BarFly's Review of Commodore
A few years ago, as wave after wave of post-collegiate bohemians trailing romanticized dissipation and familial means swamped Portland, it seemed fated that every dive swaggering distance from west Burnside would be colonized, gentrified and inevitably recast and refashioned - for all the Bukowski fascinations, impolite pissheads actually frighten, dank interiors actually depress, and, hey, the gf wanted Lambic on tap - but, somehow, even as the Matador and Marathon fell to hipsterdom and slumming suburbanites, the Commodore endures. The recent renovation helped, of course, as every element deemably vintage or intriguing was rendered sterile and featureless. It’s a dive bar, truly - great jukebox, disused pool room, workmanlike menu that ends early, friendly but hardly welcoming staff, aging regulars that keep to themselves. It’s a means by which folks that drink maintain their drunk with minimal distractions. Offices should be sterile. $2.75 well regularly. Open 7am-2:30am everyday.
Stiff drinks, check. Friendly bartender, check. Proximity to buses back across town, check. Glad I found another comfy downtown(ish) dive.
Dennis has passed away, and we miss him terribly. However, the commodore still has a fucking awesome jukebox, the drinks are almost TOO stiff, and there's pool. Good for when you really want to drink, not a good place to see and be seen.
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Dennis makes some mean drinks. The place is a total dive - but it works well. But please - buy some smoke eaters! I only go there in the summertime when you can open the door for air.
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