Bush Garden
900 SW Morrison St.Portland, OR 97205
503/ 226.7181
Located in: Downtown Portland - Visit Website
BarFly's Review of Bush Garden
Not connected with the Virginia theme park (nor, should be said, a strip club), the Bush Garden once hosted a vibrant swath of nightlife within a spacious lounge adjoining the Japanese restaurant. Well-attended Britpop nights, occasional bands, chaotic karaoke where PSU students, hipsters, rockers and a baffling array filled the dancefloor even as couples huddled together midst the raised alcove’s back booths. Bizarrely, inscrutably, at the height of popularity, management stopped all events at the bar and forced a ten pm curfew - even weekend nights, you’ll be lucky to spot Asian businessmen having a smoke or the occasional lost tourist from nearby light rail stop cadging a drink. Traditionally, one would blame neighbors, but the larger-than-you’d-think restaurant’s subsumed within a parking garage. Did the renowned sushi chef worry the bar’s reputation was outstripping his own? Did they fear the inevitable suburban hordes? Did they just want to quit while ahead? Very Portland, either way. A tasty, obscure buck bar menu’s still offered as long as, looking ‘round the deathless expanse, one doesn’t choke on regrets. Open 4pm-12am Sun-Thurs, 4pm-2:30am Fri-Sat. Food till 11pm or later. $2.50-4.50 menu 5-7pm.
Happy Hours
This place used to be the default gathering spot for me and all my buddies. We came here for the food, drinks, kareoke, atomosphere, and most importantly the staff. It was always a good time at BG. Until, that is, until new management took over. Now they got rid of the kareoke, fired the bar staff, and close at 10:00pm. 10:00pm! The place now sux. What a blunder on the part of the incompetent management. If you are looking for a cool place to hang, check out Space Room on Hawthorne and forget about BG.
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What's with the staff? Does anybody else have problems with the service there? When will they finally hire a hostess with the mostest?
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this place used to be rad. used to is the key work. the nix'ed the karaoke for some bullshit reason. and the awesome barstaff all left. i had my office party there, and it was SOOO lame. i think they close at 10:30 or some thing crazy early. lame lame lame!!!
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I absolutely love this place. The lounge is great for meeting with one person, or a group of people. The food specials are great, but I only wish they had better drink specials to go along with the food happy hour.
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i had to ask the k.j.3 times to turn up the sound. no matter how bad the singer is, you shouldn't be able to have a conversation at normal decibel. he was cool though, and he had a sweet suit on. i won 2nd loudest singer if that's anything. seriously, not sure if i'll go back. who am i kidding? it's the closest singing bar to me. but i won't be loving it. i could see it being rad if you had a ton of your friends w/you? maybe it was just an off night. drinks were cheap and stiff. 3.50 for a vodka/tonic. yum.
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