Starkys Restaurant and Bar
2913 SE Stark St, Portland, OR, 97214
Starkys Restaurant and Bar Menu
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Address :
2913 SE Stark St
Portland, OR, 97214 - Phone (503) 230-7980
- Website https://www.starkys.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Mike S.
Great food and drink for decent prices.
(4)Davide S.
Love going here for drinks! Staff is very friendly and know how to pour a good drink! Wish they introduced a vegan option other than the veggie burger. Clientele is also very friendly. If you're new like me it's a great place to make new friends!
(4)Justin N.
I love it when I don't notice a bar is a gay bar at first, I can actually look back and pause on the exact moment when I get it. I don't mind gay bars one bit, if they sell booze I'm all for it, but I'm used to the SF style where it's rainbow flags and bears standing outside with posters of mostly nekid "sailors" all over the wall advertising for a party. Starky's had a modest 'Dining and Spirits' sign and not a rainbow in sight, I figured it was a sports bar if anything... ~~~~~flashing back to Portland vacation inner monologue~~~~~ *sigh* More vintage clothing shops, my lady is gonna be busy for at least another 30 minutes.... Wait, a bar, that works.. "Hey babe, I'll be next door with some liquid fun, come find me when you've wrapped up." Starky's ey? Sure, why not, looks quiet. Where's the bathroom? Ahhh back there, cool. That's odd, everyone is watching me walk towards the bathroom. What are they smirking at? They better not be hating on my sweet old school Milwaukee Brewers hat, maybe they're jealous because Portland doesn't have a MLB team. Hah! OK.... nothing like 6 middle aged guys watching me stroll to the can... Wait, it's pretty much all middle aged guys here. Must be a common hangout spot, OK, cool. Me: "I'll take a PBR and a shot of Jameson. And I'm sorry, what the hell is on the TV?" Bartender: "It's a DVD of a Dido concert." Me: "Ok..." Dido? Who the hell is Dido.... oh yea, she did that song with Eminem, all emotional and shit. That song was depressing, I don't want to think about depressing stuff while drinking. I didn't even know they MADE Dido DVDs. It would be cooler if her name was 'Dino' , or 'Dildo'. Hmmm, interesting. This place seems chill enough though. Decent booze prices, seating, wait... Is that a sketch of guy's ass hanging on the wall? I stand corrected, are those multiple sketches of guy's asses hanging all over the place? Lots of hand holding going on between these bros too, I wonder if.... *LIGHT BULB* Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... ~~~~~fading back to current times~~~~~ There you have it, Starky's is a chill gay bar without being a crazy disco ball leather chaps rainbow cape wearing techno fest. No, I'm not stereotyping, I've had gay friends that have dragged me to bars exactly like that. Love Fest in San Francisco anybody? Starky's certainly suited my purpose; I killed a few drinks, killed about 30 minutes, and killed my ears listening to Dido. I guess what I'm trying to say is this bar suits all types. Looking for a relaxed gay bar? Starky's works. Don't care about background, just want a fairly priced drink? Starky's has you covered. Want to expand your horizons on terrible music from the early 2000s? Starky's has live Dido locked and loaded. Good shit for everyone.
(4)Jeff V.
Definitely our brunch spot for endless mimosas. All you can drink for 8 dollars and the staff is on top if it. "Are you low on your bottle?" "Why yes we are!" "Here's another bottle and OJ." Brunch has a breakfast special every Sunday. Today it was a waffle with berry puree which sounded good, but I ended up getting the french toast which is MORE than enough food. 8 slices of french toast, eggs, sausage and toast in a basket for the whole table. I forgot to mention that this place is never busy with a line out the door. We haven't waited more than 5 minutes for a table.
(5)S E.
Really good food and reasonable prices. Super generous portions: the nachos were enough for four, and we had ordered four other dishes. Oink! The burger looked and smelled fantastic but my friend wasn't about to let me have a bite! I still can't get over the reasonable prices for the portions we received. Well made drinks and good selection of beer. The crowd is friendly and mixed. Fantastic patio if the weather permits.
(4)Brian H.
Fun friendly place. Drinks are strong and good. Food is good, especially brunch. Clientele and staff are friendly. Starky's takes me back to the 80's gay bar scene. In a good way. Whitney Houston, Gloria Estefan, Madonna on the TV. Men and women socializing together. Extreme fashionistas mingling with the occasional mullet. Love it here.
(4)kelly s.
I really don't know how to rate this place. At first look the exterior reeks of run down bar and grill, further inspection shows a pretty good amount of outdoor seating. Once inside, I was pleasantly surprised at the level of cleanliness, coupled with a semi-recent update, at least more recent than the exterior. I sat at the bar, and was really doubting my choice to come here, after all, it was a completely random choice in the heat of the moment while driving by. I could not decide what to get this day, so picking a place was doubly difficult. Starky's helped in this regard, they were chok full of menu options. This initially scared me, as overly choice-filled menus usually result in a "jack of all trades, master of none" effect. Out of fear, I ordered the mac and cheese, and became further skeptical, as I couldn't tell if the bartender was hating that I was ladying up the man vibe in here, or he was just busy. All awkwardness was forgiven as the resulting mac and cheese was DELICIOUS, rich, dreamy, creamy and cheap. Also, I later realized the bartender was in fact a really nice guy, probably just busy trying to politely make conversation with the loquacious chatty cathy at the bar.
(4)Macy T.
BEST BRUNCH PLACE EVER!! Truly bottomless mimosas delish food, SUPER friendly helpful staff, wonderful decor, especially during the holidays.
(5)Ryan M.
Up visiting from SF with friends and we were looking for a fun, LGBT friendly brunch spot. We hit the jackpot! The fried chicken with gravy is especially delish!
(5)JP R.
Update 5/1/15---this place goes up and down like a yoyo with quality control. Had steak and eggs - asked for eggs over medium got them over easy like raw - steak was tough as shoe leather and came in two bite size pieces also came with roasted potatoes - 3 bite size pieces and undercooked. Give it two stars because service was good and so was the coffee. For $12.95 I could of done better....came here because my friend likes it...going back to Bread and Ink cafe - better menu and prices and food is amazing every time!
(2)Davide S.
Love going here for drinks! Staff is very friendly and know how to pour a good drink! Wish they introduced a vegan option other than the veggie burger. Clientele is also very friendly. If you're new like me it's a great place to make new friends!
(4)Katie M.
My partner and I came last Saturday night for dinner. We'd never been here before so didn't know what to expect. Certainly wasn't expecting what we got. I ordered the mac and cheese which was ok. It had way too much sauce that drowned out the noodles. My partner ordered the Chicken Dijon which came with a salad. The server asked what type of dressing she wanted and she replied, "do you have a balsamic?" to which he replied "yes". He brought the salad out with another plate of oil and vinegar used for bread. Wtf? The chicken dijon was awful. The chicken was rubbery and incredibly salty like it was right out of the freezer and then microwaved. The worst part was this chicken dinner was $17!! Are you kidding me? We will not be back, which is a shame because there isn't very many LGBT establishments in Portland.
(2)Candace K.
