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Categories: American (Traditional), Pubs [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Southeast Portland, SellwoodGood place for happy hour. Had the totchos, which for happy hour is an "individual serving". It's delicious but way more grease than one person needs! Good I had enough of my favorite beer - Sockey Cream Stout - to wash it down with! It's my absolute favorite beer in town. A friend and I also split the sliders, four little hamburgers, but they were very overdone. The waitress was wonderful and very cute!
After several visits to Oaks Bottom, the food just doesn't much up to Hedge House, New Old Lompoc or 5th Quadrant.
The public house has seem to have become a mainstay here in Portland. I am not a kid person myslef and really none of my friends have kids, but from the amount of Public Houses popping up in PDX I guess there are a lot of parents out there that feel the need to go to a bar but are burdened with the little ones. The Public house must have mass appeal, as it it almost a bar but still a restaurant.
That being said this is pretty much like every other "Public House" out there. The food is bit better than Mcmenamins but nothing out of this world or worth driving across town.
The burger seemed a bit dry and the Tachos seem like a great idea up until your third bite when you realize that Tater-Tots were never engineered to endure the burden or chili, ground beef, sour cream and melted cheese. The Tachos come to your table with visual appeal but soon become a soggy mess of deep fried has browns... Maybe I just have not been in the right mind frame to enjoy them (drunk as hell and stoned like a 60's teenager). But if that was the case I would belong more in a bar than a public house.
So the hubs & I were aimin' to check this place out since someone mentioned to us, "Tachos". They're like Nachos, only made with Tater Tots! Stop it!! No, you stop it!! No, seriously, made with Tater Tots!!
They were pretty tasty, & I'm sure the influence of the wonderful beers on tap didn't skew my opinion at all!!
The portions are enormous, so either get there hungry, prepare to share, or take home leftovers!
The summer, or good weather is the best time to go. They have a great seating area on the back patio that is 21&over only!
When reading Garrison Keillor's "Top Ten State Fair Joys" in this month's National Geographic, I thought many of his analogies could speak to the Joys of Portland's Brew Pubs.
I had lunch a few days ago at Oaks Bottom Public House. It was pure serendipity that this pub was discovered. The mission at hand was to find an old bungalow in the neighborhood.
Oaks Bottom is a cool place to "sit down and rest amid the turmoil and reconsider the meaning of life." D's company had something to do with that too.
Cozy, comfortable, not a bit of pretentiousness. Our waiter, wish I'd gotten his name was new, he said he'd been there a month (I would have never guessed)...absolutely charming man.
Usually pubs are places "To witness the stupidity of others [and my own], their gluttony [of tater-tots...and my own] and low-grade obsessions [of other various fried foods...chicken tenders..mhm huh.. guilty]. Oaks Bottom turns it up a notch... there is an option to the gluttony of devouring tater-tots which are easily hidden beneath layers of sweaters one can pile on in the wintertime.
I read past the tater-tots, THIS time, and had the GRAND Cobb salad. This was a Cobb salad I'd challenge any five star hotel to improve on. I'd bet good money in Oak's favor. Bacon. Hard boiled egg. Blue Cheese. Dark spring greens. Grilled chicken breast. Avocado. Add the C Note IPA...perfect in mid-90 degree weather.
Usually when I leave a pub, I vow "to turn away from food and amusement and crass pleasure and to resolve to live on a higher plane from now on." The Oaks Bottom Public House has tater-tots sure, but if you have a pair of shorts or a sun-dress you need to dust off, they've got options to the typical heavy pub fare.
Go find it. And I'll bet a C Note, you'll go again. D? I have a hankering for some tater-tots... TIme to TOT sez me! OBPH redux soon?
My friend and i went to see Bike Porn 3 at the Clinton Street Theatre, after which we were feeling even more in touch with our gluttonous side. There's nothing like bicycles and porn to make a lady crave some totchos.
That was really the only driving factor leading us in the direction of Oaks Bottom, but one comparable to the blood lust of a parched vampire. Who's been fasting off of Diet Rite for a week. And carrot sticks. That'd be one grumpy vampire.
