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Category: Pubs
Neighborhoods: Southeast Portland, Central Eastside
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Another brewpub we visited during our trip to Portland. The place is one of those pubs set up in an old industrial building with garage bay doors and rough brick walls. They had a large selection of the delicious, local, potent potables and some pretty decent eats.
I got a chili dog and fries, but I was quite disappointed with my order when I saw the waitress walk by with a burger. That thing looked GREAT! The dog was pretty good, though, I must say.
We were there at lunchtime on a weekday, so there wasn't much of a crowd. My companions were quite pleased with their food. Girlfriend raved about the pudding she got for dessert.
I had to buy one of the t-shirts they had for sale, 'cause it has a green dragon on it. It has a large hop hanging from it's tail. Pretty cool logo.
Pretty cool place. It's a little off the beaten path, so I don't think I'd go out of my way to find it again, but if I'm ever in the neighborhood, you betcha I'll stop in for a brewski or two.
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Lousy food, bad-vibe bartenders, slimy tables.
I ordered a CR on the rocks, it literally had less than a shot of juice in it.
Food was spendy ($8 for a lousy lunch burrito, if I remember right).
Had the ambience of an abandoned warehouse.
Skip this hole.
At the end of the night on my birthday my friends and I wandered on into the Green Dragon. I had heard good things and really liked the look of the place, so I thought it would be a sure fire good bet!
I have to admit, we made a mistake expecting some cocktails at a brew pub, but I figure any place with a bar can make a simple drink. Anyway, I approached the bar and tried to order a cocktail-- they didn't have the liquor required, so I asked for a suggestion and, being perhaps slightly tipsy I said "It's my birthday".... but the reaction from the bartender was a blank, unfriendly face. He was also unwilling to suggest an alternative selection.
My friend ordered a drink after me, as did the 5 other people in my party, and they all experienced a similarly cold level of service. We ended up getting a mixture of non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks and some food.
The food was average bar food and the drinks were pretty expensive; however, it was the poor service that has left a bad taste in my mouth.
I love the SE and I think there are tons of great places to visit in that area, but I am just sorry to say that I will not be visiting the Green Dragon again.
A night of debauchery has to start somewhere. (And so does a 400th review, apparently.)
What better place than a brewpub that's got the atmosphere down, and the delicious brews, too?
I have to say, I was thoroughly impressed with the offerings of Green Dragon, and I'm not quite sure why it took me so long to finally get my butt into this place. The hearty wooden picnic tables and chairs reminiscent of Grandma's sewing room make this wide open space easy to love. The high ceilings and industrial cement walls only add to the effect.
Then, of course, there are the drinks.
See, I'm not much of a beer drinker. Although I probably should have tried some of the stuff they were brewing. Nobody at the table I was at had any complaints, but still, I insisted that I needed some hard cider.
And serve it up they did. In a nifty snifter! Can we all just drink out of Nifty Snifters (TM)? Except, instead of sticking with the just-a-drop brandy style, they filled it. With cider.
This wasn't no malted Hornsby's beverage, neither!
The hard cider they carry definitely packs a punch. It's not to be chugged, either, with a distinct tart flavor that seemed like a delightful mix of apple Jolly Ranchers and apple Warheads--minus the overbearing sweetness. Either way, it was a nice surprise. My sister was down with her cosmo (and I think JW was, too), and all was right with the world.
Next time I'm trying the food!
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For those late nights where you have a group of friends looking for a place to cause trouble, Green Dragon is it.
Ate outside- the patio area reminds me of the food carts on 12th & Hawthorne, but more closed off (and sparkly). The server was attentive and really, really, really quick at first (sat us, got us our drinks and took our orders in a few minutes flat), but then at the end of the night seemed to forget we were there. I had to go inside to the bar and look for him over 20 minutes after he cleared our table to find the tab.
I ordered the buffalo burger and something called a jasmine IPA. Ladies, I think I've found that light-sweet-not-overly-powerly Irish drunkard drink for us! And dudes: the buffalo burger is one serious hunk of meat. It's sweet, tangy, and goes perfect with a side of fries. I scarfed it down, and left no prisoners. It was one of the best dishes I've had this month.
And at the end of my meal, after throwing back my burger, my man asked, "do you smell that?"
At first I had thought it was cigarette smoke, or that someone had set a bush on fire (although, in a way, they were). Maybe that's why I ate the burger so quickly!
