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Muddy Rudder Public House
Categories: Restaurants American (New) Nightlife Bars Pubs American (New), Pubs [Edit]
8195 SE 7th AvePortland, OR 97202
Neighborhoods: Southwest Portland, Sellwood
(503) 233-4410
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 12 pm - 10 pm
Thu-Fri 12 pm - 11 pm
Sat 11 am - 11 pm
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Mon, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
Mike H. said: "Tortalandia has all that I need, precisely why I blessed it with a 5 star rating. It has a warm, welcoming, atmosphere. Great for a first date, a night out with the guys, or just if you're looking for a good bite to eat. It's casual…" read more »
41 reviews for Muddy Rudder Public House
Review Highlights
"I would like to check out the live music sometime."
(in 12 reviews)
"In the warmer weather, there is nice outdoor seating."
(in 4 reviews)
"...sauce, fresh tomatoes, basil, fresh mozzarella and salami."
(in 2 reviews)
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41 reviews in English
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Review from Steve S.
Portland, OR
2/7/2012
The Muddy Rudder is a great neighborhood bar 3 blocks from my house, and I should really like it a lot. Great food - the meatball sandwich is my favorite, and the individual pizzas are excellent, though both take a while to cook. Great tap selection, including some lesser known brews from Oregon and NorCal microbreweries. Cool old bar and old maps on the walls. Live acoustic music every night. Always plenty of patrons, but rarely crowded. Nice, small warm-weather patio.
I guess my qualifying "should" statement is based on the Muddy Rudder's somewhat over-curated feel. The owners took a forlorn, old one-story building, chopped off the roof, added an apartment above, created the ground-level public house, and gave the exterior a sort of "old-timey" look. It's like a commercial version of the residential renovations and partial tear-downs you see throughout gentrifying Sellwood. The successful, upper-middle class, white people in their 40s and 50s with kids and dogs who live in those houses find a regular watering hole in the Muddy Rudder.
But don't let this stop you from visiting (or even frequenting) the Muddy Rudder. It's a great spot with excellent food and drink, and one of the only establishments at the far west edge of Sellwood. You "should" really like it a lot. -
Review from k g.
Portland, OR
8/23/2011
We had pizza (spinach and prosciutto) and some sort of antipasto platter. Both we great, the pizza was super thin crust and was the perf size for one person, and the platter came with a delicious hummus, feta, peppers, and tons of pita.
I thought the decor was actually pretty cute, but I like that mismatched old victorian aesthetic,
The service was pleasant. We sat outside and ordered at the bar. It was 90+ degrees out and my bf and I had been walking for a while, so we stuck to water, so I am not sure about their booze selection. I will be back to check it out. -
Review from Deanna N.
8/13/2011
9+ years owning a home in Sellwood and why have I not been here. Its a cute re-done Victorian. Nice outdoor patio although sparse on tables albeit cutoff from the street. My only complaint it was hot in there!
My mojito was refreshing although I wish it had more mint.
Pub specializes in individual pizzas.
Music was free vintage style although loud inside.
PS Saw pizzas 5 bucks during happy hour from 4-6. -
Review from Tom D.
Southeast Portland, Portland, OR
1/2/2012
Good food, good beer, nice atmosphere. Close to me. What else do you need? Ok yes, the service is a bit thin, but I can overlook that, it's a pub.
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Review from Jes A.
12/15/2011
Consistently unimpressive. I accompany my beer-snob friend who seems to like the place. This trip bartender said their coffee was "good coffee." It might have been a few hours before he served it to me.
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Review from Isaac S.
Portland, OR
8/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place has great atmosphere and pretty decent food (good local taps, wood-fired pizza) but you can't get through a visit without wondering where your food is, or having the servers apologize for being short-staffed, or having to go up to the bar to ask for napkins or forks. You have to order at the bar, get your own utensils, and then tell them where you're sitting. Even then, the food runners walk all over asking if you're waiting for food because they didn't actually write on the order what table you're sitting at.
If you do go, try to sit in the lovely outdoor garden during warm weather. We waited for this place to open 3 years ago, and then gave it 3 tries before arriving on a "mediocre" rating for a neighborhood public house. This was our 4th time total, and while a lot has matured- the food, the vibe, the atmosphere -- it still seems like they need someone to hire and train staff who has worked in a well-run restaurant. Just lots of room for improvement. It feels like a place that would have better service than a Burgerville. -
Review from Jessica K.
