Portland City Grill
111 SW 5th Ave.Portland, OR 97204
503/ 450.0030
Located in: Downtown Portland - Visit Website
BarFly's Review of Portland City Grill
Yes, they’ve quite a view. So does the Space Needle. Do you really wanna drink there? Situated upon the thirtieth floor of the US Bank tower, Portland City Grill took over the space of tattered Mad Men era relic Atwater’s and achieved near instantaneous success through … and this is what’s puzzling. They’ve happy hour eats, but a dozen places within spitting distance offer cheaper and better. The food isn’t bad, NW steakhouse cuisine given a tentative Asian spin, but hardly worth the prices. There’s that view, of course, but doesn’t an evening’s empty stare more appeal to the aging tourists that couldn’t keep Atwater’s afloat? For whatever reason, linen tablecloths and a dully-stylish executive lodge makeover lured the relative cream of puddetown’s young professionals - perhaps, ever sniffing true urbanity, they’re just excited by heights - to a never-ending meat market frenzy. They need a place to spawn, fair enough, but there’s some things you don’t like to see while you eat. Open 11am-mid M-Thurs, 11am-1am Fri, 4pm-1am Sat, 4pm-11pm Sun. Outstanding $1.95-$3.95 menu 4:30-6:30pm Monday-Saturday, and again, 10pm-12am Monday-Thursday, and all night after 4pm Sundays.
Happy Hours
- Monday - $1.95-$3.95 menu 4:30-6:30pm and 10pm-12am
- Tuesday - $1.95-$3.95 menu 4:30-6:30pm and 10pm-12am
- Wednesday - $1.95-$3.95 menu 4:30-6:30pm and 10pm-12am
- Thursday - $1.95-$3.95 menu 4:30-6:30pm and 10pm-12am
- Friday - $1.95-$3.95 menu 4:30-6:30pm
- Saturday - $1.95-$3.95 menu 4:30-6:30pm
- Sunday - $1.95-$3.95 menu 4pm-close
Reader Reviews of Portland City Grill
Great Happy Hr Food
I completely agree & understand about this place being a meat market of superficial people. A place where the old rich geezers go to find young money-hungry tricks who lack any self-respect. The view is nice but I'm there for the food. The drink prices are a bit steep but this isn't your local dive bar. However, I love the happy hour food menu--it's the only reason why I go there plus to diss the overly confident panting men. I find their dinner menu lacking but their happy hour menu difficult to beat elsewhere for the type of food they offer. I highly recommend their Furikake Ahi Tuna & Thai Lemon Grass Beef Tenderloin Satay--YUMM!
I completely agree & understand about this place being a meat market of superficial people. A place where the old rich geezers go to find young money-hungry tricks who lack any self-respect. The view is nice but I'm there for the food. The drink prices are a bit steep but this isn't your local dive bar. However, I love the happy hour food menu--it's the only reason why I go there plus to diss the overly confident panting men. I find their dinner menu lacking but their happy hour menu difficult to beat elsewhere for the type of food they offer. I highly recommend their Furikake Ahi Tuna & Thai Lemon Grass Beef Tenderloin Satay--YUMM!
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by Disciplined on July 17, 2008, 1:53 pm
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Guilty Pleasure!
Like my bad disco music collection, this joint is a total guilty pleasure. The view just can't be beat...food is way overpriced, happy hour is alright, drinks are laughable. But, the view...and I'm not just talking about the panoramic view of PDX! Seriously, the most horny people ever try to hook up here...lots of str8 boys and gals trying to impress each other with their ability to tip $1 per drink and wear Seven jeans they bought at Nordstrom Rack! Total comedy, or, shall I say, DRAMedy?! Go early to get a good window seat and be entertained!
Like my bad disco music collection, this joint is a total guilty pleasure. The view just can't be beat...food is way overpriced, happy hour is alright, drinks are laughable. But, the view...and I'm not just talking about the panoramic view of PDX! Seriously, the most horny people ever try to hook up here...lots of str8 boys and gals trying to impress each other with their ability to tip $1 per drink and wear Seven jeans they bought at Nordstrom Rack! Total comedy, or, shall I say, DRAMedy?! Go early to get a good window seat and be entertained!
View this...
Actually not a bad joint if you get there early enough to find a place to sit. Great people watching here- So much hair gel and silicone (saline?), the mating rituals of impecably dressed persons in a dimm bar at al-tit-tude, fascinating. The view is great for new comers and outta-towners. HH food is fair, drinks are spendy. Be sure to scoff at the dress code as you walk in.
Actually not a bad joint if you get there early enough to find a place to sit. Great people watching here- So much hair gel and silicone (saline?), the mating rituals of impecably dressed persons in a dimm bar at al-tit-tude, fascinating. The view is great for new comers and outta-towners. HH food is fair, drinks are spendy. Be sure to scoff at the dress code as you walk in.
Reviewed Bravely & Awesomely by Misanthroptimist on September 28, 2007, 10:04 am
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See it at least once.