Don't act surprised. It's the Green Dragon, and it is Portland, you know?
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I went to The Green Dragon on the 4th of July and I thought it was peachy. Yes, i said it, peachy. There is no other way to describe my experience except for delightful.
Before I continue to spread the warm fuzzies, let me explain that I was approaching hammered. I stuffed my face and drank a lot of beer and they were the arena that allowed, nay, suggested that this happen. Yay, Green Dragon, I am definitely a fan.
The patio is nice and roomy, you don't feel creepy close to neighboring picnic tables. It's got nice shady coverage to detract from the whole industrial neighborhood thing. The food is ok, good enough to fuel the drinking.
The best thing about the whole experience was the super nice server. For having to work on the 4th of July, she had the happiest look in town. Kudos to you, bringer of beer.
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I'm going to preface this by saying that I'm not a beer drinker. I have, however, been to many a brew pub since I'm a native of the NW.
I arrived to meet a group of friends, pulled up a seat, and a friend went to get a drink for me. Cool. Within a minute, sniff sniff, sniff sniff *looking around* sniff sniff. What the funk is that funk? It smells like a zoo up in here! I don't think it was the smell of beer brewing, but it was something. The pub is more like a where house, not a lot of charm really. I don't want to drink or eat somewhere that smells funny. Nope.
My friend arrives with the drink. It's awefully dark for a rum & diet. I taste it, lotsa diet, not so much rum. Matter of fact probably less than a thimble full. I know this is a beer place, but really. My friend get's a cosmo (you know who you are), and its cranberry juice. Just cran, and a touch of lime. This is a damn shame.
I didn't try the food, or get table service, but I can't see me going back for any reason what so ever since I can get diet coke anywhere, and much cheaper.
On a positive note, the bathroom was clean.
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I've been here twice, a few weeks ago and about a year ago. I recall getting a reasonable quality service last year, but when I went there a few weeks ago, the service was horrible.
While the server had plenty of time to BS with eachother, acting somewhat intoxciated and talk to regulars, and took forever to get to me. I was about to walk out. If they were busy helping other people, then I can understand the delay, but they were not busy. As someone else pointed, the service was slow.
Beers are fairly expensive with most of them being $4+ for a small serving.
At this price, I expect a better service, or a lower price if at this service quality. I usually get better, faster and more professional service from fast food places.
They get a 4 star for the time I was there last year, a 2 star this time, which comes out to 3 star average.
It was weird visiting this place, they didn't brew their own beer for one. The beer was really expensive especially considering it's Portland and it was happy hour.
It had a neat vibe to it but it seemed like the staff didn't really care about making it an "experience". The tables were dirty, the menus were dirty and when you asked about the differences in the huge selection of beer, the staff seemed not to care. Probably wouldn't go back... though the fries were tasty, the fish was greasy!
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Normally I wouldn't update a review unless (a) I want to change my rating, (b) my old review is so old that it seems irrelevant, or (c) there've been significant changes - for this update it's sort of a combo of (a) and (c), though as I'll explain below, you'd be forgiven if you didn't notice that there had been a change of ownership.
We all know that the Green Dragon has been purchased by Rogue, and many who loved the old G.D. feared they would ruin the place (can't understand exactly why, as I've always found Rogue to run some d@mn fine pubs with d@mn fine beers).
Well, after about a half-dozen visits since the Rogue take-over, I'm here to say: "Meet the new Green Dragon, same as the old Green Dragon!"
Seriously, almost nothing has changed! It looks the same; they haven't done any significant remodeling, so if you liked the wide open hangar-like, hodge-podge ambiance, you'll still be pleased. They still have a fantastic selection of beers - with only one tap reserved for Rogue brews. They still have have the "on deck" board listing what's on tap next. They still offer up occasional themes (like last weekend's "Christmas in May" selection of winter seasonals). They still have frequent "Meet the Brewer" nights.
All that I loved about the Green Dragon seems to remain unchanged. Unfortunately, what I disliked also remains unchanged. Their servers, while pleasant, often range from slow to completely inept. You grab a table and maybe the server takes your order, maybe not. When you decide to make things easier (and get served more quickly) by ordering at the bar, maybe they serve you, maybe they ask you to just order from your server at your table.
I still haven't eaten at Green Dragon, and come to think of it I don't believe a server has EVER offered me a menu; though the variety and prices for food listed on their website (which interestingly seems to have been down all week) seems pretty decent. Unfortunately their beer prices are not so good - like Rogue's NW public house, prices for most brews run in the high $4 range (some even higher; nothing less than $4). Like a fool I forgot to ask if they'd give me my Rogue Nation member discounts, but I'm sure they would offer them.