I really wanted to love this bar. I live a few blocks away and was hoping this could be another regular place for me. I decided to go for RuPaul's Drag Race night because I'm a big fan of the show and wanted to watch it live with other enthusiasts. Unfortunately I think it needs to be noted that I am a young lady and I brought a young lady friend with me. I didn't think this would be an issue. I have never been to a bar in Portland where I have felt alienated and unwelcome before gay bar or not. Well, we did feel unwelcome. Some of the patrons were giving us the why are you here stares, but we didn't let that phase us. Whatever. It was the bartender that made us feel really awkward and uncomfortable. When we sat at the bar to order the older gentleman stared us down impatiently as we decided on drinks. We got our drinks, tipped nicely and went outside to smoke. We took our seats back at the bar when we were finished. I finished my drink fairly quickly, but was not being offered another so I figured he was busy (he wasn't really) and I would try to make it more obvious that I needed another drink. I put my empty glass at the edge of the bar. Nothing for well over five minutes. I pulled out a twenty dollar bill and set it on the bar in front of me. Nothing. I made eye contact with him many times and he would skip around to everyone else at the bar (all men) and serve them or just chit chat because they actually didn't need anything. I think some of the guys at the bar could see I was being ignored and felt bad. I eventually got my second drink of the evening after about 25min of patiently waiting for service. I still tipped. I probably shouldn't have, but I didn't want to be that person. I have never been blatantly ignored like that at a bar before. It was really shitty and the sexist context made it so much worse. I am super disappointed in this place. I'm sorry I crashed your boy party. I will be going to Beulahland for my Drag Race fix from now on.
(2)Rare I.
Yeah, I had a great time here, but the waiters really need to find out how to charge credit cards correctly....
(3)Tamara C.
Starky's serves up an awesome brunch and for a mere $8.00 you can indulge with bottomless mimosas. The nice thing about brunching at Starky's is that they just bring the bottle of bubbly and park it on your table with a little carafe of orange juice so there is none of that flagging down the server every 2 minutes for a mimosa refill. You'll find lots of choices to be had on the menu from sweet to savory. The chicken fried chicken is always a winning choice as are the benedicts. Most recently I had the top sirloin benedict which was the daily special and it was awesome. My only grumble is that the tables are rather on the smallish side so when you and your 3 friends all have a mimosa, a coffee and a water, there is little room for your plate of food, your silverware and any condiments. In fact, all the tables seem rather close together and it seems a little crowded. So if you don't mind a cozy dining experience, grab your bestest brunch buddies and head to Starky's. 2014 - Review # 94
(4)Jeremy C.
Restaurant does not look like much from the outside but inside is very clean. The tables in the dinning room are covered with linen, nicely folded napkins, seats are very comfortable and the table has its own little plate with ketchup and house made jam. We arrived at 10am and the place was empty but by the time we left there was a full house. They have bottomless mimosas and leave the bottle of champagne at your table with an ice bucket, also a little carafe of orange juice. We had two bottles of champagne and it was nice to just sit and talk and not feel like we were being rushed. The food here was great, came out hot and had a little house made brownie on the rim of the plate. The staff is very friendly and make you feel welcomed. I will definitely return for brunch next weekend and recommend this place to others. The nice part about this restaurant is that it does have a parking lot so no circling around the block for parking.
(5)Nikki R.
They went out of business after 30 years. They were great when the original owners had it, but in recent years, it was like a kitchen nightmare. And the dining room was empty.
(3)Darci S.
We went to Starky's last night for a final hoo-rah. I had family in town and I figured with something as main stay to Portland as Starky's, that we couldn't go wrong. Fine fine fine...the burger and tots was a great value. But overall, a terrible experience. We had a reservation at 6:30. The others in our group were a half hour late! NOT STARKY'S fault. So while we waited, we decided to have a couple cocktails. The waiter in the bar area, Chris, was so rude to the customers. He was extremely short with me. I just felt like I was bothering him. I heard him say to a group of fellas standing at the bar, "move! I'm busy and you're in my way!" No need to talk to the customers that way. When our group finally arrived, we got seated. Not a joke, or an exaggeration, we waited 30 minutes to have our order taken. There was a table behind us that got up and walked out because they hadn't been served yet. I'm no princess and I don't act like one, I just expected something better. I am not alone in saying, nobody likes to be sassed by the waiter. I'm sad to see you leave, however last nights experience makes it not as sad.
(2)Shawn W.
Good drinks but don't order the corned beef hash if you are looking for real corned beef and not the dog food can variety...
(2)Tom J.
Okay, I'll give credit where credit is due. A friend talked me into going back after my last experience, which was bad. One of the main servers apologized for our bad experience and bought our first round of drinks, which was very nice. This is a fun place to go for a "totally gay" experience, even if it's a bit dated inside. Some of the food is really good, the fettuccine with chicken is garlic-y, fatty and great. The potato skins are pretty fab too. And if you're feeling the sugar need, they'll bring you a giant slab of tasty carrot cake. Drinks are strong and great always. I do think the servers could be a bit mellower at times, but they generally have a ton of customers to wait on so I'm sure they are doing their best. The interior and menu could definitely use some updating, though I guess that's part of the charm. I read in the local press that the owners have put the building up for sale, so I don't know if there will be a Starky's in the future, but I hope so.
(3)Jeannie J.
Kitchy. Campy. Comfortable. Let's say you have a gaggle of gays. They aren't twinks. They prefer Diana Ross videos over football. It's Sunday morning. Where should you take them for brunch? Starky's!!! This restaurant has been around FOREVER. I have been going for at least 15 years that I can remember. I don't think it has ever changed. It's cozy. It could probably use a tiny bit of updating, but it is completely welcoming in every way. It's tough to beat the $8 bottomless mimosa during brunch. They don't hesitate to bring another bottle as soon as you start getting low. If you prefer something else, they have a full bar, so no problem. I have never had to wait for a table, and they have a parking lot. Like what you have read so far? On to the food. I noticed a few people complaining that the menu needs updating to make their dishes lighter and healthier, to cater to modern diets. Well guess what? Sometimes you want the classics with all of the fat, calories, and deliciousness that they were meant to have. I personally go for the chicken fried chicken. Every. Time. It is coated in bread crumbs instead of batter, and very crisp. My friends lean toward the chicken fried steak, and are consistently happy with it. The food won't blow your mind, but it's good in an old-school diner sort of way. The table gets a basket of toast to share. For the prices ($10 and under), you get a nice portion of food. As Valerie mentioned all of the plates come with a mini brownie. The perfect little morsel to end the meal. The staff has always been super congenial and on the ball. I love Sunday brunch at Starky's! There are quite a few regulars, and you will most likely see someone you know if you run with the gay crowd. Everyone is very friendly, and it's not packed with 21 year old kids. It attracts a more mature clientele. I only wish it were walking distance from my apartment. Pssst, read the review from Justin N. He's a funny dude.
(4)Shane S.
We love our Sunday Brunch with Chris or other staff. Food seems consistent, and the bottoms up cocktails never seem to fail is for three bottles as a rule. Maybe a rework of the menu is needed? Some weekends when the "fresh fruit" is a side of applesauce might not be appropriate for the same price as when it's "fresh fruit"? We won't frequent the bar, but Sundays are fun still!
(4)Shane C.
We come here on Sundays, since Chris works on Sundays. The staff is great, very welcoming.
(5)Ginger T.
