This place has no business being as good as it is. Rolled in on a recent Thursday night. I grabbed the "lay low burger" ($14) with a Cesar salad. It's karaoke night and this place is JUMPING. The salad is excellent and the burger is so well balanced I'm dumbfounded. The food could be 30% worse and I'd still be stoked (it's that good). read more

They fired everyone I love, it smells like cigarettes (indoors!), it's dead, yet it's been 50+ minutes without food, now there's the butt of a pool cue in my face. All in all, a much worse experience. FoPo Tavern is to the South, The Lodge it to the East, if you want somewhere better to dive in this neighborhood. And another thing! The urinal in the men's room doesn't flush, and it makes the whole area smell of piss! (This isn't new, but I could forgive it based on how good the food/service used to be) We finally went up to ask about our food, after an hour+ of waiting, watching a half dozen groups who came in after us get their food. And the bartender hit us with the "oh you guys are next!". Chris would NEVER. Dani would NEVER. I tried to keep an open mind, but I'll be asking my landlord for a rent reduction since living in this neighborhood isn't worth nearly as much as it used to. Ok it's been 90+ minutes now. Why am I still here? Thanks for listening! read more

Lay Low Tavern - Lay Low Burger - Sports Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Waited an hour and a half for a cold burger the cook claimed "just came off the grill". This cook is either terrible, a liar, or both. This place used to be great but they fired everyone and rebranded and I recommend you take your business elsewhere. They also ran out of most of their draft beer while I was there, and the dining room was like 55 degrees. read more

If I could give it 0 stars I would!! Horrible experience. Went in on a Friday night just trying to get some dinner and a couple drinks. Entered there was only one person in front of us at the bar so we ordered like right away. Place wasn't super packed, there was multiple tables still open, I'd say moderate for a Friday night nothing crazy. Waited a hour and ten minutes and no food. So we went up and requested a refund to leave. The bar staff seemed stressed and it was reelected in the bartenders attitude. The drinks were good but the attitude that came with it was a complete turn off. read more

Thick ass patty and crispy fries. Onion ring and bbq sauce are a favorite of mine but every burger I've tried here is a winner Wings are also a solid option if you're in the mood One of the best dives I know for food in Portland, up there with Jerry's read more

Lay Low Tavern - The Outlaw Burger and Fries - Sports Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Good little dive bar with a monthly free comedy show for local comedians to try their material that is well worth checking out. They have some cheap beers available as well as a few others on tap. They have some nice sounding food options and I'd be open to trying the burger or some other sandwiches, but please do yourself a favor and steer clear of the wings. These were overly salty and some of the worst wings I have ever had. Tempted to drop it to a 3 star on that alone but they do offer a great $5 burger on Monday so will keep it at a 4. read more

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Great little place with a great atmosphere and a great patio. I would definitely go there again. The hamburgers look really good.

Stopped in yesterday evening after seeing so many posts about the new menu. The second we walked in we were greeted by Skye, the bartender sighing and giving us major side eye. She then proceeded to complain about being hungover while taking our order, we really just came for the food so we had ordered some sodas (asked for Dr. P and they didn't have it so we got RC). After waiting for awhile a gentleman came out and and told us that the owner had spent money on a new and very confusing fryer so it was gonna take awhile for our food to come out and one item would come out about ten minutes after the other. We had already paid, It was whatever. We had received our first items and when they brought the next we mentioned we never got our drinks and a very nice gentleman brought them out for us. We realized one of the glasses was visibly dirty with food stuck to the inside and out. When we brought this to the attention of the bartender she went out of her way to try an embarrass my boyfriend in front of all the other customers sitting at the bar. Stating the cup "went through the dishwasher" and that "this is a bar. most places won't do that" as in give you a new drink when your cup that the bar gave you is dirty? She went as far as to say "You don't get to order a Dr. Pepper and then ask for a new drink" I didnt realize we were shaming people for NOT drinking alcohol. We will not be back and this is largely due to that specific bartender. I would hope as a business you would reconsider having this person who clearly has no desire to do their job on your staff. read more

