Crow Bar
3954 N. Mississippi AvePortland, OR 97227
503/ 280.7099
Located in: North Portland - Visit Website
BarFly's Review of Crow Bar
Sibling of Southeast's popular Basement Pub. Long, wavy bar extends to a pool table in the rear of this lanky, railroad-style speakeasy. Frequented by neighborhood hipsters and local rockstars, looking good in the candlelit dark.Often quite crowded. Excellent juke! Pinball x1. Open 3pm-2am everyday. $1.50 PBR, $2.50 micros 3-8pm everyday.
Happy Hours
Reader Reviews of Crow Bar
the crow bar
Dear Katie,
"Can this neighborhood seriously get a decent bar?"
Well, I guess that all depends on what yr definition of "good" is. If it means a place filled with lots o' people who all look and generally seem to act the same, consider themselves "artists", love listening to the "great" jukebox that is strikingly similar to ones in bars of the ilk around town, and spend as much time looking around the joint as they do drinking, it's fucking great.
If it means a place that has a somewhat diverse crowd, and an atmosphere where anyone can feel comfortable, then no. But then, what do you expect on Mississippi? Homogenous hood, homogenous bar.
The crow does usually have some great beers on tap and does a good job of rotating them..
Maybe better to head up Interstate and hit George's or the Nite Hawk. They may not be "cool" but they have a different crowd for sure.
Dear Katie,
"Can this neighborhood seriously get a decent bar?"
Well, I guess that all depends on what yr definition of "good" is. If it means a place filled with lots o' people who all look and generally seem to act the same, consider themselves "artists", love listening to the "great" jukebox that is strikingly similar to ones in bars of the ilk around town, and spend as much time looking around the joint as they do drinking, it's fucking great.
If it means a place that has a somewhat diverse crowd, and an atmosphere where anyone can feel comfortable, then no. But then, what do you expect on Mississippi? Homogenous hood, homogenous bar.
The crow does usually have some great beers on tap and does a good job of rotating them..
Maybe better to head up Interstate and hit George's or the Nite Hawk. They may not be "cool" but they have a different crowd for sure.
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by mclav on April 17, 2008, 3:56 pm
Write Your Own Review »
Write Your Own Review »
Nice bartenders, way smoky
The smoke is bad. Really bad. But they have nice bartenders,
plus a really hot and really nice lesbian one right now. She served
me drinks while watching me hit on a lovely guy 10 years my junior who
eventually took me home. More respect to bartenders -- they deal with
drunken assholes all the time and keep your secrets. Crow bar is OK by me.
The smoke is bad. Really bad. But they have nice bartenders,
plus a really hot and really nice lesbian one right now. She served
me drinks while watching me hit on a lovely guy 10 years my junior who
eventually took me home. More respect to bartenders -- they deal with
drunken assholes all the time and keep your secrets. Crow bar is OK by me.
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by barhag on March 17, 2008, 4:58 pm
Write Your Own Review »
Write Your Own Review »
Perfect neighborhood bar
Hipsters on Mississippi? Of course, you idiots. Complaining about people that make up the hood is like complaining about the white trash element in a Gresham bar. Here's the deal. Everyone in the Crow knows each other. Read that again. So when you talk shit about someone you can expect that person to be informed of your heresay judgement in under 15 minutes. Hence the go-fuck-yourself attitude(s).
Hipsters on Mississippi? Of course, you idiots. Complaining about people that make up the hood is like complaining about the white trash element in a Gresham bar. Here's the deal. Everyone in the Crow knows each other. Read that again. So when you talk shit about someone you can expect that person to be informed of your heresay judgement in under 15 minutes. Hence the go-fuck-yourself attitude(s).
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by Mr. Nice on February 13, 2008, 8:38 pm
Write Your Own Review »
Write Your Own Review »
LAME!
Can this neighborhood seriously get a decent bar? The Lame Bar needs an overall face lift and not to mention staff! I live only a few blocks away and feel cheated that there are NO half way cool bars w/out having to deal with ridiculous hipster bullshit......The happy hour is ok and probably the only thing it has going for it.....I want to give it a chance but................
Can this neighborhood seriously get a decent bar? The Lame Bar needs an overall face lift and not to mention staff! I live only a few blocks away and feel cheated that there are NO half way cool bars w/out having to deal with ridiculous hipster bullshit......The happy hour is ok and probably the only thing it has going for it.....I want to give it a chance but................