We had a wonderful waiter I need to say that who did his best to entertain us and make it a good experience but the food was less than desirable the fish and chip seem to be the best thing to order and still it was lacking flavor shrimp Louie had no flavor and frozen shrimp not necessary in Oregon this time of year the chicken fried steak did have real mashed potatoes and was okay but not a lot of flavor and the seared halibut was just bland. to top it off we did find a hair in one of the salads our friend had to pull it out of her mouth they did come for her meal which was very nice and again I credit that to the very nice waiter we have their house Merlot is delicious and everyone seem to be happy with their alcohol we probably won't go back again and the sad part is that years ago it was the bomb to go to with excellent 5 star cooking and just a really fun place for men and women both probably won't return in fact I know we won't return that we have wonderful memories anyway
(2)Anonymous A.
Whenever I'm in Portland, I have dinner at Starky's and I'm never disappointed. The food is great, prices reasonable and the service is personal and attentive. If you appreciate a quiet and relaxed atmosphere, this is the place to go. This place is a real gem.
(5)Mark B.
You cannot go wrong at this hybrid bar and restaurant. Entrees always good as are the beverages. Service is consistently of high quality. If you want to smoke or enjoy a nice day, they have a large patio in front. Prefer to sit around the bar, you can do that. The dining area is divided between kind of a video section and a quieter and more demure area in back.
(4)Valerie W.
Still love having brunch at Starky's! And when they say bottomless mimosas....they mean it. Although, they did raise the price...it is now $8. But seriously. Still cheap. Still excellent. Love how they just throw an ice bucket and bottle at your table. The service is always pretty good and staff is friendly. This place definitely gets a bit crowded on the weekends. This last go-round I tried the eggs benedict and it was pretty good. The ham was a super thick cut and their red potatoes are A-OK. What's odd is that it says your meal comes with fruit....however the fruit....was literally ONE piece of cantelope. I'm not sure if that even constitutes as such? The rest of my table recieved the same thing. Also we got a brownie square. Odd, yes. Delicious? Oh my, yes. All in all you can grab a great brunch here with drinks for under $20 which is great in my book!
(4)Jessica H.
Always great after a night of drinking. The drinks here are stiff and the bottomless mimosa's really are bottomless. The toast they serve always comes out perfectly buttered and the jam is always tasty and presented well. Nice staff and I love all of the concerts they play in the bar. Been coming here for years and will continue. The patio is nice too.
(4)Scott W.
Great food. Waiters are very friendly and drinks are great. Fresh ingredient used and interesting menu each week
(5)Eldon K.
I love coming here, always have good food! This time tried the chicken oriental salad and wasn't all that thrilled with with. Warm salad dressing and too much dressing
(4)Bee T.
I did some bottomless mimosas with a friend a few weeks back at Starky's. It's a quaint little spot. We took full advantage of their $8 bottomless mimosas (thank you very much!), but I will note that in order to qualify for the special you have to get food. This is a smart qualification because otherwise they would have been stuck with me, drunk, much MUCH longer. I had their basic eggs and toast, which hit the spot. They literally leave you a full bottle of champagne and a tall glass of OJ and let you mix at your own discretion. I loved this! Between my friend and I, we went through almost 2 bottles of champagne in a few hours. My only request is more comfortable outdoor seating (you're literally sitting on stone), but I suppose if they did that they'd never be rid of me! Remember to tip your waiter well for putting up with your drunk self for so long! They most certainly deserve it
(4)Peter B.
Been going to Starky's for 25 years. Went there tonite for cheap burger nite. Under staffed and the waiter too busy to ask if we wanted a refill or condiments. Complained to the manager and he had no response except to run my credit card and hand it over to the waiter to give to me. They acted like they were entitled to get my business Sadly they lost a long time customer for life. I find the straight owned establishments here work more to earn your business rather you are straight or gay. Wake up!
(2)Robert V.
I love this place, i only go there for the food part because i am not 21 :/ but i still like to site see ;) I recommend the Mac and Cheese, i had that and it is very Delicious!! The staff if very friendly and the price is always good!
(5)Our R.
have been coming here for over 10 years ... Great service .. (we love Pete, the bar tender!!) good fresh food, great specials - Sunday brunch is a must. and a great little local bar as well. there are always fun folks having a blast there, they even have their own parking lot. a great local treasure.
(5)Brian F.
My friend and I happen to drive by this place. We noticed the outdoor tables and the animated conversation going on among the customers. They looked like they're having a great dinner. So we decided to stop by and give it a try. We got a table outside. Our server informed us that today (Monday) was their happy hour special: Burgers for under $5. We decided to give it try. We were surprise by the size of the burger. It is not your typical McD's or Burger King's. It was thick and succulent (aka a Man-Burger)! We both loved the awesome onion rings. Crunchy and some serious onion slices in them (unlike the ones that is 99% batter and 1% onion). We're definitely coming back here on Mondays!
(4)J C.
I like that the waiter was attentive and that there are gays older than me having a Kiki (ol') time. Looks like there's a good nurturing sense of community at this establishment which is rare to find in big city gay spots. Food was filling: chicken parm, salad was ok and house merlot was great.
(3)Jenni L.
I love a good brunch place that will make you a nice stiff drink with great food to boot. Try the Bloody Mary's, one will have you properly buzzed.
(3)Mark P.
Ok Starky's you outdid yourselves last night! Went there with a couple of friends and enjoyed the bar menu and the terrific drinks. Your bar waiter is a gem, don't let him getaway. Saw some people I knew who were having just as a good time as I was. No pretentiousness just fun people out having a good time. Keep up the good work.
(5)Del R.
Starky's feels sort of like a Cheer's for us queers. Ok, if Cheer's had a really decent restaurant attached to it. I primarily stick to the restaurant side of Starky's which offers a decent fair with everything from burgers and fries to a variety of surf and turf options. Last night I had the most amazing coconut prawns with a beautiful (and strong) pomegranate martini. The staff are very friendly, but a bit over worked as there was only one waiter for an almost full dining room. Overall, though, it is a very comfortable and welcoming atmosh
(4)Turner M.
$5 burger night on Monday, bottomless $7 Mimosas for Sunday brunch and if you're young and good at flirting you might even get a free drink - what's not to love!!! The drinks are strong, the food scrumptious and (if you're lucky) you might even bump into your gay uncle.... This place is amazing - check it out!
(4)Amanda R.
5 bucks for a burger on Monday nights? Oh, and the lovely Poison Waters offering up conversation while eating the delicious 5 dollar burger? hells to the yeah. This place is unassumingly interesting and just the kind of gay friendly I appreciate and love about Portland. The crowd was diverse and the drinks were strong, what more can I say!
(5)Candice Z.
This is now my go to brunch spot, and if I could find an apartment within walking distance, I'm certain I would be there almost every weekend. Good old fashion diner type fare, the food is good and filling, and the portions are huge. And for $8 you can have bottomless mimosas! These are hard to come by in Portland, and usually cost quite a bit more. To me, mimosas are what make brunch so amazing, and there's nothing like getting hammered off of cheap champagne and spending the remainder or your Sunday cursing that 3rd bottle that you insisted on downing. The other best part about Starky's is the great service! Everyone is super friendly, and they are good about checking if you need anything (including another bottle of champagne). And don't worry, this place is big enough that you won't have to wait for a table like at most other brunch spots. Thank you Portland for the wonderful place known as Starky's!
(5)Olivia T.