So off to the Bottom we went. We were looking forward to hanging out on the patio, but because it's residential and it was coming up on ten p.m., the waitress pretty much threw herself in our path to stop us from doing so. The service folks here are kind of quirky. Like they wanted to be nice, but maybe they hadn't taken their Xanax that day. So both wait staff seemed edgy and slightly disoriented.
We wouldn't let that ruin our totcho experience though. I've heard good and bad things about these sinful little treats. Most say it's a great concept, but really dry and not what one would expect. I say we loved them. It's been a couple months since I've been to the Bottom, and I regularly crave them. The salsa and sour cream were refreshing and mildly spicy, while the cheese and tots complimented from the opposite spectrum of warm and slightly greasy. They were yummy. Times two.
The Lompoc beer selection was pretty impressive too, and reasonably priced. My friend and I each tried a few types and I loved two of them.
Despite the back patio closing at ten, we were able to chill out front at one of the three tables they have there, which weren't horribly uncomfortable.
Aside from that, it was nothing too spectacular. but i'll definitely go back for more totchos and another pint or two of Lompoc.
Oaks Bottom Public House may have secured a spot as my second favorite of the Lompoc brewing outposts (behind the New Old on NW Trendy-Third, just ahead of the 5th Quadrant, way ahead of the Hedge House).
We ended up at Oaks Bottom after an abortive attempt to grab a drink at the Sellwood Public House (what type of "public house" is closed on Sundays?) and discovered that they actually have a back patio (I'd been here maybe 3 times before and never knew they had seating out back).
As we entered they told us they were down a server, so while they'd deliver food or drinks to the patio, we'd have to order them inside. No biggie, and it was kinda slow so it didn't really cause any problems.
I went with a pint of the Proletariat Red - a fine, hoppy, NW Red ale - and ordered up some chicken strips and tots ($7?). At around 4pm on a Sunday we scored happy hour pricing, though whether that's offered just during limited hours or all day on a Sunday I'm not sure.
A few of the others in our group went with a veggie sandwich special - and raved about it. The "totchos" were probably better in theory than in reality, but still if you like sour cream, cheese, diced tomatoes, and tots than you'll probably enjoy them.
My chicken strips were pretty fantastic - large and meaty, nice breading, not terribly greasy, good texture. And the tots! Oh, the tots! Lightly seasoned, these were some of the best tots I've had in ages! And I'm not really a fan of mustard sauces, but the honey mustard dip that came with my meal was amazing!
The server who brought our food to us was pleasant enough, and as our group got a drink or two in us and we started joking around and teasing him: first about him wanting to turn on the patio heaters on a beautiful warm evening, then about his inability to get them lit. He gave as good as he got in the ribbing department, so props to him!
I'm always a fan of Lompoc beers, and love their commitment to nice outdoor dining (every Lompoc spot has a nice patio). Oaks Bottom doesn't have the most extensive or adventuresome menu, but as far as pub fare goes it's a cut above. Add this to the good wait and bar staff, and Oaks Bottom will always be on my radar when I'm in the Sellwood/Moreland area (which is quite often).
Here's a hot tip, weekend boozers: Oaks Bottom Pub House has $3 bloody marys and mimosas all day on Sunday. Let that sink in for a second: ALL DAY. Ding ding ding, recession special! They've also added a couple of lunch specials - half sandwiches and soup for under six bucks. They have a daily happy hour (discounted snacks, inlcuding mini-totchos and discounted brews) and I believe it is all day Sat/Sun.
As thoroughly discussed in the other reviews, yes the totchos are gluttonously delicious and yes the service stinks. I don't need to recap all of that yet again. But in general, OBPH does the trick and I think is one of the better NOL spots, definitely better than it's cousin, Hedge House.
In the spirit of excessive acronyms in this review, check out the PABST: Provolone, avocado, bacon, sprouts, tomato. Comes on extra-greased-up, thick sourdough, grilled golden. Daily soups are consistently good. Deserts are not- skip those. I can already see myself posted up on that patio once the weather starts to turn...
