Paddy's Bar & Grill
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:00 a.m.-2:30 a.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Dinner, Late Night
- Best Nights: Wed, Thu, Sun
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: No
19 Reviews for Paddy's Bar & Grill
Love the wall of liquor, love the service. The last time I went there, an older dude was hitting on my friend and I and kept buying us drinks. It was awesome.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Dis. Appoint. Ted.
I've heard oodles about this place, but it was more like "poodles run the place" Our waitress was distracted and inattentive (and not very friendly, although I began to give her a bit of slack since she was about 5 months pregnant... but undid that after seeing she was taking orders only and not running any food). I had to flag down the waitress and remind her of our drink order, then again when she "forgot" the order of the person who showed up 5 minutes late.
As for food... slap a leprechaun in Burgerville and it's as Irish as this place. The barbecue pork, while flavorful, was not outstanding. The clam chowder was runny and bland (which could be a personal issue, hey... I'm just saying: it's called "chowder" cause you "chow" on it. If it were supposed to be runny, it'd be called slurpder. Or something like it). The menu was not overly Irish, and having more than 2 kinds of whiskey does not an Irish bar make.
Oh, well.
SHILLELAGH (pro): decent bbq finally, good price
BLARNEY STONE (con): everything else.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (3)
Cool (2)
Upon entering the Experience Music Project in Seattle, one is bound to notice the three-storey column of guitars. And while the most likely reaction to this event -guitar fan or not- is, "Wow, that's a hell of a lot of guitars", it's mixed with an aftertaste of, "....and?".
Whenever I glance up at the "illustrious wall of booze" upon entering Paddy's, I get a similar feeling.
True, I suppose that at least in Paddy's I can sample from the wall. Whereas I can't quite point at some some obscure left handed 1960 gold-top Gibson Les Paul and say, "Hey! I'd like to strum an Asus4 on that thing just for shits and giggles!" then send some minimum wage makin' High School kid up on a ladder after it.
...But the fact is, most of the drinks I order are going to be 'well' based anyway. And I don't know about you but after the initial drink, whiskey begins to taste a hell of a lot like any other whiskey to me. Same with vodka and rum and...you get the point.
I've got no need for the wall, no need for the ladder, no need for a top-shelf booze night round after round and no need for the showiness of a bunch of bottles resting on glass shelves that this otherwise mediocre bar attempts to sell itself on.
An old bar,
with not-so-comfortable booth seating,
nothin' special drinks,
nothin' special food and
nothin' special prices
means that
'nothin' special'
easily sums up "The Paddy's Experience". TPE? ;)
People thought this was:
Useful (5)
Funny (6)
Cool (6)
Huh. So my one experience at Paddy's went as follows.
I ask the waitress what kind of micros they have on tap. She tells me..."there are too many to list"...but provides no list. Hey, no sweat. I get it. I don't need a list, I can name a few common beers and surely they'll have one... I mean she just told me their beer list was INSANE.
They didn't have one beer I asked for...nothing super rare either...maybe not Bud Light, but definitely not super rare. Finally I give up and agree to a Czechvar...hey, I had been drinking since 5...wasn't trying to get any drunker in a group than I already was. I'll take the Czech Budweiser...no sweat.
The waitress had a none-hither gaze in her eyes. We were a pretty chill group, but she seemed anxious to see us leave...HUH? Not rude mind you, but she wasn't trying to get us to stay and it was pretty earlier in the evening.
I heard they had some decent calamari so I ordered some. The calamari itself was competent...not stellar but decent. The sauces were lackluster...an asian sweet and sour thing and some really bleccch marinara. Good thing the breading and preperation was decent. The sauces suck.
I'm not going to tell you to run out and go to Paddy's. It's decent. Nothing to hate, not much to love either. It is what it is.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (2)
Cool (3)
Paddy's is one of those places you only go to because everyone else wants to go. Nothing about it stands out, even if they do have a huge wall of booze. Sure it's pretty and massive, but there has to be more to it than that to make me want to go out of my way to drink it.
The important stuff: Hours of Happiness are Mon-Fri 3pm to 6pm, Mon-Sat 10pm to 2:30am, and Sunday all day. Beer and wells are $3.75 and a small list of food is $4.50.
The happy hour atmosphere is very laid back, and the interior matches the sedated atmosphere. I saw a lot of dark woods and cozy booths. There is a room in the back with a big table to house a group and a handful of video poker machines.
The food is typical pub fare, although in that tasty and 'I'm not going to die of clogged arteries' kind of way. I sampled a little bit of everything on the table: roasted corn quesadillas, garlic fries, bruschetta, garlic fries, jalapeo poppers, garlic fries, chicken strips, garlic fries, and garlic fries. A huge menu holds the liquor/wine list as well as their house cocktails. They aren't all catered to the sweet taste buds either, which is nice. All the pours seemed great and were done with a heavy hand.
