We've been to Bantam Tavern over a dozen times -- and for good reason. What started as a casual neighborhood bar visit turned into a regular obsession. Sara and Lace behind the bar craft cocktails that are personable and perfectly executed. But the real surprise is the kitchen: Trevor (formerly of Interurban) and George (ex-St. Jack's) bring a level of culinary curation you simply don't expect at a neighborhood spot. We ask a lot of questions when food is this good -- and they always deliver answers worth hearing. Exceptional quality at very reasonable prices. This place is a gem." read more

Happy hour on our first night in Portland, I specifically chose Bantam Tavern on Taco Tuesday because of the reviews. I got a margarita, $10 on happy hour and the special tacos. This is a small comfortable neighborhood pub, with a few tables and a long bar. We sat at the bar. Bartender was cordial but not very interested in us, seems there were locals to chat with. I was disappointed I didn't get to try the chili roasted carrots, which were shown as a side or appetizer on the website menu. The bartender informed me they were only available in the tacos that day. I didn't order the carrot tacos, just two grilled chicken tacos. But at his suggestion, I ordered a $9 roasted vegetable and romescu sauce as a side dish. It was spectacular! Fennel, beets, yellow squash, all fresh and tiny like they came from the farmers market that day. The chicken tacos were loaded with charred chunks of chicken thigh, red onions, cotija cheese and cilantro. So much meat! The corn tortillas were a bit stiff but held up fine. And the chef introduced her cucumber salsa when she brought out our dishes. It was lovely, but could have used a lot more than the tiny cup provided. No second drink for me that night, happy hour was over. But the margie and tacos were spot on! Husband had a taco combo for $12 that I failed to photograph. We were both stuffed and happy. Still wondering about the carrots though! read more

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Never been in before. Stopped in for HH on a summer afternoon. Service was good, vibe was very low key/neighborhood kind of place. We had some appetizers, which we enjoyed. Cocktail menu was inventive and had some classics as well. read more

Bantam Tavern - Old Fashioned. - Brewpubs Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Love this bar. Open 7 days a week, open late. Nice fire pits outside and decent wrap around bar. Good drinks and good food. I usually get a paper plane and they make those wonderfully here. Food: ordered this tuna dish with this light sauce that was amazing. Licked that plate CLEAN. Also ordered the crispy chick sliders. I though the jam would be to much (and it IS slightly messy), but it was worth it. Chicken was cooked to perfection, had that nice crunch, buns were soft and buttery, and the jam gave a nice sweetness to each bite. Highly recommend. Keep up the good work Bantam read more

Bantam Tavern - Tuna - Brewpubs Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Best service, drinks and epic food! It's the elevated neighborhood bar that I've always wanted, great food options, reasonable prices, great selection of alcohol, comfortable- welcoming vibes. And best of all it's open late when the rest of Portland shuts down. I would post amazing photos of the food but I eat it to quickly to take a picture. I'll update the review with some good food! I found the hidden treasure of Portland, and hate to share it but the staff and proprietors need a massive shout out - thank you for providing a fantastic neighborhood bar/restaurant! read more

Bantam Tavern - CRISPY SLIDER + CHICKEN - Brewpubs Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I think the guy who was making me the drink at 1am with the blonde hair was on some drug or something. He was so out of it.

Really enjoyed the vibe and their Oxtail Cheesesteak. The bread was nice and toasty on the inside and buttery all around. Packed full of juicy tender oxtail and gooey cheese as well. This one is a must. Their other dishes, unfortunately, were just alright. The Grilled Chicken Wrap had a lot of chicken thigh but it's kinda dry. The naan bread was tough too. Onion rings were burnt and bitter. Their menu is diverse and interesting. We still had a good time though and would like to be back. read more

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Dear God! Please rotate your music selection. No one wants to listen to ironic mariachi music for 2 hours straight.

