McMenamins on the Columbia

This is our go-​to datenight destination. Great beer and food (what else do you expect from McMenamins?), and an amazing environment seating right on the Columbia.
On a nice day/​evening, this is the perfect place to relax and take in the view with a solid menu of food and drink. They burn blue spruce logs in the outdoor fire pit, and it always smells so amazing! That fire paired with the outdoor heaters, makes their covered patio seating a stand alone experience. Definitely a perfect combo, you don’t find anywhere else in the Portland Metro area.
ps. Get the 19^th Hole!

I’ve been here before and have eaten primarily the average staples here (i.e. Cajun tots, beers, hamburgers, etc.). Tonight I went in with a friend for her birthday and we asked what the special desserts were. There was something called a coconut dream cake and we both got very excited about ordering it. We decided to split it plus a black and tan brownie plus two Spanish coffees. We did not finish anything except for the coconut dream cake.
Get the coconut dream cake.
I repeat: get the coconut dream cake.
I don’t think they make this all the time, so if you like coconut, I would highly suggest calling them to ask if they’ve made it that day. This cake was so delicious and even though I hate the use of this word, it really was moist. The frosting was not so sweet that it made you feel like a sugar high or your teeth were going to fall out, but you could taste the cream cheese deliciousness and the real Big toasted pieces of coconut on the outside were scrumptious. I am so full, but if you put that cake in front of me right now, I would still find time to squeeze in a few more bites. It was that good.
Also, I don’t know the name of our waitress, but she was so nice. She gave my friend and I a wonderful energy, and was very sweet about my friend’s birthday without being ‘restaurant’ annoying. She suggested the coconut dream cake and the Spanish coffees when we asked her about coffees with alcohol or what desserts she had.
Get the coconut dream cake. You won’t regret it!

We came here on a sunny Thursday afternoon (May 5^th) and there was no wait for seating. We sat outside on the deck, and the view of the river, boats, and planes taking off and landing at PDX is spectacular. The service was prompt and friendly. Our server was a small woman with lots of tattoos, and I’m describing her because I can’t remember her name. She was a stellar server and I want to give her a shout-​out. I had the garden burger with fries that I always have at a McMenamins, but the one here was the best I’ve ever had. The fries were crisp and delicious. Our experience may have been different if it was a weekend and the place was crowded, but I have to say we were 100% pleased with our server, beer, food, and the total experience.

The views from this location are unbeatable. While sitting at our patio table we were able to take in the beautiful river and even saw a few sea lions pop their heads up while swimming down stream. Unfortunately the views are not enough to make this restaurant worth visiting.
I ordered steak and my husband ordered a hamburger. Both of our entrees were cooked beyond bone dry and we were left with flavorless meals. My steak was actually uneatable and had to be sent back. The waiter did not apologize or ask if I would like something else, although he did remove the item from our bill. My husband suffered through his burger but was very unhappy with it as well.
Overall the view is amazing and sitting on the patio for a beer and appetizer would be worth it but as for an actual meal I would go elsewhere.

My wife and I decided to spend our last pacific north west dinner here right on the Columbia river. This McMenamins has an amazing view of the river, what better place to have a beer at the end of the day?
The beer here is definitely good, they have a pretty good selection, but really almost every restaurant in the Portland area does. The main issue with McMenamins is the food. My wife ordered a steak and I ordered a hamburger, both relatively safe choices we thought. Both were cooked till there was no flavor or juice left in the sad hunks of cow flesh that were presented to us on our plates. My hamburger was barely edible, my wife’s steak was not. She ended up sending it back and thankfully they took it off of our bill.
If you’re looking for a place with an awesome view to have a beer then this is a great place, otherwise not so much.

Go for the location, stay for the location.
I have never been terribly impressed with any McMenamins food menu. Is it well prepared? Sure. Are the items tasty? Sure. But are they *different* enough to get me excited about what I am eating? Not really.
McMenamins at any location is never really about the fact that they make their own beer. In Vancouver, there are at least half a dozen places that do that in town. And it isn’t that it is pub food or the nice little extras like steamers. It is about the locations they secure and the consistency of quality of their product. The reason they have been able to expand is tied to this, I believe. So, if you eat at Rock Creek or Kennedy School, you are always going to get-​effectively-​the same burger. What ultimately distinguishes these establishments is their (generally) great choice of location. This location is one of those.
Though parking is a nightmare (it shares a parking lot with a couple other local businesses), once you have parked, you are treated to wonderful outdoor seating options that look over the Columbia river and indoor seating that can keep you warm and give you a great view as well.
Booths are built in dark wood that despite color, gives the interior a comfy and warm feeling. The bar, also wood hewn, spans almost the length of the restaurant and offers additional seating if a booth or a table on your mandate list.
Waiting can sometimes be on the longer side, so if you are going when it is sunny on a Friday/​Saturday/​Sunday, expect to wait a bit while they bus tables to get old customers out and you in. But, that being said, with a tasty beer and a great view-​sometimes you just don’t mind waiting.