The service was pretty attentive for our large group. She could handle us just randomly ordering things as she came through. I always like a server who can rattle off the beers on tap from memory with no breath in between. She also accidentally popped in an extra order of garlic fries. We happily devoured the mishap.
I can see why Paddy's gets a solidly high rating. It's a pretty flawless place to get your happy hour on.
People thought this was:
Useful (5)
Funny (3)
Cool (4)
Went here on a Saturday after hitting up Kells. Bartender was great and their selection was impressive. What I wasn't impressed with was my friend and I getting kicked in the ankles by the waitress trying to get by us -not cool. Not a bad place at all but after that experience I probably won't be going back.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (2)
Cool (1)
I had heard really great things about Paddy's and being a lover of the Irish like nobody else, I checked it out last Friday for happy hour. It was a great spot, with plenty of people, but not overly crowded. The happy hour menu was great for meat-lovers, but only a few options for us vegetarians - food items were $4.50.
Bonus: Looking at the wall-o-booze will either make you giddy or slightly intemidated - either way it is worth a visit.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Great place to have dinner or lunch. Full bar. Fun when it's hot outside during the summer. That simple.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Holy Moly - this place is right next door to school and I've never been before? How in the h-e-double-hockey-sticks have I been so blind?
A great local pub - absolutely stunning / daunting bar ... had a pint of something... an amber ale on tap that I didn't recognize, but agreed to when the waiter mentioned it.
We went at 5.00 - and it was just starting to get busy, but not packed- granted it was Monday night though. Had a nice conversation in a dimly lit booth - quite a comfortable place where time seems to stand still.
I'll be back- that's for sure.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Paddy's has been on our rotation for 15 years. We have seen the bartenders change over the years but the service is always solid. Sure the liquor selection is second to none, but how many places in Portland can you find Smithwicks on draught? When you are there see Josh the bartender. A few years ago he "drank the wall" and has the liver to prove it. He can recommend any type of liquor (since he has tried them all) and can make the fou-fou drinks as well. The nachos are great, the Garlic Fries were even better although they are no longer on the menu. A must visit for out of town drinkers!
Revised Spring '08
Sadly Josh is gone and he will be missed.
Instead the crew from the Driftwood is here including Terry heading up the joint....It's like home all over again!
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (2)
Cool (2)
My lil' sis http://www.yelp.com/us... has already written a review for our Paddy's lunch, but I thought I'd go ahead and offer my two cents as well :)
This was a great stop for lunch following our morning of site-seeing. We started out on foot at the end of NW 23rd street, made our way over and up to the International Rose Test Garden, and then walked through downtown and ended up at the Willamette River. Having worked up an appetite on our walk, we were pleased to find Paddy's just a block away from the riverfront and right next to the Trimet stop we would need to take to get back to Greg's house.
As Dominique mentioned, the highlight of our meal was the fish-n-chips. I've been a long time fan of fish-n-chips especially since my days of living in London and spending a fair amount of those days at the pub :) They were good sized pieces of fresh white flaky fish with a light, crispy batter. John's chicken wings were nice and spicy and messy!
However, everything else was mediocre to poor. The tempura battered corn dogs immediately caught my eye so we got an order to share. They looked cute and the concept sounded interesting, but what's a corn dog without the cornmeal batter? Duh! I should have known better. The baked mac and cheese was bad. It was penne pasta with a very, very mild cheese sauce. There really wasn't enough flavor in the sauce to pull off this dish. Also, penne just didn't seem to cut it versus the typical elbow macaroni pasta.
I'd definitely recommend this conveniently located pub for a drink or some fish-n-chips but beware of straying from the pub food favorites.
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (1)
Cool (4)
What do you say to a huge, mirrored wall packed with 457 colorful bottles of spirits from around the world?? Bring it on! Their website says it best, "Hundreds of brands from around the world arrayed against a stunning, seven-tiered back bar, including over one hundred single malt scotches, and dozens of fine cognacs and brandies. The eighth wonder of Oregon!!"
Paddy's was a nice little walk from the well-known Irish pub that rhymes with "gels", because it was super packed so our group of 5 headed over to Paddy's. Other people in the group had been to Paddy's before, but my friend and I hadn't been there before, and I don't know about her, but I'm about due to head back there again.
Our crew sat outside and enjoyed the night air while laughing, sipping and nibbling. The tasty bar-food options went down quickly along with a few mixed drinks, and some flavorful draft beer. The waitress was attentive and friendly. There's a certain nostalgia, feeling, or romance to being at a new place for the first time and I want to feel that magic again. I hope I can!