Really delicious fried tofu, but only available as an add-on. You should put that on the menu as a dish. Don't get the Negroni tho; It's the worst one I've ever had. I don't know you can screw up a Negroni this way. read more

If you know u know but this is definitely a wild sleeper and definitely a must try!!! Super dope vibe neighborhood bar with amazing drinks and ridiculously good food!! Please please go check this spot out and please go support our boy from KC....Superdope mixologist!!! read more

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We found ourselves hungry after 9:00 with friends flying in. We stumbled on to this find. Great bear and FANTASTIC food.

First of all, one of my favorite chefs is running this kitchen, and it is not to be missed! Trever Gilbert is turning out amazing food at this jewel box in the alphabet District in Portland. Everything we've had we have loved. His roasted meat salad, the chili carrots, the king salmon, the ribs, and his desserts. All perfection! And the bar program is amazing, as well. Elias is creating magic behind the bar! read more

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Love the service, staff, and ambiance. This place is like my second home. Don't just come here for the dumps! But really, do come for dumpling week. While this dish can be shared, I recommend ordering this for yourself because you'll want to lick that ox tail broth off the plate. The black bean purée pairs so well with the broth, slathering it on the dumpling. With every bite, tasted heavenly. The dumplings were perfectly cooked and wasn't soggy at all, especially if you leave it in that broth to soak. Pair it with a White Rabbit cocktail. It's got a bit of a tangy tart taste if you're into that. read more

Bantam Tavern - Beef Brisket Dumplings - Brewpubs Near Me - Portland, Oregon

We live in the neighborhood and had been meaning to go for a while. We ended up regretting it. Our server was new and nice enough but by the time we left we had about six issues during our time, that made us decide to never go back. We asked for something besides American cheese on our burgers, if not available no cheese. They only had American...fine.The burgers are served with two patties, and my partner wanted only one pattie. The waiter said they only come out one way. Since we were going to be charged for two I said I'd take his unwanted one. Here's where it got weird. The guy gave me a very strange look and walked away. We got our burgers two patties each, no cheese delivered by a young man dressed like he worked in the kitchen. He brought an order of large fries and we asked for 3 more ketchups, because the one he brought was a small half full container. He looked at us so strangely saying you want 3 ketchups? He walked away and never brought them. We ordered a large cesar salad that came in a small side dinner salad bowl. We questioned it and our main waiter said that would be the large size. We both agreed the lettuce tasted old and left 2/3 of a small dinner sized salad left uneaten for the remaider of our time. The waiter came by our table. Must have seen it at the edge but never stopped. The fries were hard and luke warm. The burger was pretty good. We both were so dissapointed because the atmosphere is great, but not worth the strange service and ignoring reasonable request from a couple pleasant customers. read more

Casual neighborhood bar with really satisfying eats, great cocktails and excellent service. They don't have a big wine selection but their Cabernet was just fine. There's always a crowd, definitely a lot of locals from the neighborhood. They have happy hour twice a day, the later one goes from 10pm til closing at 1pm Making it the perfect late night spot. My only complaint is that it's super loud! Inside is all hard surfaces so the chatter is so loud I find myself having to shout to my friend sitting next to me. there are a few tables outside when the weather is nice. They have their own small parking lot next door, shared with Swagat, or street parking. read more

We were looking for a place for dinner that was open late on Friday night, and found this place at a walking distance from where we were staying. Even though Yelp says they are open till 12am, looked like they were open till 1am. We got Jerk Legs, Spam Slammer, Delicata Donuts, and Beer Cheese Mac. We loved the Delicata Donuts, it was so light, and the 2 sauces that came with it were the perfect compliment to the donuts. The Spam Slammer and Beer Cheese Mac were very good, Jerk Legs were good, very tender, could have used a little more flavor, they were much bigger than we expected. This is a place we will definitely be coming back to. read more

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Noelle' is the best bartender forever when she's working, everything is amazing Great customer service. Really good food and good ambience. !! read more

