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McMenamin's on the Columbia
Rating Details »
Categories: American (Traditional), Pubs [Edit]
1801 SE Columbia River DrVancouver, WA 98661
(360) 699-1521
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good for:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Wed, Thu, Fri
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
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17 reviews for McMenamin's on the Columbia
Take the usual deal involved with McMenamin's. Great happy hour, good beer, excellent tots, decent food other than cajun tots, and absent-minded but endearing and friendly service. McMenamin's starts by default at three stars, much like Starbucks starts by default at two.
Add a view and not having to slog across the bridge on C-Tran, and you get four stars. Beer, deck, friends, wi-fi, summer, Vancouver...really, what the heck else do you need?
McMenamin's on the Columbia is a definite treat. The views of the water are just great and it's a perfect place to eat on a nice sunny day.
My step-dad and step-brother came to visit the Portland area and I took them here (since I live in Vancouver) and they really enjoyed it.
The food is just kinda regular but the happy hour specials are AWESOME. Hummus and pita, I love you.
We also ordered the calamari and the tzatski sauce didn't taste like anything, so I would suggest asking for a side of tartar sauce to go with it because apparently they don't have Marinara sauce (what?!). Don't ask me, I have no idea. but yea, I would say go for happy hour. The deals are great and the view is even better!
Yes, I think the McMenamin's Empire might be inherently evil. Yes, I've got my gripes with many of the locations and services they have to offer. Yes, they've got a good thing going, and I will continue to patronize them whilst bitching about all of the aforementioned problems.
That being said, this is by far my favorite Mcmen's location. The outdoor seating on the river relaxes me enough to overlook the somewhat neglectful service and just enjoy myself. The menu at this location is much bigger and has a lot more than your average pub fare. The cheddar and crab fondue with rye bread was pretty decent. The chicken coconut curry dish was way better than I expected (however I had just finished a long hike, so maybe anything that provided sustenance would have tasted fantastic!) Other bonuses this location provides is an onsite brewer, and rotating taps of non-Mcmen's IPA's.
This rates 4 stars only because it is the best of the worst of Mcmen's. Anything else and it would get a solid 3.
I enjoy how there are McMenamins around the Vancouver/Portland area and even up here in Seattle. This McMenamins on the Columbia is pretty cool but a bit small. You can still order your Ruby beer and good eats. You can't go wrong with a McMenamins.
We are new to the Portland area and wanted to eat at Beaches initially, but we were dissuaded from going because there was a huge crowd. At McMenamin's we took the last open table and was seated quickly. The place was packed but our server was quick to take our orders and the food was brought our relatively fast. Pros: service was fast given that the crowds were coming in at the same time, had a nice 'homey' feel, and the Ruby ale was excellent. Cons: dimly lit, I had a hard time reading my menus, space within the restaurant was too crowded (fire hazard?) and I'm not a big person, food was so-so, nothing to rave about. I ordered flat iron steak with garlic fries. Steak was a bit chewy, and the garlic fries didn't taste much like garlic to me.
I have been here quite a few times and always enjoy a pint of their Ruby beer. Very tasty. But the real reason to come here is to enjoy a beer on their deck in the summer. Right on the river, so there is always something to watch, and who doesnt want to sit outside on a beautiful summer day?
The service is average. Not great by any means, but I have never had a rude server. Their food is also average, with pricing to match. The only thing I will reccomment here is their tator-tots. YUM!! Always have them, and they never let me down.
I had the day off, the Wife was calling to be taken out to lunch and because the young one was at daycare we could go somewhere that we didn't have to order by number or make decisions such as apple dippers or fries! We decided on McMenamin's On The Columbia. Not because of the great service, it's not really. Not because it is a great value for the money, it's not really. None of those reasons are why you come to a McMenamin's. You come for atmosphere and to relax. Which we did.
We sat there, inside today for it was nippy outdoors, sipping our drinks and watching the Columbia lazily slip past, a man on a sailboat was tacking back and forth across the river making for a lovely view, but honestly, why? It's a freakin' river man! The scenery changes more if you go the other way.
Our burgers eventually arrived before we fainted from hunger and as always it was a grade A burger, I had the Wilbur, she had a bacon cheeseburger, and we both remarked how this McMenamin's seems to do fries just a bit better than the others.
One unnerving thing, our server looked like a mug shot of Bruno Hauptmann (he was accused of kidnapping the Lindbergh baby and eventually convicted and executed).
Ahh college football. There's nothing quite like the smell of smuggled Jack Daniels on the bated breathes of rowdy university students* to tell you that fall is finally here.