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by Katie on January 20, 2008, 7:47 pm
Write Your Own Review »
Write Your Own Review »
Local staple
The crow is one of my regular haunts, mostly because of its close proximity to my digs on Mississippi. As a regular I can't really give an unbiased view of the help, but they are always friendly and happy to serve up my booze. With few bars on this street ready to serve up cheap beer on the lean weeks I usually head here first. As with the rest of this god damned street the hipster and boho element is usually out in force, so be aware. I've never had much trouble though, and with a little preening it is possible to pull some decent wool here. In short, its a nice dark little cave to escape the foul world for awhile, with a decent juke, pool table, and liquor if you need it. Personally though, I avoid the place on the weekend, its a fucking cacophony in there, not to mention crowded later at night.
The crow is one of my regular haunts, mostly because of its close proximity to my digs on Mississippi. As a regular I can't really give an unbiased view of the help, but they are always friendly and happy to serve up my booze. With few bars on this street ready to serve up cheap beer on the lean weeks I usually head here first. As with the rest of this god damned street the hipster and boho element is usually out in force, so be aware. I've never had much trouble though, and with a little preening it is possible to pull some decent wool here. In short, its a nice dark little cave to escape the foul world for awhile, with a decent juke, pool table, and liquor if you need it. Personally though, I avoid the place on the weekend, its a fucking cacophony in there, not to mention crowded later at night.
hit or miss
I live around the corner from here. I've been there a handfull of times. I've tried it mid week, weekend, happy hour.. whatever. Its pretty much the same thing. Lots of too-hip-for-you kids and generally very, crowded. I do enjoy a popular bar, but ya know.. this is the only place within walking distance (I mean, like less then 10 minutes from my house) that I can go to until 2am (unless you count the 12-22, and uh, I don't think I'd be let into that place even if I wanted to go). The prices are fair, and they do have a good selection of beers on tap. The best solution to make this place better is to stop serving Pabst. Too many of the neighborhood kids and hipsters go into a perfectly decent bar with a mega-fuck-ton of things to drink and all they get is the 2$ tallboy. Some of us actually enjoy drinking quality alcohol and would like to frequent bars that would do that. When I go in there, I get the Caladara Red and a shot of Jack. THAT my friends, is what you order at a bar. Pabst is something you buy at Plaid Pantry. Anyway, I do enjoy the bar, its not the best, but it is one of the only options after midnight in my neighborhood.
I live around the corner from here. I've been there a handfull of times. I've tried it mid week, weekend, happy hour.. whatever. Its pretty much the same thing. Lots of too-hip-for-you kids and generally very, crowded. I do enjoy a popular bar, but ya know.. this is the only place within walking distance (I mean, like less then 10 minutes from my house) that I can go to until 2am (unless you count the 12-22, and uh, I don't think I'd be let into that place even if I wanted to go). The prices are fair, and they do have a good selection of beers on tap. The best solution to make this place better is to stop serving Pabst. Too many of the neighborhood kids and hipsters go into a perfectly decent bar with a mega-fuck-ton of things to drink and all they get is the 2$ tallboy. Some of us actually enjoy drinking quality alcohol and would like to frequent bars that would do that. When I go in there, I get the Caladara Red and a shot of Jack. THAT my friends, is what you order at a bar. Pabst is something you buy at Plaid Pantry. Anyway, I do enjoy the bar, its not the best, but it is one of the only options after midnight in my neighborhood.
Rude service
Both times I went to Crow Bar, they struck out. I haven't even gone back for a 3rd try I was so put off. The people that work there need to understand that it's not WHAT you're saying, it's HOW you say it!! First night, was midnight on my 21er and the bartender (who frequent visitors had never seen before) was a psycho about saying I had to leave and come back the next day. Then on my actual birthday, even though it was my freakin' 21st birthday, the mofo bartender (a different one) decided I shouldn't be served another drink, and not only is he rude about it but he makes my friend his drink anyway, even though we were SO not interested in staying at that point. The people that work there need to get some manners!!
Both times I went to Crow Bar, they struck out. I haven't even gone back for a 3rd try I was so put off. The people that work there need to understand that it's not WHAT you're saying, it's HOW you say it!! First night, was midnight on my 21er and the bartender (who frequent visitors had never seen before) was a psycho about saying I had to leave and come back the next day. Then on my actual birthday, even though it was my freakin' 21st birthday, the mofo bartender (a different one) decided I shouldn't be served another drink, and not only is he rude about it but he makes my friend his drink anyway, even though we were SO not interested in staying at that point. The people that work there need to get some manners!!
Sucks!! Wannabe dive with no spine
This place sucks - and what I really can't believe is that when I was in there a week or so ago there was another girl in there saying that she had been double-charged, just like "just another girl" in 2006 (see below)!!
