Had an awesome time at The Observatory the other weekend. Unlike a lot of places, they run their Happy 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! read more

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You know what I will admit that my ardor for The Observatory has cooled over time. I do still count their 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. read more

The service was great! We sat at the bar and interacted with multiple employees who were all very nice. The bartender made AMAZING drinks from their drink menu. Not pictured, we also had The Capricorn and the Mango Mezcal Margarita which were also super good! We started with wings and slaw which were both super good. They wings had a great flavor with the sweet and chili which paired well with the slaw. My salad was also really good and we tossed for me so I didn't have to worry about mixing it and making a mess (thank goodness!). I got a little big of everything in every bite. Although hubby's chicken was tender, moist, and the breading stayed in place when cutting off a piece with a fork, both it and the mac and cheese lacked a lot of flavor. The mac and cheese appeared to just be noodles tossed with canned parm and the chicken breading had what seemed like zero seasoning. The vibes were super cool, and I loved the low light and aesthetic. I also loved that they incorporated the home-infused alcohols into the bar decor. Although we were disappointed with one of the two entres, I would try this place again and just get something else instead of the chicken. I think the drinks were what made the experience worth it. read more

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Good place to go to during happy hour! So many good dishes to choose from and their drinks were not bad as well. The food came out pretty quick and it was a pretty chill place to go to. A ton of seating in the front and back of restaurant. read more

The Observatory - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

We were in the area visiting our family and were recommended to go try this spot. Wow! One of the BEST spots on our trip so far! The restaurant had a unique and lively ambience. I would say it was family friendly as well as a great spot for groups or for a date night. Service was friendly, patient and very accommodating. Our server was very attentive to our needs. The drinks were amazing, the dinner absolutely delicious and the desserts out of this world! For starters we had the bread and the Mediterranean Platter - they were both wonderful! I had the mango margarita and it was so tasty! This was an amazing spot - highly recommended and we would definitely go again when we're in the area. Go check them out - you won't be disappointed!! read more

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This place is always good .Serice is friendly and accurate. The food is cooked accurately and very tasty. If in the neighborhood I will be back read more

Such a great neighborhood spot. If I lived in the Montavilla area i'd go here at least once a month. Their menu has something for everyone. Observatory is also very kid friendly and has great service. Go immediately. read more

The Observatory - Shrimp & Grits - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I love this place. The short version? Great food, wonderful drinks, helpful service. We came for lunch and sat at the bar, by choice. I ordered a Spanish coffee and my sister ordered a Cumin Centipede. The Spanish Coffee was amazing! The bartender who made it loves that drink, and it shows. The Cumin Centipede was complex -almost savory. Lunch was a curry salad with fries (no tortilla) for me and a buffalo salad for her. Yum! I love curry salad with apples and raisins. We then ordered a Tom Kha (non-spicy) and a Mango (non-Mezcal) Margarita. Also excellent. When I explained my food sensitivities, the waitress paid attention and made sure I got what I wanted and needed. Ambiance? Cozy. High ceilings, tall windows in over wall, dark and light walls. Well spaced, not cramped but cozy. And the Over and Out bar in the back is great. They have Gluten Free buns and are good about modifying food and drink to meet needs and preferences. This is a great place to eat! read more

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This has recently become a go-to spot for us that offers a nice night out and elevated fare, for reasonable prices. For dining, I much prefer the front room/bar as opposed to the much louder, less cozy back area. Extra kudos that they offer an Elk burger, which has been harder to find on menus around town lately. Also appreciate that the dinner menu has quite a few great fish options, as it should in the PNW. All of them are good, and somewhat unique preparations you don't find on every chain menu. The salads are also solid, but I do wish they had some better start options in the $10-15 range. None of the others really reel me in. Drinks are fine and the service has always been friendly. Highly recommend this spot for dinner or lunch, just aim to sit in the front. read more

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Great food, excellent service. We have eaten there often and were never disappointed. We highly recommend this wonderful establishment,

I've been here several times and it's become one of my favorites. Downtown Montavilla has some great food. In this particular occasion I only stopped in for a post dinner drink, but from experience the food is fantastic. They have a great drink menu with a lot of different and curated selections. I was with a large group and we each got something different and everyone loved their selection. The service was fast and friendly. It took a bit to get our drinks, but I was ok with it considering there was a group of us and it meant they were making everything fresh. It's always clean and to me the lighting is perfect, but it is on the darker side, so be aware if you aren't in to the more mood lighting in establishments. read more

