Good food (edamame!). Good booze. Good people. Comfy nappin' booths (long story).

For Portland eating after hours the Alleyway Cafe is outstanding. Nestled on NE Alberta, this place serves up amazingly good fare for pool table and bar kind of place.

The "Chef", Eric Wheeler, has been cooking up great food in Portland restaurants for over a decade and he really has his chops down at the Alleyway. Vegetarian, vegan, or gnashing carnivore, you will love the food. I never had fried zucchini like this. I mean, it's fine dining on bar food. Amazing. I had some jerked chicken that smoked my ears and tender and moist....mmmm.

The outdoor seating is spacious and covered, the staff is friendly and know what they are doing. NE Alberta St. was a street on the downhill. I grew up not 5 blocks away. Over the years Alberta really decayed, but the entire area is in a Renaissance, and the streets are full of people, great new shops, new eateries. It's a happening place, especially for those who want to be in the lead. And the Alleyway Cafe is a great addition to the area.

I'm eating at the Alleyway Cafe anytime I am in that part of town.

i wandered in here with a friend and between the bathroom and the friendly bar staff, sort of fell in love with the place. pinball? delicious original cocktails? well-chosen beer? every neighborhood should have a bar like this one.

(Note: This is a staff member writing this)

The Alleyway cafe is an awsome place to grab a beer, some good grub, or a quality drink. Best sweet potato fries I've ever had! Wisely chosen rotating micros (7 of em) 6 different wines (4 red, 2 white) Pinball x2. There is dog (and cat) friendly patio seating and music outdoors will be coming when the weather gets nicer. Oh and there is a kick ass happy hour from 3-6 everyday! Real quote I heard in the Alleyway the other day: "Beer saved my life!"

The Alleyway is brought to you by the owner of the Cup and Saucer cafes. Formerly known as the Local Beet, this place is tucked out of sight a bit on NE Alberta. They have a huge covered outdoor seating area that is dog friendly. The inside consists of a bar that seats about 10, a couple of couches by the window, a row of tables down the middle, and soon to be boothes along the wall. They have 2 pinball machines and a sit down Mrs. Pac Man near the 2 co-ed restrooms. The Alleyway features a full bar with their own beet infused vodka and one of the best bloody Mary's around. Their beer selection is well thought out. I think they have about seven taps, but they all feature excellent beer. The Alleyway features a full menu including mostly veggie/vegan offerings. There are some salmon dishes and a pork chop, as well as a couple of beef and chicken options. Their vegetarian fare is outstanding. They even offer some dishes that are actually healthy. (not cooked in or covered with butter or oil). The salmon, lentil burgers, and nachos are all standouts here. The staff is generally pleasant, even though a couple of them seem rather new to the gig. As one of their early regulars, they have gone out of their way to make me feel wanted and comfortable. (a couple of rounds on the house). This place has struggled a bit to get crowds on weekend nights, and so there is often only one server. When it does get crowded, service can suffer a bit because of that. I am sure that this will be remedied soon, if they continue to get crowds. The only knock on this place is the temperature inside during the winter. The single gas heater does not keep the place warm, and it is downright cold and uncomfortable if the outside temp is low. I have lived on Alberta street for 9 years. I have seen all the bars/restaraunts come and go there. Not since Chez What has a place with this kind of vibe been around. Great people, great food, full bar, top notch beer, and pinball to boot. I recommend this place to all my friends.