NOoooOOOooOOOppppEeeEE... This bar was listed for happy hour, but what it didn't make the list is the fact that they only have happy hour for drinks. No food. We came to Starky's for happy hour at the patio. We just got there and the server/bartender came and asked if we knew what we wanted to order. I didn't even have a chance to put my purse down yet. I told them to give us a minute. He didn't come back with menu for drinks or food. 10 minutes later, he came back and asked if we knew what we wanted. Jesse ordered Hefeweizen on draft and I ordered Vodka cranberry. I asked if they have happy hour food and he said no, only drinks. He told us there were some free Chicken fingers and tater tots left. Apparently they do that every Friday. We checked out the chicken fingers and tots. The chicken fingers are chicken nuggets like ones they serve at McDonald's. He brought us our drinks and my drink was clear. They made my Vodka Cran with waaaayyy too much alcohol. I couldn't even drink half of it. I'm not an alcoholic or a person who loves to get wasted whenever I drink. I actually like to enjoy the taste of my drink. Seems like all customers at Starky's were regulars which is good for them. However, I don't think they know to take care of their potential new customers. Jesse chugged his beer and we paid for our drinks. So much for trying out new place and good luck, Starky's. Hopefully your regular customers will stick with you till foreva and eva because I don't think you can gain new customers wih the non existent service, awful drinks, and food.
(1)Julia R.
Our experience was limited, but great. Four of us were having dinner at Laurelhurst Market on a Friday night. We wanted to go have a drink or two before dinner, and stumbled upon Starky's, which is just a few blocks away. We decided to stop there because the weather was fabulous and Starky's had ample outdoor seating. We got prompt, friendly service and the drinks were perfectly mixed. A few hours later, after we were done with dinner, we decided to head back to Starky's for one more cocktail. The server recognized us, welcomed us back, asked us if we wanted the same things we'd had earlier (we said yes) and he brought them out very quickly. That was impressive enough - but he won huge points for coming out a bit later with a big slice of chocolate cake and birthday candles (on the house) because it was my birthday. Seriously great service. We'll be back!
(5)Jessica D.
Mmmmm.... Bottomless mimosa brunch. My favorite!
(4)Gregory M.
Starkys is a clubby, comfortalbe and often friendly place for older gay men to relax an enjoy a meal or drinks at the bar. It's got a nice patio. After enduring an obnoxious water, he seems to have been dispatched. The dining room staff is hardworking and very pleasant. But the food is just terrible, heavy, tired, old-school. They can never seem to get a steak cooked right. The chef doesn't understand the difference between black and blue and medium rare. Heavy salads dressings are ladled in with an equally heavy hand. I'd gotten to the point where all I would order is Cobb Salad, but there are dozens and dozens of restaurants around town that make better versions. For a restaurant catering to an older clientele, the food on the menu features too many cream sauces. Much of the choices are downright unhealthy in this day and age. Surely we should expect a little better than coffee shop fare. Fish is invariably overcooked here, the salmon is like sawdust. I had a reasonably good grilled porkchop, but the chef got heavy-handed with the Asian glaze, which was soupy and way too sweet. My brother tried the hamburger when he was here on a visit, and declared it really good. It looked good and so were the fries it came with. Based on my choices, I wouldn't order pasta here on a dare. The wine choices are good, but one unfortunate night I came in and ordered a vodka martini, straight up. My martini arrived in a stainless steel stem glass. The whole romance of a martini was lost as the drink demands a proper martini glass--this one merely sweated in my hand. I'm not a brunch person, so I haven't been there on a Sunday, but based on the photos here, I would avoid brunch here unless I were 20 and didn't care about my cholesterol or blood pressure (and I'm not a health addict). The gay restaurant like so much other gay culture has gone the way of the Dodo bird. Starky's is a great idea with a large and loyal, if aging, clientele. It's nice to go to a place with a clubby atmosphere, and my friends often come here on Friday nights, where they can enjoy themselves without feeling invisible as they might in a club catering to a younger clientele. But invariably everyone complains about the food. Note to owners: fire the chef and find someone who can gently update your menu. The prices are good, the drinks are good, the ambiance and service are welcoming. Getting the food right is a quick fix.
(1)Tyr R.
Sunday Brunch is the Best. I highly recommend the French Toast on that day. But not for diabetics. Sorry. Parking is a bit of a pain. & every time we've been there it get's pretty loud; but us queens can be. Waiters: friendly; ok to look at, but not fast & they tend to pass your table without asking "How's everything". But if you are just looking for a place to eat & be happy this is it. But it can use work. New front door even?
(4)Candace K.
I really wanted to love this bar. I live a few blocks away and was hoping this could be another regular place for me. I decided to go for RuPaul's Drag Race night because I'm a big fan of the show and wanted to watch it live with other enthusiasts. Unfortunately I think it needs to be noted that I am a young lady and I brought a young lady friend with me. I didn't think this would be an issue. I have never been to a bar in Portland where I have felt alienated and unwelcome before gay bar or not. Well, we did feel unwelcome. Some of the patrons were giving us the why are you here stares, but we didn't let that phase us. Whatever. It was the bartender that made us feel really awkward and uncomfortable. When we sat at the bar to order the older gentleman stared us down impatiently as we decided on drinks. We got our drinks, tipped nicely and went outside to smoke. We took our seats back at the bar when we were finished. I finished my drink fairly quickly, but was not being offered another so I figured he was busy (he wasn't really) and I would try to make it more obvious that I needed another drink. I put my empty glass at the edge of the bar. Nothing for well over five minutes. I pulled out a twenty dollar bill and set it on the bar in front of me. Nothing. I made eye contact with him many times and he would skip around to everyone else at the bar (all men) and serve them or just chit chat because they actually didn't need anything. I think some of the guys at the bar could see I was being ignored and felt bad. I eventually got my second drink of the evening after about 25min of patiently waiting for service. I still tipped. I probably shouldn't have, but I didn't want to be that person. I have never been blatantly ignored like that at a bar before. It was really shitty and the sexist context made it so much worse. I am super disappointed in this place. I'm sorry I crashed your boy party. I will be going to Beulahland for my Drag Race fix from now on.
(2)Tamara C.
Starky's serves up an awesome brunch and for a mere $8.00 you can indulge with bottomless mimosas. The nice thing about brunching at Starky's is that they just bring the bottle of bubbly and park it on your table with a little carafe of orange juice so there is none of that flagging down the server every 2 minutes for a mimosa refill. You'll find lots of choices to be had on the menu from sweet to savory. The chicken fried chicken is always a winning choice as are the benedicts. Most recently I had the top sirloin benedict which was the daily special and it was awesome. My only grumble is that the tables are rather on the smallish side so when you and your 3 friends all have a mimosa, a coffee and a water, there is little room for your plate of food, your silverware and any condiments. In fact, all the tables seem rather close together and it seems a little crowded. So if you don't mind a cozy dining experience, grab your bestest brunch buddies and head to Starky's. 2014 - Review # 94
(4)Jessica H.
Always great after a night of drinking. The drinks here are stiff and the bottomless mimosa's really are bottomless. The toast they serve always comes out perfectly buttered and the jam is always tasty and presented well. Nice staff and I love all of the concerts they play in the bar. Been coming here for years and will continue. The patio is nice too.
(4)Scott W.
Great food. Waiters are very friendly and drinks are great. Fresh ingredient used and interesting menu each week
(5)Tyr R.
Sunday Brunch is the Best. I highly recommend the French Toast on that day. But not for diabetics. Sorry. Parking is a bit of a pain. & every time we've been there it get's pretty loud; but us queens can be. Waiters: friendly; ok to look at, but not fast & they tend to pass your table without asking "How's everything". But if you are just looking for a place to eat & be happy this is it. But it can use work. New front door even?
