Joe’s Cellar
1332 NW 21st Ave, Portland, OR, 97209
Joe’s Cellar Menu
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Address :
1332 NW 21st Ave
Portland, OR, 97209 - Phone (503) 223-8825
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:00 am - 12:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast, Late Night
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Timothy R.
Dive bars can be a wonderful thing--I'm not talking about the type of place where you're afraid of getting a shiv in the bathroom, but a comfortable, neighborhood establishment where locals go to enjoy each other's company and a drink or five. Joe's Cellar, thankfully, belongs in the latter category. Low, black ceilings give the place a cozy feel, while the 70's plywood walls add more to the overall ambiance. Assorted beer mirrors adorn the walls, sprinkled among the TVs. Complementary popcorn. Big Buck Hunter with Duck Dynasty. Booths. A comfortable, central bar. What more could you need? For my food choice, I opted for a blue cheese with bacon burger (not on the menu but they're flexible). Deee-li-ci-ous. Nothing complements the ground-up, roasted flesh of a noble mammal than blue cheese and crispy strips of another animal! As a bonus, the tomato was real...not the type they harvest from the forest. All this on a brioche bun stacked as high as a three story condo. And the fries...not like Ronald McDonald makes; these look and taste homemade. Joe's is close to the 'yuppie' haven of NW 21st but in many ways is light years away. If you want an $11 Cosmo, go a few blocks away to a trendy bar on 23rd. If you want a good pour at a fair price and a burger to go with it, check out Joe's.
(5)Mirna E.
One of the only places open late at night in the area that still served food. Service was friendly and food was descent. Good beer pricing. Lighting is dim indoors and legit dive bar atmosphere.
(3)Cornelious N.
Over a year of living a block away from Joe's I've... Developed and broke a gambling addiction Quit smoking three times Lost money playing pool to a guy named Yukon Sang bad karaoke ...and met all the regulars. ...got asked for cocaine by the regulars, repeatedly. (I don't have or do it) All at Joe's. It's the best place in town.
(5)Kristina M.
I will admit I was a little scared at first. My BF and I hit the street for a walk around the neighborhood one morning. We just kept wandering down 21st looking for breakfast that would suit his lo-carb needs. We came upon this little dive and he (being the more adventurous) decided to check it out. The waitress was super nice and we oddly had the whole place to ourselves at 9am on a Sunday. His omelet was ginormous and my corned beef hash and eggs were to die for. Huge chunks of beef with a slight sweetness. This was definitely a good find.
(4)Levi L.
Good corned beef hash is really hard to come by. You could tell that the hash was house made and the potatoes had been cooked to order. EVERY diner should be this meticulous about their quality. It would CHANGE AMERICA!!!! Lol. But seriously. I will go here often.
(5)Jeannie J.
I just drove past, and it's open again. Like a Phoenix from the ashes :) I wish I had time to stop today. Hopefully soon!
(5)Eric E.
It's a dive. As far as dives go, it's got everything from cheap drinks to torn upholstery. I can't imagine a reason to go out of your way for it, but I recommend it over Quimby's if you're in the Alphabets.
(3)Garrett S.
Best dive bar in Portland. Great cheap drinks. Karaoke, pool, juke box, etc. really cool old school booths. This has a wonderful atmosphere when you are tied of all the hipster clubs and loud pearl joints :)
(4)Ashley M.
I've been to Joe's cellar a few times now and like the fact that it's one of the few dive bars in the neighborhood. I was there on New Year's eve and it was relatively crowded which was to be expected. Unfortunately all the pool tables were busy when we arrived but there were open tables in the dining area so we were able to sit and drink. The bar was packed but luckily it didn't take too long to get our drinks. The drinks are pretty well priced, I haven't tried the food yet but I've heard good things as well as seen good reviews.
(4)Michelle H.
While this is a whole lot less trendy than most places on Trendy-First or Trendy-Third, it still leaves little to be desired. Okay, so it's about as far as you can get from trendy; it's about as dive as you can get with a name called Joe's Cellar. It feels very bottom of the barrel. Nothing matches. Nothing is new. Nothing looks like it has been cleaned in awhile. I don't know who Joe is, but his cellar is in need of some attention. That said, even on a busy night full of bar crawls and self-inflicted drinking wounds, this place is pretty chill. It didn't take 50 minutes and a low cut top to get a drink, and it was easily one of the stiffest drinks of the night. Just grab a drink and slide into one of the vinyl clamshells to chill out. Or, y'know, go somewhere else.
(3)Olivia T.
One of the most "normal" bar on NW Alphabets District area. Normal for me is meaning that I don't have to dress up just to enjoy drinks. Normal for me is meaning that I don't have to spend more than $5 for a drink. Normal for me is meaning that if I showed up in my pajama pants, no one will care. Joe's serves strong drinks. Perhaps, it's a bit too strong for me. Maybe the bartender took one look at me and decided that she was going to got me drunk. I think if I'm in the neighborhood again, I will stop by here and perhaps to try out their breakfast. I keep hearing how good the breakfast grubs here...
(3)Steve M.
I trust Yelp because many times I'll be at a bar - pull up Yelp on my iPhone - and mostly agree with the reviews on the place. Tonight that changed. My friend and I were looking for a place to eat tonight and Joe's came up with a 4.5 star review..... 15 of them. I tell my friend who is totally skeptical of Yelp that we have to go to this joint. This place is a 4.5 star place IF you like: 55 and older crowd Smoke filled room Mashed potato bartender Cheap drinks Pool tables Gambling machines Big place The cheap drink was the only highlight. We didn't eat here because it looked too shady.... But we did have 2 pints for $7 because we made the effort to find the place in the cold rain.....
(1)Zack W.
Joe's Cellar. You are my tender dream. My sweet. You are my Jackalope to the stars. Good food, stiff drinks, huge bar that is never empty with the best service in the NW.
(5)Roxie G.
This is a fun place! Sunday night they have karaoke with Captain and he's a doll! The people in there seem to be very supportive of every singer, so that's cool too. For sure a good vibe.
(4)Matt S.
At first glance, Joe's Cellar seems like just another generic name for a proudly divey bar, but it's actually quite descriptive. Indeed, drinking here is like hanging out in your buddy's windowless, wood-paneled cellar, with most of the illumination coming from the glow of a fake fireplace, video lottery machines, or a propped-open door. Don't get the wrong impression, though: dimly lit as it may be, this is hardly a depressing place in which to imbibe, offering free pool on Wednesdays, free tacos on Thursday, and charming conversations with 60-year-old white men about Ice Cube's film career nightly.
(4)Liz A.
Pass this place pretty often, finally stopped in this Sat. morning. According to the menu, the buildings been around for 100 years or so! I shared a heaping plate of 3 scrambled eggs, sausages, and hashbrowns topped off with a fluffy biscuit. Food was average, but what you'd expect & still filled us up which was what we needed. The server was very alert, and came back to top off our coffee several times.
(3)Corwin M.
This place is a dinosaur in the Land Before Time, in the ungentrified section of Northwest Portland that stretches between the hospital and the industrial region starting a few blocks north of it; a less cheery limbo than the one Pope Benedict XVI did away with, or perhaps more like a purgatory? Whithersoever your Catholic theology may lean this place is a welcome bastion of Old Portland in the midst of Yuppiedom. It's huge, it's dark, and it features the perfect mix of dark wood furnishings and brass with large leather booths and a nigh-threadbare institutional carpet that's dark enough to conceal any stains: where Sunny Barger would like to drink now that he's mellowed out enough to stop smashing pool sticks on people's domes. Speaking of which, there are decent pool tables here. Also speaking of which it's generally a pretty mellow place, though like most bars it livens up a bit in the evenings. The food is your slightly-above-par greasy spoon bar food, meaning it's filling and tasty at a reasonable price. The drinks are also reasonably priced, and the bar backs generally congenial. There's also an adjoining restaurant for AA secretaries or those shackled to anklebiters.
(4)Russell C.
It was only ok i had chicken fried steak, it was over cooked but the home fries were good. Im a coox my self and the guy cooking in the kitchen had his hand all wraped up and his bandges were showing so i didnt even eat but half and stoped when i saw his hand. never went into there bar area but the dinner going to be a no go for me again ..
(1)Tiffany C.
More update! We used to have to go to the Lompoc if we wanted food after 10:00 in NW. No more! Joe's has a full menu all weekend now, great stuff too. Try the nachos. Home made chips... amazing.
(5)Holly V.
Simple food, but great...and cheap! Waitress (I think her name is Emily) might be the sweetest person on the planet too.
(4)Alex K.