Portland, OR
4/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Muddy Rudder is a great place to stop by when you want to chill and have a beer and in the evenings listen to some music without the crazy bar vibe.
We had to try the pizza after reading some of the other reviews on here and it didn't disappoint. The aroma of delicious pizza hits you just outside the door. The sauce and crust were amazing and really I think you could put any toppings on there and be happy, though my boyfriend was a huge fan of the salami. We also go the vegan chili which was okay and the veggie sandwich with pesto and mozzarella which was good, but could have used a little more flavor or spice.
Ah and how could I not mention the beer? This is something we hone in on whenever we go out and one of the reasons we come here. They had four microbrews on tap that were nearby, but not local, so it was a treat to get something that's a little harder to find in Portland. Different that the average fare you see at a lot of places in town. All great beers too.
Happy hour was just ending at 6 when we got there. $5 for the food items and $3 pints. Obviously kid friendly during this time because there were easily 20 of the pint sized crowd afoot when we arrived.
I think they could benefit from one more server on staff during busier hours, but ours did well and had a great personality to boot making our experience all the more enjoyable.
And for when this rain finally ends for a bit, there is an outdoor patio and also some tables along the sidewalk. -
Review from dan h.
3/1/2011 1 photo
I had been hearing about the pizza at this place for a long time from a former coworker. He told me it was the best slice he has had in Portland. When someone says that, I want to know if what they think is good pizza is what I would think is good pizza. That mystery has been solved. Wasn't really a mystery, but it sounded good.
The Muddy Rudder is a bar in the Sellwood neighborhood of Portland. If my coworker never told me about the pizza here, I probably would never have come specifically for that. I had been here once a few years back and liked the place well enough, but it isn't exactly close to where I live and therefore wouldn't be a place I would go out of my way to frequent. Now my tune has changed as they make a pretty damn good pie.
I let my friend order. He knew exactly what he wanted to get as he gets the same pie every time he comes here. The pie is a create your own with red sauce, fresh tomatoes, basil, fresh mozzarella and salami. Turns out it is basically a Margherita pizza with salami. Our server pointed this out. She went above and beyond on this visit, but I'll get to that in a bit. My friend said it was the salami that made this pizza. Before ever coming here, he never thought of salami as a topping on a pizza. Now he can't get enough. I can understand why.
We ordered up a few drinks. My friend had a gin and tonic and I started out with a Yeti Imperial Stout. A bit rough to drink one of those on a fairly empty stomach, but I took my time with it. We had a seat in the front part of the bar and there was live Irish music going on. Nothing formal. Just some people sitting around a table and "jamming" a bit. It wasn't obnoxious at all. A nice way to spend a late afternoon on a grey and dreary Sunday.
We continued to wait for our pizza. Didn't mind it at all. The conversation was good. The music was good. The beer was good. Everything was good. My friend mentioned they were a bit slow on the food. It became all about the anticipation. I'd been waiting to taste this pie for a long time. What was a few more minutes? Our server came back and told us it was on its way. She brought us some mixed nuts as she felt bad we had waited so long. We weren't impatient, but it was certainly nice of her to do. Finally the pizza came and boy did it look good.
The pie we got was a simple pie. It wasn't doing too much. There weren't too many flavors fighting for the right to come out in your mouth. I like these types of pies. The crust was nice and thin and the ingredients all very fresh. The salami definitely made it though. Unlike pepperoni, salami isn't as greasy. The Muddy Rudder didn't overwhelm this pie with too much meat. It was the perfect amount. This particular pie is definitely in my top 5 of favorite pies in Portland. Now I'm mad that this place isn't close to where I live.
So I mentioned earlier how our server went above and beyond. My friend originally ordered a create your own pie. As I said, it turned out that it was basically a Margherita with salami. Our server did the math and found out it was cheaper to buy the pie as the Margherita with salami. This was another thing she didn't have to do, but these are the little things that you don't see very often anymore. It is nice to know there are still people out there who do things like this.
So, the Muddy Rudder is now on my list of pizza places. Funny thing is that it isn't even a pizza place. If I had never become friends with this coworker, I don't think I ever would have known. I'm glad I was guided to this point. I feel I'm a better person for it and my stomach is a better stomach for it. -
Review from Brian H.
Portland, OR
4/24/2011
I really would love to give these folks 4 1/2 stars...but I just wouldn't feel right rounding up to 5.
