We trotted on over to Press Club for the first time a couple weeks ago because our favorite local trio was performing. It was crowded, but the bar tender was cool and told us we could park it on the steps until something opened up.

We ordered some food once a spot opened at the bar, and the crepes were so good we decided to come back the following weekend for brunch. Gotta support the local mom and pops, you know?

That's where it falls apart. We got across town quicker than expected, and the place wasn't open just yet. So we strolled around the block to kill time, and when we came back around we made the unforgivable mistake of trying to enter through the wide open door of Press Club. Apparently it was only 10:52 am, and the place didn't open for ages - at 11:00 am.

I've worked in the service industry, and would have been totally ok being told, "Hey, sorry, we're not open yet. It'll be about 10 minutes.", even if the door was open. It did not happen like that - clearly jerks like us needed to be taught a freaking lesson.

Instead, the rude chick who seemed to be in charge of opening, and who I suspect had arrived late for the gig, stopped us with this, "NO! No. You can't come in! We're not open yet! You'll have to wait!". And she actually barred our way with a freaking chair.

Sorry, Press Club, your crepes aren't good enough to put up with that crap, and I can see my favorite trio play elsewhere. I can put up with late openers - hell, I have been guilty of the same thing in the past - but rudeness is just ridiculous and not something I'll accept. And with so many other good places in Portland I don't have to.

We turned around and left, and we will not be back. Press Club owner/manager, you might want to have a word with your employees about how to talk to deal with a customer - we can't be the only ones run off by the "Uh, you're totally bothering me!" attitude.

The Press Club seems to be part of the new breed of Clinton Street gentrifying but does it without too much pretention. The crepes I've had have been delicious and quite filling if you spring to add egg for an extra buck. The waitress we've had both times was quite nice and attentive for having to man the bar, coffee station and tables. They don't mind you thumbing though their extensive and off-beat collection of mags for sale. Last week we saw a 3-piece band of an accordianist, a cellist and a saw-ist. I definitely order the cheapest thing on the menu and skip drinks. I'll save my quarters for the pinball and Iron City at the Pub.