I love the reviews for this place. Listen kids the whole thing about places is what you are looking for in them or what expectations you have going in. I try not to have expectations when entering a place like this. That said, you get exactly what you deserve when you walk in here. Greasy spoon food, people who have been drinking, smoking and gambling since 7am and Bertha the 70 year old waitress from Schenectady, coughing in your face as she takes your order. Am I a fan? Hell yes I am. I may ask for my ashes to be spread across the carpet when I die.
(4)Helen G.
You can't find a better dive bar in Portland.
(5)Lindsay N.
i'm not sure what i was expecting before i entered this establishment. am i going to be smothered with douche bags? hussies? hipsters? the answer (thank god) was no. this joint is perfect for those times when you don't feel like getting all gussied up just to go grab a drink. i felt relaxed, which for me, is rare when going to a bar for the first time. *nice bartenders? yes *friendly servers? you bet your sweet ass. *good prices? yes, ma'am/sir. basically, i will be going back. especially since it's a stones throw from my residence.
(4)Aaron F.
It's a cellar for sure... Cheap drinks, good service, super dark. The cafe next door is one of the best in town; awesome food, cheap prices, friendly service, and never a line.
(4)Patrick M.
Go to watch the people, Joes is the bar you are always looking for but rarely find, Portland has more good dives per capita than any other city I have ever been. Thank Jesus' socks.
(4)Doug Y.
Cheap! I mean everytime I eat there and get the bill I'm like "Really? That's it?" $6 pints for groups, occasional free pool, pretty good service. Although I've heard mixed reviews about their staff from friends, they seem to be more friendly to guys than gals, but I wouldn't know 'cause... 'cause I'm a guy. Also they're supposedly haunted, ask 'em for details or search the web, I think it's a pretty notorious ghost, but I haven't ever seen it. The jukebox is pretty damn good too. If you're solo you can sit at the end of the bar near the main entrance and they give you the remote for the TV. There's also the unpopular & completely empty non-smoking area, which is sort of off in its own world.
(5)Abe I.
A bar on 21st avenue that is a whole complex unto itself with different rooms, each with different atmospheres. There is a little restaurant with a jukebox stocked full of country favorites (dwight yokum over questionable eggs at 5am!?!) and from there it leads off into darker spaces for serious drinking. Come here to lose yourself or if you already have.
(3)Dave H.
For being both a diner and a bar it's amazing they do both so well. I love the breakfasts, the prices are great, and the staff is always friendly. As others have mentioned, the customers are always interesting. It's great if you can walk home from it as well, because the drinks are great deals.
(5)Wizardbunz Z.
When I started coming here this place was super awesome. It's never busy and the food was decent and cheap. Recently the entire kitchen staff quit and so did the wait staff. I have no idea what happened but holy hell does this place suck now. So terrible. I've been here several times since the change hoping it would fall back into place and it just doesn't. The waitress is awful. I mean bad. Really really really bad. And there's only one. So you're stuck with her. The last time we went pretty much sealed the deal though. All the food was wrong. She straight up walked past us with our food and then when she couldn't remember who's it was she took it back to the kitchen and it was never seen again. Poached eggs came instead of over easy which would have been ok I guess if the poached eggs weren't completely cooked all the way through. Sending them back seemed to be the beginning of the end. Cooking eggs over easy takes about a minute. So when nothing was coming back to our table ten minutes later and the rest of our food was cold we decided to just leave. The waitress apologized. I have nothing against anyone that works here but I don't think any of them belong in a restaurant in any way. Sadly I won't be going here again. Yay!
(1)Jason F.
The name pretty much describes this place. Come here to be free of the bad food and hipsters that plague so much of Portland. This place makes no effort to be modern or trendy. The outside looks old and run down, and so does the inside. The food is good and cheap. The service is about what one would expect.
(4)Kate S.
It's the wood paneling that really makes it work. Maybe the light-up Budweiser sign too. Joe's Cellar is a place where it's fine to stop for breakfast and you won't leave elated or nauseous, but somewhat satisfied. It's not the kitchen at Fawlty Towers or Gusteau's, but the bartender was friendly for an early morning meal, the morning drinkers were perfectly calm as they discussed state legislation on revenge porn, and the pancake sandwich is a great idea I'd replicate at home next time. There's plenty of room for pool, karaoke is held on some nights, and it seems relatively well kept. As a hipster tourist, I enjoyed my visit and I'm glad it's a popular place for locals who want a break from the trendy parts of Portland.
(3)Wendy D.
Hey NW indies - is good honest home cooked breakfast something you're looking for in our end of the hood? Then look no further and stop in at the diner side of Joes Cellar. Screw waiting in line for overpriced eggs. The meals we had at Joes were clearly made with love. Killer chicken fried steak and gravy. Fed our whole family of 4 for under $30!! Everything made fresh. Don't let the outside fool you. They rock breakfast in here. So glad we stopped. Service was also wonderful.
(5)Shy A.
Joe's is a lot larger than I expected it to be walking in so don't be discouraged by what you see on the outside. I had a great time here the other night and will definitely be back. Here's my short and sweet break down. Cheap drinks? Yup. $3.50 for a whiskey ginger and $2.50 Sessions is A-OK with me. Music? Fantastic mix when I was there...Mix of some old and new and it kept us dancing and reminiscing about the good old days. Buck and pinball machines? Hell yeah. I didn't make my way to the other side of the bar but it appeared to have a ton on seating so it's perfect for a group.
(4)Kristen D.
This is my favorite local bar in portland. It doesn't try to be anything more than it is, a divey bar with pool tables and surprisingly realllllllly good food. Super cheap drinks and karaoke & free pool on Sunday's ! Our usual cocktail waitress, Brianna is an angel!
(5)Don C.
My wife and I are from Alaska and went to Joes Seller for lunch. I can not speak for the food as we never got seated. I stood by the bar for 10 minutes and watched the "waitress" serve one other table and, look my way and promptly walk way. The other waitress behind the bar looked at me and did the same. So due the the lack of concern and the dingy atmosphere, I definitely would not recommend this place to anyone.
(1)Michelangelo S.
THE "Dive" Of Bridgetown Dive Bars SITREP Bejesus, I love this dive bar! Secluded, Easy-to-Miss, Dark, (Scary? Well, not really...), but man what a great place to chill and make your watering hole. THE DRINKS Cheap! I mean, CHEAP! Everything I had was right around $3-$4 - for drink sizes (with MORE of an alcohol-kick or strength that) I'd be paying $6 here in Sacramento or $9 down in the Bay Area or L.A., such as my traditional Whisky & Coke. My bartender Minique was an absolute sweetheart and set me up with great drinks for this evening that included the aforementioend cocktail and a hard cider. THE AMBIANCE Pool tables, a Jukebox that looks like it was taken right out of the movie "TRON", and a clientele that is edgy & friendly at the same time. To be honest, Joe's Cellar would be one of the incentives for me to move BACK to Bridgetown. [Well, THAT...and a JOB.] ;) THE LOWDOWN One of the best watering holes you could hope for in Bridgetown.
(5)Tania B.
Friendly staff and very divey. Clientele was a mix of old timers and hipsters and Us. I would cross the river for a few drinks here. Play some pool and put some hard earned money in the video poker machines. Make sure you put some top 40 on the jukebox too.
(4)Rosann M.
Had lunch here with my family. It's definitely an old diner. But nothing makes you go wow, this is a cool place. Food isn't that great. Kind of greasy. Waitress was slow, and there was only one other table.
(1)Kelsie V.
Reliable, Fun, Lively Dive Strong Drink Regulars bar Good wings No more smoking Love the juke playing - but it's a fancy new one and it's expensive. Miss their old juke. Sometimes moody bartenders Good brekky in diner area and bar Safe to hangout if you're solo Decent beer selection Outside tables in summer, can't beat it One of the best cocktail waitresses ever, Cathie !
(5)Ramie M.
Great little dive bar. Friendly staff, lively customers, a good variety of drinks, and a smattering of food to squash your appetite. Recommend it as a good hangout spot if you're in the area, however, I am not anymore so I don't go too often.
(4)Matt W.
Rachel was amazing! Super fun and sang country music with me. Biscuits n Gravy were also top notch.
(5)Jennifer R.