I'll start with the couple bits that kept me from handing out that 5th gold star: Beer. Their selection is respectable, but I hope for an exceptional variety from a comfortable Pub like this one. Basically, the beer list isn't something that will keep me from coming back, but if I'm going to a bar strictly for some great beer, I'll likely head elsewhere. Service has also been a bit spotty at times when they're on the busy side. I certainly wouldn't complain about the service I received, but in my opinion...a review starts at 3 stars and earns the 4th and 5th; it doesn't start at 5 and get chopped down from there.
Now the good stuff: Everything else!! They very often some fantastic folky/bluesy music going on which immediately makes me feel at home. Their menu has a nice range of greasy indulgences and lighter bites, which inevitably leads to an internal mouth vs stomach struggle to decide what to eat. Fortunately, the healthier plates are just as tasty as their greasy counterparts. Their pizza is especially delicious, as well as almost all of the happy hour options. Once the summer hits, they've also got a nice outdoor patio to enjoy, from where you can still hear the music inside which is nice.
Keep in mind, I see the Muddy Rudder as more of a bar with good food, rather than a restaurant that doubles as a bar. Worthy of dinner plans if you enjoy eating in a bar atmosphere with the possibility of some kickass music! -
Review from Liz G.
2/8/2011
The Muddy Rudder is an awesome spot to drink beer and eat pizza. Their beer selection is really great - about 10 taps, constantly rotating with mostly local micros, and there's almost always one I haven't tried. Seriously, their selection is on par with any of the more well known beer establishments in town (I often notice they have a lot of the same beers as Baileys). There's a full bar and a couple wine choices too, but this is really a beer drinker's place.
The pizza also really great. It fits nicely into that space between fancy pants and typical takeout. Their ingredients are high quality and fresh (got the one with fresh mozz the other day...that is some good cheese). Plus they have strombolis too. And everyone knows strombolis are awesome. One thing I never noticed until we went with a non-pork eating friend is that all the meat toppings are pork. Awesome for me, not so awesome for someone who doesn't eat pork. Just an FYI. If you're not feeling pizza they also have huge salads and some sandwiches (but no burger/fries).
And if pizza and beer aren't enough, they often have live music, always free. Usually something kindof bluegrassy, but other stuff too.
The atmosphere inside is cozy. A nice bar, a big communal table as well as smaller tables. The servers are all friendly, and the one guy that's always there when we go gives really good beer recommendations. One of my favorite places in Sellwood. -
Review from Kris M.
Portland, OR
1/31/2011 1 photo
A recent visit to the Muddy Rudder was spurred by a recommendation from a fellow beer lover at The Beermongers and it proved to be a great find. Saturday night we had plans to go to a Rose City Rollers bout at Oaks Park and wanted to grab an early dinner (3:30 - 4:00-ish) in the Sellwood area.
My first impression of any bar or restaurant is made by their tap list and things were looking good for the Muddy Rudder on that front. I ordered a Silver Moon Hop Fury IPA, my husband a Green Flash Double Stout and I'd order either again, especially at the $3/pint happy hour pricing (3-6 pm daily).
For dinner I got their pie of the day (goat cheese, kalamata olives, sausage) and he got a custom Stromboli. Again, both were winners. Although just off of Tacoma, it isn't in an area highly populated by shops, but it's worth going a few blocks out of your way for. -
Review from Danielle K.
Portland, OR
1/2/2009
You know, I like to root for the underdog. And I really was rooting for Muddy Rudder. It always looked chill, and in a sweet old house, right near the river.
I imagined booths and cheap food and kickass burgers. I imagined a place close to home that I'd be okay hanging out at.
Unfortunately, though, this place did not live up to my meager expectations. I found the seating odd and kind of distracting...they used old and wobbly round tables and mismatched chairs (which, granted, lend their own charm), instead of booths, which I thought would be far more appropriate. It was almost completely empty when I was there, and we were scolded for trying to order at the bar, but the service was slow as molasses.
And since I'm not much of a beer drinker, I opted for one of the ciders (it was between regular apple and a cranberry, and I decided to be adventurous at the server's recommendation and went with the latter). The price was STEEP. We're talking...$7 or $8. And get this, my CIDER came in a WINE GLASS. Yup. For $8, I get 6 oz of cider. Not even a goddamned pint. What gives?!
