My husband and I really like this place. It's a chill atmosphere and the waitress was really nice. Good place to watch football.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Cam
Hole in the wall feel for sure, but wings are decent. Some of the patrons can be a bit...well...interesting.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Jamie Taylor
loved the karaoke DJ, she was the best, but the food was Mid and the drinks were just fine. Also turns out this place is anti vax and pulled their sponsorship for a pickleball team because one of the members was trans so, unless something has changed about the views of this establishment do not go here if you have a brain and good taste.
Mercy Scott
Ed. Ally was super amazing! I came in on Sunday night and she automatically offered to pour me a water with my food. The burger was absolutely delicious. Ally provided great service all night and was by far the best employee I have interacted with!
I asked for a water with ice and they told me to drink the open pitchers off the counter. First, one pitcher was empty and the other had less than a glass in it. Second, I don't think it is up to code to be serving water out of open pitchers that have been sitting there for who knows how long and anyone could have coughed into. I work in a bar and it doesn't take that long to pour a customer water. It's just straight up bad customer service to say no. This bar needs to get itself together cuz this isn't the first bad experience I've had here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
DrPaula Macfie
I’m new to the Cheerful Tortoise and I’ve been driving by it most of my life. I had no idea that it’s been around for over 75 years which is pretty amazing… And it is right in the middle of Portland State University and is a home away from home for people who need a place to go on holidays or special occasions when everybody else has family.
I love that it is a sports bar that allows kids and I look forward to taking them there for taco night and also for wings.
I met Amy and heard her story in an interview… And feel like she is providing a place that is the heart of the downtown community in a very open way. I went last night for hip-hop night and the skill set of the DJs was off the chart… DJ Wicked and DJ Good Fortune are two of the nicest men I’ve met in a long time in the DJ world. They are an old-school staple and people have no idea how blessed we are to have their skills and music selection in our community.
The staff at the restaurant everybody has been very kind and friendly to me. Everybody that was in the restaurant the two times I’ve been there seem to truly enjoy themselves and there were families with kids along with people playing pool and lottery in the back. It kind of feels like a hobbit bar because of its age….. I like it. It deserves my patronage and you can feel the history in it. I really dig how it feels. Nothing like a good old dive bar from old Portland… I’m a little late, figuring it out but with their happy hour specials and their drink night specials this is a place I can afford.
It’s pretty evident that the people leaving reviews on here are using the cancel culture tactics which is very tired. I was actually one of the people who also complained about what the Portland Pickles were doing and was grossly offended by all of it. It had nothing to do with drag. It had everything to do with kids putting dollar bills in the thong of a pickle that was dressed like a stripper and the penis that was coming out of some of the images talking about Uranus. I immediately withdrew my child from Baseball camp and want nothing more to do with the organization. It’s embarrassing. The people leaving these reviews are sick and mean and hateful. These are not honest reviews. It’s just a testimony of people operating at a lower level who enjoy hating others = the exact thing they’re complaining about. The people who yell from the mountain topped the loudest are the ones who are actually displaying the behavior.
I met Amy briefly and can tell immediately that as a mom, a business owner, and somebody who has spent her time at this bar…. you can feel the love she has for community. When I was at hip-hop night, there were people from all walks of life, genders, preferences, etc. I don’t know what these people are talking about but definitely don’t overlook a place that has history in Portland!
Kevin Bruce
Violet, and the whole team are GREAT. GOOD Karaoke spot.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Peter Cook
try th fet alf!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ray Perryman
Neighborhood bar with karaoke. Food was good with nice portions. Servers were friendly and helpful
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Chase Dennis
Clearly someone here has never made a Shirley Temple. It wasn’t even close to period blood day 3 red. More like watermelon Gatorade. No Cherries Flat Sprite Made with 0 Love
Still drank it tho because I was thirsty
But the tots are fire.
Vanshika Bhaniramka
I love this karaoke bar. Great food and crowd. The portions are huge and the everything we ordered was good. I genuinely had so much fun there. My friend and I are making a monthly tradition of coming here :)
My friend and I have been regulars here recently and went in on Wednesday night 7/23 around midnight. Two guys were sitting next to us, and my friend ordered 2 drinks. She politely asked that he hold off on making them until we got back from the bathroom. He looked pretty annoyed but said yes, and when we came back a few minutes later our drinks were sitting on the counter. My friend and I kindly reminded him that we asked him to make them when we got back so they wouldn’t be left unattended, and his response was “I only made them 3 minutes ago.” Still being polite, we explained that we felt unsafe drinking drinks that we weren’t able to watch. He rolled his eyes and re made them. As a woman, I do not think it should have been such a problem for him to either do what we asked in the first place, or remake them. It’s about safety and at the end of the day that is a large aspect of a bartenders responsibilities. It worries me that women who may be less confident in speaking up for themselves will be unsafe when this bartender is working.
Selena S
Karaoke night was awesome 👌
Patti Degerness
Chicken wings were good. Service good. Atmosphere was good, just like old times in my 20s.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Mark Greenawalt
I've been going here for 20 years. Great place. Boo bills. Go Birds!