I walk past this place everyday, to and from work. Decided to stop in today for breakfast. Was greeted by very sweet young woman behind the counter. Ordered the Farmer's Scramble special: (I did egg whites and they didn't upcharge me) ham, bacon, green onion, jalapeño (I got it without and the server pronounce it "jalapeno" which humored me), cilantro, tomato, and smoked cheddar with toast and potatoes. I added a large orange juice for a grand total of $10.50. Food was made in less than 5 minutes. The scramble was small in appearance, but very good (very nice portions of meat). I was able to divide it into two (saving for breakfast tomorrow). The server gave me the menu with the phone number, so I could call in my order in the future if I wanted to. I will be returning. I want to try their French Toast (today's special of Berry French Toast seemed amazing, but I wanted a savory breakfast), pancakes (they have shortstacks), and biscuits and gravy (only $5!!!). Coming from the south, this place is kinda akin to Waffle House (diner set up and breakfast all day, except they close at 2.5pm and it doesn't reek of cigarettes and grease). My feelings for this place are bordering on love even after one togo visit because I'm tired of the brunch snobbery in this city. I only want food and good service that I pay for, rather than having to fit the stereotype of the restaurant to get good service (ala Stepping Stone and the like). ***SADLY, Joe's cellar shut down before I was able to post my review. Sad day!!!***
(5)Jaime L.
Drinks yes please, fun bartender is a must, good food too winner winner chicken dinner. Fun bar in NW that is inexpensive loving it!
(5)Kevin A.
A friend and I had lunch at the Café part of Joe's Cellar. I had a Bacon Cheeseburger and fries, and I would rate this as one of the best burgers I have ever had, and I eat burgers everywhere to see how good they are. I would recommend this to anyone, but there is a catch, the Café closes at 1:30 pm. I am giving this 5 stars due to the service and food.
(5)Doug S.
Joes is a great hang. Dean the chef makes a killer BLT and the bartenders are great. At least at night. Shawn is a bartender supremo. Seriously come check it out, you'll come back.
(4)Amanda K.
Joes is back! The bar has been refinished, the patrons are the same, and all is well again in Slabtown.
(4)Danielle H.
Best biscuits and gravy I've ever had and best chicken fried steak - and that's coming from a Texas native and someone who spent the last 5 years in Texas. Staff was super friendly and prices are totally reasonable. Highly recommend for breakfast!
(5)Feng H.
It's back and I am so glad! This is my favorite dive bar in the area. $3.50 well drinks and an okay selection of domestic beers on tap. They have a small breakfast (2 eggs, 2 strips of bacon and a piece of toast) for $1.99 from 7-8 am on weekdays and I am excited about their new happy hour menu that includes fried cheese curds. Their drinks are pretty stiff and their service is always very friendly. Still the same chill vibe as before they closed down, but now they have small table menus and candles, whoa, getting classy.
(4)Mickey B.
One of Portland's only (truly) unpretentious neighborhood bars. Despite the divey feel of the place the atmosphere is cozy, the waitresses are wonderful, and the clientele range from the mellow 20-something crowd to the 70-something story tellers. Surprisingly: a very good mix. Good drinks, the Jukebox has a decent selection, and they have comfortable seating. Also, they happen to have the best Onion rings I have ever had...well...Ever. I miss it a lot actually.
(5)rich j.
Both times I've been the service has been seriously lacking. Like I had to get my own coffee refills (not that getting my own coffee is some huge ordeal, but it's a freaking diner, hello, coffee, that's like 40% of why people are there). I went here because it was included in a list of places with good food and no wait (for when you're over Portland's brunch scene [with a mandatory 45 minutes or longer wait]). You'll end up waiting here too, you'll just be seated while you do it.
(2)Venerable V.
This place is bigger than I thought. Strolled in w a friend on a random Thursday night and karaoke was happening...and people were getting into it! Such emotion! I loved it! If I lived in the area, this would totally be my jam.
(4)chris m.
i can't believe the reviews this place gets! i was totally underwhelmed by the food, which was pretty limited (though, breakfast all day always wins), and was not great but was passable. cheap, too. the reason i give it such an awesome review (and all i'm reviewing is the diner for lunch--didn't mosey into the bar part at all. but the waitress was such a sweetheart, bought an obviously down-on-his-luck fellow lunch while i watched, and was the picture of efficiency..i gave her a huge tip and left smiling. and smiles on days like today...worth four stars. won't take my parents here or anything, but will probably head back since it is close to my office, cheap, and quick.
(4)Sami H.
Can't say I've had the food but this is my favorite dive bar. So far...
(4)Jared W.
I have eaten here twice. The first time I got a little drunk (the morning before I got married) and the secound just today minus all the booze. It is way better ordering a few whiskey colas for breakfast. The bar I have been to a few times, and would rate it a bit higher (maybe a 3.5). That being said the bar and the dinner are very different. The bar is dirty with cheap stiff drinks, mixed crowd and bad karoke on Sundays (Bad Kaoke is a little redundent huh?). The dinner is very clean with little booths and has a small town feel. The food isn't expensive ($8) for chicken fried steak, but the biscuits are dry, the patotoes bland and overall the menu is pretty limited.
(3)Kate F.
Ah, the smoky bar. Portland has its share, but I think this one is special. Tucked away on the far end of NW 21st, Joe's is everything I want a dive bar to be. There's nothing pretentious about this place, it just happens to be a dark, smoky pool hall where the drinks are strong and the music is trashy. It isn't part of a scene, and hipsters don't seem to congregate here. It's just a good, old-fashioned dive, and there's nothing wrong with that. I seem to remember the pool tables being really cheap, too. Great place for a night out with friends.
(4)Jon W.
A great little old time corner coffee shop diner containing booths and a counter. Joe's Cellar Cafe is open for breakfast and lunch and is separate from the lounge/bar next door (though has a shared kitchen and are owned by the same). Complete breakfast menu and standard, though somewhat limited lunch diner fare of burgers, sandwiches (BLT, Club, Reuben), salads and soups. Daily specials such as pork chops and french dip for lunch and specials like deluxe egg scrambles and deluxe pancakes for breakfast. Loyal regular customers have been coming here for years. Off the beaten path at the unofficial end of NW 21st Ave before you get into the Conway sea of parking lots.
(4)Dan H.
Another on our "Tour of places we never would have known about without a coupon from the Entertainment Book 2011". First off, I'm a bit confused. The pics that people posted here look nothing like the place my friend and I went to yesterday. I noticed there is Joe's Cellar and Joe's Cellar Cafe. I didn't even see the cafe. We entered into a dark and still slightly smelling of cigarette smoke old man type bar. I know how to use Photoshop, but if these pics are from the place I went to yesterday maybe it turns out I really don't know how to use Photoshop. I say Bravo. This review will be for Joe's Cellar (the bar, not the cafe that might or might not exist). My friend likened Joe's to places she went to growing up in the suburbs of Philadelphia. If you have ever been to the suburbs of Philadelphia that should be enough of a description for you. If not, I can easily place this establishment under the one Yelp list I have. Old School Portland. It doesn't get much more old school than this. From the clientele to the bar stools. Simple menu. Breakfast served all day, burgers, hot and cold sandwiches, salads, soups, done. Nothing on the menu looked to be over $9. I had Joe's Double Burger and fries ($8.25). It came with cheese and bacon on top. Lots of bacon actually. My heart hurt after finishing up. Not really, but it sounded good when I typed it. The burger wasn't extraordinary, but having a coupon made it better. The fries were those old school type fries that you used to see all the time before shoestrings became all the rage. Thick cut without a hint of sea salt or aioli to be found. I'm not sure if that is a good or bad thing. It is good knowing this place is in the world. With so many hipster and trendy bars in town, it is nice to see a place where people with walkers (yes, one walkered in) can come and have a drink amongst their crowd. I imagine that guy has been coming here for 50 years. I imagine a lot of things. Come for the experience, stay for the people watching.
(3)Daniel M.
Super cheap breakfast, no lines, and good service. I will say that the food is not superb, but I enjoyed my meal and it was pretty darn cheap!
(4)Amado L.