Also, the menu struck me as pretty strange for a neighborhood pub. Mostly incredibly overpriced hummus or cheese platters. The only thing that looked remotely good was a pizza, and neither of us were too crazy about the options. So we did a make-your-own, and in addition to an uncomfortably crisp and dry crust, my meats were also burnt. Yikes. And overpriced. Did I mention that?
So, unfortunately, and I hate to say this, I think this place is really pretentious, and I really don't see myself going back. Until they realize WHERE THEY ARE, adjust their menu and pricing, I ain't living in the uneven chairs, even if the house is actually pretty nifty. -
Review from Laura N.
4/16/2008 1 photo
About 7 miles into my 30 mile bike ride last weekend, Our 4 person bike-gang voted to stop for "provisions." (Let's just say that two of us were more bike-faring folks, and two of us...well, weren't.)
Enter Muddy Rudder and their fantastic bike rack.
Rocking clips and spandex, I voted to sit outside in the sunshine and was pleasantly surprised by the lovely back-yard-turned-picnic area where we were not only able to be served, but also watch the chefs flip burgers on an old-school charcoal grill.
The limited menu provided 100% organic options, and mostly consisted of sandwiches, salads, and light finger snacks. The Marseille sandwich (salami, fresh mozzarella & sliced tomato on a baguette), and the Eugene (avocado, sprouts, cucumber, tomato, baby greens and black olive hummus) were both hits at our table.
The 100% organic flare included the exclusion of soda of any kind and the only kind of juices or iced tea they offer come in plastic bottles. So unless you are a beer or wine drinker, you're drinking water.
*cough, or unless you have a 23 mile bike ride ahead of you...*
Muddy Rudder screams neighborhood summer BBQ, and sneaking a peek of a Scrabble box next to the fireplace, I can only imagine the late night shenanigans that must go down. In fact, two of our 4 person bike-gang ended up staying put!
can't blame 'em. -
Review from Chris L.
Updated - 8/4/2008 13 Check-ins Here
Dislike turned to like, like turned to love, now love has turned into infatuation. I can still recall the words seductively verbalized to the Tall Leggy Blonde and I on a warm Saturday afternoon..."I have three beers you guys must try, you look like your IPA fans."
Ah, amore!
The first ever sampling of an IRA (a Red IPA) was tremendous and the burgers we ordered to go along were outstanding. This is now on the top of my list of favorite places for beer...Listed in: Beer = Love, Sellwood, Sellwood, always up…
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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7/30/2008
I never make mistakes...once I thought I did, but I was wrong.
Well, if my first impression of the… Read more »
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Review from Amanda T.
Portland, OR
10/22/2011
I absolutely loooove "the muddy". It's the perfect place to just go and relax with some close friends and family. Great food, a little pricey, but all well worth it and on top of that tastey wine! They have live music that makes you feel like you've traveled back to simpler times and takes all your worries away. Just make sure to get there early to ensure a table! It gets packed fast!
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Review from brandi p.
8/27/2009
As if I need help: my current favorite iphone app helps me get booze in the shortest time possible. most yeeps prolly already know this one, but for the rest of you, it's another reason to come over to the iphone darkside.
Cocktail Compass locates the nearest happy hour to your current location, along with progressively distant happy hours and their respective hauls. This. is. the coolest thing ever. If you're willing to commit, it's like booze roulette.
Driving over the Sellwood bridge last Sunday, CC pinged the Muddy Rudder, a place I've driven by hundreds of times and likely would have never thought to stumble into. And that would have been too bad. $3 pints before 6pm, of some of the coldest beer in Portland... (not always the best thing, but when it's 95 degrees it's awfully nice.)
Good tap selection, and the pizzas coming out of the kitchen looked really nice (also happy hour prices before 6.) Pretty chill local feel, lots of places to sit, and live music. Reminds me of a couple of places I've been to in Boston.
Good Cocktail Compass, good. -
Review from Nader A.
Portland, OR
1/13/2009
Muddy Rudder has a remarkable level of charm and ambiance for a pub that's only been open roughly 2 years. With distinctly olde world nautical themed decor, aged looking wood floors, mismatched tables and wobbly chairs, it's easy to imagine the Muddy Rudder has been here, near the banks of the Willamette at Oaks Bottom for a century, but it's all just clever design and attention to detail.
Too bad the menu isn't as impressive. Strangely I'd be happier of they would have stuck with with the throwback theme in the kitchen, rather than serving over priced, under sized sandwiches, salads, and snacks. They do have pizzas and strombolis, which I'd guess is the way to go if you have any type of appetite. They must not own a fryer, which is a shame because the ubiquitous "fish 'n chips", seemingly available in every pub in town, would actually fit right in here.