The Observatory - Mango Mezcal Margarita - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Been coming here for years now and it never disappoints. From the interesting, flavorful dishes to the bright and airy decor, to the excellent service, they always get it right. (To be clear this review is for the original, front space off Stark - the more casual sports-bar-ish back area warrants its own review). The bar program is spot on, with both classics and seasonal specials, the wine is always well-picked and the prices are reasonable - especially at happy hour. We had the pulled pork BBQ tacos - tender shredded pork, not too saucy and stuffed nicely - spicy chicken wings, with a lovely sesame ginger marinade -- and garlic rosemary fries, that were to die for. Nobody went home sad. A mix of tables and booths take up the bright and airy high-ceilinged main area, and there's a good bunch of stools at the long wraparound bar counter as well. Street parking can be a bear at peak hours but it's not impossible. Happy to support this small Montavilla business that's soldiered on through thick and thin. read more

The Observatory - Sesame sweet chili glazed chicken wings-- 3 thumbs up - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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We went here for lunch on a Saturday with family. Wondering why they get such great reviews. Maybe it's for dinner. The lunch/brunch menu looked ordinary and since it was after 1pm we wanted lunch. Boring. Our son & I got Reubens. Nothing special with the sandwiches. The best thing was actually the fries which were excellent. My daughter-in-law got the burger burger, which was just a burger-nothing fancy. She didn't remark on it being great or not. My husband got the vegetarian burger and he thought it was ok. So...maybe we didn't order the best items on the menu or maybe people love dinner here? It wasn't close to amazing. I've had amazing and this wasn't it. Not that it was bad, mind you. read more

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We found this place on Yelp which was on the way to Airport. We were not sure what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised. It was a very cute, cozy family friendly restaurant. Staff was so friendly, they had a full bar. The menu had a variety of dishes. Service was quick and the food was really good. read more

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Wonderful place, fry bread is to rave about! Always a good vegetarian option on the menu Beet salad is a must! read more

Quick service and open until really late. Nice soft light ambient. Servers and nice and efficient. They watch your water and fill it. The food was amazing. Absolutely loved the sage cream chicken linguini. It had chicken, pea, spinach, mushroom and butter squash. Food came fresh and the bread was well seasoned. Also got the burger burger with cheddar medium. Very classic burger, and they put the tomato, lettuce, and sauce on the side. Very simple burger, but the highlight is the French fries. They have a seasoned fried fries. Perfectly crispy on the outside. read more

The Observatory - Sage cream chicken linguini - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Had a very lovely dessert date here with a mentor. Super friendly staff. Very nice service. Came on a separate occasion on a Sunday and did not see anything on the menu that looked good so I skipped and didn't order anything. I wouldn't come for a meal but it's a cute spot for dessert. read more

The Observatory - Guava lemonade, Warm Chocolate Brownie and Cinnamon-Sugar Bread Pudding and sweet potato fries - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Ambience: OK Service: Very friendly server, hostess was a bit sharp Food: disappointing. Lunch menu was primarily sandwiches. Not much choice for "fork food". Was there during happy hour. Tomato bisque was inexpensive and OK. Fry bread was dense and I think it was just fried frozen Rhode's bread dough. The 'creamy tomato dip' served with the bread was a ramekin of the soup. Had the 'blackened fish tacos'. They weren't blackened, and the purple slaw disaster served with it had more mayonnaise than cabbage. My wife's chicken wings seemed like they were a frozen product. It wasn't the worst I've had, but when I dine out I want amazing freshly prepared foods. This wasn't that. read more

My family has gone to the Observatory for years, decades, really. The only downside for me, now, are the changes to the menu. Some of the foods currently offered seem just too exotic, & kind of weird. read more

We found The Observatory after landing in Portland later than expected and needing to find dinner. Our experience with service was great and the carrot cake was the best we've ever had! read more

Came here for dessert on a week day evening. We sat up at the bar and ordered a few rounds of drinks and dessert. The food was outstanding but the server and bartender were both visibly unhappy. We didn't interact with the server but the bartender was about as sour as it comes. A second bartender helped us out mid way and was very kind. Overall, the staff vibe just seemed angry and even with how amazing the food was, not sure I'll be back based on the service. read more

The Observatory - Chocolate Brownie - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Nice place to go, a little something for everyone. Food and drinks are good. Service is friendly. Ambient lighting is a bit dark and dated for me, but that's the old Portland vibe. read more

