too crispy and oh so fluffy and delicious. The chicken was really the star of the meal, as it was really the perfect fried chicken. Slightly spicy, not overly salty, and fried to perfection with an almost grease less, crispy golden outside, and a tender, juicy inside. Finish it off with some strong, flavorful coffee and you have of the best breakfasts ever. The only disappointment I had was when I later found out that my cousins sister was cleaning out the fridge, and threw away my left over piece of chicken. Sure, "threw it out" uh-huh, sure. I bet she threw it out. Oh well, I guess that just means I have to come back again, and again and again....Believe the hype. Screen Door deserves the reputation it has, and is well worth the wait. I guess I can't blame my cousin for "throwing out" my leftovers.
(5)Leslie H.
ri-frigging-diculous food that is completely worth the wait. (and there will be a wait.) i had the oyster benedict. the oysters were plump, the hollandaise fresh and creamy, and the eggs were perfectly poached. everything, as a matter of fact, was cooked to perfection. the bloody mary was spicy loveliness, and we all left stuffed and blissful. my only regret is that i couldn't try more of their dishes because i was too full!
(5)Grace S.
Holy hell do they make some good food at Screen Door! I've been coming since they opened and it has been consistently amazing! I have tried it all, but I'm officially in love with their Pulled Pork sandwich (sub the fries for sweet potato fries and you can't miss) its simply to die for. I no longer can order anything else, well maybe a side of fried green tomatoes, and possibly some mac and cheese, but always I must have the pulled pork!!! Do yourself and your taste buds a favor and come and eat the best southern food in Portland. You'll thank me later.
(5)Jey R.
This place is awful. the service thinks they are better than you and snoody. The food sucks. I am from Oklahoma so I know good southern food. Also we waited an hour and a half. They skipped us when seating. I am not a hippy or poor. service should be with a smile. Not with a better than you attitude. Oh and very overpriced for greasy slop. OK! I finally went back , always sit at the bar or outside to get good service. The short guy with piercings and tattoo's is cute and funny and a great server.. I recommend him. The fried chicken is actually pretty good, but ill always get the burger when I am with people who want to come here.
(3)Jerome B.
I've been here twice, both on a Friday evening. The first time I came to this Southern Style restaurant, it was around 8pm. There was a huge wait in the waiting area and it may have taken about 30-40 minutes to be seated. I ordered the fried chicken with mashed potatoes and collared greens. The fried chicken was a delight and the mashed potatoes were delicious. The collared greens were too bitter for my liking, i'm assuming the flavor is an acquired taste. One thing that it really unique to this restaurant is that they have an organic food menu that is changed weekly depending on what is available through the local growers. I ordered the sauteed broccoli with melted butter and cheese. OH MY GOD, this dish was AMAZING. I love broccoli, and am usually pretty picky as to how it's prepared. This tasted so great and flavorful. The second time I came to the restaurant I opted to order for take out which was a great idea--didn't have to wait as long for tables to be available! I ordered the Catfish with mashed potatoes and macaroni & cheese. The catfish was fried so nicely and had very great flavor. The mashed potatoes were once again delicious and the macaroni & cheese had a unique flavor, as it wasn't the traditional cheddar cheese that was used. All in all, I would come here again. Depending if I was in a time crunch or not, I would either wait or order out. My recommendation to others who are inclined to try Screen Door is to be mindful of what time you go. I would recommend around 5 or 6pm on weekend evenings to get passed the weekend rush.
(4)Jessica M.
I visited The Screen Door with my husband last night, as we were visiting Portland. We walked down Burnside and "followed our noses" to the best smelling place. The wait WAS atrocious. 30-45 minutes on the street as the place was packed. However, it was totally worth it. I have Celiac Disease and can't eat anything with wheat. Usually I can get around it by smelling what everyone else is eating and having a nice salad without croutons or dressing. As I was cruising the menu (and really taking a long time about it) they asked if I needed recommendations--I explained my situation, and they produced a detailed menu which had highlighted which items were already gluten-free, and which ones could be adapted. I selected an "adapted" menu item of catfish, but then noticed that the patrons around us were served first. Later, our meals arrived and the waiter/manager/bartender explained to us that my catfish was accidentally breaded with the standard breading--which contained wheat, and in their cross-checking procedure, they caught the error, so they remade both meals (so that my husband's would be hot when mine was). The service here was TOP NOTCH, oh, and the bartender was great. Best mojito ever. My advice--call early and get a reservation, or be prepared to wait, but it's totally worth it. Menu includes lots of vegetarian items also (the beet salad was divine).
(5)Becky L.
Really love this place even though there is a 1-2 hour wait. I love the frittata and pancakes. I didn't try but of course I'm sure the fried chicken and waffle is nomz here, too.
(5)Annie M.
Praline Bacon = Meat Candy This place is worth the hype and I'm glad my visit ended here, even if it meant standing outside in 45 degree weather for 30 min. at 8:45am on a Sunday for an Arizonan (which is below zero in our world). The worst part about the visit is deciding what to eat. I suggest an empty stomach and stretchy pants. I chose a daily special (Spring Vegetable Hash) with a biscuit (I eyeballed those on nearby plates and knew they were mandatory) and for the table ordered a side of Praline Bacon, aka "Meat Candy". The hash was good, made me feel like I was sort of doing something "right". But the best part was wrapping that Delicious bacon around a piece of biscuit and savoring every bite. It's not too sweet and the peppery aftertaste leaves you wanting more. My cousins ordered the Asparagus Scramble (special) with a side of Sausage Gravy (for her biscuit- smart girl) and the Chicken and Biscuit with potatoes. Coffee was fresh and Bloody Mary was proper. YUM.
(4)Zandra A.
Wowwo wowwo y'all!!! During our trip to Portland, we didn't get a chance to cruise the town and hit up the popular places, mainly due to the fact that we spent most of our time at the outlets. Sue me! The one restaurant that I NEEDED to visit was Screen Door (if it wasn't unclassy to curse, I would say, "That's right m*tha f*%ka!!!" But I'm classy.) We went for brunch, the server said that it was the busiest time ever, and waited for 1.5 hours. Well worth the wait...dog! For reals! It was so good!! The hubs ordered biscuits as an appy, which were so buttery and served with honeyed butter. I think it might have been a not so great idea seeing as the main dealy (cue the monstrous plate of fried chicken and waffles) was so filling!! Three large pieces of fried chicken (hand battered as ordered, btw!!) and a very huge sweet potato waffle! Needless to say, I couldn't finish! Kept the leftovers for the car ride home...but didn't end up eating it until the next day...I WAS STILL FULL BY THE TIME WE GOT HOME! 8pm!! MUST EAT HERE!.... AGAIN!
(5)Amanda R.
You guys, Screen Door is like hot love on a plate. You will go crazy for the fried chicken and wonderful buttery, mashed potatoes. Or maybe you would rather have the seriously delicious pulled pork sandwich where the coleslaw comes right on the damn sandwich. Genius. Or is it ingenious? Hell, its both! The drinks are yummy too, try the mojitos or lemonade! Oh, la la...the screendoor is reasonably priced and has a rather charming outdoor patio for seating as well. The wait can get a bit long, but I'm not one to wait too long for a meal, so I can venture to guess it probably wasn't that long. ;)
(5)Shane K.
Huge portions of delicious food. This is a place I usually recommend to friends visiting from out of town
(4)mallory o.
so my screen door experience went something like this; waited for about an hour for our table, in the end I would've waited much longer. it's that good. (by the way, if you can score a spot to sit after putting your name on the list, you can sip on a cocktail or two, which makes waiting much smoother). through the course of the night at the screen door I sipped on two homemade lemonade cocktails, spiked with local portland vodka and muddled with fresh sage. amazing. not sweet, more sour. cocktail perfection. the restaurant was lowly lit, the kitchen out in the open, allowing patrons to watch the chefs sling fried chicken, glaze ribs, and plate food. we started with cocktails and the pimento cheese served with house made, paper thin, sesame crackers. divine. next up, a roasted beet, pickled onion, chevre and frisee salad. I'm a sucker for pulled pork sandwiches and the screen doors did not disappoint. the barbecue sauce on the sandwich? not a sauce, but a jus. it soaked the meat and the bottom of the burger in a decadent, rich, smoky juice. like nothing I've ever tasted. it was heaven. and just when I thought my life at the screen door could not get s lick better the mac and cheese arrived. creamy, gooey, crispy, with what I would a call a crispy baked cheese tortilla all over the top. if I had to describe my experience at the screen door in one word it would be this - religious. hallelujah!
(5)Brett P.
Restaurants like this are the reason why Portland is such a wonderful food town. I went with some friends on a foodie road trip up and down the west coast and really really impressed. The food was amazing! I can'r say a bad word about the place. If you want to read more about the Screen Door, you can check out my website through the link on my profile page.
(5)Tommy T.
I am reviewing the screen door from a vegan's point of view. The staff are accommodating and knowledgeable when it comes to making things vegan, however there are usually one or two things that are. There isn't a vegan butter alternative, I find having one is par for the course as far as Portland breakfast establishments go. The food in general is great and the flavors really stand out.
(3)Valerie W.
Left Screen Door feeling oh-so-so-full. Ordered the Bananas Foster French Toast and Praline Bacon. The bacon I kept hearing raves about but was a tad dissapointed. It was not at all crispy and almost a big soggy and weighed down by the overdose of pralines. If I ordered again I'd probably ask it to be made super crispy if possible. But wow....the Bananas Foster french toast....now that was amazing. Definitely a nice little brunch spot! Plus the outdoor seating is nice!
(4)Kristina L.
It's definitely worth the wait once in a while, or at least once to try. Big portion sizes! Reasonable price. The chicken & waffles is a must! Nice crisp waffles, very juicy & flavorful chicken pieces.
(5)Erika G.
Sooo good. If you are going for brunch, go really early or be prepared to wait in line or hang at the coffee shop next door. Definitely worth the wait though. Service was super friendly and fast. We had a few plates to share. The pear and marscapone waffle was off the charts, as was the praline bacon. Grits were good but could have been better-needed salt or seasoning. Banana foster french toast was also rad. Next time I'm gonna try the bloody mary; will definitely be back for more.
(5)Julie M.
After visiting a ton of the best Portland restaurants, I'm pretty sure Screen Door is one of the best overall everything. The shrimp and grits was some of the best buttery, plump seafood dishes I've ever had. The texas toast, huspuppies, chicken (etc.) were all perfect. The wait does suck, but you soon realize that it's all part of the tremendous experience. People line up an hour before they open for a good reason!
(5)Vade Mecum B.
Amazing selection of really good food, I kept on changing my mind as I saw folks getting their orders. Their dinner and lunch menus look good, but I think brunch is ultimately where its at! I had the sweet potato waffle and fried chicken dish, it was amazing!!! And its crazy how much food it is, you can make two chicken sandwhiches out of the leftovers!
(4)Ashley C.
Had lunch here a few months back with my girl friends. The wait was extremely long and crowded. It was hard to hear the conversations amongst ourselves. The ambiance is very bohemian and dim. The food was very good and we had a nice brunch. Because the line us long you do feel rush to eat and leave. Nothing in particular stood out, aside from the fact we had a lovely time eating and enjoying each other company.
(4)Shelley M.
Awesome food in a great atmosphere. If you don't get there early on the weekend be prepared to wait in line while enjoying a delicious bloody Mary or cup of coffee. Definitely a must go!
(5)Jasmine P.
BEST FRIED CHICKEN. And dont be shy to order desert after, we had the lemon pie and some carmel pie thing , both hands down delish. I'm actually going there this morning for brunch and cant wait!
(4)Nick R.
The fried chicken was great! Good sized portions. The red beans were the only thing we ordered that was not spectacular. Those, plus the wait are why I can't give it a 5. The host was also super nice. I'll definitely be going back.
(4)Putty B.
OMFG - Fried Oysters Fried Chicken Pork Shank & Mashed Potatoes Collard Greens Mac 'n' Cheese Fed 4 people, all picky eaters, for $75 (not inc. booze or tip). We waited an hour for a table. Who cares? It was absolutely worth it. Five stars. OMFG. And that's all I have to say about that.
(5)Emilie S.
I have a new favorite thing... Chicken and waffles. I had it for the first time at Screen Door, and have had it several times since-- though no one else has done it quite so well. A little spendier than your average Portland breakfast, but VERY good. Also very good are their bloody marys. Haven't tried their dinner, but checked out the menu and it looks like a must try.
(4)Amie S.
I didn't know it as I was freezing my ass off outside in February (a nice frigid 22 degrees), but there's a reason people wait in line for an hour + to get in here and order some HUGE plates of delicious breakfast foods. The reason is: everything they make here is f'ing amazing. Thankfully, they serve up coffee via a counter set-up in mugs you can grab and take outside, so at least I was able to wake up/keep my fingers from falling off while we waited. and waited. and waited. But once we sat down - all was right again with the world. The only tough decision was what to get from the extensive menu. Something sweet like the Bananas Foster French Toast my boyfriend ordered? Or something savory like a "cathead" sized biscuit? I opted for one of their specials: a smoked portabella and chevre scramble served with just-spicy-enough potatoes and toast. Every last bite was divine. Our friends got a Traditional Benedict and some kind of gigantic sandwich that could barely fit in their mouths. And then...there was the Praline Bacon. I'm a lover of bacon (duh) - but we made an intelligent decision: split 1 plate amongst 4 people, which honestly was WAY more than enough. Three slices of praline-encrusted pork may not seem like a fitting amount, but all you need is a tiny taste of that heavenly concoction to complete your meal. OMG. It was crazy-amazeballs. Adding to the excellence of this place - any other restaurant that's this busy and this tasty usually sacrifices some amount of service, but not these guys. Nope. We were faithfully attended, with our waters and coffee never dipping below the half-full line, and with a smile every time, to boot. Screen Door, I'm in love. Why aren't you in Seattle???
(5)Eliana M.
With over 500 reviews, I guess I'm just preaching to the choir at this point. But preach I shall! Screen Door has the most delicious food. Ever. Come for brunch! Doesn't matter that you'll have to wait like an hour. It's worth it. The praline-bacon waffle will change your life. Come for dinner! I've had a special (pork cutlets w/veggies) and the brisket. Both were amazing. I'm sure everything else on the menu is also amazing. This is the kind of place you drag out-of-towners to while they're still carrying their luggage. EAT HERE.
(5)tristan p.
Collard greens are the shit. You have no idea. Don't like collard greens? The braised possum cheek is even better. Gotta ask for that shit. Secret menu shit. In-n-out style dog. One of Portland's better restaurants.
(5)Daniel P.
Food is awesome. The service was really good too. The worst thing about the place is waiting 20 minutes for a table on a Monday night. On a weekend you're gonna wait for an hour. Its worth the money and the wait. This place is great i you come with a couple or a party.
(4)Sandra W.
"I think my grandmother -- both of them -- made fried chicken just like this," said my husband. "I used to go buck hay for them all day, just to be able to have my grandma's fried chicken for lunch." Everything else was very tasty too, but the fried chicken is, well, DAYUM! A few days later, The Spouse informs me, "We can NEVER EVER go back to Screen Door and have fried chicken. Never." So pathetic. Trying to use reverse psychology on moi is like trying to convince a distressed bank that 11 billion dollars is chump change.
(5)Tricia H.
I can't say enough good about Screen Door. Truly - one of my favorite restaurants. The fried chicken is out of this world! The hush puppies are beyond delicious and you MUST have the sweet tea while you're there. Be prepared for a long wait. On a good day - you're looking at 20 mins. We waited an hour and 35 minutes before. It's worth it - I PROMISE!
(5)Leah H.
I've sworn off chicken from my diet for about 7-8 years. It just does not taste good. Has a funny texture. It is always either over or undercooked. And I wont even get into how the treatment of chicken on commercial farms disgusts me. Never-the-less, I find myself at Screen Door as a party of four. I am last to order and realize that NO ONE ordered the fried chicken. It seemed wrong to share this dinning experience without the item that it seems ALL Yelpers rave about. So I went for it. I ordered the despicable chicken. And. It. Was. Amazing. The plate was prepared masterfully; perfectly matched with smooooooth mashed potatoes and smokey collards with hocks. The chicken was tender, moist, and delectably crunchy. I'm not converting to the dark side of chicken consumers. But Screen Door scored a win with me. Next on the list, every single menu item that can come out of that kitchen.
(5)H. M.
The Screen Door has been a standard for us for as long as it has been open. Last night, we took a friend to dinner, and we were a little disappointed in our experience. We will definitely be back to give it another chance, but we were sad that we didn't get to enjoy the amazing cuisine we have come to expect from The Screen Door.
(3)Khalid N.
Had to go back again. More amazingness. This time we tried a few of the southern cocktails. All excellent. We also tried the hush puppies...so freaking good.
(5)Carrie B.
This is one of my "go to" restaurants whether I'm having a romantic evening with my girl or trying to impress the inlaws. Its always worth the wait. You gotta try the Mac and Cheese and the Mint Julip. Vegetarians can usually find something to eat but the best food they make has meat in it. Fried Catfish, Fried Chicken, Po Boy Sandwich, Collard greens...all delicious.
(5)Crispin H.
I like Screen Door well enough but as a child with southern grandparents I just can't get as excited as some people seem to. So far the southern food hasn't hit the perfect notes with me, my favorite thing has been one of the seasonal veggi sides of roasted cauliflower. I wouldn't stand in line for this, but it is pretty tasty overall.
(3)M. C.
Huge problem! Everything was so freaking perfect, except when I took the leftovers to work and cut into the fried chicken..... the very middle was raw!!!! I was going on and on about how awesome SD was and my co-worker wanted a bite, so I cut in to the darn thing, keep in mind it was a large piece of chicken, but it was raw!!! So sad. . . . I hope it was just a late night fluke..... BUT this update is just for the chicken.
(1)Evan L.
I was in the area and couldn't resist checking this place out. I had a plane to catch and was really worried that I'd miss my flight but I was willing to risk it for the food (well, not really). On a Friday night, the place was packed so my wait was 30 minutes and it took another 30 for my food to come out (after I sat down). Because I rushed myself, I feel like I didn't get to enjoy the food as much I was could have. I was worried that it would be really weird eating there considering that I was the only person there by himself on a Friday night. But the people minded their own business and the waiter was really friendly. So maybe in the future I should stop staring at people when they eat by themselves. We'll see. They sat me at a table (for two) instead of the bar and I was really pleased that I wasn't rushed at all. The service was great--the waiter gave me refills for both my water and iced tea whenever I ran low and he also checked up on me just the right number of times. I ordered the crispy-fried buttermilk-battered fried chicken and mac & cheese. The mac & cheese was served in a medium-sized bowl and it was clear from the hardened top layer that it was baked. While it was good, there was nothing unusually special about it. The fried chicken dinner came with mashed potatoes and gravy and some green stuff (I'm sorry, I'm not a vegetable man). I've never eaten fried chicken with a fork and knife before. I picked one of these bad boys up and realized after my first two bites that there was no bone in the chicken. I thought, "is this my order?" It took me a bit to realize that there was a reason why I was given a knife (I'm slow, I know). But no matter which way I ate it, the fried chicken was a perfect combination of juiciness and crunchiness. I should probably also mention that I ended up dipping every bite-sized piece of fried chicken into the mashed potatoes. That's just the kind of person I am. I microwaved my leftovers two days later and I was so surprised that the fried chicken wasn't soggy or greasy at all (and in fact tasted really similar to what I had on Friday) that I decided to write a review about my experience.
(5)EM F.
I'm a light eater. Big fan of soups and salads and other lighter meals...all the more room for beer and desserts ;) But... I OWNED the pecan bacon waffle. Demolished it. No. Crumbs. Left. That, plus the darling little booth, charming server, fresh orange juice, and all you can drink Stumptown Coffee made the 1.5 hour long wait well worth it.
(4)Katie R.
With an intense craving for chicken and waffles, my boyfriend and I hit up the Screen Door on a Sunday morning. The wait looked unbearable, but we decided to make it happen regardless. It turns out the wait was tolerable thanks to people watching, coffee, and interesting graffiti on nearby sign posts. He ordered the chicken and waffles and I opted for the migas with grits. The portion size was enough to make anyone smile, well, anyone unconcerned with their overall health. The chicken and waffles were beyond delicious, and I can admit I stole more than a few bites from my boyfriend's heaping stack. The migas were incredibly flavorful and overwhelmingly delicious. While the prices are semi-steep, I consider it worth it seeing as each meal has the absolute potential to result in a second meal later with the help of a to-go box. We both employed our leftovers as supper later that night. Without a hint of reservation, I wholly recommend the Screen Door. Every aspect of my visit was a pleasurable one. Nom.
(4)dre a.
Wow! What to add to this many reviews. I have tried many a Portland restaurant and this one is one of my favorites. I really love all the local and seasonal dishes. Everything that I have ever had here is stellar. On top of that the restaurant is incredibly affordable. One note-portions are large so share with your dining companion if you can. My husband always insists I get my own : )
(5)Zachary Sam Z.
Oh. My. God. I've never had so much delicious food in my life. Screen Door is one of those places you have to watch out for, because once they reel you in, you might not stop eating. My dining companions got the fried chicken, which left me open to try another dish. I opted for another one of my favorite foods - the Creole Jambalaya!! Let me tell you, Screen Door does it perfectly - it's a heaping mound of meat, veggies and rice, perfectly accented with spices. It comes with andouille sausage, shrimp, and smoked chicken - and by smoked chicken, they mean a whole drumstick. In case the heaping mound of jambalaya wasn't quite enough. While the jambalaya left me fully satisfied, readers of my reviews will understand that I couldn't leave without ordering a side of the Mac & Cheese. A side order is baked and served in a small baking dish, overflowing with melted cheese. It was delicious. My party was collectively stuffed after dinner, but we dug deep to split a slice of blueberry peach pie among the three of us. I'm so glad we did, because it was just as amazing as the rest of the meal. One of my Portland favorites. A great spot for some down home southern cooking.
(5)ian s.
The best breakfast of my life, hands-down. I got up and thanked the chef afterwards, if that tells you anything. WELL worth the wait. We also went back for dinner, and I tasted the best fried chicken of my life. If you are in Portland and miss this place, shame... shame!
(5)heather m.
The usual--crowded, rich, tasty but not in a big hurry to return..
(3)Mike R.
One of the best breakfast places in Portland. THE BEST chicken and waffles I've ever had. And you can't miss out on the prailined bacon. Wow. Full bar for an awesome Bloody Mary. I also love their great Spanish Coffees. Whenever I'm in town, I hit Genie's or the Screen Door. You better go early, though. There's always at least an hour wait.
(5)Rowena D.
Screen Door definitely lives up to the reviews it has received. Their fried chicken dinner is one of the best I've had. The chicken is juicy, boneless and comes with mashed potatoes and collard greens. I thought the portion size was generous for the price ($14.75). My husband ordered the sampler plate where you can order three sides. He opted for macaroni & cheese, red beans & rice and catfish. The standout for him was the the mac & cheese. I had a couple of bites and I have to agree that it was yummy. If you were to order the mac & cheese by itself it would only cost $4.50 which I think is a steal for this tasty goodness. Considering how busy it was when I dined there, the customer service was great. We got there at around 5:30pm on Saturday evening and there was a line around the block to get in this place. I'm happy to report that my husband and I were lucky enough to snag a table in the first seating. So, if you're an early diner, get there at 5-5:15pm and you should be able to get a table for dinner.
(5)Kitty O.
AMAZING! This place is great. I have been a handful of times and it is always great. The food is phenomenal and the desserts fantastic. Prepare yourself for a little wait because everyone in town loves this place, but it is worth it. Get a drink and relax while you wait, you are going to be happy that you did. I recommend the Macaroni and Cheese, the Pork Chops and the banana dessert! The staff is as fantastic as the food is. All around five star place
(5)Rick B.
I'm only giving this 4 of 5 stars because of the service and wait. We showed up at 6pm on a Thursday, thinking that we were early enough to beat the dinner rush. Boy, were we wrong!! The wait was quoted at 45 mins., which almost made us turn right around and walk out, but it was raining pretty good so we stayed. After 20 or so minutes of waiting I decided to go up to the bar and grab a beer. Little did I know that the wait for a beer at the bar would be longer than the wait for a table! Finally getting sat we started to look over the menu. There was just to many good items here to choose from. We started out with the special appetizer, which were confit of chicken drumettes over a celeriac puree with a taso ham demi. It was fantastic!! The puree was just a heavenly texture! After that we still could not figure out what to eat, we knew one of us would get the fried chicken, but then there is that side sampler plate! You can get a fried pork chop for one of your sides!!!! Then there is the organics menu, which is 4 or 5 special items with fresh and seasonal ingredients that all looked amazingly intriguing. We ended up with the mac and cheese, the chicken and andouille jambalaya, chanterelle mushrooms and greens and the roasted rainbow carrots. The fried chicken was amazing. It is very simple with plain mashed potatoes, braised greens and gravy on the side. The chicken is definitely the highlight of the dish, it's perfectly crispy and has just enough heat in the breading. The mac and cheese is a must have and the jambalaya was surprising full of flavor! Our waiter seemed overwhelmed with his section, even though it was only two tops! But he was hard to get a hold of when we needed something. But when he did bless us with his presence, he was helpful and informative. All in all this place has great food, but maybe spotty service, oh wait this is Portland! I have not yet been here for breakfast but I do hear that it is fantastic. P.S. Attention management: don't let your servers bring food to tables in a tank top!!!! I don't care how hot it is running around a little restaurant, even more reason to be wearing sleeves of some sort!!!!
(4)Ken L.
Tons of people were lined up to eat here and I can see the appeal of Southern style cuisine. The portions of food here are generous and I enjoyed the taste of their fried chicken and waffles. Even then, I wasn't as amazed with the over-hype of the fried chicken as my other fellow yelpers. The chicken is a boneless breast that is lightly battered and fried that reminded me of a chicken fried chicken but in a smaller size. It is apparent that this chicken is used in a few various other dishes too. Every dish I observed at other tables looked divine and well made. WARNING: Be prepared to be full, satisfied and fall asleep in a food coma soon after!
(4)Mark T.
Such good food crafted with love and a lot of butter.
(5)Jacque F.
This place definitely had really yummy food for reasonable prices. Was it worth all the hype and nearly two hours of waiting for dinner....? Honestly? Not really... When you want soul food, you don't want to have to wait in a crowded hallway with 20 other people you're not there to enjoy a meal with. A party in waiting is likely to be split apart or barely able to hear one another over the hungry frenzy. I will be more likely to visit again when the hype dies down. Did I not mention the food is delicious? It is.
(4)James C.
Awesome food with a great staff. I hope they expand soon though, 45 minute wait to get a table after 7pm.
(5)Matt B.
I'm really glad we had an opportunity to try Screen Door before we left Portland. It's name came up in conversation several times, but we kept opting for something else. It turned out to be a great restaurant. I had a hearty chicken andouille gumbo and Jason had fried chicken. Very satisfying! Also, I couldn't resist ordering a drink called Scarlet O'Hara No.2. It had iced tea flavored vodka and blood orange purée. Like the Farm, I recommend sharing the appetizer because portions are generous.
(5)Jen T.
i'm surprised i haven't reviewed the culinary god that is screen door yet. i've been here countless times now aaannnnd don't get me wrong y'all, the fried chicken is good. it's amazing, in fact. BUT DEEP FRIED OYSTERS?!! OMG OMG OMG I CAN HAZ MOR PLZ???!! at dinner, they serve these babies as an appetizer - 6 for $9.75, i believe. but at brunch, they serve these amazing little babies as part of their own version of eggs benedict. what the freaking hellooooooo i love you! uugghhgh, i'm drooling all over my computer as i'm thinking of it right now... since i've finally started straying from the fried chicken standard, i've been testing out their seasonal organics. and holy shit! i've never gone wrong since! in the late days of summer, they had the most delicious heirloom tomatoes. in the early fatass nights of winter, they served me some savory butternut squash bread pudding topped with cheese... mmm, forget autumn and all that jazz....let the rain/drool fall down! i ain't got nowhere to go. i think at times, it can be easy to feel like, "holy shit i just spent $20 on fried chicken and seasonal veggies," but man, the quality of the food and service and ambiance is so up there. up there, as in led zeppelin stairway to heaven. as in flawless ridick 20 minute guitar solo up there. it's worth every penny. i mean, whatchu gonna spend a jackson on anyway? girls, forget that gross forever21 dress you think that might be cute for like a week...you know you ain't gonna fit in it anyway after you're done with your dinner date at screen door.
(5)Lin N.
Food is great, portions are huge, prices are reasonable for what you will get. As good as the menu is, the specials card had even better options. Expect a lot of people will be looking at your dish, as you will do to theirs, because everything coming out of the kitchen looks great. Sunday morning brunch: get there by 8:15 and you should be able to get one of the first spots in line. By 8:35, line was almost around the block.
(4)Phil M.
To preface my review, I'm a southerner. My wife suggested this place to fit our needs for a good southern-style meal. The Screen Door did not disappoint. I had the Screen Door Plate, which lets you pick any three items for a great price, and you get heaping portions of each selection. I chose the catfish, sweet potato fries, and a selection from the local items, a blackeyed pea/kale mix with red peppers. It came with remoulade for the catfish, and a large block of cornbread with honey butter. Everything was spot on, even a pitcher of sweet tea to wash it all down. Definitely found the spot to satisfy our cravings for back-home food.
(5)Stacy G.
This was one of our favorite places we ate at while in Portland. We arrived on a Friday night at 5:15pm and there were already a good 10 people lined up to get in. Thank goodness we arrived early or it would have been a long wait! We just loved our food - the best burger my husband has ever eaten (cheeseburger with onion straws), and this from a big burger guy. Great Carolina Pulled Pork sandwich, although of course VERY filling. Go hungry, people! We finished it off with Pear Upside Down Gingerbread cake. Mmm! I loved it so much I was hoping to return the very next morning for brunch. It didn't work out, but that is our #1 on the next trip to Portland!
(5)Dave C.
Love the chicken and waffles! If they have the breakfast corn dogs make sure that you get them as well. What's not to like about homemade sausage that's deep fried with a side of black pepper maple syrup? Be prepared for a wait as there is usually a line especially for breakfast.
(5)Fernet B.
This place is great - great food and awesome service. Staff remembered me on my second visit. Right for the price!
(5)Tiffany T.
The catfish and the mac and cheese are the best I've had. Last time we went we took a friend who hadn't been there before. There was a line outside around the building before the place opened. The only thing that could make me happier is if the opened a location out in the waste land which is the west side.
(5)Evan C.
While I know the brother (he was one of my professors down in New Orleans) of one of the owners, I assure you that this review is in no way a shameful attempt to get better grades (I've already graduated) - the food is just that good! Oh, and the atmosphere and staff are great, too. Two friends and I sat inside (it was a bit chilly outside for the patio) on a relatively slow Monday night. We split the fried chicken, an order of grits, some fried oysters, and a macaroni dish. Unfortunately they were out of the fried okra that night (looks like we'll have to return). The fried oysters were delicious, to say the least. The grits were creamy, the fried chicken tender and crispy, and the macaroni dish was savory. We also had Abita Amber and Turbodog, which was like icing on the cake (or honey on the fried chicken)!
(5)Ehow C.
I came back all the way from Chicago just to eat here. ... Okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but I was definitely looking forward to eating here during my visit to P-town. Lines are usually there, but coffee-drinkers rejoice with coffee during the wait! The food is expertly crafted. I had the Cajun shepard's pie special, which was pretty much to die for. My friends all enjoyed their meal as well, though we were scolded later for not getting the bacon. Really, you can't go wrong here. Love it!
(5)Kenneth H.
Yes. If they were open weekdays for bunch they would certainly see me there more often. The food is unbelievable/amazing and priced right with large portions that fill you up for the entire day. The only possible downside is the wait, but do yourself the favor and arrive promptly at opening time (9AM?) and you should be in the clear. There are plenty of reviews extolling the greatness of the grub, all you need to know is that they dish up plenty of heavy and hearty food that is uber fatty! FATTY! Although we all love fatty, let me also say that this is the good fatty that makes you feel fat (cause it does), but also makes you feel happy and satisfied with your life (even if it sucks). I always stare at the menu and never know what to get because there are simply too many fantabulous choices. The standards are the chicken and waffle (which will feed an entire army platoon), the pecan bacon (which is candied bacon and will destroy all your arteries), and the cathead biscuit (not actually made of cat) Look, if you have read this far in the review and still aren't sure if it is the place for you then I can be of no further assistance. Go here for brunch and stuff your face and enjoy the good life.
(5)Loan L.
Been here multiple times mainly for brunch. Definitely a brunch standby for me since the roomie likes the praline bacon waffle. I always steal a bite since it's sooo good but I really wish the bacon was IN the waffle instead of just on top. Chicken and waffle is definitely good although I really like my fried chicken dark and on the bone. I've had the oyster benny It tasted like it should but one of my eggs was a wee bit over poached nothing that would ruin it though. Had the brisket hash special and I LOVED the flavor only thing I didn't like though was that the brisket was cut in a way that left chunks of fat mixed in with the meat and potatoes. The fat chunks also resembled potatoes so I would occasionally get a bit of just beef fat. breakfast corndog is awesome definitely something i loved. Overall definitely recommend this place, long wait though so be prepared to stand outside for a while. Also service is good, but nothing spectacular,
(4)Marc W.
What more can I add.. The food is flavorful, comforting and filling. As they say, the line is long so go early if you desire to get first seating. We had some items from their specials of the day board.... I had Rib Eye Steak over fingerlings and creamed spinach and my wife had the Orange Roughy. Both dishes extremely satisfying. Only teeny negative is the noise level is a bit high and their background music didn't help. I don't like talking loud or struggling to hear my dinner mates during the meal. Regardless of that, I'll definitely go again. And certainly intend to try out their breakfast.
(5)Wolf L.
OH, DAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMN! I love this place! I've mentioned in previous reviews that my mama was born and raised in St. Joseph, MO and nothing--NOTHING--could ever compare to her fried chicken and her biscuits and gravy. Nevertheless, I'm constantly searching for some good ol' fashioned Southern comfort food that comes close to mama's. Screen Door comes very, very close. We arrived just a couple of minutes before Screen Door opened at 9:00 AM. There was already a line of folks waiting. I'm really glad we got there when we did because the line was consistently out the door the entire time we were dining. We sat on the patio. It was a little crisp out there on this beautiful October day, but I ordered a Cajun-style Bloody Mary and it warmed me up just fine. Screen Door has all the delights of a Southern waffle house, but with a sophisticated flair. For my breakfast entrée, I ordered the Fried Chicken Cathead Biscuit and Gravy, with cheese grits. GF got the Chocolate Waffle. Delicious! The chicken was crispy, the biscuit was flaky and the sausage gravy had nice big chucks of real sausage in it. The grits were tasty, too. GF's waffle was filled with a ton of chocolate chips and topped with orange mascarpone and pistachios. It was more like a dessert than breakfast, but nobody was complaining. Awesome little restaurant. I've already noted several other items on their menu that I must try, so we will definitely return soon.
(5)matt s.
Hipstertastic! Started with corndog for brunch, which was pretty bad ass. Grapefruit juice was fresh and pungent. But my oysters eggs hollandaise felt slimy, and the grits were bland as desert sand. Like a speed-addled starlet, it looks better than it tastes.
(3)Andi B.
I spent last week eating my way through Portland. I live in NYC and am a vegetarian...until I arrived at Screen Door. For whatever reason I was compelled to order the pulled pork sandwich, and it was like coming home again. The flavor was incredible and the sweet potato fries on the side complimented it perfecty. Lemonade cocktail-delicious, and I even managed to fit dessert in there somewhere (berry pie with basil sauce). I hear the brunch is awesome. Next time I'm in Portland I'm definitely going back.
(5)Tso N.
This was the highlight of my Portland trip. I loved my dinner here. At first I thought it may be influenced by my doing an 11-mile hike prior to dinner but I know it's not. I love the variety on the menu. I would call this gourmet southern food mostly because the ingredients are all fresh, local, and organic which makes me feel less bad eating this type of food. The "fried buttermilk battered chicken" is a must try as it was moist, tender and flavorful - one of the most moist second to Adhoc's (Napa, CA) "buttermilk fried chicken". But my favorite thing was their "Screen door plate" which gave you the choice of three house sides and/or local organics & a slice of cornbread for $14. I wish every restaurant had this deal as it allows you to sample a variety of dishes. As you can see, I like variety. The mac 'n cheese was to die for. I was supposed to share that with two others but I basically devoured it all on my own along with my screen door plate and half my husband's fried chicken plate. It's THAT good and I was ravenous after the hike. =P We were lucky to get seated within 15 minutes on a Monday night at 8pm but normally, I was told by locals that there is a very long wait. Unfortunately they don't do reservations. I will definitely be coming back to you when I visit Portland again.
(4)Cami K.
Holy yum. Beautiful restaurant, great service...and I always seem to luck out by getting seated right away. The mac & cheese is crispy, bubbly and cheesy all at the same time...in it's own little baking dish, a perfect compliment to the light & crumbly-coated fried catfish. Okay, so we were little piggies and also ordered fried okra (mmm...more please), hush-puppies (hot damn) and jambalaya (giggity)...and it all blew me away. I grew up in Oregon so I can't really say if Screen Door is "authentic" Southern cuisine or not, but who freakin' cares. Everything I've eaten there has been an explosion of awesomeness in my mouth...and I absolutely love that their menu is ever-changing, takes advantage of fresh local ingredients and offers lots of options for veggies & carnies alike. Can't wait to try brunch, I've been told it's even better.
(5)Eric D.
This is simply the best place in Portland for Southern food. The fried chicken is their best dish. I would also recommend the catfish and the mac and cheese.
(5)Emily S.
Went with some locals, got there at 8:30am (and I am NOT a morning person), got served by a man wearing a Sheriff kerchief, and stuffed my face silly. I was extremely jealous of the country fried chicken between biscuits. That's on my list for the next time. YUM!!
(5)Laura K.
Everyone needs a little comfort food now again (ahem, all the time for some of us...)--Screen Door allows us to do that without feeling like we had to go all the way to Mississippi to get it. I had their signature pulled pork sandwich that was so delicious I basically licked my messy hands when it was ALL gone! Everyone else at the table was pleased with their choices as well including the jambalaya, the fried chicken and the Screen Door plate. Decent priced bottles of wine with a decent and not too overwhelming selection too. Street parking was a cinch. We waited only 10 minutes for a table and it was just busy enough to be "hoppin" instead of hipsterly annoying. Enough buzz to be comfortable but still have a nice conversation without yelling over the table!
(4)Jessi H.
Disclaimer, I'm from Thibodaux Louisiana and I love good cookin'! I have wanted to try the Screen Door. On several occasions I have gone but the line is always so long so we skip. Last Sat. I finally got to dine at the Screen Door and it was good, not great. The Jambalaya was good, the best I have had outside of Louisiana. The same dish at home would have had more spice and cost 1/4 of what it cost at Screen Door. This place is a mixed bag for me. I think you absolutely must try it for yourself but I'm not sure I would make another trip here with so many other fabulous dining options in OR. Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez! (Let the good times roll)
(3)Russell B.
Average entree price: $15 Notes: long wait Should you go: yes! The screen door is a great place to get some southern style food. The wait is usually pretty long and the place is pretty crowded but it really is worth the wait! I would say give yourself about 2 hours for the whole experience. The good takes a while but the staff is very attentive and friendly and like the menu states " good food takes time " The food I got the fried chicken and many people at my table got the catfish. Both were excellent! The fried chicken was cooked to absolute perfection. The breeding was nice and crunchy with a slight pepper flavor and the chicken was perfectly juicy with a hint of a wood smoke flavor. It was perfect and was not greasy at all! The whole thing was worth it just for the chicken but everything else was also so good! We got pecan pie for dessert and it was incredible. The pie was served warm with from scratch whip cream roasted pecans and a light flaky crust. The whole experience was amazing. I would definitely recommend going and I would go there again for sure!
(5)Christina R.
I'm definitely a fan. The worst is the wait but it seems worth it when you get the food! You must get.. the praline bacon & OBVIOUSLY their chicken&waffles (add gravy, it's worth it) I only go when friends/family are in town since it encompasses Portland brunch very well. Coming from the Midwest this place has a great mix of hearty & savory food!
(4)Chad D.
Wish there was an option for a sixth star, this place is the shizznit. When it comes to fried chicken (diner or with waffles), I challenge you to find better. It's no surprise every single review on here mentions the fried chicken in some fashion, they do fried chicken and they do it right. Good work Screen Door - I will be back again and again. Oh ya, and the rest of their food is great, someones gotta mention it.
(5)Margaret P.
I would like to come back for brunch some time and give it another try. This place gets loud, crowded , and hot. It was not an amazing first impression. Except for the cornbread which was very dry, and maybe just not my style, the food was pretty dang good. The mac 'n' cheese is TO DIE FOR! I also had a pretty amazing hot toddy (maybe that's why I was so hot??? LOL) The service was very good, but the setup of the tables is a little chaotic. I feel bad for the staff. If I moved my feet or leg out of the booth 1/2", they were forced to knock into me. Screen Door, please don't hit me on my way back.
(3)Jim D.
The chicken is as good as everyone claims.
(4)Erin H.
The fried chicken is really the lynch pin of the brunch menu, really, the entire menu - breakfast, lunch and dinner. The fried outer batter isn't too heavy or cakey. There was a nice little punch of pepper after you've been savoring the crisp crust with the juicy chicken. Sent to our table (my hubby's a chef there and sometimes the kitchen will send a couple of small tasting dishes to your table that no one ordered but everyone tries) was a delicious sampling to include hush puppies, syrup glazed bacon with pecans, and the BEST cinnamon roll I've ever had. I ordered from the a la carte menu and was pleased as punch. The huge portions were just enough to make another meal out of the leftovers. Martin had the cathead biscuit and gravy with grits on the side. The mimosa was a little stiffer than I would have made for myself but still good by all means. Service was top notch, even though they were immediately swamped the minute the iron triangle was given a good clanging, welcoming half the city of Portland through the front door. This was a really delightful morning, I'm happy my husband found himself at this restaurant!
(5)The G.
Giving 5 stars for the fried chicken alone. Some of the best I've ever had. Didn't go for the waffles. Chicken was better than most Oakland/SF spots and Gladys Knight's in Atlanta. Greens were phenomenal as well. The wait after ordering was awful but I shall return.
(5)Lilly C.
The wait will be long even if you go early to try to beat the line because everyone else is doing the same thing. In short, this place has good service, and portions are huge! I got the famous chicken and waffle and could only finish half of the chicken. I can usually eat a lot, and maybe this was due to the fact that I'm more of a dark meat kind of girl, but it was too much chicken for me. The waffle was great; a thick sweet potato Belgium waffle. Next time I am definitely sharing this so I can order another side or dish to try! My friends had some biscuit dish with fried chicken and potatoes, and that was good too. The gravy was on point, which is very important when it comes to biscuits. It was a great place to have a casual brunch in a very comfortable setting.
(4)Mike C.
Bomb dot com! if you are visting Portland or live here I HIGHLY recommend this for great southern style grub!
(5)J C.
Came here for the first time on a Tuesday evening. Server failed to inform us of the special, which I later learned everyone was ordering and loving, so I ordered the pecan crusted trout over fingerling potatoes and greens with a cheese sauce. Sounds great, looked great, was cooked perfectly, except everything on the plate was totally bland and had no seasoning whatsoever, i was really surprised and disappointed, bummer. Breakside pilsner on tap was great, dessert was great (lemon chess pie with raspberry sauce), service was good, seating is cramped. Think I just got unlucky, might give it another shot sometime. If you go here, be sure to ask about the special or check the board by the front door.
