Green Dragon Bistro and Brewpub
928 SE 9th Ave
Portland, OR 97214
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Music: Live
- Best Nights: Wed, Thu, Fri
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: No
- Coat Check: No
23 Reviews for Green Dragon Bistro and Brewpub
This was a great surprise! we went to the New Deal open house and happened upon the Green Dragon.
When we showed up there weren't a lot of people in the place so we had a chance to talk to the bar tender. All the employees were very excited about being a part of the Green Dragon. We had some food and we had some absinth and some gin and enjoyed both. it is so great to see that Portland has a thriving distillery industry and they are thriving.
the food was good but not great the drinks were amazing and had a flavor all their own. I would like to go back when they have live music and meet up with a big group. this could be one of my new homes away from home. all and all the experience was great and i would recommend it to anyone.
We stumbled upon this place accidentally after having had numerous beers and nothing to eat at a couple nearby brewpubs (which as it happens we were not impressed with) and were attracted immediately by the outdoor seating and open bar area. Guys behind the bar were super friendly and very knowledgable and gave us lots of tasters before deciding on a pitcher of Paulaner which were inclined towards at the start. They definitely have some incredibly interesting and lush-tasting beers! Waitstaff was also nice and hooked us up with an outside table soon after we arrived. The menu is appealing - a notch up from standard pub grub - but nothing exceptional once delivered. My beer brat was tasty but served on a way-too-large roll which I had to remove half of to even fully taste the meat, saurkraut and mustard - which are not subtle flavors to begin with. Friends both got salads which were good but fairly small, so the side order of delicious Belgian style fries hit the spot. Best thing about our visit? Running into an old college friend from Santa Cruz who I hadn't seen in many years, and who joined us for dinner. Live music that night was mediocre but could add nice dimension to an evening or afternoon of sipping. Thumbs up for the Green Dragon in my book.
Look, I love beer. IPAs, porters, stouts, wheats...I don't care, as long as it's cold and doesn't have food particles floating in it, I'll drink it. But there is no beer worth $18 a pitcher. And no, I don't remember the name because I was recovering from sticker shock. I told the bartender I was overwhelmed by the selection (20+ beers that you may or may not have ever heard of) and to give me a nice, crisp, summer selection. Perhaps he thought I was a high-class gal and needed a high-priced beer. He was wrong.
The upside? The place is big and warehouse-y. Smokiness is not a problem. It was definitely a happenin' place, as people were spilling out into the streets. Didn't eat any food, as I couldn't afford it. There was a nice lack of pretension, and as soon as my trust fund comes in, I'll go again.
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A day later, it still confounds me how it could have possibly taken me this long to discover the Green Dragon. As a certified (or certifiable?) beer enthusiast, the Green Dragon is my new place to experience beer nirvana. The most important aspect of any great pub is beer selection, and the brews available at GD are amazing...you won't find your standard selections here, but instead will be treated to a huge variety (right around 20) of very original and incredibly tasty brews.
Another great aspect was the crowd...not Portland Pretensions, not backward hat wearing frat boy infused...just good Portland folks who are there to share a good beer with good friends.
Bartenders were very friendly and informative; I had an amazing Imperial Pale Ale that resembled a very hoppy Barley wine on recommendation from the bartender. One of the best beers I have had in quite some time.
Prost!
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The Green Dragon has quickly become one of Beervana's aka Portland's finest beer bars. Offering 18 rotating beers on tap and a selection of specialty beers in their beer vault; you can be sure that something special is always on tap. With the recent ownership/management change Green Dragon has added a shuffle board table, some new decor and outdoor seating is coming soon. They also offer spirits here from Integrity Spirits which are made in the same building as the Green Dragon. The best thing and most notable about the Green Dragon is every Tuesday they have "Meet The Brewers Night" where a different brewer comes and talks about the beers they brewed. Often the brewer brings special beers that are hard to find or only available on tap at their brewpubs. If you are a true beer fan you must check out this place.
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Any pub that has 20+ rotating rare and exclusive beers is a 5 star on my list! After calling or visiting hundreds of pubs over the last three years I can say that none of them seem to have the same vision as Green Dragon.
You will not find PBR, bud or even Guiness here! None of the "regulars" run through these taps.
Have I got my point across yet?
The service was great and the atmosphere was good for talking and enjoying your suds. I had a Cascade Wit (very yummy and wheaty) and a German White (Along the same lines but more floral hints.)
I highly recommend this place for beer connoisseur.
