The Saratoga

Love this place! What an improvement form the old U & I! Great food menu with healthier options available. Service was great too! Roman was a very friendly bartender and doesn’t even bitch when I order my high maintenance, «I’m a bartender too» drinks! He even acts as if he’s eager to make them! Wow! That’s a change from typical Portland bartenders!
Can’t wait to see some live music there. I happened to arrive on a night when there was no live music, but the juke box was good.
I’d like to give a «Hell Yah!» to the new ownership!!!

Fun bar I’m glad its by my house. The fact that its shut down for noise temporarely shows that they play loud music and have live shows which is something that if you complain about, or dont like you are probably lame and boring.
The food is good, the beer is cheap, the dive bar and music combined is great, other various entertainment for when you get a good buzz on like pinball, and not metioned is the lounge area with couch’s and chairs with a coffee table its like the comfort of my own home while having fun.
And I always wondered how can people not like loud live music? come on!!!

HUGE beer selection and amazing food with no pretense (for once!). The place is a bit off the beaten path for me but I would be a regular if it was closer to my place. Great outdoor seating and friendly service.

They have 4 pinball tables and 50 cent old germans from 9 to 10 everyday! Live music is always cheap an of good quality as is the jukebox. The space is larger than the Know and a little nicer. The seating areas are abundant and is close to a MAX stop.

A decent place all around, definitely a step up from the former U&I, I like that they have pinball and buck hunter. I didn’t order any food, but what I did see coming out of the kitchen looked pretty mediocre at best. I would advise avoiding nights where they have live music unless you are going for the band in particular as the sound level can be a bit much, and the video games (the biggest draw in my opinion) are pushed aside and power pulled.

Boring. Poor music. Empty. Black trash bags on the windows to create a black out effect. Disappointing. Depressing. Two hours of my life i will never get back.

This is a pretty rad little bar. Lots of pinball, good span of fairly priced beers, great ambiance for hanging out, and a pretty good small music venue. I’m thinking this could become a regular haunt!

Saratoga makes me want to be a smoker again. I mean that as a compliment.
Totally stoked on the space, it’s a lot like the Brotherhood in Olympia, WA. Very cool.
One big red flag though: The bar is never staffed correctly. Either there’s not enough bartenders, or the bartenders working don’t know the difference between Angostura bitters and grenadine syrup. READ: Slow time getting drinks. They could make a million more bucks a night if they tightened the game at the bar.
Also, dudes: website! Get on it!

What a nice surprise!
This used to be the U&I Tavern and I never really cared for it (just another why bother? dive bar)
Now, I will bother.
They have a great jukebox and a nice little setup for live music. Outdoor patio and veg-​friendly menu.
Had a spicy hummus/​pita thing that was much better than average bar food. Everything else on their little menu looked great too. Good beer selection. Pleasant bartender.

Came on a night where there was live music, (including a $ 5 cover) which was unbeknownst to my friend who’d been here before. The band starts playing, and we can’t even have a conversation because the music is too loud. REALLY loud music. I’m willing to try places once, and quite frankly, I don’t have a reason at this time to return.

This place rules. The pinball, the drinks, the jukebox, the food item I tried. It has it all! The bartender I had the first second, fourth, and fifth times was amazing! Friendly, poured a strong drink, outgoing… time number 3, that dude wasn’t nice at all… as a matter of fact, I remember the term «fuck face» crossing my mind… ok it wasn’t that bad but in comparison, fail.
The pinball machines are all far far away from the bar, which is awesome if you are trying to behave yourself. Above the machines however, is a window facing southwest… and around happy hour, makes the machines un-playable…that blows, that is why I am here.
Huge area for live music! I want to see a show here! Lots of little corners to get away from it all and read a paper. Parking is very easy and it’s just a short walk to the max stop.
It never fails, an hour after being here I have a buzz from one drink, or got drunk off of 3, and have usually used up all of the swear words I know. Fuck you Black beauty pinball machine. No one likes to play you.

I just moved next door this month and I am already in crush mode with Saratoga. It is dark and a little dingy but comfortable and friendly as can be. The bar tenders are welcoming and manage to be attentive without being annoying and without losing their edge. I love myself some PBR but the fact you can’t get it here is sort of refreshing. I feel like a selfish child because I don’t want this place to get too popular, I have already established it as a pleasant local watering hole where I am sure I will spend many a night and many a quarter on pinball.

I would probably give this place more business, if they had a website– so that I could see what bands were playing. O well… I guess they are too cool to be looking out for there own interests or the bands that play there.
The service is o.k. and the sound system is mediocre. Bring your black outfit with you.

A new favorite in NoPo. Went there for the pinball (they have 5 or 6 machines), sweet jukebox, live bands and more.
The first time I ventured into this fine establishment the bartender was awesome. She was friendly, knowledgeable, and cooked up a fabulous jerk chicken pita. The next time in a different bartender was less than welcoming thus only 4 stars.
The Saratoga is a large open area divided into sections with tables, the bar area, a separate pinball area, dance floor and stage, and a nook with couch and comfy chairs, sort of livingroomesque.
I plan on returning regularly. You should try this out if in the area and why not take the Max, it’s right out front.

I keep forgetting to make an honorable mention! U and i GOODBYE! Hello Saratoga! I had one drink,(but bought a round for my table), good service, decent pour, nice change for the whole feng-​shui of the place. Not a scary place as I saw it,(it was before!).I did not eat, but, yes! (stole a menu.)It looks good people… Me, owning a pub,(with good food)…it would be decent competition, if we were in the same neighborhood! I’ll be back! Remember, I haven’t eaten there yet :) P. S. I had so much fun with Mr. Fabulous!

I am very excited about The Saratoga! A photobooth, 4 pinball selections, a jukebox, and… wait for it… FRIENDLY SERVICE!!! I look forward to checking out some music there someday, the only way I have been able to figure out who’s playing is via their Facebook page. This place is going to be a 5-​stars once I make some more effort to chow and listen to music, oh, and when its nice out and I become a patio patron. Seriously though, fantastic cheerful (actually glad you’re there!) service, cozy atmosphere and a great beer menu.

This place is pretty much awesome. I love the food. The burger is amazing. The bartenders are all super nice. This is just an all around good place to have a beer and a burger and play a game of darts. They are now having music and DJs. The only complaint I have is that both times we were there and there was a band, it was crazy loud. I mean, so loud that it was painful. I swear I’m not just getting old. It was too loud.
I will be back again and again. So glad this place is here!

I love coming to the Saratoga! All the bartenders are super friendly and their drinks are at a reasonable price. I would definitely recommend that people come and check out this awesome bar!

Awesome interior with great collection of vintage beer signs. The Saratoga Burger was incredible– tender beef and seasoned beyond belief by the super friendly chef. The beer selection is great– perfect pricing and cold! I know I forgot to mention the seasoned shoestring fries. That’s because I don’t want anyone to know, so that I can nom them all!
4 pinball machines, dart boards being hung. Ample seating, well proportioned space for live music.
This place is going to be hopping, so head over now to enjoy it all while the run of the place can still be yours!

Just opened! Good food, drinks and atmosphere. Something North Portland was in desperate need of. I was REALLY shocked to see the transformation the new owners made from what used to be a total dump called the U & I.