(2)Heather P.
Came in on a Tuesday night at 6:15 and waited only about 15 minutes to be seated. Our waiter was super friendly and seemed to genuinely enjoy his job. He made several recommendations and left my friend and I to decide. Because so many things on the menu looked amazing, we decided to share meals. We had the fried chicken and the screen door platter (choose three items). We chose mac & cheese, red beans and rice and jambalya. From the moment the fried chicken hit my tongue, I was in heaven. Deboned and double breaded chicken that was moist with a touch of pepper in the breading. The mac & cheese had a beautiful and tasty browned top. I am from Wisconsin, we like our cheese and this was great mac & cheese. Quite honestly those two things were so amazing I payed little attention to the others. I have eaten in amazing restaurants across this country and this is for sure in the top 10. It's not fancy, but it is sensational. I will defiantly be back for more.
(5)Jam H.
Love their food.....YUM....
(4)Ken C.
Came here on Saturday for brunch at the start of the opening at 9am. Good call, even though there was a line, it moved fast and was seated promptly. Highly recommend the fried chicken and waffles. Nice batter, and the chicken was delicious and very moist. The waffle was also delicious too. This dish can easily feed two people and an app special like the bacon hush puppies which was delicious as well. The special huevos something-something dish was also good with two sexy unny side up eggs. Come early to avoid lines! and sit outside in the patio if you can for fresh air, and heater!
(5)Lena H.
Fantastic, creative, fresh menu and excellent service. Loved sitting on the patio under the heat lamps!
(5)S R.
great fried chicken! the only thing that kept the last star away was the extremely long wait time.
(4)Sean F.
The Smoked Brisket Hash is amazing here! Recommend it for breakfast!
(5)John T.
This place was great! Very happy with everything I had. I think once a place passes 30 or so reviews that they become redundant, so I'll skip all the stuff I usually say other than to insist that you get the coconut waffle with blueberries, ice cream, and lemon sauce. I could eat that for a week. And then probably die. Lemonade was excellent - as those of you who know me will attest, this is something about which I know quite a bit, and thus is high praise. The big bummer is that they don't take reservations, so I will probably never go here again because the wait seems to always be quite long. I can't deal with waiting 1-2 hours during normal dinner hours, sorry folks. I'll pay extra to reserve a spot at a specific time, because planning around randomness is no fun. We went fairly early (6:00) and we STILL had to wait half an hour. Predictability is worth something. I suppose that as long as enough people are willing to mill around in the street for an hour to get a table, my concerns are not worth considering.
(4)C M.
It was over an hour wait to get seated for breakfast yesterday morning. We got there at a Saturday at 9:20 (they open at 9). My friend ordered the hash and I ordered the chicken biscuit sandwich. We opted to each order a dish and share. The chicken biscuit sandwich was amazing! Although I think it would be better with an egg. We were both disappointed with the hash. The horseradish cream was left off but we were starving by the time we noticed and didn't request it. We prefer our hash less stew like. The chicken sandwich was to die for! We wouldn't recommend the hash... Would definitely go back, but would share a dish next time and perhaps order a small side to share as well.
(4)Kohlrabi P.
Oyster Benny. Mmmmmmm. Chicken and waffles. Mmmmmmm. It's no Amy Ruth's, but pretty impressive considering we are not in Harlem. Tastes good, but portions are too big for me. I also think the fried chicken is over spiced. Make sure you have time to wait, as there is often a line around the corner.
(4)Kevin J.
my wife and i flew to Portland for a weekend getaway, and decided to see what all the fuss about this place was all about. in one sentence: it was worth the price of airline tickets from orange county to Portland!! This place was amazing. Great people followed by great food at a very reasonable price. The breakfast items were all tasty, fresh, and more than enough to satisfy. Do try their famous bacon on the side, and don't forget to order a large glass of fresh orange juice to wash down everything. From start to finish, it was a very pleasant experience.
(5)Mark N.
If yelp would allow it I'd give 3.5 stars. Pretty good food but didn't quite live up to the hype. I ordered the shrimp and grits. The shrimp was perfectly cooked and the portion was generous, however, it lacked the "oomph" to make it stand out as an entree. I was bored with it after eating half, it would have made a great appetizer. Others in our party ordered the jambalaya, bbq beef brisket, and fried pork chop & collard greens and we all sampled everyone else's plate. The pork chop with the breading was delicious but the collard greens left something to be desired (I've had much better). The jambalaya was solid. The cornbread just wasn't right - it was too heavy and not very flavorful; my wife commented it tasted more like wheat than cornbread. Unfortunately for us there was a long wait to be seated, the waiting area was packed, and it was raining outside... so we waited under the awning of the neighboring coffee shop. We periodically peaked into the restaurant to see when the big parties were leaving - there was a party of about 20 that finished eating when we arrived but stuck around for another hour chatting, most likely contributing to the wait. The host handled the crowd very well and gave us many updates on waiting time (without seeming bothered!). He even came outside in the rain to get us when our table was ready. Our waiter was great, and accommodated our need for speedy service. Overall the staff was wonderful - a little terse, which is to be expected among the hipster crowd. The food was artistically plated and genuinely good but not great. We didn't get their signature dish so if we return I'll have to order the fried chicken.
(3)John C.
Good tasty chicken, but I feel like a fat slob after eating. Good southern food overall
(4)kelly s.
Ok, so it's too popular for its own good, and sometimes slow, and sometimes, you feel a little rushed but not because they are rude, but because they are too popular, BUT the fried chicken really is seriously amazing. eat it.
(4)Hilary W.
I really expected to love this restaurant. I am from the south and I've heard all kinds of great things about this place. Unfortunately, I thought that it was just okay and a little pricey. The ingredients seemed to be of good quality and I really appreciate the variety, but the hush puppies were a bit bland and they were served with a weird sauce. The server looked at me like I was crazy when I ordered butter to go with them. The service was somewhat odd - not rude, but definitely warm and welcoming.
(3)Lindsay L.
Finally made it over there for breakfast. We've been having dinner there since it opened and feared how long the lines would be for their breakfast since it was written up so much. When we arrived at 10:50am, there were tons of people outside drinking self-serve coffee and we were told it was only a 30 minute wait. We waited 33 minutes - pretty close! Since it was our first time, we decided to try the classics: Eggs Benedict with potatoes and biscuits/gravy. The eggs benedict was solid with a crisped up ham, perfectly poached egg. I could have used some more acid in the hollandaise but that's just my style. HOWEVER, the biscuits/gravy was the BEST I'VE EVER HAD! The biscuit must have had some cornmeal in it and cooked in the oven. It was light and fluffy under the gravy. The gravy wasn't heavy or too oily and had just the right about of sausage in it. It was heavenly! BTW, I must admit that the stacks of waffles and chicken coming out of the kitchen had my head spinning around the entire breakfast!
(4)Lyle M.
Dude, I have been looking for a place to top's Ezell's in the Central District-Seattle, WA. I went there about 10 years ago, and dammit Oprah was right! That place is great. I heard that she gets that stuff helicoptered in to her mansion. You lucky man Steadman. I have to say Screen Door is now top of my list. There are a lot of delicious fried chicken recipes out there, and its hard to be bias because they are all equally good in different ways. If you are a fried chicken lover, then Screen Door is a must. The catfish is bomb too. It's not as good as the friend chicken, but its delicious. It comes with this amazing sauce, which I wish I knew the contents. The veggies and sides are great. The brisket is top notch. I haven't had the mac n' cheese, but its probably pretty good because I saw tons of people ordering it. Good in-restuarant bar. Great desserts! Had the strawberry shortcake biscuit, its winnahs! There is always a line, but its goes pretty fast. Wait service is solid. One of my fav eats in PDX. Screen Door, its a door, but it has tiny holes to let the deliciousness in. I have no idea what that means. Cheers!
(5)Kent X.
Very good food, and made with quality. The environment was very cool, and the service was great.
(5)Carmel M.
Wow! I'm from the South and so I really know how to do it right and man, does this place do it right. Not only do they do it right, but they don't go overboard with butter and oil, as is common place in most southern cooking. It actually feels healthy and left feeling full and wonderful. Every single dish was amazing. My group of 3 ordered tapas style, 2 entrees, 2 appetizers and 2 salads. It was way more food than we needed- but leftovers were lunch for all of us the next day. If you are in Portland- you must go here.
(5)Joshua M.
A tad overhyped, but definitely a decent place to eat for "gourmet" southern cuisine. The funny thing is the south is pretty much just fast food and chain restaurants, but we'll allow Screen Door to romanticize it just a tad. I had the fried chicken, and it was in fact quite good. I definitely would like to go back and try it again.
(4)Patrick S.
Screen Door. It rhymes with Fried Chicken and Mint Julep, right? Oh Screen Door I cannot resist your yummy food. I like to bring peeps that are visiting from out of town here to show them just how we like to fatten up before and during the long dark winters here in the Pacific NW. The food however at the Screen Door was born a long way away from this corner of the USA. You'll have to go kitty corner down in the Good 'Ol South to find Screen Door's food roots. If you've ever had the pleasure of eating in say Montgomery Alabama, Athens Georgia, or Charleston South Carolina then you already know good Southern Cooking but if you want a true interpretive taste with a little extra quality of flavor then you needn't go any further than Portland OR. Don't take my word for it though just head on over to East Burnside and look for the line of people waiting to get in and there you will find out what it is everybody in town is clamoring about. Cheers
(5)Eggland B.
It's true what most people on Yelp are saying--this place is great! I'm a fan of The Delta, and this place does a similar sort of thing but with less of the white-trash-and-proud vibe and a bit more class. My girlfriend and I have been here once for breakfast and once for dinner, and I have to say that I'm more impressed with their dinner. A fair price and some American-sized (for better or worse) portions. I don't usually end up taking much home with me, but I had enough for a decent lunch the next day. Fried chicken is a once-a-year treat for me, but this is probably the only place I'll have it from now on! The only down note was that our server was a little weird. Hard to say exactly why or in what way, but she was just a bit weird. Still, I do enthusiastically recommend this place!
(4)Tani S.
We've been here once for breakfast but came back here for dinner and enjoyed it even more! My parents were in town visiting and we were looking for a down to earth spot that allowed conversation and featured good food... We managed to get a corner booth and our evening was perfect at Screen Door! The food was wonderful from the hush puppies, collard greens, fried catfish with remoulade, and jambalaya. The flavors were fresh and I loved the presence of herbs it was nice that the food wasn't greasy as some of my favorite New Orleans restaurant memories from childhood. It was the perfect evening...
(5)Anna L.
Mmmmm, yum yum yum. Glad i FINALLY MADE IT TO THIS GEM FOR DINNER THE OTHER NIGHT. I loved it all! hush puppies, pulled pork and even the Iced Tea! I highly recommend this joint if you like some tasty-stylin southern food!
(5)Danielle U.
Big fan of the food and service...espcially when the patio is open on a lovely summer evening. From the Mac and Cheese to the Banoffee Pie...you make my pallette sing your praises!
(4)Sophie K.
We rarely wait over an hour to get into a restaurant but it was totally worth it. After we took the first bite we understood why there was such a long wait. The waiter was super helpful and nice. We were impressed with how efficiently they operated the restaurant considering how extremely busy they were. I had the Bloody Mary while waiting. It was nicely spiced and had a pickled okra along with the olive which I thought was a nice touch. My husband had the fried chicken with biscuit and gravy sandwich with cheese grits on the side. I had the BEST veggie hash I ever had in my life. It was incredible. I have to say I am super discriminating and rarely give any place a five star. The potatoes, ricotta cheese and pesto along with all the other veggies was such an awesome combination.
(5)Dava D.
I love the Screen Door. I really really do. It is so delicious and I just LOVE this place. Of course like at most places here in Portland sometimes you have to wait in line, but it's so worth it once you have your meal. They are supporters of local produce and some meats and their food is always 100% top notch amazing. Staff is friendly and the bartender makes one hell of a margarita. You can see the kitchen and the environment is just swell. Gosh. I love this place.
(5)Luann A.
I love fried anything. Well, maybe except fried butter...because why would anyone want to eat just a slab of butter? Gosh, that's really unhealthy. Since my move to Portland, I've been on the lookout for good fried chicken and Screen Door did it for me. A buddy of mine and I went here a couple of weeks back, not his first time but mine, and because he kept hyping up this place, I immediately was excited to try their southern-style food. I ordered the crispy fried buttermilk-battered chicken with tasso ham gravy and mashed potatoes and ohhh...was that succulent chicken meat tender or what!? And the skin was extra crispy but not too crispy that I was eating chips. The price wasn't that bad either as my plate cost $14.75. My buddy got a special dish they were having that night (the last dish for that night too!) steak and mashed potatoes, also extremely yummy. I forgot how much his meal came out to but I think our bill ended up being below $30 with tip. Definitely recommend it though! My friend drove me there (as I live in downtown and don't own a car) but the restaurant is off east burnside, so easily accessible to get to with the bus.
(5)Elijah C.
When I got here at around 5:30, there was a line halfway down the block, so that seemed like a pretty good sign. Luckily, we'd sweet-talked them into taking a reservation right at six (which is when they usually stop taking them, apparently), so we didn't have to worry about that monstrous line. The service was...interesting. Our waiter was pretty snarky, but in kind of a lovable way. There was nothing bad about the service, it was just kind of strange. I've also got to give him credit for not giving us any flack about lingering for an hour after we'd paid on a busy night. People absolutely raved about the fried chicken, and I like fried things as much as the next guy, so that's what I got. It was good, but nothing out of this world. Desert was pretty good. The chocolate raspberry cake was delicious, and the fresh berry shortcake wasn't half bad either. In my opinion, this place wouldn't be worth having to wait in line outside on a hot day (well, I don't really think it'd be worth a repeat visit in the first place), but it certainly wasn't bad.
(3)Bryn H.
Wow. The food here is FANTASTIC. I literally want to fill a bathtub with their food and dive in. I ate till I was stuffed, and then ate some more. I'm glad this place is in a different city from me or I'd be HUGE! Can't say enough good about it.
(5)Steve S.
Fried chicken kills it! I'll be back for sure.
(5)Kerry K.
I went to the Screen Door with friends this past Sunday and wasn't disappointed! Although I wasn't hungry enough to eat what they ordered (Bananas Foster French Toast and Chicken & Waffles), the food I had was great! The biscuit and the praline bacon were yummy. Get there early because the line is long. Oddly, they don't have espresso drinks but there is a place next door that serves those.
(4)Janelle D.
Screen Door restaurant is one of our favorite places to eat in Portland. The food is amazing -- and the service is terrific, too. We've never had any problems with the food or service in the dozen or more times that we've been here. We've brought family and friends here, too, and they are amazed at how fantastic the food is. We love the weekend brunch the best (the grits, corned beef hash, sweet potato waffle, and praline bacon are to die for!). Everything we've ever tried has been absolutely delicious! Dinner is also really good -- the mac and cheese and the brisket are SO delicious! Five stars all the way! Just as a heads up -- if you're considering going to Screen Door for brunch, you either need to show up at 8:30 AM and get in line for the first seating (they open at 9AM, but by then there is a line of peole down the block), or expect about an hour wait. That said, the wait is well worth it!
(5)Emily J.
quite possibly the best meal i have ever eaten in my entire life. period. brunch on a saturday morning. we were both surprised to be seated right away as there were just two of us and about 10 families waiting to be seated in front of us when we checked the list at the hostess station. I ordered the vanilla brioche french toast, with a side of apple smoked sausage. my BF ordered the fried chicken and sweet potato waffle with a biscuit and praline bacon on the side ( which neither of us needed and ended up getting a to-go box for). Everything was incredible. amazing textures, not too sweet, good combos of sweet and salty. the second best fried chicken i've ever tasted. but the praline bacon really deserves a review all on it's own. wtf. i elt my arteries clog as i tasted it. nom-nom. i could eat it everyday, but if i did, i would die of a coronary at 30. the only thing that only mildly lacking in my book , was the biscuit. it was a tad doughy, but had a good flavor. our server was attentive and entertaining. everyone working seemed to be having a fun time. we asked our server as we left, what his favorite part of working there was, he replied, "the comraderie amongst co-workers". happy co-workers= happy food= happy customers= happy tips= happy co-workers
(5)Kristine P.
Yes, the wait for brunch is REALLY long (about 1 hour) but that should tell you something. The food here is great! I had the Eggs Sardou which is poached eggs over artichoke hearts & creamed spinach, and an English muffin, topped w hollandaise. Perfect food for my hangover this morning.
(4)Deborah R.
Went when they first opened and were squeezed in at the bar (no wait yay!) very happy. One other time with a group that had made reservations Happy! Had not been back in a while since I don't like hanging around o the side walk for an hour! had a large party but it was last minute & could not call early enough for a reservation. They were very accomadating and the Host(ess) called me a couple of times to keep me in the loop. If you ever had to herd a group of 8-10 cats (my hungry friends) you can imagine the challenge. Every single person thanked me for taking the lead and picking the spot because the food was delish and the service friendly. We had to wait a bit when we arrived but that was due to the previous diners camping at the table forever. Our large party was served quickly and orderly with great fried chicken, steak, sides and the Jambalaya got raves too! well done!! Pleasing so many people is no easy task!
(5)Mal C.
We opted to sit at the bar for quicker seating. Got the Screen Door Plate in order to taste a little bit of everything. Got the thin-sliced fried pork chop, the french fries, a fig salad, and some pinot noir. Honestly, my favorites were the french fries and fig salad. The wine was delicious too. The pork chop were good for those looking for something seasoned - I tend to like my pork chop just salted. All in all, really great meal and you WILL NOT leave hungry. Will be back for more comfort food!
(4)Bob M.
Yum shrimp and grits were great...as were the sides my gf got. I will definitely be hitting this place up--- its not all traditional down south cooking, but what isnt has a nice, unique portland flare to it.
(4)Sara Q.
you know .. i would give this place 6, even 7 stars if i could! it was seriously that amaze balls. i got the chicken and waffles. i switched my sweet potato waffle for just a regular one. when the plate got to the table, there were four pieces of chicken stacked on top of the waffle held together by a knife. crazy! chicken was nice and crisp and seasoned perfectly. there was a nice little kick to the chicken, little spice that made it so delectable. waffle was soft and fluffy. when drenched in syrup and butter, it made it all the better. we (bf included) also got a side of praline bacon. it was savory meets.. sweetened crunchiness. it was soo amazing! lastly, bf got banana's foster french toast. i don't really like bananas .. and i don't really like caramel. the two combined are usually way too sweet for me.. but when i had a bite, it was delicious. they used THICK cuts of bread for their french toast which made it even better. everything looked so perfect. i highly recommend brunch over dinner. i also highly recommend coming .. about an hour before you plan on eating because the line is out the door, literally. if you come here plan on someone getting the chicken and waffles as well as the praline bacon. both item's are that delicious. we got to see other stuff that people ordered and everything looked delicious. so really, i don't think you could go wrong with anything you order from the brunch menu. do yourself a favor and come to the screen door and get cho self some chicken and waffles, ya heARD?
(5)Keith R.
Long wait, so be calm Friendly waitstaff, so cute Chicken and waffles
(5)mya j.
I went to this place at around 2 pm so we got seated right away. Food was good. I asked for roasted potatoes and i was amazed by the quantity and quality of it. I also tried the biscuits and gravy. It was good. One thing to watch out for while parking here are those stupid bricks on the sides of the road surrounding the plants growing on the sidewalk. It scratched up the passenger side of my door which put me in a very bad mood
(4)Mallorie H.
wow, really good food, and plenty of it. the hostess was really accommodating about keeping my name on the list even tho my date had not shown up when she first called us. the waitperson put *all* of the leftovers in boxes, even the sauces and sides... i had given her a decent tip before i realized that - wish i had given her more. only complaint - this place is LOUD. they need to look into some acoustic solutions. thank goodness i carry cough drops for the raw throat i got shouting at my dining companion. best items - carolina bbq ribs and fried oysters
(4)Tracey M.
Just ate here last week and it was great. I had a friend green tomato salad and it was perfection. Husband had the fried chicken and fried oysters and was pleased with both. The server we had was very cocky and that is a turn off but the food was so good here that we quickly forgot about him. Definitely recommend this place.
(5)Curtis L.
Got there at 9:30pm this time and there was still a wait although not long. Just finished the one day STP ride and still in cycling gear. No issues but rather, we were congratulated for our accomplishment by other patrons. Service and food was top notch. Still 5 stars to me.
(5)Ilyn P.
What can I say about Screen Door that hasn't already been said? Would I recommend? YES. The lines are long, but the food is worth it. Chicken and waffles, candied bacon and a bloody mary. 'Nuff said.
(4)Matt D.
This place is great. The servers there are always friendly and quick. The food is delicious. If there is a wait it is worth it to stick around.
(5)Monty B.
As far as southern food goes, this place is awesome! I'm from the south and this is some gooood southern food. The seating was fast (even for a Friday night). The servers were quick. They have sweet tea! OMG. The hushpuppies were great, the fried chicken, greens (Collard greens for the yankees) and mash potatoes were all superb! Absolutely worth the visit!
(5)Barnali D.
I never thought I'd say this, but Screen Door was worth the two hour wait. We showed up at 10:30am on a Sunday, and were seated around 12:45pm. The fried chicken and waffles were truly amazing! The chicken batter had a nice peppery kick to it and the waffles had just the right amount of sweetness, as did the maple syrup. The dish was huge, and one is sufficient for two people as a meal by itself. We also enjoyed a side order of a biscuit with sausage gravy - I found it delectable, but it was a little too rich for my fiancé. My fiancé also enjoyed a side order of the bacon praline - it was very tasty, he said, but definitely made for sharing with a large group. We also got the brioche French toast, which was good, but didn't stand out in comparison with everything else we ordered. Also, our Bloody Marys were great - spicy and potent!
(5)Esther K.
There's no reason not to give them 5 stars. The best chicken breast I've ever had! We went there for dinner on Saturday and fell in love with their fried chicken. So this morning my husband and I decided to go back for brunch. Chicken and waffle with praline bacon. AMAZING. Everyone was really nice and friendly too! I love everything about this restaurant!!!
(5)Sonya M.
Best breakfast ever and the waiter was amazing! Well worth the wait!
(5)Steve T.
Wish we would've made it to the brunch. Ended up coming back for dinner and the food was not too bad. We had the Fried chicken and the 3 side combo. Mac n cheese was good, a bit watery if you like that. We also had collard greens which were pretty good but i guess thats hard to mess up on for collard greens. the jambalya was ok, nothing special there. I think their best dish is the fried chicken, very crispy and tender.
(4)Diana T.
Great place and fantastic food! First time trying the chicken & waffles... Yummy! One downside is extremely long wait!
(5)Jenny H.
3.5 stars. Sorry to all my friends who told me that we must go to Screen Door when in Portland. This review is for dinner only. Perhaps I am not used to eating too much heavy food all in one meal, but as good as some of the food was, I didn't feel compelled to eat too much of it. Good thing the hubs was here to help eat! Food: Fried okra: pretty good, the batter wasn't too heavy. Very large portion for 2 to share! Fried chicken: pretty good boneless fried chicken Even the white meat was juicy. Eating boneless fried chicken doesn't seem right though. There's something about using your hands and gnawing on the bone! The mashed potatoes were blah to me. The collard greens were OK Screen Door Plate w/ choice of 3 sides: Thank goodness for their salads~they were both de-lish!!! 1. Shaved asparagus salad 2. Roasted beet salad 3. Mac 'n cheese: more like Cheese 'n mac to me. Super cheesy and runny. I could only stomach about 2 spoonfuls of this 4. Cornbread: Dry and unremarkable We waited about 45 min on a Friday night, but we didn't mind sitting at the bar. Waiting for a table would have taken longer. The service was really good, but overall I don't think the wait is worth it. If I find myself back here again, I'll order only vegetables to balance out all the heavy food that hubs orders.
(3)Rosemary T.
I am not sure how this place is so highly rated. The atmosphere was dark, loud and crowded.. The food was overpriced and not very good. I had the fish special, dry and tasteless. We avoided the wait by going as a party of 6. It was in no way worth the $200 plus that was spent. We went based on Yelp reviews, and they must do a lot of their own.
(1)Victoria L.
I'm so sad this place turned out to be really overrated! As our first breakfast on our weekend trip to Portland, we headed to Screen Door soon after they opened. We got there around 9:30am and the wait was about an hour for 2 people. While waiting, we walked down the street to Crema to get a cup of coffee (which I recommend if waiting here). We were waiting outside Screen Door when one of the hostesses called my cell phone to make sure I was in the area. I let her know that I was waiting outside and then walked in to thank her since I thought it was really nice of her to actually call my cell phone. When we sat down, we realized how full we were from the Voodoo donuts the night before. Why did we eat 4 donuts at 1am?? Nevertheless, I did my due diligence prior to eating here and knew I had to order the famous chicken and waffles. My boyfriend went for the Biscuits and Gravy and we just HAD to try a side of the maple bacon! The server was nice and very talkative. She brought out the maple bacon and I had tears in my eyes as soon as the flavors hit my mouth! Brown Sugar and nuts glazed onto bacon... why isn't this done EVERYWHERE? Unfortunately... the tears of joy stopped there. The chicken and waffles came out as a ridiculous stack of 3 chicken breasts and one gigantic waffle. The chicken was not very flavorful and the waffle was also very plain. I was thoroughly disappointed and ended up only eating 1 chicken breast and 1/4 of the waffle. The biscuits and gravy were also not very flavorful. From the few bites I had, it tasted very mushy and plain. Based on our entire experience, I'd say the hour wait was not worth it. However, if you're going to wait, you should just get a whole breakfast of bacon because that was the only thing that really stood out!
(3)Hannah W.
very good! i enjoyed every bite of it! top notch place!
(5)Jaime W.
My husband and I love this place for its good southern food. I especially like that they have a gluten-free version of their menu where everything is labeled. Several of their standard menu items can be made gluten-free with just a little adjustment in the kitchen, and the service has always been friendly.
(5)John R.
Consistently one of the best restaurants in Portland. Great food, great drinks, great service, and great atmosphere. If you don't want to wait, call them up and order it for pick up. Twenty minutes later you're walking past everyone in line with a bag full of deliciousness to enjoy at home. Musts are fried okra, hush puppies, collards, red beans and rice, brisket, fried chicken, and really just about everything else. Always well seasoned and never disappointing. Their pulled pork and brisket are as good of BBQ as you will find in Portland. Sneaky great burger too. Love, love.
(5)Jazeleene G.
I've heard this place was really good, so I decided to try it. Drove from Seattle to Portland, left about 7:40 in the morning, went straight to Screen Door and got there around 10. (They open at 9?) There was already an hour and a half wait. They were BUSY!!! Went to the coffee shop next door, read some, played some chess, and we were up. I ordered the side of cornbread with apples as an appetizer and chicken and waffles, with a side of the praline bacon. The cornbread was delicious. The chicken and waffles was HUGE! You get 3 huge chicken breasts on top of one belgian waffle. I was only able to finish half of one. You can definitely share that plate. The chicken was so yummy. The breading was amazing. One thing I didn't like was that the breading easily came off the chicken when you sliced it. The praline bacon was okay, I could make it at home. My boyfriend built his own platter and got the biscuits and gravy with a side of chicken strips. He also ate one of my fried chicken pieces. I had so many left overs. I would give it 5 but the wait was just too long. I definitely would return again, but maybe get there right when it opens to avoid the wait.
(4)Allen H.
Food was amazing. I had the fried chicken, which was recommended and I tried some of my friends brisket. They also have a hot sauce that they make themselves which is great. Everything was really good and the staff was extremely friendly and helpful. Not only was the food great but the drinks were awesome too. I had an old fashioned and also tried a couple of their other drinks. Everyone of them were great!
(5)Vi E.
ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! Wasn't sure about the wait because my date got our table, I think he probably waited about 15-20 mins for a table for two. When I got there it was packed and we sat out on the patio. Started off with a Scarlet O'Hara no. 3 to drink which was absolutely amazing. It was iced tea vodka and something orange-y I believe. For dinner I had the fried chicken and mashed potatoes (only because they don't serve chicken and waffles for dinner and that's exactly what I wanted) I was pretty upset about that but settled. The chicken was delicious. It had a little bite from all of the pepper in it. The potatoes were creamy and the collard greens were actually really good! I will definitely be going back soon for the brunch to try the chicken and waffles!
(5)Elaine C.
Long wait for sure. But the food is well worth it! Best fried chicken northwest of the mason-dixie line - relatively thin layer of batter and SUPER FRESH AND JUICY chicken meat!
(5)Jaimee P.
Best fried chicken ever....couldn't stop eating it!! Mac and cheese is delicious as well Worth the wait.
(5)Ashley d.
Other than the wait (which is formidable!) Screen Door is one of Portland's best bets. Amazing cocktails, crazy-good food and incredibly friendly staff. I went with a large group once and had to pop out to take someone home; they actually made me a NEW breakfast because mine got cold while I was away. Really awesome.
(5)Alison M.
I liked this place but haven't been back for a few years because I don't want to stand outside in line for 3 hours for some fried chicken.
(3)connie h.
Great southern cajun menu.... bar drinks look exotically yummy.... very busy and high energy atmosphere!
(5)Karissa S.
We all know that this place had great food based on their 1,716 reviews and 4.5 STAR rating, so I'll keep this review simple with some tips for eating here. 1. Expect to wait in line, and don't be grumpy about it. A place this popular is bound to have an inevitable wait, so be patient. And they don't take reservations, so you have to wait in the line. Just to give you an idea, we arrived 10 minutes before they opened for dinner and there was a line of about 30 people already in front of us. 2. Chicken and Waffles are served for BRUNCH ONLY. Chicken and Waffles were the reason I came here, and to my dismay, they didn't have them for dinner. However, I still ordered the fried chicken and I'm glad I did. THE BEST BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN I HAVE EVER HAD! 3. Everything else we ordered (jambalaya, gumbo, cornbread) was delicious too! You can't go wrong with eating here! One of my favorite restaurants in Portland!
(5)Amie B.
Screen Door rocks! My boyfriend is Florida born and raised so this place was a great surprise date place...we ate way too much because we could not decide what we wanted so we ordered a bit of everything.
(5)Erica I.
OK this restaurant is completely overrated... As far as I'm concerned, there is just NO reason to wait 1.5-2 hours for brunch fare. That being said, the food is quite good. Solid chicken and waffles (I do think bread and ink does them better, however). The bananas foster french toast was CLOYINGLY sweet, but I guess that's to be expected. They had orange/chocolate/pecan sticky buns as one of the morning specials and my god I've never eaten something so delicious. It totally spoiled my appetite for the rest of the meal, but it was totally worth it. I could have skipped the rest of the dishes and come just for those sticky buns.
(4)Jed J.
Tried it for the first time, and was impressed with everyone else's food (which I sampled). Started with fried okra, which was fried to perfection (can't find it like that this side of Oklahoma), and then had some fried catfish. The catfish wasn't as flavorful as I hoped, but was good. The brisket that I sneaked off my brother's plate was moist, tender, and delicious. The kid enjoyed some fried chicken, and acted like he had died and gone to food Heaven. Get the brisket if you love meat. Amazing.
(4)Randi W.
I finally got to try this Portland institution this past weekend! In a lot of the ways, it lived up to the hype! Next time I'll come more prepared and I'm sure it will exceed the high bar that it's already set. The sunshine was out on a Sunday morning and we were hoping the line wouldn't be too bad at 8:30 a.m. before they opened... we were wrong. The line was already a good 20 people deep or so, and as is often the case with a first-come-first-serve restaurant, most of these people were placeholders...meaning more were on their way to join their friends in front of us. We were pretty apprehensive about getting a table in the first round, but luckily our optimism paid off! The portions were big. So big that I wouldn't recommend getting more than one starter to share unless you're REALLY hungry. We all ended up taking about half of our food home (though I'll admit, it all made for wonderful leftovers, especially the biscuits when they were warmed up!). The food was also delicious. The black-pepper syrup with the hushpuppies was killer, and the freshly breaded chicken is something that at least one person needs to order per table. Sticky buns were as soft as Cinnabon, but not as saccharine. The brisket hash was so-so, but as leftovers the smoke flavor calmed down considerably. Prices were good too. Seating was done expediently and in a very smart way. The exterior is very deceptive as to how many tables are actually inside, but they use their real estate in a way that doesn't put you in the laps of the group next to you. It's spacious, and they're able to turn a lot of tables quickly. So why only 4-stars? I'll be honest, it was probably the wait, combined with the line that grew in front of us. I realize that this is a sign of Screen Door's celebrity, but when you wait 45 minutes for a table it just raises the bar for food even higher. And I probably didn't order their best dish. I highly recommend Screen Door, but it may have set the bar too high even for its own standards.
(4)Christian E.
Chicken and waffles weren't as hearty and warm like roscoes. I like my waffles smothered in lard and my chicken deep friend with fat. That's what makes roscoes comfort southern food. I mean this chicken and waffles was clean tasting vs. roscoes
(3)Amanda C.
BEST FRIED CHICKEN I'VE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. Other brunch items were so-so such as the tofu hash, side of grits, croque monsiuer and corned beef hash. Edit - shared the fried chicken and waffles and garden grits. The grits are a bit watery for me and perhaps a little too cheesy but a great combination with the fried chicken!
(4)Desta S.
yum. wish the wait weren't as long. but that's the price of popularity!
(4)David S.
Absolutely fantastic grub. Comfort food at its finest. I will return! Calories be damned! Only negative might be finding a parking spot - but worst case you might just have to walk a block or two. Anyone marking this less than 5 stars is a pretension MoFo. "A bit too Heavy"?...go back to your tofu and granola.
(5)Brody L.
Screen door you are so good! You are so so good! Your chicken is delicious! Your praline bacon is succulent! Your cheesy grits make love to my mouth! Why do you have to be a two hour wait on the weekend? Why can't you have 500 locations so I can eat at you on every corner? I love you so much! -stalking you
(5)Shaina I.
If you don't mind waiting for a while the food is well worth the wait. Their portions are big and the food is delicious. The atmosphere is casual. I bring all my friends from out of town to this restaurant and it never fails to be a great experience. Get the fried chicken!
(5)Lauren P.
I really love this restaurant and keep coming back for more! This is one if my go to restaurants when I have family or friends in town. It never fails to impress. I love the breading on the fried chicken-- yum! The gumbo is also delicious, and the Mac and cheese is to die for. The only reason I gave 4 stars was because sometimes the service can be a bit snobby, but clearly it doesn't stop me from coming back. Love it!
(4)Jan H.
My friends and I had brunch here after a 7 mile hike. Between the 3 of us, we split the waffle with fried chicken, caramelized bacon, biscuits and gravy, and an egg scramble. The portions were large and more than enough to fill out starving bellies. Everything was flavorful and delectably delicious. The bacon and waffle were the standouts for me.
(5)Katherine H.
The food here is so good, there is absolutely nothing bad to say about it. I always order the Screen Door plate. The seasonal options/sides are a great feature, and I love being able to mix it up every time. The one thing I always get, though, is their macaroni & cheese--seriously, it's simple perfection. Oh, and the portions are huge. I've never tried dessert because I'm always too full. I had brunch there once, and it was tasty, but it definitely wasn't good enough to justify waiting in line as long as it took (the longest I've ever had to wait to get into a restaurant). The major downfall of Screen Door is the wait to get in; even if you get there before opening, there is already a line. I'd recommend closer to closing on a weeknight for your best chance of getting in soon!
(5)Heath P.
The reviews on this place say it all. We had the shrimp n grits for the first time ever and what a great first experience. The brisket is also amazing. We always tell people about this place and definitely plan on going back with friends.
(4)Alyssa P.
All I can say is it is amazing. Be prepared for a long line. Chicken waffles are well worth the wait.
(5)Josie V.
This place has some solid dishes. If you like deep fried Southern gilt, then come here! It's hard to decide what to eat, especially during brunch. I loved the grits!
(4)David R.
It pay's to show up early and wait in line for awhile. Once inside you are get one heck of a chicken dinner. It's legit southern cooking served up in NE Portland. Check it out.
(4)Ricky F.
Well, I should have known to come for dinner on a weeknight. I made it here on a saturday morning for brunch with friends and spent about an hour waiting for a table. Fine, its Portland, just keep me caffeinated and ill deal. Well, we get seated and the server ( bless her heart) tells us they are out of most every special, minus the praline bacon waffle and some of the scrambles. We order a round of Gin Fizz Ramos ( which were OK ) and decided to share the Waffle and the Alabama scramble. Waffle was good, a bit dry, and the bacon was a nice addition ( reminds me of the waffle at the Pancake House, but tastier), and the scramble was serviceable, wish they would add more pimento but I'm a cheese fiend, so probably for the best that they didn't. The server seemed to be super busy so drink refills were scarce. All in all, a good, not great breakfast joint. The whole meal took place over the course of 45 minutes, and yet I felt rushed to make room for the next round of diners, so the 45 minutes felt more like 20. Ill probably come back for dinner, when the chaos of the brunch crowd isn't there to give me headaches and eat most of the specials.
(3)Christine S.
I knew my fellow Yelpers wouldn't fail me when they say that Screen Door has the best brunch food in Portland.. this place definitely lives up to its hype! They open for brunch on Saturday and Sundays from 9am-2:30pm. My best friend and I got there around 9:30am, and our wait was around half an hour. By 10am, they were telling all the groups (no matter the size) that the wait was a little more than an hour. I usually don't have a problem with picking what I want to eat for brunch, but looking over their menu, I wanted to try everything! Everyone on Yelp recommended the chicken and waffles, but since the portions were so huge and we wanted to try more items, we opted out this time. (Actually, all of their items have huge portions. But the chicken and waffles dish is bigger than my head!) Sitting at the bar, we witnessed the bartender making Bloody Marys after Bloody Marys. They looked delicious! - Farm Grits: cheddar grits with ham, poached eggs, and provolone. This dish is super cheesey! - Biscuits and Gravy: warm and flavorful.. perfect comfort food. - Chicken Strips: so juicy! If the chicken used for the chicken and waffles is as good as the strips, it's no wonder the chicken and waffles dish is so famous. - Candied Bacon: I'm not a big fan of sweet-savory infused food, but this was pretty good. My best friend LOVED it! Southern Brunch food is the best kind of food, and Screen Door definitely proves it!
(5)Jay P.
I am a mac and cheese fanatic and I base a restaurants credibility on it. I went here after a friend told me that this place, hands down, had the best mac and cheese. For me there was only one place and that is The Beer Stein in Eugene, so I accepted his challenge and wanted to judge myself. I had the Screen Door platter which is 3 sides. I ordered fried catfish, mac and cheese, and mash potatoes and gravy. The plate does come with some corn bread. I tasted the Mac and Cheese and I must say it was good. The fried catfish, however, was a bit disappointing. The mash potatoes were fluffy and good. The cornbread was hard and lacked moisture. Also if you go make sure you get there early, because there is usually a big line to wait in.
(3)Soo L.
The food is good but I don't think it's worth waiting an hour and a half for. We had the famed chicken and waffles, praline bacon and fried oyster Benedict all of which were solid. I will say that the serving sizes are pretty huge and my bf who usually has no problem cleaning the plate had plenty of chicken and waffle left over. Service was great, food good but be prepared to wait. Not only to be seated but for a while for your food to come out.
(4)Russell J.
Best mac and cheese ever!!! Also try the brisket!! Amazing!!! Worth every minute/hour we waited.
(5)R Z.
Super creamy mac and cheese, and the authentic, flavorful red beans and rice are worth the wait to get in on their own. The hush puppies actually had flavor and weren't just lumps of breading. The jambalaya was a bit dry but very tasty, however it was a distant third compared to the mac and the red beans and rice. My wife had a hurricane and said it was the best since we were at Pat O'Brien's in New Orleans. I had a reasonably priced flight of three bourbons. My wife also raved about the beet salad. I didn't try it since I really can't stand beets, but it smelled very fresh.
(5)Mike N.
Busy busy busy! So worth the wait though. Get the chicken and waffles. Its awesome and 2 can share. Im coming back for sure with more people!
(4)Oscar D.
Simply amazing. Had the brisket hash and it was cooked to perfection. This was the best place we ate this week while we visited Portland. They are only opened for brunch so expect a line. But well worth it.
(5)Jim W.
The Screen Door is where I told my Husband that his vegetarian ways would not work with me. Thankfully he changed his ways!
(5)Yan G.
So I guess the word is out: I love Southern food. There's no denying it, no matter how much crap my friends give me because of it. Southern food is hearty, flavorful, not vegan or gluten-free. As Julia Child once said, "the only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook." Still, whenever I travel to visit a friend, he or she invariably suggests southern food...and I love it. So, Screen Door it is. We showed up at about 5:30 on Sunday evening and it was HAILING outside. Clearly, people were unfazed by the mother nature's cruel joke, because the line didn't get any shorter. People were real troopers. By the time we got inside, they told us the wait was going to be 45 min. "If you're not here, you'll get skipped," the host warned us sternly. Oh well. A bar next door it is. Side note: 45-minute wait makes one's expectations exponentially higher. After waiting an appropriate amount of time, we were seated in a very quiet booth away from the door and the bar. Bonus! We started with 2 flights of whiskey, just to try all of their 6 offerings. I am just going to say it: starting your meal 3 shots of whiskey is a great idea. $22 well spent. As my friend and I were looking at the menu, we noticed that EVERYTHING sounded amazing. As we were trying to zero in on a few items, we took turns saying "but I also want to try that!" Sometimes choices are tough. We started with the gumbo, the fried okra and the hush puppies. The gumbo was thick, flavorful and hearty. The okra was OK, but the hush puppies were AMAZING. They were easily the best hush puppies I've had NOT in the South. We shared two entrees: the pork shoulder and the screen door plate, which is a plate of sides. Oh, and we ordered the grits, too. The cauliflower dish was flavorful and surprisingly NOT boring. The mac 'n' cheese was divine - I could have easily had 2 bowls by myself. The pork shoulder, sadly, was a bit dry, as was the cornbread. The grits were very good, but word of warning: eat them fast or they will turn into stale cream of wheat. I cannot wait to come back here and try the chicken and the brisket, which everyone seems to love. However, if you leave a restaurant thinking "I am so full, but wish I could have ordered more stuff," you probably had a damn good meal. :-)
(4)L C.
This is honestly the best southern food I've ever had. No wonder it's so popular! I had to wait about an hour from the time I checked in to the time I got my food but it was worth the wait. My boyfriend ordered the fried chicken, I ordered the beef brisket and we also had to try the mac and cheese. The chicken is perfectly crisp with a little spice and so tender on the inside. The brisket is the most tender brisket I've ever had. And the Mac and cheese was amazing. It was so much food but we just had to try several things since we're not from Oregon and we don't know when we'd be back. This place is a must if you like southern food and you're in Portland.
(5)Greg B.
Most delicious meal I've had in a long time. The fried chicken was delicious, I had a hard time putting it down. Kevin the bartender was awesome and made great drinks. Worth the wait.
(5)Liza S.