The bartenders act like they're doing you a favor to even talk to you, and I saw them cut off the guy next to me because he ordered his 6th beer. Six beers for Gods sake! I had six beers for breakfast this morning.
Rockabilly wannabe place and not worth the time. Fire all the staff and start over, I say.
This place sucks - and what I really can't believe is that when I was in there a week or so ago there was another girl in there saying that she had been double-charged, just like "just another girl" in 2006 (see below)!!
The bartenders act like they're doing you a favor to even talk to you, and I saw them cut off the guy next to me because he ordered his 6th beer. Six beers for Gods sake! I had six beers for breakfast this morning.
Rockabilly wannabe place and not worth the time. Fire all the staff and start over, I say.
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by Moses on March 30, 2007, 2:36 pm
Write Your Own Review »
Write Your Own Review »
Great bar, bad smoke
Love to hang out here. Cozy, old-school feel with good service. AWESOME jukebox. But just too damn smokey for my tasets. I will still drink here but much more often once we pass a freakin' smoking ban.
Love to hang out here. Cozy, old-school feel with good service. AWESOME jukebox. But just too damn smokey for my tasets. I will still drink here but much more often once we pass a freakin' smoking ban.
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by Andrew on November 23, 2006, 12:50 pm
Write Your Own Review »
Write Your Own Review »
Not bad
Been going to the Crow Bar for a while, and I like it lots. Friendly staff, although at times so busy you might not know. Unfortunately it has become more and more crowded, and more hip, and less of a cool neighborhood bar. This is what happens to any cool place in Portland though. Starts off cool, and gets over run by obnoxious suburb kids with chips on their shoulders. Still like the bar, but stay away on weekends. and no- it's not a wine bar, but it may have that feel to a certain extent. Graffiti in the bathrooms? Sure, but who give a shit. It's a room you pee in for godsakes.
Been going to the Crow Bar for a while, and I like it lots. Friendly staff, although at times so busy you might not know. Unfortunately it has become more and more crowded, and more hip, and less of a cool neighborhood bar. This is what happens to any cool place in Portland though. Starts off cool, and gets over run by obnoxious suburb kids with chips on their shoulders. Still like the bar, but stay away on weekends. and no- it's not a wine bar, but it may have that feel to a certain extent. Graffiti in the bathrooms? Sure, but who give a shit. It's a room you pee in for godsakes.
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by Eric on May 20, 2006, 8:23 pm
Write Your Own Review »
Write Your Own Review »
keep your card in your wallet.
when i started going to the crow bar a little over a year ago i LOVED it, and proclaimed it my favorite bar in portland. for one, it was never too crowded (then), the service was fast and friendly, the drinks were cheap, and the food was great, different from other bars. most of that is still true, except now it has become just another trendy joint in an up and coming neighborhood. i've never had a problem going there until the last couple of times. the first time i was charged double on my credit card. i was in the middle of a pool game when the check came to me so i didn't pay attention to the total, but the next day when i went through my receipts i tallied up what i had purchased and it was way less than what i paid for. i called the bar and they said they tended to go with their sober waitstaff rather than thier drunk patrons... it sucks, but fair enough, they could get scammed if they didn't have some kind of standard. anyway, the next time i went there and used my card, i went to the bar to close my tab only to be told someone had already paid it, when i looked confused and asked for clarification, the server announces with hand gestures as if i'm a complete idiot, "ok, let's start over, "SOMEONE - ALREADY - PAID -YOUR -TAB!" i was still confused because i didn't know who had done it, but was embarrassed by the tone she took with me and when i asked for my card, she pointed to the end of the bar, where NO ONE was sitting. she had just left it in the middle of the bar for anyone to come along and take. Why? i have no idea. the point to all this is: go to the crow bar, but pay cash!
when i started going to the crow bar a little over a year ago i LOVED it, and proclaimed it my favorite bar in portland. for one, it was never too crowded (then), the service was fast and friendly, the drinks were cheap, and the food was great, different from other bars. most of that is still true, except now it has become just another trendy joint in an up and coming neighborhood. i've never had a problem going there until the last couple of times. the first time i was charged double on my credit card. i was in the middle of a pool game when the check came to me so i didn't pay attention to the total, but the next day when i went through my receipts i tallied up what i had purchased and it was way less than what i paid for. i called the bar and they said they tended to go with their sober waitstaff rather than thier drunk patrons... it sucks, but fair enough, they could get scammed if they didn't have some kind of standard. anyway, the next time i went there and used my card, i went to the bar to close my tab only to be told someone had already paid it, when i looked confused and asked for clarification, the server announces with hand gestures as if i'm a complete idiot, "ok, let's start over, "SOMEONE - ALREADY - PAID -YOUR -TAB!" i was still confused because i didn't know who had done it, but was embarrassed by the tone she took with me and when i asked for my card, she pointed to the end of the bar, where NO ONE was sitting. she had just left it in the middle of the bar for anyone to come along and take. Why? i have no idea. the point to all this is: go to the crow bar, but pay cash!
