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Categories: Cinema, Pubs [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Northwest, Alphabet District"If you want to find me on a Tuesday- I'm here. Along with a buttload of students from campus. Here's the lowdown from a secret oncampus…" read more »
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I'll make this short and sweet:
Cheap movies you would consider watching when it first comes out or renting play here. They are cheaper than doing either.
They serve beer. Kind of overpriced but they always have a special where one of their regulars are $3.40. Stop being picky and drink it. PS they serve beer. This is new and beautiful to a recently transplanted Washingtonian.
The theater's amazing. And air conditioned. This is wonderful for freak heat waves.
They have a beer, a burger (or veggie :) ) and a movie for $10.50 on Wednesdays. Best. Deal. Ever.
Their food sucks. Really sucks. Luckily their burgers are good though.
I don't see what people have to complain about the staff. They're doing their jobs. Duh there's going to be a line right before the show that you have to wait in, everyone wants to get their stuff and get all cozy at the same time. Deal with it.
Anyways, I guess this wasn't short and sweet but when you want to get out/beat the heat/see that movie you couldn't bear to see for full price and sober, come to the MIssion Theater.
Maybe they were having an off night, but this place had the worst customer service when I went to see a cheap movie the other night. We arrived about 15 minutes before the movie started, got inside and got in the line at the bar. As soon as we did, the bartender left. He wasn't back until the movie had already started and been playing for a good 10 minutes, and the line had grown exponentially.
When I finally got to the front of the line, it quickly became apparent that the bartender was the kind who ignores you for 3 minutes while fiddling around and studiously avoiding eye contact. I'm not into gushy customer service, but "I'll be with you in a sec" would have been nice, or even just "hi" or a nod in my general direction. So at this point I'm annoyed. The movie has started, I've been in line forever, and the bartender couldn't even be bothered to acknowledge my presence. The icing on the cake was when he mischarged me 19 dollars for nachos and one pint of beer. *sigh*
Anyway, who knows if I'll give this place another try. I like the concept, but not much else.
Came here for the Vikings-Packers Monday Night Football game, which is free every week (MNF, that is). Arrived a little late because of work, and met some friends, who had secured a spot near the front... and two pitchers of beer.
Being without a TV, I love that I can watch Monday Night Football on a huge screen, but I have to mention the fact that they're completely under-staffed for this sort of venture. The line for beer/food was at least 15 minutes long, and you can't comfortably watch the game from line (unless you're under 4 ft tall). I got cold food at half time, and was told it would take an hour and a half to get to me. I understand its not the employees who are at fault - they were busting their butts - but the management.
NOTE TO THE MANAGEMENT: IF YOU ARE IN A CITY WITH A LOT OF TRANSPLANTS (YOU ARE) AND THERE IS A HUGE NFL RIVALRY ON A MONDAY NIGHT, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH EMPLOYEES WORKING TO KEEP YOUR CUSTOMERS HAPPY AND FULL OF BEER.
Overall, a pretty good experience. If you're looking to see a cheap movie, this is a great place to do it. It's a great old theater, definitely has a great feel to it.
Get there a little bit early so you can pick out your seats and be first in line to get your food+drink. Probably my only major complaint is... no deep fryer. Which means no fries or tots with your burger. Major letdown. Had to settle for chili, but wasn't real happy about paying $10 for a burger and coke without fries.
Fun place to see a movie for cheap, and in downtown PDX blocks away from the Pearl. What's not to like? Besides no deep fryer...
I made the mistake of judging a venue by its picture and overestimating the amount of seats this place had. The comedy show I wanted to see here sold out and if I hadn't got the hook-up from one of the performers, my snoozin' would have resulted in my losin'. You stand the chance of getting a seat with an obstructed view if you don't get there early. It was a bogus long wait for a beer, because there was only one line and this place is KIND of a fire hazard, but its cuteness makes up for that.
Anyplace that I can watch a movie, drink, and have food brought to me is pretty darn great. I can't say I love McMinnamin's food, or that they have great service.....but still.....love this place. $3.00 for a movie is a great price.
(Don't tell anyone but I sometimes sneak my own food in and just buy drinks....granted I guarantee they still make a killing on all my drinks....)
(Also....is it just me or do the bathrooms there kinda remind you of the ones in Europe....wierd and moldy smelling.)