(4)Our R.
have been coming here for over 10 years ... Great service .. (we love Pete, the bar tender!!) good fresh food, great specials - Sunday brunch is a must. and a great little local bar as well. there are always fun folks having a blast there, they even have their own parking lot. a great local treasure.
(5)Rex N.
Sunday "BOTTOMLESS $5 MIMOSA" Brunch! need i say more? For $5 they bring you a carafe of OJ, a bucket of ice and a bottle of Cook's sparkling wine. When the juice is gone, they bring you more. When the bottle is empty, they bring you another one. They keep bringing you juice and bottles of shitty sparkling wine until you're either visually intoxicated (and they cut you off) or 'til you can't take anymore and beg them to stop bringing them out. The breakfast dishes are a little over-priced for the quality of the food, but you're gonna be five bottles of Cook's deep, so you really won't care. Oh, it is also an old Bear bar. (Read: OLD, BIG GAY MEN) So, if you can't hang, don't go, but if you aren't weird about who drinks in the bar with you, prepare to get waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasted.
(4)Darci S.
We went to Starky's last night for a final hoo-rah. I had family in town and I figured with something as main stay to Portland as Starky's, that we couldn't go wrong. Fine fine fine...the burger and tots was a great value. But overall, a terrible experience. We had a reservation at 6:30. The others in our group were a half hour late! NOT STARKY'S fault. So while we waited, we decided to have a couple cocktails. The waiter in the bar area, Chris, was so rude to the customers. He was extremely short with me. I just felt like I was bothering him. I heard him say to a group of fellas standing at the bar, "move! I'm busy and you're in my way!" No need to talk to the customers that way. When our group finally arrived, we got seated. Not a joke, or an exaggeration, we waited 30 minutes to have our order taken. There was a table behind us that got up and walked out because they hadn't been served yet. I'm no princess and I don't act like one, I just expected something better. I am not alone in saying, nobody likes to be sassed by the waiter. I'm sad to see you leave, however last nights experience makes it not as sad.
(2)Jens J.
OK...so some people refer to Starky's as "God's waiting room." It just might be that. But I will limit the scope of this review to the food, drinks and service, which are all decent. Was pleasantly amazed that our waiter could remember all our drink and food orders without writing anything down and not making any mistakes. I tried the Steak Diane since I've never had this dish before anywhere. Turned out to be a tender tenderloin with an tangy onion mushroom sauce made with Worcestershire Sauce. Trivia question: do you know what it is that gives Worcestershire sauce its distinctive flavor? No it's not onions, garlic, molasses or vinegar. It is fish! Anchovies! Oh...I love how they prepared my side salad. They toss the salad with the dressing before bringing to the table, like a Caeser Salad. Drink service was super fast. Bartender certainly knows how to mix a delightful martini with Tangeray gin, Cointreau and vermouth.
(4)Christa A.
We came here on a Sunday with our good buddies and we had a blast! Super yummy brunch/breakfast and $8 bottomless mimosas. The service was 5 stars. Our waiters were attentive and genuinely friendly. We didn't have a reservation and they were still accommodating. I could have stayed there all day sipping on our mimosas, maybe next time.
(5)Rex N.
Sunday "BOTTOMLESS $5 MIMOSA" Brunch! need i say more? For $5 they bring you a carafe of OJ, a bucket of ice and a bottle of Cook's sparkling wine. When the juice is gone, they bring you more. When the bottle is empty, they bring you another one. They keep bringing you juice and bottles of shitty sparkling wine until you're either visually intoxicated (and they cut you off) or 'til you can't take anymore and beg them to stop bringing them out. The breakfast dishes are a little over-priced for the quality of the food, but you're gonna be five bottles of Cook's deep, so you really won't care. Oh, it is also an old Bear bar. (Read: OLD, BIG GAY MEN) So, if you can't hang, don't go, but if you aren't weird about who drinks in the bar with you, prepare to get waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasted.
(4)Ace C.
"Note to owners: fire the chef and find someone who can gently update your menu. The prices are good, the drinks are good, the ambiance and service are welcoming. Getting the food right is a quick fix." I have to start my review off with a quote from another review. I couldn't agree more with the statement above. Starky's is a nice place for when you want to get away from the normal day to day trials of other gay establishments, but the outdated and heavy food is such a let down. I stumbled upon this place a few years ago when I first moved to Portland. I found myself here a couple nights a week, but these days the very mention of this place makes me just roll my eyes. The wait staff clumsily does the best job that they can do, which is forgivable. The food on the other hands is not forgivable, it's just out right terrible. I find myself going only because it's great quality time with friends and associates that don't know better. Today marked the last time that I will be wasting my money in Starky's. There were a couple things wrong with my service today, but screwing up my simple order was the nail in the coffin. I can overlook a lot of things if the food knocks me off my feet. I wanted to keep it simple this time around when ordering. I ordered a California burger from the menu and ended up receiving a plain burger. When I asked the waiter why I received the wrong burger he simply stated that they weren't making those burgers at this time. I think that that's something you discuss with the patron before making the call to change the order and bringing me what you assume is comparable. The plain burger was just OK. The top bun had been toasted, but still tasted stale and cold. The meat patty was mediocre (Salt and Pepper required). I also could have done with the side of fries due to my ever growing waistline and because they were cold. It seems to be one thing after another when I visit Starky's, but the food is just terrible and there's no gaining my service back without possibly doing in overhaul to kitchen staff. And one last thing. Let's move away from the tired music video playlist and get an updated jukebox in the joint please. Signed.....a patron that just wants to come back at some point.
(1)Mike K.
Husband and I wanted to grab a bite and I remembered something about Starky's. We found it easily, went inside and were promptly seated. Husband says, "This has got to be the gayest place I've ever been in." That says a lot, too, since we've been in lots of gay places. There were rainbow thingies dangling from the ceiling every few inches, just in case people didn't get the hint from the crowd. We felt right at home. The food was surprisingly good. Not excellent, but very good, and there are plenty of restaurants that cater to a small clientele yet don't feel that they need to go beyond mediocre once they've gotten their targeted minyans to cross the threshold. We both had the special of the evening, chicken gumbo. Very tasty, very filling. Large portions, small prices, excellent service. We'll be going back, and soon.
(4)Katie S.
I loved the service we received here on our group of 15s Sunday brunch. The waiter was funny, kind and always right on top of what we needed. My group was impressed with the $7 bottomless Mimosas they server there. Unfortunately I came a couple minutes too late and we missed ordering off the breakfast menu. What I spied on my friends tables looked so good. I had to make myself not stare in jealousy. I ordered the Ahi Tuna Melt. I found it pretty good, cooked right, with just a tiny bit of pink in the middle area. I would have preferred the Eggs Benedict my friend was eating more though.
(3)Rhonda M.
I love this place! They serve great drinks and have some of the best food in Portland (cause they got an awesome kitchen staff!!!) I love this place for Sunday brunch with my girlfriends, drinks any night of the week, or a welcoming environment that all my friends can be comfortable in.
(5)David M.
Scary gays, awesome tater tots. It's a trade-off. Don't order doubles, and don't look at anyone in the eye for longer than .5 seconds. And don't go to the bathroom alone. I think those are all the dont's. I traipsed in one nite after wandering the streets of Portland for hours, and will probably never return for reasons that don't involve fried potatoes. If you really like 80's music videos and sketchball gay men, then this is your kinda place.
(3)David B.