So, basically not much has changed. The service is lackadaisical and a little sub-par, but this is STILL a solid drinking establishment and great place for beer lovers - especially for some al fresco summertime imbibing on their patio! Unfortunately, with the slight increase in beer prices, and continued consistently inconsistent service, I'm gonna have to deduct a star.
People thought this was:
First time I heard about the Green Dragon I was thinking, British Pub, and it has bits of that vibe… Read more »
Things have changed a little.
The Green Dragon is now owned by Rogue, after an interesting, tumultuous, and drama-filled transaction that was, at many times, vocally opposed by a majority of the old guard. The staff is new, the management is new, the setup is similar but in some instances, new, the clientele is different, and, well, let's just say it's not the same anymore.
I finally made it back in to the GD after a long hiatus. The above-referenced transaction had left a bitter taste in my mouth, a taste that took a lot of beer at other ale houses to wash out. With a brilliantly sunny Sunday afternoon in my grasp, I decided to make the trek to the GD to enjoy a cold one on the patio.
The patio is not open yet. Dammit.
The sliding door was open wide, allowing in lots of light and air. The beer selection was decent, including Racer X IPA. The rumors I had heard, about Rogue fencing off the distillery next door, were verified to be true (razor wire included). The layout is generally the same but with a bunch of new taps going in along the back wall (new bar back there soon?). They also have a bottle cooler where the "meet the brewer" bar used to be. Nice touch, bottles. The shuffleboard is still there, but they've rigged it so that you have to pay to play (whereas before you could play for free). The pinball is still there as well.
I didn't recognize any faces in there except the people I was with and one of two of the beer-tenders. All the old regulars are gone, and for a brilliantly sunny Sunday afternoon, the place was kinda dead.
The beer prices have gone up as well, and now that I don't have my mug, it's just as expensive (if not moreso) than any other place.
When the patio reopens, I will likely be here often. How could I not? That patio is simply amazing.
All and all, i have to say that while I still love the idea that Green Dragon embodies, I am in an unfortunate position of being one of the old mug club members and I witnessed the change over. While the majority of the bitter taste has been replaced by beer with high IBU ratings from the Brass and CAH, there's still a little on my tongue. I guess I need a few more pints elsewhere before the brain cells that hold that memory are long gone.
So when is that patio going to open??
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A new Alehouse in PDX!!! Yay!
The green dragon has opened shop in the semi-industrial area of SE 9th…
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I LOVE Green Dragon. I've been coming on Fridays for Beer and Blog (http://www.beerandblog...) and have started bringing my friends for a game night 2x a month.
The staff has been great handling the large amounts of people and that means a lot to me, and the fact that they can handle groups over 10 and with ease is awesome.
The food is a bit spendy so being broke i try to take advantage of Happy Hour, the $5 Fish and Chips is SO GOOOD.
I love that they have different beers all the time, it's more about the experience than settling into your old habits.
The locally made "spirits" are excellent too. I got to try a whiskey last week and a vodka a few weeks prior. AMAZING.
Also so much fun being able to draw on the tables with chalk! SO much better than on paper, you just can't take it with you ;)
Was there just last night to meet a guy I'd been chatting with online. Thankfully the date was not one of the akward, total waste of time, fiascos. On the contrary, the guy is cool, we chatted non-stop, and had a few of the Green Dragon's beers.
We didn't stay for food, but the beers came quickly and we were left alone to our own devices of seeing this would be a love connection (Humming along to Young MC's Bust A Move). I liked the decor of the place, even though I'm not one for the reinvented garage type spaces, yet it fit for the neighborhood. I got a kick out of the staff wearing hawaiian shirts in the middle of winter, the bevy of what seemed to me after-work regulars, and I dug how the sound of the tv's didn't overpower the conversations going on in the room.
We hit the place at Happy Hour because we are both broke, yet still in need and want of companionship of the other sex. Overall, I think I'll check this place out again, stay for the food that folks were steadily ordering and grubbing on, and maybe have another date there. Who knows?
The Shadow knows.
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I walked in through an open garage door and sat at the bar directly behind it.
I had fun here despite some idiots having conversations about saving the world and killing people. How's that make sense?