In one word, AMAZING. The best meal I've had in months. We started with the hush puppies, and beet salad. The hush puppies were completely non-greasy. So crispy and perfect. The beet salad had beets, greens, pickled rhubarb, lemony fingerling potatoes, candied pistachios and teleme cheese. Absolutely delicious. The pickled rhubarb has a slight gingery taste, which was very pleasant. For dinner, my companion and I shared, as we were both torn between the brisket and the pork shoulder. I started with the pork shoulder, that was set atop delicious cannelini beans and tasty bbq sauce. Creamy and spicy coleslaw on top. Great balance of sweet, spicy, and amazing. I think the pork was my favorite. The brisket was great, totally different bbq sauce than the pork, more vinegary than sweet. It came with bacon green beans and horseradish potato salad. The potato salad was nothing special on its own, but with a bite of brisket it was amazing. The brisket itself was tender and smoky. For dessert we shared pecan pie. It was the best pecan pie I've ever tasted. There are really no words. The crust was buttery and perfect. The filing was just right. It tasted like they just cooked it. This might just be my favorite meal.
(5)Josh H.
Stopped here on a business trip from Sacramento, CA. It does not disappoint. I had the best fried chicken I've ever had! The Mac n cheese is phenomenal as well! The wait time may be a bit long but it is definitely worth it! I will return!
(5)Ruins ..
I wasn't terribly impressed with the Screen Door. The wait was extraordinarily long just to have breakfast (coming prepared to do that and the actuality of it was a shocker). The food was mediocre and they didn't serve just plain grits only cheese grits which is kind of a deal breaker for me. My friend liked the praline bacon a lot and that made the experience worthwhile for him. Just not worth the wait or the boring menu.
(2)Teddy L.
at this point do we still need to put reviews id say its pretty clear stand in line drink your free coffee order the chicken and waffles and enjoy your fine morning in portland...the best the most moist chicken ever
(5)Dan R.
Most satisfying meal I've had in a couple years. Hands down the best fried chicken...I didn't think it was possible for it to taste this good. Be ready to wait in line.
(5)Christian T.
The food was really good, but not worth the 2 hour wait outside. I had to give it a shot, but Bread & Ink right down the road is just as good (maybe better?) and you won't have to wait for two hours to eat it. Too many delicious places in PDX to eat to waste the time standing in the line for Screen Door.
(3)Suzann B.
There food looks better then it tastes! And its always so full. I guess like everything its all about the hype. Its delicious but its atmosphere means your service can't be on it like all the time. A long wait for a company that you can't justify waiting for given their space and staff maximums.
(4)Ken S.
The breakfast is really good, I'm not a huge breakfast person though...
(4)Jesse X.
This place is completely and utterly poppin'! This was honestly the best mac and cheese I've ever had in my life. The cheese sauce was creamy and delicious and the macaroni was cooked perfectly. Totally out of control. The brisket dish was also amazing...but don't leave this place without eating the mac and cheese. 1,000,000 thumbs up!
(5)Rachel N.
So, while traveling through Portland we decided to do a takeout order of this place that is so 'yelp famous'. I was sadly disappointed. We got the Mac and Cheese and the fried chicken dinner. The Mac and cheese wasnt anything special, but very greasy. The fried chicken was drenched in grease, and the chicken skin was hanging off which was super unappetizing. Neither me or my husband liked it. The mashed potatoes were fine, but the ham gravy? It was awful. Way too salty and it was super greasy and separating into lumps. I actually couldn't even stand the smell of it. I doubt I'd ever go back, there are a ton of better options for food in Portland.
(3)Marty J.
The only reason I cannot give them 5 stars is the wait time, which maybe isn't fair, but I wish they could figure out a reservation or list system. I really enjoy their chicken and waffles, as well as other numerous tasty down home dishes. Just like eating at mom's on Sunday afternoon, with some Portland hipster twists, and a bar. I would go here more often, but it's so darn good, I cannot handle the long wait...it's torture.
(4)David L.
After you find a parking space six blocks away because there is no parking lot and fight the legions of patrons up to the reservation desk you can begin your wait of about an hour to be seated. If you need to use the restroom you need to plan ahead as this could be a five to seven minute wait. Once seated the food is outstanding! The flavors burst in your mouth and will have you making Mmmmm sounds in no time. The portions are large so plan on taking about half home.
(4)Steph W.
The wait can sometimes be ridiculous but just go, stick it out and get the most amazing chicken and waffles in the city. It is a mountain of fried, buttery gold and you will be glad you went. They have swoon-worthy cheese grits and praline bacon! If you don't like to wait for an hour, go early!
(4)Magi P.
The wait is long bit the staff is friendly and the food is very good! Dispute how busy they are service was good! I will be going back. Not a good place to sit and chat once you get inside. It is loud and organized chaos! I suggest getting a chicken waffle for the table to share. This thing is huge! I think it was really the highlight if the show. The whole experience took 2.5 hrs. 1.5 of which we where waiting. This could of been miserable but it was a nice day and we had coffee. Plus we needed time to catch up!
(5)Jean K.
I admit I'm biased more towards the California style cooking. Though I do like Southern food and soul food it's a bit too heavy for everyday. But if you like your brunches to be huge, rich, heavy and super sweet then you'll love Screen Door because no one does it better. Huge waffles with lots of cream and maple syrup. Plateful of fried chicken. It's a feast for the eyes just watching the food being brought out to other tables. However, it's not that great for your stomach. Things started out well enough. We arrived at 9:15am to find a huge line. No problem. the host was taking names and giving estimates of times to return (no, they don't call you). We were told to come back around 10:30 so we just wandered down to the coffee shop down the street (Heart!). We came back at 10:20 and our table was ready at 10:35am. Do check with the host when you return as she makes a note and will make sure not to give your table away. Then it was a long long wait for the food which didn't arrive until 11:20am. Yup, 45 minutes after we were seated and ordered. I had lots of time to check out all the food coming out of the kitchen. Good thing hubby had the foresight to order toast (which still took ages to come out) or he'd would have been really irritable. Finally our food arrived: - biscuits w/ sausage gravy & eggs ($9.95) Really huge - four 3"x3" biscuits covered in gray with two sunny side up eggs on the side. The eggs were really a moot point. I should've asked for them to be poached and put on top. Not sure if they would do that. If I had to the ability to travel back in time and reorder I would just get the side order of biscuits and sausage gravy. I saw another table ordered it and it was just two gigantic biscuits. I was able to eat three of my biscuits and my eggs but my tummy did not like being stretched out like that. The biscuits and gravy were fantastic though. - steak eggs benedict ($13?) Part of the special menu which isn't posted online so don't get all excited and get tied to your decision ahead of time. Steak was tasty but not exactly the best pairing for eggs benedict since you need a steak knife to cut through it. Again, gigantic helping of two english muffins, two eggs benedict. Please consider sharing if you can agree on an order! Overall, food was good but it was a bit much in all regards (richness, portions, waiting time). I don't regret coming here for brunch but now that I've been there done that I don't feel compelled to return.
(3)John M.
Pretty decent food, pretty good service. It's a pretty big turn off the way the place is set up. Sitting elbow to elbow with a stranger is not really my idea of a good time. It may be time to move to a bigger building. If you don't mind waiting 20 min to get in and sit inside someone's personal bubble check em out!
(3)Brandon N.
Legit chicken and waffles. This is how it should be done. Flavorful batter around juicy chicken breasts. The booby bar has been raised! The waffle is made of sweet potato. Not my cup of tea(the sweet tea was good and strong). Brisket hash. Served over chili puree and cubed potato bits. Spinach and onions for decor. Eggs on the side. The brisket was moist and for the most part flavorful. Could have been more flavor but the unlabelled orange hot sauce made up for it. Pineapple juice and grapefruit juice to make this a great overall meal.
(5)Tiffany L.
I live rather close to Screen Door and pass by daily. There's pretty much always a wait. Sometimes shorter than others, but it is always crowded. And this must be for a good reason, right? I always told myself, "Someday..." when it came to dining here. When my birthday was coming up, and my parents were in town visiting, it seemed like the perfect excuse! Be prepared to wait. But know that it will be well worth it. We were quoted 45 minutes and ended up waiting a hour. This wasn't so bad, because we walked to the Food Pod on 28th and got coffee and tea and were able to walk around since it was such a beautiful day! (You can also get beer there, if you prefer that!) It's pretty tight quarters inside the restaurant and it can be pretty loud. They also have a nice patio, which is a bit more roomy. Our service was good, considering how busy it was. We started with cocktails and they were all very good. I had a Sweet Tea Vodka cocktail which was refreshing and delicious. For appetizers, we started with the Lowcountry Shrimp and Grits and the Hushpuppies. The Shrimp and Grits (also available as an Entree) were so delicious. The shrimp was perfectly cooked, and the grits were creamy as can be. The bacon, garlic, tomatoes and white wine flavors were mouth-watering and savory. The Hushpuppies were also delicious, not too heavy or greasy, and the Pepper Jelly was an excellent companion, adding a bit of heat. It seems that you can't go wrong with any Entree you choose. We all got something different and loved everything. They also have a long list of Specials, Vegetarian Dishes and Sides, which you can view on their Tumblr (via their website). The Screen Door Plate is a popular choice because it allows you to try multiple small dishes at once. This is what I got, and my choices included Catfish, Macaroni & Cheese and a roasted beet salad. The portions for everything are huge. The four generous pieces of perfectly fried Catfish were delicious, and even more delicious with the Remoulade sauce. The Mac & Cheese was incredibly rich and decadent, so much so that I couldn't finish even half. (But my husband happily helped). I was so glad that I got a salad as part of this plate, to help cut all of the richness. The cornbread is sweet and savory. Other Entrees at the table included the Fried Chicken, which is so delicious and boneless, a huge plus. The Beef Brisket is incredibly tender with a distinct smoked flavor, and the Pork and Beans were full of slightly-spicy molasses flavor. All of the side dishes steal the show. They also had no problem subbing side dishes (i.e.: the Brisket comes with potato salad, but they happily gave my mayonnaise-phobic dad mashed potatoes instead). Desserts aren't to be missed either, no matter how full you are! The Banoffee Pie is a perfect choice. Piled high with bananas, fluffy whipped cream and caramel, it's oh so yummy. You will definitely bring home leftovers. And the prices just can not be beat.
(5)Bert B.
Yes, lets. Lots of love for this simple southern pleaser. Chicken tenders. Not so much on the brisket, but the burger rocks.
(5)Jocelyn L.
I think the main attraction here is the Chicken and Waffles and pecan bacon while the other dishes we tried were not as extraordinary. Definitely a restaurant specializing in Southern cuisine. Portion sizes were generally very big. We waited 1.5 hours on a Sunday morning, and although I think it is worth it for the first experience, I don't think it is worth a 1.5 hr wait. - (+) Chicken and Waffles- a thick belgian style waffle with basically half a chicken sitting on top. 3 pieces of white-meat chicken to be exact. The waiter recommended that 5 of us should share and she wasn't wrong- we ordered two of them, and among the 4 of us who were eating it, we probably only managed to finish one. Oh, also it was quite spicy for me who can tolerate an average level of spiciness. - (+) Pecan candied bacon- like candy more than bacon which I enjoyed because I'm not the biggest bacon fan; I liked this concept. - (+) Brisket hash- not really a hash, more like brisket and potato saute. But the brisket was done really well, so that deserves some credit. - Pancakes- I've definitely had better pancakes in other places, a little bland. A miss for me. Notes: - They serve Stumptown coffee!
(4)Jeff R.
Another one that was worth the wait. I couldn't resist trying the chicken and waffle. It did not disappoint and it fed me the rest of the day. The chicken was delicious and moist as was the waffle. Also had to try the praline bacon and OMG was it fantastic. I could have died right there and been happy. We also ordered the vanilla beam French toast and added banana and it was great. Had the try the biscuits and gravy as well. Not very often I give five stars, but Screen Door earned every one of them! We wi be back for sure!
(5)Troy D.
Your about to hear something you have heard from just about everyone else in this town, go and try it! Its great, really. I had the fried chicken at dinner and it was amazing. Some of the best in the city, top 3 definitely. Others in my party were not impressed with some of their other dinner offerings but we did go with some very picky people that prefer breakfast. That being said, It was thumbs up all the way around the table.
(4)Azmat H.
Breakfast is amazing at this place. Be prepared to wait to get in though. The line can take you up to 1.5 hours. But to be honest, it's worth the wait. :)
(5)David B.
#1 favorite Portland restaurant!!!
(5)Brad Y.
Hell Yeah! What a great brunch experience. It's funny because the tv show Portlandia has an episode about how much the people of Portland love brunch. When I arrived it was clear to me that it was going to be a minute before I was seated. However good things come to those who wait. I was a solo diner. I told the hostess she could put me anywhere. I ended up at the bar. The vibe was very cool. The guy behind the bar was witty and friendly in spite of the fact he was super busy. Adding to the experience, I was seated next to another solo diner who was super fun to chat with. I ordered a biscuit sandwich that consisted of a piece of fried chicken between two house made biscuits and topped with sausage gravy. I had a choice of grits or potatoes. I went with the grits--you can choose between plain and cheeses grits. I went with the cheeses grits. The chicken was indescribably good. The cheesy grits were out of this world. I don't think this experience could have been any better. I will be visiting screen door again.
(5)Amanda M.
Amazing.. Wait is a bit long, especially weekends, 45min to an hour.. but well worth it. We go all the time.. Great food, great service
(5)Emily H.
The food here is excellent. The staff is very friendly. I definitely recommend this as a must have place.
(5)Courtney D.
Best fried chicken I've ever had! Arrived half an hr before they opened..no problem getting seated. Great food..friendly service. Will definitely be back :-)
(5)Piper L.
Chicken and Waffles. Maple Prailine Bacon. 'Nuff said.
(5)Austin S.
I don't think there could be a place more deserving of 5 Stars. The Screen Door is the best Brunch in the city. I hate hipsters and the people moving to my city and driving up the cost of living in the neighborhoods I grew up in, but THIS restaurant is a welcome addition to NEP. The chicken and waffles were the first thing I tried, and were well beyond my expectations in flavor, execution, and portion. The chicken is more than ample with 3 big breast strips, and very well seasoned. The praline waffle is perfect. The hush puppies with bacon and smoked cheddar are good, and also well seasoned with a little pepper. The cane syrup (for dipping) reminds me of old fashioned maple syrup from my childhood. The biscuits and sausage gravy are amazing, but peculiar.. I feel like when my wife ordered them they were better seasoned and more savory. Maybe just not enough salt in the gravy? The biscuits are some how buttery and moist while also being perfectly flaky. They're the star of the dish. Wifey also had the farm grits with ham steak, poached eggs, and two or three cheeses. VERY good. Oh haha, btw.. you wanna get there early if you don't want to wait. Bon apetit!
(5)Victoria H.
The Mac and cheese here is AMAZING! As are the drinks!
(5)Patricia K.
Interestingly enough, I was not a huge fan of Screen Door. I always say over 1,000 reviews can't be wrong, but maybe they can be. I came here for brunch on a Sunday afternoon and ordered to following: -pecan bacon -chicken and waffles x2 -chocolate hazelnut pancakes -beef hash Nothing was really impressive, although the portions were HUGE! least impressive were the pancakes.. reminds me of something you could get at your local Denny's. Next was the pecan bacon. Definitely a novel dish, but I was a little disappointed over the fact that the candied pecans dominated the flavor of the dish. This dish has none of that bacon grease deliciousness you would expect when ordering, well, a side of bacon. Next up on the list were the chicken and waffles. I actually enjoyed this dish, although the fried chicken was a little spicier than I am generally used to. This dish is served 4 layers high- chicken stacked on chicken stacked on chicken stacked on a fluffy, golden brown Belgium waffle. Chicken is served boneless for ease of consumption and comes with warmed syrup (as it should). This dish is good, just not worth the hype. Go to a restaurant dedicated to chicken and waffles if you want something to rave about. The shinning star of the plates ordered here must have been the brisket hash, which was not a hash at all, but rather something closer to a stir fry. This dish is definitely worth a try, but keep in mind, this dish is heavy. Cooked with cheese, served with flour tortillas, this definitely isn't your traditional corned beef hash we all know and love. Personal highlight: -they brew fresh stumptown coffee here! lowlights: issuing a general pass on the alcoholic drink selection
(3)Crystal G.
I now understand why people wait in line for HOURS for this place. We went for brunch and waited an hour. Totally worth it. I had the bananas foster French toast which was amazing. I got to taste the fried chicken and waffles, grits, and huevos rancheros. The latter was my favorite and likely will be my choice next time I come. For dinner we arrived 40 minutes before opening and waited in line. Same kind of wait but felt quicker. I got the shrimp and grits but had the pleasure of trying the catfish, Mac and cheese, greens, friend chicken and brisket. Again the latter was my favorite. Hands down everything was amazing. We did hush puppies, pork belly and chicken strips for appetizers and so we were extremely full and had plenty of leftovers for after the bar later. My only gripe: the cornbread is very bland and without the honey butter quite plain. I think a little honey in the batter would do wonders. :) I'm exited to go back and try more of the menu. There were far more items I wanted than I could really order.
(5)Orna B.
Went here tonight after trying twice before and not wanting to wait for over an hour and a half for a table. But boy was it worth trying again. The best fried chicken I have ever had, nice and crispy with just the right kick. The mash potatoes are so creamy you don't even need the gravy, (and I love gravy). Hubby had the screen door plate catfish, seafood bisque and mash potatoes all so delicious. Satisfied our sweet tooth by sharing a piece of the german chocolate cake, all I can say is wow. Can't wait to go here again will try the brunch next time.
(5)Jessica H.
Sigh.. Portland has really good food. This place wasn't completely tragic, but I expected to be blown away based on the reviews. I did my research, and arrived at 8:15 on a Saturday morning. There were probably 10 parties ahead of me and by the time they opened at 9:00am, there were probably 20 behind me. I did make it to the first seating in this uber tiny establishment, which was nice. I ordered the lemon ricotta fritters and a biscuit with sausage gravy. The fritters were.. okay. I think I would have expected less if they were called lemon donut holes, I wasn't blown away. The biscuit and gravy was awful. Someone on here described the biscuits as having a similar texture as coffee cake. That is spot on. If you order the biscuits and gravy, you will be served savory coffee cake with bland sausage gravy. The service is friendly, and the prices are reasonable. If I was ever to return, I'd probably go for the chicken and waffles.
(3)Cindy C.
I am only giving this business 3 stars because of the wait time for seating. My girlfriends and I heard really good things about this restaurant. We stopped by and were told it was 1.5 hours wait. We looked at the number of people in line and thought okay - maybe it wouldn't be a full 1.5 hrs. "They don't take reservations." However, as we found out if you are "in the know" you call ahead and put your name on the list. Imagine our surprise when over the course of the next two hours people kept showing up and getting in ahead of us (we were "not in the know"). It is not really a first come first serve restaurant. Was an extremely frustrating experience. Yes, the food was awesome! But having a rugby team show up (after their name was called and passed - they called ahead to get on the list) walk in and immediately get seats ahead of us, we decided that the "no reservations" policy was invalid. While the food was very good - the wait time is not worth it.
(3)Jenny T.
Come here prepared to wait in line for one of the best meals you will have for such a steal. Every time I come to Portland, this is a MUST go. My boyfriend and I came here on a Friday night, the wait was about and hour for a table of two. There is a cute coffee shop a few shops down or you can go explore(we did and found some great spots and nice dwell houses). The fried chicken is by far the best I have ever had- super flavorful, crispy skin, and uber moist chicken. Also, there soups of the day are always spot on. We got that with the mashed potatoes and collard greens, it is huge and only $15. Then we got the screen door platter which is essentially 3 sides and cornbread. Mac and cheese- bomb.com GET THEM Gumbo- okay but would pass Beet salad- nice and refreshing Cornbread- needs more honey and is too dry:-( Dessert was just okay this time, but despite the few just okay things, this place is hands down one of my all time favorite restaurants.
(5)Sajani S.
So So SO SO SOOOO GOOOD!!! I know this place doesn't need more reviews but HOLY SO GOOD! I had a special that night which was a pork belly fried in the deep fried chicken batter. SPEECHLESS!
(5)Susannah L.
Consistently good food and will never let you down.
(5)Hudson G.
Love the chicken and waffles and the Mac and Cheese. I got a pulled pork sandwich last time I was there. Not the best I've ever had but still pretty darn good. I go regularly and the service is always good, even when busy. I recommend this as a Portland staple!
(4)Joanie D.
This place is awesome... don't be snooty or impatient, good things come to those who wait. It's not designed to be a fast food place, just wait for your goodness and you won't be disappointed! Catfish, chicken & waffles and the hushpuppies are my fav!
(5)Drew R.
Best food I have ever had at a restaurant. Brisket is unreal. Banana cream pie, the best thing ever (verbatim my partner's words).
(5)Christopher J.
Came in for brunch and waited a good solid hour to get seated. Ordered the following: -Fried Chicken and Waffle (includes 1 waffle and 3 large pieces of buttermilk breaded chicken filets): The breaded chicken filets were crispy and juicy throughout, just how I like it. The waffle was also good when drizzled with syrup. NOTE: This order can easily feed 2 comfortable. -Bacon Hush Puppies: Tasted whatevers to me, didn't care too much for them. They were soft and warm on the inside though! -Blackened Tofu & 3 egg scramble: Was pretty good, only had 2 bites since I was so focused on the chicken and waffle =) -Scott's corndog: Tasted ok, mimicked the bacon hush puppies flavor profile especially the batter. -Praline bacon: Different, but too sweet in my opinion. -Chicken & apple sausage: Juicy and good. If I'm back again it'll specifically be for the Fried Chicken and Waffle, hands down.
(5)Andrew S.
My good friend told me this place was out of this world, so we got up early to go for brunch. We waited 45 minutes outside before the restaurant opened to be within the first group seated. I would wait another 45 minutes for chicken and waffles this good. Oh my god. I've been to Roscoe's in LA, and this handily beats their chicken and waffles any day of the week. I had mine with a bacon praline waffle. It came with 3 boneless chicken breasts and a strip of bacon dipped in maple syrup and rolled in crushed pralines. It was enough for two people to eat on their own, and I certainly couldn't finish the whole thing myself. Their service was top-notch as well. I was never wanting for more water or coffee, and the staff was very efficient. And speaking of the coffee, it was so good! The cream was already set on the table when we sat down, so we didn't have to ask for it. That's a little detail that shows that the staff is thoughtful. The bloody marys sounded pretty good too, but that will have to be for another day.
(5)Alison C.
Went here for a late dinner, around 8:30pm on a Monday and waited about 10min. It's really popular! We ordered the chicken tenders for appetizer--really crunchy and good! The mustard dip had a nice kick to it. And I ordered the screen door plate, amazing portions! I got Mac & cheese, quinoa salad, gala apple salad, and cornbread. My husband got the pulled pork sandwich with sweet potato fries. His sandwich was tender, fries cooked to perfection! I loved my quinoa salad--really flavorful! The apple salad was a tad overdressed, but of liked the crunchy fennel bites. But the mac&cheese was flavorless and heavy. Felt the same about the cornbread. Great service and loved the ambience on the patio! Wonderful comfort food :)
(4)LG Q.
This was a nice find via my sister in law who Yelped it. Comfort food at it's best. The popularity is evident in the long line out the door. There were ten of us on a road trip and this was our dinner stop. I'd definitely come back here again.
(4)Suzy C.
yummy
(4)Shauna F.
waited and waited and waited...and ated and ated and ated. everything was delicious
(5)Heidi W.
Great southern food! Worth the wait!
(4)Cynthia L.
I came in on Sunday at 1:30. There was no wait for a table. I did notice that there was a party of 3 waiting. I ordered chicken and waffles. The fried chicken is probably the best fried chicken I've ever had. The sweet potato waffle was also really delicious. Sometimes waffles can be quite dry, but the sweet potato really helped give the waffle some moisture. I took one star off, because while all of the servers were friendly enough, we never once got a water refill. No one came by when the food had already been served to check on if we needed anything else (like water or a beverage refill). We finally had to flag down our server to get our bill to leave. In addition, it took about 15-20 minutes for the food to come out.
(4)Heather S.
Incredibly delicious southern fare at very reasonable prices. The fried chicken + waffles, and the eggs sardou (toasted English muffins topped w/ creamed spinach, fresh artichoke hearts, poached eggs & Hollandaise) are my personal faves. Waiting for a table can take years, (even if you get there 1/2 hour before opening), but it's very, very good food and extremely attentive service!
(5)Casey C.
I still dream of the friend chicken I had here - three weeks after my business trip to Portland. Like, literally still dream about it regularly. It was amazing. I've never before encountered such glorious friend chicken before. Ever. I'm considering going *back* to Portland just for this friend chicken, it was that good. I was once blind, but now can see. Did I mention I really loved the fried chicken here?
(5)Connie C.
OK I have to start off this review with a disclaimer. I've had my share of greasy hole in the wall Southern joints and they are honestly all better than the food I've had here. BUT I will still give it 4 stars for its concept of meshing Southern and modern cooking and the very friendly service. When you walk into this place, aside from the music, you'd think you just walked into any other place in Portland. It's wooden tables with candles and classy but casual. We went for dinner and there were already lines out the door at 6:00 pm. We said we'd be ok with the bar so we seated within 5-10 minutes. We both started with bloody marys. Each were garnished with an olive and pickled okra. Delish. Spicy and perfect. We got crawfish cakes for an app. My bf got the fried chicken & I got the screen door plate with fried catfish, green garlic popover, and bacon and hock collard greens. The crawfish cakes pretty much tasted like crab cakes with chunks of crawfish in about every other bite. It was a plate of 2 atop remoulade sauce and piled with a mini slaw/salad. It was good and the perfect example of Southern meets modern. The fried chicken plate looked huge, but undaunting to the piggy bf. We were scared it'd be dry based on the color, but it wasn't. The skin was crispy and the meat was tender. It was set on a mound of mashed potatoes with a side of collard greens. I've had better fried chicken in my life (Honey Kettle's in LA), but it wasn't bad. I'd prefer juicier. The screen door plate was huge too. There were about 5 fingerlings of fried catfish, which was more than I was expecting. It was crispy, but I think the fish may have been a bit underdone because it wasn't flaky at all. The cornmeal crust fell off the fish with eat bite. The remoulade paired well with it, but I was happy I had so many choices of hot sauce to pair with it (crystal, tabasco, and homemade). I've had better cornmeal catfish also in LA (Aunt Kizzy's Back Porch). The cornbread was definitely a Southern version (savory rather than sweet), but was a bit too crumbly and not moist enough. The collard greens just tasted boiled rather than simmered with the ham hock and bacon, which seemed like an afterthought. It didn't have the smokiness or depth of really good greens. The green garlic popover though. Man. That is really good stuff. It was creamy, savory, and fresh tasting. The creamy saucy gravy worked well poured over top. This is the main reason why it still got 4 stars from me. I can tell that they really know their way around a gourmet kitchen (the modern half), but they still need to work on the Southern half. The flavors are just too bland and the recipes too "clean" for true Southern food. Hole in the walls have got them beat on authentic. On that note, I'd still go back to give their other dishes a try and definitely brunch.
(4)Jen K.
2 hours, 31 minutes and 22 seconds. That, my friends, was the winning time for the Portland Marathon last year. And also approximately the time it took for me to take my first bite of chicken and waffles and praline bacon after my arrival for Sunday brunch at Screen Door. Since I had time to ponder, I realized there were lots of parallels between the two experiences. Both are Portland institutions that aren't for everyone. Chances of a successful outcome can be increased by preparation. For the marathon, this means training, having the right gear, and a running partner to encourage you during the long day. For Screen Door, it means arriving when (or slightly before) they open at 9:00a on weekends. Come prepared for a wait - I brought an iPod, book, umbrella, warm coat and food. Yes, I brought food to wait in line for a restaurant! And the most important part, friends. Just like the marathon, if you are a larger group, you will have ones and twos pass you along the way. They take reservations for 6 or more only for the first seating, otherwise, the larger the group, the longer the wait. I curse the quick people in my head in both cases. They are prepared for a crowd and try to make the 'ordeal' pleasant. During the marathon they have bands and food and drink stations with lots of volunteers cheering you on. At Screen Door, they have Stumptown coffee and large indoor and covered outdoor waiting areas. People cheer as their names are called on the list. Not everyone made it. The marathon course and brunch list are littered with those that just didn't have what it takes to stick it out. Quitters! The time actually passed by relatively quickly because of my incredible dining companions who were also able to laugh at the ridiculous nature of our predicament. So was our server who agreed it is great food but nothin' is worth this wait. For my first marathon, I was one of the stragglers and many of the booths had already run out of treats before I passed by. At Screen Door, we were one of the groups closing out brunch for the day, so several menu items had come and gone. When I arrived home in both cases, I just wanted to put my feet up and take a nap. My husband just laughs at me and says, "Why do you put yourself through this?" And I say, "Don't ever let me do that again" knowing in my heart that I probably will do both again. What can I say, I'm a glutton for punishment. Don't say you weren't warned. ----------------- 4 stars - am I crazy? Hard one, but I'm not going to penalize them too much for being popular, especially since they seem to handle the crowds pretty darn well. I've been for both brunch and dinner, and while I enjoy the food, it hasn't reached 5-star nirvana yet.
(4)ToniAnn M.
Maybe I went on a off night? Maybe I was supposed to go for Brunch instead of dinner? Maybe my standards & expectations were too high after reading all of the amazing Yelps? Idk. Anyway, I wasn't really impressed with this place. Yes, staff is friendly & attentive, which is surprising rare in this city, let alone in a place that is completely mobbed with a wait out the door & then some. But, the food left me disappointed. I ordered the fried chicken that everyone just raves about. My chicken was very dry, not at all juicy, & frankly, I found the batter to be way too salty. Instead of the mashed potato, I ordered the sweet potato fries. They were pretty good, but then again, you have to be a total idiot to screw up french fries. The hubs ordered the Jambalaya. It didn't have him jumping out of his chair wanting to yell "oooooooohhhhhh weeeeeee", but then too, he didn't spit it out either. He stands firmly by my 3 star rating.
(3)Dan K.
I live in the neighborhood, and this is my favorite restaurant in town. Unfortunately, it is also the favorite restaurant of about half-a-million other people. You need a strategy for waiting in line, but once you're seated, you're golden. I really think they should have musicians or sidewalk performers to help people pass the time while waiting in line. When in doubt, order the fried chicken and a Sazerac.
(5)Amy D.
What is there to say that other reviewers haven't already discussed? They're delicious?? Check. They have one of the best fried chicken dishes for the price? Check. Oh, well- I'll just add my two cents on my recent dining experience- Came here on a Thursday night around 6:30pm and it was packed. We had to wait about 45 minutes for a table of 3. The parking situation is a bit tricky, but I was able to find a spot after circling a few times. At least they have two rows of booth sitting for those waiting for a table. We ordered- -Crispy Fried Buttermilk-Battered Chicken (w/ tasso ham gravy, mashed potatoes & collards) $15.75- WOW! The fried chicken was super crispy and moist, and the skin was really good with the seasoning it had on it. It went well with the mashed potatoes. This plate could have easily fed two people. -Smoked & BBQ'd Beef Brisket (House smoked brisket topped w/ crispy fried onions w/ side of horseradish-bacon potato salad) $15.75- WOW! Also delicious- the brisket was tender, and you could cut through it with your fork. It had a good balance between the fatty and lean pieces, but personally, I wouldn't preferred a higher fat ratio. My other minor criticism is that the potato salad could've used more horseradish. -Screen Door Plate (Choice of 3 house sides and/or local organics & slice of cornbread) $13.95 - We went with one of the specials that night, an arugula salad with walnuts, pears, and blue cheese, then the macaroni & cheese and also bacon & hock collard greens- The salad was good as was the mac & cheese, which was super cheesy and creamy. We accidentally ordered an additional collard greens (it came along w/ the fried chicken), and I don't like collard greens much so I avoided both servings. My friends enjoyed it, so I assume it was good. The only thing that I didn't enjoy was the cornbread- disappointing!! It was dry and crumbly and didn't have a good corn taste. However, I just overlooked it and moved onto more yummy items. Overall, we had a TON of leftovers for three girls since each dish can really feed more than 1 person. For the price they charge, you really do get a large quantity of food, and quality food at that. The service here is also friendly and solid, although they can get busy at times so you have to flag them down. I would love to come back here during brunch to try that sweet potato waffle..
(5)Michael V.
My roommate is a HUGE fan of breakfast. Not so much of a cold cereal or oatmeal type of guy, but the pancakes, waffles, eggs, bacon, and sausage kind of guy. When asked what his favorite food was, he answered: BREAKFAST!! Not one item in particular, but the meal as a whole. It was only natural for me to take him here. If the world ended tomorrow, at least he would've died happy from brunch! (; I myself am not a big fan of breakfast/brunch, but Screen Door has made me reconsider my feelings. Three different visits to this place--each one just as amazing as the last! If you're not in line as soon as they open at 9am on Sat, you're most likely looking to wait around for an hour or two. No worries though, because there's free coffee! The service and food is also great, so I can usually look past the long wait. (: As far as the food goes, everything I've tried is absolutely AMAZING. If you're indecisive on what to get, a safe bet would be the fried chicken and waffle--three enormously fried pieces of chicken stabbed into a giant sweet potato waffle by a knife. What more could you want?? If you're not feeling like chicken, the scrambles are also a tasty choice! The Alabama scramble, with ham, green onions, and pimiento cheese was pretty good, but the Cajun scramble with andouille sausage, bell pepper, onion, cheddar cheese, and green onions was even better! :D The scrambles come with your choice of potatoes or cheddar grits, as well as two slices of white or wheat toast. If you're not in the mood for meat and eggs, I would highly recommend the bananas foster french toast. (Four pieces of french toast with rum-flamed caramelized bananas, topped with cinnamon and powdered sugar, and four dollops of whipped cream). And finally, your meal would only be complete with a side of praline bacon. (Think bacon with maple syrup and nuts, and a dash of crack). I can't reiterate enough how much I LOVE this place and the food that they serve. From what I remember, $2 for unlimited Stumptown coffee is a bargain and wheat toast + butter + jam could stand alone as a fukkin' meal! No joke, it's that amazing! :D My single complaint is that the bananas foster french toast should come with a tiny pitcher of syrup (like the fried chicken and waffle) instead of having it all poured on top for you. It was a little too sweet for me, and I found myself tired from all of that syrup. On the other hand, the waitress I had refilled my glass of water when it was only half empty on THREE different occasions. Now THAT'S service! (: IHOP, Tom's Pancake House, and Beaterville have NOTHING on Screen Door!
(5)Shannon M.
The bar area and environment was really cool. There is always a bit of a wait, but it is not so bad. The first time I went, I had the breakfast corn dog. It was amazing!!! The best part was the thick, syrup they gave me to dip it in. The second time I went, I was with a large group and got to try the chicken and biscuit, an omelette, an amazing banana foster french toast. The menu has really interesting and awesome choices. I will definitely go back!!! The only reason I did not give it five stars is the wine by the glass choices sorta suck. My Savignon Blanc tasted like airline wine.
(4)Paul W.
When my best bud in the world's fiancee suggested we get brunch at the Screen Door, I was all like, 'You guys want to bring me to the what what?!?' I was suspicious, not very impressed. But the nuns at St. Anne's Kindergarten had beaten a modicum of patience into me, so I got into the car without comment. It was a glorious, sunny day when we pulled into a primo parking spot on 24th and Burnside. The glowing pavement was awash with imminent diners nursing mugs of coffee. It was going to be a 45-minute wait, apparently. Ordinarily, such news would be met with the sight of me disgustedly stamping my monocle to bits, and kicking my left shoe into traffic. But I was on holidays and feeling hugely benevolent, so we calmly took our place with the rest of the patient crowd. We eyed a group of happy patrons through the large front window, willing them to leave. Now. Right now. When our party was finally summoned, I kinda knew how every Oscar winner felt when they heard their name tagged onto the end of '...and the Oscar goes to...!' It felt awesome. Inside, the inviting thrum of contented brunchers greeted us, along with the smells of good cooking. The warm wood interior and the jars of pickles on the walls painted a pretty picture. Then I saw them: . Fried chicken and waffles . Eggs in every incarnation one could hope to see . French toast as thick as John Grisham novels . Biscuits that could turn back tsunamis of gravy I gaped. I pointed. I sat on my hands to keep from snatching at everything that came within arm's reach. I was a pre-pubescent girl, and that oyster benedict was my Jonas Brother. Oh. Muh. Gawh. Becky. In the end, my best bud in the world got the chicken and waffle, his fiancee the farmer's scramble special, and I the Willapa Bay oysters with scrambled eggs, bacon, cream cheese, chives and hollandaise. Naturally, there was plenty of cross-sampling. The fried chicken was crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside and delicious all over. The accompanying waffle was improbably light and airy, despite having borne the weight of three hefty slabs of chicken. The farmer's scramble sounded somewhat pedestrian, but that was just understatement at its best. The springy asparagus and tangy preserved tomatoes made this the Betty of egg dishes -- wholesome, but oh-so-tasty. My order was also off the specials menu and, unlike most specials which tend to be anything but, this was Pretty Damned Special. Three plump oysters came coated in a shatteringly crisp shell of fried cornmeal. The scrambled eggs were fluffy despite harbouring lashings of bacon, cream cheese and hollandaise. So exactly how special was my special? Let's just say that if that dish were a human female of legal marrying age, I'd be kneeling before it and slipping a 17-gajillion-carat diamond ring onto its bacony finger right now. I know, I know. This is all a lot of hyperbole over some damned eggs and breakfasty stuff. And I know that the Screen Door, like that sexybitchy cheerleader or that hunkyassy quarterback from high school, doesn't need yet another asskiss on its tail. I know all that. But I can't help it. Sometimes you just don't get to choose the object of your affection. Mwah.
(5)Big S.
4 of us including two kids. We all loved it. Even my burger expert son says it was the best burger he ever had in his life. We all enjoyed the fried okra. I had the delicious pecan pie for dessert.
(5)Vivian N.
During my last visit to Portland, my local friend was trying to sell me on the idea of hitting up Screen Door on a Sunday morning. I recall her saying keywords like "Southern food" and "brunch," but I was already out the door before she could finish her sales pitch on me. But DAMN, the wait for this place is loooong. 50 minutes for a two-person table. And we even agreed to sit outside which I would never normally do during early June (when I was last there), because let's be honest -- we all know that summer in the Northwest doesn't really begin until LATE June, so it was still pretty chilly that particular morning. And this is how I came order a hot alcoholic drink before 12:00pm... (I believe it was buttered rum or something similar) Influenced by the famed Roscoe's, I seized this chance to try Chicken and Waffles for the first time. This plate is really huge: a thick-ass sweet potato waffle under three huge slabs of spicy fried chicken, all held down with a steak knife. Oh, and there's oodles of syrup, too. Now there was this guy sitting near us, and when my order arrived, he started talking about how he comes there every week and challenges some random customer that orders the Chicken and Waffles to finish it ALL... chicken skin / meat and every last bite of waffle. And if they do, he'll give them $5. And thus, he challenged me to finish my entire plate, and I'm kinda stubborn, so of course I agreed to take him on. It took an hour to finish, but I did it(!) -- although I'm not quite sure what that says about my stomach capacity. In retrospect, I thought the sweet potato waffle was just alright but the fried chicken was really yummy. You really gotta love fried chicken and carbs to order this. Anyway, the guy and his party applauded my efforts, he gave me $5, we posed for a cheesy picture together where I held up a $5 bill against my bloated face while he did the thumbs-up sign, and then I promptly spent my winnings on two vegan cupcakes for my friend and me at Sweet Pea Bakery. Preeeeeetty much didn't need to eat for the rest of that day though. Despite the long wait, the food here is fantastic -- really fresh and top quality. How can I not like a restaurant where I get paid to eat?
(4)Liz K.
This is my new favorite restaurant by far! We went for breakfast, waited 40 minutes and worth every minute. Fun, upbeat vibe with great music playing, super friendly wait staff and a killer menu. How was I going to decide between Fried Oysters Eggs Benny, Bananas Foster French toast or Fried Chicken over sweet potato waffle? I did the Benny, my husband did the French toast and it was amazing. Heaping plates. Just not one complaint and we are going back this weekend for dinner. BELIEVE the hype. Makes me very proud as a Portlander known for their restaurants!
(5)Brian E.
Screen Door is the best of times, it is the worst of times, it is the place of healthful organic ingredients, it is the place of trans-fats and cholesterol and atherosclerosis, it is about time I stopped ripping off Dickens and got to the point. If I were Screen Door, I'd leave you waiting out in the cold for an hour or so and then act like I was doing you a big favor when I finally did allow you in to read my review. As anyone who reads my reviews knows, I am not a big fan of restaurants at which one cannot arrive hungry because it takes so long to obtain any food, nor am I enamored of arrogant places that are so proud of their food that they make you feel as if they could care less about your business. Screen Door is exactly both of those things. Pity, that. The portions at Screen Door are huge, the quality of the ingredients is generally above average, and many of the dishes are very well prepared. Favorites like the towering fried chicken and sweet potato waffle have to be seen to be believed, and the cajun scramble is no slouch either. Even basic stuff like bread and burgers are way above average in quality, but not in price. If you like enormous piles of Southern-inspired grub at very reasonable prices, Screen Door might be just your kind of place. Unfortunately, Screen Door's mark as a place of superlatives extends to the bad, as well. It is an hour-long wait to order, no joke...and can be another half hour to get food after you order. Worse yet, when your food finally does arrive, it may well be cold, as they leave it sitting around until they finish the last plate in your party and the kitchen is a messy, disorganized bustle. The waitstaff is generally hurried and sometimes downright rude. The atmosphere is crowded and loud and clashes completely with the Southern theme. I've lived in the South, and you're supposed to sip a lemonade at a leisurely pace, alternating with large succulent bites of pulled pork, while watching a river flow gently past. You're not supposed to sit in a dingy, unlit room, shouting to communicate with your dining companions over the roar of the crowd, and attacking your food like a rabid hyena because you've waited an hour and a half by the time you actually eat and your waitress is desperately trying to turn your table one more time before they close. Most of the offerings are extremely unhealthful, too. Organic beet salads are fine and well, but I didn't see anyone eating one - everyone I saw had bacon and andouille and biscuits and gravy and such. Make sure there's room at your local ER before you eat here; the salt and fat are likely to send you there with a case of severe indigestion or elevated blood pressure, best case. Maybe I'm just a cynic, but I find it alarming that Screen Door hands out little slips of paper with the daily specials printed on one side and a coupon for 10% off an angioplasty on the other. In summary, Screen Door has some of the finest comfort food Portland has to offer. If only eating there were more...comfortable. I suggest you go - but I don't suggest you go often. It's not good for you and Screen Door certainly does not need the business.
(3)Tan N.
One-word impression: EXASPERATING I was feeling the need for a good brunch today, so I rallied some friends to check out Screen Door today. I had been there once before last fall, and though I remembered the excruciating wait, I do remember how scrumptious the chicken and waffles were. It was that promise of comforting food that made me want to fight the wait line again. This time however, I left with a less than satisfactory experience. Sure, any quality brunch place in Portland, you can expect the obligatory wait for a table. What I did mind was what the experience was after we sat down. I know it was busy in there, but there was no excuse for the fact that the group that had been seated directly before us had finished and left well before we got our food. There was also no excuse for the fact that a bigger party that had sat down about 20 minutes after we did had gotten their food before us. When asked about our food, our waiter simply stated that our orders got "lost in the shuffle." Thanks, sir, for being attentive and for fighting to get our dishes out, because...wait, you didn't. Incredibly infuriating. Regarding the food, yeah, it was tasty enough. I had the Oyster Benedict, which was good, but not grand enough to warrant 5-stars. Maybe I just was so starving from seeing everyone around chowing down that I basically inhaled it instead of savored it. I also had a bite for my buddy's chicken and waffles, which was good, but not nearly as awesome as I remembered it. Overall, I was pretty frustrated by my experience. The food was fine, good enough to justify giving it at least 4-stars on that merit alone. But as my buddy put it, the time we had to wait and the weak service did not justify the quality of the food. So much of eating brunch here in Portland is all about the greater experience, and this was just so exasperating for me and my friends that I will probably not voluntarily choose to go back again.