Still one of the best deals in Portland. Twin Filet Mignons (yes, they are small 3 0z. ones). but the complete dinner, including salad is only $10.95. Food is good. Service is fun, sometimes slow, but attentive. Outdoor patio is so fun on Portland's month of summer. Been enjoying this place for 3 years now.
(4)Krista T.
Sunday brunch includes all you can drink mimosas for 7$. Who cares if the food is only mediocre?
(5)Douglas G.
A friend invited me out for brunch (and prefaced it with "This is a gay bar, are you okay with that...? LOL) and am I glad she did. Far and away one of the best meals I've ever had. The coffee was delicious and the smoked salmon omelette to die for. The waiter gave me a bit of a raised eyebrow when I asked for a garden salad instead of potatoes but the salad was perfect as well. Can't recommend highly enough. And no, I didn't care that it was a gay bar, sheesh. I did have to beat a couple of old queens off with a stick, but I'm used to that... ;-)
(5)Jeff B.
Just an FYI - you might want to steer clear of this place if you're under 40. It's small, friendly, and laid-back, but caters to the older crowd. Drinks are plenty strong, tater tots are great, but the bathrooms are a bit on the dirty side. If you sit under one of the many plasma screens, it might feel like everyone is watching you. Don't flatter yourself; they're just watching Whitney in her better days.
(3)jade w.
Excellent service--friendly, personable, and quick. As we were waiting for a friend, the waiter brought us lemon bars and toast. The corned beef hash was tasty and I love the festive atmosphere. The $7 bottomless mimosas is great--would definitely go for Sunday brunch again.
(5)jay d.
Starky's has at times been my "local". It delivers a particular something that I often crave. Be warned it can be a mixed bag though. The drinks are strong and good, the staff are, without exception, friendly, engaging and hardworking. The food is not particularly good and its a bit pricey for what you get...BUT they always have table service and their late night menu covers all your basics and is cheaper than the dinner menu. Dinner can be extremely expensive and totally mediocre. They have several tv's on which they play video compilations and live concerts. You never know what your are going to get...which is part of the fun. I've seen a lot of videos here. Some of the live concerts: Dolly Parton, Liza Minelli, Bette Midler, Celine Dion, Dead or Alive, Kandy Kane, Barry White, A Night at the Apollo...some of the video comps: Whitney Houston, George Michael, Bronski Beat (my favorite), Pet Shop Boys. Those are just some I remember, but they probably have a couple hundred DVDs they'll play. They do requests too. I don't always enjoy what they play, but they keep the volume at a reasonable level and you can just ignore the screens. It always very smoky in the front bar area. You can escape it, somewhat, by sitting further back into the restaurant area, but I tend to choose the smokey area so I can be with the crowd. Once the state smoking ban goes into effect Starky's will probably go back to being my favorite bar. Update: In a bold move of remarkable class, Starky's has gone NON-smoking months ahead of the state ban. Awesome. I say again AWESOME!!!!
(4)Mark B.
Amazing Sunday brunch and great service. Plenty of off street parking. Try the endless Mimosas if you aren't driving afterward!
(5)Lauren G.
I've been here but once and drank many a strong cocktail and watched many a Madonna music video in a rather subdued environment. These things, I like. Them gays are wisemen!
(4)Lindsay S B.
I like this place alot, went there for lunch alone and I would definitely go back alone. It's a very comfortable environment and the staff is really friendly. I got a turkey philly which I was sort of questioning but it was delicious! they let me sample beers before ordering one because I wasn't sure what I wanted. They were playing the Moody Blues on the TVs which was sort of random to watch. This is a good place to just go alone and sit and have a quick meal and a beer, but I'm sure it would be fun anytime with whomever. I likes I likes.
(4)Arnie Lewis T.
You know, this place is so comfortable. Easy to relax....even when it's busy -- which it can definitely be. The food is fine, nothing amazing or super great...but comfortable and good. But one of my favorite parts of going there is my favorite waiter TRAVIS. He always is pleasant and goes out of his way to separate checks and bring whatever is needed. Without attitude. He has become a guy that we look forward to seeing. They have a parking lot which is always a plus. Of course, we'll be going back....again and again.
(4)David B.
Great food great atmosphere, a several times a week must. Always a good choice.
(5)Andrew F.
cant speak for any other day then Sunday. I often go here for the brunch on Sundays. The food is great, the other customers are not always the friendliest and most social, but then again neither are my freinds and I. I like it, portions could be bigger, but hell I am a pig.
(3)Thomas Winston M.
We love Starkys. It's one of our favorite neighborhood hangouts. Besides that, it is so much fun to taunt Ronnie!
(5)Michael P.
Always fun for me I try to swing by here once in a while for late night or last bar of the night deals, love the later night bartender always friendly know my name my drink, life story, and favorite videos on top of that! can't beat it. nice strong drinks, how cocktails are supposed to be (you should taste the liqour mr twink boy) overall fun still have yet been here for actual dinner but have had their bar menu before and if any idication should be good simple fair that is decently cheap.
(5)Gregory M.
Starkys is a clubby, comfortalbe and often friendly place for older gay men to relax an enjoy a meal or drinks at the bar. It's got a nice patio. After enduring an obnoxious water, he seems to have been dispatched. The dining room staff is hardworking and very pleasant. But the food is just terrible, heavy, tired, old-school. They can never seem to get a steak cooked right. The chef doesn't understand the difference between black and blue and medium rare. Heavy salads dressings are ladled in with an equally heavy hand. I'd gotten to the point where all I would order is Cobb Salad, but there are dozens and dozens of restaurants around town that make better versions. For a restaurant catering to an older clientele, the food on the menu features too many cream sauces. Much of the choices are downright unhealthy in this day and age. Surely we should expect a little better than coffee shop fare. Fish is invariably overcooked here, the salmon is like sawdust. I had a reasonably good grilled porkchop, but the chef got heavy-handed with the Asian glaze, which was soupy and way too sweet. My brother tried the hamburger when he was here on a visit, and declared it really good. It looked good and so were the fries it came with. Based on my choices, I wouldn't order pasta here on a dare. The wine choices are good, but one unfortunate night I came in and ordered a vodka martini, straight up. My martini arrived in a stainless steel stem glass. The whole romance of a martini was lost as the drink demands a proper martini glass--this one merely sweated in my hand. I'm not a brunch person, so I haven't been there on a Sunday, but based on the photos here, I would avoid brunch here unless I were 20 and didn't care about my cholesterol or blood pressure (and I'm not a health addict). The gay restaurant like so much other gay culture has gone the way of the Dodo bird. Starky's is a great idea with a large and loyal, if aging, clientele. It's nice to go to a place with a clubby atmosphere, and my friends often come here on Friday nights, where they can enjoy themselves without feeling invisible as they might in a club catering to a younger clientele. But invariably everyone complains about the food. Note to owners: fire the chef and find someone who can gently update your menu. The prices are good, the drinks are good, the ambiance and service are welcoming. Getting the food right is a quick fix.
(1)Rare I.
Yeah, I had a great time here, but the waiters really need to find out how to charge credit cards correctly....
(3)Olivia T.
