Is it fair to judge a place based on what it once was? This is a tough one for me. The original reviewer, Evan K, described the original Wanker's Corner well. It opened in the '30s and was a neighborhood kinda dive bar filled with Australian and Americana memorabilia.
When I first moved to the area, my house was a mile from the original Wanker's Corner location. This was one of the first places I went out to eat and drink and one of the reasons I quickly fell in love with Oregon and made it my home.
Now Evan talks about how courteous they were to their patrons, but what I remember was the sass. They were known for being pretty in your face with their patrons. Kind of the gum chomping, "Yeah, what do you want?" attitude, not unlike Escape from New York Pizza. But it was clearly all in fun.
My recollection is that the owners had some sort of lease dispute and were forced to find new digs and chose the Wilsonville location. So it went from an old ranch style building in the country to a strip mall in Wilsonville. But, all the decor made the trip. The new location is filled to rafters with movie posters, kangaroos and all sorts of kitsch.
Some things have stayed the same. You can still throw peanuts on the floor (inside) and the menus are printed on newspaper. Went there tonight with a large group and sat around one of the large wood tables. The place was filled and it had a fun vibe happening.
Tonight it was all about drinks. Now this is really a beer kinda place, but I guess I was feeling a little fancy and ordered their special version of a Lemon Drop with Chambord; very tasty. My good friend, who knows her way around a bar and has exceptionally good taste, ordered a Dirty Martini with Grey Goose. She floored me when she said it might be the best one she's ever had.
I usually come here for lunch since I work in Wilsonville. My favorite item on the menu is the Thai-Foon Salad. The majority of their menu contains burgers, sandwiches, melts and wraps. They also serve an absolutely massive nacho platter, loaded with the works. I would say most people come here to eat mass quantities, drink a beer and be merry. There is also a pool table and a large bar area.
Outside they have a patio, which is a great spot for lunch in the summer or a hot August night. The funny part is that there is a city ordnance in Wilsonville, so you can throw your peanuts on the floor inside, but not outside.
So what can I do? I had an absolute blast there and am happy there is a place like this in Wilsonville. But, I can't help but be a little misty about the past. The servers here are downright perky. The first time I visited the new location I started being a bit of a b*tch (on purpose because it is so not like me) to the waitress and I thought she was going to cry. Guess the attitude doesn't work in a strip mall. read more