Yeah, I made it in time for the last of HH, I was there on a Monday, 3rd week in June after pouring myself off the Coast Starlight. Fabulous View, found a seat at the bar, didn't wait too long for the help to arrive. You'd think a place this up market would at least carry Johnnie Walker Blue, Gold, or Green. The 15 y/o Balvenie was quite suitable. Then this over made up bitch with almost lopsided plastic tits approaches me, engage in small talk, & within 4 sentences blurts out "Okay, I have to get this out of the way; Are you Gay?" (Like Fuckin' No Way!) I let her know quickly that I was on vacation alone seeking the comanionship of a decent female who had class & natural breasts. With that I took my leave, browsed around the room checked out the views & took a few snapshots. The place was sort of crowded, people of all sorts, no where to sit, so I took refuge at the piano bar. I drank more, enjoyed the music, tipped everyone accordingly. I think it's a great place if you have a place to sit & enjoy the company of a date or friends. I may check it out next time I'm in town.
Yeah, I made it in time for the last of HH, I was there on a Monday, 3rd week in June after pouring myself off the Coast Starlight. Fabulous View, found a seat at the bar, didn't wait too long for the help to arrive. You'd think a place this up market would at least carry Johnnie Walker Blue, Gold, or Green. The 15 y/o Balvenie was quite suitable. Then this over made up bitch with almost lopsided plastic tits approaches me, engage in small talk, & within 4 sentences blurts out "Okay, I have to get this out of the way; Are you Gay?" (Like Fuckin' No Way!) I let her know quickly that I was on vacation alone seeking the comanionship of a decent female who had class & natural breasts. With that I took my leave, browsed around the room checked out the views & took a few snapshots. The place was sort of crowded, people of all sorts, no where to sit, so I took refuge at the piano bar. I drank more, enjoyed the music, tipped everyone accordingly. I think it's a great place if you have a place to sit & enjoy the company of a date or friends. I may check it out next time I'm in town.
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by ee_oh11 on July 6, 2007, 1:44 pm
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Beware Ron & Travis!
I've been there too, New in Town. A couple of slicks named Ron & Travis once "horned in" on a table that a female friend and I were sharing, and thereby forced us to have one of the most painful small talk conversations in the history of our lives. Fear not - it's a PDX City Grill thing, not a Portland thing. As an antidote, perhaps try viewing the top of Big Pink from the safety of The Slammer, and thank god you're not getting hit on by insurance salesmen.
P.S. I also must admit that the cocktails here are great and the view is indeed beautiful - definitely worth a trip.
I've been there too, New in Town. A couple of slicks named Ron & Travis once "horned in" on a table that a female friend and I were sharing, and thereby forced us to have one of the most painful small talk conversations in the history of our lives. Fear not - it's a PDX City Grill thing, not a Portland thing. As an antidote, perhaps try viewing the top of Big Pink from the safety of The Slammer, and thank god you're not getting hit on by insurance salesmen.P.S. I also must admit that the cocktails here are great and the view is indeed beautiful - definitely worth a trip.
Should have been nice...
While in town to see if I really wanted to move here, I was encouraged to check out Happy Hour at the Portland City Grill. Indeed the view was fantastic, as were the cocktails, but I can't say as much for some of the clientele. One group of women in particular were extremely rude and ganged me out of a stool at the bar that another patron had been kind enough to offer. Welcome to Portland! Hopefully they are not the norm here, although it did seem that jungle rules applied for seating. It's a shame that what should have been a nice HH experience was marred by such unpleasantness.
While in town to see if I really wanted to move here, I was encouraged to check out Happy Hour at the Portland City Grill. Indeed the view was fantastic, as were the cocktails, but I can't say as much for some of the clientele. One group of women in particular were extremely rude and ganged me out of a stool at the bar that another patron had been kind enough to offer. Welcome to Portland! Hopefully they are not the norm here, although it did seem that jungle rules applied for seating. It's a shame that what should have been a nice HH experience was marred by such unpleasantness.
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by New in Town on May 30, 2007, 11:10 am
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Short ribs
Would you share your recipe for your delicious short ribs, especially the sauce. Great restaurant, great view and great food. We were visiting from California and that was the highlight of our trip.
Thanks,
Robert
Would you share your recipe for your delicious short ribs, especially the sauce. Great restaurant, great view and great food. We were visiting from California and that was the highlight of our trip.
Thanks,
Robert
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by Robert Arnold on December 31, 2006, 2:59 pm
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Food and View are great
I love this place, but rarely get a chance to go. Get there right at 4pm, as it's gets packed quickly. The prices for "happy hour" food are reasonable... and delicious. The view cannot be beaten. It's an absolute 10!
I love this place, but rarely get a chance to go. Get there right at 4pm, as it's gets packed quickly. The prices for "happy hour" food are reasonable... and delicious. The view cannot be beaten. It's an absolute 10!