Service: 5
Neven Knows
Fantastic. First time here, but I LOVE this place already. The fish and chips are phenomenal, I will absolutely be back for more. Delicious. The bartenders are very cool people. This place embodies everything that I love about my hometown of Portland!!
My husband and I really like this place. It's a chill atmosphere and the waitress was really nice. Good place to watch football.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Hole in the wall feel for sure, but wings are decent. Some of the patrons can be a bit...well...interesting.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
loved the karaoke DJ, she was the best, but the food was Mid and the drinks were just fine. Also turns out this place is anti vax and pulled their sponsorship for a pickleball team because one of the members was trans so, unless something has changed about the views of this establishment do not go here if you have a brain and good taste.
Ed. Ally was super amazing! I came in on Sunday night and she automatically offered to pour me a water with my food. The burger was absolutely delicious. Ally provided great service all night and was by far the best employee I have interacted with!
I asked for a water with ice and they told me to drink the open pitchers off the counter. First, one pitcher was empty and the other had less than a glass in it. Second, I don't think it is up to code to be serving water out of open pitchers that have been sitting there for who knows how long and anyone could have coughed into. I work in a bar and it doesn't take that long to pour a customer water. It's just straight up bad customer service to say no. This bar needs to get itself together cuz this isn't the first bad experience I've had here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I’m new to the Cheerful Tortoise and I’ve been driving by it most of my life. I had no idea that it’s been around for over 75 years which is pretty amazing… And it is right in the middle of Portland State University and is a home away from home for people who need a place to go on holidays or special occasions when everybody else has family. I love that it is a sports bar that allows kids and I look forward to taking them there for taco night and also for wings. I met Amy and heard her story in an interview… And feel like she is providing a place that is the heart of the downtown community in a very open way. I went last night for hip-hop night and the skill set of the DJs was off the chart… DJ Wicked and DJ Good Fortune are two of the nicest men I’ve met in a long time in the DJ world. They are an old-school staple and people have no idea how blessed we are to have their skills and music selection in our community. The staff at the restaurant everybody has been very kind and friendly to me. Everybody that was in the restaurant the two times I’ve been there seem to truly enjoy themselves and there were families with kids along with people playing pool and lottery in the back. It kind of feels like a hobbit bar because of its age….. I like it. It deserves my patronage and you can feel the history in it. I really dig how it feels. Nothing like a good old dive bar from old Portland… I’m a little late, figuring it out but with their happy hour specials and their drink night specials this is a place I can afford. It’s pretty evident that the people leaving reviews on here are using the cancel culture tactics which is very tired. I was actually one of the people who also complained about what the Portland Pickles were doing and was grossly offended by all of it. It had nothing to do with drag. It had everything to do with kids putting dollar bills in the thong of a pickle that was dressed like a stripper and the penis that was coming out of some of the images talking about Uranus. I immediately withdrew my child from Baseball camp and want nothing more to do with the organization. It’s embarrassing. The people leaving these reviews are sick and mean and hateful. These are not honest reviews. It’s just a testimony of people operating at a lower level who enjoy hating others = the exact thing they’re complaining about. The people who yell from the mountain topped the loudest are the ones who are actually displaying the behavior. I met Amy briefly and can tell immediately that as a mom, a business owner, and somebody who has spent her time at this bar…. you can feel the love she has for community. When I was at hip-hop night, there were people from all walks of life, genders, preferences, etc. I don’t know what these people are talking about but definitely don’t overlook a place that has history in Portland!
Violet, and the whole team are GREAT. GOOD Karaoke spot.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
try th fet alf!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Neighborhood bar with karaoke. Food was good with nice portions. Servers were friendly and helpful
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Clearly someone here has never made a Shirley Temple. It wasn’t even close to period blood day 3 red. More like watermelon Gatorade.
No Cherries
Flat Sprite
Made with 0 Love
Still drank it tho because I was thirsty
But the tots are fire.
I love this karaoke bar. Great food and crowd. The portions are huge and the everything we ordered was good. I genuinely had so much fun there. My friend and I are making a monthly tradition of coming here :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
My friend and I have been regulars here recently and went in on Wednesday night 7/23 around midnight. Two guys were sitting next to us, and my friend ordered 2 drinks. She politely asked that he hold off on making them until we got back from the bathroom. He looked pretty annoyed but said yes, and when we came back a few minutes later our drinks were sitting on the counter. My friend and I kindly reminded him that we asked him to make them when we got back so they wouldn’t be left unattended, and his response was “I only made them 3 minutes ago.” Still being polite, we explained that we felt unsafe drinking drinks that we weren’t able to watch. He rolled his eyes and re made them. As a woman, I do not think it should have been such a problem for him to either do what we asked in the first place, or remake them. It’s about safety and at the end of the day that is a large aspect of a bartenders responsibilities. It worries me that women who may be less confident in speaking up for themselves will be unsafe when this bartender is working.
Karaoke night was awesome 👌
Chicken wings were good. Service good. Atmosphere was good, just like old times in my 20s.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
I've been going here for 20 years. Great place. Boo bills. Go Birds!
Service: 5
Fantastic. First time here, but I LOVE this place already. The fish and chips are phenomenal, I will absolutely be back for more. Delicious. The bartenders are very cool people. This place embodies everything that I love about my hometown of Portland!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Loading...