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I was immediately skeptical for two reasons:
1. I'm not a beer drinker. I admit it. I live in Portland, and I'm not a beer connoisseur. Oh, I'll drink the stuff...but only when it would be impolite not to.
2. Dragons - and dare I say any "fantasy" reference, makes me run the other direction. Let's just say that Lord of the Rings was the most expensive nap I've ever taken. (And one of the longest...)
And then I saw it. Lovejoy Vodka. My little liquor-loving-heart began to pitter pat. And wait...is that...could it be...12 bridges gin? Two life changing gin and tonics later, I was soaking in the atmosphere of this beer-lovers paradise...finally understanding what all the "buzz" was about. You don't come for the atmosphere or the menu, you come for the rare and rotating selection. Cause damn!
What at first I mistakenly took as a drafty warehouse and uninviting service was actually just a relaxed sense of confidence that their beer (umm..and spirits) could speak for itself. And lordy did they ever! Once I showed the bar tenders that I was actually interested in learning about their vast and rare selections rather than simply soaking in my own skepticism regarding a jaded disdain for warcraft and magic cards, I was instantly rewarded with friendly and knowledgeable service...and a very stiff pour!
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I live TWO blocks from Green Dragon, so I am quite happy that it is around. They have lots of unique beers, including some that are pretty rare in Portland. I'm no beer snob, but I do like the ability to try out some good brew, and they'll let you sample their choices before you plunk down $5.
I say order some frites and some brews and have yourself a time!
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Good God. We live in Beertown, USA, and this place still managed to impress me.
A buddy and I hit the Green Dragon after work for some beer, shop talk, and grub. I knew we were in good shape when I told the bartender to bring us two of their best IPA's, and she didn't...even...flinch. The beer was great, and the happy hour grub was tasty.
Minus one star for being out of the two appetizers we really wanted. I get a little cranky when I can't have my Swedish Meatballs. Sigh.
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My experience here was two star at best. After trying to visit one time and not being able to find a seat due to the crowd, the BF and I returned around 3 pm on a Saturday to have a pint and a snack. Yes, the beer list on the chalkboard is amazing, but seriously? Twenty beers I am not familiar with, and would like to learn more about, but no additional menu telling me what sort of beer it is or what to expect? Maybe others have had a helpful server ready to answer questions, but the service we had was pretty terrible. It seemed more like we were intruding on a staff meeting than being welcomed into a neighborhood bar atmosphere. I love when employees are found on both sides of the bar, but when you ignore or slight your customers to chat with your coworkers having a beer before their shift, you end up with a two star experience. The lunch menu was fairly limited, but the Santa Fe eggrolls we got were pretty delicious. I was a little turned off, though, after watching another customer's panini sit at the counter for about ten minutes before the bartender finally picked it up and delivered it. After the customer on the stool next to me pointed out that it was sitting there for a while, no less. Gross. Get a decent beer menu, even just a computer printoff with a few descriptions, and maybe some table service instead of disaffected bartenders, and this place could be great. It just has a little too much of that "Portland guy opens a bar with his buddies in an empty warehouse" vibe to be anything great. The two stars I gave were because the beer selection was huge and the Bison Chocolate Stout I blindly chose tasted really good.
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I almost don't want to review this place. I don't want it to have more attention, become too crowded, and then suck.
The beers. My god the beers. They had a kona on tap - tasted exactly like black coffee - just amazing.
I've had the meed on tap. Who the hell serves MEED on tap in Portland?
You will find no better place in Portland for beer. So many great micros. A little pricey, but they'll get you buzzed quick.
Additionally, they do live sets and have a kickass foosball table. Although the ball falls out on one side. Ambiance. :-)
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I've died and gone to beer heaven.
According to Wikipedia, heaven is typically described as the holiest possible place, accessible by people according to various standards of divinity, goodness, piety, etc. I don't know about you, but I'm bowing down to these beer gods.
My first foray into nirvana was at the kick-off party for the Spring Beer and Wine festival, so ultimately the things I consumed were free. However, what my senses experienced left me wanting more, lots more. I will be back, and I will try more that this place has to offer.
The space is amazing. An open warehouse (painted green no less!) converted into an amazing space for lounging, chatting, grubbing, boozing, and listening to live music. The "bistro" side occupies one section, where if you'd like a more intimate meal, it's available. The bar side gets a little louder, but what do you expect for an open warehouse? Gas heaters line the ceilings to heat the place up, but depending on where you're situated, you may need a sweater/jacket if you're perma-cold like me.
