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    Dots Cafe

    3.9 (463 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 2:30 am (Next day)
    Updated 3 months ago

    Dots Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    DOTS CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Dots Cafe

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    N/A beverages
    Stephanie L.

    Tasty eats, refreshing drinks and lots of people watching outside . Been coming here for 2 decades now and it's still a great local dive.

    Dots interior booths
    Andrew C.

    Great happy hour with good drinks and a rock n roll vibe with a diner-style backdrop. Nothing special here, food wise - just total bar vittles, with the usual fried thangs, nachos, wings and tots - but the drinks are better than your average dive diner would have. Cool, lo fi decor with nutty wallpaper, offbeat lighting and kitschy meets creepy undertones, make for a great casual and inviting atmosphere (at least in my book- which is kinda tattered). It's a diner-like layout with vinyl-covered booths and standalone tables, but with a bar in the back... and it all is somehow cooler than it should be. Don't bring any attitude, and suburbanites should steer clear - it just won't work for you.

    9/25/2023 - Dropping into Dot's for late night vittles after a movie at the Clinton Street Theater
    Mikhail H.

    I was happy to give Dot's a go since friends go here often and have recommended it for eons. I go to a lot of things alone but it felt awkward to go here by myself to grab a bite. After a movie at the Clinton Street Theater, me and my vegan friend wanted some food. I don't normally identify my friends on their dietary requirements. It is always great to be mindful though since I try not to be that jerk who assumes places have options because a lot of spots have like one thing they can make into a vegan thing so if there are a few places, why not chose the one with more options for us all. She was actually pretty excited because she had seen several options online but there were far more options she saw on the menu. Really a lot of the menu offers options. We took turns ordering at the bar and they were super friendly. My food came out fast - I just grabbed a chicken strip basket and an RC. It was good and I was not expecting a huge amount. I had to take most of it to go which reheated great later. My friend got the vegan kitchen sink fries which come with numu vegan cheese shreds, vegan bacon bits, pico de gallo, salsa, jalapeño peppers, spicy tofu sauce and she added black beans, guacamole and ranch. She also wanted lunch for the next day so she ordered a vegan Korean BBQ soy curl sandwich which is sesame ginger spiced soy curls, carrots, fresh jalapeños, cilantro, gochujang red chili paste, vegan mayo on a hoagie roll and a side of spicy tofu sauce. Her food took forever. First the bar tender came over and said that the cook had accidentally made the fries non vegan. Then a lot longer time later the chef came over said that he had run out of vegan cheese and then left again. We were like, wait.... so that was SO long ago - does that mean he had to go get more cheese as we still were not told when her food would arrive. When he brought it out she said it was missing the Guac she had paid for a side of. He almost started arguing with her saying that the order he got mentioned nothing about that and she offered to dig out her receipt so he went and got that. I felt so terrible for her because in the end everything was way over salted so she really did not enjoy it but it took so ridiculously long for it that we were exhausted and done. The vibe here is really good to with insanely weird art and dark lighting. So, in a pinch they've got a menu that can maybe help you out.

    Seating area
    Delaney K.

    Stopped in for a late night snack and a drink on a weekday and found this fun little dive bar. Drinks weren't expensive and they have daily deals going on with even cheaper options, and a menu they were serving fairly late. We shared a plate of nachos and blueberry gin gimlets while we ate and people watched. Very vibrant environment! Our bartender/waitress seemed nice and didn't hover.

    Jammie R.

    Been here several times over the years. Food and drinks constantly good. The staff and vibe are friendly and inclusive. Love the bacon cheese fries but everything I've had is good.

    Hemingway Slushee, Crown and coke

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    8 months ago

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    4 months ago

    The food was terrible. The ambiance is cool, volume is loud. Parking can be a challenge.

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    10 months ago

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    1 year ago

    It's a typical Portlandia type of place, not sure if I'd necessarily recommend them or not. The service could be better

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Friendly people, fast and tasty food! And for how late they were open... saved us! Bar was also decorated super cool. Couldn't ask for more!

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    2 years ago

    Good ol' Dots! Always well-priced for drinks & food. Good service & fun vibe. Great neighborhood spot! More like 4.5 stars

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Five star vibes inside,, but my fries were very undercooked :( love the vegan Flanders sandwich though!

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    If you're looking for tasty burgers and drinks, def worth a visit. First time - I recommend the burger on an English muffin. Thank me later

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    4 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Have never been disappointed by dots. Drinks are always good and the food is delicious and the staff is so friendly. Hope brunch comes back.

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    12 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    Page 1 of 12

    Ask the Community - Dots Cafe

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