I had a chicken quesadilla. I rate it 6/10.. They didn't have a stout on hand so I went with the Organic Fish Tale Porter. Very chocolaty flavor. Not as heavy as a stout. It was perfect. Almost coffee-like. They do not currently brew their own beer but the bartender told me their brew house will be completed in 2 months.
Dear Green Dragon,
This was my second time with you.
The first time was oh so sweet but I had the unique pleasure of being with one of Oregon's brewing celebrities. Remember that? You were also hosting a beer blogging event and I was grinning from ear to ear. Normally, I can be a little shy but wasn't shy that night... all the attention, the tapping of new kegs every 20 to 30 minutes... I tremble just thinking about it.
So you must understand that my expectations for another rendevous were high.
Here we were, Monday afternoon. It was snowing all morning, hailing, with bursts of brilliant sunshine, then raining, with snowflakes mixed in and all the ingredients were there for seeking a warm place to chill with good friends while swimming in some hoppy goodness.
I think we've got something good going here... You filled me with amazing brews until I was once again grinning from ear to ear.
Your Happy Hour Menu was tempting. I did take a bite, of your pork slider with fries that is... While it wasn't the most mind-blowing food experience by a mile, it was the right kind of balance I needed to compliment the high octane brews.
Green Dragon, I think I love you.
You had me at my second Walking Man Walktopus...
You keep me coming back for more with your love notes written on the chalkboard painted walk-in cooler door (the list of beers that are 'on-deck' or upcoming when another keg blows).
Thank you! (wink)
People thought this was:
Lemme tell you about somplace well-preserved. If anyone recalls the old Pinot Ganache in Vancouver this place has been similarly rescued from the wrecking ball. What it lacks is an appropriate name for it's history. The PG in the 'couv was an old Ford auto repair spot, so it was often called the Pinto Garage. "Green Dragon makes me want fried rice. Sayyyyyyy, P? Let's find out what used to be here and work on a name. Yes? We'll use the 2 pint-WWGS (what would Groucho say?) method of naming. I loved the place because of the beer and the fact that there was a walk-in cooler. I grew up in my Dad's meat market, just like Edwin Mullhouser 1950's. A name! A name! Free pints for a name!
I agree with Chris... what the hell took me so long to fall in love? It only took one sip and it was hoppily ever after (also note that I NEVER get hung over, so that story comes to me a lot!)
Searching for a replacement home bar can be rough when you are so conditioned, and this is a contender for sure. Great selection of rotating taps, really, and its all great local stuff AND some cali stuff. And I was there this weekend and they had North Coast Old Rasputin (Jesus, how many reviews do I mention this in??) and thats clearly a favorite of mine. If you drink beer with me you know I get that everytime I see it on a menu.
Nice bartenders, its a good group of tattooed ones and normal ones. My bartender was from San Diego and we had a very nice longing chat together.
But this place is really large! You can go with a big group of bikers or NON smokers (love this law, oh yeah) or coworkers. I think its an appropriate environment for plenty of gatherings. And apparently they have delicious fries, I will be the judge of this later.
People thought this was:
This place could be great, but there is one big downside to the G.D.; the prices. There are no beers here for under $4 and no happy hour. It would be different it the beers were 'special' or 'unique,' or Imperial pints but they aren't; they are good beers, but nothing to write home about.
The set up is nice here, open and airy, HUGE patio (with no understandable schedule as to when the patio is open or not), shuffle board, pinball, and about half of their indoor tables have chalkboard tops so you can do you best drunken Van Goghs for all to see. Another big plus of the G.D. is it is only a short walk from my home, though, still it isn't worth the walk here.
Please, lower your prices, get a happy hour, improve your food,and improve service (it is damn near the slowest I have experienced.)
Funny enough, my landlord loves this place and recommended it to the hubby and I.
We popped over on a Sunday afternoon after a movie downtown. Parking was easy which I liked. It looked cool from the outside. But who cares, it's the inside that matters, right?
Ok so inside.....ehhhhhhhhhhh ok.
I love the bar. Cool style with lots of BEER. Too bad ordering the beer took about 10 years. I aged 10 years in this place! Ha just kidding but seriously, the bartender was a complete space cadet.
We finally got served and ordered some onion rings off the happy hour menu. Which was a nice HH menu, btw.
The onion rings were greasy (duh they were onion rings) but flavorless and pretty boring.
There was this really annoying twangy band playing too. SHHHHHHHHHH. Am I old or were they really bad? I don' know but either way I didn't like it.