I usually treat Mcmenamin's like I'm a mean girl from high school; I talk about them behind their backs, but then go and hang out there if I don't have anything better to do. But the Mission is different, they hold a special spot in my heart.
After work I met my honey there and watched the James Bond movie and enjoyed a spicy chicken sandwich and a ruby ale. Staff was funny and nice; the kitchen made me a rocking sandwich, saw a movie for three dollars... it doesn't take a lot to make me happy.
Thank you, McMenamin's, for the Mission.
I love the Mission Theater. Since I've had a baby recently, I haven't been able to go, and that just makes me sad because I love it so. I lovingly call it "The Brew and View" (which I think was the name of a similar spot in Chicago that I visited and loved).
The Mission Theater is so charming. The balcony rocks. The walls and general ambiance is perfect. The beer is tasty (especially on a hot day), and I just love movies on the HUGE screen.
This is one of the things about Portland that just make me so happy to live hear. awesome old buildings like the Mission, being used to its best potential. Hooray Mission Theater!
Wow, beer and a movie in a really cool theater that reminded me somewhat of a college dorm community room or something. Weird and fun at the same time!
The movie we saw was great, the Hammerhead Ale was surprisingly good for McMenamin's, and I was more than tipsy when we left! Two pitchers in two hours between two people is TOO much! Luckily we walked!:)
I think the best part of the whole experience is that I didn't pay an arm and a leg for a movie ticket! Yay to these guys for making their money off of booze and food and not off of robbing people blind to let them in! I'll definitely be going back!
Why we don't have these type of places in SF baffles me...
I came here to see the blazers game, and relaxed in my theater seat eating popcorn with a $2.70 PBR (a weird price, i know). I am told the mcmenamins food is the same everywhere, but the menu looked a step above the normal bar(f) food, but no taters? WTF?
From the flak I read about mcmenamins, I still think this is a cut above most theater/dining experiences.
I know it's called Mission Theater, but think of it as a restaurant that just happens to have an enormous movie screen.
This is the place to be if you want to enjoy a late night movie for 3 bucks, or enjoy a late-night movie for 3 bucks while ordering drinks, or any combination of seeing a cheap flick and imbibing.
But if you come here for a SERIOUS ARTISTIC CINEMATIC EXPERIENCE, you will be peeved by continuous noise/distractions, most likely coming from behind the bar as they try to get a head start on closing up for the night.
It was bound to happen. I finally had a superbad McMenamin's experience, and it didn't involve watching the movie of that name.
Standing in a line that wraps around the block may mean "prestige" to some people, but to me it just says "bad planning." Especially when standing in that line for 15 minutes means that you don't get into the theater until 5 minutes before the movie starts, leaving precious little time to place your order and find a good place to sit. But how are you supposed to do that when the concession line is 25 people long?
I wouldn't have minded that the movie started while I was standing in line at all if the screen were viewable from the line. However, the bottom of the upper balcony hangs down to exactly the height that makes screen visibility from the concession line practically impossible, unless you feel like bending over and craning your neck. Unfortunately, the simple fact that you CAN do that encourages people to do so, with the end result being a long line of people bending over and not paying attention to the progression of the line anymore.
When I finally got to the counter and placed my order, I thought I was good to go. The cashier took my order, poured my beer, took payment, and gave me a table card for the servers to find me. I found a nice seat and began to enjoy the movie. Thirty minutes had passed when I began to notice that nearly every person in the place had been served already...but a few people remained with cards on their tables so I kept quiet. I was really hungry, so it was difficult to endure watching the remaining people receive their food while I still had nothing. Finally, when I saw that they were now CLEARING AWAY everyone's plates and glasses, I snagged a server and asked about my order....exactly one hour after placing it.
Much to my chagrin, she returned with my order within three minutes (was it sitting there the whole time or did it only take 2 minutes to make?). She offered no excuse or explanation as to the extremely long delay, instead just shoving my food in front of me and high-tailing it out of there. Famished, I consumed it with gusto, though it was really quite lackluster. The pepperoni pizza bread was chewy and had an awfully overdone pepperoni flavor, fueling my "microwaved box dinner" theory.