The last time I stepped foot inside Joe's Cellar was over [BLEEP] years ago when I could literally cut with a knife the nicotine-tinged haze that permeated its interior. In fact, if you were a habitual secondhand smoker, you would've felt right at home at Joe's. Thankfully, those days are gone, and, with Joe's being a few measly blocks from home, I vow to rekindle my alcoholic ways and become a card-carrying Joe's frequent visitor. But before that happens, let me talk to you about their breakfast. In my quest to find [BLEEP] Cafe for chow this morning-- and failing to locate it because I'm an idiot-- I ended up at Joe's. I'd been intrigued about their breakfast for a couple of weeks, ever since I happened to walk by one morning to find the words "two seasoned pork chops," "two eggs any style," "breakfast potatoes," "choice of toast," and "$9.00" emblazoned across their Specials Board that was visible from the street. I swear I had a two-second heart attack at the time. Unfortunately, I'd already had breakfast by then, and, therefore, wasn't hungry, so I had to pass up the opportunity to clog my arteries with that deliciously described offering. Luckily, due to my directional ineptitude this morning, my ass found its way atop one of the stools on the breakfast counter, and I allowed myself to experience a Joe's breakfast. Out of the respectable selection of traditional items on the menu, and the tasty choices featured on their Specials Board today, I opted for their Chicken Fried Steak breakfast because, well, why the hell not? Might as well go for the gusto on this virginal visit, I thought to myself. My only trepidation is that it came with "breakfast potatoes" instead of hash browns, for which I had a strong hankering this morning. But that worry quickly faded after I took my first bites of Joe's killer version. Seasoned with garlic, bay, thyme, and paprika, coupled with the creamy, buttery texture of the spuds, Joe's breakfast potatoes graduated from being a "side show" to a "main event" in my mouth. The chicken fried steak was a bit smaller than the ones I'd enjoyed at other places (i.e. Hungry Tiger Two's version guaranteed a need for a 'to go' container at the end) but it was sublimely savory. What it lacked in crunch was more than overshadowed by the richness of its spices, harmoniously complimented by the light gravy. The two eggs, which I'd ordered 'over easy,' were exactly that: they were over, easy. The heavily buttered (I'm not complaining) toasted English muffin was nearly unnecessary, but I devoured them just the same. The never-empty cup of, um, Joe, and the neighborly service from the staff completed the affair. By now, it should be fairly clear that I thoroughly enjoyed this visit. And I will definitely be back.
(5)Jasmine T.
This was the second stop on the fictitious pub crawl we were a day late for. We came at about 9:30 or 10:00 maybe and the place was half full. We used the pool tables... There's a jukebox that one of my friends poured money into. We danced a little despite the fact that no one else was/wanted to. I played the Deer Hunter video game in the back. I won money! That made my night. I decided to walk away a winner and keep the five dollars I had earned... but then Lady Luck lured me back in and stole my hard earned dollar. By my count, I only saw one person working there... the bartender. She ran the show: from redeeming people's slot winnings, to pouring beers, to checking IDs.
(3)Holy-foo' X.
Holy shnikeys, but this was one fun-ass dive bar!!! I had supremely low expectations upon going to Joe's for the first time (I'm confused as to why Yelp felt the need to divide the reviews between The Cafe and the Cellar---it's all the same place! But not my job to sort out, thank God!). I was expecting painfully self- aware hipster vibe, with the knowingly ironic 80s music and tacky clothing. What I found instead was a rather raucous and rowdy, rough and tumble 20-something set (for the most part) having a tremendously good time, for no overt reason-- not like we just won the world cup, or an NBA playoff game or something! Normally, "Sweet Caroline" belted out, completely out of tune, of course, by 10 or more blotto young people would have me scrambling for the exit, especially if it was in any way affiliated with the Boston Red Sox, whom I loathe. But here, in this setting, it was kind of endearing. Also: the staff is helpful and friendly, the drinks are poured STRONG man style, and their late night menu is very good (the tots alone are more than a match for most men
(4)Jesy B.
It's not often I'm compelled to write a review just because of a chef. But this chef deserves it. Harvey is his name, and awesome food is his game. It was my roommate's birthday this weekend, and she being a frequenter of Joe's - mentioned this to Harvey. Though the kitchen closes before we planned to be there that didn't stop Harvey. No sir. Not only did he come in around midnight to open the kitchen, he made us all a special meal with ratatouille, heavenly mashed potatoes and some kind of steak that was AMAZING. We had our breakfast at Joe's the next day, bright and early, and Harvey was there again. He's a rough looking sort of guy, but...absolutely sweet and absolutely loves making food. He checks in with customers, talks about the tweaks of spices he's added to see if it's up to par. You can tell if someone is just asking to talk or asking for real feedback - that's Harvey. I've never liked a chef like this but he's super nice, sweet, etc. And the food? Heck yes. Breakfast is yummy and they always have some creative specials to boot. The waitresses are characters indeed and always make breakfast more interesting. As for evening, the bar is spacious, noisy and the drinks are stiff. This place rocks.
(5)Mac M.
I thought for sure that I'd written a review for this little hole-in-the-wall deep in NW Portland, but I guess I hadn't First things first, there are no windows (Yes!), secondly, the drinks are strong and cheap, and finally, the clientele is an interesting mix of hipsters and old timers/regulars who all seem to get along swimmingly. There are plenty of TV's and pool tables in case you get bored enough to do something else besides cry in your beer and they even have Karaoke night (I think it's on Sunday's). Try it on for size! What can possibly go wrong?
(5)Jose M.
The nice thing about this place is that is quite mellow, but lively. Maybe because it's Wednesday night. The music is also not too loud. I could talk with my normal voice and my ears were happy. The bacon beef sliders were also good and. cheap. Kinda far from where I live. Otherwise, I'll visit this place more often. Don't care much about pool tables, but they got some.
(4)Leigh B.
Talk about a filthy bar. The minute I walked in I was sketched out. But what the hey my friend was buying. We found seats and my friends goes to the bar with our ids to get our drinks. My friend by the way, is obviously inebriated. They tell him I have to get up and get my own drink which I think is kind of silly. Never been told that before at a bar. They continue to serve him 6 beers. They serve me, the stone cold sober one a beer and then refuse to sell me anymore. So in conclusion, if you're are already drunk its OK to get drunker but if you're not its screw you. The bartender gave me dirty look the whole time. I know its not just me because my friends have had similar experiences. Its a good thing my drunk friend wasn't driving in the condition he was in.
(1)Elizabeth D.
Thank God this place re-opened!!! This neighborhood was just not the same when Joe's was condemned. All us regulars, wandering around like a refugee with no place to go. Then it re-opens and it better than ever. They've managed to keep the prices low but raise the quality and the staff is awesome as always. It's still as divey as ever but now with better food and much cleaner environment. Highly Recommend!
(5)Makenna C.
Only speaking of the cafe: it's a great no-frills and very reasonably priced diner that isn't enveloped in it's own irony. Same waitress everyday, and she's amazing.
(3)Stephanie K.
Fantastic dive! People need to come witness the awesomeness that is Cat Stories, Ghost Stories, presents First Time Stories with music by Snow Snakes. Basically, get together a bunch of people on the third Saturday of every month. Get them completely blacked out before 10 am. Have them tell a random story. Have musicians play equally random music which is hilarious. Drink along with everybody. Have a fantastical time. Drinks and stiff and the food is damn good for such a dive.
(5)Tori L.
So there are two parts to joe's Cellar, the shady bar with no windows and then the cafe, which if your coming from lovejoy just know to walk all the way to the end of the block where the cafe entrance is. Really liked the cafe part, cute, roomy, food was really good had an eggs benedict and waitress was really nice. Not the cheapest breakfast but a lot of food $13 tip included and worth it to find a local breakfast place.
(4)Michelle L.
With a stack of old tvs in a corner [edit: they got rid of the old tvs and got new, working ones :( ] and wood paneling everywhere, this place reminds me of drinking in your creepy uncle's basement. But don't fret, without said uncle, the place is actually comfortable and pretty great. Servers have always been nice & prompt, & the place is fairly cavernous with lots of seating options (though does anyone ever sit in the dining room area? ever? Once a friend and I tried to enter through the dining room door and it was locked!). Drinks are decently-to-very strong, and they have good food specials. Lack of hipsters or people who look like they do yoga makes this place a winner. Just wish it was a little closer to my place so I could comfortably stumble home from there more often.
(4)Chuck S.
All I can really say about this place is it reminds me of a much larger Sewickly's.
(2)Olivia K.
This place is a great traditional diner. Honestly, I can't believe it hasn't yet been swarmed by thousands of hipsters. If it were in SE, perhaps it would be, but instead: there's no wait on a Sunday morning, the waitress is plenty of old fashioned charm, and the food is cheap. For a little more flavor, why not try the dive bar next door?
(5)David R.
Drinking, for many, can be close to religion. And when I think of religion I naturally turn an eye toward the Icons of faith: the Christian cross, statues of Buddha, the Star of David, the Hindu cow, Egyptian obelisks. Years ago my friends and I worshipped at the Lion's Head pool table at Joe's Cellar on NW 21st. A place where it was dark even in the afternoon, you could find Hank William's Jr. on the juke, Crown-and-Cokes for $3, and it was just dank and smoky enough to keep the trendies away. Today it seems you can hear Cash or Williams anywhere in the city, that old jukebox at Joe's has been replaced by something neon and digital, and trendies have established a home there on the weekends. Times change, and a new generation arrives in the city every summer. But I still find time to make it back and pay homage to the Lion's Head table for 9-ball every now and again. distilledpublishing.blog…
(5)Kristen D.