Hi we used to like this place but the male bartender short brown hair and looks like David Koresh, is a total DICK. I was sitting up in a booth with a water and my eyes were closed, I wanted to sober up,m to drive, and he rudely told me to wake up and get out, I said Cool Cool , and he said "yeah it would be cool if you left" F THAT GUY He asked me to leave and I was super drunk and got to my car and barely made it home thanks to a friend that came to get me. Guess I'll need to find a different Portland dive bar to to, hmm yeah sounds tough. read more

Damn fine burger! Really nice Caesar salad- plenty of shaved parmesan, delightful lemony dressing read more

Lay Low Tavern - August 2024 - Sports Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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At a friend's suggestion, we stopped in on NYE, sat out back and had a drink. We didn't order any food so I can't speak to that but the bartender poured a heavy Crown and coke, much to my delight. As far as dive bars go, this place was definitely divey. I witnessed hard rock karaoke and people playing arcade games. Seemed like a popular place, lotta regulars that knew each other and greeted the bartender as they walked in. The covered smoking area out back was spacious, it probably held close to the same amount of people as the inside did. Parking lot was small, luckily we had a sedan so we fit into the back of the lot because my big SUV would never have found a spot there. I'll be back, I liked the vibe! Cheers read more

Good folks working there. Good food. I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist for 5 star reviews, but I was treated well here.

DELICIOUS burger, friendly service, affordable prices, and a chill patio. Definitely going to be returning for more after-work hangs

This review is based off of my experience during the burger week adventure. They had the Rad Walla burger for $5.00. Walked in, ordered at the bar, received a number ticket, found ourselves a seat and waited for our numbers to be called. We sat out in the patio and watched them cooked the burgers on the grill. Did not have to wait long before our burgers were ready. The burger looked exactly like how it was advertised and was delicious, especially the bacon! It was super tasty! The burger was devoured within minutes. Interaction with the staff were limited, but I loved how they were not pushy/ try to up sale their products as we came strictly for burger week. Yup, no judgement here. They have their own parking lot, however, it was full when we arrived. Instead, we parked across the street and walked over. read more

Lay Low Tavern - Burger week burger "Rad Walla" $5 - Sports Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Overall: Great option for Portland's Burger week - fast and friendly. Location: If you're not familiar with the southeast Portland area, you can easily drive past it since Powell is a major street. Parking: They have a small private parking lot but can be easily missed. There isn't any street parking but there is somewhat of a parking lot across the street that is convenient if you're willing to wait for cars to pass on Powell. Service: I love how they figured out a system to meet the demand! Just like most burger week locations, you purchase a ticket at the bar and you hand it to the chef outside. Seating: It is very limited outside in the back! Food: It's a great burger for $5! The bun isn't an average one that you would find from Wincos and the bacon was crispy. It did have a bit of tangy flavor to it which was very unique. read more

Lay Low Tavern - $5 Burger Week - Sports Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Cheap booze, great food. Pretty much exactly what you want from a dive bar. Nothing more needs to be said!

It's a dive but a cozy, nice, dive. They have karaoke on some nights. Whoever is the chef right now made the BEST burger and caesar salad! I got the Lay Low burger and it was legit so fire! I wanna go back again today and order the same thing lol. Maybe it was the tequila making me feel some type of way, but I ended up tipping the chef personally. FI-RE! Oh, and stiff drinks read more

Went back in place seems to have worked out problems and food is back to being top notch is is service. May have miss read the previous situation my bad. Did not get over charged and had a great time. read more

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Everything you hope for in good neighborhood dive bar! Smallish but great beer selection, excellent cocktails, fantastic bar food, friendly service. A really chill place to hang out. We love the punk/post-punk playlist. Saw some bands last week and that was a blast too with it being such an intimate venue. Our new go to. Don't go changin'. read more

----- Burger Week 2017 Review ----- Was definitely not expecting how good this burger was. 3rd burger of the week. We had come here right after getting a burger from Foster (which took unreasonably forever) and it was the first time either of us had been there before. It's quite a divey place, and not much on the eyes but they had quick, friendly service, and the burger was excellent. The place had an odd mix of Portlandian decor, punk music, and a chinese kung fu movie playing on the TV. For the burger itself, the cheese and arugula greens really made this burger what it was. The burger was well-cooked, very flavorful, and juicy. The goat cheese was a balanced salty that helped tie together the flavors from the spice of the arugula, juice of the burger, and bun. I would definitely have another one of these, and wouldn't mind being able to get some of the cheese itself for other snacks or meals. I don't know if I'd come here again, mostly because it's just not my scene, but if I'm craving a good burger and am in the area I'd probably come back. read more