The beers available? Amazing. They rotate often so there is always something new. Don't expect to find the usual suspects, Green Dragon focuses on stuff that you probably won't find anywhere else. I love trying new things, so this place makes me beyond giddy. The prices are reasonable too. Makes me and my wallet happy.
The food? Equally amazing. It's definitely not typical pub food. I love the fresh approach to avoid super greasy food. It is all fresh and LOADED with flavor. My mouth was on sensory overload. Coincidentally, the food goes great with the beer. Shocker!
The menu is rounded out with wine and unique distilled liquors. I had friends who said it knocked their socks off, but in beer heaven I really can't deviate.
Behind the bar, expect people who know their stuff. It's refreshing to see people passionate about what they're bringing to the table.
While I don't know much about beer, besides that it goes into a glass that I then pour in my mouth and it tastes delicious, I know what I like. And I like me some Green Dragon. There are amazing experiences to be had here.
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Walked here from the NW neighborhood one overcast spring Saturday afternoon. Upon entering, it felt cold and a wee bit uninviting. However as we started drinking - try the Ft. George IPA, if they have it - the place seemed to get livelier and more vibrant. Clam chowder and frites (fries served with catsup and spiced mayo) are filling and scrumptious, with generous portions of both for $6 and $5 respectively. Our server was cool, collected, and attentive.
Moms - this place has a changing table in the ladies room, which I'm guessing means it's family friendly.
It's the perfect spot for a beer or two. Especially good for trying various local (Northwest) brews. Ft. George IPA is from Astoria; they also have an Amber from the Clinton neighborhood that is a touch sweet and well-balanced. Also, Snowqualmie IPA (Washington) is a tasty and highly drinkable IPA.
Pick up a beer mag (my fave: Beer northwest) from the shelf just inside the front door, grab a seat either in the dining room or pub room, and enjoy some beer-quaffing and intellectual reading. On the path to enlightenment, beer is meditation.
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This is a place for beer lovers, no doubt about it. I walked in just before happy hour ended on a Thursday and every stool at the long bar was occupied by a guy (strangely, not one woman) wearing a tee shirt promoting their favorite craft ale.
This bar is in a barely-developed warehouse space, with concrete floors, a roll-up door, a couple pinball machines and an upright piano. It's your ultimate beer drinking garage and it makes the nearby Lucky Lab look like a paragon of sophistication.
On the other side things are just a little more civilized, with candles on the tables and some wood trim here and there. There's even a wine list on the wall. But come on. It's about beer. Even what meager graffiti there is in the men's room is about breweries. ("Big Joe Brewing RAWKS!")
Of the 20 available taps, I chose a Ninkasi Total Domination. It's an ironic name, considering that you can hardly find it anywhere these days. Most of my favorite pubs have banned Ninkasi due to some shenanigans they pulled on their distributor. But that's another story.
G.D. has some tempting, though basic, goodies for reasonable prices on the happy hour menu, until 6. Oh yeah and free wi-fi by which I'm submitting this review. Big up Personal Telco Project!
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MMMMM...tasty beer...
Yummmm....delicious frites...
Fun...pinball machine...
I tried their lunch and happy hour menu...the atmosphere is very laid back and when I was there they had crepes on their special. I didn't try it, but it's good to know just in case anyone has a crepes craving in the middle of the day and you are stuck in the lovely industrial area :)
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If the OBC has declared a BrewPub as worthy, dammit, it is. It's about the beer. Competent staffers keep the Guest taps loaded. Say Horray I'm here - then look for the Tap list on the wall in the big back bar - always a hefty list of new brews to try. When they start Brewing their own at this new site, just watch the beer afficianados roll in.
Music sometimes happens on weekends. Yay for Live Blues!
The Oregon Brew Crew is meeting here again Feburary 13th. (Get a Member App at obc.org - and bring it to join in MARCH - Feb is a Members-only mtg. Just $25 bucks/year) We're at Steinbarts 7pm most 2nd Thursdays, but changed it for Feb so our Sweethearts don't get ticked when they find out that we might actually choose Beer over romance.
The OBC is a non-profit Home Brew and tasting group that runs the beer competitions, regular classes and workshops that have helped launch the US micro-brew industry. The Club is loaded with Brewers, Beer Writers, and Beer Judges. Nice folks, and discriminating. We like Jim Parker a lot, and generally linger and have a good time at Green Dragon beer releases. Brew-o-philes often stop in to try what's new on Tap.