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by just another girl on March 12, 2006, 10:29 am
Write Your Own Review »
Write Your Own Review »
piss poor sums it up
The Crow Bar sucks. Smokey as hell. The service is bad - major attitude. I like dark, but this place is like a cave. No mixed drinks. I lived down the street but only went there twice and vowed to never go again. A friend of mine had a good point - in a neighborhood where gentrification is king, Crow Bar is not the best name for a white-owned and frequented pub. Jim Crow. Get it?
The Crow Bar sucks. Smokey as hell. The service is bad - major attitude. I like dark, but this place is like a cave. No mixed drinks. I lived down the street but only went there twice and vowed to never go again. A friend of mine had a good point - in a neighborhood where gentrification is king, Crow Bar is not the best name for a white-owned and frequented pub. Jim Crow. Get it?
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by Tereza on January 27, 2006, 10:02 pm
Write Your Own Review »
Write Your Own Review »
Pinball
Please move the pinball machine (Bride of PinBot!) away from the windows, the glare is horrible. Also you should be a little less gready and hire more than one employee for the evenings, that way the nice lady bartender doesn't need to worry so much about getting jumped at closing time. Additionally I find the little male bartender with the faux-hawk and belly to be quite annoying.
Please move the pinball machine (Bride of PinBot!) away from the windows, the glare is horrible. Also you should be a little less gready and hire more than one employee for the evenings, that way the nice lady bartender doesn't need to worry so much about getting jumped at closing time. Additionally I find the little male bartender with the faux-hawk and belly to be quite annoying.
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by lil kid on January 27, 2006, 9:41 pm
Write Your Own Review »
Write Your Own Review »
John Holmes would love it
I haven't been to the crow bar for a while but I noticed one thing. If I was swling coke I could make a killing
I haven't been to the crow bar for a while but I noticed one thing. If I was swling coke I could make a killing
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by Panch on January 21, 2006, 2:56 am
Write Your Own Review »
Write Your Own Review »
Wine bar people go away
Please, if yout think the crowbar is a wine bar - stay tf away. It's just a great place with a great atmosphere - people have no problem with you just coming over, sitting down and shooting the shinola. It's always full, so if you're looking for a gloss factory, go somewhere else.
Please, if yout think the crowbar is a wine bar - stay tf away. It's just a great place with a great atmosphere - people have no problem with you just coming over, sitting down and shooting the shinola. It's always full, so if you're looking for a gloss factory, go somewhere else.
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by Not a hipster on January 17, 2006, 8:56 pm
Write Your Own Review »
Write Your Own Review »
shit is alright
I'm not sure what the stiffness rating is supposed to be used for... this shit is alright, The Crow Bar, better than walking into the pasta place next door, thats for sure. I don't know, its alright, atmosphere is cool, struck me as kind of a cocky hipster joint, for arrogant hipster type fellows, maybe it was just the dude I caught walking in, arrogant and hip as he was... overall the place is pretty cool.
I'm not sure what the stiffness rating is supposed to be used for... this shit is alright, The Crow Bar, better than walking into the pasta place next door, thats for sure. I don't know, its alright, atmosphere is cool, struck me as kind of a cocky hipster joint, for arrogant hipster type fellows, maybe it was just the dude I caught walking in, arrogant and hip as he was... overall the place is pretty cool.
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by bobby noseworthy on December 31, 2005, 3:21 am
Write Your Own Review »
Write Your Own Review »
I am from Cali and it looks like a wine bar to me. They have a helluva lot of wine. I do not like the Grafitti, YES it is Smokey and OMG the service sucks. I think I will stick with downtown when I think of the Wine and Nice atmosphere and let NoPo do what NoPo does best....DIVES!
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by Rodney on December 9, 2005, 11:29 am
Write Your Own Review »
Write Your Own Review »
Wow,Beer !!!exciting
Sorry,I was not impressed.Although it would be a great place to frag hipsters...
Sorry,I was not impressed.Although it would be a great place to frag hipsters...
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by Lilly on November 22, 2005, 5:23 pm
Write Your Own Review »
Write Your Own Review »
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by angela on October 30, 2005, 1:21 am
Write Your Own Review »
Write Your Own Review »
Graffitti
It looks trashy! Just like the skanky Jockey was!