Great service and a full bar is the ticket for a night out, happy hour or meet up with pals. Tables spaced comfortably apart to maintain social distancing. They have expanded their outdoor pub and grub area too. We like cod fish and chips, very tasty. Also if you love IPA - Especially Pliney the Elder by Russian River, get on over and get that perfect balanced double IPA. It was on tap the last time I came. Here is a tidbit, Pliney the Elder is made by Russian River owner, Vinny, who is considered the father of the double IPA. He paved the way for others. Kudos to Bantam for putting Pliney on the tap lineup. Hey bartender, see if you can get some Pliney the Younger, a triple IPA. Vinny makes it one time per year and it lasts one day where some pubs are lucky to get it. In Santa Rosa at Vinny's pub, the line starts at midnight. Cheers and beers! read more

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Best bar on 21st Ave, and I do not say so lightly. Open consistent hours (everyday) Outstanding cocktail menu- forever rotating with new amazing options. Service is polite, calm, customer first. Ambiance is always different: staff helps cultivate! Plus they do events. I walked in accidentally today to a fabulous lamb dip French style sando- what a lovely surprise! read more

Bantam Tavern - They have a patio with 2 fire pits!!! - Brewpubs Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Great ambiance with even better food. The happy hour Brussels Sprouts were excellent as well as the mascarpone desert.

Haven't eaten here, but enjoy that they offer some cheap beer options. Nice outdoor patio and fire pit. Good ambiance inside as well. They have a TV but I never see it turned on unfortunately. read more

I've been to Bantam twice now and had good experiences each time. There's street parking or a small lot next door that is shared with at least Swagat. There's a nice looking fire pit area outside but I think it's uncovered. It was occupied when I went so I sat at the bar. The rest of the room is cozy, small with fairly dim lighting. The music was unobtrusive. The bartender was friendly and not too obviously annoyed that he got caught in my pic of the liquor selection. While I don't remember now what sort of beer I ordered; a farmhouse, sour, or saison, it was good. The oxtail Philly cheesesteak was delicious. With cheesesteaks, so much is about the bread and this was appropriately soft on the inside with a reasonable amount of crispiness on the outside, so it didn't mush or crumble but held the fillings well. I'd love to return with friends sometime and share some small plates. The crab bisque and mushroom soup also look tasty. read more

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My favorite bar in NW Portland...it has the feel of an intimate, friendly neighborhood pub while also serving up killer cocktails and food. I have yet to have a bad drink here -- the Heart of Glass is absolutely stellar and my most recent favorite. I was also blown away by the spam sliders...so simple but SO good. A great spot to belly up to the bar and meet someone new, or bring your people to enjoy happy hour out on the patio or a cozy late-night drink by the fire. Bantam never fails to impress! read more

Bantam Tavern - Brewpubs Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I got a mids moscow mule. Very watery. The bartender, Dusty, came to check our IDs and when i was trying to be personable and friendly they really alienated me and my table. It was very uncomfortable to the degree we decided to just not eat at all so we could have one drink to be polite and peel out as quickly as possible. The other staff member on shift was kind, i liked their shag/mullet cut. read more