Man.... I got "Bunk-ed". That's my new term for a place that I have high expectation for from reading all of the great reviews, but then have my world come crashing down and shattering into smithereens after a not so great experience. Just like what happened to me when I went to Bunk Sandwiches. What a let down.
Totchos. Tater tots + nachos... Sounds great, right? Yea....umm... Not so good. I had to ask for ranch to doctor them bad boys up.
That was pretty much the story for my whole dinner. It was all just kinda "ehh". Lemonade was watery, cheese burger was ho hum and the root beer was $3 a bottle.
The thing that really irked my tater was our waiter. He walked past my empty, on the edge of the table (You know... The international sign for "More please!"), glass 8 times before refilling it. Their was another waitress there who had some pep in her step. Her tables looked VERY happy with their full glasses. Out waiter's table? Yea... umm... Not so happy.
This place haunts my dreams. One day I vow to completely give up everything I own and move to Portland just so that I may come here on a regular basis.
Will I get fat? Yes.
Will I become an alcoholic? Well, I guess it could get worse than it already is.
Will I smell bad? Don't I already? Jeez.
The totchos. Oh, sweet totchos. 1/2 order of totchos for two people = all you really need. Ever.
The service....Serial-killer waiter (most of the waiters in Portland strike me as potential serial killers) who is obviously very new, and a snarky hippie lady who sassed my pants off.
The beer....Lots of it.
My late review....Inexcusable.
Viva la totchos!
Awesome tater-tots, and they give you a giant pile of them. I had the Oaks Bottom Burger with my tots and I am a lover of all things burger. Unfortunately it was so very bland. It didn't really taste like anything special.
Waitress was awesome.
RC cola is Peee uuu.
Oaks Bottom is a great place for a lazy weekend day or evening. The casual vibe is great. The food and service are consistent. I do wish that they had a more healthy options; although it is a pub so what is to be expected?
I'm not exactly sure what happened here, but I'm pretty sure feral cats, totchos, Garrison Keillor and RC cola were all involved.
Oaks Bottom feels like that one city on a backpacking trip that you breeze through so quickly you never remember to list it -- jump off the train, grab a beer and a bite, and off you go. Not quite a starting point and not quite a destination.
That being said, it embodies this mindset of transience well. A covered patio in back for weary travelers to rest up before the next big adventure, a tap full of beers that would make Hofbräuhaus jealous, and a grubbin menu that is sure to satisfy.
...But I'll keep my stance that salsa and french fries go together about as well as cucumbers and nutella.
When I was little and couldn't fall asleep Mother would tuck me in and walk into the bathroom across the hall. I'd hear her turn on the sink and shuffle around the medicine cabinet for a while, clinking together all the pretty bottles I wasn't allowed to touch.
Moments later she'd return with a Dixie cup full of what she coined "Sleepy Water".
"But what's in it Mom? Mom... mom... what's in it... what's sleepy water... mom?" (I've sense apologized for being a terribly annoying child.)
She never would tell. It wasn't until years later when my little cousins spent the night and Mom was up to her old tricks again that I found out the recipe of her concoction... it was just water.
Really Mom? That's sneaky...
Since that illusion is now exposed, I've had to find something else to help me to drift of to dreamland. While often times it's as simple as a good book I find a certain comfort in a relatively laid back environment and where I can decompress from the days events.
Oaks Bottom is such a place. Maybe it's the combination of having "one of those weeks" with one more day to go and a kind-of-muggy-for-Portland summer night, but my recent evening here made me downright sleepy.
The pseudo secret back patio is where the yeeps and I spent our time. Having to walk through the dish room to find it was a little strange, but well worth the investigation to relax on picnic benches under a creatively designed roof.
Their NOL brews are good - I tried the golden ale, and though it was pretty nice, OK for the price, can't go wrong if you're in the area, but I don't think it's a destination. The service is kind of slow, but probably due to the fact that they're so darn busy.