I think they should paint over it and lose the tagger clientele.
They are the jackasses that destroy bars. Let em go hang out where the Jockey used to sit. They are jerk offs anyway! I leave when I see a gang of them hangin out anywhere
It looks trashy! Just like the skanky Jockey was!
I think they should paint over it and lose the tagger clientele.
They are the jackasses that destroy bars. Let em go hang out where the Jockey used to sit. They are jerk offs anyway! I leave when I see a gang of them hangin out anywhere
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by grecko on September 26, 2005, 12:19 pm
Write Your Own Review »
Write Your Own Review »
Graffitti...Interesting
I like the Graffitti, Some makes me laugh, Some pisses me off. What kind of overhaul or paint job could inspire Such emotions, Huh? Besides, the Graf kids are used to it this way. They would Tag the shit out of fresh, clean paint.
I like the Graffitti, Some makes me laugh, Some pisses me off. What kind of overhaul or paint job could inspire Such emotions, Huh? Besides, the Graf kids are used to it this way. They would Tag the shit out of fresh, clean paint.
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by Mikey C on September 22, 2005, 10:14 am
Write Your Own Review »
Write Your Own Review »
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by cris on August 11, 2005, 7:30 pm
Write Your Own Review »
Write Your Own Review »
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by Gage on August 5, 2005, 4:31 pm
Write Your Own Review »
Write Your Own Review »
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by Angela on August 3, 2005, 12:24 pm
Write Your Own Review »
Write Your Own Review »
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by sherry on August 2, 2005, 8:01 am
Write Your Own Review »
Write Your Own Review »
Bad bathrooms
It is NOT hip to leave a bunch of grafitti in the bathroom. Looks way trashy. The bar is done up nice then that ugly grafitti. I think you are lowering yourself to less than a skanky strip bar atmosphere with that.
It is NOT hip to leave a bunch of grafitti in the bathroom. Looks way trashy. The bar is done up nice then that ugly grafitti. I think you are lowering yourself to less than a skanky strip bar atmosphere with that.
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by Kelly on August 1, 2005, 2:55 pm
Write Your Own Review »
Write Your Own Review »
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by George on July 10, 2005, 3:20 am
Write Your Own Review »
Write Your Own Review »
me likey
i think i'm jerome now, doesn't seem to be anyone around. i think i'm jerome now the beating of my heart is the only sound....
i like this bar. it is nice. i like beer. i like this bar. it is nice.
no hardies though. that is what i desired. off to the alibi we go...
i think i'm jerome now, doesn't seem to be anyone around. i think i'm jerome now the beating of my heart is the only sound....
i like this bar. it is nice. i like beer. i like this bar. it is nice.
no hardies though. that is what i desired. off to the alibi we go...
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by jtotheizzo on April 9, 2005, 11:36 am
Write Your Own Review »
Write Your Own Review »
New Favorite
The Crowbar is my new favorite neighborhood bar, and I don't live in the neighborhood. A friend and I went the day before New Years Eve 2004 for an afternoon cocktail and fell in love with the place. I couldn't wait to take my roommates. We went back the next night, NYE. It was great. Not too crowded and so much fun. And, to schow how cool they really are, they donated 100% of their proceeds that evening to the Tsunami Relief Effort. Very Awesome. It made me want to drink more. Everyone was getting along great. Not a pretentious person in sight. Also, they had the best food, a free buffet at 11:00 for all the drinkers. I haven't even mentioned the great beer and wine selections. $2.50 beers at happy hour and free pool from 3-6. The look and feel of the place is great. Oh, I could go on, but I think you should go experience it for yourself...
The Crowbar is my new favorite neighborhood bar, and I don't live in the neighborhood. A friend and I went the day before New Years Eve 2004 for an afternoon cocktail and fell in love with the place. I couldn't wait to take my roommates. We went back the next night, NYE. It was great. Not too crowded and so much fun. And, to schow how cool they really are, they donated 100% of their proceeds that evening to the Tsunami Relief Effort. Very Awesome. It made me want to drink more. Everyone was getting along great. Not a pretentious person in sight. Also, they had the best food, a free buffet at 11:00 for all the drinkers. I haven't even mentioned the great beer and wine selections. $2.50 beers at happy hour and free pool from 3-6. The look and feel of the place is great. Oh, I could go on, but I think you should go experience it for yourself...
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by Stephanie on January 1, 2005, 12:06 pm
Write Your Own Review »
Write Your Own Review »