Abbor Hall came highly recommended by my boyfriend's brother and his partner. The best I can…read moredescribe the feeling is the theme song to Cheers. My boyfriend's brother and his partner were treated like regulars here and the feeling was extended to me and my boyfriend. Becca was so kind and friendly. She took the time to talk to us and it felt like gabbing with a friend. It's such a welcoming environment and I can really tell she really cares about this bar. She really made this feel like a cozy experience. The drinks were incredible. I'm not much of a drinker, and the drinks didn't feel intimidating at all. I tried the bees knees off of the happy hour menu and that was light with a lemon-y taste to it. I also had the panda punch and that is probably one of my new favorites. It's so light and fruity tasting with a hint of warmth to it. I realized now that I did not get any pictures of the drinks and I'm really sad. They were both very beautifully presented. All of the drinks in the group looked fantastic. I already cannot wait to go back.

This deserves an update. My previous review all stands, but I'd give this place 6 stars if I…read morecould. I don't get to go out for cocktails all that often, but this is now my absolute first choice. Whether it's been weeks or months since our last visit, we're treated like regulars. Becca makes every visit special. She knows my favorite drinks, suggests others I haven't tried but should, and ALWAYS takes the time to explain ingredients or the story behind any given drink on the menu. A great place makes you feel like a regular, even when you're not. And everyone here does a great job of that. Finally tried the food. Pretzel was great - cheese plate also great.

Cozy classy and caring should be their slogan As a young…read morepunk in the neighborhood I was worried I might feel out of place in a classy place like this but the bartenders are so kind a friendly and they had Creature of the Black Lagoon playing in the background- can't go wrong there. Good music playing from the turntable, All my questions answered wo any judgment- unfortunately hard to find that in the city, drinks prices were only barely slightly above the average rate but crafted with care Love this place love these folks pls give them your money

Love it, love the ambiance, the staff, owners everything. Appetizers are good. Drinks are amazing.read more

Had an awesome time at The Observatory the other weekend. Unlike a lot of places, they run their…read moreHappy Hour on the weekend, which is what drew my partner and I in. You can absolutely smell the fish and vinegar as soon as you walk through the door, which I think gives the place a very homey pub feel. I ordered a spiked peach Arnold Palmer, which I enjoyed (and it was pleasantly strong) and a glass of the house white, which was good for the price. Our server was very fast and attentive. To eat I got the tomato soup with a grilled cheese, which was absolutely fantastic. The soup was so creamy and flavorful, and I cannot imagine a better meal after spending all day walking outside in the rain. The fries were super crispy and I liked the batter. My partner and I shared some of their breadsticks, which were deliciously baked (fresh!) and came with a super refreshing basil crema and a nice tomato-y dip. Wonderful all. My partner ordered fish and chips, and was surprised to find that it is one large fillet of fish, not multiple pieces like you would typically expect. He said the fish was fine, but a little tough. Overall, a wonderful experience. I definitely hope to return. I highly recommend this place as a refuge during the cold winter months!

You know what I will admit that my ardor for The Observatory has cooled over time. I do still count…read moretheir rosemary pear martini as my favorite cocktail in town - and really their cocktail menu overall is still excellent. But the last few times I've stopped in for a meal, it feels like the food isn't quite as impressive as it used to be. Could be all in my head. Not sure. But it's always a nice spot to hang out and chat with friends, you can get seated quicker if you enter through Over & Out, which basically functions as an extension of the main Observatory, with it's own bar and pool tables.

Dominique made the entire meal extra spectacular. The huevos rancheros were lovely, but the service…read morewas even better. He doted on my elderly mother and was so sweet and kind. Thank you, Dominique! The restaurant is clean, quiet, and decorated very nicely.

Wife and I made a detour here on a Thursday afternoon on the way home from Mt. Hood to let traffic…read moredie down. This was our first time here. Friendly, fast staff. Clean bathrooms. We were awed by how large and elegant the restaurant was. Orders: $10.99 North West Fresh Black Mussels - from happy hr menu $22 Margarita Sampler - Sweet & Spicy. The Margarita sampler was great - 4 unique flavors. However, I was disappointed by the chips. They were obviously stale or burned. I just had one chip and knew they were off. The mussels were not fresh. My wife was the first to notice, and when I tasted it, I almost spit it out. We also didn't have regular check-in. Once we got our mussels order, nobody showed up until we were ready to checkout. Given the place was not busy, you'd expect at least someone to occasionally come ask how the food or drinks are. None of that. I'd love to come back here someday, maybe it's a one off deal but there's room for improvement in customer service from my humble opinion. They eventually compensated us the mussels when I raised the stale issue - but I don't mess around with bad sea food. Would love to come back next time to better service and food.