The movie was hilarious, and for $3 I certainly can't complain much. But bad service is bad service, and this was the worst I've received in a long time. Sorry Mission Theater. I wanted to like you, and since you are so close to home I'll probably give you another try. But this is your first strike.
I want to like the Mission Theatre a lot more than this, I really do.
First off, it's the closest McMen's movie house to my place, and since I tend to not see a lot of movies on opening night these days, it's nice to wait and then catch them for $3, all the while having some food or drinking a beer. On Wednesdays, they have their best deal by far- Burger, beer, and a movie for $10.50. That's pretty awesome, for only a dollar more than I'd pay at Regal I get a burger and a beer. Of course, cheese is extra (55 cents but always worth it) and I cheat the system a bit by ordering chili on the side and then topping the burger with that.
But here's the problem. All of McMenamin's beers are awful, MAYBE minus the Terminator which just borders on "okay". I hate to sound like a beer snob, but living in Portland and trying out all the different brews and stuff and then having McMen's beer is an incredibly disappointing experience. Just because they offer a good variety of beer doesn't mean it's any good; it tastes like flavored tap water, with often times the same level of carbonation. The cashier I had was snippy and didn't seem like she wanted to be there, and when the movie finally started, the curtains on the side never finished pulling back all the way so the screen was cut off a bit on the sides. As a big fan of widescreens and being able to actually see the whole darn screen I paid to watch a movie on, this kind of pissed me off, but no amount of complaining helped this out at all.
I can't in good conscience fault them for having bad food and service when they have such a great deal on movies in a comfortable space, but Mission Theater could use such a huge upgrade in what you get there, it's unbelievable.
My favorite place to see a movie. Nobody can kick your seat & it's just a cool atmosphere. Not the greatest place to see a band, just because of the sound ...but great for movies.
I love this classic little theater even if it is a Mcmenamin's.
Cheap beer and cheap movies? I'm sure most everyone here knows about the McMenniman's empire, and say what you will, they do have some cool places. They are legendary in other cities, in fact, where the idea of watching a movie while drinking a beer in public is still a foreign concept.
A few summers ago, they hosted an "Arrested Development" marathon every Wednesday night, and I'm not sure I've ever looked forward to anything more. As the weeks went on, the crowds grew, and it was so cool to be part of a community that was in on the collective joke. I wish they could do something like that again, but I think it was illegal. Bummer. But hey, they were cool enough not even to charge at the door.
I can walk here, I can drink beer here, I can eat here, and I can watch movies here. All for $10-15 dollars (two beers + burger/pizza/sandwich), which is way better than the $20 you'd spend on a ticket, popcorn, and soda at a regular theater. When there's nothing better to do than see a movie, there's not many places better to do it than at the Mission. Anyone who tells you different is just a snob. Or enjoys sobriety.
This place rocks!
I went on a Wednesday and got the movie, a beer and a hamburger deal for $10.50. Insane!!! And the burger was great. My only complaint was that the seats were extremely uncomfortable on the floor level - I would def try the upper level next time. What a neat place!
As McMenamin's go, this one might be the worst. It has all the things you'd expect from a McMenamin's, bad service and bad food, but the Mission takes that to new heights of inadequacy.
I have to agree with everything Chana D. wrote here. Having a line around the corner does not impress me, it just reeks of bad planning. I mean, how long has this place been in business? Isn't there always a line? So why not place a couple of extra staff at the door to help people get inside. Or open the doors sooner so customers will have time to get settled in and order food and drinks. But alas, McMenamin's does not care about such things. I strongly suspect that they wait until the last minute because they don't want to do as much work. My theory is confirmed when I go to order food and drinks. They have three people working the bar, yet the line is still 40 people long. It takes forever to get up there so I order a double. (I know beer would be easier, but McMenamin's beer sucks.) First of all, she does not know how to make a Tequila Sunrise, so I instruct her. She has to ask another staff member if they have grenadine. This makes the entire operation shut down as all three cashiers have to stop and look for grenadine. They finally find it and my drink is poured. She charges me $13.50. I balk at the price but she says because it's a double, it's twice the price of a regular. I don't bother to explain to her that that's not how it's supposed to work, because clearly, it's too abstract of a concept for her.