It's really about the beer... but you can eat and party here. OBC Caren & I closed out our birthday here on December 11. (Gee, now you know when to buy our beer. Put that on a calender for next year, quick!)
If you don't drive, you can taste more beer. The #15 Bus stops at the corner, and 70, 14, 4, 6 and 10 are close. 9th street was recently re-paved, and is great for bikes, the quiet side streets are safe for walking, as the car-people stay on Belmont.
No cheap beer, just great beer, here. Also excellent distilled spirits. Now you can impress your bourbon-snob friends. For an excellent late night drink experience, just get here. Then put the bartender in charge. They know what to do.
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Let us get this straight, right off the bat; I am stingy with my stars. I have a lot of beautiful businesses out there vying for my hard earned Sacagaweas and I will not throw stars around willy-nilly every time someone tempts me with local beers and good food.
Wait, wait! I'm sorry baby, come back, let me explain.
Green Dragon Ale House has a lot to like:
A vast selection of beers, many made locally. If there is one thing that brings joy to my heart, it is trying beers that I have never tried before. Here I had a hoppy winter beer and another with mint and cranberry (strange but oddly satisfying).
Good food. I did not have any myself, but my entourage enjoyed meatloaf sandwiches, mussels, fig and pesto sandwiches, french fries; happy mouths and stomachs all the way around.
Good mixture of music. I didn't see a jukebox, but anywhere that plays Jack White, bagpipes, and James Brown is ok by me.
On the restaurant side you can draw on the tables with provided chalk. Write love notes back and forth, keep a record of beers tasted, diagram your next touchdown pass...I love spontaneous creativity!
Now here is where the criticism comes. Are you prepared? You know I only tell you these things because I love you and I want to help you get better:
As other reviewers have mentioned, it is cold inside the Green Dragon Ale House. If you come anywhere from late fall to early spring, dress warm. Everyone in my party had coats on and we were still chilly.
There's not really much in the way of ambiance. Particularly if you are on the bar side, it feels like you are sitting inside of a big brewery, which you are. The ceiling is high and beside your table you will share room with stacks of beer kegs. While not necessarily a bad thing for those casual stops, I would not take a date here.
If this were the only place around with good food and a great beer selection, I could be more lenient, but Green Dragon Ale, you are just one contestant in a large beauty pageant.
Take some alone time; find out who you really are; invest some energy in making Green Dragon the best Green Dragon you can be; when you warm up a little and start serving your own beer I'll come back and check on you.
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A beer-lover's ale house with 20 rotating taps of beers you may have never tried or even heard of before. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and I like this place more and more with each visit.
The food was a bit inconsistent at first, but that's to be expected with a new place, and it seems they have ironed out the kinks. Whenever there's a Belgian on tap, be sure to pair it with mussels and frites. It won't be quite like Brussels, but you won't complain.
All in all, this is a great addition to the neighborhood. It may be a bit drafty in there at the moment, but that may turn out to be a bonus in the summer months.
Integrity Spirits also micro-distills at this location and will be opening a tasting room there soon. I've also heard that they'll be adding outdoor seating when the weather warms up, making this a great year-round place.
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We had this one on our list of hop spots in Portland. And, a local bartender at McMennamin's Annex highly recommended it as well. We drank an IPA from Eugene - it was very good. The food was excellent as well. I am still dreaming about the goat cheese and fig sandwich. Plus, a couple of musicians showed up to play while we were there.
The owner is mindful of unique craft brews in addition to brewing their own.
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Great 20 tap rotating brew selection. Always fresh and different beers. Often changes while your there. Heat in pub side is new with great overhead radiant style for cozy warmth. New lights on the small stage in back. Live music on Thursdays, Bob Schumaker plays steel body slide guitar and sings the blues.
Mussels are outstanding food item, very good frites, some other fine food and some average, depends on personal tastes.
Very personable bar staff, often greet us by name with a handshake as we are there enough to be recognized.
We were there on the unofficial first day when there were just 4 taps and frites for food. Jim was the tap man. So we have seen it at all stages and it keeps getting better. I think meet the brewer Tuesday is a good idea and enjoy the conversations with them. The heat really helped the comfort factor. So many beers and so little time. This place is truly unique in what it represents, and you always meet interesting folks every time. We are sorry we missed the mug club too. I am not sure about the pinball machines adding anything to the place but then that is just a small minus fact.
The addition of their own brews will be a big bonus when that occurs and hopefully a happy hour or day to sample them like Roots or Lucky Lab has.