But for Portland Beer lovers, Oaks Bottom is just another case of the stuff that dreams are made of.
But for this girl it's more like dreams filled with mysterious menu items like "Tot-Chos".
There are some things that were made to go together:
+ Peanut butter and jelly
+ Jameson and diet pepsi
+ Arsenic and lace
+ Italians and awesomeness
+ Bread and butter
And there are some things that were never meant to be:
- Tater tots and nachos
You know, to some people this sounds amazing, but I just don't get it. The totcho is a wonder to behold. Perfect, crispy tots that would be fantastic on their own, topped with beans and salsa and jalapeños and sour cream...it just doesn't make any sense to me. And it sounds gross, and looks gross. You wouldn't eat Freedom Fries with salsa...why would you do it with tots?
Anyway, enough people seemed to like this Oaks Bottom Public House staple that they ordered it and ate it, so whatevs.
They had a good selection of brews (and there was a cider on the menu!) and cocktails, although the cocktails seemed grossly overpriced. Service was attentive enough, but not extremely cordial. And the bar apparently has a cat that walked around the patio looking for love.
Oaks Bottom Public House...mixing things that shouldn't be mixed...but adding texture to Sellwood. Unfortunately, it's a rather forgettable destination.
Oaks Bottom... baby! You're so unique!
No, seriously! Of all the patios I've seen this summer, yours is the only one I could see myself on all year 'round. That roof of yours? Damn, baby! Nobody has a roof like yours. Plus, you've got a shitload of great beers on tap. C'mon... who else has that?
What? You're worried about your lackluster service? Awww, sweetie... nobody thinks that... you're just being hard on yourself. Trust me, your service is fine... I mean FINE! Mmmm mmm mm.
Trust me, baby... I don't just want you for your porch and your tot-chos. I love all of you... I promise.
Here's a refuge. Shelter from the storm. A place that makes me want to be playing cribbage with P., and drinking a C note. I am thinking a sunny day would enhance the capacity to stare, but not much could improve the beer. Time to wash Canadian beer away with a C Note! This is semi-urgent.
I would say we probably frequent this place more than any other in the 'hood ... they have yummy burgers and a decent menu. The service is a crap shoot (sometimes wonderful and sometimes surly).
My biggest reason for droppin' a star? BRING BACK THE FISH PO-BOY ... purty please???
When we first moved here - this place always had a line out in front. Now that the weather has… Read more »
Oaks Bottom is owned by the same folks that own 5th Quadrant. The menus have a lot of similarities but 5th Quadrant is much better. It was quite busy when we went in but we were able to get a seat w/in 10 minutes. The seat was pretty uncomfortable and we were squished in next to other tables, they could stand to rearrange the place a bit so that it is more comfortable. We were pretty floored by the stench of body odor that our waitress had. At first we couldn't figure out who stunk so badly but after a while we figured it out. I was horrified every time she came over, especially when she brought over our food. It was seriously pretty gross. I feel badly saying something about our waitress, she was nice enough but I can't even begin to tell you how bad the stench was.
Anyway, the menu was pretty veggie friendly and I love how you can order smaller portions...small salads, cups of soup, stuff like that. We got the hummus plate and after how delicious the one at 5th Quadrant was I was so excited for it to arrive. I also got a small salad that had hazelnuts and blue cheese on it and a cup of vegetarian chili. The hummus plate was OK but all of the veggies were cut way too small to dip into the hummus which was a bummer. The feta was broken up so small I had a hard time even getting the fork to pick it up to put on the delicious warm pita bread. The salad was OK too, I forgot to ask for it without dressing which was a bummer because it had way too much dressing on it. Also, the blue cheese and the hazelnuts were so small they were hard to taste, it seemed to be mostly lettuce. The vegetarian chili was good, quite spicy actually.
Paul got this chicken sandwich that had applewood smoked bacon, avocado, and a few other veggies along with a cup of clam chowder. He liked his food but he agreed that the food at 5th Quadrant is much better.
