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Portland, OR

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Covert Café

4.9 (19 reviews)
Open • 9:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
Updated 3 months ago

Covert Café Photos

Business Info

COVERT CAFÉ ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Live music
Happy hour specials
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Covert Café

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Reviews With Photos

Nico B.

I'm really happy I settled on the Montavilla neighborhood when choosing a home in Portland. This neighborhood has a long history of growing outstanding businesses that cater to an eclectic community, and Covert Cafe is no exception. I absolutely love this venue. Though I've only just discovered this fantastic business, I can tell it has morphed into its current state through constant community engagement. This is the cafe the neighborhood wants! It's a meeting space, it's where you go for Sunday breakfast, it's the place to listen to music or play Star Trek Trivia! With inviting indoor and outdoor spaces, Covert is filled with dusty old books, quirky art, pop-cultural knickknacks, musical instruments and so much more. There's something for everyone here! In the past week I've been to two events in this space. I attended a Montavilla East Tabor Business Association networking event a few days ago, and also had breakfast and listened to live music this morning. The staff were friendly and accommodating both times, and I felt like I was being invited to a neighbor's garden party rather than a local bar. Covert is that kind of community. I plan to return for more delicious breakfasts, and for their monthly Murder Podcast series that records live in the venue. In fact, look for Covert Cafe videos online. They produce really high quality content from the events that take place in their space. Yet another way these amazing folks help serve the community.

The cheesesteak, full of chunks of sirloin
John K.

I'm thrilled that we read about Covert Cafe on a Montavilla neighborhood site. It's a wonderful addition to SE 82nd. It's always nice to see a smallish menu, which makes me confident that everything offered will be done well, since they presumably gravitate towards their strengths. Based on my first visit, I'm certain this is the case. Red meat is a rare indulgance for me, and steak is even rarer. The Covert version is simple perfection - a slab of perfectly cooked meat, topped with rosemary and butter, accompanied by a terrific salad. My wife went with the cheesesteak, which turned out to be made with chunks of the same sirloin as my entree. Despite us being thrilled with our choices, I'm currently looking forward to returning and trying the pulled pork. Food aside, the decor at Covert is welcoming and comfortable. There's a glass front bookcase full of Star Trek memorabilia, a small stage that hosts a variety of performances and quizzes (check the calendar on the web site), and a TV that was showing a Star Trek TNG episonde, with the sound loud enough that we could have paid attention if we wanted, but there was also music playing through the same speaker, all in all forming a pleasant background for diners.

Beer

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Reviews are largely positive. People highlight the fresh, flavorful food, especially burgers, as well as the well-made drinks. The cozy, welcoming atmosphere and friendly staff are also frequently mentioned.

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25 days ago

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24 days ago

This is a fun hole in the wall bar with delicious burgers and li e music. We came here on a whim and had a great time!

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7 months ago

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4 months ago

Wonderfully cozy music venue with a nice food and beverage menu and great staff! Plus Star Trek memorabilia! "Live long and prosper"

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2 months ago

Excellent food and great service! Owner Joe is personable and efficient. Highly recommended!!!

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2 years ago

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Joseph M.

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4 months ago

The best! Great cheeseburgers! Small, intimate, the perfect place to hear local musicians from all genres of music.

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5 months ago

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2 years ago

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Ask the Community - Covert Café

Review Highlights - Covert Café

“There was Star Trek playing on the closed caption tv and a display case full of Star Wars memorabilia.”

Mentioned in 3 reviews

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My son wanted a non-fast food burger. I offered fancy and everything in between. He decided on…read morePleasure Burger. Walking up to the business, there were at least 9 people, in a few different clumps, outside. I didn't know if they'd eaten, or were waiting. It ends up they were looking for another place to eat - not because of the quality of food, but instead the lack of adequate seating, and especially for larger groups. Ordering is at the front counter. One of the first things I want to make sure I say, is that all the employees were incredibly kind and patient. It's all crazy manic orders and trying to deliver them and deal with the turnover, but you wouldn't know that from how they treated us. The burger my son got was good. Not fantastic, but certainly tasty. The waffle fries? Insanely good. So good that my son and I turned to each other with wide eyes after our first bite.

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Lunch from Lardo! My manager is a huge fan of Lardo and asked us to get our meal from here. The…read morefood was good! We got our meal delivered, so I can't speak much for the ambiance. Though, our food was made quickly and packed with care. Portions seemed good for the pricing! My manager and I got a variety of food to share. We ordered the Korean Pork Shoulder, Beeria Grilled Cheese, Lardo Fries, Hush Puppies, and Tater Tots. My pork shoulder sandwich was divine! The bread got pretty soggy, but there was a decent amount of tender, seasoned meat. The kimchi added spice and texture; I'd recommend it. The fries and tots were fine, nothing special in my opinion. The fries weren't too crispy, but the tots were. I enjoyed the hush puppies and found them pretty dense. My manager enjoyed her sandwich. If you're a sandwich lover, then I recommend trying Lardo. I can see why they're popular! Find them off SE Hawthorne Street.

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4.3(196 reviews)
3.9 mi•Central Eastside, Hosford-Abernethy, Southeast Portland
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I think this is going to become my new favorite BBQ spot…read more We placed our order at the counter with a friendly server. Once everything is ready they call out your name or number to pick it up. Everything we ordered here was delicious! Every meat option was "cooked" soooo good with amazing flavor, tenderness, and just overall yumminess. For sides we went with the Mac & cheese and brisket chili. The chili was good but I LOVED the Mac & cheese. We also had to try a burnt ends sandwich with Mac & cheese piled on it. It was amazing! Of course it's a little on the spendy side for a meal but it's a platter of MEAT so be ready to spend a little more than usual. There is a full bar but we didn't indulge this visit. Our only gripe was about the parking. We're are definitely not regular visitors to the downtown area so we don't have the different apps loaded or websites ready to pay for street parking around Portland. I feel old saying it but I wish there were still meters or little ticket machines available for these type of short visits to the area. That won't stop us from coming back here for another meal... or 5... though. Give this place a try! It's all delicious!

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Covert Café - bars - Updated October 2026

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