The crowd was odd. We were easily the youngest folks there. Everyone was else was tanked and had prob. been there since 11 am.
After some more space service, we left.
Sorry GD.
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Down in PDX for a few days and we're in search good beer and cocktails.
Where to go? Not sure. And as we're hangin' at Henry's for the happy hour we'd called out, PDX Yelper Don B swings by for a beer and after some chatter, he points us in the direction on Green Dragon. Literally.
"Yep, it's right over there," he motions toward the back of the bar, over brews. "Awesome. We'll definitely check it out, " He goes on to tell us that it's one of his watering holes and after conversing for quite sometime about beers, we come to learn that he is just as much of a beer snob as we are.
Perfect.
After dinner, we head out to find the Green Dragon. And we do. You can't miss it... well, you might, but it's tough to. It's pretty full, but we see that there's some room to hang, so we head in.
Don was right. There's about rotating 15 beers on tap from breweries such as Dogfish, St. George, Bear Republic, Bridgeport, Anchor, and Mt. Shasta Brewing to name a few. They've got Sessions and that's the extent of the 'meh' beers. I settied on the ESB HUB, since they just ran out of the seasonal brew I wanted, and he had the 12th Anniversary brew from Stone Brewing. Both bees were great, and even better... two pints... wait for it... came to $6.50!?!?! And this wasn't even Happy Hour folks. These are their normal prices!
The space it's self feels like a giant garage that's been converted into big ass party room... because, well, that's essentially what it is. They have lots of tables and couches to lounge around about. Pinball and shuffleboard (one of the best shuffleboards I've seen to date) and a good lookin' menu make this a place we'll always frequent when we're in the 'hood.
Especially since the beers we're $3.25 each. I did mention that, right?
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If you want a great beer selection, this is the place to go, five stars. Factoring in food and comfort of seating, four stars, still good.
I enjoyed the Portobello sandwich and my vegetarian friend liked the Veggie Wrap. The beer was outstanding.
I was here for New Years, and I don't notice a difference now that it's owned by Rogue, but I wasn't a regular, so I can't say. Something great might have been lost. Still, if you want a good beer and a relaxed place to drink it and get raucous with your crew, the Green Dragon is a good option.
Have you ever been to a beer festival? If not there is a certain vibe you get when you're at one. I would describe it as nervous and excited energy. Because everyone at beer festival goes from booth to booth for a taste. Well that's the vibe I got as soon as I walked into the Green Dragon. And believe me I loved it!
So there are three distinct area's in GD where they pour beers from and each had its own pours. Plus the Green Dragon also has the added bonus of wooden patio tables in the main room. Where as you grab your brew and chill on the pine. Again the Green Dragon has the beer festival vibe down tight.
But sadly we heard the place has been bought up by Rogue but hopefully things go unchanged. Because if you like beer and mean good beer and a great atmosphere then the GD is beer fest heaven!!!
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The Green Dragon does give its credit for huge space. There are 2 separate sections of the restaurant. I did enjoy the New Belgium Wheat Ale. However, the prices for their beers are pretty expensive considering this place is not located in downtown . $17 bucks for a pitcher of beer may be asking too much in my opinion. I have not tried the food but from what I heard from the Rose City Girls, they approved! it's an alright place for a first stop of a pint of beer at least, would not come here for a nightcap.
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Chalk-board tables and chalk for writing on them... DING!
Very nice beer selection... DING!
Shuffleboard and pinball selection... DING!
Great food... DING!
It can get crowded, but that's a good thing, right? This place is a warehouse/factory with a pub in it, and in the pub is lots of fun.
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I liked it. Yes I did.
This was the second stop on my family's unofficial "pub crawl on bikes" over Labor Day weekend (after Lucky Lab - I say unofficial because there were only two stops, lest we be issued DUIs-on-bikes).
We were greeted instantly by one of the most genuinely nice and friendly bartenders I've ever encountered - homegirl was not only multi-tasking like a mad woman, but she was doing it with sunshine and rainbows swirling all around her. What a cool person. We lingered a bit over delicious brews and tasty fries, and were on our way.
And they have shuffleboard. Shoooooot.
