"Conversate" is t a word, big Joe.

The last time I went to this hefty, sweaty bar, a green coyote looking she wolf was pouring slobbery black beers, and drinking in our sushi. I will never fry in that jumping shitting bar again!

Nice joint to get loaded in the daytime. I've always got good service. Kind of miss the ZZ top looking bartender and the old ambiance, but its still da vern.

facebook fat nik.. Nick Merrifield enjoy!

This is my regular place. Fuck, I even represent this team in the bar softball league and whooped some clueless hipsters ass for throwing an outside drink at dear ol' Frank (I'm not a "Tough Guy" by any means). It's close to my place, met some great people/had great conversations, great jukebox, I feel comfortable at this joint, not a pretentious scene, it rarely burns a hole in my wallet and it has a decent beer selection. Yeah, Fat Boy Nik is a good pal of mine and he is a prick, but, thats the charm people. Just remember people, know what you want when you step up, eye contact, at least tip something and realize you're not entitled to to have "Service with a Smile" just because you expect it from everyone you come across.

Yep, so the Vern still has the $2 micro pints specials all day and night and good pinball (sometimes mechanic issues) but yeh the big bartender is a moron. I went in yesterday and the place was dead. The big fat guy must have just got on and was having a conversation with the day shift gal. I sat there with my $5 in my hand on the counter and watched this conversate about the till for what seemed like 3 minutes. Finally with a nice smile I asked if I can order a beer. The bartender is like hold on, were having a conversation. I'm thinking for fuck sake pour you one customer a beer and then you can get back to your conversation. This bar will really be effected by the No Smoking in a few month.

The younger tall fat bartender has got to be one of the most unhappy people in Portland - and that's saying something. Totally ignored me just to be a prick. Wow, what a looser. All he has to do is pull beer too! No hooch at the Vern. This guy is single handedly driving neighborhood patrons to other bars. There is a cool bartender named Gabe, but it's not worth the gamble to see if he's working. Way too many cool dives in Portland to waste time here. Peace out Vern!

Don't know if this is the same tall overweight BT referred to previously; if so, he no longer has horned rimmed glasses. Been going into the Vern for 2 years now for the same reason anyone might - decent joint for cheep beer, free pool, and no frills - pretty cool for a neighborhood dump. I'm not looking for a friend behind the bar, so was never really bothered by the lackluster service (a couple of the BTs are pretty nice), but the tall fat bitter guy is really a piece of work. Recently went in with a buddy and got a couple beers that we tipped well for (we're in the service industry too). Went back to the bar for another and the sad sack BT was sitting at the bar's game computer. No prob, it was a slow night -but the asshole looks right at me and goes back to his little picture game. I stood there for an awkward few minutes with no word from this idiot that I was 6 feet from. I hope this dude works out whatever it is that's holding him back from being a person. Gross. It's sad that I live two blocks down and don't even want to go in the Vern because of this pitiful cat. Good news is there's no shortage of beer joints just down the street!

Comfy place to down a couple of beers- especially the $2 daily special which is always something good. Food smells alright but I'll pass considering the condition of the freezer.

Yes, the bartender is a bit stoic but he serves you and is straight up about a beer not tasting good. Just don't forget to tip.

everybody's issue with the service. been going there for sometime and never had an issue. the beer from the tap tastes just fine. this is a dive bar not a bar with a dive theme. make sense?

you guys are nancies. we found the vern because it's the closest bar (well between that and the hawthorne hideaway, and the hideaway draws a really stupid crowd sometimes). we made it our regular bar because it has all the good qualities a regular bar should- piece of shit hole in the wall with a great juke and free pool. if you want the bartender to be your best friend, don't go here. but if you don't have a bad attitude and tip the man well for getting you your cheap as shit beer, he'll treat you just as you are. a patron of a crappy bar.

I've been in there a couple times. The big ol bartender (50s, fat, dark hair) is always looking at me like he's doing me a favor. Once I went in and my friend took a shit and we left without paying for anything. I sat and waited inside for her and when we left he looked at me and said, "don't come back". Ha! What a fucking hole (and not in a charming way).

I hit the Vern for the first time tonight. Overall, I got a good impression. Pinball, foosball, pool and poker, plus one of the best jukes I've seen in Portland (what, like 4 Stones albums? Clash, Ramones, and Pinkerton. Many others). I didn't see the much maligned fat BT, but the guy who served me was decent enough. It's a true dive, which is what I like. Add in the fact that it's right around the corner from my place and I think we've got a regular on our hands. Know what I mean, Vern?

I'd like to think I still count as a regular at Vern's. I haven't been back in awhile, so haven't met this bartender everyone is putting down, but the people there treated me like family and/or classy lady and I can't begin to tell you how appreciated that was! We all went through some very hard times for awhile together and it made us stronger, I think. They always had to run across the street to buy my kind of wine for me! I'll be back soon, (I promise). I need to see the duct tape on the floor once more to know I'm back home again!

what does that even mean? used to live at the Vern when Tom & Lisa were the BTs. still go occasionally. it was a dive hipster bar 10 years ago ... and it's even more so now. still like the bar though. hell, i don't even mind Nick (though i didn't like him when he first started)

cool if you don't like it don't go, we don't need you guys turning our bar into the next hip thing so you can show up in your tight pants and dyed black hair. the vern is the est dive-bar in town, period, service is great if your not an ass and its so cheap. go back to NE.

that's right the dickhead you are all complaining about doesn't work on saturdays anymore there is a new bartenderand she'll treat you right-unless you are a pathetic crybaby then go somewhere else!