After reading the other reviews of Bantam I almost wonder if somehow my buddy and I were transported via wormhole to a different bar last night? We are regulars at Paymaster but upon my mate's suggestion we decided to switch it up and try Bantam. Boy do I regret it. The female bartender literally was the most abrasive I've encountered in my 20 years in Portland. It was almost like she was purposely running some form of 50's diner schtick where the waitress is mean to the customers (but at least in the movies somehow this comes off as endearing - in this case it was not). To level set we are not cool-chasers or try-hard PDX hipsters, just a couple of older gentlemen looking to get a few beers and a bite to eat. After ordering a Zombie Terp IPA (she was immediately confused and thought I ordered a mixed drink which left me slightly surprised she obviously didn't recognize the name of one of only 10 or so beers they have on tap) the bartender took my card, ran it and gave it right back. She did a terrible pour, all foam and announced there was something wrong with the keg and did I want the other IPA? After answering "sure" the original pour settled down and she was able to save it. I opted out of eating because her energy was so bad I didn't want to give this place any more of my money than I had to. After two beers (my buddy and his son got some food) I asked if we could leave and go somewhere else. I approached the bar and asked if I could settle up my tab clearly announcing my last name. She confirmed by repeating the last four digits of my card. I confirmed it was correct and she then handed me the little clipboard with nothing but the two beers and total on a single receipt. I asked where the actual bill was that I needed to sign (and add her continually dwindling tip)? She seemed super annoyed and said she would need to get my card to run it. I informed her that she had already run my card (as evidenced by the fact that she repeated the last 4 digits of my card back to me 3 minutes earlier). This seemed to annoy her even more and continued to project that somehow this confusion was all my fault. At this point I actually looked around the bar and gave a sheepish "is it her or is it me?" look to a total stranger. Our entire interaction left my mate and I questioning if she was being purposely terrible to ensure we would never return? If this was the case, mission accomplished. PS, if you are the owner of this establishment don't bother responding to this review. There is no way you couldn't know how truly awful this bartender is so I place the blame squarely on you . The bartender might not know how grating her voice is or may not be aware of her complete lack of service skills but you clearly should. read more

Open late, can be very good... Interurban is sister bar and I like it a little more at the moment... but Bantam can be very good:

Top-tier customer service! Well blended cocktails coupled with stellar vibes. I appreciate the hospitality here. The bartenders know what they are doing. Exemplary service with a mindset to assist all customers who walk through the door. Thank you for a wonderful time. I will definitely be coming back. read more

I had seen Bantam Tavern for ages and it never appealed to me and the only reason we came here this time , was because everything else on the street was already closed and we were starving . The server greeted us instantly and gave us one of the booths ,our order was taken pretty fast and even the food and drinks took no time . I had the popular menu item - Spam slammers and the hubby ordered a BBQ chicken sandwich . Both menu items tasted delicious and ample portioned .Not the biggest fan of their cocktails but they do have beer ,wine etc on the menu if that`s what you prefer .What I really liked was that this place is all about fast service at inexpensive prices and the ambience is pretty relaxed , so this very well could be that neighborhood bar where you just hang out and have drinks without the fuss. read more

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Apparently 90% of cocktail bars in Portland are closed on Mondays! My search for a happy hour in NW led me to stop by Bantam Tavern. It was a good spot for quick drinks & bites after a day touring the city with coworkers. They've got room for 8-10 groups on the patio, plus bar seating and tables indoors. Service was prompt, with a QR code menu available to scan on all tables. I got the pineapple spritz, which was exactly what I wanted it to be - sweet, fruity, cold, not overly alcoholic. I had bites of the fries which were nicely crisp and seasoned. If I lived in the area, I would consider this a good neighborhood bar! read more

We were shocked by how good the steak frites were, and the draft old-fashioned was fantastic. Their prices on bourbon are great and the service was also incredible. Can't recommend enough. read more

the food was surprisingly delicious. get the brussels sprouts and madeline dessert. drinks were yummy and service was great!

The atmosphere was fun, the service was on point. The food and beer were fantastic. We can't wait to go back.

Great drinks prepared by skilled bartenders, lovely space indoors & out and the food is delicious! My fave is the hummus with mushrooms.

Spam on a menu, hells yah! (It's actually really good and dirt cheap) Jell-O shots that aren't in paper cups and tastes balanced! Ok now that you know there are two strange items on the menu, let's get to the even better items. Old fashions on tap for $7 bucks, tasty apps like the Fried Brussels and their kettle chips that come with the sando's are crispy. You can upgrade to fries if I recall. If you are a bourbon fan they have a great small selection or ask the informative patron and server to try something new. I went with a bourbon base drink and it was great but I forgot the name. No no. Wife said it was the Black Manhattan!!! Score. The meatloaf and the meatloaf sandwich bomb. BBQ chicken sando was ordered the 2nd time we went, just a week later. (We live within water ballon throwing distance... don't worry we won't). We'll be there once per month I'd imagine as we just moved in for NW district. There will be a walk up wait of 30mins most nights, depends if they have outdoor dinning extending into the parking lot during Spring/summer and also rain or Covid dependent. read more