This is my favorite local bar in portland. It doesn't try to be anything more than it is, a divey bar with pool tables and surprisingly realllllllly good food. Super cheap drinks and karaoke & free pool on Sunday's ! Our usual cocktail waitress, Brianna is an angel!
(5)Don C.
My wife and I are from Alaska and went to Joes Seller for lunch. I can not speak for the food as we never got seated. I stood by the bar for 10 minutes and watched the "waitress" serve one other table and, look my way and promptly walk way. The other waitress behind the bar looked at me and did the same. So due the the lack of concern and the dingy atmosphere, I definitely would not recommend this place to anyone.
(1)Ramie M.
Great little dive bar. Friendly staff, lively customers, a good variety of drinks, and a smattering of food to squash your appetite. Recommend it as a good hangout spot if you're in the area, however, I am not anymore so I don't go too often.
(4)Matt W.
Rachel was amazing! Super fun and sang country music with me. Biscuits n Gravy were also top notch.
(5)Rosann M.
Had lunch here with my family. It's definitely an old diner. But nothing makes you go wow, this is a cool place. Food isn't that great. Kind of greasy. Waitress was slow, and there was only one other table.
(1)Kelsie V.
Reliable, Fun, Lively Dive Strong Drink Regulars bar Good wings No more smoking Love the juke playing - but it's a fancy new one and it's expensive. Miss their old juke. Sometimes moody bartenders Good brekky in diner area and bar Safe to hangout if you're solo Decent beer selection Outside tables in summer, can't beat it One of the best cocktail waitresses ever, Cathie !
(5)Michelangelo S.
THE "Dive" Of Bridgetown Dive Bars SITREP Bejesus, I love this dive bar! Secluded, Easy-to-Miss, Dark, (Scary? Well, not really...), but man what a great place to chill and make your watering hole. THE DRINKS Cheap! I mean, CHEAP! Everything I had was right around $3-$4 - for drink sizes (with MORE of an alcohol-kick or strength that) I'd be paying $6 here in Sacramento or $9 down in the Bay Area or L.A., such as my traditional Whisky & Coke. My bartender Minique was an absolute sweetheart and set me up with great drinks for this evening that included the aforementioend cocktail and a hard cider. THE AMBIANCE Pool tables, a Jukebox that looks like it was taken right out of the movie "TRON", and a clientele that is edgy & friendly at the same time. To be honest, Joe's Cellar would be one of the incentives for me to move BACK to Bridgetown. [Well, THAT...and a JOB.] ;) THE LOWDOWN One of the best watering holes you could hope for in Bridgetown.
(5)Tania B.
Friendly staff and very divey. Clientele was a mix of old timers and hipsters and Us. I would cross the river for a few drinks here. Play some pool and put some hard earned money in the video poker machines. Make sure you put some top 40 on the jukebox too.
(4)Timothy R.
Dive bars can be a wonderful thing--I'm not talking about the type of place where you're afraid of getting a shiv in the bathroom, but a comfortable, neighborhood establishment where locals go to enjoy each other's company and a drink or five. Joe's Cellar, thankfully, belongs in the latter category. Low, black ceilings give the place a cozy feel, while the 70's plywood walls add more to the overall ambiance. Assorted beer mirrors adorn the walls, sprinkled among the TVs. Complementary popcorn. Big Buck Hunter with Duck Dynasty. Booths. A comfortable, central bar. What more could you need? For my food choice, I opted for a blue cheese with bacon burger (not on the menu but they're flexible). Deee-li-ci-ous. Nothing complements the ground-up, roasted flesh of a noble mammal than blue cheese and crispy strips of another animal! As a bonus, the tomato was real...not the type they harvest from the forest. All this on a brioche bun stacked as high as a three story condo. And the fries...not like Ronald McDonald makes; these look and taste homemade. Joe's is close to the 'yuppie' haven of NW 21st but in many ways is light years away. If you want an $11 Cosmo, go a few blocks away to a trendy bar on 23rd. If you want a good pour at a fair price and a burger to go with it, check out Joe's.
(5)Mirna E.
One of the only places open late at night in the area that still served food. Service was friendly and food was descent. Good beer pricing. Lighting is dim indoors and legit dive bar atmosphere.
(3)Cornelious N.
Over a year of living a block away from Joe's I've... Developed and broke a gambling addiction Quit smoking three times Lost money playing pool to a guy named Yukon Sang bad karaoke ...and met all the regulars. ...got asked for cocaine by the regulars, repeatedly. (I don't have or do it) All at Joe's. It's the best place in town.
(5)Wizardbunz Z.
When I started coming here this place was super awesome. It's never busy and the food was decent and cheap. Recently the entire kitchen staff quit and so did the wait staff. I have no idea what happened but holy hell does this place suck now. So terrible. I've been here several times since the change hoping it would fall back into place and it just doesn't. The waitress is awful. I mean bad. Really really really bad. And there's only one. So you're stuck with her. The last time we went pretty much sealed the deal though. All the food was wrong. She straight up walked past us with our food and then when she couldn't remember who's it was she took it back to the kitchen and it was never seen again. Poached eggs came instead of over easy which would have been ok I guess if the poached eggs weren't completely cooked all the way through. Sending them back seemed to be the beginning of the end. Cooking eggs over easy takes about a minute. So when nothing was coming back to our table ten minutes later and the rest of our food was cold we decided to just leave. The waitress apologized. I have nothing against anyone that works here but I don't think any of them belong in a restaurant in any way. Sadly I won't be going here again. Yay!
(1)Jason F.
The name pretty much describes this place. Come here to be free of the bad food and hipsters that plague so much of Portland. This place makes no effort to be modern or trendy. The outside looks old and run down, and so does the inside. The food is good and cheap. The service is about what one would expect.
(4)Kate S.
It's the wood paneling that really makes it work. Maybe the light-up Budweiser sign too. Joe's Cellar is a place where it's fine to stop for breakfast and you won't leave elated or nauseous, but somewhat satisfied. It's not the kitchen at Fawlty Towers or Gusteau's, but the bartender was friendly for an early morning meal, the morning drinkers were perfectly calm as they discussed state legislation on revenge porn, and the pancake sandwich is a great idea I'd replicate at home next time. There's plenty of room for pool, karaoke is held on some nights, and it seems relatively well kept. As a hipster tourist, I enjoyed my visit and I'm glad it's a popular place for locals who want a break from the trendy parts of Portland.
(3)Wendy D.
Hey NW indies - is good honest home cooked breakfast something you're looking for in our end of the hood? Then look no further and stop in at the diner side of Joes Cellar. Screw waiting in line for overpriced eggs. The meals we had at Joes were clearly made with love. Killer chicken fried steak and gravy. Fed our whole family of 4 for under $30!! Everything made fresh. Don't let the outside fool you. They rock breakfast in here. So glad we stopped. Service was also wonderful.
(5)Shy A.
Joe's is a lot larger than I expected it to be walking in so don't be discouraged by what you see on the outside. I had a great time here the other night and will definitely be back. Here's my short and sweet break down. Cheap drinks? Yup. $3.50 for a whiskey ginger and $2.50 Sessions is A-OK with me. Music? Fantastic mix when I was there...Mix of some old and new and it kept us dancing and reminiscing about the good old days. Buck and pinball machines? Hell yeah. I didn't make my way to the other side of the bar but it appeared to have a ton on seating so it's perfect for a group.
(4)Kristina M.
I will admit I was a little scared at first. My BF and I hit the street for a walk around the neighborhood one morning. We just kept wandering down 21st looking for breakfast that would suit his lo-carb needs. We came upon this little dive and he (being the more adventurous) decided to check it out. The waitress was super nice and we oddly had the whole place to ourselves at 9am on a Sunday. His omelet was ginormous and my corned beef hash and eggs were to die for. Huge chunks of beef with a slight sweetness. This was definitely a good find.
(4)Levi L.
Good corned beef hash is really hard to come by. You could tell that the hash was house made and the potatoes had been cooked to order. EVERY diner should be this meticulous about their quality. It would CHANGE AMERICA!!!! Lol. But seriously. I will go here often.
(5)Jeannie J.
I just drove past, and it's open again. Like a Phoenix from the ashes :) I wish I had time to stop today. Hopefully soon!
(5)Eric E.
It's a dive. As far as dives go, it's got everything from cheap drinks to torn upholstery. I can't imagine a reason to go out of your way for it, but I recommend it over Quimby's if you're in the Alphabets.