But as a card carrying member of the alumni association these days, getting to games takes a little more coordination than a prefunk'd hop, skip & jump across campus to the stadium.
For many of us, the closest we get to the action is tuning in via television, bound together as we sacredly don the colors of our alma mater. We watch in unison as our guys take on that team from wherever while praying that the jerk referee isn't officiating. It's the game day way.
Yet when the final whistle blows and the reporters go back to the studio we typically find ourselves in need of some fresh air and a post game beverage... and I've learned the perk of being 370 miles away from the action: no abhorrent wait to get onto a nice patio for a drink.
The closest place for us 'Couver Kids with the best riverside view is McMenamin's on the Columbia.
Yes... another McMenamin's. Service is slow, but it allows you plenty of time to revel in the glory of that amazing interception leading to touchdown, or to drown your sorrows in the defeat from too many false starts and five yard penalties.
But also present is the comfort of knowing that you'll get it right next time. Like "Maybe next time we'll quit fumbling the ball so much" or "Maybe next time we'll remember that it's not really worth ordering food here."
Yet the atmosphere is nice, and a pleasant place to hang with friends for a while over a round of Terminator Stouts, or any of the other standards on tap. The experience is moderate, which is to be expected. It's not perfect, and never will be. But it's as close as it will get.
It's a good place to mellow out, move on, and reconfirm your alliance to your team in a toast. And really, isn't that what football season is about?
*Go Cougs!
Great view, friendly service, good food, good price. The Cajun tots are the best part!
Occasion: Saturday lunch with friends
We ordered: Blackened salmon sandwich, Wilbur's jumbo deluxe burger, Bacon cheeseburger, Boca (vege) burger.
Price: about $40 total for the 4 of us.
What we thought: Pretty standard pub-grub. Good views over the river. I loved that they gave you the option of tater-tots instead of fries!!!
This is one of my favorite McMenamin's outposts. I love sitting at the tables outside and watching the planes land at the airport, the sailboats and other pleasurecraft that ply the mighty Columbia, and the general buzz of people on the waterfront path. The food and beer are outstanding too, which never hurts.
Be aware that if you arrive after 10 pm, your children will not be admitted (isn't that a bit late for dinner with kids, anyway?) but the rest of the time they are welcome and there's lots of good food for them to choose from.
My favorites include their burgers and tater tots, but their fries are good, their sandwiches are excellent, and when I want to be a bit healthier, their grilled chicken breast is really tasty.
Service here is always good even outside which isn't the case at some other riverfront places.
If you are looking for a relaxing place to enjoy a river view and soak up the sun on a summer day, this is a great place for an outdoor dinner date. Although the menu is the typical sub-standard mcmenamin's fare, there is nothing sub-standard about the ambiance or the view.
Outside seats are hot property and given out on a first-come-first-serve basis. If you are meeting up with a large group, the host will not seat you on the patio until everyone in your party arrives. Soooo, you will most likely miss out on dining alfresco unless everyone shows up on time.
I've gone to a good number of the McMens at this point and a lot of them have a really great feel to them. This one is lacking a bit in environment, but the patio area can't be beat in the summer (and the excessive wait times are pretty good evidence of it, unfortunately). The service has always been spot on. The food is meh/good, but nothing I get all excited about.
I think you are starting to get it that if its on the waterfront, we'll end up there at some point. We stopped in here for lunch following our flight into the area, so I wasn't really into having a beer. I probably should have, so I could pretend the food was good. It fell well short of a recommended repeat, but again, its on the river, so it gets an extra star.
Nice atmosphere on the water. Old pub style. Good food.
Only been in the neighborhood a few months, already a big fan - decent beer, great location and view - wish they'd leave the windows open more often, when the windows are open to the patio even the inside seats have a view/fresh air.
Beer is ok, food is good, but food service takes *forever* (otherwise known as subjectively too long). If you're just coming for a beer and the view, planning an hour is ok. If you're coming for a meal, plan on being here more than an hour.
Been here 4-5 times at different days/times, parking is usually available but you might have to spend a few minutes hunting for a spot. Driving up the place, if it looks like the parking lot is full, you might save some time and just turn down the street and get street parking - you'll walk a little further, burn some room for the beer.
standard family restaurant feel but in a pretty great location. best seats have got to be on the patio overlooking the river. food is pretty decent, but a little pricey. probably wouldnt be worth mentioning if it wasnt for the awesome view and proximity to parks/waterfront that will let you walk off the meal.