Lay Low Tavern - Burger Week 2017 - Sports Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

A cool bar along the busy street of SE Powell. From the outside, you cannot tell that they have a nice outside patio in the back. The inside is dimly lit and has that cozy feel to it. I came here and had a burger (as it is Burger Week) and was not disappointed at all. They grill the burgers to order in the back patio. The burger was great and the staff was great. read more

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i love this place and the cooks and bartenders but uhm where the fuck did the jerk sauce go?! i want the old menu back! jerk sauce! jerk sauce! jerk sauce! jerk sauce! jerk sauce! jerk sauce! jerk sauce! jerk sauce! read more

I went to Lay Low Tavern one day for Lunch and got the burger and fries basket. The burger blew me away! And the fries were hot and crispy. Went back again one evening and again loved the burger though the fries were good but not as incredible as before but that's picky. Love the nouveau dive atmosphere and both time there have only encountered the people working to be super friendly. Stop me now or after writing this review I'll go there again!!!!! read more

Good burgers and good pours :) the tater tots were nice and crispy and the burger was cooked perfectly

this is mine & my partners first time visiting oregon we stopped by here to hang with a friend who firstly ordered us the marionberry habanero wings which were pretty deliciously interesting it's mostly sweet than it was spicy but overall very enjoyable , i then ordered the western bbq burger with fries & it was satisfying all my expectations (western burgers are my go to !) , my partner ordered their signature lay low burger which had a good bunch of arugula & cherve cheese just wonderfully juicy !! definitely recommend checking this place out it was super affordable with good drinks , food , & attentive staff :) read more

Lay Low Tavern - marionberry habanero wings - Sports Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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To start, the 2017 Burger Week burger was amazing. Best one I've had this year. Completely worth the $5. Amazing flavor combo with generous arugula. Just delicious. We caught a bit of attitude from the bartender here. Nothing crazy but maybe just a clash of personalities. The people making the burgers were very friendly. It was also somewhat difficult to breath on the back patio with all the smoke from the grill and multiple people smoking cigarettes. If you're sensitive to this, you might be better off inside. Was excited to see they had a cider on tap. Good stuff. We'll be back for Burger Week 2018. read more

Lay Low Tavern - Burger Week 2017 - Sports Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I have been driving past this dive bar for over a year now since I moved to Portland. I decided to drop in and FINALLY check it out... and the only negative thing I can say... is to myself. Because WHY did I not try it sooner!? This place has one of the BEST burgers I've had in Portland! Plus, it's a build your own so you can add anything your heart desires. They also have tons of wings with different flavors (I suggest the marionberry habanero) There's tons of seating, bartender is always as awesome as can be, and it's a very chill environment. read more

I'm going to give this place 4 stars because I love a good dive! We went to listen to the Prince cover band, "Erotic City". I imagine it drew a different crowd for this place for sure. It was packed! I don't know if they over packed the place on purpose or if they were surprised at the turn out but the bouncer let in probably 30 people too many. It was just too crowded. The band was good and we stayed as long as we could stand the crowd but people were getting cranky and pushing so we left. But that reflects more on the customers not the bar. The bartenders were awesome and the bouncer was friendly and helpful. I like bed the red apolstered benches. We will totally go back on a less busy night. I wouldn't go for music again. read more

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The folks that brought you Gold Dust Meridian, Double Barrel, Club 21, and Sandy Hut (Night Light) have refurnished Gators pub on SE Powell blvd to bring you The Lay Low. Step inside and witness the very definition of Old-Man-Bar. But is seeing really believing? Did they pull it off? There's certainly a lot of experience, vision, and detail that went in to making it feel that way and there's little doubt that the Lay Low is as genuine as the wood panneling. More than a few pieces of memorabilia from Club 21 (R.I.P.) were brought over and look very much at home here. The one thing that made me stop short of believing that this is a genuine neighborhood/dive/watering hole were the unfortunate weak pours. But living 10 blocks away, and noticeably friendly staff, means I'm going to give The Lay Low another shot. Covered back patio. Pinball. Music volume that's conversation-friendly. Food looked pretty good. read more

Lay Low Tavern - Lay Low - Comfy, Old Man Bar Chic, Friendly, Weak Pours - Sports Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Great food and comfy atmosphere. It happened to be comedy night on the Thursday we went which was a fun surprise!