We ordered the antipasto plate which came with a couple dollops of houmous, about a half-dozen olives, and some nice roasted veggies (4-5 cloves of garlic, about a tablespoon of red bell peppers, and a couple slices each of eggplant and zucchini). A decent appetizer for one, nowhere near enough for three, but at about $9 it seemed a rather poor value. At least they use organic, sustainable, or local items when available.
Table service is a little spotty; they don't come back to check on you nearly frequently enough. But since you'll probably have to stroll up to the bar to read whats on tap anyway (scrawled in chicken scratch on a little chalkboard beside the bar), you may want to try ordering there or at least make yourself visible to the bartender so he'll hopefully remember you.
They have a small but well thought out selection of draft beers - most tending towards the hoppy side, which is A-OK by me. For those of you who have not yet acquired the taste for hoppy beers, they had Harp Lager and Boddington's Pub Ale (I believe both are always in the rotation), as well as a fair selection of wines by the glass and a cider or two.
Similar to a recent review I wrote for a different "Muddy" establishment (http://www.yelp.com/bi...), the live acoustic music really sets the Muddy Rudder ahead of many similar locales. Last night we enjoyed a nice, rootsy, Irish-tinged instrumental set. They often have live music, mostly of the Americana, bluegrass variety - and they've never charged a cover to my knowledge.
Muddy Rudder is a great place for good beer and interesting live music in a quaint, rustic environment, though I'd probably skip the food.Listed in: SE Portland
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Review from Melissa P.
Portland, OR
Updated - 7/6/2008
Man, what happened.. ?
I used to sing this places praises. But the last few times have really left much wanting.
1. Having to wave down a server for initial service.
2. Orders lost.
3. Orders incomplete or missing the vital ingredient.
4. Ridiculously overdone burgers.
5. Toooo long wait for a beer.
It's just sad.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/6/2007
Tucked into the corner of 7th and Tacoma is the refurbished house that is now the home of the Muddy… Read more »
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Review from Robin S.
Portland, OR
6/3/2008
It was a late afternoon on a weekday when we visited this nice little neighborhood pub. It was not busy, the waiter was very friendly and attentive.
I liked it but was not super impressed. I love the building. The beer/wine selection was good, the food was nothing to write home about. We were told that they were changing the menu in a couple weeks.
We decided we would definitely go back. I would like to check out the live music sometime.
Great for riding your bike and grabbing a couple beers. -
Review from Brad W.
Beaverton, OR
6/12/2011
Only came for a beer and to hear live music, so rating not based on the food.
Really like the ambiance -- a fixed-up Craftsmen-esque house with nice wood decor. Also dig the low-key atmosphere. Also has a hipster quotient of zero, unlike Lounge Row in West Moreland,
The music was free as well as good -- a Roots/Americana band. It appears they have music most all nights of the week
I found the beer selection quite adequate, although such a place should by all rights also have a hard cider on tap. I got the Oakshire Rye beer, which was mighty good. Wasn't as impressed with my buddy's Mai Tai, however; it was more like a pineapple daiquiri (I expect some red bug juice in my mai tai; otherwise it's more of a Mai Lai massacre).
Service was fine; had no problem getting waited on soon after taking a seat.
Next time I'll come back for the Stromboli as well. -
Review from Julie M.
Multnomah, OR
4/23/2008 1 photo
You can catch some stellar live music here, 8-ish a couple nights a week. Delta Blues on Mondays with Lloyd Jones really makes me happy; and Thank God its Thursdays is led by Lauren Sheehan, joined by other melodic American Folk/Roots Masters whom she enjoys.
(see photos, and Web Sites under their names)
You'll find good Craft Beer options and a better than usual Pub food menu at the Muddy Rudder. I like sitting outside when possible...and i wish the regulars would not hog the best tables all night on music nites, especially without ordering dinner.
it's pretty quiet here when music isn't playing, so maybe bring a harmonica or guitar? To make this place more fun, maybe dress like the Victorian era River Saloon that might have been it's earlier life?
Either way, See ya at the Rudder.Listed in: Beervana's Best, and a couple…, Live Blues
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Review from McLellan M.