(3)Garrett S.
Best dive bar in Portland. Great cheap drinks. Karaoke, pool, juke box, etc. really cool old school booths. This has a wonderful atmosphere when you are tied of all the hipster clubs and loud pearl joints :)
(4)Jennifer R.
I walk past this place everyday, to and from work. Decided to stop in today for breakfast. Was greeted by very sweet young woman behind the counter. Ordered the Farmer's Scramble special: (I did egg whites and they didn't upcharge me) ham, bacon, green onion, jalapeño (I got it without and the server pronounce it "jalapeno" which humored me), cilantro, tomato, and smoked cheddar with toast and potatoes. I added a large orange juice for a grand total of $10.50. Food was made in less than 5 minutes. The scramble was small in appearance, but very good (very nice portions of meat). I was able to divide it into two (saving for breakfast tomorrow). The server gave me the menu with the phone number, so I could call in my order in the future if I wanted to. I will be returning. I want to try their French Toast (today's special of Berry French Toast seemed amazing, but I wanted a savory breakfast), pancakes (they have shortstacks), and biscuits and gravy (only $5!!!). Coming from the south, this place is kinda akin to Waffle House (diner set up and breakfast all day, except they close at 2.5pm and it doesn't reek of cigarettes and grease). My feelings for this place are bordering on love even after one togo visit because I'm tired of the brunch snobbery in this city. I only want food and good service that I pay for, rather than having to fit the stereotype of the restaurant to get good service (ala Stepping Stone and the like). ***SADLY, Joe's cellar shut down before I was able to post my review. Sad day!!!***
(5)Jaime L.
Drinks yes please, fun bartender is a must, good food too winner winner chicken dinner. Fun bar in NW that is inexpensive loving it!
(5)Kevin A.
A friend and I had lunch at the Café part of Joe's Cellar. I had a Bacon Cheeseburger and fries, and I would rate this as one of the best burgers I have ever had, and I eat burgers everywhere to see how good they are. I would recommend this to anyone, but there is a catch, the Café closes at 1:30 pm. I am giving this 5 stars due to the service and food.
(5)Doug S.
Joes is a great hang. Dean the chef makes a killer BLT and the bartenders are great. At least at night. Shawn is a bartender supremo. Seriously come check it out, you'll come back.
(4)Amanda K.
Joes is back! The bar has been refinished, the patrons are the same, and all is well again in Slabtown.
(4)Danielle H.
Best biscuits and gravy I've ever had and best chicken fried steak - and that's coming from a Texas native and someone who spent the last 5 years in Texas. Staff was super friendly and prices are totally reasonable. Highly recommend for breakfast!
(5)Feng H.
It's back and I am so glad! This is my favorite dive bar in the area. $3.50 well drinks and an okay selection of domestic beers on tap. They have a small breakfast (2 eggs, 2 strips of bacon and a piece of toast) for $1.99 from 7-8 am on weekdays and I am excited about their new happy hour menu that includes fried cheese curds. Their drinks are pretty stiff and their service is always very friendly. Still the same chill vibe as before they closed down, but now they have small table menus and candles, whoa, getting classy.
(4)Ashley M.
I've been to Joe's cellar a few times now and like the fact that it's one of the few dive bars in the neighborhood. I was there on New Year's eve and it was relatively crowded which was to be expected. Unfortunately all the pool tables were busy when we arrived but there were open tables in the dining area so we were able to sit and drink. The bar was packed but luckily it didn't take too long to get our drinks. The drinks are pretty well priced, I haven't tried the food yet but I've heard good things as well as seen good reviews.
(4)Mickey B.
One of Portland's only (truly) unpretentious neighborhood bars. Despite the divey feel of the place the atmosphere is cozy, the waitresses are wonderful, and the clientele range from the mellow 20-something crowd to the 70-something story tellers. Surprisingly: a very good mix. Good drinks, the Jukebox has a decent selection, and they have comfortable seating. Also, they happen to have the best Onion rings I have ever had...well...Ever. I miss it a lot actually.
(5)rich j.
Both times I've been the service has been seriously lacking. Like I had to get my own coffee refills (not that getting my own coffee is some huge ordeal, but it's a freaking diner, hello, coffee, that's like 40% of why people are there). I went here because it was included in a list of places with good food and no wait (for when you're over Portland's brunch scene [with a mandatory 45 minutes or longer wait]). You'll end up waiting here too, you'll just be seated while you do it.
(2)Dan H.
Another on our "Tour of places we never would have known about without a coupon from the Entertainment Book 2011". First off, I'm a bit confused. The pics that people posted here look nothing like the place my friend and I went to yesterday. I noticed there is Joe's Cellar and Joe's Cellar Cafe. I didn't even see the cafe. We entered into a dark and still slightly smelling of cigarette smoke old man type bar. I know how to use Photoshop, but if these pics are from the place I went to yesterday maybe it turns out I really don't know how to use Photoshop. I say Bravo. This review will be for Joe's Cellar (the bar, not the cafe that might or might not exist). My friend likened Joe's to places she went to growing up in the suburbs of Philadelphia. If you have ever been to the suburbs of Philadelphia that should be enough of a description for you. If not, I can easily place this establishment under the one Yelp list I have. Old School Portland. It doesn't get much more old school than this. From the clientele to the bar stools. Simple menu. Breakfast served all day, burgers, hot and cold sandwiches, salads, soups, done. Nothing on the menu looked to be over $9. I had Joe's Double Burger and fries ($8.25). It came with cheese and bacon on top. Lots of bacon actually. My heart hurt after finishing up. Not really, but it sounded good when I typed it. The burger wasn't extraordinary, but having a coupon made it better. The fries were those old school type fries that you used to see all the time before shoestrings became all the rage. Thick cut without a hint of sea salt or aioli to be found. I'm not sure if that is a good or bad thing. It is good knowing this place is in the world. With so many hipster and trendy bars in town, it is nice to see a place where people with walkers (yes, one walkered in) can come and have a drink amongst their crowd. I imagine that guy has been coming here for 50 years. I imagine a lot of things. Come for the experience, stay for the people watching.
(3)Daniel M.
Super cheap breakfast, no lines, and good service. I will say that the food is not superb, but I enjoyed my meal and it was pretty darn cheap!
(4)Amado L.
The last time I stepped foot inside Joe's Cellar was over [BLEEP] years ago when I could literally cut with a knife the nicotine-tinged haze that permeated its interior. In fact, if you were a habitual secondhand smoker, you would've felt right at home at Joe's. Thankfully, those days are gone, and, with Joe's being a few measly blocks from home, I vow to rekindle my alcoholic ways and become a card-carrying Joe's frequent visitor. But before that happens, let me talk to you about their breakfast. In my quest to find [BLEEP] Cafe for chow this morning-- and failing to locate it because I'm an idiot-- I ended up at Joe's. I'd been intrigued about their breakfast for a couple of weeks, ever since I happened to walk by one morning to find the words "two seasoned pork chops," "two eggs any style," "breakfast potatoes," "choice of toast," and "$9.00" emblazoned across their Specials Board that was visible from the street. I swear I had a two-second heart attack at the time. Unfortunately, I'd already had breakfast by then, and, therefore, wasn't hungry, so I had to pass up the opportunity to clog my arteries with that deliciously described offering. Luckily, due to my directional ineptitude this morning, my ass found its way atop one of the stools on the breakfast counter, and I allowed myself to experience a Joe's breakfast. Out of the respectable selection of traditional items on the menu, and the tasty choices featured on their Specials Board today, I opted for their Chicken Fried Steak breakfast because, well, why the hell not? Might as well go for the gusto on this virginal visit, I thought to myself. My only trepidation is that it came with "breakfast potatoes" instead of hash browns, for which I had a strong hankering this morning. But that worry quickly faded after I took my first bites of Joe's killer version. Seasoned with garlic, bay, thyme, and paprika, coupled with the creamy, buttery texture of the spuds, Joe's breakfast potatoes graduated from being a "side show" to a "main event" in my mouth. The chicken fried steak was a bit smaller than the ones I'd enjoyed at other places (i.e. Hungry Tiger Two's version guaranteed a need for a 'to go' container at the end) but it was sublimely savory. What it lacked in crunch was more than overshadowed by the richness of its spices, harmoniously complimented by the light gravy. The two eggs, which I'd ordered 'over easy,' were exactly that: they were over, easy. The heavily buttered (I'm not complaining) toasted English muffin was nearly unnecessary, but I devoured them just the same. The never-empty cup of, um, Joe, and the neighborly service from the staff completed the affair. By now, it should be fairly clear that I thoroughly enjoyed this visit. And I will definitely be back.