(3)Tanya O.
You have to go. Yelp directed me to this location. Take heed on the point of getting there before it opens if you don't want to either wait a long time, eat at the bar, or have reservations. The mac & cheese was creamy, the chicken crunchy (and deboned so that you don't have to be distracted by nibbling around chicken bones), drinks were awesome (try the Rhett Butler... yum). The chocolate pudding was the best I have ever had. WE WILL BE BACK.
(5)Craig R.
I absolutely LOVE Screen Door's fried chicken. I have had the opinion about fried chicken that I could take it or leave it, but I can't leave Screen Door. Ugh, it is amazing. On top of that, the service is fantastic, the environment is laid back, the price is reasonable, and the people are happy. The only draw back is the wait. I recommend eating and apple or a bagle before you leave. Seriously, I tried this last time and after two hours that bagle had left my hungry bank and I was starving for a heartly delicious breakfast. Some may say this is not worth it, but believe me, it is.
(5)Lisa W.
Overall my experience at Screen Door was just okay. Not bad, but didn't knock my socks off. For an appetizer I ordered the Green Garlic Popovers ($6.50) from the local organics menu. The waiter informed me that it was just one popover, but it was large, then said that if he was eating there he wouldn't order an app because the portions are big. So I told him to forget the popover and we proceeded to order our dinners. Not two minutes after he walked away, the popover arrived at our table, clearly fresh out of the microwave (blech!) because it was absolutely steaming hot, which is usually a good thing with food, but not a baked good such as this. We ate it anyway and had to add salt just to choke it down because it tasted like nothing. Okay. So that was the only bad thing I can say, and it didn't ruin the experience, but things didn't get much better anyway. I had the fried chicken and it was fine (as in tolerable). Nothing spectacular. My husband had the jambalaya and it was fine. Again, nothing spectacular. The service was fine too. Not great or bad. One thing I will mention is that it's a very loud space, even when it's not that crowded. We arrived at 6:00 and were seated inside immediately, which was fine, and there was a wait for an outside table. By the time we left at a little after 7:00 there was quite a crowd waiting to be seated, so go early. Oh, and the prices weren't bad. Will I go back? Yes - but for breakfast. There are lots of other places to have a meal in Portland that are far better than "fine."
(2)sarah m.
By far, the best soul food I have tasted, this side of the Mississippi! Part of the charm of this place is its friendly staff and relaxed feel. The line for a table might be wrapped around the corner, yet your dining experience never feels rushed. I will be dreaming about the Pulled Pork sandwich until the next time I find myself in Portland.
(5)Jen S.
Blackened tofu scramble: YUM. Grits: meh. Biscuit: A-OK. Service: fantastic. Ambiance: loud, but pleasantly so - not so loud that you can't hear your tablemates. Patio seating now open for brunch. This means you. Get there by 8:30am though...
(4)Kari C.
We went on a Thursday night & the wait was only about 15 minutes. Now to the best part of the night - THE FOOD!!! I had the screen door plate (you pick any 3 sides you want) I had catfish, Mac -n-cheese & roasted cauliflower. The Mac-n-cheese was AMAZING & a must order. My husband was hesitant to order the fried chicken because he didn't want to deal with the bones but he was pleasantly surprised when his meal showed up & the chicken is boneless. I'm sure glad he ordered the chicken (which comes with 2 huge pieces). The fried chicken was hands down the best thing on our table - YUMMY!! Next time ill order chicken with Mac-n-cheese. There are not many places you can get an appetizer, 2 huge meals & 2 drinks for under 50 bucks. This place rocks & I can't wait to go back.
(5)Khoa N.
Food was yummy, and the portion was pretty large. It's a dog friendly place where you can let your pet buddy chill with you out in the outdoor patio.
(5)Henry K.
I had to wait so long for dinner. Probably waited more than 45 minutes. I also had to wait about 30 mins for food after seated. This place requires lots of patience. But I had amazing fried chicken and mac and cheese. It was pretty good and enjoyed a lot. I would probably come back here for brunch later, but I'm not sure I can wait this long again.
(4)Kelly N.
Quality food and attentive service. Pretty much ALWAYS a wait to get in however.
(4)Sabrina M.
Holy Jambalaya! I'm not a huge fan of southern food but this place is on another level. Me and my boyfriend each ordered a Screen Door plate and shared the six dishes. It was enough for a table of four. Make sure you go with an empty stomach. It was my first time trying both catfish and gumbo and well, I guess I AM a fan of southern food now, thanks to the Screen Door!
(5)Jeff W.
Had to wait for 30 min at 7pm on a Tuesday night, but my was it worth it! First time eating Catfish, Jambalaya, and Gumbo... It was so good. We could not eat everything, but I'm looking forward to the leftovers :)
(5)Stephiee L.
Screen Door is a very famous place for breakfast and brunch in Portland; be ready to wait in line. We arrived at 11am and waited for an hour to get our table. Everything on the menu was tempting! When I read it, I wanted to order multiple dishes just for myself. However, by the time I looked around and saw how big the general food portion was, I immediately turned my idea down. That's why it was extremely tough for us to pick the following dishes out of the menu: Cornbread with Crème Fraiche (side) Given that we had been starving for more than 3 hours, we cleared the cornbread in 5 minutes. The soft crème was a great complement with the cornbread. The side syrup was really amazing too! I recommend saving the rest of it for the chicken waffle. Chicken Waffle, $14 Here is nuclear bomb!!! It tastes soooooooo good!!! It is Screen Door's signature dish and almost every table ordered one. There are three gigantic pieces of buttermilk battered fried chicken on top of the sweet potato waffle. For every bite, I tasted the special seasoning in the chicken and how crunchy it was, not to mention the waffle and the maple syrup. Don't forget the cornbread syrup! Dipping it with the chicken waffle simply took my soul to another level! Jared's Croque Madame, $12 Four words to describe it: The Best Sandwich Ever! Ham, poached eggs, and sourdough. Each ingredient just did their job right! The raw egg yolk softened the toasted sourdough, the ham added flavor to the sandwich; the mustard mornay sauce made the entire thing stand out! The mustard was the most amazing thing here. It totally surprised me! Red Velvet Chocolate Pancake Er...that stack of dark red pancakes didn't look as attractive as other dishes we had had. But my perspective changed once I started eating. I could smell the light red velvet flavor. When I chewed it, I tasted the chocolate chips! The cocoa sensation came out in the moment! ROAR! Screen Door totally blew my mind. Excellent food in big portion at reasonable price - what else do you want? The chicken waffle was just $14 but the satisfaction was worth more! Screen Door pride themselves of serving the best southern food in Portland. Well, if they are not the best, who else? who else? Pictures can be found on my blog: stephieedreams.wordpress…
(5)Kelly M.
Have been to Screen Door several times for both brunch and dinner. The fried chicken at either meal is unbelievable. I like to arrive 30 to 60 minutes before brunch starts to wait in line. The worst case scenario is arriving right as brunch starts - you won't get seated right away, but everyone in line in front of you will have all been seated at the same time, so you essentially have to wait for everyone to finish their meals. They have a great bar and it's fun to sit at the bar as well, although the seating is a bit tight.
(5)James L.
We visited on a weekday morning, with no wait in sight. We had the chicken and waffles and the chicken biscuit sliders. Both were excellent, very hearty portions. The fried chicken and the biscuits and gravy were great. I was pleasantly surprised by the praline bacon. Despite my love of bacon, I often do not like candied bacon. However, this wasn't overly sweet and had a ton of pecans on it, which I love. I'd tell you to share something when you visit because the portions are so big, but it's hard to decide for first time visitors.
(5)Betty W.
yuummm. Every time I have visited screen door I have had a long wait to get a table. However, there are a lot of shops and bars around so its not too bad because you can find things to entertain you. The food is great and reasonably priced, I also enjoyed the drinks that they have as well. The food here is very rich and filling. I would recommend a visit.
(4)Mindy B.
Yes, the buttermilk chicken is amazing. I got the screen door plate with Cheezy goodness Mac n cheese, delicious saucy white bean salad, and good catfish. The cornbread was only tasted since the other 3 was enough for me.
(5)Amber B.
I have been here 2 of 3 times. I have never been disappointed, however I do not really think the high pricing is right for 'gourmet' fried chicken
(3)Iris Z.
BRING EAR PLUGS! The noise level in this restaurant is deafening! I can't really comment on the food or the service because all I could think about was getting out of there as fast as I could. It's hard to enjoy yourself when you can't even carry on a nice dinner conversation.
(1)Shelly T.
Save all your calories for the chicken waffles and praline bacon here its worth it. We came here on perfect weather and there was seating outside in the patio. The servers were so fast and nice. We got our foods right away. We only got one piece if chicken and it was enough for 2 small people. A side of bacon was plenty to share. I could definitely see why this is a Portland favorite. Plan to come back here again next time I'm in town visiting.
(4)Alina P.
Love the fast service. But this is fat boy food. Forget your diet. .I read the reviews and got the highly rated chicken and waffles with praline bacon and eggs. Plus orange juice was not freshly squeezed but still good. I enjoyed the brunch but felt heavy after. Understand that it is big portions. The one in Seattle is definitely better called waffles and chicken. No wifi here so that blows. Sit outside. It's nice.
(4)Geneva H.
I normally write long reviews but I will keep this short and sweet: EAT HERE!!! Is the wait long? Yes. Does the crowd look like extras from the set of portlandia? Yes. Is the volume too loud once you are finally inside the restaurant? Yes. But.... The food is so good that anything remotely negative you can possibly think of is outshined by the friendly staff, strong drinks, and amazing food. EAT HERE!
(5)travis t.
Good, just don't arrive hungry - the lines run pretty long, especially for brunch. That being said, the chicken and waffles and praline bacon are pretty much the best thing I've eaten.
(5)Amir A.
Two words: Fried Chicken. I might have to change the last restaurant I would like to eat at on my Yelp profile because the Fried Chicken here is so tender, juicy and well seasoned that it tops Roscoe's famous friend chicken in Los Angeles. Since I spent a good amount of time touring the breweries in Portland, I had to ensure that the food here was not a result of me just having drunchies so I came back again and confirmed it. I've found the best fried chicken and its here @ Screen Door.
(5)Jessica G.
Delicious and over the top flavor (and of course calories, yummy yummy calories) in all of their dishes. The service was very good considering how busy they were (and always are). However, about that wait....it is just silly and the host/hostess never seems to be at the front ever. The last time I waited about 15 minutes to put in our groups name and no one even came close to helping me so we left. Not that they "needed" our business- but it will be important when that wait eventually slows down that those not helped will remember that!
(4)Brand N.
Fantastic southern-style cooking, and comfortable, bustling setting.
(4)James K.
Had an excellent experience. The outdoor seating was decent. I had the Chicken and Waffles, which was probably enough food for 2. The Pecan Pie was single-serving and was decent, not too sweet but not very exciting. Looking forward to coming back.
(4)John G.
You need not shop anywhere else, this is a great service. They do what they say they will and exceed all expectations. We had an entire household moved, and not one item had a scratch. Great care and friendly and professional team of movers. Leadership followed up along the way and we were more than satisfied.
(5)Amber G.
This place was worth the hype. We got there about 40 minutes before they opened on a Saturday morning and we were about the 30th people in line. Once we were seated everything moved very quickly. Our waitress was really nice and attentive, and we got our bloody marys immediately. They were delicious. My husband and I split the lemon fritters with blackberry dipping sauce, the cathead biscuit, and the chicken and waffles. We barely made a dent in our food. The portions are HUGE. We will be eating this meal for the rest of the day. Well worth the price and the wait in line. YUM!!
(5)C B.
We had a wonderful meal from Grizzly Tuna. 3 pieces of Tuna and chips. Our meals were enough to fill us up. It was delicious. We will be planning on returning for more. The employees were very friendly and helpful.
(4)Jake D.
Would definitely go back again. I had the special thick cut pork chop. It wasn't the best one that I've ever had but was good. My partner had fried chicken and it was very tasty. We had the chocolate bread pudding which was dry and I would not recommend for dessert.
(4)Michelle D.
Dr Allen is amazing. I just want to thanks him for all the caring and concern that he've shown me. I came to visited him for removing sunspots on my face, but after two treatments, the dark spots seem hard to remove. Dr Allen refund all of my money I paid for it, he said :" you paid me if it didn't work out, we are not accept your money, we just want our customers happy." that was not I expected; he even gave me a free cream of bleaching cream with sunscreens with no charged. I didn't have words to express my appreciation for Dr. Allen then, but I really appreciate his kindness, generosity, patience, and professionalism.
(5)Andre E.
really great food, *beware* portions are huge *beware*
(4)Emily S.
Everything tasted amazing. But...the service is slow. Real slow. The wait was long (which we expected). It all moved like molasses. Be prepared to wait, for everything. They do have coffee while you wait though. Portions are huge, so go hungry or split. Skip the clam po-boy benny and get the bacon hush puppies. The Ramos Fizz was the best I've ever had. Don't miss it.
(3)Jenny Z.
Everything I have ordered here is delicious! It may sound questionable on the menu, but follow your gut! Whenever I go, I usually try to order a Special listed on the chalkboard by the front door because it's an item that's not on the menu and I'm never disappointed! Be sure to arrive 30-45 minutes before opening because there will be a line, but the food ,Sumptown coffee and bloody Mary's are well worth the wait!
(5)Margaret J.
It's been awhile..but I loved Screen door! The wait for food was a little long, but the food we had was amazing. I can see why there's always a line out the door and down the side street. BEST pulled Pork Sammie ever!
(5)Kat W.
I give this place a 4 star rating because their fried chicken was amazing! We also ordered a side of cornbread, fried oysters, jambalaya and their grassfed burger. The cornbread came out cold and dry and their jambalaya was not very flavorful or impressive but rather bland. I had to take away a star due solely to the unimpressive service that we received. Our server Erika was impersonable and never checked back with us once we got our food. She passed by our table many times but completely ignored us. It kind of put a damper on our experience. The food was so good that we are willing to give it another try hopefully with a different waitstaff!
(4)Tina M.
The wait was worth it. The fried chicken and waffles is really good. The chicken was juicy and had great flavor. You can definitely split the meal with someone.
(4)Paul V.
Some of the best mac-n-cheese. Some great fried chicken. A little pricey and wasn't too happy with the wait, but the food was good enough to make me forget it.
(4)Kristal B.
Super wonderful restaurant with creative southern menu options. My party and I all had something different. Fried chicken, shrimp and grits (grits were creamy dreamy), Mac and cheese, hush puppies tomato salad and catfish were all excellent. Limited beer menu but that's okay, tons of other options. Would highly recommend. They open at 530 and already a line at 5 to get in. Would get there early!
(5)Bill M.
Pretty darned good - waiting in line is NOT my favorite thing, but the chow is excellent!
(4)Teresa S.
Just moved here from California. I had a list of places I wanted to go. Screen Door was def. on the top of the list. It was okay.... Wait: no reservations, we got there 30 minutes prior to opening and we were able to get a table. We were pretty far back in line and the last thing you want is the cut off to be Right before you and then you have to wait for the first batch to eat their meal. However, that didn't happen! :) Don't be fooled by the exterior, it looks small but they can fit alot of people!!!! Ambiance: cool, rustic, hipster. You can see the kitchen and they guys working their magic - which was a neat factor. Service: amazing! our waiter was so great. I give props to the waiters especially when they have to be on their A game early in the morning to serve tons of hungry locals and tourists. so good job there! Food: So this is where the 3 stars comes in... I guess I expected alot especially since it was one of the top places in yelp for portland.. and I LOVE BREAKFAST/BRUNCH! We wanted it all - sweet and savory!! There were only 2 of us, so we didn't get the famous Fried chicken and waffle ($14.75). instead, my husband came up with a genius plan to break it down and get the Cathead biscuit sandwich, & praline bacon waffle - those two dishes had the same components that were in their famous dish (fried chicken and sweet potato waffle) - PLUS grits, biscuit and gravy, and praline bacon - ALL FOR THE PRICE OF 2 dishes!! GENIUS!!! 1. Cathead biscuit sandwich($11.75): We asked to put the gravy on the side because we wanted to taste their famous fried chicken. it was okay... i've had better fried chicken. there were no sparks when i dug into it that you would expect with a mouth watering southern fried lip smacking chicken. the biscuit and gravy was good. The grits... i've had better. 2, Praline bacon waffle($8.75): its such a pretty dish. however, I couldn't taste the sweet potato flavor in the waffle. Im korean, and we love sweet potato. I know that the taste is usually subtle especially when you bake it but you could have just called it a regular waffle. I thought it was me so i asked my husband and he felt the same. We even put the waffle together with the fried chicken and it was just okay. The praline bacon was the star of the show - it was good!! I didn't end up finishing my plate, just the bacon... 3. Bloody Mary: husband got it. He said it was tasty. :) Overall: I'm glad I tried it. It was good.. it wasn't bad, but I don't think this would be on my list to take visitors. I think its always great to try it though... but kinda overrated. sorry screen door. I wish I would have loved you... :( Great staff though and very efficient!!!
(3)Paul P.
Before coming here, I heard that this place is the best place for fried chicken in Portland. Verdict: It's pretty darn good. The portion is huge, and it comes with an awesome side of collard greens. The crispiness of the chicken is just perfect, and the chicken itself is super moist! I also had the grits as an appetizer. And, let me just say, that this is probably one of the best grits I have ever had! It has so much flavor, and the bacon just gives it that extra oomph! Some other amazing dishes: Gumbo, and Mac & Cheese. The crispy top of the mac and cheese is just crazy good. It's so creamy, cheesy and delicious. I will say that this is probably one of the best mac 'n cheese I've had as well. The reason why I didn't give it a full five stars is because of the cornbread. I know, I know. It's a pretty lame reason, but I love cornbread. I was a bit disappointed because it was dry and pretty flavorless. But then again, I'm a fan of sweet cornbread. The cornbread at Screen Door is just very plain. As for the wait - we got there at around 5:15 on a Monday for dinner. The line was around the block, but once they opened at 5:30, we were seated within minutes. I heard the lines get pretty crazy for brunch on the weekend, but I haven't been there for brunch yet. I hope to make it the next time I am in town. Overall - this place is great. Friendly staff and awesome food. Just remember to get there early.
(4)Jason F.
I don't really get why people are willing to huddle outside in the cold and rain to get into this place. The brisket was fatty, the chicken was good but not great, and the mashed potatoes were nothing to write home about. The wait time to get in was long, and the wait time for the food to get to the table was even longer. Russell Street BBQ has better brisket, better fried chicken, and better sides, and they don't make you wait forever.
(3)Regina I.
So, I have to put it out there or I wouldn't be true to my reputation of telling you how it really is. I'm not really sure what happen this morning when we went to breakfast at 8:20 am . There was maybe 5 tables tops inside there restaurant when we arrived and sat down . We ordered by 8:30 and man we waited and waited and waited till 9:15 when our food started rolling out and can I tell you how pissed I was that I had to wait another 15 for my pancakes. Now normally, if you are having issues with the batter or the grill you inform the patron that "dog nabit " we have a snafu! However, that was not the case . First of all if you cannot bring my entire breakfast altogether then don't bring me my breakfast. Also don't just act like nothings is wrong, because that pisses the customer off even more. I actually had to say to the waitress " now I know your not going to charge me for these pancakes when they come? She sort of shrugged and said ok! Now, screen door has always had exemplary service and some of the best waiters and waitresses in the city of Portland. So today it was a little questionable to say the least ! Food of course is great but you all need to be real with your patrons when things go a little wonkie in the kitchen! I digress....
(2)Denise M.
Food was amazing. Had the rockfish sandwich. Sooooo good. We are form california and will for sure come back next time we come for a visit.
(5)Jessica K.
Just ate there today and I have to say I was so disappointed! To be fair, the boyfriend really enjoyed the food, but said he'd never go again because of the wait (2 hours). The boyfriend ordered the chicken and waffles, I ordered the corn beef hash because it was the only things that came with any vegetables and we ordered hush puppies for his 4 year old. We also ordered the bacon praline, deep fried oysters, a golden waffle and a bloody mary. We put our name on the list and was told it would be about an hour and a half but waited just over two hours. We ordered and our food came out after our neighbors, who were sat much later than us, had finished their food. They even commented to us, "What did you order? Why haven't you gotten your food yet?" The fried oysters and bloody mary were okay. Nothing super special. My corned beef hash was awful, the horseradish sauce that covered everything but the eggs was so heavy and did not taste like horseradish-- I could not finish it. The eggs were good, but they're eggs. The golden waffle was not special-- I was expecting a crispy-on-the-outside, hot and soft-on-the-inside, thick waffle, but I received it warm and the edges were not crispy at all. I tried my boyfriend's fried chicken and I could see why people might like it, it was crunchy and a little spicy-- but not for me. The praline bacon was too much for me, too sweet, too greasy, too salty. The hush puppies were just greasy. The only thing I did not try was the sweet potato waffle. I really hated my entire experience, but it might be because this kind of food is just not for me-- very heavy, greasy, and uninteresting. Two stars instead of one for the (as) gracious (as can be) hostess (who has the most stressful job, I'm sure. Hungry, impatient people staring at her waiting for her to say their name.) and because my boyfriend liked it.
(2)Brittany H.
Confused?? The hype on this place is unreal and I can't figure out why. We waited for 2 hours for sub par food and terrible service.
(1)Linda B.
Best Southern comfort food and drink in PDX. The fried chicken is off the hook! The mashed potatoes should be illegal. The wait is long, but I am no protester where this level of Southern goodness presides.
(5)Mike W.
Possibly the best breakfast place I've ever been to. Everything we had was delicious and everything else coming out of the kitchen looked spectacular.
(5)Kim N.
this is one of those places that everyone recommended. Bartenders, servers, even the guy at the rental car agency. They also warned of the massive wait times. So we went right before they closed on a weekday. It was still crazy packed though we were lucky to squeeze in. Got a two piece chicken and waffles plus a sode of the praline bacon. Man that stuff is huge. It caught the eye of our dining neighbors. Guess we ordered well. Solid chicken and waffles with hearty portions. The bacon was a good porky foil to the crispy chicken and carbs of the waffle. Service was good but even at the late hour you could tell they were somewhat slammed. If you like comfort style soul food, this is definitely a must hit. 4.3 stars
(4)Petra E.
Best darn fried chicken in town.
(4)Derrick R.
Sweet potato waffle was no joke. Amazing texture and an abundance of favors. Staff was very friendly, overall an amazing experience worth waiting for.
(5)Andy S.
Bacon is delicious start with that. I only give it 4 stars and not 5 because my banana foster french toast was a small portion size. I wish it was larger. Aside from that it's a great place and highly recommend it.
(4)brandie d.
We had a good server. We waited about an hour on Saturday afternoon. The fried chicken was great, and I consider myself an expert (don't laugh)! Hubby said grits were creamy. Teen son liked the banana French toast.
(4)Liam W.
This place is killer! The migas were awesome, the chicken and waffles maybe the best I've ever had. Staff, coffee, and ambiance were great too. The wait is long, but it's completely justified.
(5)Jack C.
Excellent, excellent food...and the service is usually pretty decent. I hate, hate, hate the wait, and there have been many times I haven't gone when I've driven by and seen the line out the door and around the corner. As a matter of principle, I see no reason to wait 45 minutes or more with several other excellent alternatives nearby.
(5)wade h.
it was so-so
(3)Chelsea M.
This place is amazing! Growing up in the south I have very high expectations for fried chicken and "soul food". This place blew me away it was SO delicious! It will have a long wait but is WORTH IT! We got the fried okra as appetizer and asked for ranch to dip it in. Their ranch is very strange and seems like they put too much of one ingredient in. I couldn't pinpoint it. We shared the fried chicken with Mac and cheese. It was so much food that between the both of us we couldn't finish. Whenever I'm back in Portland I will most definitely stop by here again for some delicious fried chicken!
(5)Karen I.
We ordered the Chicken and Waffles, there were 3 of us, and it filled us up with left overs.
(4)Jessica T.
I love Screen Door. My SO and I go every chance we can get, though it is an investment of time and patience to get a seating. Also - we go for dinner. I've never been for brunch. I don't have patience for the lines to get breakfast in my hometown. I just don't. So - think dinner when you read my review. If you have heard about screen door, you know the food is amazing and get the Fried Chicken. Blah blah blah - it is amazing and worth some patience and an open wallet. My review is entirely about seating, staff, and ambiance. Seating: The first rule of Screen Door - is you don't talk about Screen Door. If you do talk about it, it will be even harder to get seated after 6. :-) Go an hour before the first seating for dinner (or Sunday brunch). Yes, an hour. Go over to a bar or coffee shop nearby with a direct view of the line situation and get a drink. When the line starts to creep up to about 10 people, go get in line. STAT. You need to be IN LINE when the door opens, but not farther back than the end of their building to get seated on first seating. If you don't do that, you should wait an hour after they open and then go wait. You'll be in the rotating tables by then and less painful, but don't be starving when you first get there. If you are one of those people who can't plan, you'll be waiting, so keep that in mind. Oh - there IS a list. Get in the door and get your name on it when you get there if you are after the first seating. Ambiance: SD has been open for a few years, but still keeps it's original cool. The atmosphere is southern - almost gamey steampunk but toes the line well of remaining socially appropriate for all who enter. You can take Grandma here and your picky friend from out of town and still have a nice time. It's loud, so don't try to be romantic unless you get to sit on the patio. It's good for dates, but only if you're into being a little chill and having fun having a nice meal. Its Southern Food, if you aren't into that when you go, maybe just don't go. You'll write a crap review and ruin it for everyone else. Staff: Always stellar. Once in a while it can take a bit for them to get to you again after first pass, but that's rare. They seem to know how to keep everyone happy, tables attended but not overly-so (nobody wants to be smothered) and extremely friendly. No - you do not have to get your own water as has been so chic lately. I friggen' hate that. I expect to get water at a bar, but not when I'm willing to tip big for a nice meal. I appreciate Screen Door for keeping up on the hospitality. PS: The Bartenders know what they are doing. An Old Fashioned is a perfect Old Fashioned. In short - go for a very nice time and be patient. They do have little markers on the menu for things that are GF and Veg. The Seasonal Menu list is my favorite to order from because the seasonal fare here is abundant and interesting - staying to the theme.
(5)Fawn W.
Be prepared to wait...a long time...but the food is delicious! The fried chicken sandwich in a biscuit (not as good as Tilt but pretty fantastic) and the shrimp and grits are what we ordered. Both were stellar. Most people we saw were ordering the chicken and waffles, and they very well could be the best thing on the menu, but the portion size was for a caveman so we passed. But if you've got someone to split the plate with...get it!
(5)Amanda T.
Southern food done right in the middle of Portland?Yes! You indeed have a bloody winner! The biscuits and gravy are brilliant and the bacon is the sweet crunch craving you always wanted for breakfast! #winning
(5)Huyen N.
During our short visit to Portland, my husband and I only have enough time for one brunch so we picked screen door. We showed up 20 minutes prior to openning time and was able to get one of the last tables available after openning. Crowded place and a bit tight. I'm not sure if service was a bit slow and unfriendly because they were so busy during their openning time but I was getting antsy waiting to get my orders in, drinks, and food. Maple Praline Bacon: bacon with maple and coat with nuts. It was good but I've had better and felt that the bacon can be a bit more crisp. 4/5 Waffle and Chicken: Giant pieces of chicken (3) on top of a waffle. It was quite intimidating when the plate arrived. Crispy chicken, however, it was a bit bland and dry. The waffle was good but nothing special. 3/5 Farm Grits: warm and savory cheesy grits with poached eggs on top. I found the extra giant piece of ham in the plate a bit distracting. I think if it was a thicker ham chopped into smaller pieces would be easier to eat. I think the big piece of ham is a bit too much for the dish. 3/5 Bloody Mary: yum! 4/5 I think it was good enough food but not good enough to wait and definitely not a 4.5 stars.
(3)Andrew N.
I'm from Texas and this is the best southern place I've tried upon visiting Portland. The fried chicken, baked mac and cheese, and hush puppies were all really good! I'd recommend trying this place for anyone who likes to spoil their stomach. #foodalwayswins
(4)Olivia L.
It's my first time to write a Yelp review and the honor had to go to Screen Door! The chicken and waffles are awesome!!!! Best I've had anywhere!
(5)Mabel T.
Quite possibly one of the best brunches I've ever had (and I go out for brunch A LOT!). This place is a great blend of good ole' Southern cuisine and the freshness and sustainability of local Portland produce. They even serve the locally brewed Stumptown coffee!! We ordered: 1) chicken and waffles -- OMG. humongous portion! (just look at the pic I uploaded). i barely ate half and was stuffed! 3 HUGE chicken breasts were juicy. And the breading they use has a slight spicy kick to it, which paired really well with the sweetness of the syrup and waffle. 2) chicken apple sausages and praline bacon -- also yummy. Only 2 slices of both (but thick) so not quite worth the money IMO. 3) corned beef hash -- i only had a bite or 2 of my friends, but it was enough to know that this was totally gonna be what i ordered next time. corned beef was very tender and juicy with a great mix of potatoes and other vegetables. The wait is usually more than an hour from what I've heard, so get there early!! We got there about 10 minutes before it opened at 9 a.m. and there was already a good sized line. But we only waited about 30-40 minutes for a table. Service was also good. My water and coffee were always filled.
(5)Clare M.
Why don't they have restaurants like this in the south? Southern comfort food is dying to the likes of big box chains in the south...at least I know I can depend on good ol PDX to remind me what I've been missing from my childhood. First, the drinks. The drinks were phenomenal! I started out with a mimosa, which was a little on the small side but very good. After that I was a little envious of one of my friend's drink so I ordered up one for myself. It was a Ramos Gin Fizz....holy....just..wow! I LOVED that drink. I also had a sip of Miss Orian I's bloody mary as well and it was damn good too. Now for the food....I got to try a little of everyone's and my favorite would have to be the oyster benedict! I opted for the egg sardou and it was good as well. Mac M decided on fruit and grits (boring!!!) but then finished off my leftover grits. The grits were amazing. And cheesy. Ben got the fried chicken and waffles and it was fantastic as well. I kind of like this communal meal sharing thing we had going on, tasting everyone else's food was cool. I'll definitely be a repeat customer here, I hope they keep doing everything the way they are now because it is pretty darn good!
(5)John S.
Wonderful food and friendly, attentive service. Don't let the long lines outside for the weekend brunch scare you away. It's definitely worth the wait. The chicken and waffles combination is superb. Ask for the cathead special. Roasted feline. Just joking. The cathead, named because it's about that big, is a large piece of fried chicken smothered by two sides of a gravy and bathed in gravy. Delicious.
(5)Stacey M.
I love to try new places. Had a craving for mashed potatoes and had heard this place was amazing. I wasn't disappointed. I had the fried green tomatoes for an appetizer and the pork chop special (maybe a little weird to order at a restaurant but SO worth it) with mashed potatoes and green beans for dinner. There were plenty of other things on the menu that I would have loved to try. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Suzi P.
Good lord this place is heavenly. My boyfriend and I stopped in for Sunday brunch at the urging of our Seattle friend who raved about the chicken and waffles. Now, I'm not a big waffle fan, and my boyfriend's not big on fried chicken, so we didn't end up ordering this dish. We did however, see that everyone around us DID, and we marveled at the sheer size of this much buzzed-about menu item. Basically, we didn't even order any of the house specials (we went with veggie omelets), and the food still exceeded our expectations. Our food was fresh, piping hot, and bursting with flavor. Based on our experience and the rest of those on Yelp, I'm convinced you can't go wrong with anything you order at the Screen Door. And yes, the weekend brunch line is horrendously long (we waited around 40 minutes on Sunday at 11am), but it is totally worth it. I'd eat here again in a heartbeat.
(5)Jennifer L.
Yes, I'm a foodie and I recommend this restaurant. The food was excellent: crispy fried chicken, collard greens, smooth mashed potatoes, delicious gravy, sweet iced tea and to top it off, very dog friendly. The waitstaff refilled our iced tea and brought the food piping hot. I had a wonderful experience. Note: Whatever else ordered, add the fried chicken.
(5)Stephanie L.
I'm visiting Portland for the first time and saw the reviews about this place and they are all true. Best breakfast I've ever had! Super cute ambiance and great service. Can't wait to come back!
(5)Matthew F.
This place was fantastic! I got a steak and my girlfriend got shrimp and grits. They were both perfect in every way. I also got a Rhett Butler cocktail, with which I was very very happy. My only complaint was the long wait and lack of waiting area.
(4)Vincent V.
This place is amazingly good with sizeable portions. I had the Griddlestack Burger with bacon and a fried egg, the girlfriend had a plate of drumsticks, mac and cheese and mashers w/gravy. No complaints at all! Best comfort food joint I've been to in Portland!!!
(5)Patrick S.
For the low, low price of $19.95 you too can enjoy the privilege of waiting in a line with the sweaty bridge-and-tunnel set for longer than it takes to get the new iPhone in order to taste some pretty adequate chicken! Honestly, it's totally fine. It's decent. It's just not special, but the Soviet-like lines you'll have to endure to taste it are.
(1)S W S.
Our new Best For Breakfast go-to spot. So good you may have to wait a little for a table even on a weekday. Do not despair! The food /service is worth the wait. Our group of 6 ordered praline bacon waffles, chicken biscuit sandwich, and veggie frittata. Everything was delicious and then some. Ask for Brooke to serve you she is patient, efficient and a cutie. We will be back soon.
(5)tony j.
I love fried chicken, and so I love this place. I simply can't contend with the wait very often. Lining up for brunch to go over cliff of of max calories with a bunch of other lemmings is only possible for me once in a great while. Instead I will hunt for my fried chicken in other places or continue my quest to perfect it at home.
(4)Manny V.
This is a late review. We dined here over a week ago but I can truly say "that was an awesome brunch." The wait was long but what do you expect from such a popular place AND we were a group of 10. We were glad that we even got seated in one group. It was comforting to see that the choices were well labelled for some of our allergic diners. One had soy and gluten restrictions, and another had peanut and nut restrictions. Despite that we still had a wonderful breakfast. They had wonderful pancakes and waffles with different variations. The brunch was great and the servings were gigantic. It was too long ago for me to recall what we specifically had but rest assured I know I would love to come back if I were to visit Portland, OR again. Highly recommended.
(4)Sasha S.
As a vegetarian (well, Pescatarian) it is always a task finding a GREAT place that I too can enjoy! I tried this out for the first time for Brunch recently and I was highly pleased!! We had a big party BUT the wait wasn't long! I was absolutely pleased with the quality of my food! I kept asking for syrup though, but in her defense, it was 12 of us and she might have been overwhelmed. She was so sweet about it though and apologetic. The mimosa was also great but the waffle....OMMGGG, fluffy and so flavorful...mouth is watering as I type! Vegetarians: try the veggie sausage. You get THREE morning star round sausages (original; not spicy). The portions are generous and for that, I'm thankful
(5)Rebecca B.
As all say - great food and the line is a good chance to practice patience and visit with friends - make it an outing!
(5)Chris Z.
I have had both breakfast and dinner with no complaints! Meals, sides and drinks all satisfy the taste buds right. I suggest trying something new every time, step outside the box and if you are with other people, mix it up and share..
(5)R A.
The food and service was great. You have to try the bacon with the nuts on it. Everything else on the menu was great we ordered various items. The breakfast sandwich was the one item that was not that great, I would suggest passing on that item.
(5)Ruth K.
Best meal in Portland!!! The hype is verified with deliciousness. Yuuup. Please order the fried chicken. It's amazing!! I love that it's boneless; easy eats = happy me Crispy but not oily. Juicy but not fatty. Seasoned perfectly, not too salty. WOW! The mashed potatoes. ON POINT Baked beans. FINISHED THE WHOLE BOWL Mac n cheese. PERFECTLY CREAMY Coleslaw. REFRESHING Cornbread. CLASSIC!!! Get the screen door plate to try a bunch of their sides. Their sides are amazing!!! (obvi) Service wasn't amazing as you would expect from a restaurant with a southern vibe... But no complaints because the food made me too happy to care. I will definitely be constantly thinking about this meal... Until then, drooling over pictures will do
(5)Steve N.
Had to give 4 stars for the ridiculous wait but the food was amazing! Best chicken and waffles I've ever had. Since the weather wasn't too bad when we had to wait outside, I would say it was worth the wait.
(4)Rachel F.
Came for dinner because it was open late on a Saturday. Busy and fun atmosphere and the food was delicious. Portions are definitely not skimpy, either. Our table split the starter shrimp and grits, buttermilk fried chicken, cornbread, and sweet potato fries. Chicken was a little too peppery, but everything else (including the Rhett butler I ordered) was amazing.
(5)Mark O.
Portland, day 5, stop 1, brunch. 100+ person line before opening. Get there 45 min early. Breakfast sausage Corndog - 2/5 Lemon ricotta fritters - 2/5 Biscuit and sausage gravy - 3/5 - Passable biscuit, pretty good gravy with lots of sausage. Praline bacon - 5/5 - Oh man, the bacon. It is unbelievably good. Covered entirely in glaze and chopped nuts this dish was the best brunch item I had this entire trip. Cornmeal griddle cakes - 3/5 Banana fosters French toast - 4/5 Fried chicken and waffles - 4/5 - Chicken is moist and nicely fried. Batter could have a little more flavor. Waffles were good and had a slight taste of cinnamon. If I were to come back I would order the praline bacon side as well as the praline bacon waffle. Overall, the bacon is "as good as it gets."
(5)Noah L.
They do an excellent fried catfish. Also love their slaw.
(4)Kalia K.
Saw the great yelp reviews and heard great things, had one night in Portland, so figured we'd get some southern deliciousness. I should preface this with I am the first to pay a compliment, I don't live my life complaining lol. I don't get the hype and rave reviews of this place... We were told it'd be a 45 minute wait. In my experience (I'm a bit of a foodie) restaurants overestimate this so as not to upset customers, but usually you're looking at a 30 minute wait, 45 tops. We checked in s couple of times, "to be honest I don't know, the sooner I can seat tables, the sooner I can get to you." So gonna back off. Well we noticed tables seating who came after us (most everyone waits in the street outside). Decided we had to see what's up...totally skipped over us! The host claimed she yelled our name several times and even spelled it. Maybe you did that inside, but definitely not outside...anytime she'd come outside we'd all listen closely to make sure. She sat us at the next open table. We had an awesome waiter, phew! To try to make up for it, we were given hush puppies. Nice gesture, but honestly it just would've been better to offer an appetizer on the house so we could pick which one. The special fried green tomatoes sounded delish, but would've been too much to get both. Hush puppies were tasty, but just not my thing. We order the pork shoulder and the screen door plate (greens, mac n cheese, gumbo), and added on a side of chicken wings. Where to start. Greens were awesome, ham hock, well cooked, great flavor! My sons fav. Mac n cheese was eh. I didn't care for it, my son (he's 21, and a chef) thought it was okay, but agreed mine is way better lol! Pork shoulder was delicious, my fav. But it was served over corona beans, bad choice. I didn't mind the beans themselves, just didn't go well with the meat and seemed out of place. We felt confused. Gumbo was average, nice kick to it. If you've never had soul food, you'd prolly think this was amazing and start your love affair with the ever so unhealthy but oh so delicious southern comfort food!! Too bad we had one of the worst dining experiences, just left a sour taste in my mouth! You steered me oh so wrong with this one Yelpers!! Sad. Face.
(2)Charmaine S.
I finally decided to try Screen Door! We came here for dinner on a Wednesday night and accidentally got there before they opened...luckily we did because a line started to form. We sat at a nice booth but after dinner gets into full gear (by 6pm) it starts to get hard to hear the other person. But that's okay because I was focused on the awesome food anyways! We started with hush puppies and they were delicious along with the jelly it comes with! I had the combo plate with fried chicken wings, Mac & cheese, and gumbo. I loved the macaroni and cheese, which is surprising for me. We got the ban-offee pie for dessert and it was fantastic as well! Only thing is that our server wasn't too talkative with us, didn't seem to interested in us as a table. I guess it's hard to talk to your table with it being a small restaurant and kind of loud, but she almost had that hipster/I hate my job feel. Still a lovely place, can't wait to come back!:)
(4)Sheri F.
Snowflake Ice Cream Riverhead,NY
(5)Joe T.
I realize there's so much hype about this place, but it's warranted. The fried chicken is tender and juicy, and the skin is light and crisp. This stuff is good. GOOD. And that's without even mentioning the sweet potato waffle... For 3 large cutlets, the price is pretty good too. BBQ brisket hash was solid. Your only real consideration for Screen Door is whether you're willing to wait the 30-40+ minutes to be seated.
(5)Sam K.
We got seated fairly quickly, which was great considering the place was packed. By the time we left there were a lot of people waiting outside. But we didn't feel rush while we ate inside. Started off with the Glazed Breakfast Hushpuppies... it was OK. Although it says smoked cheddar and bacon, I didn't really get a whole lot of flavour. The Heuvos Ranchero special was tasty and they gave a lot of meat. This was also the half order. Texas Veggie Migas was the best. The scramble was tasty. Luckily there was a lot of it, which I shared with my group. I enjoyed the cheddar grits, but after tasting the regular grits, I like that a bit better. The Buttermilk Biscuit Sliders with Pimento and Bacon was good and big. Along with the pancakes which were good, but nothing too special. The dining area is big, but they cram a lot of tables in there. So expect a tight fit trying to get to the front door, after eating all of the good food.
(4)P B.
Good for occasional visits, but if you care at all about your health, you will not make this a regular place to eat.
(3)victoria t.
The best fried chicken ever! It was worth the long wait. Even at 8 pm on a Monday night, the wait was 45 minutes long. But the chicken was cooked to perfection, crispy on the outside, just enough breading, and succulent. Skip the fried okra. It was so salty I couldn't taste the okra.
(4)Shelly W.
Last visit... Not that great... Had grits with ham, eggs and the special veggies of the day....veggies were way over cooked.... Mushy and terrible!
(3)Jenna R.
I am NEVER disappointed when I eat at the Screen Door. All of their food is mouth wateringly delicious!
(5)Jessi M.
My roommate and I sat at the bar and had wonderful service. The stumptown coffee was delicious and the food was amazing. We shared one savory dish and one sweet dish for brunch. Screen door has an interesting menu that puts a new fresh spin on classic dishes. Well done Portland.
(5)Eunice R.
This place never disappoints! Always a tasty brunch that is worth waiting an hour for! You can't go wrong with the fried chicken and waffles, banana foster French toast or fathead biscuit sandwich. Also a MUST try is the chicken apple sausage.
(5)Xiao Z.