NOoooOOOooOOOppppEeeEE... This bar was listed for happy hour, but what it didn't make the list is the fact that they only have happy hour for drinks. No food. We came to Starky's for happy hour at the patio. We just got there and the server/bartender came and asked if we knew what we wanted to order. I didn't even have a chance to put my purse down yet. I told them to give us a minute. He didn't come back with menu for drinks or food. 10 minutes later, he came back and asked if we knew what we wanted. Jesse ordered Hefeweizen on draft and I ordered Vodka cranberry. I asked if they have happy hour food and he said no, only drinks. He told us there were some free Chicken fingers and tater tots left. Apparently they do that every Friday. We checked out the chicken fingers and tots. The chicken fingers are chicken nuggets like ones they serve at McDonald's. He brought us our drinks and my drink was clear. They made my Vodka Cran with waaaayyy too much alcohol. I couldn't even drink half of it. I'm not an alcoholic or a person who loves to get wasted whenever I drink. I actually like to enjoy the taste of my drink. Seems like all customers at Starky's were regulars which is good for them. However, I don't think they know to take care of their potential new customers. Jesse chugged his beer and we paid for our drinks. So much for trying out new place and good luck, Starky's. Hopefully your regular customers will stick with you till foreva and eva because I don't think you can gain new customers wih the non existent service, awful drinks, and food.
(1)Christa A.
We came here on a Sunday with our good buddies and we had a blast! Super yummy brunch/breakfast and $8 bottomless mimosas. The service was 5 stars. Our waiters were attentive and genuinely friendly. We didn't have a reservation and they were still accommodating. I could have stayed there all day sipping on our mimosas, maybe next time.
(5)Katie M.
My partner and I came last Saturday night for dinner. We'd never been here before so didn't know what to expect. Certainly wasn't expecting what we got. I ordered the mac and cheese which was ok. It had way too much sauce that drowned out the noodles. My partner ordered the Chicken Dijon which came with a salad. The server asked what type of dressing she wanted and she replied, "do you have a balsamic?" to which he replied "yes". He brought the salad out with another plate of oil and vinegar used for bread. Wtf? The chicken dijon was awful. The chicken was rubbery and incredibly salty like it was right out of the freezer and then microwaved. The worst part was this chicken dinner was $17!! Are you kidding me? We will not be back, which is a shame because there isn't very many LGBT establishments in Portland.
(2)Jeremy C.
Restaurant does not look like much from the outside but inside is very clean. The tables in the dinning room are covered with linen, nicely folded napkins, seats are very comfortable and the table has its own little plate with ketchup and house made jam. We arrived at 10am and the place was empty but by the time we left there was a full house. They have bottomless mimosas and leave the bottle of champagne at your table with an ice bucket, also a little carafe of orange juice. We had two bottles of champagne and it was nice to just sit and talk and not feel like we were being rushed. The food here was great, came out hot and had a little house made brownie on the rim of the plate. The staff is very friendly and make you feel welcomed. I will definitely return for brunch next weekend and recommend this place to others. The nice part about this restaurant is that it does have a parking lot so no circling around the block for parking.
(5)Nikki R.
They went out of business after 30 years. They were great when the original owners had it, but in recent years, it was like a kitchen nightmare. And the dining room was empty.
(3)Eldon K.
I love coming here, always have good food! This time tried the chicken oriental salad and wasn't all that thrilled with with. Warm salad dressing and too much dressing
(4)S E.
Really good food and reasonable prices. Super generous portions: the nachos were enough for four, and we had ordered four other dishes. Oink! The burger looked and smelled fantastic but my friend wasn't about to let me have a bite! I still can't get over the reasonable prices for the portions we received. Well made drinks and good selection of beer. The crowd is friendly and mixed. Fantastic patio if the weather permits.
(4)Mark B.
You cannot go wrong at this hybrid bar and restaurant. Entrees always good as are the beverages. Service is consistently of high quality. If you want to smoke or enjoy a nice day, they have a large patio in front. Prefer to sit around the bar, you can do that. The dining area is divided between kind of a video section and a quieter and more demure area in back.
(4)kelly s.
I really don't know how to rate this place. At first look the exterior reeks of run down bar and grill, further inspection shows a pretty good amount of outdoor seating. Once inside, I was pleasantly surprised at the level of cleanliness, coupled with a semi-recent update, at least more recent than the exterior. I sat at the bar, and was really doubting my choice to come here, after all, it was a completely random choice in the heat of the moment while driving by. I could not decide what to get this day, so picking a place was doubly difficult. Starky's helped in this regard, they were chok full of menu options. This initially scared me, as overly choice-filled menus usually result in a "jack of all trades, master of none" effect. Out of fear, I ordered the mac and cheese, and became further skeptical, as I couldn't tell if the bartender was hating that I was ladying up the man vibe in here, or he was just busy. All awkwardness was forgiven as the resulting mac and cheese was DELICIOUS, rich, dreamy, creamy and cheap. Also, I later realized the bartender was in fact a really nice guy, probably just busy trying to politely make conversation with the loquacious chatty cathy at the bar.
(4)Jens J.
OK...so some people refer to Starky's as "God's waiting room." It just might be that. But I will limit the scope of this review to the food, drinks and service, which are all decent. Was pleasantly amazed that our waiter could remember all our drink and food orders without writing anything down and not making any mistakes. I tried the Steak Diane since I've never had this dish before anywhere. Turned out to be a tender tenderloin with an tangy onion mushroom sauce made with Worcestershire Sauce. Trivia question: do you know what it is that gives Worcestershire sauce its distinctive flavor? No it's not onions, garlic, molasses or vinegar. It is fish! Anchovies! Oh...I love how they prepared my side salad. They toss the salad with the dressing before bringing to the table, like a Caeser Salad. Drink service was super fast. Bartender certainly knows how to mix a delightful martini with Tangeray gin, Cointreau and vermouth.
(4)Justin N.
I love it when I don't notice a bar is a gay bar at first, I can actually look back and pause on the exact moment when I get it. I don't mind gay bars one bit, if they sell booze I'm all for it, but I'm used to the SF style where it's rainbow flags and bears standing outside with posters of mostly nekid "sailors" all over the wall advertising for a party. Starky's had a modest 'Dining and Spirits' sign and not a rainbow in sight, I figured it was a sports bar if anything... ~~~~~flashing back to Portland vacation inner monologue~~~~~ *sigh* More vintage clothing shops, my lady is gonna be busy for at least another 30 minutes.... Wait, a bar, that works.. "Hey babe, I'll be next door with some liquid fun, come find me when you've wrapped up." Starky's ey? Sure, why not, looks quiet. Where's the bathroom? Ahhh back there, cool. That's odd, everyone is watching me walk towards the bathroom. What are they smirking at? They better not be hating on my sweet old school Milwaukee Brewers hat, maybe they're jealous because Portland doesn't have a MLB team. Hah! OK.... nothing like 6 middle aged guys watching me stroll to the can... Wait, it's pretty much all middle aged guys here. Must be a common hangout spot, OK, cool. Me: "I'll take a PBR and a shot of Jameson. And I'm sorry, what the hell is on the TV?" Bartender: "It's a DVD of a Dido concert." Me: "Ok..." Dido? Who the hell is Dido.... oh yea, she did that song with Eminem, all emotional and shit. That song was depressing, I don't want to think about depressing stuff while drinking. I didn't even know they MADE Dido DVDs. It would be cooler if her name was 'Dino' , or 'Dildo'. Hmmm, interesting. This place seems chill enough though. Decent booze prices, seating, wait... Is that a sketch of guy's ass hanging on the wall? I stand corrected, are those multiple sketches of guy's asses hanging all over the place? Lots of hand holding going on between these bros too, I wonder if.... *LIGHT BULB* Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... ~~~~~fading back to current times~~~~~ There you have it, Starky's is a chill gay bar without being a crazy disco ball leather chaps rainbow cape wearing techno fest. No, I'm not stereotyping, I've had gay friends that have dragged me to bars exactly like that. Love Fest in San Francisco anybody? Starky's certainly suited my purpose; I killed a few drinks, killed about 30 minutes, and killed my ears listening to Dido. I guess what I'm trying to say is this bar suits all types. Looking for a relaxed gay bar? Starky's works. Don't care about background, just want a fairly priced drink? Starky's has you covered. Want to expand your horizons on terrible music from the early 2000s? Starky's has live Dido locked and loaded. Good shit for everyone.
