Leipzig Tavern

Love this great neighborhood spot. You can feel like Norm on Cheers if Ron the bartender is working. He knows everyone’s name and makes you feel welcome. The food is great too!

On a Friday night, the vibe in here seemed like it was exactly what I wanted. Although it seemed like 80% of the patrons were just employees sitting down. Either that or literally everyone in the place was a regular, I couldn’t tell. At one point, the bartender passed a glass of wine across the bar to a server/​patron sitting at a table behind me (weird?). Maybe that’s how they do it there. My dad and I went in for a beer to watch the blazers game. The bartender asked if my dad wanted a second beer, he said no. No more than 5 minutes later, the bartender came over and asked «I’m sorry, did you want another?» And I had dejavú. Had he really forgotten the answer my dad gave him? Or was he just being lazy? Not sure, kind of irritated me.
A couple sitting a few barstools down from us had ordered Irish coffees which looked amazing. However, there was a huge antique covered light directly above them that I had noticed was spewing out pieces of dust. I looked closer and saw one of the pieces of dust walking along the bar towards me, realizing it was a bee. It flew around and nobody seemed to notice. Overall, good experience just with a few weird tweeks.

Weak sauce, average seafood, bland pasta. I was quite pleased the wait was so short on a Saturday. Staff is nice enough. Most underwhelming meal I had all week.

The spouse and I decided to try Gino’s for our anniversary. Normally we opt for something a little more special, but with the Sellwood Bridge closed on a Friday night, we didn’t want to broach the trip downtown. There was a bit of a wait since they don’t take reservations for small parties, but the pleasant hostess took our name and said she would call us. We took a seat at the beautiful carved wood bar. They have an amazing wine list, but sadly only a few options by the glass. I ordered the one Pinot noir that they had at $ 11 a glass. I’m not sure what I got, but it wasn’t a Pinot and it was almost undrinkable. It showed up on my bill at $ 9.00. As we were waiting to be called for our table, we saw another couple walk in and be seated immediately at a prime table. Not too cool. My husband went to inquire and was told by the hostess that she had called our name and someone came up, so she seated them. She apologized profusely and seated us at the next available table, but it was not one of the intimate tables the other couple was seated at. It was in the main dining room squeezed in between a couple of other tables. We were immediately told that they were out of the black cod special, which was really a shame, because based on the description, it’s exactly what I would have ordered. Instead I ordered the cioppino. Oddly, it’s served over pasta, which I don’t eat. I asked the server if I could have it over veggies instead. She said, «how about I skip the pasta and bring you a side of veggies? Then you can do what you want.» Perfect. The veggies were amazing — beautifully roasted but with no oil. The only surprise was the $ 6 charge on the bill when I thought I was getting a straight swap. The cioppino was quite tasty and did not suffer for lack of pasta. It was primarily clams and mussels. The bay scallops did not add anything, but the two good-​sized shrimp were nice. There was a nice tomato-​y, fishy, garlicky balance. I asked for a club soda, which they also charged for. Only about 15% of places charge for club soda. The spouse had the putenesca, which was well-​balanced and briny. We shared tiramisu for dessert. It was good, but nothing special. They did nothing on plating or presentation except to scoop it and drop it on the table.
Overall, we will be back for a great atmosphere and good food, but I could do without the nickel and diming. Our bill ended up at $ 66 for two entrees, one glass of wine, one beer, and a split dessert.

So it all seems great. Slightly pricey and an establishment in which you feel that you should try and dress a little nicer

LOVE Ginos! This is one of my favorite restaurants in Portland. The Caesar salad is amazing, and so is all the small plates. Along with great food, the staff has always been very friendly and helpful. A+++

This bar is attached to Gino’s and pretty fabulous. I walked in randomly on a Tuesday when the wine bar across the street was closed.
I had left my house braless in a sweatshirt intending to grab myself a bottle of argentinian malbec and upon arriving at the closed wine shop, desperately swiveled around and saw the word «tavern.» Sold.
I trotted myself over and sat at the bar. It was 15 minutes before late night and Ron told me the burgers were really good. So I decided to wait and order clams. As I drank my regular priced beer and listlessly waited for the clock to change, a brassy older woman walked in and demanded two burgers. Then more older people came in and said they wanted burgers. The hot shot next to me turned around and said these were burgers made of ground steak. That Gino’s took their leftover steaks from the weekend and ground them into burgers. That changed everything and I ordered a burger. #peerpressure
That burger was so good I took my roommate today, was surprised to find a full bar 2 minutes to 9 and after being seated was told there were no more burgers. So today I decided to be angry with the 4 regulars I recognized and next time I’m getting there earlier to pre-​order my steakburger.
On another note, I ordered an extremely garlicky caesar salad (heh heh heh) and the clams. They were delicious. My roommate got the nonna pasta and we were pleasantly surprised to find cuts of good beef in it. Lol she wouldn’t stfu about how that pasta hit the spot and was what she really needed. I’d say she’s a new fan and after a long hard day, late night at gino’s is a great place to be.

Back when the Liepzig was a tavern, it was one of the best. They had wonderful burgers and Black Butte Porter — both of which finished off a hard day’s remodeling perfectly. And the bar itself was magnificent. It has some impressive history, too, but I can’t remember what it was. Imported from Europe in one piece? Oldest bar in Portland? Something like that. I’m sure you could go to the now-Gino’s and find out.
But that’s the sad part. The Liepzig is now the bar-​side of Gino’s; a fine establishment in its own right, but just not my thing. I miss the dark woody, burgery-​ness of yester-​year.

Many years ago, the southeast area known as Sellwood was the most populated area of Portland (more populated than Portland itself was at that time). The Sellwood area featured a racetrack, and an infamous bar called the Whitehouse (known for its gambling and prostitution), just off of what is now SW Macadam. The street of Macadam derived its name from the early process of road paving, known as macadamizing. This was the first paved road in Portland near the turn of the 20^th century, and tales abound of men racing their horse-​pulled buggies down this road to The Whitehouse; an early form of drag racing I suppose.
Within Sellwood itself stood a bar known as the Leipzig, and for years this was one of many watering holes on the southeast side near the bridge. Years later, the original owner would sell the Leipzig to its current owners, with one caveat, the Leipzig sign was to remain, and so it does to this day.
Today the attached restaurant is known as Gino’s. The bar inside was salvaged from a Chicago warehouse by the current owner, and adds a more authentic old-​world touch to the atmosphere of the bar (the brass seal from the manufacturer is still on the bar today).
The legacy left behind by the original owner, the Leipzig sign, often makes me consider what drives men to want to create and perpetuate legacies? The fish symbolizes the many years back in the turn of the century when fisherman used to come back from a day of fishing to the Liepzig, where the owner would let them clean the fish in the back of the restaurant. I wonder too, how many of those he was given for the Saturday evening special…
Distilled