This restaurant came up so frequently during my initial Portland restaurant survey that I was afraid it may have been another voodoo donut equivalence, especially since I don't eat fried chicken...or waffles...or brunch. However, do not let my predetermined biases cloud your beliefs as I think Screen Door is ultimately a great, and fairly inexpensive brunch experience. Disclaimer, I've never really been to the South, nor had I had really amazing fried chicken, so I have nothing to really compare to. My GF and I came here on a weekday, at around noon, hoping we would hit that sweet spot between brunch goers and late lunch grabbers, but alas, we were still a bit early by about 1 hour (1pm seems to be the sweet time to avoid lines). After waiting for about 30 minutes, and feeling like we were being punished for being enveloped in the aroma of fried chicken and gravy, we were finally let into the establishment. The waiter was nice, albeit a bit on the succinct side, but explained all of the menu options and the daily special. My GF and I shared the chicken and waffle (two pieces), the okra fritters, and one biscuit with gravy along with the praline bacon slices, accompanied by the $8 bloody mary and $2.5 all you can drink Stumptown coffee. The biscuits came first, sliced in half and drenched in sausage gravy, and while the GF really liked it...I was kinda unimpressed as the biscuit was cold, if it weren't for the warm gravy and it lacked that delicious gooey texture I've come to love in a freshly made biscuit. Also, the cost of gravy is almost twice the biscuit....suspicious. As for the praline bacon, we were given 3 very generous slices, smothered in honey and sprinkled with cayenne pepper and nuts. They were certainly tasty, and I will warn you, they can go down real easy since the sugary coating removes a lot of that greasy sensation. I was really excited for the okra, and we were given a huuuge platter of fried okra pieces that took me the rest of brunch to finish. I would have liked less cornmeal breading on my okra....and actually just eat the okra by themselves, but I can see how others enjoy the entire experience. As for the piece-de-resistance, the chicken-n-waffles...it was alright. The fried chicken was definitely breaded very well, with hints of peppers and spices with an equal savory component to the waffles as well. However, I just wasnt a super big fan. If you plan on sharing, I think one piece of chicken may not feed both people, so please order accordingly (unless you plan on ordering a ton of other fried goodies as well). I very much enjoyed the delicious Stumptown brew and the bloody mary was good, but not spicy enough. Overall, I think Screen Door justifies in their proclaimation as one of the most popular brunch establishments in Portland and would recommend people to check it out, not just out of notoriety, but for their food as well. Food: 4 stars Price: 3 stars Ambiance: 3 stars Service: 3 stars
(4)Tom S.
Best fried chicken I've ever had! The porch swing is pretty tasty too. Always a must whenever I'm in portland! Service is great but its always busy so best make a reservation.
(5)Kathryn Grace T.
When you walk in, it is a very unassuming place with a country feel.There are a multitude of shelves with pickled vegetables in mason jars.There is a bar, a main dining room and an outside patio with picnic style seating.The wait was 45 minutes to an hour but so worth every minute.My husband ordered the fried oyster breakfast po boy and not only did it look and smell incredible it tasted amazing! He ordered a side of fried potatoes instead of cheesy grits, the potatoes were ok and he regretted not ordering the cheesy grits, oh well next time we would definitely come back! My 11 yo daughter ordered the French Toast banana foster, she was more than pleased of what she picked as we're we because we keep on picking on her plate even the cinnamon whipped cream was fresh and home made- it was truly a breakfast sldessert heaven.For myself, I ordered the chicken and waffle.Picture a giant sized Belgian waffle with 3 enormous deep fried chicken breast.The chicken breast was fried to perfection and also had a little heat to it, crispy on the outside and very juicy in the inside couple this with a bite of waffle and some maple syrup then you'll be having some seizures of pure bliss! Parking is ok no problems finding parking. If you don't want to wait in line call ahead and make a reservation but be aware that you won't be seated until all members of your party are present .This place well deserved 5 stars!
(5)Benjamin K.
Average. Not living up to the hype. We were the 2nd or 3rd table to arrive for breakfast, and they were out of one of their signature dishes. As a vegetarian, the other options looked mediocre. Ended up with eggs and toast...woo hoo! Boring. Maybe another time....but it was way to hype vs what was actually served. Server was not inspirational in any way in trying to help me find an alternative or work-around to their chili pepper shortage, which should have been an easy task.
(3)Dan S.
This place is simply incredible. The fried chicken dinner is mouthwatering and delicious. I think it's cute that there are a few hard-nose Southerners giving this place 3 stars claiming it isn't as good as in the South. Drop your pride, it's blocking your taste buds, this place is #1.
(5)Neal S.
They have a fantastic cobb salad.
(4)Bianca C.
I would like to preface that I am from the South originally so we do comfort food like nobody's business. With that being said, don't order an appetizer unless you are a bottomless pit. My husband and I made the mistake of ordering the delicious okra and then found out how large the plate was and both of our individual plates. The portions are large and no matter what you do, there will be leftovers. The fried chicken was delicious, the mashed potatoes extremely light and fluffy, the country fried steak had a corn mix for batter which was different and had a buttery taste to it. I wasn't a fan of the collard greens (too watery) or the gumbo (so bland!). Overall, there are some dishes they do very well and some that leave room for improvement. Prepare for a wait, grab some drinks and enjoy the company around you. The service is great and everyone on staff is friendly so it doesn't feel that bad that you will wait awhile for a table.
(4)Nick B.
The best brunch in Portland, hands down. Yeah, there's always a long ass wait, and for good reason. Just go already! Get anything fried, or a hash, or food, just all of the food. Oh, and a drink. Order like, two spanish coffee's. And a beer for the guy in plaid that is with you. It better be a god damn IPA though! Cause you know that mother trucker doesn't drink a lager in the AM!
(5)Matt A.
Huevos Rancheros is where it is at
(4)Annabelle J.
Yum , yum, yum!! For months everyone said to try this place and we didn't know if we really enjoyed that southern flair on food. We were blown away with how amazing this restaurant actually is. We ordered the hush puppies which were so yummy. Then I had the fried chicken strips (same batter as fried chicken) and a few other items on the menu. The food was fabulous. Try there craft cocktails and absolutely eat the chicken! The atmosphere is easily casual and later back but has a cool Portland flare. Thank you screen door our first time will definitely won't be our last!
(5)Ruben G.
facebook.com/events/1419… An event you never want to attend !! This event was so poorly organized and over priced . They charged $40 for day of the event and had nothing to offer but a hot rooftop parking lot!! Chips,salsa,veggies and pizza in a box!! I heard an announcement that the next poker game was at 6:00pm. Marketing was horrible!!
(1)Johnathan W.
Ok I've been wanting to go here for years but the line is crazy long on the weekend for breakfast, now I know why. Flits a great space for kids (mines 15months old), groups or just a single person. The menu is great and there is something for everyone here and if you don't see something on the menu, like a ham and cheese and spinach omelet, they will make you it. There is no kids menu but they will adapt the portion size for kids which is awesome. When you make sure you order at least 2 orders of the praline bacon. So good you might get diabetes from it, but so worth it!! The portions are amazing and I'm a big guy so that says something when I couldn't finish my breakfast. Price vs values is perfect. You get more than your money's worth!! We can't wait to come back!'
(5)Scott C.
A great Portland spin on Southern Food. A small intimate venue, patrons will often have to wait for a table. It is ok though because their beer selection is good and the food is worth the wait! Grits and shrimp, fried Chicken and Greens!
(4)Jill M.
From the minute that we drove up, I knew that this was going to be n experience. There was a line all the way down the block! People wait in line here for hours and now, I know why. The food is amazing. The hush puppies are excellent and their chicken, WOW. When my husband and I got home from our weekend in Portland we immediately started researching buttermilk chicken and made some. I cant wait to go back!
(5)Arnold P.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, that's some amazing chicken and equally amazing hot sauce. The garlic mashed are so perfect and the greens deserve an award of their own. Hot damn, I need a chicken fix quick...Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!
(5)Rob L.
So finally braved the lines to check out this place for a weekday breakfast. Line goes faster than we anticipated. Breakfast was very good and the chicken n waffles are a must. Service was good and everyone was super nice despite being so incredibly busy. But all in all, there are so many other fabulous places to eat in Portland that it doesn't seem like we will bother waiting in line again.
(4)Jen R.
This is easily my favourite breakfast place in all of Portland. We got here early on a Monday and it was pretty desolate. We sat outside in the cute little patio area and put our order in. Praline bacon, chicken & waffles, and Bananas Foster French toast. We also both got a coffee (Stumptown, yaaaas). Our food came out with no problems and we dug in. GOOD LORD. Everything was so rich and so delicious, there is no way I would have been able to eat here every day. But then again... The praline bacon was so decadent. You'd think that a few slabs of bacon coated in brown sugar and pecans would be sweet but it wasn't that sweet at all. It worked really well together, but man was it rich. The chicken & waffles were excellent. Despite being a born-and-raised Midwestern girl, I consider myself somewhat of an expert on chicken & waffles and these were one of the best versions I've had by far. I was also pleasantly surprised by the sweet potato waffle. I had it by itself and it tasted like pumpkin, which was perfect. My husband's bananas Foster french toast was delicious and not too sweet. It was too much for him to finish and we had a plane to catch so we didn't take it to go. This is definitely on the list of "drop by again" the next time we're in PDX.
(5)Angie J.
I have a confession: for the last few years I believed the hype on this place to be, well, hype. So I avoided it. And I'm a dummy. The food, the drinks, the vibe... Totally deserving of it's reputation. Our portion sizes were enormous, and since everyone at the table ordered different things, we got to sample a lot. The only downfall I would say is the wait for a table. We got there late on a Monday night and still had 45 minutes to stand outside and salivate before getting in. Still, you can have a beer while you wait so not all is lost. Just don't come starving, and you'll be fine!
(5)Mat V.
Hands down, one of the best places in Portland. If you love good southern food, welcome home. The fried chicken is the best i've ever had in my life. Seasoned perfectly, crispy on the outside and still tender and moist in the center. Wonderful staff and incredibly consistently delicious food.
(5)Michael L.
OHHHHH MYYYYY. Deep fried nirvana. The greasy goodness is still leaking from my pores...in fact, I no longer need lube when I'm touching myself and thinking about that fr...fr...friiiiieddd chiiiicken. I just had a food-gasm
(5)Dashiell B.
Rolled in around 10 on a Friday (for breakfast) wrote my name in the weight list and walked next door to grab a coffee. While talking to my family they call our name ( no more than 20-30 mins) Service is friendly, food is affordable, well seasoned and delicious. I'll make it easy. Go here, get anything you want ( chicken and waffles are amazing though ) and get a side of praline bacon. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Asa J.
I want to love it and there is lots of goodness here, but the portions are unnecessarily large and the quality is above average at best. See what I mean. I do not complain about a large portion but with the fried chicken for example it's too much to eat while it's hot and then it turns into a cold mess with everything else on the plate. Also the fried chicken isn't the best to begin with. They make a good sazerac. Gumbo was great. It's worth checking out once or twice but that long line is not representative of what actually happens once you're seated and eating. It's good for a group brunch when the company and conversation can out shine the food.
(3)Billy B.
awesome chicken and waffles, be prepared they are HUGE
(4)Marsha H.
The fried chicken was delicious--crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and only slightly greasy...almost as good as my mother's (high praise, indeed). I would give it 5 stars, which explains my overall rating. However, the biscuits and gravy were an inedible mess with no flavor, despite being full of salt and grease. Biscuits should be small, light, and tender. I am not certain what I was served, but it was not a biscuit. It was an enormous, heavy wad of flavorless yellow something (cardboard?), which arrived at table smothered in gravy. (Note: Gravy is not soup; NO ONE needs a whole plate of it. Come on!) Cream gravy should be light in color and texture, savory with pan drippings (preferably bacon), peppery (black pepper), and served in small quantities, like a condiment. This concoction was heavy, gray, lumpy, too salty, and overflowing the plate. I ate the chicken happily and left the rest. (It is possible that I am being too harsh because I miss my mama's southern cooking, and this was just "different.")
(3)Tom M.
I leave with a full belly and empty wallet. I got the catfish and mac and cheese really good but 14.00 dollars the wife got grits and shrimp she loved them good place .
(4)Jessica L.
This place is probably one of my favorite restaurants of all time. I'll spare you the details and cut to the chase. Wait time: worst part. It was super packed, even at 8:30pm on a Wednesday. We waited 20 minutes for a table but then another 30+ minutes for our food. The food made it ok though. Chicken tenders appetizer: best chicken tenders I've ever had in my life. I eat a lot of chicken tenders. THESE WERE BOMB. We both got a screen door plate, I'll review each part. Mac n cheese: delicious as fuck. Can't say it's the best I've ever had but it's pretty damn up there. Cole slaw: probably the best cole slaw I've ever had. Mashed potatoes: solid, nothing special. Chicken wings and drumsticks: mediocre compared to the appetizer tenders. Catfish: kinda low on flavor. Nothing amazing but good. Overall would highly recommend chicken tenders, coleslaw and Mac n cheese. The chicken plate is probably really darn good, given how good the tenders were. Will try that next time.
(5)Kylar W.
OMG! this place is so good! WOW, you have to come here! Great Service too!
(5)Hannah P.
I love the screen door! I have been here a hand full of times and the food has always been great. I would suggest starting your meal with the wonderful butter lettuce salad. Go with people who will want to share because you will want to try a bit of everything.
(5)Zak W.
Super yummy! I suggest coming on an early weekday morning. The line and wait can get ridiculously long. Also, it takes them a while to get you your food (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), so the wait at your table can be kind of lengthy as well. Main point of this story is to make sure you don't come when you're starving because you will definitely be waiting. About the food... It is awesome!! I got the chicken and waffles, and the people I came with got an order of the biscuits and sausage gravy, and an order of the bacon waffle. The chicken and waffles were soooo good. You have the choice between one, two, or three pieces of fried boneless chicken. I would suggest just getting one piece because the chicken is so large. But if you're feeling super hungry, go for the two or three pieces. The waffle was really great as well and is large. The biscuit and sausage gravy was amazing as well although I would suggest the chicken and waffle over it. And the bacon waffle was good but wouldn't suggest just ordering that because the only meat on the plate is the piece of bacon, but it taste like candy because all the maple and pecans on it. Also, we ordered large mimosas and bloody Mary's. The mimosas are in a full 12oz glass as well as the Bloody Mary. I suggest ordering a Bloody Mary because 1) it was super yummy and 2) most of the food is really sweet so the Bloody Mary balances that better than a mimosa. Overall, this place is a win. Definitely check it out.
(5)Tony Y.
I'm in the camp of this place being overrated. Went on a Tuesday at 11am and so was not as busy as I've read on other Yelp reviews. Took 20 minutes to get seated and another 10 for someone to recognize we were actually there. Daughter had the vanilla French toast with little vanilla flavoring. Wife had the chicken sandwich with Mac'n'Cheese and was happy with her plate. I ordered a basic a la carte breakfast of bacon and eggs, toast and potatoes which came lukewarm but the bacon (crispy) was good.
(3)tatiana p.
Screen door was so delicious! I cannot wait to go back! My boyfriend had the brisket hash which he thoroughly enjoyed. I couldn't resist the banana fosters French toast. I ordered a half portion which was plenty. I think next time I would ask for the maple syrup on the side just so it's not smothered, but I did eat every bite. I also had a biscuit with the veggie gravy to enjoy some savory food in addition to the French toast. The mushroom gravy was amazing! I want to try to recreate it for thanksgiving. My boyfriend loved it too. I would definitely go back to screen door. However, I was very full and needed to take a nap after. Literally, I canceled my plans and took a nap instead. It was worth it though.
(5)Cindy B.
If you haven't been to the Screen Door you are totally missing out! The food is awesome and the staff is so friendly!! So glad they are now open every day for breakfast.
(5)Peter T.
Fried chicken is not even close to the top 5 fried chicken experiences I've had in my life. I only got to choose one restaurant in Portland for a late dinner and I chose here. I guess I'm the idiot, did I really expect fried chicken in Portland to compete with the best places of the south? The sides weren't better, potatoes and gravy were completely average. Also, they should serve their waffles and chicken all day and night, thats the only reason I was eating the potatoes with my chicken instead. Probably won't plan on coming back.
(3)R W.
First visit to Oregon and had to try this place due to the rave reviews! It did not disappoint! We attempted on a Sunday evening and the line had formed before opening. Went back Monday night late and was seated in 10minutes. The food does not come out quick per the disclosure on the menu but is piping hot! Had the shrimp and grits, chicken wings, Mac n cheese and gumbo. The gumbo was not what I expected, had a beefy flavor but everything else was delish! It is very loud inside.
(5)Kate W.
Yum! If you can get over the pain of waiting in line, it's worth said wait. They always have great daily specials and the chicken and waffles are, of course, amazing. Be prepared to go into a food coma post-chicken and waffles, though, as the portion is gigantic.
(5)Michael V.
Best fried chicken anywhere! No bones, not sure how they do it but thank you!
(5)Rose M.
This place gets a top rating for good reasons. We went to the Screen Door on Tuesday night and it was already packed to the gills. We ordered a drink at the bar and were seated just as we were finishing our drinks. I ordered the fried chicken livers, which were perfectly authentic to my memories of fried utopia living in Georgia. The chili sauce was delicious but was better used on the sweet potato fries. My wife and I shared the fried chicken plate with coleslaw, mashed potatoes, and ham gravy. It was good that we sat at the bar, because we demolished everything in front of us and the bartender was our only witness. The chicken was cooked to perfection sans bones and the ham gravy was so good, I just spooned it directly into my mouth. Both of us left so stuffed that we woke up still full this morning. It was like having your southern mom cook you a home cooked meal when you come home from college. I am still thinking about it.
(5)Justine M.
Ah, Portland's beloved Screen Door. The one that everyone has been raving about. In fairness to the restaurant and its rep, I went for dinner. I did not experience THE Screen Door Brunch. That said, surprisingly average. Mint Julep -- I will say, that is a strong-ass drank. If you're looking for some hair on your chest and a DUI on the way home, singe one of these cool refreshing minted explosives down your gullet and start practicing your best breathalyzer copout. There was some sort of cheese pimento appetizer. Think cheese ball. Then think, don't bother. The portions here are so huge. What is to appetize? Don't do it. Also, if you were wondering just how exciting a cheeseball could even get, the answer is, not very. Did not order the fried chicken, but it looked like this would be your money order. Huge portion. Looked perfectly brown. Catfish was good. I'd say above average, but with a flatline pitch to my voice that shouldn't get you out of bed early in anticipation or anything. Mac n cheese was also above average. Pretty good. But this is the city's go to for homestyle southern food. as THE spot . . . I have had better, and they should do better. Corn bread was corn bread. Mashed potatoes probably not the thing to order. They're just, albeit good, mashed potatoes with a dainty little jigger of gravy on the side. Get the greens instead. It's cute that they offer a menu full of light greens as side options. I initially thought this wasn't the sort of thing I'd order at this kind of restaurant, but given the fact that I had leftovers for 3 days, it might be a good idea to pick a side with less coma-i-causing weight to it. All in all. If you want southern food, head south. I'd come back for breakfast if I weren't deathly afraid of the wait time not paying off.
(3)Don F.
Very good food and lovely wait staff.
(4)Jared W.
The chicken and waffles are amazing! The place is always busy and there is usually a wait, but it is one of my favorite places to go for brunch or dinner.
(4)Van T.
I think this place is overrated. We didn't have to wait too long. We ordered the gumbo, chicken n waffle, rockfish sandwich and Mac n cheese. The gumbo and rockfish sandwich was so salty...sheesh. The Mac n cheese was pretty bland. The chicken was salty but then if u eat with the waffle...it may help it a little bit. The service was good...except they forgot my root beer but then I reminded him and he said it was on the house...which was sweet. I do like the setup...casual vibe.
(3)Ryan F.
pretty overrated
(3)Frankie C.
Delicious fried chicken. Even tried and liked the fried catfish... and I hate fish! We lined up 15min before dinner service started, and was able to get a table for eight. Fair price, absolutely delicious food. Server was pretty friendly, but felt slightly rushed... There is a line out the door so I can't blame them.
(5)Melody D.
A very long wait for an ok breakfast...
(2)Emily W.
I think their price for catfish is a little ridiculous and it wasn't anything amazing. I haven't been for brunch because I refuse to wait in line for 3 hours to eat. Is any food worth waiting 3 hours? One of these days I'll try brunch there. Maybe.
(3)Lisa Z.
Super delicious. Stood up to the hype.
(5)patrick m.
It's simple, the food is amazing. Sure it's a bit crowded and there's usually a line, but what else would you expect with food this good.
(5)Erin A.
it feels a bit silly to write a review for an already so-well loved brunch spot, but I finally went here and have to agree that this place is worth the hype. We went to brunch on a freakin' WEEKEND morning here. Wow, crazy idea, huh? They open at 9 am, we were there at 8:50am and there was already a long line around the corner and down the street. It took them about 30 minutes to fill up the restaurant with the first wave of folks lined up, and we JUST missed the cut off. But it was only another 30 min or so after that when we were seated. So a total wait time of about an hour and ten min, which is NOT bad for a weekend brunch waiting time. It would be best to show up around 8:20ish and then you're pretty much guaranteed a less than one hour wait. But then you have to wake up earlier so maybe not worth it to save just a bit extra on the wait time. (I'm thinking way too hard about this..) I had the oyster po' boy, as did my friend. My husband had biscuits and gravy. I don't know what else to say except everything tasted absolutely amazing. Portions are GIGANTIC. I ate most of the po' boy and did not eat another meal that day (I had to eat some snacks but I never felt super hungry again that day!). The oysters were lightly fried but you could clearly taste the fresh oyster flavor quite strongly. The eggs are over medium but jut runny enough to perfectly mix in with the sauce and oysters. The bacon was perfectly crunchy and salty. The service was extremely professional and courteous, quick to keep refills on water and coffee. They know how to handle these kinds of busy mornings and do a great job of manning the tables efficiently. This is so important. Oh god, I wish I could eat it all over again right now but it's a bit of a special occasion that needs a bit of planning ahead to make sure you don't end up with a 2.5 hr wait.
(5)John H.
Fantastic noodles. The chicken was nearly too good. There is no place on Earth that can produce such a great product and experience. My only complaint is that they charge far too little. (Give a BIG tip)
(5)Marisol J.
While the food is definitely good, I think this place is overrated. It's considered by many "the best southern cuisine in portland," but I don't particularly see anything special about it. Really cool atmosphere, service is great and portions are huge but there are other places in Portland I would recommend if it's Southern food you're in the mood for.
(3)Rod M.
Great food!
(5)Billy F.
There is a LOT of great food in Portland. All sorts of cuisines and styles of top notch food here. My list of favorites is a dozen or so. But when someone asks what the best food in Portland, there is no question in my mind. Screen Door and more specifically, Screen Door Fried Chicken (dinner order or with waffles as brunch). The other food, especially the catfish and Mac and Cheese are also wonderful, as is pretty much everything I have ever ordered there, but the fried chicken is life changing. It is perfect each time I go and I crave it regularly. The wait for it certainly can add up. An hour to 1.5 hours seems to be the standard wait for a party of 4 for dinner. Wait for 2 tends to be a bit quicker (30-45). I had convinced myself it is not worth waiting for after not having been away for a year when doing college elsewhere. Nope. Wrong. I'd wait and I do wait, because it is worth it. There is no substitute and time flies when you are drooling, think about fried chicken and seeing the iconic Portlandia that is South East.
(5)Rose U.
Love, love this place!!! i crave the chicken n waffles and will get the waffles w the bacon in it. Anything you order is outstanding.
(5)Adrienne H.
This meal was not worth the hour-long wait. I don't understand all the hype. My server forgot to put our food and drink order in, so not only did I wait for an hour to be seated, but I waited OVER AN HOUR for food. Seriously, an hour and a half for fried chicken on a biscuit with gravy. Could've done it myself quicker. Not only that, but she didn't discount anything. Coming from someone who is a veteran to the service industry, that's unacceptable. I didn't get my drinks until I was done my meal and still paid over $50 for shitty service and mediocre food. I went back and got something to-go a few days ago- I was ready to give them another try. They didn't include napkins, utensils, or the side that came with the food. Definitely never visiting again.
(3)Callie R.
Screen Door is a must if you're in Portland and like southern food. If you already know that fried chicken, collard greens, mashed potatoes, and banana-toffee pie isn't you're thing--Screen Door will likely cause you to reconsider. With that said, this restaurant is a little infamous, with its lines out and around the block it's become a sort of tourist destination. My suggestion, order take out. Get your fried chicken plate to go. Grab a sweet tea while you're paying and waiting for them to box it up for you. Southern comfort food is no less southern and a lot more comfortable when you're not waiting upwards of two hours from arrival to receiving appetizers. If you're dining in, try their cocktails they are just as delicious as you imagine them to be.
(4)Greg L.
This place was incredible. The food was way too good. We decided to completely go off our usual diet and we were glad we did. The fried chicken, catfish and the banoffee pie were probably the best things I have eaten in awhile. Definitely will go back. The wait was a bit, but it was worth it.
(5)Michelle A.
I've heard so many things about this fab place and just had to give it a try for breakfast. I have heard there is always a wait, so we arrived right at 9am. Sure enough there was a long line, but they shuffled us in within 10 or so minutes. We were within the "first wave". Once the place was full, I could definitely see how a wait is probably eminent. Tip #1-Arrive before 9 if you don't want to wait. The ambience was fun, but it was a little cramped and definitely too loud. The prices were decent and the portions were plentiful. I ordered the infamous chicken and waffles and it was delicious. There were 3 perfectly fried chicken breasts on the top of a sweet potato waffle with a knife holding it all in place. The chicken was spicy and a little peppery, and perfectly cooked. The waffle was average, nothing noteworthy. This dish is certainly big enough to share, or if not sharing plan on lots of leftovers. My friend ordered the biscuits and sausage gravy. The gravy was full of flavor and obviously made from scratch. My friend wasn't fond of the biscuits because they weren't really "biscuits". They weren't dense or crusted on top like a traditional biscuit. However, I LOVED them because I am not a biscuit fan and they were definitely different. They were light, fluffy and full of air, reminded me of the texture of coffee cake more than a biscuit. The hot chocolate was real and amazing and the other meals looked equally as delicious. Would I go back? Probably, if I was in the area, but I certainly wouldn't drive that far again unless it was for a special occasion. I think it is definitely one of the better breakfasts in PDX, but I don't think I would crown it the "best". I think that everyone should give it a try at least once. It's definitely got the Portlandia feel for sure.
(4)Kristin M.
My favorite dining establishment in Portland, six years running. They have never disappointed me.
(5)Kiyana K.
This is the best place in town it so good Go there if u like chicken and Mac & cheese
(5)Liberto J.
We had the chicken and waffle, bacon praline, and some other old time brunch faves... all were really delicious!!! The portions are humongous and will definitely fill you up. For the chicken and waffle, you actually got THREE (3) giant pieces of fried boneless chicken breasts... all really juicy and tender! The bacon praline was to die for... the contrast between the saltiness of the bacon and the sweetness of the caramelized sugar, and the crunchiness of the praline made this bacon out of this world... definitely a must try... the wait can be long, but worth it and there is a little local coffee shop next door where you can sit and relax while waiting...
(5)Karin L.
Turn around. Don't look at me!-I'm getting all embarrassed. Gimme a sec? Okay, I'm better now. Whew! (Fanning myself) Things were getting a little racy there, for a second... You see, we all know food is SUPPOSED to be down and dirty. When the food is so damn good, we couldn't care less that we're making THOSE noises at the table. We all know what food CAN be. And then sometimes, we get lucky. (Wink!) Want something to get you started? Try the praline bacon (baked in the oven with maple syrup, cayenne and pecans) or the bananas foster french toast. But my absolute favorite is the Eggs Sardou. Basically, it's Eggs Florentine, but with artichoke heart. Sexy. So good! They're specials are always delicious, and seasonal. And if that strange chicken and waffles thing is YOUR thing? Well, I have heard that it's pretty darn delicious here. Ya weirdo. (Double wink!) The staff is always efficient and friendly, the drinks are delish, the coffee is yummy... and the line sucks, but the food makes it worth it. I just love this place. I take all my out of town guests here, and when they come back to visit, they always want to come back to Screen Door. (And hopefully to visit me, as well.)
(5)Lo G.
Both times I've been here, the food has been fine, once you get it. The long wait to get a seat and finally order and eat takes away from the food experience, frankly. A solid 4 stars for the food dwindles to three stars for the long wait.
(3)Kim E.
Pretty delicious food but damn the wait can be tough. Chicken and waffles are delish.
(4)A K.
HA Poor excuse for Southern food! Everyone raved about it so being from Texas and missing my southern food I had to try it. It was TERRIBLE!!! So disappointed and we will not go back.
(2)Kristina G.
Amazing fried chicken. AMAZING!!!!! Best collard greens I've had in Portland, or maybe ever. Mashed potatoes so flavorful that they didn't need the gravy. Reasonable prices for the high quality and large portions. Great wine list. If you are just a party of 1 or 2, I recommend sitting at the bar. We did that on a Sunday evening and received great service plus the added bonus of getting to watch the bustle of the restaurant and kitchen.
(5)Heather W.
i will start out stating that my opinions of my meal are strictly subjective on my body and taste and chose selection... SO screen door appears to be a bit famous, eh? line around the block for sunday brunch and a 30 minute wait at opening because we were too far back in line and didnt make the first seating. no worries because the coffee house next door is delightful to grab a latte and chill on a dilapidated couch =) the people flock here for chicken and waffles -- and I had never had so of course I had to try! and this is where i state that since Ive never had before, I dont have anything to compare to and will stricting describe on taste: i came...i saw...i wouldnt order the chicken and waffles again. mainly because, it wasnt all that memorable....but maybe quite traditional? the waffle was just really unimpressive. thin, and not crisp at all. the chicken, i will say, was VERY moist and perfectly prepared as delicious fried chicken. i just dont know what all the jazz about chicken and waffles is after this experience...which either says, i dont prefer it or have the experience level to know how well they do it. people seem to love them here. but seriously, that waffle was lackluster. huge portion though... i would share it! we also got a side of bacon, which my friend remembered and very thick cut and to me it was just slices of bacon. if i was to get any, the other more jazzy bacon seems ideal. they have some great specials and other options on the menu. like... bananas fosters french toast!!! i was so close to getting that but had to do the famous C&W. ah well. next time (maybe).
(3)Claire R.
This is one of my top 5 favorite restaurants in Portland. The service is always attentive and friendly (unfortunately a rarity here in Portland) while the food is always delicious, regardless of what dish you order. In addition to amazing seasonal specials and rotating fresh choices, the portions are large and reasonably priced, especially for the level of popularity this restaurant has reached. I definitely recommend Screen Door wholeheartedly. Now that I've been living in Portland for the last year, we go about once a month for a special treat or when we have friends or family in town. I actually did a blog post on the restaurant back when I was still living in Denver: themakeuparchitect.blogs…
(5)Anthony B.
I don't understand the massive hype behind this place. Had we not waited 1.5 hours (which we expected) I probably would have been much happier. But with that much expectation I expected to be wowed with every bite. My buddy and I came here for some brunch after a lovely night out on the town. We saw the massive amount of reviews for this place and decided that it must be worth the wait. We were wrong. It's hard to comment on the decor when everyone is jammed in so tightly and we get crammed into a corner on the patio. The service was ok. About par for the course at such a busy place. Being from out of town the 2 of us shared the praline bacon and hush puppies and each got an entree. The fried chicken and waffles is enough to feed two people easily. We ended up with so much food, which is great if you are a local, but if you are a tourist beware. The praline bacon was strange and frankly a waste of bacon. The hush puppies were actually really good. A dash of crystal and some syrup was the perfect topping for them. The fried chicken was above average but not by much. And I was excited about the prospect of a sweet potato waffle but I couldn't taste the sweet potato. And it was sub par in other aspects. They do make a kick ass Ramos Gin Fizz. Which will cure whatever ails ya.
(3)Robert F.
Been here a few times now. Superb every single time. They are NOT messing around here. Come very hungry and bring your stretchy pants ;) Here's what I've tried: Fried Chicken (duh) (a must have) Boneless, tender and perfectly seasoned Catfish-who knew catfish was so good Jambalaya (better then the Gumbo in my opinion) Gumbo-soso in my opinion but maybe I'm not into Gumbo Cornbread-very savory cornbread and I prefer a little sweeter but its still good Beet Salad-probably would skip next time. Its not that it wasn't good just took up precious room in my stomach for more fried chicken. Collard Greens-eat with a bite of chicken dipped in gravy which they serve on the side and you will pretty much get the perfect bite. Their drinks are Southern fun and I've tired the Scarlett O'Hara and the Mint Julep. They have good local beer on tap and a great selection of Whiskey. Its packed all the time so be prepared for that. You can slide into the bar once and a while without a wait but get in line by 4:30 during busy times or you will be waiting a while. I do wish the restaurant was a little larger so the wait times weren't so crazy or if they took reservations that would be even better. Tip: They do take reservation for parties larger then 6 but you have to call a few days ahead bc there is only 1 or 2 tables that you can get.
(5)Rosalie H.
Amazing chicken and waffles and shrimp and grits. Arrive 30 min before opening there will be a line but worth the wait.
(5)Diane J.
Went here for brunch and loved it. We are practically regulars here! Recently returned from a trip to Nola and missing the southern food and hospitality so decided a visit to screendoor would fix that. We were right! Everything was perfect except for the wait. But can't blame them for that, Portland doesn't mind waiting for quality. Great food, service & atmosphere. We will definitely be back soon.
(5)Captain B.
The food here is incredible. I'm bummed I'm only visiting a short time because there are more dishes on the menu I really want to try out... I really need to try the chicken and waffle next time around. Our waiter was super cool and professional. It's a long wait for brunch, as this is a super popular place (rightfully so), so beware of that. We will return...one day.
(5)Jordan W.
Good Quality -- Good Service -- Good Price (pick two) Screen Door chose Service and Price. That's not to say the food's bad, it's just nothing special. But to their credit, the portions are enormous. Everyone in my party left satisfied and full.
(3)Mindy D.
Great food at very reasonable prices for the amount and quality they serve. One order of fried chicken and waffle was more than enough for my sis and I to share. My tip---- bypass the LONG, LONG, LONG wait by ordering takeout. I promise it's just as good. My chicken and waffle were still crispy and delicious eaten at home without the 1.5-2 hour wait. Did I mention the wait is long?
(4)Lindsey G.
I don't care if I have to wait an hour for brunch here. Their food is delicious. Get the praline bacon or you will regret it. I am from the South, and I would say this is cajun influenced southern comfort food. Everywhere all over the south has different types of comfort food, this is a good mix. The service is good and it is not too expensive. Good cocktails, too. I've been here for brunch and dinner, and preferred brunch. The chicken and waffles is big enough to share. Order a few different things and split it up with your table. I can't wait till I get to wait an hour again to eat here. It is one of my fav spots I've been to in Portland.
(5)Dmitriy K.
WOW love this place!!! Best food, friendly atmosphere!!! Highly recommended!!!
(5)Violet T.
Best Mac & Cheese ever! Be prepared for a wait, but it is well worth it. Try going on Monday at 8:30 and your wait won't be as long.
(5)Melissa A.
VERY YUM! There was a long wait (which we were advised of before we went) so we decided to call in an order for pick up and eat it elsewhere. And I am soooo glad we did. Fried Chicken & Waffles - Everyone devoured them as soon as they hit the table (I personally didn't have some) Bananas Foster French Toast - Delicious, not too sweet and the caramelized bananas were amazing. Texas Migas - Very good. The green chiles and the salsa verde made it very tasty and the biscuit was light and fluffy.
(4)Jules T.
In a city filled with great places for brunch, Screen Door is by far my very favorite! Yes, the wait is typically very long (30 to 90 minutes), but to me, it's always worth it. While it's not family dining style seating, it's a little tight in there, and there always seems to be a line for the (one stall) bathrooms). But the staff has always been friendly and funny, and the food... oh my! The food! I have tried a variety of items on the menu, and everything was good to amazing, but I always go back to the Chicken and Waffles (which should actually be named Chickens and Waffle, since you get three large chicken breasts on top of one perfectly crisp delicious waffle.) That fried chicken... is THE BEST I've ever had. Just the right amount of spice, perfectly battered and cooked to juicy perfection! And since the portions are large I usually (by default) over-order and end up bringing the rest home and eating it for dinner, too. I have no problem with this. I've never had anything I *didn't* like at Screen Door, but some of my other favorites / stand outs: The Cajun Scramble Praline Bacon Waffle Bananas Foster French Toast Biscuits and Gravy From the bar: The Bloody Mary's are slightly spicy and delicious. The Spanish Coffee was the best I'd ever had. And I like to order one my favorite whiskey or vodka with Screen Door's perfect, not-too-sour-not-too-sweet, lemonade. And at dinner: The Smoked & BBQ'd Beef Brisket The Mac and Cheese The Bacon & Hock Collard Greens Whenever I have friends visiting from out of town on the weekend, I always bring them here. No one has ever been disappointed, and everyone always says the wait was worth it, in the end. Besides, while you wait you can get a yummy Bloody Mary (or other cocktail/beer of your choice) and/or (free) coffee from the bar!
(5)Bryan A.
There is hype over this restaurant which is leading to over rated reviews. The wait to get in was fine, but the food and service didn't make up for it. We were seated way before tables around us but ended up getting our food much later than any of the other tables. Our food delivery was staggered which didn't make much sense, it's like they couldn't get it out of the kitchen all at the same time. I had the eggs sardo, even though my food came out first everything under my poached egg was cold...the creamed spinach was cold and beginning to solidify, and the artichoke heart was pickled and cold...which means that it came out of a jar somewhere. It was an unpleasant taste/texture combination. I wouldn't have actually gotten it if it said that the artichoke was pickled in the menu. My wife had the bananas foster which was ok, but overly sweet. My daughter got her food 8 minutes after ours came out, it was a waffle which was ok, nothing worth waiting that long for. People around use were happy with their food, but I feel like it was more of a placebo effect since they were expecting it to be great.
(2)Tru Y.
This place is worth the wait!! Even with the rain pouring and we arrived 15 minutes before they opened at 9am, the line was crazy. Definitely a spot that we recommend and would return to if we come back to Portland. The food is that GOOD. No complaints. Best suggestion is for you to look the menu over online before you get there so you know what you want ahead. When you are seated, place your order. That's what we did and we were in and out of there in an hour. We got our food before everyone since majority people where still trying to decide what they want. Must get the Chicken and Waffle!!
(5)Kelley H.
When I first moved to Portland, I had complete strangers regularly ask if I'd be to Screen Door yet. And now I get it. The lines & wait are absurd. So absurd that I want to knock off a star, but that wouldn't be fair to Screen Door - they're just doing their thing and cranking out delicious food. Like others have pointed out, TAKE-OUT is the way to go! All of the deliciousness, none of the standing in the cold and rain for an hour. I think Screen Door really excels at savory dishes (especially at brunch) - most of their french toast / pancake-y stuff is good, but not exceptional. But their eggs / chicken / hashes / etc? UNREAL.
(5)Carli C.
Easily 5 stars! Arrived at 5:30 when they opened to avoid a wait. Started with the appetizer size shrimp and grits. It came with 4 good sized shrimp and some pieces of bacon which made it reasonably priced. It was very good the sauces in the grits mixed perfectly. For dinner I had the fried chicken and mashed potatoes which is so far the best fried chicken I have ever had. Mashed potatoes and gravy complemented the chicken well and tasted great. I subbed the collard greens for Mac and cheese per my taste and wow it was rich, creamy, and the crunchy cheese top was really good! Only con is that they box your left overs in the kitchen and when I got home to have another bite of my Mac and cheese I don't think it was mine because it had a weird spicy flavor to it.
(5)Keith T.
Amazing amazing amazing. Best breakfast I have ever had. Waited for a long time to get a table and do not regret the wait at all. Go here do not miss out cause you are not willing to wait. There are some really cool places to shop around the corner. Highly recommend Screen Door.
(5)Kim D.
We came for the chicken and waffles. My friend could not hide his excitement with trying this place out because he loves his fried chicken. Sunday brunch. Got seated here promptly. My friend and I both tried their chicken and waffles. First saw the couple at the next table get theirs. Damn...fat ass dish. Three huge pieces of fried chicken on top of a sweet potato waffle. The chicken did taste delicious. But I'm a fan of dark meat way more than the white. And I like some old fashion buttermilk waffles. But it was a tasty dish. Not going to say it was the best fried chicken I've ever had.... Other dishes tried were their fried oyster eggs Benedict. That tasted good enough. The fried oysters were more of a side. Not sure why I'd imagine it would be placed on top. Two others had the scramble. I tried some, it was tasty but not a real original dish. I kind of wish I tried the Shrimp and Grits. I've been back and forth between Charleston, SC the past year so it would have been nice to compare. Next time perhaps.
(4)Greg S.
Wow, Thank you Screen door for feeding everyone. I am always blown away by you. Saturday night I ordered Fried chicken, Fried pork chops, mashed potatoes, and greens, Holly $#1^, food coma baby.
(5)Lauren E.
This place is AHHHMAZZZING!!! If you want some fried chicken, a bloody mary, a waffle, any form of southern cookin' - GO TO SCREEN DOOR! The wait is absurd, but once you get in there and get to eatin', you're body releases this hormone that makes you forget you ever waited. :) Screen Door is a dining experience you have to carve time out for, be it a brekky or din din trip. There is always a wait, the meal is to be enjoyed, and you're gonna need a nap after because the portions are massive. The staff is very laid back, so be prepared for that if you're type A like myself. I am so impressed by the food and quality of service they provide, and am beyond happy that they've landed themselves in PDX. Thank you Screen Door. You keep doing you. ;)
(5)Megan G.
Great amazing southern style cuisine. Huge portions- definitely can share meals. No need to order a full plate unless you are starving. Their fried green tomatoes with a spicy hollandaise sauce tossed with gulf shrimp in the summertime is to die for. Their cocktails are expensive and can be sucked down in 2 sips. maybe sneak in a flask of your own whiskey and just order lemonade. The waiters are kind of rude and too cool for school but its all good- its Portland. Just remember they don't take reservations and it is always packed so get there early when they open and enjoy.
(4)Brian O.
The food is worth the wait and always perfect. Me and my wife eat here every time we can afford the calories. If you are looking for the best southern food in Portland you have found it.
(5)Panteleigh A.
Absolutely the best fried chicken I have ever had. The service was great and a nice ambiance.
(5)Lindsey L.
I hate waiting for 90 minutes! But the Bloody Mary and fried chx was soooooooo good! Shrimp and grits? With onions and cheese and ham? Where am I? Hubby and I ate here for our anniversary breakfast- our waiter brought us all kinds of stuff to try- we were thrilled. I want more!
(5)Jenn S.
I had this last night... and I'm still thinking about it. I want to go back already and I want to try the brunch too. I went with a group, so I got to try the hush puppies, fried oysters, and pimento cheese. I love oysters, and the fried oysters were so satisfying!! honestly not the best hush puppies or pimento cheese i ever had, but still good. then i got the fried chicken (which is a huge plate!). i shared that with someone. and the mac and cheese is just amazing! so good. it's a side, but I would not be able to finish it because it's so dense. so delicious though. I also tried the gumbo which was okay. we also ordered the catfish, porkchops, and the jambalaya side. all were pretty good. the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese were just amazing amazing amazing.
(5)Sofia V.
The food was delicious and fresh.
(5)Ryan L.