Portland, OR
1/4/2008 2 Check-ins Here
Nice, very neighborhood-y atmosphere. Quite obviously a locals place, in a good way. Decor was nice- roomy and pleasant. I could see grabbing a late lunch and getting some work done (wifi included). Food options weren't vast, but what there was was tasty. Good vegetarian options for sandwiches and salads.
And, best of all, our favorite tap beer from San Diego offered. Obviously, this won't be a selling point to everyone (except for folks who like good beer), but we were in heaven. 4 stars got pushed to 5 just for that.. -
Review from Willow W.
1/11/2009
Muddy Rudder is at a great location to meet coworkers after work. It's fabulous for beer and the space feels very inviting to me after a long day (or week) of fluorescents, whiteboards and minors. Somehow it makes me feel like I'm in a small mountain town, especially with the fireplace going. The ambiance makes the beer taste amazing!
At first, the food was an issue for us, because there were hardly any snacks or what we would consider pub food. We could get a whole sandwich, salad or a pricey cheese platter. There were no chips or fries or tater tots. There was a fabulous eggplant sandwich. Now they have thin crust, individual pizzas, which is much more conducive to sharing, grubbing, and being casual. In the warmer weather, there is nice outdoor seating. Last time I was in, happy hour was a good deal. I've found service to be a little slow, but friendly.Listed in: Fireplaces and potbellied…
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Review from Lindsay S.
Portland, OR
6/19/2009
I am not feeling particularly inspired which may say something about this place....
Decent Beer
Decent Salads and Apps
Okay Pizza
Nice Outdoor seating
Uhhhhhh
Nothing else.
Thank you. -
Review from Amber M.
Portland, OR
5/15/2008
I love this place! I have only been once. I went to check out the neighborhood as I am planning a move to Portland in the next couple months and it came highly reviewed on Yelp (thanks!). I walked in around noon on a Saturday and the place was totally empty save for the most awesome bartender ever (Renee), the owner (who completely remodeled the place, which used to be an old house, and added a false front, pretty incredible craftsmanship), and another employee.
I started off with some black bean chili (YUM!), and a nice red ale (can't remember the name, but it was delicious). The place started to fill up a bit and I made some friends (great folks). We ordered a cheese and meat platter which was also fantastic, especially the spicy mustard that they serve with it, WOW YUM! Overall, everything possible was house-made, fresh, and totally rocked my tummy (in a good way). -
Review from Michael K.
Portland, OR
3/6/2011
Muddy Rudder. What a concept! A family oriented pub; kids playing, live music you can join in, singing, pizza, beer, and killer martinis. Downside: it is not in my neighborhood and I can't walk home, therefore must be responsible drinking.
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Review from Kathleen M.
Seattle, WA
The perfect place to kick back and relax on a Saturday afternoon. If the weather is treating you right, be sure to hang out on their back patio surrounded by lilacs and shaded with trees. We each had the salmon salad with yogurt dill dressing. Light, refreshing and very good! Bartender was friendly and funny; bar was buzzing with midday Bloody Mary drinkers and Scrabble players. Planning to stop by Muddy Rudder for another relaxing afternoon the next time we are in Sellwood.
Listed in: Portland Eats & Treats
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Review from Andrew P.
Vancouver, WA
9/3/2010
The homemade soup here is great. The service is good and the staff are friendly. Also, the beer prices are much better than most places in Portland. My cousin and I went on a Monday night when some pretty great funky blues artists were there.
My only problem with this place is the small menu selection. I'm not into salads or sandwiches and pizza doesn't like me, so I was left with having a beer and a bowl of soup.
The interior is is nice and the staff keep everything really clean. -
Review from Josh N.
Portland, OR
1/29/2009
I'm pissed about the Muddy Rudder today.
I just moved into Sellwood and quite like the 'hood. I've been to the Rudder a few times, and here it is: THE CUSTOMER SERVICE SUCKS. They've got two young, arrogant girls at the bar who act lethargic and are rude to the customers because they are so used to being flirted with. Let me tell you something, girls: you're not hot, and your personalities suck.
When I asked about how to go about booking a gig (I am a musician), one of these girls actually THREW the proprietor's business card at me. When I thanked her (stupidly), she ignored me.
Some of you reading this might think I'm being picky. Let me ask you this: why the F am I paying to go into a place that acts like I bothered the staff? What kind of BS customer service is this?
Oh, and the food is ridiculously expensive. I paid $11 for a simple stromboli!!