Overall I would say everything was OK. Not sure if I would be in a rush to go there again but if we ended up back there one day that would be fine. But, I would probably walk out again if that same waitress was there. Sorry, I really don't mean to be rude but..........um, gross.
http://www.newoldlompo...
I don't really mind going back here.
They have fine Totchos (Didn't know what the heck is that at first, then it just amazed me when it got served). Well poured stiff drinks and I heard their beers are good.
The restaurant bar in front looks quaint and old. But those are just the colors of the wall and their decors.
Do a hopscotch to the patio area. Be careful of the plastic mat that covers the wet floor. You'll get a semi-tour of their canned food storage area.
And you're in the covered patio. One table can sit 4 adults. We must've got 6 in our table at one time. Don't ask how. We just want to eat and drink. I think they need to brighten up the place but it's good and intimate enough.
Our server is cool as well. She's always attentive and responsive to the patio dwellers.
I thought I would really like this place because I love the 5Q. But it ended up not being as great for me.
We have tried to go here a few times on a weekend night, always packed with a line.
For awhile, I was on a burger quest to find the best burger. Hence, I gained a few pounds while doing it. The burger here is not as good as I wanted it to be.
I will say, at least the LSD was flowing :-)
When it comes to beer selection, Oaks Bottom never disappoints. While the expected Lompoc brews are always flowing, you can also expect to find some very original guest kegs on tap. Working in Sellwood, and living in Milwaukie, Oaks Bottom is a favorite destination after a long day, or when I don't feel like heading into town.
Summers are the best time to visit, as this is when the outdoor area in the back opens up...when not open, it can be a little difficult to secure a seat without a wait. The clientele is a good mix of Portland, but without the pretentious "trendy Porltand" people that frequent some of my other favorite establishments (see...Hopworks)
Plus, any place that serves tots has to be a personal fave...and the pulled pork sandwiches and chicken strips are perfect compliments to a cold pint of C-note.
So I've been hiking around in grasses and woods, I may have a tick in my sock.. all I want in the world (after the nap) is a beer and some grub with one of my friends.
I think, ooo, I've been wanting to try this place. I'll go grab a table for two around 7:45 on a Saturday. I get a table easy enough. Service - wait for it, wait for it... wait for it..
"Hi, sorry, I'm really busy."
"S'alright, we'll have some beers.. and wings and spinach/arti dip, and can you tell me about this beer, this pale ale?"
"It's light, it's a pale ale"
The place half empties out, and there are by my count 3 servers for 9 tables. And 3 of those tables are now gone.
(Our beers are empty) wait, wait, wait.
Our bags are on the table, and we're doing the looking around thing.
"Sorry, we're really busy"
Huh, really? (Tumbleweed passes by)
C'Mon yo.
I may be back for a beer, but not for the food.. admittedly I did not have the totchos or burger (which I guess are tasty).
That service just really sucked ass in a super lame way.
We have been here many times and each time it is very good! the beer selections are very good too! Weekend happy hour menu stuff is great....daily happy hours are great also! This place is a must have for that pub type food and the Tator tots are great in the Totcho's!
Popped in for lunch yesterday. I really like the feel of this place. NOL beers are a big plus (I can get these in NW a block from my house, but too much smoke there, not at Oaks Bottom). Had a brisket sandwich - brisket was a tiny bit dry, but overall very good. The tater tots were killer!
I had no problems with service (then again, it was only about half full). I'd definitely return.
Beer, tots, and burgers, mmmmm.
But something is lacking in the ambiance, so we sat at the small-ish bar counter which wasn't so bad and the bar staff were very friendly, kudos to the staffer that wore the "SUCKS TO BE ME" shirt, haha.
There is a nice awning out front to protect you from the (ahem) rain...
You know, despite what everyone so far has said about this place, I've never tried the "tot-chos". And you know why? Because their chicken wings are damn near the best appetizer money can buy in Portland. The last time I had them, though, they were a little substandard ONLY because the dang dry-cleaners next door made the OBPH get rid of their outdoor smoker! Blasphemy!