We were looking for a quick bite with our kids while in the area. Great location along the Columbia river! We were there during spring break and the weather was rainy. I can see how this place can be a hot spot during the sunny summer months! We so wanted to check out the bar and happy hour but alas, our kiddies were with us so it was the dining room seating for us! Great service throughout. Lots of different options to choose, and a nice lunch menu. I appreciated the buckets of toys they gave the kids to entertain, and some crayons! This was helpful so my husband and I could enjoy some Oregon beer!
After lunch, our server took our kids to get ice cream with toppings, and they got a round at the treasure box. Kids still talk about how cool that place is! When we go back to Vancouver, will definitely make a stop there.

(A) Grazing in the Sun
Be warned that this is a busy place when the weather is nice.
You sign up with the host, who puts your name on a list for a table. The outside seating list is usually longer then the inside one.
They told us it was an hour wait, but actual time was 15 min.
The food is your standard pub fare with the new addition of a vegan slider!
We came for happy hour and ordered a few of those, and some truffle fries.
The rotating McMenamins beer selection is always on hand.
We come here for the views and not so much for the food. We can grab a bite at any of their other locations that are closer to our house.
It’s nice to grab a beverage, and sit outside along the Columbia River and take in the views. The occasional plane taking off from the nearby airport adds to the charm.
It’s also serves as a nice viewing platform to watch the Christmas boats, as they parade down the river in the month of December.

Great place and atmosphere. We come here to sit outside usually. The wait can be long at times, but worth it. The food is medium par and rates up there with most restaurants of this caliber. Beers n wine are a big draw also. We will be back for sure

Seriously 5 star worthy. I’m all about the ambiance of a restaurant and I love the dim lighting at night and the amazing views of outside during the day. Watching the water while sippin on a margarita is perfect. Also great options on happy hour menu, very creative!

I think a three is a perfect review. The food was ok, not bad, not great and the service was pretty good… especially since I walked in late too. It’s always nice to have a server still treat you well despite it being 45 minutes from closing.
I can’t comment on the views since it had been raining for the past three days (wow) but I’m sure it’s quite nice when the sun happens to make an appearance. :)

Great view directly on the Columbia! Service is soso. Had to wait over 5 minutes for a server to appear. I come here often and in my view they are always woefully understaffed.
I had the fish and chips which were really good. Crunchy outside, tender and moist inside. Fries were tepid. If you’re in for a wait and a leisurely lunch this is your place

Go for the views – it’s beautiful here year round. The food and service are typical of McMenamins – if you like pub food, you’ll like this place. If you struggle with burgers, tots, sandwiches and salads, you’ll be disappointed.
The service can go either way, like most McMenamins, but we’ve mostly had competent service, so we look the other way if the service goes south; the food is always served hot, and it’s easy to pay at the hostess station if our waiter is gone.
And that Cajun tots are really, really good.

If you’ve already been to a few McMenamin’s and you love them, this one will certainly not make you love them any less. It’s not the most distinctive of their properties by any means, but it’s a great setting for sure. And everything else they do here is pretty much in line with the experience elsewhere.
Here’s the rundown:
5 stars for the setting and the view
3 stars for the old familiar/​dependable menu
3 stars for the brewhouse (one of their better ones, as of this writing)
2 stars for the prices compared to quality
2 stars for the service
Net: 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 stars
Here’s what you get: It’s one of those big buildings that always seem to house a succession of different big/​chain restaurants until one really sticks. These guys seem to have been here for a while. It’s easy to get to, freeways the whole way. Plenty of parking. Huge dining rooms. What stands out by far the most is the location – right on the shore of the river; when the channel is full, you almost feel like you must be on a boat. Great views of water, the bridge, north Portland.
Inside, the vibe is familiar, but played down quite a bit. They let the windows be 90% of the decoration, rather than covering everything with the usual flowers and faeries and whatnot that the other locations have. There’s some dark wood around the bar, but the tables and booths around the dining room are pretty standard. Across the ceiling, they do work in the old 50s junior high hallway pendant lights, which create a nice soft effect.
The staff here really have to hustle on a lot of nights – it gets packed. We waited 75 minutes for a table, after first being told the wait was half an hour. They never asked if we were alright – we always had to ask them what was up. They never asked the table they «had in mind for us» if they were planning on staying a lot longer, though they made a point of telling us that table had already paid some time before, and were just relaxing with their beers at that point. They never offered us any comps for the time spent, they never put tables together to create enough seating for our party. All of this is more or less okay from minute to minute, but it adds up to a much longer wait than is really necessary for a party of 6.
The food is the usual – burgers, sandwiches, a few salads and a couple of entrees. The quality is just okay, as is the execution, but the prices are a bit on the high side. The food here is exactly the same as dozens of their other locations in two states, but they charge almost like it’s scratch-​made. The beers here don’t really measure up to the quality of all the independent local breweries that have launched since these guys started their chain, but they’re drinkable enough. When you’re looking at this view, it’s hard not to enjoy the food and drink that’s in front of you, even if it’s only okay.