Even as the menu is limited during this pandemic, this place still serves a good burger. The patio is heated and covered, and a nice place to enjoy a well poured drink. I'm hoping they can stay open and continue operating under these trying conditions. read more

Went for the burgers after reading their reviews. Typical. Too salty for my taste. Unremarkable.

In search of the best Bloody Mary in Portland. They did not disappoint me. Good food for a triple D place. If you want to go where the locals go, come here. It was really a cool place. read more

Lay Low Tavern - In search of the best Bloody Mary in Portland. I heard it was good and they didn't disappoint. Really good food for a DDD. - Sports Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Been frequenting this bar since I moved to PDX 3 years ago. Went in with a group of friends last night and we were treated so rudely by the cook. It was completely unexpected and uncalled for! The bartender was sweet and tried to apologize and he just stood in the kitchen laughing and shaking his head like a complete pompous jerk. Won't be back. read more

I love this place. Bartenders are always friendly. I've stopped going to bars when the bartender treats me like I ran over their dog. I like that the music is the perfect volume. Not to loud so you have to yell but loud enough to hear it cause they play great music. But what is with the strange smell in the bathrooms? They are trying to cover it up with a sweet smell and the combination of the two is unpleasant . Maybe just get to the bottom of the problem. We spend enough money there to pay for a plumber in a couple of weeks. read more

This is the best dive bar in the history of the universe. Ambience for days, clean, great service, cold beer, stiff pours, and a build-your-own-burger menu completely incapable of disappointing. I live like 25 minutes away by car and still come at least once a month. If I lived right in the neighborhood it would be the best/worst thing ever. The only thing close to a flaw is they have one of those ungodly internet jukeboxes, which uses a deceptive "credit" system and plays your selections at a distinctly lower volume than the default tunes that play in between. If a CD juke were at all easy to come by anymore, and if they replaced their current one with one of those and stocked it with 60s rock and 70s punk records, I'd hack Yelp to find a way to tack on a 6th star. read more

Even if you're not a person who enjoys bars, please make time to get a burger here. It is quite honestly the best in Portland. The burgers taste great AND look great- not an easy task when it's covered in toppings and sauce. I've never seen a dive bar take so much trouble to serve an amazing, consistent product. I was so bummed out when Club 21 closed, so I already knew I was going to like its re-incarnation as Lay Low. I didn't expect much from the food- Club 21 was more of a place to get drunk and loud, and maybe get some onion rings. I would have been pretty happy just to get Club 21 level food, but for some reason when they re-opened somewhere else, they really upped their food game. The beef they use has an actual flavor, and they don't grill it to death. They use much better ingredients than I would have expected, and seem like they actually care what they're putting in front of you. I've been six times now, and I know I'll be back. Get the western bacon burger- they use bacon fancier than I would even treat myself to at the store. The service has always been great- no standoffish or hipstery too-cool-for-this-job bartenders, and the food comes out hot. Try the pina colada slushie- I swear it totally goes well with bbq sauce and bacon. read more

Popped in for a burger and a drink. Burger was really good, drink was fine though they didn't have the ingredients for my initial cocktail choice. Nailed the dive bar aesthetic well but was a bit too dark on the inside for me. read more

Damn dude, gotta give Chef Andy manning the kitchen a raise, how is this place consistently dealing out my favorite burger and wings in Portland? The bun is grilled to perfection not only inside but out, the meat is always perfectly medium and super well seasoned, all the veg is crispy fresh. The sauces on the wings are so damn good, and the wings themselves have just the right amount of breading. BBQ Sauce, dank. Ranch, dank. Jerk sauce, dank. Korean style wings? oh lord. The tots got those crispy bits you normally get on good fried chicken. $5 burgy on monday, $8 with fries for happy hour, $11 with fries otherwise? Wtf is even happening here, I was starting to count myself lucky to find a $14 a la carte inflation burger with a $5 upcharge for a slice of Tillamook cheddar in this town? read more

New bartender working today is amazingly sweet and pours perfect (not too strong, not light, legit perfect). Patio is great, food is good, bar is nice. A neighborhood gem. read more