The place is working on getting a new, fancy, indoor smoker for all their lovely meats (wings, pulled pork, brisket, etc.) Until then, I will cast scathing glances toward the offending drycleaners for taking away the best stuff on the menu at OBPH.
Beyond smoked meats, the beer selection is right on, the hangout factor is high, and everything I've ever had there is spot-on tasty. Go at unusual times on a Sunday afternoon and you may not even have to wait for a table.
Rarely do you visit a restaurant for the first time and come away with such a warm n' fuzzy sense of well being, such a satisfied feeling of being "served" in the best way possible, or the idea that you may have just found your new favorite local spot - Oaks Bottom Public House is, hands down, my favorite place in Sellwood. I've just returned from lunch there and decided it definitively. Kay's, I'm breaking up with you. It's not you, sweet Kay's, it's Oaks Bottom Public House and how freaking spectacular my experience there was.
First: Food was exceptional for it's price and genre. I ordered the chevre burger (dear sweet lordy they've got a BURGER with CHEVRE on it) with a side o' tots. Although I really am not the hugest fan of the "flatburger" burger subspecies - you know, the kind that can't be cooked to temperature because the patty is too thin, so always comes well-done (I prefer my cow to be as close to still-mooing as possible) I found it completely impossible to dislike this "flatburger" burger. I mean, it had CHEVRE on it. I would bathe in chevre if possible. Also, instead of some hunk of romaine, it came with spring greens! Yum. The tots were potato perfection - super crispy yet still soft on the inside. Next time I visit, I'm going to get a sandwich called the P.A.B.S.T. - it's provolone, avo, bacon, sprouts, and tomato. I'm excited!
Second: Great service. Our server was casual and friendly in that wonderful, natural-seeming way - I hate it when service is good but it's obvious that they're TRYING. I like to be taken care of by someone who legitimately seems like a nice person who enjoys their job.
Only downside: Yes, they've got a great beer selection, but what that really means is a great beer selection for people who like opaque beer than makes you feel like you've eaten a horse after one pint. Oaks Bottom, I know you're trying to, like, support the local economy and stock local, interesting, craft products, but would carrying one light domestic really hurt that badly? Come on. You've got a sandwich named "The Pabst" - would it kill you to sell a pbr here and there?
Don't let the lack of poor-quality beer keep you from visiting, though - this is definitely one of Sellwood's best neighborhood spots. They're open until midnight every day except Sunday.
TOTCHOS!
That is, TATOR TOT NACHOS, are a brilliant concept, of course. Oaks Bottom Public House will serve up a pile of tator tots lathered with salsa, beans, sour cream, guacamole, and melted cheese. Portions are big, so bring somebody to share it with.
Visit the nearby Portland Memorial Mausoleum or go skating at Oaks Park and finish the afternoon or evening with a huge pile of totchos . There is nothing like them.
Don't be surprised if you're punished by a stomach ache after, though. They are just as delicious, genius, and heavy as you might think.
I found this place by doing a search on Yelp for burgers in the SE. It came up as one of the two places that were high on other Yelpers lists so I went to check it out on a cold rainy pub-night.
I was VERY impressed.
Here's what was good:
The selection was both pub cozy, mac and cheese, burgers, and tater tots, and the beer list was FANTASTIC- thanks to our waiter for tipping us off that there was a fresh new keg of German made beer that really hit the spot.
Here's what could have improved:
The tochos were fun, you know you have to try something like these, however I still prefer the Kennedy school's version.
Here's what REALLY needed improvement:
The limited seating. I'm all for a cozy place, but this was way too tight, it seemed as though there had to be a better way to get more people in to the place with some sort of innovative seating arrangement or something?? No one wants to wait a long time to get cozy at a bar.
That aside, I will def. return, thanks Yelp peeps for the good reviews that led me to Oaks!
Oaks Bottom is another solid Lompoc brew pub. The beer list is great -- they serve several Lompoc beers as well as a variety of others. What sets it apart menu-wise is the presence of TOTS. It may not seem like much, but believe me, it is. I love the chevre burger or the black and bleu burger here, and a side of tots is the perfect accompaniment. The fish and chips are also quite good, and the oft-lauded totchos are great to share with a group, even though Oaks Bottom is probably not the best place to bring a group.