There's a reason this place has 1600 reviews and a line around the block at 8am. This is some serious brunch. Some friends got in line for us at 8:20am so we could get a seat when they opened at 9am. The chicken and waffles are legendary. You get three huge pieces of chicken and a sweet potato waffle. The beau easily changed it for a regular waffle. I got the fried oyster eggs benedict. The oysters were cooked perfectly, and the hollandaise was real. It was one of the best hollandaise sauces I've ever had. Choose the potatoes over the grits or cheese grits. The cheese grits were ok, but not great. The potatoes are better. If they have hush puppies on special, get those. They are incredible. Overall, this is one of the best brunches I've ever had. It was delicious, the food was served quickly, the service was great. In my opinion, it's worth getting up early and waiting in line for this place.
(5)Chelsea S.
Was fortunate enough to travel to portland twice in one year but was even more fortunate to a) discover this little gem of a place and b) return on my second trip. The first trip was with my dad who was born a d raised in Louisiana. That being said, he absolutely loved The Screen Door as did I. The food is very Southern Comfort-esque. Since I am writing this review 3 months after the last visit I can't remember everythingg ordered, but those little hush puppies are killer, make sure to ask for extra sauce upon ordering to save your server a trip back to the kitchen. The mac n cheese is also creamy goodness. And the fried chicken...mm killer!! There was nothing that anyone had either time i went, and yes i tried everything that was ever ordered, that was not good. I also remember ordering an alcoholic beverage, most likely something with rum or tequila as those are my go to, and it was also very tasty and strong, just the way i like 'em. The building, or little house that makes the restaurant is also so quaint and adds to ambiance of the meal. Anyways, whenever i'm lucky enough to make it back to portland I will most definitely wait an hour plus to eat here and enjoy myself whatever that drink was while waiting (:
(5)Shanghai P.
Being from the South, I'll say if you're used to Southern prices, forget about it. Having said that, the Screen Door will NOT disappoint. There's a reason for the line, and it's not because they've been lied to! Try the eggs sardou - poached eggs on top of artichoke, covered in hollandaise...excuse me while I take care of something. This is also the ultimate place to try chicken and waffles!
(5)Leah G.
Authentic southern experience. Love the atmosphere, the cheese grits are fantastic, and the fried chicken, just the right amount of spicy.
(5)Rachel T.
Soooo good. The wait was so long, but we found this awesome little geek shop across the street that was a pleasant use of our time. We had brunch and it was literally the best breakfasty (I think I made that word up) type food we have ever had. I got the Croque Madam and it was recommended by the waiter. Glad I took his advice. The service was great too.
(5)Lezley L.
Whether it be brunch or dinner, Screen Door needs no introduction. Personally I prefer their dinner service. Wait isn't as insane as their brunch but depends on the evening you go. Fried chicken & waffles or just Fried chicken dinner are both great. If you go for brunch, order the fried chicken on the praline bacon waffle if you're fancy! Also if you like beef, order the beef brisket. it just melted in my mouth. Although I would prefer to get another side instead of the potato salad, it was a little dry for me. Again this place needs no introduction as many of you have already experienced this place and is probably the best Southern food restaurant in PDX. However, I'm still searching!! PS - If you are starving prior to your arrival for Brunch, pack a snack you're going to be waiting a while ;)
(5)Jean J.
We were told about an hour wait. It was about 45 mins and we'll worth it. Service is right on. The food is delish. My friend and I shared a large salad it was plenty and satisfying. We then had the steak special we sub collard greens for the broccolini, yum! We wanted dessert we just did not have room. Next time for sure. I recommend this joint. Come with a hefty appetite.
(4)Noah U.
The taste of The Screen Door is akin to the second coming of Christ. It's just one rather expensive re-awakening. When you put any of these traditional Southern specialties into your mouth, there will be a taste that you will not forget. This would be great for any celebrations, and I look forward to coming back. Screen Door is very overpriced, however. The food is wonderful, but consider the value. For that occasion, don't hesitate to have their authenticity. I loved the atmosphere of sitting outside. I also loved the rocky mountain oysters. The service is friendly and I have come for special occasions. Each meal is very good and some have better portions than others. Occasionally, the wait will be well out the door as I experienced once. The bar will be loud, but outside is pleasant. They have several benches under a wrapped patio. I would happily have my birthday here. Screen Door is right for the occassional meal.
(4)Yan L.
We came here for brunch. Had the chicken and waffles, as well as the corned beef hash. Both dishes were really good, and the serving sizes were huge. Definitely 4-star food. However, I knocked it down one start because I'm really skeptical as to whether the food is worth the wait. We sat there for a rather long while, and parking was difficult to find. If you have the time, that's good. At least the place had really nice decor (with all the jars of pickled food) to stare at while you waited.
(3)Margaret S.
Drove down from Seattle. This was our first stop. My husband and I were so excited to try this place based upon the reviews. Had about a 30-40 minute wait but it was so worth it. I got the creamed spinach eggs Benedict (cant remember the title) but WOW it was delicious. Spinach was soooo good and the Hollandaise was very delicious and creamy. My husband had the steak and eggs scramble which was also great! Plus, they have awesome breakfast potatoes. Saw the chicken and waffles and boy did they look awesome. Way too much food for us through. Maybe next time. Thanks Screen Door for a great meal!
(4)Katie P.
Delicious!!! This is the closest I can get to the tasty food I grew up with in Texas! Sure, you have to wait for at least an hour, but its always worth it!!
(5)Claire G.
I was hesitant, mostly because this place looked expensive/hipster and I'm cheap and antisocial. But you can't ignore their fantastic rating. They not only supply a totally laid back environment, they are also very quick to acknowledge you at the door and quickly seat you. They're prompt to take the drink order, and they're ultra friendly and helpful with the menu's (new to this place? Have a preference about the cook of your food? They'll be sure to make you feel both welcomed and certain of your choice on the menu). I had the mac n cheese, the catfish, and a beef barley soup. This came with a massive brick of cornbread that was literally just about as fantastic as my grandmother's. I felt like Anton Ego, biting into the ratatouille (from Disney's Ratatouille- duh). I wouldn't have cared if there was a kitchen full of rodents making it. It was ambrosia. But the service-folk are NOT rodents. They're friendly folks who carry themselves well and are very friendly. We will be going back again this week and taking along a friend to try it for her first time. Oh, and the price? Wow... totally reasonable. Many years ago, I loved The Delta... It got a bit overrated for me there and I stopped wanting to pay for a diminishing quality. This is like The Delta's WAY WAY hotter sister who costs less ;)
(5)Ryan S.
First in line. Get here at 5 if you want to get right in!
(5)Angela A.
Gaaaa!! So GOOD!! I don't know what to say that has not already been said. Everything about Screen Door was fantastic, the service, the ambiance, the food. It was one of the best meals I have had. It was just what we needed after a long, hard, and very wet hike. We ordered the chicken, the brisket, mac and cheese, greens, mashed taters...all of it was amazing. We left so stuffed and so happy. The staff was super sweet. We had to move tables to make room for a larger party, so they comped our cocktails. I really thought that was necessary but we didn't hesitate to take them up on the offer. Our table was near the kitchen but I found it so interesting to watch. It was so busy but they are so efficient. It did not take long at all for our food to come out, and our server was very attentive. The chicken was my favorite. It was fried perfectly. The seasoning was on point, it was not greasy, and the texture was out of this world. The collards were some of the best I've had. My husband loved the brisket, it was a bit too smokey for me. Next time we are in Portland, and I hope that is soon, we are not missing a chance to dine at Screen Door. I recommend Screen Door to anyone in Portland. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Tim S.
Awesome Fried Chicken and I dug the open kitchen layout. The place get's slammed so there will probably be a wait, but it's well worth it. Cheers to the Screen Door.
(5)Aly C.
Came here for a brunch with a bunch of girlfriends and had the most lovely brunch!! They are BUSY! I'm very thankful that we got in right when they opened cause that line never died down. We started with a round of cocktails (that Bloody Mary is insanely good) and pumpkin biscuits. YUM! We all were absolutely thrilled with the food and the service was impeccable. Most of us left with a doggie bag, but who ever complains about leftovers? Can't wait to come back to try dinner!
(5)Tom T.
Their chicken is the best I have had in the Portland area....Good ol southern fried chicken and their sides are excellent also! Another Place I will soon frequent. The only draw back is the wait.
(5)Adam G.
Unbelievable! I'm from North Carolina and gave up hope that there was true southern food in the Pacific Northwest... UNTIL... The screen door experience. You have to try the fried catfish... Mind blowing!
(5)Eunice D.
The real deal. Fried chicken: some of the best I've ever had Brisket: perfectly cooked and flavorful Mac and cheese: get it just for the left overs Mashed potatoes and gravy: mmmmmm Potato salad: horseradish addition makes this unique and awesome Green beans and collards: just right
(5)Raymond H.
1 hr wait at 12 pm on a Sunday. Very crowded after seating and a bit difficult to talk. All in all I enjoyed the meal. The food was tasty, savory, sweet, filling etc. it's what you'd expect from this place. It's really a 3.5 for me, when measured against Tasty n Sons, but if you're looking for some southern Cajun brunch this place deserves 4.5 stars. Fried chicken is juicy and battered well. Corn dog is yummy but be careful of too much syrup. Oyster Benedict was great! Juicy juicy tender oysters. Croque Madame was ooey and gooey, rich in flavor, where I was worried about needing a coronary bypass. I rounded up bc it's great for what its intended cuisine, but I'd rather go to Tasty n Sons for something unique tasty and creative.
(4)Amber H.
If you enjoy weeping tears of joy as you eat, then Screendoor is for you. Best fried chicken I've ever eaten in my life. Hands down. I literally eat until I can barely walk every time I'm lucky enough to go here. Epic high fives to all involved in it's awesomeness!
(5)Nick N.
Being from the Gulf Coast, I know a good bit about Southern cuisine. The greens were flawless. The fried okra was breaded perfectly. The fried chicken was ever so crispy on the outside, but so succulent on the inside. The hush puppies pass muster, and even though I was skeptical about the pepper jelly, it works. The grits also meet the mark, and still likely bewilder the common northwesterner in their foreign goodness. Thumps up Screendoor!!! The only place I've sampled in Portland that captured authentic southern cuisine.
(5)Sam H.
So very good!! Me and my girlfriend just ate there tonight! We showed up around 6pm and were seated by 6:20 which wasn't bad! We first got cocktails. They were very strong!! A little too strong for my liking. We both got the fried chicken! It was great!! The mashed potatoes were also great with the gravy! And the collards were the ONLY collard greens that I actually liked!!!
(4)Chris C.
Fabulous comfort food, and perhaps the best fried chicken in the Northwest. Service is great, but get here early or prepare to wait for a table.
(5)Trogdor B.
I don't think it's worth a two hour wait, but our plates were good. Chicken and waffles can feed a family of four and I enjoyed the huevos rancheros. Praline bacon was a novelty, but the cinnamon bun was good.
(3)Alexandra C.
The fried chicken ins amazing here. I would recommend it to any one.
(5)Robert B.
I barely know where to start! It was an amazing evening of great bars and great food. Yes, I was back in Portland, Oregon for a business meeting with colleagues from Portland and Seattle discussing the latest in technological wonder, chaos theory and Murphy's Law when we found ourselves in an ok bar just down the street from the office. Well, we barely got our drinks ordered when we realized we were at the wrong place for good drinks and good eats considering we are just a few miles away from culinary nirvana. Do I have your attention? Well, I'm talking about the Screen Door Restaurant on E Burnside St. which has incredible Southern cuisine, and they are the real deal! Everything on their menu is amazing. But before I talk about the food, let me give you some insight on how to get into this place with front row seating, which is extremely important because there is a line that starts at their front door sometimes thirty minutes or more before they open. You will want to get there a little bit early for a couple of reasons; waiting in line is a bad thing, however, waiting in line for their cuisine is completely worth it. But when the weather is bad and (we are talking about Portland after all) I have a few tips on when to jump in line for great seating from a far. If you're heading out with a group of friends or business colleagues there is my favorite Mexican restaurant and bar for twenty-one years of age or older called the Matador which has great food and great drinks (another Yelp! waiting to happen). They are kitty-corner from the Screen Door Restaurant with windows that line the wall facing E Burnside St that give you a great view of the line as it builds then bends around the corner, which it is at this point when you want to settle up your tab with the Matador and skedaddle across the street before the line gets too far beyond the bend. Hopefully, you will find this tip helpful! Now let's talk about the food. I have had the brisket, collard greens, pimento cheese, which are game changers in their own right, but their fried chicken, mash potatoes and gravy, nirvana. You get two chicken breasts that have been deboned but still have the skin on and fried golden brown to perfection with this crispy, crunchy goodness that somehow keeps the chicken moist and tender. Wow! It is so good you will for the rest of your life think of the Screen Door Restaurant when you think chicken. Thank you Screen Door Restaurant for the great memories and for being a great extension of my culinary community. P.S. Thank you David H. for the tip and another perfect introduction.
(5)Ponarett X.
Maybe I ordered the wrong things, but I wasn't super impressed with Screen Door. After my sister raved about this place, I made sure to stop by on my recent trip to Portland. Everything on their menu sounded good and I finally decided on the Screen Door Plate with collard greens, catfish, savory bread pudding, and cornbread. The catfish was great and probably my favorite thing on the plate! Everything else was just okay. The bread pudding was so dense that I couldn't eat through most of it. The cornbread was dry and the collard greens were pretty standard. The couple at the bar next to me each ordered the fried chicken and as I saw plate after plate of the fried chicken leave the kitchen, I quickly regretted my dinner choice and had food envy the entire night. If I go back to Screen Door, I'm getting the chicken! The bartenders are really friendly and make some really good drinks! So definitely get a drink or when you visit.
(3)Brian C.
Dinner Dec 2 Are you ready for some BOLD statements? #1) Best Fried Chicken I have ever had (sorry Grandma!) #2) Best Hushpuppies I have ever had (not gritty, with corn and green peppers!) #3) If this place was in Charleston, SC it would be giving Husk a run for the money as best restaurant in the Southeast! Some advice on if you go.... #1) The Fried Chciken is HUGE! Have someone else order something else so you can share, split both plates! #2) Like Anthony Bourdain, they have No Reservations, so there could be a line, be preared to wait! #3) Make sure you save room for desert! The Ban-Ofee Pie is incredible!
(5)Kumi K.
I've been here twice now and the food has been great both times. This time around I got the infamous chicken and waffles and it's huge. Three pieces of fried chicken atop a round of waffles. The chicken is fried just right and the meat inside is moist and tender. There were three of us and we waited about an hour on a Sunday morning. That's the only reason I give it four stars, it's so dang good everyone wants some so you have to be patient and wait.
(4)Linda C.
Finally picked a rainless day to suffer the long lines I'd heard about at Screen Door. We went for a late brunch and were told it would be about a 45 minute wait but it ended up being about 30 minutes; not too bad on a cold but sunny morning. The interior decor is nothing to write home about but the place is humming with happy customers. We were seated right next to the open kitchen area. The seating area was a little cramped but not claustrophobic. Our server was pleasant but she did forget to ask my hubby if he wanted something to drink so we had to ask her next time she was passing by. I ordered an Earl Grey tea (Harney & Sons - excellent quality) and hubby finally ordered a Hopworks IPA. For eats, we ordered two of the vegetarian options. Hubby got the blackened tofu & 3 egg scramble w/ garlic, peppers, onions, mushrooms & cheddar with wheat toast and potatoes. I got the root vegetable hash special with parsnips and a bunch of other goodies. Both meals were delicious and full of flavor. It didn't take long for them to arrive, or be eaten! Good value for money. I see why this place is so popular and would like to try them for dinner, if I can stand the long wait again.
(4)Daniel L.
LOVE IT! Great service and great food! What else can I ask for?
(5)Erica S.
I have been wanting to go to Screen Door for years and finally got my wish for a birthday dinner. We went on a Sunday evening, showing up 20 minutes before they opened. There were already 10-12 people in line when we showed up, and by the time they opened the door, there was easily 40 people total in line. We ordered the pork belly appetizer, which was good. I also ordered the Scarlet O'Hara cocktail, which was dangerously delicious. For entrees, I ordered the pulled pork sandwich, which I just thought was okay. My husband ordered the brisket which he felt was also sub-par. We had a side of macaroni and cheese which is by the far the best I have ever had in a restaurant, and I am kind of obsessed with mac and cheese. Our desserts were also ridiculously amazing. We got the banana cream pie and the pecan pie. Again these were the best I had ever had. I would definitely go back, especially since neither one of us order the fried chicken which is rumored to be some of the best in the city. We are not to sure about their barbecue options, but their other southern comfort dishes are the best I've ever had.
(4)Chris B.
"Do you mind sitting on the patio this evening?" "Are you kidding? I will sit on the friggin curb out front if I have to" We figured out a trick to get around the huge lines... Were 20 miles away so when we just want the best mac n cheese or chicken in town we call repeatedly until one of the food gods can answer the phone and we order to go. Then get in our car drive over and pick it up. Where you sit doesn't matter, in your car will do. JUST.... GO.... HERE!
(5)Tim Myvegas B.
I went to Gladstone Nissan and both Mikey and Chris Harshman were great no pressure to buy i am happy with my new Nissan Altima i would highly recommend them to anyone wanting to purchase a car.
(5)Pilar D.
Oh-mi-GAWWWD! This place lives up to the local hype. Actually, is it hype if it's the truth? I was craving waffles or pancakes and some proteins. My friend, a local SE'er, said this is the best brunch place, especially for what I was craving. And it was. I had the orange ricotta griddlecakes and ordered an egg and the chicken apple sausage on the side. The grub really hit the spot. I then reached over the next plate-- my boyfriend's-- and tasted his beef hash. It was so savory and delicious. Fyi, that if you order the chicken and waffle, you are ordering A chicken and waffle. There is one waffle and then three huge chicken breasts on top of a waffle. You really will be getting a chicken. Great service, location, and ah-mazing food. TIP: Of all the places we visited in Portland, this was the only one that had the wait. Because we were ok with sitting outside on a 80+ degree day, we were able to get seated right away. However, although we arrived less than an hour to closing time, there were about three or four parties still waiting. So, if you are hungry, you might want to bring a snack so you don't get hangry, but not too much that you ruin your appetite or get full.
(5)Elsie W.
FRIED OYSTER BENEDICT. That's it. That was the best fried oyster benedict I've ever had. I used to think NOLA was great for fried oysters but WOW THESE ARE HUGE! It came with 3 fried oysters and 2 poached eggs on top of bacon and toasted english muffins. It was perfect. Of course, it was an hour wait on a Saturday for 2. It was worth it. Also, $2.50 for unlimited Stumptown coffee is great.
(5)Dorothy L.
The bf and I were undecided about what to eat for brunch on Saturday morning and after looking over the reviews, we decided on Screen Door despite the wait. We put our name down and walked a few blocks to get coffee. By the time we came back they had already called our name so we just waited a few more minutes and were seated. We went with the following: CATHEAD BISCUIT SANDWICH - Fried chicken breast between a biscuit bun topped with yummy gravy. We chose cheesy grits as a side, but got potatoes. Didn't send it back because we were hungry and love potatoes anyway..lol FRIED CHICKEN & WAFFLE - This comes with not one, not two, but THREE fried chicken breasts. That's nuts... and definitely sharable! I only ate half the sweet potato waffle and one of the chicken breasts. Woo.. lunch for the next day! The chicken was perfectly tender and the breading was deliciously seasoned. While these dishes were tasty on their own, the real MVP was Screen Door's house-made HOT SAUCE - yup, the mystery sauce in the unlabeled bottle. It's just spicy enough with a tangy sweet finish. After finding out that we couldn't purchase it, I had a burning desire to steal a bottle... Thankfully, the waitress packed us a couple ounces in a condiment cup. Screen Door, PLEASE start selling this!!! Service was attentive enough and everyone was very nice. Definitely good bang for your buck. We were really happy with our meal! I'd definitely make this a regular stop when I'm in Portland.
(5)Carrie Z.
We traveled from San Francisco and were recommended by a friend to visit screen door. I loved their egg sardou! Perfectly poached eggs on creamy spinach and artichoke hearts, with delicious hollandaise sauce on top. My bf also loves his fried oyster benedict. But the wait was too long. We didn't have our food until one hour later
(4)Kye B.
First of all, lemme say that I reserve my 5 star ratings for unbelievably rare and unique experiences that blend cuisine, ambience and what I call atmosphere (which is distinct from ambience. I view Ambience as the feeling that the establishment creates for its patrons; and I view Atmosphere as the feeling that the Clientele generates) All that being said, I LOVE THIS PLACE...and it may not be my reason for coming back to Portland, when I DO come back, I will be all up in the Screen Door Mixxxxxx! Loved the food. Loved the service. The staff? Precious!! I could go into a lotta detail but all I knew about this place before I went: Every time someone mentioned it, people either... 1. Hadn't heard of it at all (people like me...DUH, from out of town); 2. They'd heard about it and hadn't been but we're EAGER to go, and felt a little less Portlandy that they hadn't been yet. 3. The most popular response was, "I hate the wait, but I love the food!!" Which brings me to the only reason I can see for any sort of hesitating at all regarding eating here: People love this place and it's packed all the time. Think of it as a good thing. If you read between the lines, you'll figure out that people don't generally wait for 40 minutes for shitty food and a bad experience. So you may wait a bit, BIG DEAL, don't let THAT discourage you. Just in case, here are a coupla tips to help you navigate that part. If you have a party of 6 or more they can do reservations, SOOOO, I rounded up 6 friends and took my happy ass down there. Even then there was a bit of a wait, but cut 'em some slack, it was 11:30 on a Sunday morning. So one if my friends made a suggestion that I'll pass on: When we arrived, one person from our party checked in and got the 4-1-1 on how long it would be. The rest of us went to this relaxing little Coffeed House next door and enjoyed a cup of coffee and some conversation. The coffee shop is a bit of an extension of the Screen Door so by being there I felt like I was already in it. When we finally sat down at the picnic table on the patio I was ready to go and they did not tarry with our order. What really blew my mind was that, without even giving a thought to it, they gave each of us separate checks at our request. Screen Door, I'm a fan, fo' sho'
(4)Ad G.
This place is always crowded. My 1st trip to Portland arrived too late for brunch (stop seating). I just knew it had to be good. On my next trip I arrived alone to guarantee a short wait (it can be 45 mins easy for 2-4 people). No wait was seated at the bar area. Staff is friendly as they can they are busy running around. They need to open another Screendoor this place is small and always crowded!! I ordered waffle & chicken had no idea it was that LARGE enough for three people. Come hungry!!!!! not impressive not as well as I expected...a little under cooked but outside fried (in old grease) thus coloring. Grew up on fried chicken the color on outside crispy tells if new or old grease. I hear the biscuit are great....I will try something else before I take this restaurant off my must do in Portland.
(3)FJ H.
Nuff said. Go here.
(5)Brian D.
great f-ing food and drinks
(4)Dom M.
Expect to wait at least 45 mins before getting seated. A victim of it's own success? Sure... though I'm not fully convinced the wait is worth it. Don't get me wrong the food can be good but not always. Try elsewhere.
(3)Nisha A.
Fresh Fresh Fresh is what you taste in your every bite here. We had the omelette , biscuits, waffles, chicken and more ... all came in humungous portions. The four of us ordered a lot as we had waited for hour and a half and it was almost 2:30 by the time we got the table but oh did the food get us excited.....Delicious !!! Its a cosy brunch place with huge portions of comfort food. I would recommend going in before 9:30 to secure a table sooner..... Will surely go back when in Portland again.
(5)Thavy C.
Man I got lucky and got this place with no line. The food was okay. I don't really get the hype. Maybe more butter...like Paula Deen???
(3)Oscar M.
Basically the best fried chicken I've ever had! Not a month goes by where I don't stop in. They have their service and food down to a science. So treat yourself don't cheat yourself and hop on the gravy train with biscuit wheels! Ill see your happy a$$e$ there!
(5)Kayla T.
We drove from Camas for my boyfriends birthday brunch. There was about a 15 minute wait and it trust me, it's well worth it. He had the chicken and waffle. It was the best fried chicken that either one of us had ever tasted. I got the po boy breakfast sandwich which consisted of an andouilee sausage patty (which I have never seen before) friend egg and crispy onions. It was amazing. We can't wait to come back for dinner.
(5)Taylor S.
Amazing food. Be ready for a line for brunch but it's totally worth it.
(4)Rian R.
The Screen Door is easily one of my favorite spots for brunch in Portland. It doesn't matter that there is always a line out the door and a guaranteed wait of over an hour, the food is consistently good, the portions are plentiful and the staff is friendly. The best approach? Get one friend to put in the name of your group and then meet everyone down the street at Heart Roasters for a coffee before straggling down to the Screen Door for a breakfast that is as comforting as it is delicious.
(5)McKenna K.
Meal and drinks were very average. Everyone talks about this place like it is awesome, but it was not. Disappointing.
(2)Jeanne W.
The food is decent, I just don't like places that refuse to take reservations. It's fried catfish.
(3)Adam B.
Awesome brunch spot in portland. The fried chicken has great flavor and the Bloody Marys are some of the best.
(5)Cody L.
If you are a BACON LOVER! you must go here! I also can't complain about their pricing it is very decently priced and makes for a great Sunday Morning outting!
(4)KeshiaSkye S.
My husband and I LOVE Screen Door! We've been for both breakfast and dinner, breakfast by far take the cake! We had heard to get there early for breakfast so we arrived before they opened and were the first few in the door (definitely the way to go!) Husband had their chicken & waffle breakfast and I had their B&Gs - both we're OH MY GOSH!!! The portions are huge and the prices are just right! We took home a praline waffle to share later.
(5)Connie Y.
Some bomb ass fried chicken!!! Somewhat of a wait, I think my friends and I waited about 30 minutes for a table for 5. We ordered a bunch of things to try, and the only thing I can remember is that the fried chicken was fried perfectly and sooo juicy! The biscuit in the chicken and biscuit was too hard, definitely can't beat Pine State Biscuits on that one. Service could be better, I felt like I had to wave them down for things. Servers were friendly though. Portions are big as well. If you're in Portland and want some friend chicken, this is the spot.
(4)Emi T.
Just wanted to drop a note that I've matured as an eater and I L-O-V-E Love this place now. It's easily one of my favorite spots in town - where I take all visitors, and I haven't noticed a change since the original chef left - always consistent, always delicious. It's hard for me to stray from my usual order when I go because I'm so in love with it: Porch Swing Lemonade, hushpuppies and pimiento cheese to start, then trout pecan for the entree. So good! Although the rare occasions when I stray from my usuals, I never regret it - same with the rare occasions when I'm crazy enough to also order dessert. Their brunch is also amazing, but I can't stand the wait. However, if you come around 1pm it's usually easier to get in because they will generally tell you 45 min- 1 hour and then you will see them call multiple parties that signed up a long time ago and have since given up/disappeared and then you will get taken back to your table generally in 20-30 min instead (no guarantees, though, just telling you the strategy that has worked for us in the past). Ask for Ben, he is the best server in Portland!
(5)Greg H.
Southern food at its best. I have had the opportunity to try some of the best Cajun and southern cooking anywhere and Screen Door ranks right in with the best of them. There fried chicken and mashed potatoes cant be beat by anyone.
(4)Evan H.
Amazing soul food at a wonderful price point.
(5)Mackenzie G.
sorry, i've been here a few times and it is NOT worth the wait. when there are so many other really great southern places and BETTER places in portland !!
(2)Breylan D.
Service was great and the food was yummy!
(4)Kate H.
Went on a Thursday evening (7:45pm) on my first night in Portland. Knew it was a popular restaurant, but wasn't expecting a 30 minute wait on a Thursday. - Inside of restaurant was warm, & cozy - Noise level was decently loud due to every table being sat - Service was friendly. Only was a little miffed when tables around us got their food before us even though we were sat first and ordered decently ahead of them. Waiter acknowledged there was a mix up in the kitchen and took off my drink- without us even complaining about the wait for food (around 35-40 minutes). -Even though I was a little hangry by the time food came- I took the first bite and totally forgot. Fried chicken was beyond delicious. All white meat. So yummy. Mashed potatoes were super good as well, but the mac n cheese was the BEST ever. No joke. Always order mac n cheese at restaurants and then I'm late down because it's just so-so. This was perfect. Hot, melty, cheesy and full of flavor. Date got the burger and raved about that as well! Would definitely recommend as I'm dreaming about eating there again. So sad that I don't live in Portland : (
(5)Dan K.
What a sad excuse for a restaurant. First off waited 45 minutes for a table, waited another 45 minutes for them to bring out the food for 2 of us in a party of 3, waited another 30 minutes for them to bring out PANCAKES to the last person in our party. Besides the wait the food quality was comparable to Cracker Barrel, not worth the money at all. I would advise anyone considering this restaurant to look elsewhere.
(1)Chandler L.
Kinda overrated. I think it's excellent if you're a meat eater. Those of us who don't eat meat have a bit of a hard time. What is available it delicious. Some of the waiters are a little over the top with flirting. We're talking about being blatant doing right in front of my partner. O.o The drinks were fabulous. I just kind of think it's a little over priced and it's not entirely worth the wait. I would say ordering for take out is really the way to go.
(3)S P.
Best fried chicken ever. The pulled pork is luscious. They have seasonal sides which are always interesting and comfort food. The service is excellent every time I go here! The drinks are tasty. There is a REASON people stand in line for The Screen Door.
(5)Marisa D.
Best brisket EVER. So good.
(4)Jeff K.
I have never been to the Southern United States... but I can confidently say that this is the best fried chicken here in the states. I don't know what it is about Portland, but they have awesome comfort food. Before arriving, make sure you make reservation... otherwise; you'll be like me and wait around an hour during dinner time for a seat. It's extremely busy and I can see why. i ordered a mint julep from the bar to kill time, and this was the only thing that was lacking from the restaurant. It wasn't as strong as I imagined. We ended up getting the fried buttermilk-battered chicken and the screen door plate. if you're indecisive, get the screen door plate because you get to pick 3 house sides to try. for the screen door plate, I went ahead and got the fried catfish (extra dollar), mac n cheese and jambalaya. The fried cat fish and the mac n cheese were amazing. The jambalaya was alright, hot sauce definitely helped it out. As for the fried chicken. Wow. Just wow. Speechless. Every bite was juicy and bursting of flavor. We were not able to finish the dish, and brought it back to our hotel. The next morning, we tried it and it was still good, but it was more spicy? I don't know how that was possible. Lol. With the fried chicken dish, you also get mash potatoes and collared greens. if I am ever in Portland again, I'll be sure to check this place out again. PS: on the patio, there are silverware cemented to the floor right next to the door. How interesting.
(4)Jeff M.
Really great food and environment to just kick back and have a few cocktails and a caloric-rich meal. Strongly suggested if you just want to have a great time with solid food.
(4)Frith P.
LOVE this place!!! The food is fantastic-breakfast and lunch. I honestly cannot say that I have ever had bad service here-which is almost unheard of! Sat at the bar to eat breakfast on a Saturday morning and I'm telling you the bartender ROCKED IT!! He was amazing to watch put out his orders of drinks as well as take food orders. The only drawback can be the lengthy wait time but like me, I know many other people like this place so it is to be expected.
(5)Dennis L.
Got to the restaurant 35 min before and decided to get coffee while we wait. There was already a short line that ended at the benches. 15 min later, we came back and the line already doubled (to ~30 people)! We still had 20 min of waiting left. So get in line accordingly.. Or you'd feel the wrath of waiting to be seated if you arrive at or after opening. I got the braised pork sandwich and my girlfriend got the fried chicken. The pork sandwich was good, but not amazing. The fries were surprisingly good; it was at the perfect level of crisp. The fried chicken is the best I have ever tried and this includes comparing to the fried chickens I had in the South. I loved the atmosphere and setting also! A fun place to hang out and eat. I will definitely come back to this place when I visit Portland again.
(5)Kelly G.
I was very excited to get brunch in Portland being it was my first time here and I heard about all of the hype. We ended up getting there after 11 and being told there was an hour and a half to two hour wait. At first it seemed daunting but then learning we could order drinks and hang out front with them made it seem less gruesome. After 2 mimosas we got seated to meet our friendly and very chill server. I ordered the fried oyster Benedict with cheddar grits while my boyfriend got the ny strip steak Benedict with regular grits and a side of fried chicken. The food was absolutely phenomenal! Being from Louisiana I don't get grits that often now that I live in San Diego, and these grits hit the spot! We were so full after for like 4 hours! It was definitely worth the wait if you have some time to kill.
(5)Rich N.
I don't give 5 stars. This place deserves 6 starts. The chicken and waffles are amazing. The fried chicken is the best fried chicken I've ever had. It's well worth the heart attack I will have.
(5)Jissantt S.
Came down from Seattle and wanted to get some breakfast before doing some shopping. We got here at 9 and they open at 9 and the long was already almost down the block. We ended up waiting 2 hours... Another 30 mins for our food. So the wait was long but my food was good! I had the eggs Benedict and the potatoes that came on the side were delicious! Our server hardly checked in but it was really busy and she informed us there would be a wait for our food. Since I'm not from the area I probably won't come back but all in all it was ok.
(3)d t.
It's been awhile since I've been here (as in, over a year while) so I'll do my best to do it justice, which now that I think about, I won't be able to. The main thing I remember from this place is its fried chicken. This fried chicken stands up to all the others I've ever tried which says a lot especially being on the west coast. They use a decent amount of pepper in their batter so there's a little kick to it. I went for dinner so I wasn't able to get the waffle with it (brunch only). One thing I wasn't a fan of were the fried oysters. I had never had fried oysters before that either but I just was not feeling it. Maybe they were good fried oysters comparatively (as it seemed according to a coworker), but i need mine raw. Like I said in the beginning of this review, it's been well over a year since I've been here last but that fried chicken has stuck with me ever since and I still talk about it to this day!
(5)Charlene I.
Came here for dinner and it was something amazing! The "screen door plate" is a great deal! For $13.99 you get a choice of 3 sides & cornbread. I got the fried catfish, mac n cheese and jambalaya and boooooooooooooyyyy...that shit was GOOD The wait time however, is not fun. This place is extremely popular so you can expect to wait at least 30+ plus. I've heard that the brunch here is even better so I gotta come back to try it out!
(4)Rick E.
I think the food here is really good, but I wouldn't wait more than an hour just to eat here. The collard greens and fried chicken definitely hits the spot, plenty for 2 meals. I also love their selection of local organics. I had the beets and potatoes dish and it was delicious!
(4)J C.
Belated review, went here for hubby's birthday after reading yelp reviews and it did not disappoint. We were luck enough to get the last 2 seats at the bar when the restaurant opened. I LOVE the FRIED CHICKEN. Tis to die for. Hubby got red beans and rice with his trout and it was tasty as well. This was a great meal in Oregon and I don't want too many PNW knowing as we may not be so lucky to get first seating next time.
(4)G W.
Im of the persuasion that to complain about a line at a great restaurant is ludicrous. Notwithstanding the line--Screen Door is a 100% winner! On several occasions I have taken visitors from out of town and every time I am completely impressed by the entire operation. The servers are quality--genuine and knowledgable; the cuisine is filling and fulfilling alike--and the drinks are poured the right way. Five Star reviews are reserved for the "Top 5%" in my epicurean rubric--but in truth--I'd like to give Screen Door a sixth. The service industry is named the service industry for a reason...and so "refreshing" only begins to define the joy of walking into an eatery and feeling as though the establishment is "thankful" for the opportunity to share their passion with me. Portland has changed so much in my 34-years; if you live here and haven't been--or are visiting and do not go--in the words of my much loved girlfriend..."Sorry for ya!"
(5)Corey M.
the bacon!! the chicken!! enough said. free coffee while you wait. Thank you for appreciating your customer's waiting!
(5)Monica R.
The food is good here, but I'm not convinced it's worth the incredibly long waits. There are few even remotely healthy options, though Southern cuisine may be more to blame than the restaurant itself. It is pretty cool that they let you build a dinner from sides. The mac and cheese is definitely worth ordering if you do that.
(3)Harry F.
I ordered the brisket. It tasted a bit dry and burnt. The sides were a tub of canned green beans and potato salad. There was a handful of fried onions dumped on top of everything, including the mushy beans. The overall quality of the food was mediocre, more like something I'd find at my local family restaurant on Barbur. Our waitress kind of forgot about us, not bringing any water and forgetting my cocktail, I am really surprised at how many 5 star reviews of this place. It was nothing special.
(2)Julie F.
Could 1,500 PNW Crackers be wrong about the quality of real soul food? This native Detroiter will tell you, HELL YEAH THEY ARE. I can't believe we waited an hour for DRY fried chicken (a good crust with over red-lamped chicken jerky inside), undercooked collards, canned beans, dry/burnt brisket. Screen Door, collards take ALL DAY. So should your beans, NOT CANNED. HOW can you RUIN BRISKET?! It's the easiest thing to set slow and low! I'm guessing you are not smoking that over indirect heat. I've had a shit ton of better quality fried chicken from a Detroit bucket, that didn't have the soul baked out of it --"refired" in the fryer, perhaps? Shame on you, and your soulless food. Add a side of crappy service. Our first round of drinks never came, and we had to flag down the waitress after entrees were brought out, "Hi. Yah, we ordered a drink before we ordered our food, thanks..." Had I only had some drink in me, maybe the food wouldn't have been so hard to stomach. Inattentive, lackluster everything. UGH. Best part of the evening was the host at the door. That man knows how to organize a crowd. Star for him! Slam that Screen Door, Portland! You have better taste than this!
(2)Kathy M.
Best fried chicken ever! Fun atmosphere! Expect to wait in line for awhile, but totally worth the wait!
(5)Nikki P.
The Screen Door rocks! I love their fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and banana pie dessert. The chicken is crispy, well spiced, and not too greasy. The mashed potatoes are creamy. My favorite is the banoffee (I think that's what they call it) pie. It's like bananas foster cream pie. So delicious! The collard greens were so-so and their seafood dishes are good, though there is nothing particularly special about them. The service is always good, though the noise level is often too loud for comfort. I need to come by sometime for a banana pancake breakfast. I hear it's awesome. The Screen Door is definitely worth a trip!
(4)Janice F.
I'm surprised each time by how massive their chicken cuts are - it's gotta be at least half a bird you're consuming! This is one place that's hard to skip out on when you're in town.
(5)Evan A.
Really good Southern food (especially considering how far we are from the South) at a good price. I'll definitely be back.
(5)Mc G N.
long lines? check! breathless food descriptions? CHECK! prices out of line with what you are getting? check! the stench of middling disappointment after all that waiting and hand wringing? CHECK! what is this, the fat duck? NO, its soul/poor food for people that ride tour buses through ghettos to feel "gritty" and "connected to the people".. agh. never mind, double park your subarus and priuses all over here, cluelessly natter on with your foodie friends in the middle of the street, oblivious to getting run over by cars, or bikes, or whatever. YOU'RE HERE! i'm going somewhere else..
(2)Lauren S.
The praline bacon was the highlight of our visit, but honestly everything else was so-so. Perhaps it was the three cups of coffee we drank waiting an hour and thirty minutes minutes for a table. Or maybe that as our server refilled our waters, she was constantly spilling tablespoons on our food rendering it soggy. I had the omelet which had an abundance of mushrooms, but wasn't well-distributed and nothing to write home about. Cheese grits were runny, and the waffle was ok. Would return for the bacon, but not the rest was not worth the wait.
(3)Chrissie E.
So happy that we were able to get a table this weekend. This is probably the best Southern food that I've had in the PNW (lived in ATL for a year). My group had chicken and waffles, fried oyster benedict, chicken cathead sandwich and cajun scramble. I also really enjoyed the sweet tea which is required accompaniment to any southern meal. I live in Seattle and cannot wait to venture to Oregon again to try the other entrees. Thanks for a great meal!
(5)Paul S.
Masterfully cooked fried chicken crispy but not greasy with moist meat and right amount of spice. Collared greens on side really tasty as well. Had special pork chop which sat on bed of potatoes, andouille sausage, fennel, onions, and radicchio which was heaven. Had the special pear salad with arugula, endive, almond brittle and more which was really tasty if you like a sweeter salad. This Southern cooking was top notch in the NW. Potions were huge. I'm a big eater and my partner and I were hungry and we are maybe two- thirds of what we got. Service was good not great. We sat at bar and bartender was busy making drinks and got the job done but not with the kind of hospitality that aligns with the food. The expeditor made up for some of that. Finally, we showed up at 530 pm on a Sunday (its opening time) and were about 100 people back in line. We got the last 2 bar stools. Dinner took a whole but salads came pretty quickly and we were told when sitting down with this meant seated dinner would be slow. The salad held us over well and the warning was appreciated. Bottom line: it was worth the wait! And I'd recommend going by 515 to ensure an early table or send someone an hour before you want to sit to wait.
(4)Ray V.
Still hate the wait. Still love the brunch, and still waiting (yes tongue in cheek though that hasn't shown on the menu when I've been here) to try the chicken and waffles here, but now we finally made it in for dinner. Got the fried chicken, cause I had to see if all the hub bub was correct............Effin A YES! Huge portions like normal and it was moist (even the next day) crispy and just enough heat in the breading to warm you up but not kill the flavor of either the mashers with tasso gravy (yum) or the greens. The butter salad was delicious as were the cassiolet beans. The pimento cheese was tres magnifique! Though be forewarned this ain't your mamas pimento cheese. Unless of course she grew up in the south and made her own.
(5)Stephanie H.
I wish I could complain about the hour plus wait, but I just cannot. The food and drinks are amazingly good plus, they have great service! Only advice I have is call ahead to put your name on the waiting list.
(5)Anthony M.
everything is delicious, seriously. That's why there is always a line outside to get in. Must be an indication of supreme good food.
(5)Sherry W.
I"m sort of really surprised by the great reviews here. I had the shrimp and grits and an appetizer I"m blanking on because it was forgettable. The shrimp and grits were overpriced for the portion, were watery, not much flavor and the shrimp were clearly frozen as they were tough and rubbery. Atmosphere was meh. Nothing to write home about. I just ate there once - so maybe it was an off night. Maybe my hopes were too high as everyone raves about this place but being that there are so many amazing places to choose from - but I won't seek this place out during my next visit.
(2)Kristi B.
Had the shrimp and grits and loooved it. The menu looked awesome and it was hard to pick just one. Yes, It was super busy and took a little less than an hour to get seated on a Sunday at noonish but with good company and a great great cup of coffee (next door) it's totally worth it!
(4)Traybay J.
First time in Portland and on my last night I decided I would go to North Portland for some southern cooking. TravelPorland.com listed a place called Clyde's Prime Rib Restaurant, not exactly what I wanted but sounded good so off I went. About five minutes away from my exit, I suddenly wanted Fried Chicken so I did a quick search on Yelp for soul food and Screen Door popped up in number place. I read a few quick reviews and decided to try it out. Pulling up to the restaurant I was skeptical. This didn't look like the "urban" place I was hoping to pull up too. I wanted some black eye peas, smothered pork chop, might even have some chitlin's or Ox tails on the menu!, you know SOUTHERN FOOD! LOL The location was in a cute neighborhood and luckily I found parking right outside, which I have heard was a blessing! Open space and on a Sunday late evening the place was bustling. I was alone so I decided to sit at the bar. The host was extremely nice, sat me at the bar and gave me a menu. Looking around I didn't have much hope for the place. Frou Frou soul food, sigh. Oh well. The menu was small and limited but it all looked good. After wine tasting all day I was starving and immediately ordered the Shrimp and Grits for $9.75. Steep price for a starter, I thought. The bartender was set up right in front of me and was making impressive hipster style drinks. Instead of my standard Cosmos I ordered the Scarlett with tea vodka. Wow wee! Nice little drink, sweet but with a little kick! Things are looking up! Shrimp and Grits arrived shortly after. Impressive portion with 4 large size prawns......I could had it as a small entrée was my first thought. Nice presentation. First bite....warm fuzzy feelings and a smile on my face. Delicious! If I could have lick the bowl I would have. Soon after my entrée of Fried Chicken arrive with the gravy on the side as requested. I hardly ever put gravy on my potatoes or chicken so I didn't want it to be ruined. The portion was plentiful as the chicken is flatten out. First bite, I nearly melted out of my bar seat!!!!!! OMG! Crust was perfect, moist and season to perfection. The collard greens were like I make them and the mash potatoes were just dreamy. After a few bites I decided the try the gravy......SHUT THE SCREEN DOOR! It was so good I ended up pouring it all over my plate! That good. So, I stand corrected and never judge a book by its cover. I rolled myself back to my hotel and had a peaceful yet soulful night rest. Can't wait to visit again from Brunch if I'm ever back in Portland.