I feel as if I've waked into a special hidden gem, which is not so hidden. Busy but not…read moreridiculously crowded. Saw some live music which was excellent. Saw "Good Food Near Me" and some other great performers. Cocktails were affordable and well created. The burger was top notch. The stage is small but lively, the gentleman mixing the music was thoughtful and I witnessed him really putting attention to the artists and doing a wonderful job of improving sound. His work was not an afterthought, great job! My only critique is that this venue needs to sell some Covert Cafe Tshirts. The various musical acts were great and it was a wonderful evening. I love the venues and will return when I can!

I'm really happy I settled on the Montavilla neighborhood when choosing a home in Portland. This…read moreneighborhood 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.

To me, this place seems like hidden gem. My husband and I talk about this place a lot and wish we…read morestill lived in the area because the burgers and cake are so good. The burgers are juicy and huge, and you have to get a slice of the cake to share. The waitresses are nice and accommodating. It's one of those places you can go for a casual drink or for a late night meal. Miss it!

Wasn't very busy. Food is not consistent…read more Waiter Patrick was not tentative and smell like cigarettes

My husband and I have supported Bruno's since they first opened. We've brought friends and family…read morehere many times because we believe in supporting local businesses in our neighborhood. Unfortunately, our experience last night was extremely disappointing. We were dining with a visiting family member and had just received our food and first round of drinks. When our waitress--who mentioned it was her first day--came back, I politely ordered a second drink. About 10-15 minutes later, a bartender (whose name was shared with us as Diego by our waitress) brought the drink to the table. Instead of simply delivering it, he spoke to me in an aggressive and condescending tone, telling me this would be the only time a drink would be brought to the table and that next time I needed to go to the bar because they "don't do table service." The issue wasn't the policy--it was the way it was communicated. It felt disrespectful, unprofessional, and completely lacking in basic customer service. Shortly after, our waitress returned and asked if the bartender had been upset about the order, which added to how uncomfortable the situation felt. As the only table of color in the space at the time, the interaction left us questioning whether this was simply poor training, a bad night, or something more concerning. I can't say for certain--but I can say it did not feel welcoming or respectful. We chose to finish quickly, pay our bill, and leave with our food. This experience does not reflect the kind of hospitality we expect from our neighborhood. I truly hope this was an isolated incident and that management takes steps to address staff communication and customer service.

This is my favorite spot on Foster! Great drinks, good music and delicious food. The staff is…read morefriendly and I love the art on the walls. Try the tacos!

I love Bellwether! Impeccable drinks, food & atmosphere. I can't wait to see what they do with the…read morefantastic back patio--changes are coming!

We've passed by this place several times and always wanted to check it out and we're so glad we…read moredid. The atmosphere was just so amazing and cozy and inviting the food was just perfect and just enough. The service was amazing. We sat on the bar and just enjoyed a beautiful date night.

It was my first time here and I drive by this area all the time. I would say it is a little gem. I…read moredid not get to try any of the food or snacks. There is a food cart in the back with Hawaiian goods which I am down to try next time. The service is friendly and acknowledge me when I first got in. The reason why I went to this bar was to check out the vibes if it was too loud or too busy or if it is chill enough to hear conversations with one another. That would be it ! It was quiet enough to have conversations even for a drink with a large group. There is a Photo Booth and a vending machine for nicotine I believe. And there are signs that they have karaoke on Saturdays, which I will have to come back for so this is definitely a spot to check out. I did not give it a full five stars because the parking was not the greatest.

A fun little hidden gem of a bar. This isn't what I would call a dive but it's far from modern - it…read morehas the vibe of an old school lounge. It's chill and has character. The best thing about this place is the lighting. There is something about the tone that makes you feel like someone turned on a warm lens filter. It just makes me feel relaxed. Crowd was modest but fun for Saturday karaoke. I am going to have to add this into my regular bar rotation.

I can't believe it took me two years to step inside DZO Bar & Grill, even though I pass it at least…read moretwice a day in my neighborhood. Consider this your reminder: the next best thing might be in your own backyard! "DZO" means "Cheers" in Vietnamese, and that friendly welcoming vibe is exactly what you'll find here. About 70% of the space is devoted to billiards and pub tables, with a cozy dining room tucked off to the side. Our waiter, Tho, was an absolute delight! He was friendly, attentive, quick-witted, and offered us excellent recommendations. The food was delivered promptly, and every bite was utterly enjoyable. I ordered the lemongrass pork bún, and it was one of the very best I've ever had. Tender, juicy pork over perfectly cooked vermicelli, layered with fresh veggies, cilantro, mint and peanuts... everything in perfect balance! Too often, some restaurants will skip one or two of these key elements, but not here! My partner ordered the salt and pepper squid, crab rangoons, and a Vietnamese coffee he wouldn't share. Judging by his grin, everything must have been just as good as my meal. The menu isn't huge, but I have no doubt every dish is delicious. I'm already planning my return visit, and this time it won't take two years to make it in!

Small, cozy bar with a great laid-back vibe. The staff was friendly and attentive, and the service…read morewas quick even when it got a little busy. The bar food was surprisingly good -- perfect comfort food to go with drinks. Definitely a nice spot to relax, grab a drink, and hang out with friends.