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by Mark McPherson on December 31, 2006, 2:52 pm
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menu misleading
I ate there the other nite was excited about the mahi mahi papaya sauce meal. When the dish arrived it was a nice presentation but when I tasted the fish you couldn't taste the sauce very much. We had ate there last year & it was good! So what a dissapointment last nite.! my husband said his scallops had sand in them. He had thought about sending them back but they were so busy so we thought it wouldn't be worth it waiting to long a time.
I ate there the other nite was excited about the mahi mahi papaya sauce meal. When the dish arrived it was a nice presentation but when I tasted the fish you couldn't taste the sauce very much. We had ate there last year & it was good! So what a dissapointment last nite.! my husband said his scallops had sand in them. He had thought about sending them back but they were so busy so we thought it wouldn't be worth it waiting to long a time.
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by carlyn jones on December 31, 2006, 10:23 am
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Free refils??
So yea.. I wen there with a couple of friends for happy hour and we ordered.. for some reason, one of us got a burger while two of us had to wait like 20 more min for the same exact type of burger.. which they kept telling us was "cooking".. I assume they were driving to tillamook, finding a cow, killing it, then bringing it all the way back and THEN cooking it.. As if that were it, the waitress came over and asked if we would like our drinks re-filled.. I said no, my friend unfortunately said yes... Come pay time... He finds he got charged for the refill.. the full drink price!! It was strawberry lemonade!! Then, he asked her if she normally doesn't tell people re-fills aren't free and she rudely said "no"! But it's too cool to not go back... So I will be :)
So yea.. I wen there with a couple of friends for happy hour and we ordered.. for some reason, one of us got a burger while two of us had to wait like 20 more min for the same exact type of burger.. which they kept telling us was "cooking".. I assume they were driving to tillamook, finding a cow, killing it, then bringing it all the way back and THEN cooking it.. As if that were it, the waitress came over and asked if we would like our drinks re-filled.. I said no, my friend unfortunately said yes... Come pay time... He finds he got charged for the refill.. the full drink price!! It was strawberry lemonade!! Then, he asked her if she normally doesn't tell people re-fills aren't free and she rudely said "no"! But it's too cool to not go back... So I will be :)
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by Karen B on May 31, 2006, 4:58 pm
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Beautiful!
Great place to hang and people watch. Lot's of posers to gawk at. Great atmosphere and view. Staff is friendly.
Bathrooms are clean. Food is wonderful.
Recommend.
Great place to hang and people watch. Lot's of posers to gawk at. Great atmosphere and view. Staff is friendly.
Bathrooms are clean. Food is wonderful.
Recommend.
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by -m on August 12, 2005, 2:15 pm
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Portland City Grill!
VIEW! VIEW! VIEW! The BEST view of the city of Portland... Portland City Grill's trademark, it is... (as Paris Hilton would say, THAT'S HOT!)
If you go to the City Grill AFTER 10pm on Friday or Saturday night get ready to say hello to the "Beautiful ones" in Portland---hot, tanned girls in their designer duds & accessories wearing their cute tube tops sporting their fake breasts, and cool hot guys in their diesel jeans w/their cool long sleeved buttoned-downed shirts, in designer flip flops...
If you want to see the old people, go before 9:30ish, or so---that's when you'll see the grannies and grandpas, & 40-somethings & above.
City Grill's happy hour food is one of the best--proabably THE best in Portland. Gourmet, all the way baby...Same goes for the "10pm" crowd! the beautiful ones....
VIEW! VIEW! VIEW! The BEST view of the city of Portland... Portland City Grill's trademark, it is... (as Paris Hilton would say, THAT'S HOT!)
If you go to the City Grill AFTER 10pm on Friday or Saturday night get ready to say hello to the "Beautiful ones" in Portland---hot, tanned girls in their designer duds & accessories wearing their cute tube tops sporting their fake breasts, and cool hot guys in their diesel jeans w/their cool long sleeved buttoned-downed shirts, in designer flip flops...
If you want to see the old people, go before 9:30ish, or so---that's when you'll see the grannies and grandpas, & 40-somethings & above.
City Grill's happy hour food is one of the best--proabably THE best in Portland. Gourmet, all the way baby...Same goes for the "10pm" crowd! the beautiful ones....
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by GirlieGirl on July 14, 2005, 8:47 pm
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City Grill
The Portland City Grill is a great place to go, its got a great view, lots of people, good food. But if you do not want to break the bank, try going on a Sunday. Its happy hour prices all day, and you can actuely afford to go there. They have happy hour during the week, but it is way too busy for me. Hope to see you there on a Sunday. --Ciao
The Portland City Grill is a great place to go, its got a great view, lots of people, good food. But if you do not want to break the bank, try going on a Sunday. Its happy hour prices all day, and you can actuely afford to go there. They have happy hour during the week, but it is way too busy for me. Hope to see you there on a Sunday. --Ciao
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by B.N.Nopo on March 30, 2005, 12:25 am
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City Grill
Great view from here, I really enjoyed the appetizer until I realized that it was my $30 dinner.
Great view from here, I really enjoyed the appetizer until I realized that it was my $30 dinner.
Reviewed Safely & Anonymously (pussy) by M.T. Wallet on March 14, 2005, 10:19 am
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