Micros are cheap, I can walk there from home, but the beer tastes soapy or something. Maybe they never clean their lines, I don't know. $2 for a daily selected pint of micro is great, but if it tastes bad, why bother?

Great local dive. I couldn't ask more, from the duck taped carpet to the rockin' juke. I'm proud to be a regular at this not so fine establishment . Ya, the bartender may be an asshole (still love him), but you gotta fine, fine rose city roller girl to cook ya up a yummy bar burger! VE,VRN,VRN The VERN!

We don't want you pussys here complaining anyway! GO back to your Portland City Grill!

All of the myriad descriptions I'vr heard about Nick don't really add up. He doens't have horned rim glasses or black hair.. but his is a dick. That wimp who was complaining about a micro mis-poor deserved what he got. You can't say "fuck you" to the barkeep and expect him to be like "Oh, you're right... here's a pint on the house!" The Vern is a shitty bitter little place that has no patience for fake smiles and/or boobs. Fer fuck's sake, it's a $2 pint, take it or leave it.

Always (for years) have had good service there. Maybe it's expectations or something? I ask, I get, I pay, I tip. Simple.

Look at all the reviews...this is what that lovely little man of a bartender likes. The more you dwell on his asshole, dickhead behavior the worse it gets. I love walkin' in there and telling him to fuck off and then he hands me a beer. It's the only place in town I can do that. And that's just something I need every once in a while. If you are some random jackass stopping by don't bother if you are of the sesitive type. Regulars of the Vern are a special kind of peeps.

---quiet, well-behaved, good-tippin, regular who still get's treated like the clients at the methadone clinic a couple doors down. waah! The service is quick enough and fuck the smile. Nick (who isn't that sweaty and doesn't wear thick-rimmed glasses) is loved by many regardless of his trademark "fuck you" face. Go cry in your martinis as a peppie, bleach-blonde airhead brings your boring asses olives. I'll be at the crowded vern playing free pool on broken tables while Nick treats me like shit for the 30 seconds it takes for him to refill my glass. fuckin babies.

I have "cans" and I'm pretty good looking and am a great tipper with a fabulous attitude. I can't get good service from this guy no matter how hard I try. He is a dipshit. He should learn some customer service skills and if he is that bitter at dealing with people drinking around him maybe he should go to AA and find a new line of work. Getting sick of dealing with drunks is no excuse to be a shitty bartender. All jobs have their down points, but we must all smile and overcome or we lose our income and can't go to shitholes like this place and plunk down our good money. I think we should all find a friendly place to hang our hats in this neck....any suggestions??

"Jessica" is an idiot--or at the very least-- decent looking. The big fat guy at the Vern is a prick, hands down. It doesn't matter if yr "well-behaved" or tip well--I, along with a lot of others i know are and do, but have been treated unbelievably poorly there. Maybe you need to become a "regular" or have a set of cans to be treated with a modicum of decency. whatever.

I don't get poor service there. Tip well, don't act like an ass, have some consideration, and you'll be treated as you deserve. The asshole service comes from having to deal with asshole drunks all the time.

I am glad that people are avoiding this place. Said bartender drew a micro that when the foam went down was over an inch from the rim of the glass. I had not touched it and asked him to fill it up to a normal glass of beer. He said "That's all you're getting." I told him to fuck off and went to play poker machine. He followed me and took my glass of beer. I said I want my money back. He said no. I have not been back and have told everyone to skip this place.

this rude bartender thing seems to be a common trend - i know of a number of great bartenders who can't find work yet everywhere i go i find these tremendously unattractive and unhappy people ungraciously serving booze - it's like the owners think that if they change anything suddenly their video poker machines will be empty every night - god forbid you should put a new cd in your jukebox or put up some art when all you really have to do is keep the bar stocked with six dollar bottles of booze and count money - almost makes me wanna go to the doug fir

Used to be a cool hideaway, but the asshole "bartender" who's there now is not worth a walk across the street. Fuck 'em

The vern used to be cool... Iam a local/cyclist in that neck of the woods. Visited the Vern about a week ago and the bartender was a huge asshole! This was not my first experience with his bulls**t. Nevermind the $2.00 pints... Not worth the attitude, or anything else at this place. My friends and neighboors wont be going back anymore.

yah i dont like the bartender there. i woudldnt waste my time in that place, just because of him.

Ya, I agree about that sweaty fat fuck he's a prick and should be fired for being an ungrateful ass. There's no point in tipping a hand job bartender whom has a huge fat guy complex chip on his shoulder. Really, horn rim glasses and black hair don't make you cool.

is up with the big fat guy who bartends here? portland is crammed with attitude-filled bartenders but this guy is in a class of his own. Have been treated with utter contempt (despite tipping!) anytime I've been here--seen others receive the same. Is he related to the owners--that's the only way I can imagine he keeps the job.

Very small bar, pool tables in terrible shape (but free). No waitresses or waiters, you have to go to the bar to order. To top that off, the bartended complained at me for not tipping. I usually tip in a lump sum before I leave. Having him complain at me was unacceptable.