(5)Jasmine T.
This was the second stop on the fictitious pub crawl we were a day late for. We came at about 9:30 or 10:00 maybe and the place was half full. We used the pool tables... There's a jukebox that one of my friends poured money into. We danced a little despite the fact that no one else was/wanted to. I played the Deer Hunter video game in the back. I won money! That made my night. I decided to walk away a winner and keep the five dollars I had earned... but then Lady Luck lured me back in and stole my hard earned dollar. By my count, I only saw one person working there... the bartender. She ran the show: from redeeming people's slot winnings, to pouring beers, to checking IDs.
(3)Holy-foo' X.
Holy shnikeys, but this was one fun-ass dive bar!!! I had supremely low expectations upon going to Joe's for the first time (I'm confused as to why Yelp felt the need to divide the reviews between The Cafe and the Cellar---it's all the same place! But not my job to sort out, thank God!). I was expecting painfully self- aware hipster vibe, with the knowingly ironic 80s music and tacky clothing. What I found instead was a rather raucous and rowdy, rough and tumble 20-something set (for the most part) having a tremendously good time, for no overt reason-- not like we just won the world cup, or an NBA playoff game or something! Normally, "Sweet Caroline" belted out, completely out of tune, of course, by 10 or more blotto young people would have me scrambling for the exit, especially if it was in any way affiliated with the Boston Red Sox, whom I loathe. But here, in this setting, it was kind of endearing. Also: the staff is helpful and friendly, the drinks are poured STRONG man style, and their late night menu is very good (the tots alone are more than a match for most men
(4)Jesy B.
It's not often I'm compelled to write a review just because of a chef. But this chef deserves it. Harvey is his name, and awesome food is his game. It was my roommate's birthday this weekend, and she being a frequenter of Joe's - mentioned this to Harvey. Though the kitchen closes before we planned to be there that didn't stop Harvey. No sir. Not only did he come in around midnight to open the kitchen, he made us all a special meal with ratatouille, heavenly mashed potatoes and some kind of steak that was AMAZING. We had our breakfast at Joe's the next day, bright and early, and Harvey was there again. He's a rough looking sort of guy, but...absolutely sweet and absolutely loves making food. He checks in with customers, talks about the tweaks of spices he's added to see if it's up to par. You can tell if someone is just asking to talk or asking for real feedback - that's Harvey. I've never liked a chef like this but he's super nice, sweet, etc. And the food? Heck yes. Breakfast is yummy and they always have some creative specials to boot. The waitresses are characters indeed and always make breakfast more interesting. As for evening, the bar is spacious, noisy and the drinks are stiff. This place rocks.
(5)Mac M.
I thought for sure that I'd written a review for this little hole-in-the-wall deep in NW Portland, but I guess I hadn't First things first, there are no windows (Yes!), secondly, the drinks are strong and cheap, and finally, the clientele is an interesting mix of hipsters and old timers/regulars who all seem to get along swimmingly. There are plenty of TV's and pool tables in case you get bored enough to do something else besides cry in your beer and they even have Karaoke night (I think it's on Sunday's). Try it on for size! What can possibly go wrong?
(5)Jose M.
The nice thing about this place is that is quite mellow, but lively. Maybe because it's Wednesday night. The music is also not too loud. I could talk with my normal voice and my ears were happy. The bacon beef sliders were also good and. cheap. Kinda far from where I live. Otherwise, I'll visit this place more often. Don't care much about pool tables, but they got some.
(4)Leigh B.
Talk about a filthy bar. The minute I walked in I was sketched out. But what the hey my friend was buying. We found seats and my friends goes to the bar with our ids to get our drinks. My friend by the way, is obviously inebriated. They tell him I have to get up and get my own drink which I think is kind of silly. Never been told that before at a bar. They continue to serve him 6 beers. They serve me, the stone cold sober one a beer and then refuse to sell me anymore. So in conclusion, if you're are already drunk its OK to get drunker but if you're not its screw you. The bartender gave me dirty look the whole time. I know its not just me because my friends have had similar experiences. Its a good thing my drunk friend wasn't driving in the condition he was in.
(1)Elizabeth D.
Thank God this place re-opened!!! This neighborhood was just not the same when Joe's was condemned. All us regulars, wandering around like a refugee with no place to go. Then it re-opens and it better than ever. They've managed to keep the prices low but raise the quality and the staff is awesome as always. It's still as divey as ever but now with better food and much cleaner environment. Highly Recommend!
(5)Makenna C.
Only speaking of the cafe: it's a great no-frills and very reasonably priced diner that isn't enveloped in it's own irony. Same waitress everyday, and she's amazing.
(3)Stephanie K.
Fantastic dive! People need to come witness the awesomeness that is Cat Stories, Ghost Stories, presents First Time Stories with music by Snow Snakes. Basically, get together a bunch of people on the third Saturday of every month. Get them completely blacked out before 10 am. Have them tell a random story. Have musicians play equally random music which is hilarious. Drink along with everybody. Have a fantastical time. Drinks and stiff and the food is damn good for such a dive.
(5)Michelle H.
While this is a whole lot less trendy than most places on Trendy-First or Trendy-Third, it still leaves little to be desired. Okay, so it's about as far as you can get from trendy; it's about as dive as you can get with a name called Joe's Cellar. It feels very bottom of the barrel. Nothing matches. Nothing is new. Nothing looks like it has been cleaned in awhile. I don't know who Joe is, but his cellar is in need of some attention. That said, even on a busy night full of bar crawls and self-inflicted drinking wounds, this place is pretty chill. It didn't take 50 minutes and a low cut top to get a drink, and it was easily one of the stiffest drinks of the night. Just grab a drink and slide into one of the vinyl clamshells to chill out. Or, y'know, go somewhere else.
(3)Olivia T.
One of the most "normal" bar on NW Alphabets District area. Normal for me is meaning that I don't have to dress up just to enjoy drinks. Normal for me is meaning that I don't have to spend more than $5 for a drink. Normal for me is meaning that if I showed up in my pajama pants, no one will care. Joe's serves strong drinks. Perhaps, it's a bit too strong for me. Maybe the bartender took one look at me and decided that she was going to got me drunk. I think if I'm in the neighborhood again, I will stop by here and perhaps to try out their breakfast. I keep hearing how good the breakfast grubs here...
(3)Steve M.
I trust Yelp because many times I'll be at a bar - pull up Yelp on my iPhone - and mostly agree with the reviews on the place. Tonight that changed. My friend and I were looking for a place to eat tonight and Joe's came up with a 4.5 star review..... 15 of them. I tell my friend who is totally skeptical of Yelp that we have to go to this joint. This place is a 4.5 star place IF you like: 55 and older crowd Smoke filled room Mashed potato bartender Cheap drinks Pool tables Gambling machines Big place The cheap drink was the only highlight. We didn't eat here because it looked too shady.... But we did have 2 pints for $7 because we made the effort to find the place in the cold rain.....
(1)Zack W.
Joe's Cellar. You are my tender dream. My sweet. You are my Jackalope to the stars. Good food, stiff drinks, huge bar that is never empty with the best service in the NW.
(5)Roxie G.
This is a fun place! Sunday night they have karaoke with Captain and he's a doll! The people in there seem to be very supportive of every singer, so that's cool too. For sure a good vibe.
(4)Matt S.
At first glance, Joe's Cellar seems like just another generic name for a proudly divey bar, but it's actually quite descriptive. Indeed, drinking here is like hanging out in your buddy's windowless, wood-paneled cellar, with most of the illumination coming from the glow of a fake fireplace, video lottery machines, or a propped-open door. Don't get the wrong impression, though: dimly lit as it may be, this is hardly a depressing place in which to imbibe, offering free pool on Wednesdays, free tacos on Thursday, and charming conversations with 60-year-old white men about Ice Cube's film career nightly.
(4)Russell C.
It was only ok i had chicken fried steak, it was over cooked but the home fries were good. Im a coox my self and the guy cooking in the kitchen had his hand all wraped up and his bandges were showing so i didnt even eat but half and stoped when i saw his hand. never went into there bar area but the dinner going to be a no go for me again ..
(1)Tiffany C.
More update! We used to have to go to the Lompoc if we wanted food after 10:00 in NW. No more! Joe's has a full menu all weekend now, great stuff too. Try the nachos. Home made chips... amazing.
(5)Holly V.
Simple food, but great...and cheap! Waitress (I think her name is Emily) might be the sweetest person on the planet too.
(4)Liz A.