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (1)
Cool (4)
After spending the morning at the International Rose Garden it was nice to find this restaurant because I was craving some Fish and Chips after all of the walking we were doing. The Fish and Chips here were delicious! They were lightly battered and the fish inside was flaky and tender. I was really looking forward to the baked macaroni and cheese but was disappointed because it was somewhat bland. Either way, the Fish and Chips won me over. We sat outside on the street because it was such a beautiful day. Inside you will find a huge bar with hundreds of beautiful bottles on display. My sister was wondering how many people actually order from the top shelf just to see the bartender have to get it...haha =)
Overall, the service was mediocre. The reason for the 4 stars is because our server forgot about us when it came time to pay the bill. She brought us our check but did not come back to pick it up. We ended up having to bring the check inside and then waited for them to run the card and bring it back outside. The lunch time rush was just beginning so that might of had something to do with it.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Cool (3)
If you can't cure what ails you here, then maybe liquor won't help you solve the problem.
At last count there were 472 different types of liquor offered by this establishment. 472. Damn. I could get in a lot of trouble here.
It's an Irish pub with a faux twist but it's in a good way. You feel as if the three naughty leprechauns of drinking should be showing up (and they would be named Tom Collins, Tom Foolery and Shenanigans Guiness O' Hara or Shenenah for short. Maybe Jameson Bailey would be there too).
However the CFN (who ever they are) gave this place high marks on the list of best Irish pubs in the USA. But they seriously are making me question their judgement. Lefty O' Doul's is the 4th best Irish pub in America? WTF?!?!? Says who? Yeah, I taped a sign (made out of a napkin) to the window next to the list in protest.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (2)
Cool (2)
I love Paddy's with a huge passion. My sister and I live downtown, while my mother works downtown. This is the place we go during happy hour for munchies and conversation.
Best time to visit is between 4pm and 6pm Monday-Friday. That's the happy hour menu time!
Onto the food selection: normally when I'm hungry for a healthier choice I fill myself with a caesar salad and jalapeno poppers on the side. Each happy hour item is about $3.00, and the salad is about $7.00. I highly reccommend the potato skins and/or the nachos. They are truly delicious and they give you so much food you'll need a box to take it home. The salads are HUGE!
Service: I almost always have awesome service- the waitresses rock on bringing refills, and the food arrives quickly. Getting a table has never been a problem for me. I did have a couple of incidents where the waitress literally flipped out on me.
The weirdest experience @ Paddy's: I was with my best friend ordering some lunch and the server came up to ask for our drinks. She was visibly upset and tearing up. I stared, and then of course my human nature asked, "Are you all right?" She glared at me and practically shouted, "I have allergies, is that okay with YOU?" I just stared at my menu and ignored it. Later my mother joined us and was making light conversation about college, and she asked the server if she ever moved back in with her parents. Again the glare, and this time, "What? What are you talking about? I've been on my own since I was 16. Ugh. No. I don't know what you're talking about." and she just walked away mumbling curses. She totally flipped out, that was the weirdest service experience I've had at Paddy's.
Aside from that weird part- it's always yummy.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
I've been frequenting Paddy's ever since I moved to Portland. In a word: "Fantastic". I honestly think it does have the largest liquor selection of any place in Oregon! It's fun to stop in just to see "the wall". The specialty drink: the lemon drop. The specialty food: the garlic cheese fries. Both are a must and both are the best I've ever had! Typical crowd for an Irish Pub- laid back, average Joes. If you seek a bar to just hang out in or you really want a spot to become a "regular"- then Paddy's is the place.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Unreal bar. Food is very healthy. Vegies are fresh and crunchy. Even the burger's meat tastes real, and the burger bun seems like bread instead of the usual cake. The bottle display is a masterpiece. The bar has been restored beautifully, as per the rest of Portland.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Pretty good food and pretty good service. Prices not bad. Portions are big enough to fill you up. Seating can be a bit cramped if you cant get a booth.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Go for the liquor, not for dinner...
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
People Who Viewed This Also Viewed...
Related Lists
-
Primo spots in Portland
This is my third visit to Portland and it will… -
The Cabinet of Calamari
Discovery Channel fans know about Giant Killer…
Hot and New
- Teardrop Cocktail Lounge
17 reviews
Neighborhood: Pearl District
- Secret Society Lounge
3 reviews
Neighborhood: Northeast Portland
- Bartini
29 reviews
Neighborhood: Alphabet District
- Roux
46 reviews
Neighborhood: North Portland
- Belly Timber
12 reviews
Neighborhood: Southeast Portland