The wait staff can sometimes have a bit of an edge, as another reviewer pointed out, but that's probably because there are far too many people crammed into such a small space. In fact, the lack of space is the main reason I don't frequent this place much -- there is usually always a wait for a table and nowhere to do it except for near the entryway.
I just moved into the neighborhood, and was out wandering with a friend the other night, looking for somewhere to eat dinner. I love love love my neighborhood (Sellwood) and have had nothing but good experiences.
That said, we went to OBPH, perused the menu, got excited about the food, and decided to give 'er a go. There was a bit of a line, so when a waitress passed by we asked her if she knew how long of a wait we might expect. Seems like a reasonable question...? She stopped, glared, and said "No. I don't." and walked off.
Now, I'm not super sensitive. I understand that people get busy, a little harried, etc., but she was - for lack of a better term - an asshole. We looked at each other and determined that there would be NO wait, because we left.
I'm not going to let it deter me from giving it another shot at some point, but the older I get, the less likely I am to put up with rude. Especially if I'm interested in paying money to be there. I just hope it's not a typical reception for this place.
Totchos are king
My fried vice is tater tots. I've loved them since I was a kid. Now they seem to be the "in" side at most pubs, and I couldn't be happier. That is, until I visited Oak Bottom Public House and tried their totchos --- they're nachos made out of tater tots. What an invention!
Whoever came up with this idea must have been a pub lover since this specialty joins two of the yummiest junk foods on the planet. It's just what you'd imagine --- instead of chips, they use tater tots. It tastes incredible.
Oak Bottom also serves some great beer and burgers I've heard, but I was too caught up in the totchos to try them.
Tip: Isn't it obvious? Try the totchos! Can you tell I'm craving them?
Could be that Oak's Bottom happens to be in my neighborhood is the reason for my 3 stars (the convenience factor and all), but all-in-all you could do much worse for comfort food in the PDX (and there's a lot to choose from). Their burgers are above decent (Remember--this is in a town where Burgerville is ranked as one of the top joints on Portland. Burgerville? Really, people?), and the beer is right (Lompoc Brewery on tap!). Sometimes, the staff gets a bit surly, but if I've had enough brews, that doesn't seem to bug me as much. Also bummed that they took the fish po-boy off the menu (trust me, file a complaint for me!). Also, the Sunday Bloody Sunday is a great deal (you get a fantastic, spicy bloody mary with a sidecar of beer). Great for hangovers!
*sigh* I really want to continue liking Oaks Bottom, really I do. Last summer it was well frequented by myself and company. Their food is great, their beers spectacular, ambiance is perfect, happy hour is decent. It's a very Portlandy place to hang out.
However. Their service kind of sucks. I'm not asking a lot from servers, having been one for years, but just be cool. The servers here - and this is seriously without fail - seem bored and annoyed by the patrons. The past four times in a row I've been in there (!!) there have been errors on the bill - sometimes addition errors, sometimes mystery charges. The first time this happened, we pointed it out, no worries. It took forever for the server to read and correct the handwritten bill (not even a computer system to blame the delay on), and then she still ran my card for the higher, inaccurate amount! Each time this happens, there are no apologies, and really no explanations either. The service is enough to make me respond with a "Meh" when Oaks Bottom is suggested . It's a true shame.
But just to keep it positive, when the weather's nice, grab a beer and some finger food and sit outside, it's really worth it.
I've always liked this place. I thought it was a nice addition to the neighborhood. Yesterday, however, I had a pretty crappy experience that has driven me to complain on the internet. I feel a little passive aggressive but whatevs.