Overrated, uncomfortable, rude. This place is for rich jerks who treat people like crap, and don't mind being treated the same way. -
Review from Jessica E.
Lake Oswego, OR
9/15/2010 1 Check-in Here
I've been here several times and generally had a good time. Last night's service, however, left a lot to be desired. We were there with a group of around ten people to celebrate a friend's birthday. After our first round of drinks, the server took our empty glasses and started walking away without asking if we wanted another. We had to about yell to get her to turn around and take our order (and this was after ordering our first round at the bar due to lack of table service upon arrival). My husband also had to order his third beer at the bar and then return to the bar to pay our tab.
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Review from Evelyn S.
10/31/2007
Beautiful attention to detail by owner. Yummy food, warm comfortable atmosphere. Local neighborhood hangout.
Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Jenn C.
6/1/2010 6 Check-ins Here
I was introduced to the Muddy Rudder a few years ago and I never regret coming in. They have yummy sandwiches, great pizza, and of course beer. They often have live, local bands, which is always nice to hear and see local businesses supporting local artists. Having bad service? Get smart with them and they will start to play nice (at least our bad server did on St. Patty's--she apologized!)
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Review from Danielle W.
Fairfield, CA
7/28/2010
Very cool spot. Good selection of beers on tap, funky/interesting atmosphere, friendly staff, good food (smoked salmon salad was delicious), live music, lots of places to sit inside and out, free wifi. Can't go wrong knocking back a drink or two (or three) in this place. The Jamaican Red beer is pretty damn good. Two thumbs up for The Muddy Rudder.
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Review from Rob V.
Beaverton, OR
7/10/2010
Only had a pint but the pizza smells were intoxicating. It has a cool vibe and decent taps. Will go back again.
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Review from Donald E.
Portland, OR
7/15/2009 1 photo
Stumbled upon this place after a great day of geocaching. Came when they were playing live music. Great relaxed atmosphere and ample seating. Plus decent beers on tap. Definitely will be back.
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Review from Sam B.
Portland, OR
2/14/2010 1 photo
Def a local's place, although I'm not sure why it feels that way. It just does, which may explain some of the bad reviews. If you don't live in the hood, maybe it's too Sellwoody for some? Nice, warm feeling inside. Quaint. Friendly folk. Owner seemed friendly as well. Good beers on tap although Guiness could be thicker. Good sandwiches and the antipasta plate looked awesome. As did the Strombo.
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Review from Suzanne S.
Portland, OR
3/1/2009
I'm torn on this star-rating thing. To me, this place was a strong neutral. Not bad, not good. A solid two and a half stars.
Three of us went for Girls' Night --we have a rule about trying new places, and this one was new for all of us, even though we've all lived in Sellwood at various times and try to frequent the local businesses.
I got there first and staked out a table. Ten minutes later, no one had taken my order and dropped off menus, so I swiped one from the next table when it's inhabitents abandoned ship. When the girls got there, we decided we should just go order drinks at the bar before Happy Hour ended.
The menu was unimpressive. Well, to be fair, the stromboli sounded good, but the menu warned a 20-minute wait, and I'd already been there nearly 20 before the first elusive employee was spotted. In the end, we shared a pizza, which was quite good. And while I'm sure the "natural, local, organic" line on the menu appeals to some, it's just not what I'm looking for in a pub.
Once happy hour ended, service did seem to improve. And, near as we could tell, there was one person behind the bar and one waitress covering the rest of the restaurant -- no wonder the poor girl was slow to help us.
All in all, it was fine. I wouldn't recommend it to a friend, but I wouldn't gripe either if someone wanted to go there. There is one more little thing I use to judge an establishment: is the designated driver's coffee free? Nope. -
Review from Dava A.
New Rochelle, NY
7/26/2009
Cute, comfy place with a very local vibe. The bartender (although totally slammed while we were there) was friendly and helpful, and the stromboli and antipasto platter were both great. The outdoor seating was a huge bonus on a very warm (for Portland) evening.
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Review from D M.
Brooklyn, NY
1/8/2010
The staff (owner?) is pretty much all-around unfriendly, but so what. Maybe they hate their job. And anyway, we don't need to be best friends. If the food is good, then it's kind of alright.
It's not. It's too expensive (for what it is) and way too salty.
There are friendlier places to drink and much better places to grab a slice. -
Review from Landon K.
Portland, OR
6/5/2008
Decent food, and lots of live music. What more could you want from a neighborhood pub?