Solid atmosphere and great selection. Italian sando, asparagus app, hazy ipas. Old Fashions on tap and well made. Great inside and out. read more

Bantam Tavern - Great atmosphere. - Brewpubs Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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This is an update to my review 8 months ago. The Happy Hour has been extended and lasts from 4pm to 6pm and has new wine selections, all at $10 until 6:00! Be sure to check it out. There is also a new dish going on the menu, Sweet Potato with yogurt and it's fabulous! This is a great place to hang out in NW Portland! read more

We stopped by this place on a Friday night for drinks before our dinner reservation nearby and this was such a great find! It's a casual spot with a very chill and comfortable vibe, and the drinks are so good! We had a couple cocktails that I strongly recommend. I'm more of a fruity cocktail person, so the Pins and Needles was amazing for me. My partner ordered the Firefly, which is their old fashion drink here. That was a really good old fashion. The food menu looked good too, but we didn't get to try since we had dinner to go to. However, we will definitely be back, and I strongly recommend this place! read more

Bantam Tavern - Bar area on a Friday night - Brewpubs Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I forgot to take a pic of the best dish we ate. Probably because I ate it so fast! You cannot eat here and not order the spam sliders. OMFG. Pineapple sauce on spam? It sounds disgusting but is truly a balanced bite of heaven. I love spam and am now wanting to recreate this on my own. The Burmese ribs were so tender and fell off the bone. The tea leaf salad paired perfectly with the ribs. I of course gladly shared with my partner but internally I really wanted to eat it all myself! They have a patio open outside to comply with covid guidelines and our server was super nice. It was a great experience to be dining out again and I can't wait to come back without a face mask! read more

Bantam Tavern - Hernandez gin cocktail and Pilsner - Brewpubs Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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We rolled into Bantam Tavern Friday afternoon at 4pm after a stressful surgical appointment. There we were served by a wonderful female bartender and assisted by the male bartender. The food was really good (we got fish and chips), and the Whiskey Punch drink was tasty and strong. The thing that made it the best though is that they didn't hesitate or say anything untoward to me, a very transgender looking lady. That made it extra special to be here, to be accepted, talked with and treated well. I can't recommend people going to this place enough. read more

Bantam Tavern - Excellent fish and chips! - Brewpubs Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I really wanted to love this place just for the simple fact that it stays open until midnight vs. 10pm. The menu sounded amazing but there where a couple things that happen that would not recommend me going again BESIDES the bugs. 1) We did not like how it took almost 15 minutes ( we kept time ) for a server to approach us. He sat us down and left. " no how is your day, is there anything I can get started for you ". Just left BUT made sure the people who were seated literally 2 minute before us was well taken care of. You could here the voice change and demeanor change once he came to our table... Maybe he could work on his customer service a little better ( I am not saying he is a bad employee just words of advice ) 2) After finally ordering and getting our food ( Ps- the crab wontons not what I expected.... chips where very hard ) we realized we were giving chips instead of fries. We told the waiter the mistake.... here is where things went wrong and I highly suggest you get inspected for bugs of all kinds About 15 minutes later, after we already started eating the fries comes out. ON THAT PLATE WASNT JUST FRIES !!! This place had the audacity to serve us fries with a roach on it ! ( I have video proof of it on the plate then crawling to the cup if the owner would like to see it ) The moment we showed the waiter ( which at this moment he seen the roach crawling up the cup ) ... he literally told us " oh we have the doors opened so it probably flew in " y'all tell me if you see wings on that bug & even if it did fly in with that response I'm amusing let let bugs fly in all the time with no care in the world which is sickening. Check was waived but I definitely would not recommend this place to MY friends -10/10 read more

Bantam Tavern - Bugs crawling on table - Brewpubs Near Me - Portland, Oregon