(5)Lorna D.
First time here and it won't be the last! Husband says best brisket ever. The pecan salmon was awesome. Great prices, yum yum!
(5)Brenda C.
Everything looked great. Want to go back. Only reason I gave 4 instead of 5 was the bread pudding. just okay
(4)Magan D.
The food here is so delicious, it's hard to describe. Large portions means lunch for the next day! Wait lines can be long and the fact that it's kid friendly do mean a bit of noise, but the food and service seem to wipe those attributes off the map. Awesome spot!
(4)Kristina G.
So glad we were able to have brunch at this place during our short stay in Portland. The portions are more than generous and the food is amazing. The cheddar grits are in the top three I've had in my life. There is an amazing and unique praline bacon waffle that is absolutely scrumptious. Will definitely return any time I am in Portland for a brunch that does not disappoint! Heads up - there will be a wait, so get there early, preferably before opening.
(5)Joycelyn L.
Waited 45 minutes before opening for this place. Food is good, portion sizes were large (good idea to share plates especially if you get the fried chicken & waffles) service was efficient and friendly. I ended up getting the the bacon & praline waffles - sweet and savory while my bf got the chicken & waffles. We both enjoyed our meals but were too full to finish them and ended up taking the rest home with us.
(4)Margarita S.
YES!! The best brunch I've had in portland, bar none.Excellent service, wonderful food and well worth the 40 minute wait for a table.
(5)Nia M.
We decided to spend the weekend in Portland. Thank the Universe for YELP! Based on the great reviews we decided to try Screen Door. We had Shrimp & Grits and for dessert shared a strawberry shortcake. Our meal was delicious. We had the best customer service. We will keep this on our list of favorite Portland eateries.
(5)Sarah P.
I am only giving this place 4 stars because the wait is dreadful, the wait is usually 2 hours or so. Other then the wait the food is great:) Who doesnt love chicken and waffles? The chicken and waffles is big enough for two and is fairly priced. This is a great place to eat if you dont mind waiting.
(4)Anne T.
This restaurant redeemed PDX in my eyes! I've been to Portland quite a few times and have always been disappointed. But not at Screen Door! This place is too good to be true. Service is impeccable. Everyone checked on our table.. Yes, everyone. The wait staff.. The hostess. She even went to check on our order when she felt the food was taking too long. Even though there was a disclaimer that the food will take awhile, the server still apologized. We were joking around and asked for straws for the gumbo...... and they would have got us the straws! Lastly.. the only complaint I had was that my boufriend wanted his chicken medium rare.. I would want to take a star off.. but the fully cooked fried chicken was just too damn delicious!
(5)Amy R.
Gah! What do I say about one of my favorite go to's for all occasions? Veg or carnivore, casual or celebratory, the staff, service and food are always an A+! Already dreaming about my next visit!
(5)Mary K.
Finally decided to brave the (ever present) crowd at screen door, on Memorial Day weekend nonetheless! They were slammed, as usual. But the 40 minute wait flew by, and that's part of their charm. We had some bloody Mary's in the sun while waiting, and decided the chicken and waffles were a must. After enjoying our drinks, we were seated on the patio! Our waitress was such a sweetie, full of energy! Despite the crowd, she was always there with more coffee and even gave us extra creamer and jam. We will be back. Loved it.
(5)Chariya S.
Possibly the BEST FRIED CHICKEN I've ever had the pleasure of tasting. I still have dreams about it and every time I think about Portland I can't help but wish I could go visit again just for this restaurant. For a party of two, we were seated after 45 minutes or so. It was packed on a Saturday night but I promise that the wait is worth it! You can order a cup of beer to sip on while you patiently wait. We were seated at the bar and our order came out rather quickly. The fried chicken were cooked to perfection - crispy and tender! The gravy added the final touch! I usually don't even like mash potatoes but these were bomb! Collar greens were delicious as well. I can only hope that I'll get to visit Portland again one day.
(5)Allen N.
What can you say that other have not already said. The best chicken in portland!
(5)Jordan T.
YUM. That is all that needs to be said about the food here. The fried chicken is the beat boneless variety that I have ever had. The brisket is delicious, and perfectly slow cooked. The sampler plate (can't remember the actual name) is perfect for people like me who can never make up their mind about what they want. They have a full bar with yummy cocktails, and homemade pie that is a perfect end to a heavy good ol'American meal. Definitely worth the wait as far as I am concerned!
(5)daniel c.
so good love this spot
(5)Caroline K.
Arrived for a late dinner and the wait wasn't too long. I wasn't expecting much but WOW!!! The fried chicken... Best fried chicken I have ever had. The chicken was perfectly crispy and moist inside... And then mashed potatoes.Drool. Mac and cheese is solid. Shrimp and grits: not a big fan of grits but shrimp was big and juicy. The inside is pretty loud. Sit outside, the ambiance is great and there are heaters to keep you toasty. I will definitely stop by here again when in town!
(4)Jason F.
Consistently delicious. Hence the great reviews and long line.
(5)Varena V.
Go on a Wednesday night just as they open, it is worth it. Not a cheap place but man that food is fantastic! Best fried chicken I've ever had and they have a gluten free dredge for all their fried goodies.
(5)Nathan L.
It's sad when you wait an hour and a half for food and they over sauce every portion. We stopped here because of the good yelp reviews but had no idea the wait would be an hour and a half. Our food on the other hand took about 30 min to get, our server rarely checked in on us and we waited another 10 min to pay the bill. That being said the food was okay, but they put so much sauce on all of their foods. I enjoy tasting my food and not eating it like a soup. I don't live down here and probably will never come back because of the service alone.
(1)Chris C.
Another one of those really popular and really crowded brunch places in Portland. Having said it's worth the wait and the food is incredible.
(5)Jose G.
No review needed. Oh wait this is a review. Screen Door rocks! NY strip steak eggs Benedict and Chicken and sweet potato waffle. Nice :) Oh great service too.
(5)Rich N.
Outstanding fried chicken, but the real surprise was the collard greens! Absolutely no bitterness and great depth of flavor.
(5)John O.
We may have found the BEST breakfast restaurant ever! We have been trying for many years to eat at Screen Door, but every time we came by, there was a huge line. Mistakenly, we decided no place could be worth standing in such a line. WRONG! Today we decided to be one of the first in line but as you can see, even 30 minutes early put me at the end. Well we now know why people stand in line for an hour. The food was amazing. They don't spend much expense on the decor; it's the food that counts. I had the Cathead Biscuit Sandwich with gravy on the side and plain grits. The chicken was spicy, crisp and crunchy on the outside and tender in the inside. Grits were smooth and creamy - the best ever. My wife ordered the Eggs Sardou, poached eggs over artichoke hearts and creamed spinach Benedict style. Both dishes were amazing, literally to die for! Having the best seats in the house, we could see every dish as it came out. Everything looked amazing and we will have to be back to try all of the other things on the menu. This is when you wished you had two stomachs. This is a very efficiently run operation from the chefs to the wait staff!
(5)Adam B.
Knowing this place is always a zoo, we showed up about 40 minutes before open for breakfast on a Saturday morning to about 30 people already waiting in line. Once the doors opened we were seated in about 10 minutes. No matter what, you're waiting. Everything you read about this place is true. I had the chicken and waffles and it was phenomenal. What makes it so good is the peppery, sweet batter of the fried chicken. Along with the tender and juicy meat, it may be some of the best fried chicken I've had in Oregon. Right up there with Papa's Soul Food in Eugene. Although the food is reasonably priced for the quality and quantity, I felt the $9 mimosa was a little steep, amongst the other drink prices. It's worth trying at least once if you are into exploring the staple restaurants of Portland.
(4)Peter H.
This was honestly the best meal I've ever eaten. I would love to sample everything on the menu (which I'm sure is just as amazing) - this visit I went with the classic chicken and waffles with a side of pecan-crusted bacon. Three huge chicken breasts perfectly fried with delicious waffles, I actually had leftovers. We arrived on a Saturday at 8:40am and while there was a line, we were able to get in quickly and had food in front of us within 20 minutes even with a packed restaurant. We will no doubt be back next time we are in Portland.
(5)T U.
A real nice try...would go back My baby organic carrots were striungy and chewey...but I ate what i could. Shripm and gtrits excellent Oysters..outstanding Asparagus...peel them a little of you want to keep them long... Fried Okra...good Busy place...food looks like it is pushed out pretty fast... Good IPA
(3)Victoria A.
Wait was well over 1 hour and a half but still so worth it. Perfectly seasoned chicken and waffles. Chicken is crispy and waffle is light, airy and made with yam. Huge portions to share. I recommend ordering drinks while you wait. Bloody Marys are amazing and are my new favorite drink. If you like V8 and a salted rim with okra and an olive you'll heartily enjoy it. The Old Ramos Gin Fizz also tasted like a delicious orange creamsicle. Just make sure they add the alcohol and check your ID so they don't serve you virgin drinks and you are blatantly wondering Am I feeling the buzz?? Also recommended: wander around the neighboring shops while you wait to increase your appetite and food consumption. Yum!
(5)Danielle T.
I'd give this place 4.5 stars if that were an option. It's worth the wait -- the waffles and fried chicken, grits, maple bacon, and so much more are excellent. Always a pleasant experience -- but often long wait times.
(4)Brian H.
The Screen Door is an excellent place to eat. It's down to Earth and low key and the food is delicious. Try the Chicken if it's your first time there. They are very popular though, so get reservations, or prepare to wait in line outside to get in and enjoy.
(4)Carolyn T.
Have come here multiple times whenever we go to Portland... I don't think I've ever gone to Portland without stopping here for dinner. Best comfort food with great attentive service. Nothing more to say.
(5)H N.
amazing fried chicken and food.everything on the menu we ordered that night was really good..so you can't lose!service was attentive and very friendly as well.
(5)Kelli S.
It doesn't get much better than this. Everything here is amazing. The fried okra and fried chicken takes me back to the south. The pork chop special they had the night we were there was great as well. You have to leave room dessert because its all amazing. You might just want to consider not eating all day before coming here.
(5)Court W.
Round Table Pizza has execalaunt pizza
(4)Amy T.
So good I wanted to slap my mama! Thankfully she doesn't live in Portland! The food here truly fed my soul. It was comfort food, mom's cooking, granny's cooking, and the feel of home all wrapped into one place. Being from Oakland, Ca. I was skeptical about the food. Oakland has amazing soul food and southern restaurants. I mistakenly figured that I could kiss southern cuisine goodbye unless it meant a trip home - boy was I wrong! I had the shrimp and grits - MY GAWD! It was incredible. The grits were creamy, yet they stood up to the bold flavors of the shrimp. I also sampled my husbands fried chicken livers and nearly took over his plate as well. The reviews say it all, but thank you for honoring this special and unique cuisine that is so important to the history of people and food in this country. I'm in love with the Screen Door and I can't wait to go back!!!!!
(4)Stephen W.
I actually think 4.5 stars are more accurate because parking is really hard and the line to get in at opening is ridiculous. We got there 20-25 minutes before opening on a Sunday and we were a good 50 people back from the door. That 50 turned to way more as there were numerous line-holders for larger groups, so one person turned into seven. The place immediately filled upon opening, both indoor and outdoor. We got one of the last tables indoors, by the kitchen. That actually turned out well so I could watch what was going on in the kitchen, Everyone works super hard at this restaurant, and try their best to be fast and efficient. Therefore, I don't agree with other reviews that complain about the service. When you have 100+ orders coming all at once, it is going to take some time to get the food out. The kitchen is not that big. Anyway, the food: The chicken and waffle is enormous, more food than one person can or should eat. We were thinking of splitting an order and getting another waffle on the side, but our waitress suggested one waffle each with however much chicken we wanted. So we each got one waffle and one chicken. The meal lived up to the hype, it was delicious. The chicken is tender and juicy, and the waffle with syrup is excellent. The combination of all the flavors is devine. I would definitely get it again. For reasons I cannot explain, we also opted to split one biscuit and gravy, despite the massive portion sizes. My only defense is that we seem to be in the mode of comparing the best biscuits and gravy. This one was among the best. The gravy was easily in the top three, and probably the top two. The gravy was very flavorful with big chunks of sausage and just the right amount of pepper. The biscuit was good, a big dense, but not bad at all. If you can survive the parking the line this is an excellent place for breakfast or brunch on the weekend.
(5)D B.
We all know this place is good--AND silly-busy! I like it a lot but cannot tolerate the wait times (that said, getting there early is an excellent strategy). I am glad that they have so much success, however! I know that they are doing their best.
(4)Andrea K.
There was quite a wait in line to get in. The food and service was great.
(5)Nikki N.
We came during a trip to Portland because we figured 2400+ people on Yelp couldn't be wrong...and they weren't! Actually one if the best meals I've ever had. We came with 5 people and even though they said 30-40 minutes, they sat us in under 20. I got the catfish, Mac & cheese and gumbo. My mom got the burger. My aunt got the shrimp and grits. We went around and tried everyone's stuff, and everything was amazing. My favorite was the catfish; it literally was melt-in-your-mouth amazing. For drinks we got bloody marys and szarecs, and both were superb. For dessert we got the coconut rhubarb upside down cake with pineapple curd ice cream. I wish I had not been so full so I could eat more of it. We all came hungry and left stuffed with leftovers in tow. Our server was knowledgeable and friendly, and we had a great time. Thanks so much, Screen Door! What you've got here is amazing.
(5)Kim N.
It was relatively expensive but we got good food thats why I am giving it 3 stars. Also, they dont take reservations and if you come in a group you have to wait for a long time. Highly recommend their burgers and fried chicken
(3)Erica W.
We had a great dinner here last night! After having some cider at a nearby cider house, we figured we would stop by here and see if the wait was reasonable. Luckily it was only about a 15 minute wait, so we decided to finally give Screen Door a try. I ordered the Shrimp and Grits and my husband got the Screen Door Plate with fried catfish, fried drumsticks, and mashed potatoes. My meal was really good! The shrimp had a nice flavor and the grits were creamy and flavorful. After eating his meal, my husband felt he should have ordered something other than the catfish because his plate was too heavy and the catfish wasn't his favorite. He's from Missouri, so he is a catfish lover, but also has high expectations. For dessert, we shared the Ban-offee pie and it was delicious! The pie was very sweet, so I was glad we shared. The caramel and banana with the shortbread crust was awesome! I'd definitely order that again. Overall, we had a good dinner. The place is pretty quiet and fills a lot of people, so it can be very loud. If you want good food - come here. If you want to have a nice quiet meal - choose somewhere else.
(4)Dimitri T.
Come here early if you would like to fill up your belly at a decent time.. Place filled up within minutes and we got there 30 mins before opening too!? Pro: Decent service and nice proportions Con: Don't take someone on a "first date" here.. Very loud Very tight seating and uncomfortable seats They had "specials" but not sure if the server knew what they were Overall: Make sure to arrive early and with an appetite! Will come back again when I am in town.
(4)John T.
Always great food. One of my favorite afternoon meals in Portland
(4)Ram P.
We were there for brunch and it was a great place. The waiters were more than happy to accommodate our individual tastes and preferences. We were a group of 5 and we all had substitutions and customization. And we were all obliged.
(4)Jill K.
Always tasty food. The parking is a nightmare and the wait is a bit of a pain. But the food and atmosphere are great.
(4)Rebekah S.
Always delicious. Great service. Totally worth the wait. The Cheesy Grits are my favorite item on the menu.
(5)Raj S.
From the irresistible fried chicken and waffle to the breakfast po-boy and cathead biscuit, there is no door less visited and less open to a culinary experience that stays with me for weeks after I pay worship to this temple of nasty larger-than-belly but charmed southern food. The weekend lines are suffocating much like waiting to glimpse the gods at a crowded shrine but it's worth it, I say. Some things just are.
(5)T M.
Service was mediocre. We understand that you are a busy place. Service still means that you get back to tables who's food takes 40+ minutes. Even a refill on a beverage could help. A second Bloody Mary might have upped your tip. No star The place was too busy to be clean. It wasn't dirty, just busy. Half a star. This was a destination visit and we waited over an hour. Granted it was Saturday morning. Half star. The value was good, but over the top on the chicken n waffles. Amazing value and amazing taste. Two stars. Go in when its not busy - good luck. They are wildly popular.
(3)Karyn L.
Really hearty food with a cool atmosphere. I got the mac & cheese, collard greens, and gumbo. Though everyone around me was raving about the mac & cheese, my favorite was the gumbo. Only downside is the wait--it's quite the popular joint--and it is on the pricier side.
(5)Melissa A.
First time going. Had the pulled pork sandwich with sweet potato fries. There was a long wait time but totally worth it in the end! Would definitely recommend this place to anyone. Loved the pickled jars on the shelves and the open kitchen.
(5)Kira F.
I am a big catfish fan and they do it justice better than anywhere else in Portland. I eat here whenever I am needing my southern fix. So delicious! I would give them 5 stars if they made the cornbread taste as good as the catfish.
(4)Katie L.
We came here a few months ago for dinner. We arrived at the restaurant around 5:45pm, 15 minutes after opening for dinner, and there was already a line going out the street. The line moved pretty quickly though and we were seated in a decent amount of time. We started off with the crispy fried oysters. My husband and I liked these a lot. The sauce went well with the oysters and it was a great way to start off our meal. I ended up ordering the Beef Brisket dish. It is an incredibly fattening dish, especially since I asked for a side of french fries. I couldn't finish my meal so I had a pretty delicious lunch the next day. My husband ordered the braised pork shoulder dish. He thought it was ok. It wasn't incredibly delicious but it was good enough to not gripe about it. We'll probably come back to try the breakfast menu, since it's obviously what they're known for. Overall, our meal was pretty good and we'll be coming back sometime soon.
(4)M M.
As always, great food, great service and good company. One of my favorite hideouts in inner city. Parking is rough so allow extra time for that...as well as the 30-60 minute wait to be seated...there is very limited seating while you wait.
(4)Rod P.
Jakes in Mcminnville I had lunch with my wife and sister on Tuesday 06-05-15.I had the soup,salad and half sandwich.My wife had the French Dip and My Sister Fettucini Alfredo.With 3 drinks and a slice of cheesecake for nearly $40.00 dollars.We walked into the rear portion for seating. Two other couples were seated and three other tables still had the remains of previous diners.The food was fresh but not remarkable.When I paid with my card the lady was excited to show how to use their I-Pad.The bill gave three choices for gratuities. 15%-18% and 20%.I left a 15% tip.I recommend you pay cash and forgo the tipping.You carry your own food and paying for them to clean tables seems rediculous.
(3)Brett K.
Great food, some of the best Fried Chicken in Portland. Location is comfortable but typically crowded as it is good food.
(4)Victoria C.
Really great food and fun atmosphere. Food is really fresh. Enjoyed the Huevos Rancheros and Praline Bacon. My friend loved the Bananas Foster French Toast. The inside is a little tight and it's a very popular spot so expect a wait to get a table.
(4)Varun B.
We decided to go here one sunday morning for brunch. Knowing that it generally is quite popular, we decided to drive there so that we'd make it by the time it opens. Got there...and apparently we were already late to the punch since there was a long line around the block. With that, we went ahead and decided to order it as a carryout. Got kind of lucky, because we ordered right when it opened and they gave us a time of 20 minutes for pick up. We decided to order the plate of the chicken and waffles as well as the cheddar cheese grits. It's a large portion of chicken, so tread lightly if you're getting this for yourself. The chicken was moist on the inside with a very crispy outside. It tasted great with the hot sauce and honey. The waffle was nice and savory because it was made out of sweet potato. Since we did takeout, the waffle was a little soggy by the time we ate it, so I can't comment on the crust of it unfortunately. The grits were good, but I have had better.
(4)Naaz S.
Amazing fried chicken. Not greasy nor difficult to scoff down. Mac and cheese was good as well as the shrimp and grits. Fried okra was extremely disappointing. It was a toss up between that and the hushpuppies. we should've done the hushpuppies
(4)T D.
The two times I've visited from CA I've had to stop here! The food is amazing! Service hasn't been that good, but its always busy so..yeah. The Mac and cheese is AMAZING! It's very rich and cheesy not just buttery like everywhere else. The fried chicken is delicious, it's always flavorful and juicy! If you like sweet corn bread, skip getting it here. I've never had anything from here that I didn't like!
(4)Ariel W.
The burger was realllllly good. The salad was good too, but the portion was far from enough. The dessert chocolate cheesecake was also delicious, but too sweet. We didn't finish it.
(4)Irene S.
This place was pretty good. I do feel like it is a little over hyped because breakfast is only available on the weekends. The wait is long but that's the point of a weekend brunch in Portland right? The chicken and waffles are good but a little heavy for me, I only ate like 1/4 of it. Thankfully my friends and I enjoy family style dining when we go out. I don't remember what else we tried, but everything was a little on the heavy side. It's probably because we ordered all heavy things though..
(4)Shannon R.
Hands down my favorite restaurant in Portland. Order the fried chicken and a side of macaroni. Service is always great. Make sure you get there early and stand in line, otherwise you will be waiting a while!
(5)John C.
I always go here after a bad restaurant experience, it restores my faith in the universe. Order anything, its all good, just make sure you get a side of hushpuppies and leave your calorie counting at the door.
(5)Vity K.
The wait can be ridiculous. I liked the food but it wasn't worth the wait, in my opinion. It was packed to the point of uncomfortable. I could pretty much brush elbows with the folks at the table next to ours. I enjoyed Miss Delta on Mississippi much more, but that's just me.
(3)Mark K.
Order the Fried Chicken and put some hot sauce on it, then you won't put it down. This is a great local place with some great Southern cooking! One of a kind in Portland.
(5)Kyle B.
We celebrated our daughters 20th birthday here. I read reviews and made sure we were early. 30 minutes early we were about twenty deep in line. We had seven people and were seated outside by request. We were greeted by our waitress Erika. She immediately rushed us through. She was very good but very impatient. Made me wonder if she new she was not getting the 18 percent automatic tip for having six or more people if she would have been more relaxed in her approach with us. She even rushed the birthday song for my daughter. We were not all there and tried to tell her but she just kept going with the song. Now the food was all that and more! Very good on all parts. Fried chicken is a absolute must. Great to share place. I had the pork shoulder dish and shared for some chicken. Great food! Just wished waitress would not of rushed us through. 4/19/15
(3)Barry T.
It lived up to the hype. Fabulous food, inexpensive, and fast service. Fried oysters, hush puppies, beef brisket with thing onion rings and baked beans, fried chicken, gumbo. Everthing that our table ordered was excellent.
(5)David B.
Monday evening, Screen Door was a conduit to delicious butter-milk battered fried chicken with mashed potatoes and deep green collards - all cooked and seasoned to perfection. The pork chop was top quality. The low country gumbo rivaled the best I've had in S Carolina and was complemented by thick, moist cornbread. The mac & cheese made us smile. The Screen Door iced tea is the real thing. The chef has well curated a slice of life. (Pun: great oral history!) Thank you Screen Door!
(4)Jennifer R.
Went here with some friends while visiting them in Portland and we arrived at 5pm and were the second ones in line for the 5:30pm opening time. Seating was fast and accommodated 4 adults, a highchair and 7 week old baby. Restaurant is pretty busy and noise level can be high but that's all part of the fun! The Screen Door plate is the best deal - kind of a sampler where you can choose 3 things off the menu. Fried chicken is great! Mac and cheese is super decadent and cheesier than anything I've ever had. The Banana toffee pie is a keeper. We also had the lemon layer cake which was good but the pie was the winner. Great place - just plan ahead and get there BEFORE it opens.
(5)Rebecca D.
This was stop number 4 on my portland foodie tour while I was visiting and it really restored my faith in yelp after trying Pok Pok, which was a slight disappointment. Screen door is a very cute and intimate restaurant that serves true southern style dishes. My boyfriend and I arrived at 7:30pm on a Friday - I know I know, what were we thinking! - and we had to wait about 45 minutes. Our orders ended up being very influenced by what the servers were bringing to other tables because we were definitely being those creeps peeking over everyone's shoulder to see what they ordered haha. As a starter, we went with the shrimp and grits, which were delicious! It was so creamy and flavorful from the shrimp sauce, would definitely order again! As for the main dish, my bf went with the buttermilk fried chicken, which came with a side of gravy, mashed potatoes, and collard greens - a must as it is their more popular dish and was also recommended by everyone at the tables around us! Portlanders are so friendly :) I, on the other hand, ordered the beef brisket, which came with a side of bbq sauce, bbq baked beans and coleslaw. Both were great dishes! The fried chicken was peppery and super yummy! The brisket with the bbq sauce was good too, but what I loved most about my dish were the sides. The beans and coleslaw were winners on my plate! We also ordered the Mac n cheese as a side, and you HAVE to try it! I typically don't order Mac n cheese at restaurants cause they're so simple, but here, it was amazing. And we also noticed that every single table had ordered a side of it as well. The noodles were al dente and so cheesy and creamy! After all that food we still had to try their ban-offie pie as recommended by our wonderful waiter. It was perfect to end our meal. The crust was sooo good and the cream was very light. I would definitely stop by here again if I visit portland because the service was excellent as well!
(5)Jay S.
It's hard to stand out in the Portland food scene...there's just so much of everything to choose from, and so much of it is great. When a place like Screen Door commands locals and visitor's attention alike, you know you are in for a treat. The menu here encapsulates what makes Portland an Eating Destination: Take a bunch of classic favorites (fried chicken, gumbo, mac n cheese), do clever iterations of that cuisine (fried pork belly with seared scallops on a bed of grits? YES PLEASE!) and add a quality helping of up to the minute locally sourced veggie dishes on the fresh sheet (beet salad, apple slaw, etc). All for plates under $20. Need I say more? Well, you have to know the caveats: it's busy. Some people find the service lacking (I've never had a bad server). But - dinner can be easier to get into than brunch...so if you really want to try Screen Door and have a choice...that could be your ticket. Any way you slice it...the food is worth the wait, worth a trip and so worth the splurge on calories!
(5)John M.
Great taste, big portions.
(5)Tram T.
Oh man does Portland people know how to fry their chicken! For dinner we started off with their pork belly, some kind of salad, and deep fried oysters. Love how fresh their salad was. Their oysters was def amazing! Way better than WalRus the Carpenter in Seattle. For our main dishes we got the Deep fried chicken, the pork shoulder, and the three side dishes. So the pork shoulder is the reason why I had to take away a star from them. It was pretty nasty. The BBQ sauce tasted sweet and finished with a bitter taste. The fried chicken batter was just perfect and it wasn't oily either. I also couldn't get enough of their hot sauce.
(4)Jigar G.
Beautiful brunch place that my girlfriend and I stopped at while passing through Portland. It was a 5 or 10 minute wait only because we went on a weekday at around 11:30; however, it was still packed with people waiting. We started off with a creole bloody mary, and it was delicious, unique, and definitely something I'd recommend to try. Also to start, we had the praline bacon, which was absolutely delicious. It was very rich though, so I suggest sharing it with one or two other people unless you can handle a lot of fat and sugar in one go (maybe that's just me?). I ordered the chicken and waffles with two pieces, and it was the best fried chicken I've ever had. In addition, the sweet potato waffle was amazing - light, perfectly sweet, and adequately sized. I'm in Los Angeles a lot, and I don't hate to say the following at all: the chicken and waffles here blows that at Roscoe's away. That being said, I still love Roscoe's. My girlfriend ordered the banana foster pancakes, and she enjoyed them. They were very sweet though, so if you eat a relatively clean diet with little salt and added sugar, this may be an overload for your palette. Would love to come back whenever I'm in portland again. Last but not least, props to the waiting staff for making sure we had water at all times and asking if we needed anything in a timely but not invasive manner. It was really crowded, and they were very patient.
(5)Steve B.
Great atmosphere. Great food. Easy parking. Original menu. I had the chicken over waffles and it couldn't have been better.
(5)Bob A.
I used "Infinity Landscapes, (Reuben Smith & crew) for my first landscaping job here. These guys were nothing short of great! Very professional, detailed, quick, and extremely affordable! I recommend them highly. Bob A.
(5)Justin L.
I was pretty disappointed in the food. I had heard great things about this place and was super excited to try it. We had a pretty short wait for what we were expecting, and the place was packed. We ordered the special app. Pork belly and Fried Green Tomatoes...Toms were good, pork belly was very dry. We shared the Fried chicken, corn bread, Mac and cheese and mash potatoes. Chicken was the best part of the meal. It was juicy and delicious. The corn bread was terrible. Dry as could be and no real flavor to it. The Mac and cheese looked great as it was a soup bowl full covered in cheese. But it was a huge let down. Not creamy and not seasoned. The mash pots were ok. Nothing special. The chicken and the service was pretty great so I went with 3 stars. Usually it would be lower but the Hostess and waitress were both funny and polite.
(3)Stephanie H.
The line before opening is justified. Get here early! The owners provide a great menu with seasonal selections, wonderfully cooked in a southern style. Coming from the south I never expected to have to beat shrimp and grits ever in Portland.
(5)Lee I.
Can't go wrong with this place. I've been there before and liked the food so I took the fam along with some friends and now we consider it a must stop when in PDX. My wife thought the brisket there was the best she ever had and my daughter loved the hush puppies. Kind of sucks that both times I've eaten too much to try dessert though. Gotta try and pace myself better.
(5)David Y.
Not really much else to say that hasn't been stated. Chicken and waffles, candied bacon, grits, potatoes, and the french toast were all amazing dishes. Good value, great taste, and fun atmosphere.
(5)C W.
The best Southern Comfort food in Portland. The Chicken & Waffles are beyond belief! You have to stand in line but it is sooooo worth it!
(5)Steed H.
Love to try it someday if i could just bring myself to wait on the corner like a dope with the rest of the idiots.
(1)Yu-Chun K.
The service is awful. We took 1.x hrs waiting in line to get in, I understand. And we order right after. However, we took another 1.x hrs to wait for our order. The dish preparation efficiency is so poor. I would rather give 0.5 star or even lower if possible.
(1)Ella E.
Beware when ordering take out! We called our order in and was told it will be ready in 30 minutes. Waited for our food and came back to pick it up. We told the male host (tall, skinny with almost bald hair) that we were waiting to pick up our food. Waited an ADDITIONAL 30 minutes with no phone call indicating our order was ready. We were even standing by the front, so the staff know that we are STILL waiting. Finally saw the male host talking to the female bartender. Apparently, our order had been ready and was waiting on the floor of the bar area! No communication from any of the restaurant staff that our food was ready. When asked if the food has been ready and sitting there for awhile, the male host even made an excuse that it just got there! We had been waiting and standing there for an hour, so we knew he was lying! We finally got our food and it was cold! We had been long time customers and have always visited this restaurant every time we go to Portland. Sadly, we will not be coming back nor do we recommended this place to anyone! Stay away!!!
(1)Eric M.
Do you really care enough to wait in that line for hours on end? (Hint: I don't.) What is this Disneyland? (As long as we're on the subject of overrated.) Great place to drop acid though.
(2)William B.
Some of the best food in the city. One of my FAVORITE spots. When it comes to Brunch or Dinner few (if any) do it better than Screen Door! If you are new to the city or just live under a rock, go here at your soonest opportunity.
(5)Ben L.
Normally I don't buy into the famous places, or well known. We were expecting it to be good. But WOW! Great food, we waited in line maybe 30 minutes and it moved fast we bumped into at least two other couples we knew and ended up pushing tables together turned out amazing. The chicken and waffles were great! Not an egg with chicken wings. Huge portion I'm glad we shared it! It's that kind of place you go in expecting it to be good and leave amazed!! A++
(5)Amanda F.
Worth the hour and a half wait to be seated for two. Can have a cup of coffee while you wait or a Bloody Mary. The menu offers many delicious options yet we went for the classic chicken and waffles, the shrimp and grits, and a side order of praline bacon. AMAZING! All of it! The shrimp were large and cooked to perfection with outstanding flavor. The breading on the chicken was perfectly seasoned and cooked to be juicy. The waffle had fluff with a crispy outside. The bacon....no words, just soft moans! I will be back. The line will not deter me from trying more of the delicious options on the menu!
(5)James E.
Decent food. Certainly not worth the wait for brunch. The weekend (life?) is short enough as it is without waiting 90 minutes for fried chicken and eggs.
(2)Mikhail R.
Came here visiting from Seattle. I'm giving it 2 stars because they forgot my food. I came in on Saturday around 12:30 and everybody else in my party got the food they ordered. 30 minutes later I actually got my chicken and waffles and everybody was done eating. Didn't even get to try my meal. The server who was busy, took it away and took it off my check. I did want to eat it but I let her take the meal. I wanted to enjoy it with my friends not In a Togo box.
(2)Lauren Y.
Screen door was one of the best eateries on our three day Portland trip. We had the praline bacon, chicken and waffles and red hot link sandwich. Get ready for a very tasty and heavy meal!! The bacon is to die for btw so think three times before you pass on ordering it. It comes with free big pieces so can def be shared with the table. The wait is typically long but we came on a Friday around 9am (no line) and by the time we left (~10:15), there was a huge crowd waiting to be seated. Tip: it's really poor lighting in there so will be difficult to get nice food pictures unless you sit on the patio.
(4)Annie C.
The chicken and waffles and Mac n cheese are to die for!!! I had heard a lot about Screen Door and expected a lot from the Southern eatery. It definitely lived up to the hype and expectations. I want to come back and try the praline bacon, Carolina bbq dishes, and biscuits. This time I ordered the fried chicken and waffles and Mac n cheese, and they were so delicious! The chicken and waffles were perfectly seasoned and salty for the chicken and sweet with a hint of pumpkin and cinnamon in the waffles. Usually I hate syrup, but this syrup was delicious and complemented the pumpkin and cinnamon well. Even though the chicken and waffles were solid, the star was definitely the Mac n cheese. It came in a searing hot baked bowl with a thick layer of cheddar cheese on top covering the entire concoction. Different cheeses are mixed in, and the result is a perfectly cheesy and gooey Mac n cheese that just warms the heart. The cheese wasn't too stringy or chunky, and some mac n cheeses have too much fluid, but this was balanced well. Each successful Mac n cheese place stands out on its own, and Screen Door has its own unique twist to Mac n cheese that makes it a star.
(5)Tiara M.
I'm sad to say that I did not love the food here. I have learned after trying it a few times that I am just not a southern food kinda gal. Who knows? Maybe one day I'll come around... So, I can see the appeal in Screen Door. It was my first visit, and everything on the menu sounded amazing. I have been eyeing this place for some time and finally made it for lunch. I read some reviews and decided to get the chicken and waffles and the cat fish po boy. For appetizer, the praline bacon. The bacon was delicious, I have to say. I've tried a similar style of bacon at a nearby joint, but I found the other version too nutty and overly sweet. Screen Door has perfected this balance. As far as the entrees, the chicken was certainly flavorful and juicy, but my fiance found himself craving some dark meat on the bone probably should've gotten the drumsticks instead); and in ordering the po boy, I have realized that I do not like catfish. It was my first time, and I just don't prefer the flavor. I ended up removing the catfish and replaced it with a piece of fried chicken that came with the waffle. In the end, we left feeling heavy and unsatisfied. I really think it must be personal preference though because of all the stellar reviews on here. At least, that is what I'm going to chalk it up to this time. I will probably try again someday and see if I can change my review. (The biscuits and gravy looked amazing.) In the meantime, if you are thinking about trying some it and enjoy southern comfort food, I'd say try Screen Door. If anything, they definitely give you the bang for your buck.
(3)Kaitlin P.
HOLY MOLEY! LOVE LOVE LOVE! In love! This place was well worth the wait! I didn't have super high expectations because I'm not a huge fried chicken fan but there was so much more than that. I ordered a Scarlett O'Hare drink and that was a treat of blood orange, followed by a glass of rose, then the goat cheese beet salad and the brisket. Everything was delicious! I was in love! My boyfriend, who come to find out during this trip that he doesn't like beets (oh my goodness, horrible I know!) actually loved the beet salad, although you really don't need an appetizer because the portions are huge. Loved everything!
(5)Debbie O.
Don't let the line bog you down. The Screen Door is worth every minute of agonizing wait. It's everything I hoped for and more. Hearty, comfort food with friendly service. Don't come when you're hangry. But even if you do, you can't help but be satisfied by the decadent pecan praline bacon and the succulent fried chicken atop sweet potato waffles. Did I mention they have the most buttery biscuits with gravy?! Need I say more? Grab a cup of joe from the front and wait to be impressed. The Screen Door is by far one of the best brunch experiences ever!
(5)LeAnn E.
#1 tip: get in line around 8:30-8:45. Trust me! Fried chicken, praline bacon...yummy!!! I expected better coffee from this place, given its popularity and this being Portland but, doesn't change my 5 star review. I will definitely be back! I also hear that ordering to go is a fabulous idea...kids from Central Catholic apparently do so for lunch and it makes sense...cuz I think there's always a line here. For good reason!
(5)Shiyuan D.
This place is SO GOOD. Just accept the wait. Don't go if you can't wait, both for a table, service, and the food. Nothing is speedy at this restaurant. Also know that whatever time estimate they give you when your put your name down is likely to be underestimating the actual wait. When we go to Tasty N Alder and they tell us an hour and a half wait, we know it will probably be 45 minutes. When Screen Door says an hour and a half, we know it's more likely to be 2 hours. We've been twice for dinner so far -- once at 8:00pm on a Saturday night and we waited until 9:45pm until we were seated. Service and food was fairly prompt. We also went at 7pm on a Wednesday night. Wait was 25 minutes and the place wasn't very busy, but service was incredibly slow. After our order was dropped off, we only saw our server once more before we asked for the bill. We waited for our water to be refilled. When I asked for to go containers, he brought me 4 containers but only 3 lids. I needed 5 containers and 5 lids. He didn't bring me a bag. I asked 1) for the containers, 2) for an extra lid and an extra set of container + lids, and 3) for the bag. The last time, I got up and went over to the service area because I didn't want to wait 10 minutes for our server to meander back to our table and I got chastised a little for getting up. I don't know why he thought I'd want to carry 5 containers to my car without a bag to put them in. I'm trying to remember why I'm giving this place five stars. OH RIGHT, the food. Both the fried chicken and the chicken tenders are so freaking good. Juicy, lightly battered, well seasoned. Hot sauce on the table. I like the Screen Door plate which I get with mac and cheese (even good reheated), chicken tenders, and greens. With this, I get leftovers for another couple of meals. I also like the shrimp and grits, which are creamy and well seasoned. Go, but bring your patience.
(5)Nancy P.
OUT OF TONWER REVIEW: Our first stop in Portland, and we hit the jackpot! We relished over EVERY bite. Great service and people. The pulled pork melted in my mouth. The sauce was devine--and the biggest beans I have ever seen!! The veggies for our beet salad was not only locally grown but made us happy we went for at least one healthy choice. The bartender even gave us a piece of cornbread, very sweet. No complains. Do it. Just do it.
(5)Colleen B.
Love this place!! Ben our server was a blast. Love his energy and sense of humor. So fun. Great food. Great drinks.
(5)Brian C.
This was hands down the best meal I had in Portland and Screen Door should definitely be on your to-do list if you plan on visiting this wonderful city. We went for dinner on a Thursday night and we were pleasantly surprised to see that there was no line or wait inside. One thing I should mention if you do find yourself here and that's to make sure you bring your appetite with you. The entrees here are definitely enough to share, but you may not want to if you're the only one that ordered the fried chicken amongst others in the group. That just so happened to be me on this particular occasion and man was that some good poultry. As you've probably already expected, the batter was amazing; flavorful and surprisingly light with that perfect amount of crunch. The chicken itself was super moist, like enough to prevent it from becoming super dry the afternoon after. The entree comes with mashed potatoes and I chose collard greens as my second side. To keep it short, both were amazing. One dish that definitely surprised me that evening was the pork belly and fried green tomatoes. It was listed on a chalkboard so, I'm not 100% sure if this is something that's always available but, if it is, you should definitely give it a try. I'm talking super tender, rich pork here people, accompanied by generous slices of crispy green tomatoes; flavors don't get any better than that. Like I said, best meal I had in Portland and very reasonably priced with most entrees ranging $12-15 (I think).
(5)P C.
Very pleased with this place. It is some of the best food I've ever had. The brisket was delectable, and the sides were very good. I tried an excellent smokey cup of gumbo and great fried okra....considering the price to quality, quite reasonable. Only thing poor was the wait....perhaps they may consider reservations.
(5)Janelle O.
Very good food, cozy atmosphere. They have sandwiches on biscuits for breakfast and lunch- enough said.
(5)Faraz B.
First time, I went to Screen Door, it was 8 pm on a Tuesday. My friend took me there so I did not know what to expect. I was totally surprised to know that the wait was 45 mins. Thinking about it a little bit, we decided to wait, and I am so happy we did. This is by far the best Southern Food I have ever eaten in my life. The chef has done a great job of elevating all the dishes. Everything I have ordered so far has been very delicious, and the best part is that the price is just right. I really love this place.
(5)Arielle M.
I'm so glad we heard about this place. The recommendation came from a friend who is a local. We're in town all week on vacation, and we needed a list of places to eat. First breakfast stop: Screen Door. Taking a look at the menu, we were wondering what's with the Louisiana theme. Well, we found out that the owners are from New Orleans, so you know the food is gonna knock your socks off. I may be biased, being from New Orleans also, but that's okay! We started with some Glazed Breakfast Hushpuppies and a couple cups of Hot Chocolate. I'm not a big Hushpuppy fan, but my partner enjoyed them. The Hot Chocolate was pretty good, especially that thick cream it was topped with. For the entree, my partner got the Texas Migas with Cheese Grits and that was tasty. I got the Praline Bacon Waffle. My, oh my. That was delicious. I probably could've eaten a whole plate of just Praline Bacon. That's some good stuff. The staff was very friendly. We even met a few of them who also lived in Louisiana and/or Mississippi at some point in their lives. It was fun to chat with them and hear how they ended up all the way in Oregon. This is a place that you can't pass up if you're visiting the Portland area!
(5)Fatima P.
Delicious! I loved the chicken it wasn't too dry very flavorful. The greens were great but the serving was small. I loooved the corn bread, it was crumbly but delicious. The Mac N Cheese was creamy. We waited 45 minutes to be seated, it was packed. The food arrived within 15 min.
(5)Cole D.