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A slightly more trendy take on the SE beer bar, this is a bar owned and operated by people who very clearly love the art of beer-making. 18 taps of the most obscure and delicious beer available, you'll never run out of new beers to try.
The space lends itself to stand-around casual conversation, with small tables spread sparsely through the bar area. The restaurant half is a little cozier, with chalkboard table tops so you can leave your mark.
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A new Alehouse in PDX!!! Yay!
The green dragon has opened shop in the semi-industrial area of SE 9th and Belmont. Sharing warehouse space with a micro-distillery, and within blocks of Roots and Lucky Lab, Green Dragon is the newest addition to what may soon become known as "Libation Alley" or the "Beermuda Triangle" (if the workers at Green Dragon have their way).
The space is industrial, and as of yet, very spartan. The place is split into 2 sides, the bar and the bistro. The whole place is non-smoking. The bar side is cavernous, with a long bar down the south side (the side shared with the bistro), industrial looking open space in back, and a huge, high ceiling open area with a few raised stand-up tables running the length of the space. There is also a side bar in the front corner which by its looks will come in handy on busier nights. The decorations so far are, of course, beer banners, posters, etc. They are few and far between. As the tenders admit, they still have some work to do. It looks like there's a big, roll-up garage door on the front. That's going to be nice in about 9 months when the sun comes back.
The bistro side is much smaller and cozier, with a few sit-down tables and a small bar of its own. As far as I could tell, minors would be allowed in this side, but not in the bar side. This would be a nice place to sit and have dinner and great beer.
The taps stand at ~12 so far, and I believe thy intend to expand to ~20 before they are done. The pour list seems to be diverse and ever changing. As I understand it, the mantra of the publician is that he will not pour a beer that can be found elsewhere in PDX. That's a noble (yet hard to manage) cause. But, it makes for a unique and eclectic selection of beers on tap. Currently they have Old Rasputin on their nitro. Mmmmm. I enjoyed the Maredsous last night, and it was fantastic (I would suggest it if they still have it on tap). They serve beers by the glass and the half-glass (for the strong ales). The prices are extremely reasonable ($3.75 for most pours) for hard-to-find beers. As of yet, they don't have any beer menus, so you have to go look at the list on the wall to determine what beer you want. The tenders are pros, and are quite good at suggesting a beer (and are more than willing to give you a taster so you can make an informed decision).
They serve food, but alas, I did not have any last night. A confidential source tells me the fries are good, but beyond that, I will have to save my food reviews for after a second visit.
One of the cool aspects of this place is how they went about getting it open. It was a real community effort. They did some micro-investing programs such as "buy a bar stool" investment and "buy a mug" investment. We bought 2 mugs last night, and therefore have become somewhat elite patrons. Now when we come in we have our mug waiting for us (and we get a cheaper, bigger pour). It feels good to be invested in a grassroots beer effort.
The staff is friendly and knowledgeable (beer geeks!). The space is kinda comfortable, but will become much more so as they continue to settle in. The beer is, of course, great. The food is, as of yet, of undetermined quality. Therefore, I will stick with 4 stars. This is what an alehouse should be all about (the BEER!).
This is not on par with Concordia yet but they aren't even close to done with this place, so we'll see where they take it!
More to come as I drink more beer here!
[edited to add - I guess they plan on serving liquor too, and not just any liquor, but locally micro-distilled liquor. MMM!]
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Kind of torn about this place. The beer selection was awesome- Beers we have not seen anywhere else in the city (as mentioned in another review- seems to be their thing), with a staff knowledgeable about them. Looks like they have 'meet the brewer' nights with local brewmasters- also pretty cool. Decor is sparse, but so what? Have another beer.
The food though is where stars start dropping off. The steamed mussels appetizer was really good, but both entrees fell short. Beet gnocchi for one was an inventive idea, but way too creamy, and the special fritatta fell short of being 'special'. Even more than just mediocre food was that they were pretentious about it- I asked for ketchup with my fries - let me make that clear- all I asked for was Ketchup with my French (or American if you prefer) Fries, and was balked. A nose crinkle- was I sure I wanted that vile sauce? After I assured my server that I was indeed sure that I wanted Ketchup with my Fries, she did bring it, but was markedly colder to us after that. I mean, wtf? Anyway, the whole thing obviously put me a bit off of the place. For food at least. I'm not good at holding grudges- I'll probably be back for some of those great beers before too long.
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