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Came here this evening with the 3 Musk-A-Teers (yeah, I take my kids to brew pubs. What of it?!)...We sat in the section designated for minors (you know, way in the back), with the colored chalk & chalk board tables. It was all very entertaining for about 5 minutes. Left strictly up to me, I am conflicted as to how many stars to rate this spot. If I were on my own, I'm almost positive I'd opt for some Trillium absinthe, but with 3 minors who look up to me as the leader of the pack (for the time being, anyway), I decided to have a Dog Head IPA & am happy for this decision (as I was able to drive us home).
Scooter Pies chowed down on Belgian fries, buffalo hot dogs, and a combo calzone (where do they put it all? I have indigestion just thinking about this)...No complaints from the Peanut Gallery.
I attempted a cheese calzone, to my ever lasting regret. Gave most of it away as it was huge, bland, & just not my cup of tea. I liked my salad with the pomegranate vinaigrette, tho'.
On the patio they were playing a trivia game which involved a minor degree of betting/winning cash, etc. thus we were banned from participation due to the age situation...ho hum. My guys could probably answer the quiz as quick as the hipsters, but no bitterness here. It just keeps the guys in a blissful state of anticipation for when they will be able to join in.
I'll be back as this is a good place, close to our home, they have absinthe, a wide selection of gin & micro beers. It's not cozy, but it is tempting. I doubt if I will avail myself of the kitchen offerings again, tho' (urp... )
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Friend: "Yes. The Santa Fe Egg rolls and one order of cheesy poofs."
Spouse: "Do the cheesy poofs come with a sauce?"
Waitress: "We're out of cheesy poofs."
Me: "I'm yet to get to SAY the phrase 'cheesy poofs' and now I don't even get to eat them?" (waitress leaves and I turn into Sybil and mumbly chanting under my breath "I've gotten my purple crayon and my cheesy poofs. Cheesy poofs. My purple crayon. Cheesy poofs."
The food took a long time. A guy at the picnic table next to us spat on the ground. They'll give you adorable little cognac sniffers to sample the beers. Remember that Absinthe tastes like black licorice and really doesn't have the psychedelic hallucinogen that we've been hyped to believe before you pay $12 for one.
I didn't sleep all night; I couldn't stop thinking about those little Santa Fe Egg rolls with sour cream and mango pico de gallo. It's hard to describe, but kind of like a tiny little beanie chimichunga, fried perfectly, cut diagonally, both gushing and crunching in your mouth.
The hot wings were also fabulous. A step up from the usual Durkee's and butter route and real blue cheese dippin sauce. Some wings you want to pick off the fatty skin or dissect out tendons and veins, but these put me into a frenzy of sauce drenching and fully mouthing the drumettes, sucking the life out of them and withdrawing the immaculate bitty little bones. Not a lot of scintillating conversation on my end. I was really into my wing scene.
Hello can you say "$3 appetizers during Happy Hour"?
And the french fries were like perfect. If you like the McMenamin's style, plus a little shake of what tasted like garlic and sea salt. But they have Hunts and not Heinz catsup which is just not appropriate.
This place is like us...it's like "Here I am. I'm flawed but authentic. I'm a paradox of exotic and familiar. I'm incongruent in many ways, but not confusing either. There's been some hard work done here, some erroneous planning and a lot of trends, refined tastes and really good intentions. There's a little something here that most everyone will be endeared to."
I'll totally go back. I can't stop saying "cheesy puffs".
People thought this was:
This place was OK. I think I might have liked it a lot more if the bartender was cool. They have a ton of beers that change regularly. The food menu looks pretty decent. I had fries and soup, both of which good. They have about 5 pinball machines and also shuffleboard. It's really big and spread out. They have a big garage door and a patio, which makes me think it might be more fun when it's warm out. I'll definitely give it another try because it seems like a place I'd like. The bartender just killed it for me.
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I'm not a big beer drinker, and if it were up to me, I would have certainly chose another place to go for one of my only lunches actually IN Portland. However, my cousin is a regular here and thought this would be a cool place to get a bite to eat and a drink... it was pretty good.
Our server was awesome and brought us a ton of different beers to try. I'm not a big beer drinker at all, but I felt obligated to get a beer since they were brewing some on-site. We must have tried at least six, and I had made a decision on one... until he told me they also made vodka, gin, and absinthe on-site! I wasn't about to black out on absinthe, and he kept talking up the gin, so I ordered a Gin and Tonic. A few minutes later, he came back and said they were out. Noooooooo! So I ordered the house Vodka with Soda and Cranberry. Good. I could taste a difference. Nothing amazingly different to make me say, "This is the best vodka I've ever had!", but it was neat to drink it since they made it there on the spot!