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Long time lurker, first time diner review! This restaurant has been on my list for years now. We finally decided to give it a try around 5:30 pm on a Saturday with our 2 year old. When we arrived, the place was packed. Perhaps because they had a HH ending at 5, but the place remained busy by the time we left (after 7). We arrived from the street, but it looks like there's a parking lot in the back. We checked in with the hostess, who told us there would be a 15-20 minute wait. She told us we could wait down the hall, where there were several areas with chairs and a red couch. The chairs were mostly taken when we went back, but eventually a group that was sitting at the red couch got up and we sat there. This couch was right next to the back section of the restaurant (the "sports bar" area). The hostess there asked if we had put our names in, to which we said we did. She checked the system and could not find us so then added us. We ended up being seated in the back "sports bar" section just as the front side of the restaurant called us to tell us our table was ready. So I'm not sure what's going on there... but we were seated within 20 minutes. We were seated in a booth with no high chair, and the hostess did not offer to grab it or even tell us where we could find one. Despite that, our server was very friendly and attentive. We put in my son's order for chicken strips and fries and asked that she bring it out as soon as it was ready. I ordered the king salmon, and my husband ordered the steak special. The chicken strips and fries did come out first, and it was a large plate (big enough to share the fries) and my son did love the chicken strips made with chicken thigh! The other dishes didn't come out too long after. Both items were good portion sizes, and reasonably priced. The salmon was fresh, juicy, not fishy at all. The potato cakes were divine. And the braised greens were a nice complement. My husband enjoyed his steak with chimichurri sauce, mashed potatoes, and greens. He did comment that there was a lot of oil underneath the steak, most likely from the chimichurri sauce. He was able to avoid most of the oil. We didn't have any leftovers, but we were pleasantly stuffed! When my son started acting up, we were able to grab the waitress's attention quickly and get our bill paid. I would definitely come back -- I'm a little nervous about the wait, given how popular this place is, but I would come back on a date night or with friends. It's a very lively place, darkly lit atmosphere, with lots of booths and space. read more

The Observatory is, without question, my go-to spot in Portland. It's the restaurant I always bring visitors to--not just because the food is consistently excellent, but because it feels like true Portland in the best way. We've probably eaten here hundreds of times, and I honestly can't recall a single bad experience. The energy is always warm and welcoming, the food fresh and flavorful, and the cocktails? Hands-down the best in town. (The lavender lemon drop has my heart, it's bright, floral, and just the right balance.) On this visit, we shared the Rosemary Fries--crispy, herby perfection, and the Pan Fried Idaho Trout Piccata, which was tender, lemony, and cooked just right. Simple ingredients elevated with care, which really sums up what I love about this place. The vibe is laid-back and a little eclectic, with that familiar Portland charm. Once, we even overheard a very Portlandia-esque conversation at the bar about the ethical backstory of the chicken. It was hilarious and somehow fitting. Located in Montavilla, it's ideal for a little post-dinner wandering. There's something grounding about strolling through this neighborhood after a delicious meal, the evening air cool and full of possibility. If you're looking for a place that feels like a true local favorite--unfussy, delicious, and deeply Portland, this is it. The Observatory is a gem I'll never tired of. read more

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Stopped by The Observatory with a couple of friends and had a really solid time. The place has a cool laid-back vibe that makes it easy to hang out for a while. Drinks were good, food was satisfying, and the staff kept things moving without rushing us. It's the kind of spot that works well for a casual night out. I'd definitely come back again! read more

This place is the best. They offer Great service and great food every time we visit! Great spot for date night!

Wow! We one is in the Portland area you must come here. Great vibe. Super relaxed. Awesome food!! I had the Sage Chicken Linguine and my husband had the New York steak special. Espresso martinis and old fashioned was on point! read more

The Observatory - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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We'd been to The Observatory several years ago, pre-pandemic, and loved it. We remember the food was excellent, we enjoyed the space in the back where there were a couple pinball machines. Totally different experience this time, maybe a couple months ago now. Food was just OK, service was barely there, and the whole experience didn't make us want to go back. We see it with a lot of restaurants lately. I don't know if it's the training, the applicant pool, or a reaction to customers who aren't as kind and easygoing as we are, but The Observatory isn't much different from what we see happening all over the place. Mediocre at best. read more

Great burgers. The staff is friendly and pretty fast. Drinks are good as well 2 dining rooms and 2 bars. read more

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Burger Burger add Cheese & Bacon, its a must and never misses! 10/10 Great service cozy vibes. read more

