Side Eye is a really neat addition to NW 21st -- still relatively new, still carrying that fresh energy of a place figuring out its rhythm while already feeling like it belongs. I've developed a personal tradition of stopping in after catching a movie at Cinema 21, and I'm almost certain I'm not the only one who's adopted that routine since it opened. The drink menu is solid and creative, though they don't carry heavy cream, which means my usual White Russian is off the table. Not a tragedy -- just one of those minor disappointments you file away and move on from. The world, unfortunately, does not revolve around my cocktail preferences. Food-wise, the Royale with cheese burger is genuinely excellent. No sides come with it, but you can order those separately, which feels intentional rather than stingy -- this is more of a snack-and-drink kind of place than a full sit-down dinner destination. The vibe is where Side Eye really shines. It's fun, lively, a little playful without being chaotic, and noticeably different from the typical east-side bar scene. It feels like a natural post-movie decompression chamber -- somewhere to talk about what you just watched, argue about whether it was brilliant or terrible, and let the night continue without committing to anything too serious. It's also a great spot to bring friends, especially those who haven't spent much time on this side of the river. Distinctive, welcoming, and just different enough to feel memorable. read more

No qualms about the space or decor or the service,; it's just not my bag. Dim lighting and minimal decor inside, kind of refined dive bar meets lounge vibe. Polished but not fancy. It's got a decent enough menu, though pretty small, consisting mostly of Elevated pub food --- smash burger, kale Caesar salad, chickpea tots --- and we had a very competent tender at the bar, so our experience was fine and our Cajun-forward tots were very good, if overly seasoned.. I simply liked this place better when it was Miu Miu. But that's just me. Also, parking has become an absolute bitch in this hood since they raised the rates. $7 an hour?! Thanks Portland. read more

Side Eye - Interior is cool and mod. - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Well, they didn't mess up the beer, I guess. The blooming onion was a disaster. So underfried that it would not pull apart and worse, eating it was like biting into a bag of uncooked flour. I'm not sure that could be very good for me, so I left most of it. The bartender was at one moment nice enough to start, but fairly quickly, he became a Portlandia-esque parody of all that is the worst of hipsters. He corrected the guys after me on the history behind the Rob Roy and Roy Rogers to the point that the were embarrassed and had to apologize. He also corrected folks for trying to sit at the bar midsection because "people like to order there." Really? Then put a little sign up that says "Orders Here, non-seating area" or something. Those guys also were embarrassed enough to apologize and try to explain how sitting at the bar is a better experience. Here's a secret for you... don't deliberately choose to belittle or otherwise make your patrons feel bad... oh, and learn how to cook something as simple as a blooming onion furchrissakes. read more

A super neat bar with very moody interior and chill vibes! Love the retro decors inside. Tons of seatings. Bartenders were all super nice as well. We checked out their happy hour and grabbed a bunch of things. Food and drinks for $8 were a pretty great deal. Their Royale with Cheese was one of the better smashed burgers I've had! The shredded lettuce was a nice touch and the patty was nice and meaty. Their drinks were also more nuanced than those at regular dive bars, definitely an upgrade! We tried their Blooming Onion as well which was my very first one! Tasty cheese sauce on top but I wish the onion was more cooked overall. It still had a very strong raw taste for most of it. All in all, very happy with the visit and would love to be back! read more

Side Eye - Royale w/ Cheese - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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A haiku review: The bloom unfurls hot Cheesy river at the core A molten embrace Burgers loaded up Lettuce, cheddar, sesame Finding joy in every bite Chicken sammie joins Crisp waffle fries on the side Dipped in herb delight Side Eye- you did it A trio of greasy gods Though may give heartburn Cold drinks, candles glow Rum and roasted coconut Whispers, "sip me slow" read more

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Smash burger was pretty good but what I liked more was the waffle fries. They seem to have that curly fry type coating that makes them very tasty. The staff is very inviting and friendly. The lighting inside is dim so something to keep in mind if that's not your vibe. The prices are decent and in line with the neighborhood. Definitely worth stopping by for a bite before or after your movie. read more