So they're fries suck. They've always sucked. I've commented before on the suckiness of their fries (maybe a little more diplomatically) and they've told me they're hand cut. So?! Fine, I don't order them. Yesterday I went out with my family and when the waitress came my aunt ordered the fries. I warned her they weren't so good. I didn't really want to talk about it in front of the waitress but she was there. Pressed for the reason why I said they were soggy and the waitress, as per usual, said they were hand cut and that they weren't frozen as if I wasn't a fry aficionado. Look people, first off I used to work at a greasy spoon and cut I the fries myself. Second, my husband really likes his fry daddy. We are not thin people. Lastly, I used to live in New York, work half a block from Pommes Frite and had a pretty hard core drinking habit. I know my fried food.
So, for the most part I'm a fan but that whole thing...not cool. The waitress got so huffy! Someone else brought out our food and when waitress #1 brought our check she didn't say jack and avoided eye contact. It's not like I was talking smack about her mom, just soggy gross fries!
Pretty nice!
I had a really nice time at OBPH. I was starving upon our arrival and about ready to eat my hand; it was almost 8 pm and I about freaked out when I saw the line to get a table, but I sucked it up, got a beer, and sat outside for the twenty minute wait. Once we were seated our waitress quickly brought us a couple more brews while we looked at the menu. Most of the menu items were burgers and salads; pretty typical of the Lompoc restaurants. The tatchos cracked me up! Tots served as nachos! I didn't order them, though I was tempted. I had a jalapeo burger which was smothered with peppers and really spicy! I also asked for an extra pickle- - - and they brought me 3 extras! The soup of the day was good, but funny. It was a brat-beer-cheese soup, which tasted more like what should be on the tatchos than in a soup bowl, it was good, but not too soup-like.
Overall this it was a great time here, good food, good service, killer beer, AND they have trivial pursuit.
Oaks Bottom totally bottomed out for me... I have been there several times but the last couple have been sketchy. The service is terrible and menu is way too limited for vegetarians. I am so sad but I can't spend my hard earned money there anymore.
I dig the beer selection and the totchos. Heck this place even gets mentioned on Wikipedia article for tater-tots for their totchos, they're worth the trip down to Sellwood.
I've hit Bottom -- but that's a good thing in this case, even if my humor isn't.
You'll want to hit Bottom too.
Be prepared though; might I suggest some things to do while you wait in line for a great meal at Oaks Bottom:
- practice saying the name a few times, think about what it means, and remind yourself to read its history printed on the menus
- come up with a better pun on the name to open your own review of this public house
- snag the latest Mercury and thumb through it
- breathe in deeply through your nose and take in the delicious aromas
- check the chalkboard for the night's special offerings -- are they serving their brisket?
- write your name on the wait list
- marvel at the beers this place supports
- consider buying a S.N.O.B. t-shirt
- look at all the people enjoying a great meal, not in a hurry to leave, not being hurried to leave...
- order a beer, because no one's in a hurry to leave (for good reason, as you'll soon find out)...
Totchos: yes. That's the correct answer to a question that doesn't need to be asked.
If I wasn't so desperately wanting of a perfect fish fry, I would've had a tough time deciding between any one thing on the menu: everything sounded good from the menu, looked good and smelled good coming out from the kitchen. And while not quite the Aristotelian model I had hoped for, the fish platter was indeed satisfying. (Two lemon wedges! Two sides of tartar! Not to mention good texture and flavor on the four pieces of fish...) Satisfying enough that if I'm feeling indecisive on subsequent visits, I won't hesitate to order the fish fry again. (But I keep telling myself that no matter what, given the chance, I have to next try the brisket they sometimes feature. Have to. No questions asked.)
(added after a return visit)
Tried the brisket. Uh huh, yep: absolutely worth it. Messy as you want to make it; tasty as all get up. Nothing too fancy, just darn good.
Tatchos! All they need is a bean bed and they would be perfect. Plus, the sockeye stout was delicious.
"Social Hour" Tues.-Sat.…
Neighborhood: Old Town
Coffee Happy Hour Mon - Sat
Neighborhood: Southwest Portland
Neighborhood: Southeast Portland
Category: Pizza
Neighborhood: Southwest Portland
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Southeast Portland
Category: Burgers
Neighborhood: Southeast Portland
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: Southeast Portland
Category: Italian
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