Pass this place pretty often, finally stopped in this Sat. morning. According to the menu, the buildings been around for 100 years or so! I shared a heaping plate of 3 scrambled eggs, sausages, and hashbrowns topped off with a fluffy biscuit. Food was average, but what you'd expect & still filled us up which was what we needed. The server was very alert, and came back to top off our coffee several times.
(3)Corwin M.
This place is a dinosaur in the Land Before Time, in the ungentrified section of Northwest Portland that stretches between the hospital and the industrial region starting a few blocks north of it; a less cheery limbo than the one Pope Benedict XVI did away with, or perhaps more like a purgatory? Whithersoever your Catholic theology may lean this place is a welcome bastion of Old Portland in the midst of Yuppiedom. It's huge, it's dark, and it features the perfect mix of dark wood furnishings and brass with large leather booths and a nigh-threadbare institutional carpet that's dark enough to conceal any stains: where Sunny Barger would like to drink now that he's mellowed out enough to stop smashing pool sticks on people's domes. Speaking of which, there are decent pool tables here. Also speaking of which it's generally a pretty mellow place, though like most bars it livens up a bit in the evenings. The food is your slightly-above-par greasy spoon bar food, meaning it's filling and tasty at a reasonable price. The drinks are also reasonably priced, and the bar backs generally congenial. There's also an adjoining restaurant for AA secretaries or those shackled to anklebiters.
(4)Michelle L.
With a stack of old tvs in a corner [edit: they got rid of the old tvs and got new, working ones :( ] and wood paneling everywhere, this place reminds me of drinking in your creepy uncle's basement. But don't fret, without said uncle, the place is actually comfortable and pretty great. Servers have always been nice & prompt, & the place is fairly cavernous with lots of seating options (though does anyone ever sit in the dining room area? ever? Once a friend and I tried to enter through the dining room door and it was locked!). Drinks are decently-to-very strong, and they have good food specials. Lack of hipsters or people who look like they do yoga makes this place a winner. Just wish it was a little closer to my place so I could comfortably stumble home from there more often.
(4)Tori L.
So there are two parts to joe's Cellar, the shady bar with no windows and then the cafe, which if your coming from lovejoy just know to walk all the way to the end of the block where the cafe entrance is. Really liked the cafe part, cute, roomy, food was really good had an eggs benedict and waitress was really nice. Not the cheapest breakfast but a lot of food $13 tip included and worth it to find a local breakfast place.
(4)Chuck S.
All I can really say about this place is it reminds me of a much larger Sewickly's.
(2)Alex K.
I love the reviews for this place. Listen kids the whole thing about places is what you are looking for in them or what expectations you have going in. I try not to have expectations when entering a place like this. That said, you get exactly what you deserve when you walk in here. Greasy spoon food, people who have been drinking, smoking and gambling since 7am and Bertha the 70 year old waitress from Schenectady, coughing in your face as she takes your order. Am I a fan? Hell yes I am. I may ask for my ashes to be spread across the carpet when I die.
(4)Helen G.
You can't find a better dive bar in Portland.
(5)Lindsay N.
i'm not sure what i was expecting before i entered this establishment. am i going to be smothered with douche bags? hussies? hipsters? the answer (thank god) was no. this joint is perfect for those times when you don't feel like getting all gussied up just to go grab a drink. i felt relaxed, which for me, is rare when going to a bar for the first time. *nice bartenders? yes *friendly servers? you bet your sweet ass. *good prices? yes, ma'am/sir. basically, i will be going back. especially since it's a stones throw from my residence.
(4)Aaron F.
It's a cellar for sure... Cheap drinks, good service, super dark. The cafe next door is one of the best in town; awesome food, cheap prices, friendly service, and never a line.
(4)Jon W.
A great little old time corner coffee shop diner containing booths and a counter. Joe's Cellar Cafe is open for breakfast and lunch and is separate from the lounge/bar next door (though has a shared kitchen and are owned by the same). Complete breakfast menu and standard, though somewhat limited lunch diner fare of burgers, sandwiches (BLT, Club, Reuben), salads and soups. Daily specials such as pork chops and french dip for lunch and specials like deluxe egg scrambles and deluxe pancakes for breakfast. Loyal regular customers have been coming here for years. Off the beaten path at the unofficial end of NW 21st Ave before you get into the Conway sea of parking lots.
(4)Patrick M.
Go to watch the people, Joes is the bar you are always looking for but rarely find, Portland has more good dives per capita than any other city I have ever been. Thank Jesus' socks.
(4)Doug Y.
Cheap! I mean everytime I eat there and get the bill I'm like "Really? That's it?" $6 pints for groups, occasional free pool, pretty good service. Although I've heard mixed reviews about their staff from friends, they seem to be more friendly to guys than gals, but I wouldn't know 'cause... 'cause I'm a guy. Also they're supposedly haunted, ask 'em for details or search the web, I think it's a pretty notorious ghost, but I haven't ever seen it. The jukebox is pretty damn good too. If you're solo you can sit at the end of the bar near the main entrance and they give you the remote for the TV. There's also the unpopular & completely empty non-smoking area, which is sort of off in its own world.
(5)Olivia K.
This place is a great traditional diner. Honestly, I can't believe it hasn't yet been swarmed by thousands of hipsters. If it were in SE, perhaps it would be, but instead: there's no wait on a Sunday morning, the waitress is plenty of old fashioned charm, and the food is cheap. For a little more flavor, why not try the dive bar next door?
(5)Venerable V.
This place is bigger than I thought. Strolled in w a friend on a random Thursday night and karaoke was happening...and people were getting into it! Such emotion! I loved it! If I lived in the area, this would totally be my jam.
(4)chris m.
i can't believe the reviews this place gets! i was totally underwhelmed by the food, which was pretty limited (though, breakfast all day always wins), and was not great but was passable. cheap, too. the reason i give it such an awesome review (and all i'm reviewing is the diner for lunch--didn't mosey into the bar part at all. but the waitress was such a sweetheart, bought an obviously down-on-his-luck fellow lunch while i watched, and was the picture of efficiency..i gave her a huge tip and left smiling. and smiles on days like today...worth four stars. won't take my parents here or anything, but will probably head back since it is close to my office, cheap, and quick.
(4)Sami H.
Can't say I've had the food but this is my favorite dive bar. So far...
(4)Jared W.
I have eaten here twice. The first time I got a little drunk (the morning before I got married) and the secound just today minus all the booze. It is way better ordering a few whiskey colas for breakfast. The bar I have been to a few times, and would rate it a bit higher (maybe a 3.5). That being said the bar and the dinner are very different. The bar is dirty with cheap stiff drinks, mixed crowd and bad karoke on Sundays (Bad Kaoke is a little redundent huh?). The dinner is very clean with little booths and has a small town feel. The food isn't expensive ($8) for chicken fried steak, but the biscuits are dry, the patotoes bland and overall the menu is pretty limited.
(3)Kate F.
Ah, the smoky bar. Portland has its share, but I think this one is special. Tucked away on the far end of NW 21st, Joe's is everything I want a dive bar to be. There's nothing pretentious about this place, it just happens to be a dark, smoky pool hall where the drinks are strong and the music is trashy. It isn't part of a scene, and hipsters don't seem to congregate here. It's just a good, old-fashioned dive, and there's nothing wrong with that. I seem to remember the pool tables being really cheap, too. Great place for a night out with friends.
(4)David R.
Drinking, for many, can be close to religion. And when I think of religion I naturally turn an eye toward the Icons of faith: the Christian cross, statues of Buddha, the Star of David, the Hindu cow, Egyptian obelisks. Years ago my friends and I worshipped at the Lion's Head pool table at Joe's Cellar on NW 21st. A place where it was dark even in the afternoon, you could find Hank William's Jr. on the juke, Crown-and-Cokes for $3, and it was just dank and smoky enough to keep the trendies away. Today it seems you can hear Cash or Williams anywhere in the city, that old jukebox at Joe's has been replaced by something neon and digital, and trendies have established a home there on the weekends. Times change, and a new generation arrives in the city every summer. But I still find time to make it back and pay homage to the Lion's Head table for 9-ball every now and again. distilledpublishing.blog…
(5)Abe I.
A bar on 21st avenue that is a whole complex unto itself with different rooms, each with different atmospheres. There is a little restaurant with a jukebox stocked full of country favorites (dwight yokum over questionable eggs at 5am!?!) and from there it leads off into darker spaces for serious drinking. Come here to lose yourself or if you already have.
(3)Dave H.
For being both a diner and a bar it's amazing they do both so well. I love the breakfasts, the prices are great, and the staff is always friendly. As others have mentioned, the customers are always interesting. It's great if you can walk home from it as well, because the drinks are great deals.
(5)