Side Eye - Smash burger with fries - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Pretty chill bar- liked the lighting. Cocktails were good and service quick and friendly. Seemed like a younger crowd. Would return if in the area. read more

Side Eye - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Now see at the former, mu mu's you could count on a good drink. Worse martini ever. And they never trust I'll pay my tab. I mean I work across the street for gosh sakes. read more

Convenient and cool spot to get a drink after a movie at Cinema 21 next door. They seem to be going for a 1940s vibe -- old-style cocktails, some with novel touches, recessed lighting. They also make some original cocktails with such ingredients as toasted coconut water, peach-rooibos tea, etc -- booze-free, but you can add a shot. I think our favorite part of the ambiance was the recorded music -- some African grooves, probably a Fela Kuti mix. Not that they'll necessarily have the same music on when you go, but the sound system is decent and they had it at just the right volume (unusual for a bar) -- it was loud enough that you could hear it well, dig on it if you wanted, but also soft enough that you could have a group conversation (to discuss the movie you just saw!) without having to yell. We didn't try the food, but it looked like standard bar fare from the menu. read more

Decent place with a nice vibe for the area. Staff is attentive with ordering and bringing items out. Was pleasantly surprised by the Smash burger size and quality for HH. The Paloma uses a grapefruit soda which looses gets overpowered by the other ingredients so ends up more like a margarita in flavor. Would be nice if there was a more cleared/defined area to order since it's all done from the bar but it is also filled with chairs and not much side room. The men's bathroom is also weird as the door doesn't shut well and is a straight on side view to those at the urinal, nothing like some solid eye contact with people enjoying their drinks while looking over as you hear the door opening for someone to squeeze by you to the toilet on the other side. Beers at 14oz for 6 bucks isn't bad nowadays (non hh). read more

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Great new bar in town. This use to be a dive bar type of place but that was shut down. Now the place is a cocktail bar. The cool thing about this is that they have pre-batched cocktails that you can order for your table. You can pour your own cocktails and they provide the glassware and garnish. So cool! read more

Side Eye - Cocktail Bar - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Always great service and vibes at ye old side eye. I recommend the passionfruit mezcal marg but you truly can't go wrong with any of those cocktails. read more

This beloved old Portland bar space next to CINEMA 21 has been reimagined and upgraded. Tried the Fitzgerald cocktail and the smash burger

Living nearby it was fun to see the place go from abandoned building to bar. Its a cute place. If you enjoy the Pink Rabbit youll find a similar vibe at side eye. Fun drink and food menu and loud music. Ideal for after work drinks or a starting point before a night out. I enjoyed a melon colada reminds me of the Japanese melon ice cream and highly recommend. It's delicious and refreshing. The staff were great at helping me right away. The bartenders were doing the most mixing drinks and delivering food, so the food took a minute. My con would be the music is so loud and they have movies/videos playing that it's hard to engage with your group. read more

such a beautiful and relaxing atmosphere! chris the bartender was kind and fun to talk with! it's the perfect spot to grab a drink :)

Oh, Side Eye. I really wanted to like you but you ended up being oh so underwhelming. Your interior design is off (there's a big blank wall to the left of the bar and I don't think it's supposed to reflect a minimalist look), the artwork over the booths is hung too high, and the lighting could use some help. And then there's the food. Your happy hour sandwiches are disappointing, especially when they feature a McDonald's style bun that is neither toasted or warmed, arriving at the table looking like a rushed afterthought. The drinks were fine, though and the staff were friendly enough but you need to pay attention to the details. They matter. read more

Preposterous that this place is not a 5.0. The drinks are modernized touches on classics. Fun little twists. And the food is quite top notch! The smash burger is akin to a Big Mac and so nostalgic. Bloomin onion? Sign me up! Half meter dog? Get in me. And the service is so quick! read more