I ordered the Veggie Burger with fries. Once again, the waiter talked up the fries... which were OK, but I've had much, MUCH better. I should have gone with my cousin and ordered the onion rings which were soooooo good. The Veggie Burger itself was pretty good- barley, different types of beans, and even cashews. However, it was quite a mess. My cousin got the Portabello Mushroom Burger and enjoyed it.
All in all, a cool, chill atmosphere with great staff and quality food. I wouldn't personally choose to go here, but I enjoyed it and wouldn't mind going back.
People thought this was:
As far as brewpubs go - this is a 4.5....aaaaalmost 5.
Decent food, fantastic cheap beer, the original Star Wars pinball, shuffleboard, foosball - it's like the basement that you wish you had, or the cool uncle you wish you had that has a basement...or.....what?
It's in a converted warehouse, but I was in a t-shirt because they have indoor heat lamps on the ceiling - bitchin'
The service was just the tiniest bit slow, but I'm nitpicking. Another quick nitpick: the decor is just stupid, but I wasn't looking at it too much because pinball and $4 Obsidians on nitro take up a lot of attention.
Will I be back....doy!?
People thought this was:
I love beer and this place has plenty of it...
This place has an excellent selection of beer and the the taps change regularly. I had a couple IPAs and was pretty impressed with both.
The food is not bad, I had the brisket, I expected sliced brisket, but it was shredded, not bad but a little on the dry side. The greens tasted funny and were overcooked, the slaw was meh... The fries were great though!
This place has a ton of games like shuffleboard, foosball and the pinball machines. I am a sucker for games of any sort, and this place has all my favorites.
The other cool thing about this place is the pub quiz, I've played in other bars and had a lot of fun, so I'll definitely try to get a team together and show off my trivial knowledge.
People thought this was:
I was immediately skeptical for two reasons:
1. I'm not a beer drinker. I admit it. I live in Portland, and I'm not a beer connoisseur. Oh, I'll drink the stuff...but only when it would be impolite not to.
2. Dragons - and dare I say any "fantasy" reference, makes me run the other direction. Let's just say that Lord of the Rings was the most expensive nap I've ever taken. (And one of the longest...)
And then I saw it. Lovejoy Vodka. My little liquor-loving-heart began to pitter pat. And wait...is that...could it be...12 bridges gin? Two life changing gin and tonics later, I was soaking in the atmosphere of this beer-lovers paradise...finally understanding what all the "buzz" was about. You don't come for the atmosphere or the menu, you come for the rare and rotating selection. Cause damn!
What at first I mistakenly took as a drafty warehouse and uninviting service was actually just a relaxed sense of confidence that their beer (umm..and spirits) could speak for itself. And lordy did they ever! Once I showed the bar tenders that I was actually interested in learning about their vast and rare selections rather than simply soaking in my own skepticism regarding a jaded disdain for warcraft and magic cards, I was instantly rewarded with friendly and knowledgeable service...and a very stiff pour!
People thought this was:
Not only do these people support democracy by hosting the Get on the Bus group (who registers people to vote, among other things), but they support the Portland scene by fitting right in and filling a need. The new patio is oh-so bike friendly with wall-hangers for more than ten bikes, a delightfully festive buzz of conversation, some Johnny Cash and a pleasant waiter who gets to choose his own selection of kegs for the outdoor patio bar. Ah, democracy!
I probably would never try something named "Santa Fe egg rolls", but when it was given to me un-named, I found it to be a delicious mystery, and smothered it in mango pico de gallo and sour cream. Mmmm. Artichoke dip is also great. I've been there for lunch once before and had a delicious mini pulled pork sandwich. Both times the service was slow, and could probably be improved by more organization. But wow! The constant blowing of kegs and bringing in new ones, the plethora of choices of ale and the joyous noise is a chaos that customers seem to thoroughly enjoy.
People thought this was:
A day later, it still confounds me how it could have possibly taken me this long to discover the Green Dragon. As a certified (or certifiable?) beer enthusiast, the Green Dragon is my new place to experience beer nirvana. The most important aspect of any great pub is beer selection, and the brews available at GD are amazing...you won't find your standard selections here, but instead will be treated to a huge variety (right around 20) of very original and incredibly tasty brews.
Another great aspect was the crowd...not Portland Pretensions, not backward hat wearing frat boy infused...just good Portland folks who are there to share a good beer with good friends.