The Observatory - Burger Burger (Add cheese & Bacon) - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Mussels were in a garlic-y sauce that was so good to dip the amazing bread into and fish and chips were delicious, pulled pork sliders were ok, pork was "pulled" a little too much leaving the filling not toothy enough, but still tasty. The service was lovely. My drink ( paloma) was so-so. The atmosphere is enjoyable, we will definitely return! read more

We were in the neighborhood and found The Observatory here on Yelp. It was well-reviewed so we decided to give it a shot. Parking was a bit odd but we secured a pretty good parking spot in the back. The place wasn't too packed (we ate here on a Sunday @ 2PM) and we were seated at a spacious booth. The place was lively (but not obnoxiously lively) and the service was great. Our server was very nice, attentive, courteous and on top of things. The menu at a quick glance is pretty straightforward. We played it safe and ordered the following: * Oregano Fry Bread (Appetizer): This was the star of the show. I highly recommend this! The dough was fluffy on the inside yet crispy on the outside. It was perfectly seasoned and the basil crème fraîche & creamy tomato dipping sauces are a perfect addition. * Burger Burger: By the way, that is not a typo. That is the name of the menu item. This was a straightforward burger in which you can add cheese of your choice for an extra charge ($1) and it came with a lemon aioli. It was just okay if I'm being honest... but the fries are pretty damn good! * Drinks: Unfortunately, they do not serve Coca-Cola products so I opted for an RC Cola and my wife ordered the Lavender Gin Lemon Drop cocktail for fun. She liked it and recommends it for anyone who might be interested. If we ever come back, I think I would order a different entree (like the Fish & Chips or the Pulled Pork Sandwich) but until then, I'm sticking to my review and rating. read more

We went here for Happy Hour on a Friday. I ordered a Swift Pomegranate cider with Oregano Fry Bread, Chicken Sliders and Bbq pulled pork sliders. The Fry Bread comes in 5 pieces. So delicious. The BBQ sliders was very flavorful. We definitely enjoyed it. The restaurant has lots of pictures on the wall and they also sell pictures too. Great neighborhood restaurant where the bartender knows the customers very well. Great place to just sit and hang out. I was really enjoying the interior of the wall clock and the chandelier. Quite amazing. read more

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I've been wanting to try this place for a while and finally got a chance. Everything about it was really amazing. The hostess and wait time accuracy, you can check your place with a link. The waitress was quick and helpful. I ordered an elk burger and initially asked for it medium but asked her how it's usually served. Glad she recommended the medium rare. It was so tasty and the fries were so crispy! My husband tried the catfish and he liked the fish but especially the Johnny cakes. We also ordered oysters from Netarts which were tasty and fresh. Our cocktails we ordered while waiting were also very good. This place looks like it must know what it's doing because it was pretty crowded but managed a 20 mins wait. I really enjoyed the food and atmosphere, will come again soon! read more

The Observatory - Elk burger with crispy fries (medium rare) - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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This place is really cute. We went there for lunch and drinks on a Saturday and had seating quickly. The server was a delight. The fry bread is worth coming back for and will be a staple for meals here now. The grits were delicious (dates meal). The lamb burger was fantastic and when I reheated it later it was still yummy. The fries were crispy and pub like which is my favorite. read more

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Service was great, and food delicious! We had pulled pork sandwich & fish and chip. Great happy hour deals daily 3-5pm.

Forever my favorite! The vibe is on point and I am thankful for such radical bar back staff and the food is always top shelf, along with the drinks! Props to Q, Didi, Aaron, Torben, and Pele! y'all nailed it! read more

Food: For the food I nibbled on some fries they weren't awesome because they were kinda flakey and they reminded me of the flakeyness of Arby's fries and the thickness/texture of steak fries Service: The service was good everyone was nice and they didn't put ice in my drink because I didn't ask for it Ambiance: The ambiance was good the entire place was dimly lit which made it kinda hard to play pool Pool: Playing pool was fun it takes three quarters and you have to ask for the white ball read more

The Observatory - Fries - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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They were very welcoming after a long day of traveling. I like the Oregano bread. I really appreciated that they gave me oysters to go. read more

We stopped in looking for a kid-friendly place to eat, and we were so pleasantly surprised! The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, the service was great, and the food really hit the spot. The kids' plates were huge, definitely big enough to split between my two littles, which was a nice bonus. My mother-in-law and I shared the Apple Beet Salad and the Chicken Pesto Linguini, and both were delicious and satisfying. Fresh, flavorful, and perfectly portioned. We also treated ourselves to the Prickly Pear Pineapple Margarita, and let me just say... I definitely should have ordered another one to go . Highly recommend this spot, family-friendly, great vibes, and even better food and drinks! read more