Great local brunch! @ 10:00 on a Sunday, the line can get long, but I was seated immediately at the bar. The joys of eating alone. 'Heirloom Tomato & Bacon Benedict' (special), and a large, fresh squeezed OJ. Bacon was rich & smokey, tomato was think and juicy, fries on the side were delivered with bits of crisp burn - not my thing, but the ladies sitting next to me LOVED them. Got to sample the fried chicken too - a spicy citrus finish to the batter makes this dish the crowd pleaser. Fresh local food served by waiters who seem to be required to wear old concert tour shirts, and a lively atmosphere. I'll be back.
(5)Jaslyn C.
It really is as good as they say. And the ingredients are proper.
(5)Aru S.
Loved it except the huge waiting of like 50 mins. There are good stuff beside the waffle & chicken.
(4)Packy X.
This was the cutest place! Great outdoor spot, fun atmosphere- you have to try their fried chicken!
(5)Steven P.
Food was delicious, and the cocktails were delicious. The line was super long waited over an hour for Saturday brunch but worth the wait. Service was really nice, can't blame them for the wait but that was the only downfall.
(4)Zack S.
Guys. You have no freaking clue. This place. It's like, it's like, it's like... I don't even know. So, there's Chicken, and, it's fried, and... Oh my goodness, you don't even know... Just... Just come here... And eat the chicken... It's the most delicious thing in the world with the coolest atmosphere and the best service. This is most certainly what I would declare a winner. TL;DR: If you haven't been here, go. Just go right now.
(5)Natalia W.
The normal long wait. No problem The hype is still strong and I'm happy for them but the food is not all that. Fried pork chop is over flattened and breaded with saltine crackers. This soaks up sooo much grease you can hardly taste the meat. What's wrong with seasoning and flour? And if you're really being New Orleans style Italian bread crumbs. Served with red beans and rice. No red beans on this menu. Fried chicken breast is flattened as well which makes for quite the presentation but it is just a regular chicken breast which looks huge due to the heavy breading. Taste ok though. Collard greens are good. Not bad good not great Corn bread has corn in it taste good but they don't have a problem serving a piece which is dried out half the way and the bottom is moist. The kitchen needs to find a way to cover it so it won't dry out on the top or stop serving the dried out pieces. The Gumbo sadly chicken and andouille sausage with not a trace of chicken or andouille sausage in it. Not enough thyme and no file. Just a soup with rice in it. Fried okra just like the ones you get from the grocery store freezer section. I don't think they are in house breaded and fried. Nothing to write home about and not worth the price. I wanted to try shrimp and grits but it looks like the shrimp are precooked and not peeled and cooked in house. I wanted to try the mac and cheese but it looks like a soupy cheese sauce with a pile cheese crust baked on the top much like a French onion soup. If you know how to make good mac and cheese it can stand on its own. It doesn't need to hide or be smothered under s cheese shell. Fried chicken wings. WHY IN THE WORLD does the chicken taste like ham? I was sickened. I think maybe the menu needs to describe how the food is prepared if it has an unexpected twist. They have either boiled the chicken in ham hock juice or brined it. I don't know but it is disgusting. If I had read this on the menu I would NOT have ordered it. Just like the pork chop if it read "in a saltine cracker crust" I would have passed on it. Yuck! Hush puppies- may be too small, took on too much grease. The flavor is good on the inside (not just cornbread actually seasoned) perhaps they need to make them bigger and change the heat or put less cornmeal on the outside you'd taste more than just the greasy dark cornmeal on the outside. You're excited to see them on the menu but the taste is a letdown. In my humble opinion, I am not here to slam just to share my experience, there is nothing on the menu that makes me say, I can't wait to go back to Screen Door to get me some more of that good ole ___ ____? Not one single menu item. Oh wait! The hurricane is really good and tasty and nice and potent. Still won't be back.
(1)Peter V.
Round 2 for us at the Screen Door last week was awesome. Griddle stack burger was a nicely cooked, smoky burger creation. Huge too so I cut it into 4 wedges to eat. Po Boy oyster sandwich was great with some very nice ingredients .See you again in a month when we return to Portland.
(5)Rob A.
Best southern cooking in Portland IMHO! If you're looking for good southern comfort food, this is as good as it gets in PDX. Always crazy busy so go during off hours.
(5)George G.
I'm a little torn about what to think or say about this place. On one hand, the food is not bad at all. No doubt, it's about a 4- to a 5-star deal up here for me, for the items that I tried, anyway. That, or maybe I just saw the word "fried", and I jumped to the "it's good" conclusion right away. It's also possible that I'm just really starved when I finally got to eat here for brunch...wait, getting ahead of myself here. I had the fried chicken and sweet potato waffles: three big pieces of battered flat, boneless deep-fried chicken with some thinly-sliced sweet potato waffles, just like what the menu says. I also had the fried oyster benedict. It came with toasted muffins, bacon, and poached eggs. What I think stands out right away on these choices are the big portions and the fact that the items taste really fresh and tenderly-crunchy, especially the fried oysters. The chicken has a little bit of spicy zing to it, not overwhelming, but just enough and just right. They're priced at $14 and $12, respectively, so the size and the flavors back up the numbers just right. Now, the other hand: the wait. I made the mistake of coming here on a Sunday, at noon, and ended up all hungry and what not. Man, brunch totally sucks if you have to wait around and don't get to eat until around 2 PM. I don't care if the food is this or that good or whatever the rest of these fine diners say. On top of that, I had to go through the motions of ordering, waiting for my food, and getting drink refills, yada, all in a really slow motion mode. Why? Because the place is packed, and the overall ratio of staff to customers is totally skewed. This is definitely not the best day to come here to eat. Maybe a takeout would have been a better option on days like when I showed up. Walk past the waiting crowd, pay, pick up the food, grin from ear to ear on the way out, and eat it some place else in peace. Will I be back? Possibly, but if and only if (iff for you techies out there) the hype dies down, if I don't see much of a line, or if I happen to get here before it opens so I can get in and eat right away. Other than that, I'm eating some place else where I can eat right away like how anyone deserves to, then use the two saved hours of my life to explore the rest of the city and still have enough time to eat some more later.
(3)Philip R.
Pretty good. Especially enjoyed the side of seasonal veggies. Be prepared for a wait, unless you get lucky on when you go. Only downside is that I didn't think the corn bread was done quite right...I'm from the south, and I know good corn bread. Screen door's was mediocre. Everything else was great though.
(4)Neda G.
Oh man... Absolutely delicious. Went to Portland with friends and the wife and had to hit up this place! Yes, we had to wait over an hour, and yes it was gloomy and cold out, but it was sooo worth the wait. Luckily with 7 people you can all order something different and have a taste of everything. Chicken and waffles were amazing, grits were amazing, red potatoes were amazing and freshly squeezed orange juice oh my goodness! Even just thinking about it is making my mouth water. Great price, great food, great employees! Definitely worth waiting and taking your chances folks! You will not be disappointed!
(5)LeAnne W.
We plan ahead before going to Screen Door so we can be first in line. The food is soooooooooo good. Love the chicken.
(5)Stella S.
Got in on a 15 minute wait! I know that barely ever happens so I was super stoked! The restaurant was still busy as ever but we even managed to snag a corner booth. The meal got better with the incredible server we had recommending the shrimp and grits breakfast which were so divine I can't say it enough. The others in my party had the chicken and waffles of course and ate almost every last bite but they could not conquer the awesomeness of them completely. Their loss! We left feeling full and happy. What more could you ask for!?
(5)Heather C.
I usually refrain from giving anything a perfect rating, but the food at Screen Door is so good, it's worth putting up with anything that would cause me to remove a star. For weekend brunch, you wait forever. A long forever. There are only two bathrooms, so you'll also wait in line forever then. But their chicken and waffles? And grits? And breakfast corn dog? Worth it. Get up early, get some coffee and plan to find a way to make standing in line fun. You'll forget all about it after you eat.
(5)Katelin S.
Worth the wait
(4)Mariah E.
Defintely worth the long wait! Come hungry and leave crazingly full..
(4)Alefia M.
Just ordered dessert to go because the restaurant was packed! The pecan pie was AMAZING. Unforgettable. I would seriously fly back to Portland just for this pie. Next time they better have some fried chicken waiting for me; sad i missed out on what i am sure would have been a great meal.
(5)Mary H.
Really awesome down home low country southern food. Pro-tip: skip the long lines and order take out. I do it once or twice a week, bring my chicken strips and my mac and cheese home with me after work, and pig out in peace before the television. Whenever I do happen to dine in, it's usually a brunch affair. Get there early, bring a good book, take advantage of the complimentary coffee, and sit your ass down to wait for one of the most divine brunches this city has to offer. I love their red velvet pancakes, and everyone has to get the chicken and waffles at least once in their life. Huge portions too, so it's easy to share, or just bring some home for a second helping. Honestly, some of the best southern food in the area, and that's straight from the cowgirl's mouth.
(5)Don L.
I've been fortunate to have been to Portland twice in the last few months and took the opportunity to eat at the Screen Door both times. This place has fresh and excellent food. It's loud, crowded, and there are usually long lines to deal with but this doesn't diminish the experience. Their fried chicken, gravy, collard greens are fantastic! The bbq brisket is good but I must say that I've had better brisket in Texas. The mac 'n cheese is some of the best ever! Eat here!
(4)Andrew H.
Looks like I was reviewing Screen Door every year, and then I missed 2012...and now it's almost 2014. I am long over-due. If you look up at the top of the Screen Door page you'll see I'm the "Duke" and it's not just because I walk by this location, whip out my celly, and snipe-check-in on a daily basis. No, it's because I live pretty close to here and if I'm in town on weekends (usually not the case in the summer, often the case in the winter due to my climbing addiction) I will go here for brunch. Always. I've also started an informal tradition of eating dinner here before every Mt Hood climb (I mean, if it could be your potential last meal it should be your BEST meal, right? I stole this idea from United States Prison System). Anyway, everything I've said before, it still stands. The food is always good, always. Don't even bother asking your waiter/waitress what they would get, just get whatever has the most ingredients you like, you won't be disappointed. But, I know, you want ME to recommend something, so I will. I usually get something off the specials. Lately I've been getting the Huevos Rancheros (scrambled, cuz I don't like eggs prepared the "authentic" way), and I have never once regretted it. I hope it becomes part of the regular menu eventually. And, of course, if you're a tourist in Portland you MUST get the Chicken and Waffle and take a photo that you immediate post to the internet (as is tradition). The wait staff is genuinely happy, helpful, and efficient. Not just in comparison to jaded-skinny-jean'd Portland, but to anywhere! Seriously, I was given house-baked pralines for Christmas the past two years for coming here so often. What other place in Portland does that? Name one? That's right, you can't. (and if you can, please notify me immediately...and no one else) This is the #1 rated place on the Portland Yelp splash page for a reason, just go here already! If I were to say one negative thing it would be that brunch is only on the weekends. Then again, I would probably have to buy a whole new jean collection if that were so...blessing in disguise.
(5)Sharon K.
BEST BRUNCH I'VE EVER HAD. Wish they had a tasting menu so I could try everything!
(5)Angelo D.
If you're havin' brunch problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 problems but chicken ain't one. I'm going to make this short and savory, Screen Door has hands down the best chicken and waffles I have ever had the pleasure of shoving through my gullet. I've been to Roscoe's in LA, 900 Grayson in Berkeley, Home of Chicken and Waffles in Oakland - none of these even touch Screen Door. That's some magic chicken right there. If you're coming for brunch prepare for a wait so you don't end up eating your own hand in line. Do yourself a favor and get there before opening (My wife Beyonce and I showed up around 8) and put yourself in a position to get in with the first wave.
(5)Chase T.
Excellent southern food. Generous portions. Particularly the fried chicken and waffles during brunch. You get three full chicken breasts and a sweet potato waffle for thirteen dollars and change. Delicious comfort food. Service is friendly and during brunch you can drink coffee while you wait in line. Oh...the line. The deal you get on this delicious food will be offset by the time payment you make in the nearly ever-present line. That's the only reason this isn't a five star restaurant. I just can't handle the line on a regular basis. I suppose that's good for my waistline, though.
(4)YoungEm T.
This place seriously has the best chicken and waffles. They have like 2-3 giant pieces of perfectly fried chicken atop a delicious sweet potato waffle. I've never had any better elsewhere. The line is very long when they open on Saturdays so we always go early, but even then we have to wait. The food is worth it though. They have two types of waffles, sweet potato and original. Both are good. Their bananas foster French toast is delectable. Also, don't forget the hot apple cider. YUM. I've never had an issue with service here despite how busy it is every time I'm here.
(5)Allen T.
Whatever you've heard about the Screen Door it's absolutely true how yum it is! We got there a little after nine and got the second to the last table for the first serving (sat in the heated patio) on a Sunday morning. We are a family of four (2 adults 2 young kids). Our order which we shared family style: Egg Sardou (poached, over creamed spinach, artichoke heart, etcetera) Chicken and waffles (you must eat this I command it) Chocolate chip pancakes (1 huge MF, you will have leftovers) Side of biscuits and gravy (superior) Cheesy grits (our 4 year old downed this!) Had a box of leftovers. Reasonably priced for a happy content family. 6 exclamation mark Awesome!!!!!! Waitress was most nice too. Next time I'm gonna get cocktail.
(5)Leann H.
SUCH GOOD FOOD, average service. I always feel rushed and as if I am bugging the wait staff. I haven't been back just because the service is average.
(4)Angie L.
Don't come here super starving or you might pass out... The wait for a table was an hour for us. We came for breakfast by the way. Our group ordered a few dishes. Chicken and waffles, gingerbread pancakes, an omelette, and biscuits and gravy. The chicken and waffles made the wait worth it. The fried chicken was one of the most moist and savory I have ever had. My omelette was mediocre, the gingerbread pancakes were fun and unique.. Very fluffy too! And then came the biscuits and gravy... That gravy was made with wayyyyy too much flour. It was not edible... So disgusting and the texture was like thick glue. Yucky!!! Food is a little overrated minus the chicken and waffles. :)
(3)Anna L.
Ate here for dinner instead of busybusy brunch. HOLEYY MOLLEEEY friieeeeeeed chicken. I loved loved loved the fried chicken and the creamy mashed potatoes. The portion is HUGE. I could not finish the whole thing even though I really wanted to :( sadface. My sister got the beef brisket. It was good but a bit overwhelming and heavy. We also had to get the mac n' cheese. Wish I had a second stomach or that the hotel had a fridge so I can scarf it down the next day while sitting on the floor pathetically. We ended the meal with a pecan pie and a couple of delicious mixed drinks - I got some fresh blackberry drink. Service was meh. We sat outside since it was nice and warm, but it took so long to get our order in, our food, our drinks, our check! Gah! Oh, and I wish they served the chix and waffles during dinner too. booo. Guess we have to come back for brunch!
(4)Juan C.
Three words... A - ma - zing!!!! We've been here several times for brunch, which is awesome, but their by far is out of this world. The fact that there's a line around the corner before they open is further proof that this place knows good and does it GREAT!!!! A must try if you are in Portland!
(5)Taylor C.
This place is awesome! If this is any indication of the general food scene in Portland, I may need to make a few more trips south on I-5. We had an inkling from Yelp as to what the crowd would look like. We planned accordingly and arrived about 25 minutes before opening. There was still a line out the door of about 20 people ahead of us. No sweat. To me it just made me that much more excited to eat knowing this many people were this eager to eat here. It bugs me a little bit when people complain about the wait at places like this. It's a small restaurant that's extremely popular... seems only natural you would have to wait. Nothing they can do about it. They were efficient about getting everyone in to the restaurant right off the bat. Understandably, with each server having to greet all of their tables and put in all of their orders roughly at the same time, and with the kitchen having to handle one large influx of orders, I would've expected a bit of a disruption in service or a longer wait to eat (as a former restaurant employee, this is the worst possible situation to be in). While there may have been a small delay in the food coming out, overall the service was excellent and timely and everything seemed to be running very smoothly. I did look at the menu, but it was more of a formality. I knew from the pictures that there was only one dish for me. The chicken and waffles are absolutely incredible. First of all, this is about a 1.5x size dinner entree portion of chicken. Kudos to anyone comfortably taking all that down... I'm always a fan of chicken and waffles, and the quality of the dish inevitably varies with the quality of the chicken. Here I can say that Screen Door does a fantastic job with their chicken. Not surprising considering this is their signature dish (I assume). I am eager to try new restaurants in Portland, but it might be hard to pass this place up for another brunch
(5)Carl T.
Yum! The fried chicken was wonderful. Seriously some of the best chicken I have ever had. The collard greens are scrumptious as well. I ordered an appetizer of fried oysters which were amazing. The portions here are HUGE, we had leftovers for days. Make reservations and don't expect this delicious food to be fast. It is worth the wait. I knocked off a star because the wait is to long to get in and the service is okay at best. We will be back : )
(4)Dorene S.
This is officially one of my top 5 places to go in Portland for brunch. The wait is worth it...the fried chicken and waffles is unbeatable. This is about the only place on the planet where I actually love having the cut of chicken breast. French toast is great too. You can go no wrong if you just order these two items on the menu - incredible! Quality: 5 Service: 5 Cost: 5
(5)Mason T.
love this place! Best southern food in portland. The staff is friendly and helpful. Eat here if you are in portland
(5)Katie S.
we live right around the corner from screen door and can see the lines waiting to eat there every single weekend! but it's worth it!! everyone is happy when we eat there or even get take out! they never get it wrong... and we're from alabama and georgia so we consider ourselves decent judges. ;)
(5)Nicole C.
This is THE place to go to when I'm in Portland. I've been here multiple times, and I always leave super full and content. I can recommend both dinner and brunch, although I prefer dinner over brunch by just a bit. Both are excellent. Dinner: Fried chicken - this is easily the best fried chicken I've ever had. It's not what I consider traditional fried chicken (there's something different about the seasoning and breading), but I'd rather have this over traditional any day. Beef brisket - I don't even like barbequed things, but I did like this! Specials - I've had a few of their specials, and I highly recommend looking here. Everything Screen Door makes is delicious! Brunch: Po' Boy - good, even if the sausage was too spicy for my taste. To be fair, I can't really handle spicy. Chicken and waffles - HUGE!!! It's like a tower of chicken and waffles that could easily satisfy two people. Personally, I much prefer the chicken served at dinner, but this is good, too. Hush puppies - maybe I just don't like hush puppies, but this realllllly wasn't my thing, and I would never order it again. Ham, gruyere, and thyme croquettes - I'm not sure if this is always there, but if it is, GET IT. It's smoky and really hits the spot. Tip: For dinner, get there by opening time if you don't want to wait. For brunch, get there at least half an hour prior to opening. This is a very popular restaurant, and it's easy to see why.
(5)Michael M.
one of the best breakfast spots in Portland.
(5)Kristie B.
If you are either in the mood for breakfast or dinner, Sceen Door has you covered (well, I suppose brunch is only served on the weekend). I am a huge fan of their shrimp and grits and for breakfast I can't get enough of their sausage gravy. The only drawback can be the wait, which is why I don't frequent the restaurant more often. But, more power to them for bringing folks back over and over again!
(4)Alex M.
The Screen Door is a place I would recommend to people. They don't have the biggest selection of food compared to other places, but I have found the smaller the selection, the better quality of food you end up getting. The price range is a little bit higher, but again, the quality is better. I ended up getting the Fried Oysters as an appetizer for around $9.00. They were absolutely delicious! The oysters tastes fresh and there was the perfect amount of batter to oyster ratio. The tarter sauce that was served with them was the perfect compliment to round out a very yummy appetizer. Screen Door is known for their fried chicken so I had to get it. It cost around $15.00. This is not your normal fried chicken. I swear they use half a chicken to fry! The batter was a flaky and had a hint of spice to it. The chicken was still very moist on the inside making it a delightful bite every time. The fried chicken is served on top of a heaping pile of mashed potatoes and a side. The gravy comes on the side and goes perfectly with the chicken and/or potatoes. I ended up getting the collard green which were some of the best I've ever had! The bacon was the perfect touch. I didn't come even close to finishing it all. Thank goodness for to-go boxes! I didn't have any desserts, but had a sample of the lemon cream cheese rhubarb filled cake that was a splash of excitement in your mouth! I never knew lemon and rhubarb blended so well together. The bana-offe cake was absolutely amazing!! Our waitress said it was their most popular and I can see why. While Screen Door was really great food, I'd still go somewhere else. However, I will most definitely come back just for the bana-offe cake!! The service was amazing. Our waitress was kind, very friendly, and constantly making sure our needs were met. The atmosphere is loud and they do squish people in there, but you don't feel overcrowded. I've heard the line can get really long so I do recommend making a reservation. Screen Door should be a must try on everyone's list.
(4)Christopher G.
Expect to wait for 30 or more minutes when you come here because its gets so packed!!! But it was great that they provide coffee for people are waiting. This was the last sit down meal that we ate before we went home to the bay area. We were here to visit the area. The interior was pretty impressive. The decor and the layout of this place was nice. It was hip!! When we got our seat, there was a coffee spill on the floor so we had to wait for them to clean it out. I thought it was nice that they did it without us asking. The seats are very close together so you can hear your neighbors conversation. It felt like we were eves dropping but it was a nice atmophere and by the end of our meal we were conversating with our neighbors. Haha · As for the food, we got the burger with potatos and the chicken and waffles. The burger and potatos were okay. The burger was huge!!!!! The potatos were really BAD.... I was very rubbery and it was hard to chew... it was also lukewarm and we ended up skipping on it. They shouldnt serve this... · My chicken and waffles were amaaaaaaaing. I remember being very skeptical because usually when I order the chicken and waffles anywhere else it was dissappointing... I was totally wrong about it. It was delicious. And it was huge portions. I would come here again. The wait was pretty long but the experience was totally worth it.
(4)Rachel N.
YUM! Fried chicken and sides are excellent. Good service, good location, great drinks (HUB IPA - yay!) and cute décor. Perfect place to go on my "cheat" day.
(5)Nicholas H.
Long wait to get in. Very cramped restaurant. As soon as you get your food, you forget all about that. The cuisine is spectacular.
(4)Valerie D.
Best chicken and waffles ever. EVER.
(5)Jenn A.
The wait was around 1 hour for a table of 5 on a Friday night with no reservations. Their greens were a little sloppy, but their jambalaya and catfish were great. I recommend it still, just head over to East Burn for a drink while you wait for your table.
(3)Ryan T.
So rich & good, it might kill you. Always a wait. Great, unique drinks. Breakfast that's to die for - both in taste & calorie count.
(4)Ginny G.
Let the breeze blow in, feels good.
(4)Sheena H.
Got here at about 7:45 on a Friday night, place was packed! Didn't take more than 15 mins for us to be seated at the bar. We ordered fried okra to start. Probably one of the best parts of our meal, in my opinion. Then I ordered the screen door special, with mac n cheese, beet salad, arugala, goat cheese and pistachio salad (seasonal), and the andoule/chicken jambalaya with a piece of cornbread. My friend ordered the beef brisket plate and subbed the collard greens for the potato salad. Hands down amazing. Our bill was only $35 and that was a ton of food. Brisket was super tender, which we loved. Everything was really good, can't complain. Service was pretty quick/friendly as well.
(4)Tina H.
Of all of the places I have waited a ridiculously long time to have brunch in, this was my favorite. With apologies to all the neighbors who have to wade through the crowd to get through their weekend mornings, this place is worth it.
(5)Taylor R.
Breakfast is very delicious, I had the chicken waffles. The chicken was excellent as always, the waffles were very good as well, I definitely would recommend breakfast, only be sure to be there nice and early, when it is cold out the worst thing that could happen to you, would be missing out on the first seating during a brisk morning
(4)Mandana S.
Really large portions of bland, greasy, mediocre food. Extra long lines and no reservations lend way to hipster appeal. Good for homegrown Portland folk who think chicken and waffles is an exotic dish. Bad for regular people who have had real chicken and waffles outside of Portland, in say...Atlanta, where they season their food. Ugh.
(2)Linda N.
There's a reason why this place has almost 1600 reviews people. You should definitely go here if you are visiting Portland or if you live in the area and have never tried it. The fried chicken is slightly spicy and delicious. I've had the bourbon flight here which was good as well. It's not on the Brunch menu but you can still order it. You can pick three for $15, I think. Chicken and waffles available for BRUNCH only. Beware of their hours and be prepared for a wait if you're coming for dinner. My experience with Brunch has been a much shorter wait. Awesome Bloody Mary as well!
(5)Victoria R.
Always delicious. Noisy (but fun). Get here early - there is usually quite a bit if a wait for dinner!
(5)Salina Z.
Brunch! Screen Door! Yes! Top 5 brunch places of all time. Absolutely. Walked in on a Sunday morning and told about 50 minute to an hour. The wait clocked in at 48 minutes. Not bad. Around minute 38, a lady and her partner/husband stood next to us. She had just come from putting her name on the list inside. "It's over an hour, right?" Gary said, with much disdain. "No.... she said just about an hour." Gary, shaking his head. "No, I can't wait that long." "PLEASE babe, I really want to eat here. Come on, we can get coffee next door while we wait." Gary, still shaking his head, allowed himself to be pulled away. We were seated. There was so much to try! So much delicious fried food! So much butter! In the end this is what won: Sausage corn dog - BRILLIANT. Seriously, brilliant. A regular size sausage with corn dog batter and fried. Rivals the Disneyland corndog. Yea, you KNOW what I am talking about. Chicken & Waffles - It's freaking stacked on top of the waffles. With a knife through it. The seasoning is amazing. Delicious. Wonderful. MUST EAT! All breast meat, though I hear at dinner it includes dark meat. Fried Oyster Benedict - A must if you love fried oysters. Which I do, I definitely do. The grits! AAAAHHH soooo buttery and delicious. If you hate butter, or get grossed out by it, don't get this. Stumpton coffee with refills - 'nuff said. Thanks to the folks for keeping my cup filled! While we were eating, a waiter went to the table next to us and explained how he was sorry for the wait with the corndog as they had just had to fry a new batch. He brought them a giant bowl of fruit. That's how it should be. I'm looking at you Tasty n Sons. As we were paying the bill, guess who sat down a few tables from us? GARY! He looked super grumpy and his wife/partner looked super stoked. I hope Gary turned his frown upside down once he tasted that delicious grub. Bonus: we took an entire chicken piece to go with us because we were stuffed. So happy we did because that thing was almost more delicious when cold! **NOTE: Personally, I don't think it's valid to take off a star for the length of waiting. Because, you KNOW how long you're going to be waiting. It's your CHOICE to stay and wait or not. So, anybody rating less than 5 because of the wait, is invalid. Truth.
(5)Bob K.
The food was totally 5 star. Same with service. But here is why it's only 4 stars. Looooong wait. We went on a Monday....on a Monday and it was a half an hour to get seated. On a Monday...... Second it was really loud. With good that is so good they get lots of customers and really pack them in. You had to lean over and really pay attention to your table mates to understand what they were saying. There were 5 of us and we mostly ordered different items. Everything was good to wow. I did notice that they have some outdoor seating (probably a longer wait) that was quite. I will be back!!!! Went back today. This time stood in line at 5:15. Found out that is the way to do it. Seated quickly at 5:30. Food took a bit because the restaurant was nearly full by 5:45. But food is soooo good. Had to push the rating up to 5 stars
(5)Nicole B.
Came in at 5 pm and realized that they weren't open till 5:30. Walked around for a little bit checking out furniture stores, then walked back to find a line of at least 15 people. Wasn't much of a wait though, seeing as we were one of the first few in the line. We were immediately greeted, sat and brought water and drinks. The servers and others seem to work well together to a point where the service is seamless. We ordered the hush puppies that was accompanied by a pepper jelly. For dinner we ordered the fried chicken dinner and the shrimp and grits. The fried chicken was served with collard greens, mashed potatoes and a small side of gravy. The fried chicken wasn't too bad, but it wasn't that great either. The shrimp in the shrimp and grits still had the whole shell on, which I wasn't too fond of. We weren't overly enthralled by our dinner. The breakfast seems pretty amazing, maybe we'll come back for brunch. I honestly thought the screen door had a little more hype for what it was and is.
(3)Lindsey S.
AMAZING SOUTHERN COMFORT FOOD! Will always go back. Worth a long wait time in long lines for this one.
(5)Mike G.
Make sure to call Waaaaaay ahead and setup a reservation, waiting times can and will be a Minimum of an hour. The Food is great and totally worth the wait but hopefully you like Cajun food. Go out with a bunch of friends.
(3)Kedy S.
Delicious food, what can I say that hasn't already been said? The food is fantastic here, really great breakfast as is typical of Portland breakfast (we take it seriously!) Stars awarded for: 2, great food! The chicken is not only well cooked but has a great spice to it. 1, great service, though the wait it long they definitely do a great job once they have you seated, sometimes they do get a bit bogged down and are slow 1, very convenient location, easy to get to and parking is relatively easy to find though you may have to walk a block or two. Great patio that is covered in the winter.
(4)Ryan M.
Absolutely amazing, the best food in Portland. Pricey two people expect 70-80 bucks. Wait is average, I lived in Beaufort SC for 5 years (The Low country) which is the cuisine this place serves and I never in my life ate food this good in Beaufort. This place serves southern food... Fried chicken, hush puppies, catfish, steak, potatoes, mac and cheese etc... Low buck type food but prepared in a manner deeming it nothing short of excellence.
(5)C P.
Awesome. Phenomenal food and even better service. Waiter chatted, gave excellent advice and was fast even though they were busy. Awesome outdoor patio, year round. Don't be deterred by the wait, they move fast. Fried chicken melts in your mouth and the gumbo was to die for. I have never had squash taste the way they made it as well. Not a bad thing on the menu.
(5)Latina V.
Awesome. Didn't mind waiting for the table, cool atmosphere, good food. They have a coffee cart set up while you wait which is pretty nice.
(5)Lynn R.
love it! unique, fun, great southern food. If you are up for a quiet discussion, this isn't the spot - it's noisy, and the tables are REALLY close together.
(4)Michael B.
Let's run through the normal paces: 1. The wait wasn't bad. We arrived at 8:40, made the first wave of seating and got three chairs at the counter by 9:15. 2. bartender/ waiter was friendly. Got us drinks really quick and they had the same brand of tea I drink at home. 3. Bloody Mary's were too thick, too tomato sauce tasting, and way to weak. 4. breakfast corn dogs and hush puppies were outstanding. 5. We didn;t have to wait too long for our breakfast considering we were the last people sat in the first wave if dinners. 6. my breakfast was not great at all. I had the smoked brisket hash. It was not smokey, not flavorful, except for the overly distracting parsley oil which covered basically all my hash. I ate less than half of it. 7. my wife had cheese grits, biscuit and gravy, and bacon. Cheese grits were so good I ate some. biscuit and gravy were as expected. The bacon however was so overcooked it shattered when you bit in to it. 8. our friend from out of town had the fried chicken and waffle. This was the standout. They should only serve chicken and waffles. Then I wouldn't be tempted by smokey things that are terrible. All in all, we had a good time and some really good food except the has.
(4)Gary L.
We all ordered somthing different and everybody loved their meal .... i had chicken and waffels ... very very good ... only bad part was the very lame street musician out front .... very weird even for portland
(5)Joleen Q.
An hour wait but it was so cute/country inside. I got the cajun scramble but the real winner was the moist, chicken and waffles. The bananas foster french toast was super rich. BTW, the screen door is by the one bathroom per sex :)
(4)David I.
Good stuff
(4)Amy A.
Wow. Just Wow. First off, get a group of 6 or more people and make a reservation, otherwise you'll be stuck in the line waiting and hoping for a table. We made reservations and were able to walk past the line outside and right in the front door when they opened at 9am. The food is incredible. I had the juevos rancheros, which is unlike any other version of this dish that I have had before. Served on cripsy corn tortillas, with a perfect "over medium" egg on top. I also ordered the praline bacon on the side. I never knew you could make bacon *better* than it already is, but Screen Door has done it! The Bloody Mary is a perfect combination of tomato, garlic, and spice. Garnished with pickled vegetables and a spicy salted rim. Yum. I hadn't expected this place to live up to the hype, but I was wrong. So wrong.
(5)Eva B.
AMAZING.....Chicken served HOT and the flavorful....amazing, so juicy, salted perfectly, crispy slighty spicy skin. BEST fried chicken I have ever ate! They were so nice and accommodated my request of just a breast, with there amazing house salad. FRESH radishes floating on top of perfectly prepped butter leaf lettuce, heavenly chunks of meaty bacon, perfect blue cheses bites....mmmm mmmm good, thank you for the memorable lunch, my family will be back again and again!
(5)Brent T.
So, I'm not usually big on waiting in line before the opening of a joint just for food. I'm just not that patient. But I'd read about standard operating procedure at Screen Door for brunch on weekends, and it involved waiting. Since we were up, and we'd heard good things, my gf and I said, what the hell, let's go! So we waited outside for probably a good half an hour in 30 degree temps. I started to question my sanity at some point. But I threw that questioning out the window when we got our chicken and waffle. Holy hell, Batman, this is a HHHHUUUUGGGGEEEE serving. I honestly question whether or not anyone eats the chicken and waffle by themselves. It's THREE GINORMOUS sized pieces of boneless fried chicken, super juicy and crispy, on top of one large sweet potato waffle. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. We also had a side of hush puppies, which were just okay. There's something in the syrup served with the hush puppies that is a little different, not sure what it is. I also felt like the bacon and cheese in the hush puppies got a little lost. But, OH MY, the chicken and waffle. That alone was worth freezing my ass off outside in line. I wish I could've come here more times to sample their other brunch offerings, but we were only in Portland for one weekend morning. I can assure you of one thing. The chicken and waffle is delicious, it's $12, and it'll easily feed two normal human beings. Go get it. Hurry. And if it's winter, bring a good jacket!
(4)Emily H.
never been disappointed in a meal here. they also accomodate my gf needs very nicely.
(5)Jon W.
My wife and I honeymooned in Oregon and stayed a while in Portland. We passed Screen Door everynight and wnet there our last day because we ALWAYS saw a line outside. It was amazing! She got a bloody mary and it was the best I've ever tasted. Chicken and Waffles is to die for! Amazing. We sat at the bar--no room anywhere else--but the service was stilll good. The kitchen is open and obviously clean. Go here!
(5)Brandon S.
Delicious. Good service, albeit a bit understaffed, cozy and modest interior. moist chicken, amazing squash special, and an all around delight.
(5)Marisa P.
Waffles were delicious and by far the best I've had in Portland! My friend ordered the brisket hash which was also amazing.
(5)JP R.
Food is fantastic! Fried chicken and waffles a must. Great prices, staff is friendly! A long wait.... Who cares! Minimum wait anytime is a hour to hour and a half. Scrambles are delish, potatoes yum! Fun energy! Well run and it's worth the wait! Oh god almost forgot....the hush puppies sugary sweet delights...a must try!
(5)Annika L.
Lots of brunch places in Portland have long waits. Sometimes it's not worth it, but sometimes IT IS. Screen Door is worth the wait! Have an apple before you go, get some coffee, get your name on the list, and enjoy your company before chowing down on some truly delicious comfort food.
(4)Michael G.
The fried chicken and beef brisket are both out of this world. I'll be back.
(4)Joey L.
I was visiting OR and I had bookmarked this spot to try while I was there. I am glad I did. We were seated outside. It was covered, however it was still cold. Which made my food get cold very quickly. I had to keep wearing my coat and my gloves while eating. There were 5 of us and we all ordered a variety of food so that we can try a lot of the food. I ordered the Trout Pecan, one ordered the fried chicken with mashed potatoes and collared greens, the other three got the brisket. We also got mac n cheese and hush puppies. +++ Brisket, Mac n Cheese, Fried Chicken : Awesome --- The brisket was definitely tasty! I would have gotten more mac n cheese if I weren't embarrassed to eat more. LOL ++ Trout Pecan was OK (maybe because it got cold too fast?) + hush puppies were eh.
(4)Laura Y.
Awesome food and service - parking is a bit rough - street only and it's residential on the side streets, but worth the wait and worth the walk. Definitely bring your appetite...large portions, hearty food.... best Mac and chees this side of the Mississippi! (well except my moms!)..... go there...engoy!
(5)Kim P.
Came here for brunch on a recent trip to Portland. Sure glad we got here early (before the restaurant opened) to avoid waiting too long. We ordered and friend chicken sandwich and the corned beef hash - OMG they were delicious!!!! I'm currently having trouble writing this review without salivating. Let's start with the chicken. I have had fried chicken from just about every city I've visited in the US...and so far...this has been the best. Prior to visiting Screen Door, I read Yelp reviews from other people making this same claim and I was skeptical, but now I'm a believer. The chicken is so moist, perfectly seasoned and really crispy. This "sandwich" consisted of a biscuit with fried chicken smothered in country gravy. Yum yum yum. Ok, on the the corned beef dish...consisted of fresh chunks of corned beef, potatoes, and red cabbage tossed in a creamy horseradish sauce. Again, soooo good. Service was also great. Come dive in to fried chicken heaven.
(5)Jeff B.
Mac & Cheese Very good and worth sharing as a starter. My only regret is they could not tell us what type of cheeses it used so my wife, who has a mix of cheese allergies, could not try it. Next time we will have to try writing out all the cheeses she can eat and get the kitchen to OK it. Hushpuppies I do not like corn flour usually but these hushpuppies use a finer grind and were surprisingly good. The sauce was just ok. Fried Chicken The chicken was moist and the batter had just the right amount of salt and spice. They did an excellent job.
(4)Kristina S.
AMAZING chicken and waffles... keep in mind that this is only offered at brunch. Their alcoholic and non-alcoholic cider is also a must have. This place is a must stop when visiting Portland. Can't wait till my next visit!!
(5)Abdul F.
I know this place is highly reviewed. Bear with me here and listen to why I'm giving it two stars: SERVICE: Was below par. The wait staff was short with us, in spite of it not being especially busy. They definitely had some of the smug arrogance that comes with certain demographics in Portland. I always have a lot of questions for wait staff, and most handle it politely -- sometimes they're even chatty which is awesome -- but of all the nicer restaurants in Portland Screen Door's staff was, unfortunately, the least polite. FOOD: Frankly, nothing special. They put bacon in everything, which I thought was a really boring way to handle your menu. I like to sample different things, but everything here has similar ingredients (bacon). The collard greens have bacon, the gravy has bacon, everything has bacon. Additionally, almost literally everything on the menu is fried. I question whether they have a full kitchen in back or just a bunch of deep fryers. I know that bacon is all the rage these days. I do. But I expect a supposedly gourmet restaurant to be able to use ingredients in creative ways that I wouldn't have been able to think up on my own. An example might be how at Toro Bravo the chicken liver was actually delicious and was made with some kind of flowers that just worked really well. I had the trout, the chicken, the collard greens, the oysters, and the cornbread. The cornbread is dry. Maybe some people like it served that way. The oysters were bland. They were deep fried in a batter and the batter just tasted like maybe flour, some pepper, and salt. The chicken is moist, but the batter (the chicken is also fried) just tastes like salt. It's very salty. The chicken wasn't bad though. Just not really anything that interesting. I can't honestly say that the chicken is better than KFC or Popeyes. The trout was pretty good, but they don't give you much of it. Small portions. The collard greens just tasted like bacon. I didn't realize they had bacon in them, so I was really disappointed. I've never had collard greens except stuffed, so I wanted to be able to experience what they taste like. DECOR: The decor is great. It's low light, clean, relaxing. You can see the kitchen, which is always great. If you have a date that really likes fried food and bacon, this could be a romantic place.
(2)Ramie M.
I've only been here for breakfast, but it was lively and good. The scrambles, biscuits, and grits were as expected. I plan to return because their Dinner menu has a number of items I really want to try. Will update my review when that happens. I hear they have great fried chicken, so if you go, get it!
(4)Eric H.
Went for dinner, we ordered the fried chicken with mash potatoes, jambalaya, pot roast Mac and cheese were all fantastic. Definitely coming back!
(5)A E.
This place is overrated. The food is okay but definitely not worth the wait. Don't get me wrong, if food is great, I have no problem waiting 1-2 hours for a table but that's just not the case here.
(3)Kay B.
Wow, service service service, just when you think there is no such thing, you get service Thank you Patrick's Garage Doors, imidate responce, professional, polite and honest Thank you Aaron thank you Patrick's kb
(5)S F.
Years and years of going to this place -- still a Portland classic.
(5)Amy T.
I visited Portland for 2 nights. Even though I love sampling new restaurants, I ended up eating at Screen Door both nights. Their fried chicken has always been consistently amazing even after trying this place a year ago. Sigh... this place will be the end of me.
(5)Jimmie S.
My friend and I waited over an hour for our name to be called and another half-hour to actually get our food, but goddamn it was worth it. Every bite was an explosion of awesome on my tongue. The cheese grits were so amazing I wanted to kiss them. Kiss those grits, dammit. The best strategy, I think, is to put your name down, grab a book, walk down to Heart for a cup of coffee, read for an hour, and come back to the biggest treat you can give your mouth besides French kissing God herself. Next time I'm in Portland, I'm having the cab drop me off here first before I even check in to my hotel.
(5)Jim C.
I can't say enough about how great this place is!!! Sooo good! Food: gotta have the fried chicken. Probably the best I've ever had. The gravy was just ok but damn...the country fried chicken/fried chicken was rediculously good. The Mac and cheese is also another favorite!! Damn good. Service: staff is super friendly...nice people for sure
(5)Carol T.
Fried chicken: the batter was one of the spiciest I've tasted and that's the way I like it! An order of fried chicken and waffles comes with one giant waffle the size of the plate and three big big big pieces of chicken (half a chickens's worth to be exact), looking at the mountain made me feel full already.
(4)Eric P.
It was okay, nothing very great. It feels like there is no actual southern experience behind the menu, just an imitation.
(3)Erin M.
Love most everything about it! They have funny hours, though, and there is ALWAYS a wait! But the food & staff is wonderful :)
(4)Elaine K.
Hmm...what did I miss on this restaurant? This restaurant came recommended by our hotel because we had told them we wanted an "interesting experience" during our first night in Portland. It was a Sunday evening and was quoted a 45 min wait. Thankfully, we were seated within 30 min at the bar. My boy and I both ordered the Screen a Door Plate so that we could try a smattering of everything. We ended up ordering: collard greens, Mac and cheese, fried pork chops, gumbo, and two salads from their local organics menu. Interestingly, my favorite was the salad and boy's favorite was the gumbo. Perhaps we're just not all that into fried foods or Southern food? but it really was a 3 star food experience for me. I must say though that the portions are HUGE so be prepared to have leftovers.
(3)Nathan V.
Great. But perhaps a little too popular. Long weights and slightly noisy. Great service.
(4)Tara S.
Met cousins here for Sunday brunch. The line was long so we put our names on the list and walked up to Heart Coffee (apparently great coffee but I don't drink coffee so can't really say). This place was worth the 45 minute wait. I had the Garden Grits, delicious!! Unfortunately, their biscuits were dry. My cousins split the chicken and waffles, huge and yummy! They still had leftovers even after splitting between the two of them.
(4)Tina S.
Had a fantastic weekend trip to Portland filled with lots of food - and so happy we braved the 45-min wait to eat brunch here!. Went for the Huevos Rancheros brisket special, and it was everything promised - somehow those crispy tortillas stayed CRISPY down to my last bite (which was about 1/2 thru the plate, portions are quite generous here). Magic! BF went for the Corned Beef Hash and it was pretty much demolished. Long wait + mouth watering menu = customers are very happy when they finally get to eat; the key was that the food was as tasty as it sounded.
(5)