Bartenders were very friendly and informative; I had an amazing Imperial Pale Ale that resembled a very hoppy Barley wine on recommendation from the bartender. One of the best beers I have had in quite some time.
Prost!
People thought this was:
A neighborhood pub big enough for larger groups
Green Dragon has a good beer menu, a full bar and a pub menu that is a notch above the usual McMenamin's fare. There's also a shuffle board game, three pinball machines, an outdoor patio and ample space for larger groups. Definitely worth a second (and third and...) visit.
People thought this was:
I've died and gone to beer heaven.
According to Wikipedia, heaven is typically described as the holiest possible place, accessible by people according to various standards of divinity, goodness, piety, etc. I don't know about you, but I'm bowing down to these beer gods.
My first foray into nirvana was at the kick-off party for the Spring Beer and Wine festival, so ultimately the things I consumed were free. However, what my senses experienced left me wanting more, lots more. I will be back, and I will try more that this place has to offer.
The space is amazing. An open warehouse (painted green no less!) converted into an amazing space for lounging, chatting, grubbing, boozing, and listening to live music. The "bistro" side occupies one section, where if you'd like a more intimate meal, it's available. The bar side gets a little louder, but what do you expect for an open warehouse? Gas heaters line the ceilings to heat the place up, but depending on where you're situated, you may need a sweater/jacket if you're perma-cold like me.
The beers available? Amazing. They rotate often so there is always something new. Don't expect to find the usual suspects, Green Dragon focuses on stuff that you probably won't find anywhere else. I love trying new things, so this place makes me beyond giddy. The prices are reasonable too. Makes me and my wallet happy.
The food? Equally amazing. It's definitely not typical pub food. I love the fresh approach to avoid super greasy food. It is all fresh and LOADED with flavor. My mouth was on sensory overload. Coincidentally, the food goes great with the beer. Shocker!
The menu is rounded out with wine and unique distilled liquors. I had friends who said it knocked their socks off, but in beer heaven I really can't deviate.
Behind the bar, expect people who know their stuff. It's refreshing to see people passionate about what they're bringing to the table.
While I don't know much about beer, besides that it goes into a glass that I then pour in my mouth and it tastes delicious, I know what I like. And I like me some Green Dragon. There are amazing experiences to be had here.
People thought this was:
I've got shuffleboard fever in 2009! (Yeah, I'm 1.5 years behind the times, so what?) No place is better to play than the Green Dragon at like 2pm on a Wednesday. It's a quiet airy warehouse on a summer hooky afternoon. However: winter happy hours turn in to big old geeky bearded beer fests. But with Belgian frites for $3, so it's ok, really. Kids welcome on the bar side until 4. Small child and I have yet to master the foosball, but we totally pounded the old-school fishing game. So, in summary: tasty beer, bearded geeks, Belgian frites, shuffleboard. What's not to love?
People thought this was:
Chalkboard tables! Too bad I can't draw! Was there for Quiz night, which seemed very popular. The menu seemed really great - although I got stuck ordering from the late-nite menu (missed by a hair). Seemed like a fun place with a variety of places to sit - bar, more quiet tables, bench area (to remind you of days in Munich).
I'm not from Portland but plan on coming back often. This place will be on my list of places to go back to, when I don't have somewhere new to go.
People thought this was:
Good God. We live in Beertown, USA, and this place still managed to impress me.
A buddy and I hit the Green Dragon after work for some beer, shop talk, and grub. I knew we were in good shape when I told the bartender to bring us two of their best IPA's, and she didn't...even...flinch. The beer was great, and the happy hour grub was tasty.
Minus one star for being out of the two appetizers we really wanted. I get a little cranky when I can't have my Swedish Meatballs. Sigh.
People thought this was:
I almost don't want to review this place. I don't want it to have more attention, become too crowded, and then suck.
The beers. My god the beers. They had a kona on tap - tasted exactly like black coffee - just amazing.
I've had the meed on tap. Who the hell serves MEED on tap in Portland?
You will find no better place in Portland for beer. So many great micros. A little pricey, but they'll get you buzzed quick.
Additionally, they do live sets and have a kickass foosball table. Although the ball falls out on one side. Ambiance. :-)
People thought this was:
Neighborhood: Southeast Portland
Category: Beer, Wine & Spirits
Neighborhood: Southeast Portland
Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: Northeast Portland
Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: Southeast Portland
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Belmont
Category: American (New)
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