I had watched similar problems happen when food was ordered. They're send out a minion to deliver it but if the minion can't find the table card, the food comes back to the bar. At that point, the entire staff stops what they're doing to scratch their collective heads and ponder what to do next. It takes an inordinate amount of time for them to decide to just leave the food on a shelf and see what happens. Meanwhile, the line for drinks gets longer.
Sadly, this is the experience at all McMenamin's. For some reason, they don't seem to assign specific duties to their staff members, rather, they just assume the hippies will figure it out. It's unfortunate, because this could be a really great place to go and enjoy movies, but it's just not worth the headache. It would not be that hard to make these improvements, but I guess pot just kills their motivation.
I love Portland! Three dollar movies with sandwiches and beer available, in a relaxed theater is such a treat. Not only that but the Mission Theater offers a places for groups to meet and put on events.
I had the chance to see a talk by Mark Shuttleworth, founder of Ubuntu Linux and a space tourist that went to the international space station after buying passage from the Russian space agency. Very impressive speaker and I am happy that there is a place like the Mission Theater to host events like this.
Some movies are just better seen at a McMenamins. Granted, No Country for Old Men is probably not your best pick. But anything from the Dodgeball/Juno/Little Miss Sunshine genre is absolutely perfect.
Speaking of perfect - on Wednesday nights $10.50 gets you a movie, beer, burger, and tots. If you're looking for a way to "wine and dine" your man, it doesn't get much better than this.
Plus, frugality is a natural aphrodisiac.
I went here for a friend's album release concert. (Keegan Smith's Hyrbid album).
The place was packed. Parking is hard to find. The place is relatively small compared to the other McMennamin's.
I wasn't able to order alochol as the lines are so long. They ran out of food that night as well. I guess the theater was packed during that night. It was fun.
Minus one star for some patrons that doesn't know what "take a shower before you head out and party" is OR the place just reeks of body odor.
Cheap and good movies - but only down side - no deep fryer for TOTS or fries - and I like that with my burger. Something to get used to.
A pitcher of beer & admission for the price of a ticket at other theaters - who could possibly complain?
Apparently you're supposed to line up early to get the good seats up in the balcony, but the floor seats only started to get uncomfortable for the last twenty minutes or so of the film.
Four stars only because it's not the best beer ever & the food menu wasn't all that appealing.
Despite the obligatory McMediocremans signature aesthetic of vaguely celtic stencil art, ugly and smelly carpet (a peculiar phenomenon shared by most pre-2000 movie-houses), lousy food, weak drinks, and OK beer this theater pub is still incredible.
A charming historic building, unbelievably low ticket prices, a varied selection of genres and sporting events, and a laid-back atmosphere make this place a killer spot to enjoy a night watching a screen.
Order your drinks and food early and have them delivered to your table or balcony level ledge. The line, and wait, can get long, so get a pitcher.
Historic buildng, One Screen, Balcony seating.
Smaller menu than the other McMenamin, Burgers sandwiches, BUT NO TOTS!! I gues they dont have a fryer.
My favorite place for Civil War, Bowl games Ect. The Civil war is nuts there.
I love the darling little Mission Theater. Great ticket prices and there's beer!!
They also do (free) Monday night football on their giant movie screen!
Now that it costs $10 for a movie ticket you must really evaluate how badly you want to see new releases. All of the McMenamins theaters allow you the joy of seeing these movies on the big screen (or at least a whole lot bigger than the one I have at home) for a fraction of the cost!
The Mission is great because, for the cost of 2 tickets at Regal Cinemas, you can get admission for two and A PITCHER OF BEER! If that doesn't sell you right there they also have burgers, desserts, popcorn, wine, stadium seating on the upper level, tables on the lower, a decent sound system and all showing after 6pm are 21+ only. The only downsides are that it can become crowded and noisy on certain nights and that they don't have a fryer. But if having McMenamins fries are that important I suggest you cross the river and go to the Kennedy School.
What an AWESOME place!
Mission Theatre & Pub is an old rescued movie house (they charge $3 admittance) with a full kitchen. We ducked in out of the rain & ate dinner while watching The Simpsons movie, all for about $20.
An absolutely BOMB bacon cheeseburger, a stout, & 90 minutes of laughs later, I left very happy. The perfect place to go on a rainy afternoon in Portland.
I'm GLAD I waited to see "Superbad". A film like "Superbad" is best viewed within the crazy McMenamin's Realm of Weird Positivity. All their properties share a very special cabinet of curiousities quality, the Mission Theater doesn't disappoint.