Always a favorite when you want reliable, dependable and tasty food. While the Cajun tots are a typical go-​to, tonight I ordered fries and the turkey sandwich with cranberry jam relish-​I wish it had more cranberry on it, but that’s my only complaint. I also left purchasing the passport-here’s to many more mcmenamins adventures!

We landed in Portland and were swept off for lunch on the Columbia river, great weather and view we sat on the patio.
For lunch I had the
Sgt. Pepper chicken sandwich with, pepper jack cheese, bacon & peppercorn ranch on a bun with lettuce, red onion & tomato with Cajun Tots i dumped the onions but the rest was on point.
Ric had a Ruby’s Brewer salad with mixed lettuces, fresh raspberries, goat cheese, candied hazelnuts, grape tomatoes, cucumber, marinated red onion, Ruby-​raspberry vinaigrette.
While it looked good, I’m a carnivore and don’t generally eat shrubs.
Sammy had the Flame-​Grilled Burger with 6-​oz fresh all-​natural Montana Ranch Piedmontese beef patty on a bun with lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles & secret sauce with bacon and cheese added, what a burger!
I didn’t really connect with any of the beers they make so I had the Hammerhead its a classic pale ale and McMenamin’s top selling beer. thought i would give it a go. meh, not that is bad just not my flavor.
The patio was full since the northwest is not familiar with the sun… just kidding the weather was perfect to be out side
Great service and food.

Wow does this place get packed! I have never been here when it was easy to find a seat. The view is the reason, it is great. You are right on the Columbia with views of Portland.
The staff here is great. The food is standard McMenamins which has improved the last few years. Of course they feature McMenamins beers and drinks.
Happy hour runs 3 – 6 daily and 10 to close on Friday and Saturday.

Love the cajun tots and ciders! Really the only reason we go. I mean the restaurants are pretty cool but I never find much on the menu I like. But tots and beer! !! An awesome date time!

Purple haze and tots. Need I say more?
Everyone is amazingly nice. This is our «go to» on a beautiful day. The location is amazing — literally right on the beautiful Colombia river and they have happy hour from 3 – 6 daily. Plenty of outdoor and indoor seating.

I’m not sure how to tell my wife, but I spent a lonely night during the holidays caressing and getting cozy with Kris Kringle. It started innocently enough with a quick introduction from a cute elf at the bar. A few hours of guzzling, grasping, sipping, savoring, and slamming later, Kris Kringle had me jiggling like a bowl full of jelly.
I got no regrets. I’m sure any man left alone with frosty Kris Kringle would of done the same, right?
You won’t always find Kris Kringle at McMenamins on the Columbia because Kris Kringle is a hearty and robust seasonal «winter warmer» with more hops than eight magical reindeer. However, just like the drunk Santa at the mall, Kris Kringle is 6.84% ABV.
Happy Hour is 3:00 — 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. to close daily. Didn’t matter to me since I was already pretty happy cuddling up with Kris Kringle ($ 11.50 for a Happy Hour Pitcher). I guess Kris Kringle as a Pitcher would make me the Catcher.
An order of Truffle Fries ($ 4.50) provided some fragrant nibbles to tease my senses. As my interest in Kris Kringle began to wane, I attacked a big McMenamins piece of manliness proudly hailed as Wilbur’s Jumbo Deluxe. Like most big ‘n beefy finds, Wilbur’s Jumbo Deluxe Burger ($ 13.75) was made better thanks to Bacon, Tillamook Cheddar Cheese, and a Fried Egg.
Now, I can’t promise that every man will find the same kind of satisfying night with Kris Kringle and Wilbur that I enjoyed. Perhaps Hammerhead or William’s Terminator Stout will be more attractive to some guys.
Happy Hour at McMenamins on Columbia offers a happy ending for men … and probably women. Of course, it is called McMenamins and not McWomenamins, so, I’m not one to judge. Besides, the spot for women is probably next door at a place named for all them Beaches out there.