We gaffawed plenty at McLovin until my guts told me that they weren't McLovin the nachos.
Yeah, so don't eat the nachos...unless you think you can handle 'em.
$3 for a movie!! And you can drink beer and eat burgers (extra charge for both of those, but not like the $4 bottle of water or $5 pack of candy at your big-name theater)! Does it get any better?
They're not first-run movies, but it's a big screen nonetheless. Comfy old-school-theater seats -- I recommend the balcony -- and bar/table seating downstairs.
Awesome place, cheap movies, food, and drink!
The sound system is surprisingly good and you can really enjoy the movie / or event you're watching.
The only sad thing about this place is that they don't serve Tots, something about having a deep fryer in an old building scares them.
Way better than paying $$$$ to see 30 minutes of ad's and trailers at a Regal cinemas.
21+ for most shows means no obnoxious kiddies either so thats really nice :)
An all-around great experience!
The ticket price can't be beat ($3-4) and the food wasn't inflated too much either - I think my burger was $6.50. Food was fine, not great, but definitely nothing wrong. I loved the whole concept of being able to sit back and enjoy a beer and a burger while watching a movie. It's also nice that the evening shows are 21-and-over only so you don't have to worry about obnoxious teenagers or crying infants.
I'm definitely planning to bring my fiance here the next time he visits.
Okay, so if Powells won't let me stash my mortal remains in their aisles, i'd like to be buried under the balcony at the mission.
i can't stand the food--do not go near the pizza if you're looking for something edible. this is why i always end up here around dinner time, thinking, well, the food sucks, i guess i'll have another beer. and then before i know it, i've had two pitchers, and i can't quite follow the plot of pirates of the carribean.
but damn, it makes for a good story. :)
My love for the cheap movie theater continues, and the Mission is the McMenamin's outpost in close-in Northwest. This time their fare is more than just pizza--there is a more varied menu to choose from. Eat and watch upstairs on the balcony for a good view and a comfy seat.
Occasionally live music plays here too!
Oh how I miss thee. Mission use to be my neighborhood theater. Such great memories, The Hithchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Oregon vs Oregon State (Go Ducks!), the delicious beer and food to go with such wonderful movies and events.
Extra cheap movie ticket prices, I'm talking three-five bucks! And who likes to pay $10 to sit in a Regal Cinema without all things McMenamin's. Not me!
I love seeing movies for $3 but I hate overpriced beer served in warm plastic "pints" that are actually smaller than what you'd get anywhere else.
At last, a cheap movie and dinner
I'm a big movie girl and love to go out, which makes me the perfect patron for the Mission Theater and Pub, where you can eat, drink and watch a cheap flick.
Most people go to the Mission because it shows movies that were released a couple of months ago, so admission is just $3. That's a savings of $6 compared to new releases. I go, though, for the beer and burgers. The fact that it's cheaper admission just makes it a better deal.
Although the McMenamins have added several theater and pubs in recent years, the Mission is the original. They set it up the first floor like a second hand living room, complete with broken down lounges and chairs. I prefer the view from the balcony, whose wooden chairs are equally uncomfortable. No one seems to care, though, as the vibe here is casual and laid back.
The menu is typical McMenamins grub with burgers and sandwiches with tasty ales to wash it down. All and all, you can see a movie and have dinner for $10.
Tip: Along with movies, they also show Monday Night Football and other events like the Civil War game and the Super Bowl on the big screen.
Good bar location because those in line can also see and hear the movie playing. Affordable second run movies and a unique location.
We took my mom here for dinner and a movie when she was visiting. When the woman asked for $9, Mr. T gave her $27, assuming she meant $9 each. When she indicated that the movie was $3 per person, he walked around for the next five minutes in a state of shock. As recent transplants from California, this was pretty unheard of. This place is a ridiculous deal; you can get dinner and a movie for the same price as you'd pay for just a movie and a bunch of obnoxious advertising at the multiplex. We will never go back. The theater is in a cool brick building, the sandwiches are delicious, and you can wash the whole thing down with a beer. Great for a date.
Neighborhood: Northwest
Category: Cinema
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Neighborhood: Southeast Portland
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Neighborhood: Southwest Portland
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