(4)Robert V.
I love this place, i only go there for the food part because i am not 21 :/ but i still like to site see ;) I recommend the Mac and Cheese, i had that and it is very Delicious!! The staff if very friendly and the price is always good!
(5)Candice Z.
This is now my go to brunch spot, and if I could find an apartment within walking distance, I'm certain I would be there almost every weekend. Good old fashion diner type fare, the food is good and filling, and the portions are huge. And for $8 you can have bottomless mimosas! These are hard to come by in Portland, and usually cost quite a bit more. To me, mimosas are what make brunch so amazing, and there's nothing like getting hammered off of cheap champagne and spending the remainder or your Sunday cursing that 3rd bottle that you insisted on downing. The other best part about Starky's is the great service! Everyone is super friendly, and they are good about checking if you need anything (including another bottle of champagne). And don't worry, this place is big enough that you won't have to wait for a table like at most other brunch spots. Thank you Portland for the wonderful place known as Starky's!
(5)Julia R.
Our experience was limited, but great. Four of us were having dinner at Laurelhurst Market on a Friday night. We wanted to go have a drink or two before dinner, and stumbled upon Starky's, which is just a few blocks away. We decided to stop there because the weather was fabulous and Starky's had ample outdoor seating. We got prompt, friendly service and the drinks were perfectly mixed. A few hours later, after we were done with dinner, we decided to head back to Starky's for one more cocktail. The server recognized us, welcomed us back, asked us if we wanted the same things we'd had earlier (we said yes) and he brought them out very quickly. That was impressive enough - but he won huge points for coming out a bit later with a big slice of chocolate cake and birthday candles (on the house) because it was my birthday. Seriously great service. We'll be back!
(5)Jessica D.
Mmmmm.... Bottomless mimosa brunch. My favorite!
(4)Turner M.
$5 burger night on Monday, bottomless $7 Mimosas for Sunday brunch and if you're young and good at flirting you might even get a free drink - what's not to love!!! The drinks are strong, the food scrumptious and (if you're lucky) you might even bump into your gay uncle.... This place is amazing - check it out!
(4)Ace C.
"Note to owners: fire the chef and find someone who can gently update your menu. The prices are good, the drinks are good, the ambiance and service are welcoming. Getting the food right is a quick fix." I have to start my review off with a quote from another review. I couldn't agree more with the statement above. Starky's is a nice place for when you want to get away from the normal day to day trials of other gay establishments, but the outdated and heavy food is such a let down. I stumbled upon this place a few years ago when I first moved to Portland. I found myself here a couple nights a week, but these days the very mention of this place makes me just roll my eyes. The wait staff clumsily does the best job that they can do, which is forgivable. The food on the other hands is not forgivable, it's just out right terrible. I find myself going only because it's great quality time with friends and associates that don't know better. Today marked the last time that I will be wasting my money in Starky's. There were a couple things wrong with my service today, but screwing up my simple order was the nail in the coffin. I can overlook a lot of things if the food knocks me off my feet. I wanted to keep it simple this time around when ordering. I ordered a California burger from the menu and ended up receiving a plain burger. When I asked the waiter why I received the wrong burger he simply stated that they weren't making those burgers at this time. I think that that's something you discuss with the patron before making the call to change the order and bringing me what you assume is comparable. The plain burger was just OK. The top bun had been toasted, but still tasted stale and cold. The meat patty was mediocre (Salt and Pepper required). I also could have done with the side of fries due to my ever growing waistline and because they were cold. It seems to be one thing after another when I visit Starky's, but the food is just terrible and there's no gaining my service back without possibly doing in overhaul to kitchen staff. And one last thing. Let's move away from the tired music video playlist and get an updated jukebox in the joint please. Signed.....a patron that just wants to come back at some point.
(1)Brian H.
Fun friendly place. Drinks are strong and good. Food is good, especially brunch. Clientele and staff are friendly. Starky's takes me back to the 80's gay bar scene. In a good way. Whitney Houston, Gloria Estefan, Madonna on the TV. Men and women socializing together. Extreme fashionistas mingling with the occasional mullet. Love it here.
(4)Brian F.
My friend and I happen to drive by this place. We noticed the outdoor tables and the animated conversation going on among the customers. They looked like they're having a great dinner. So we decided to stop by and give it a try. We got a table outside. Our server informed us that today (Monday) was their happy hour special: Burgers for under $5. We decided to give it try. We were surprise by the size of the burger. It is not your typical McD's or Burger King's. It was thick and succulent (aka a Man-Burger)! We both loved the awesome onion rings. Crunchy and some serious onion slices in them (unlike the ones that is 99% batter and 1% onion). We're definitely coming back here on Mondays!
(4)Amanda R.
5 bucks for a burger on Monday nights? Oh, and the lovely Poison Waters offering up conversation while eating the delicious 5 dollar burger? hells to the yeah. This place is unassumingly interesting and just the kind of gay friendly I appreciate and love about Portland. The crowd was diverse and the drinks were strong, what more can I say!
(5)David M.
Scary gays, awesome tater tots. It's a trade-off. Don't order doubles, and don't look at anyone in the eye for longer than .5 seconds. And don't go to the bathroom alone. I think those are all the dont's. I traipsed in one nite after wandering the streets of Portland for hours, and will probably never return for reasons that don't involve fried potatoes. If you really like 80's music videos and sketchball gay men, then this is your kinda place.
(3)David B.
Still one of the best deals in Portland. Twin Filet Mignons (yes, they are small 3 0z. ones). but the complete dinner, including salad is only $10.95. Food is good. Service is fun, sometimes slow, but attentive. Outdoor patio is so fun on Portland's month of summer. Been enjoying this place for 3 years now.
(4)J C.
I like that the waiter was attentive and that there are gays older than me having a Kiki (ol') time. Looks like there's a good nurturing sense of community at this establishment which is rare to find in big city gay spots. Food was filling: chicken parm, salad was ok and house merlot was great.
(3)Jenni L.
I love a good brunch place that will make you a nice stiff drink with great food to boot. Try the Bloody Mary's, one will have you properly buzzed.
(3)Mark P.
Ok Starky's you outdid yourselves last night! Went there with a couple of friends and enjoyed the bar menu and the terrific drinks. Your bar waiter is a gem, don't let him getaway. Saw some people I knew who were having just as a good time as I was. No pretentiousness just fun people out having a good time. Keep up the good work.
(5)Del R.
Starky's feels sort of like a Cheer's for us queers. Ok, if Cheer's had a really decent restaurant attached to it. I primarily stick to the restaurant side of Starky's which offers a decent fair with everything from burgers and fries to a variety of surf and turf options. Last night I had the most amazing coconut prawns with a beautiful (and strong) pomegranate martini. The staff are very friendly, but a bit over worked as there was only one waiter for an almost full dining room. Overall, though, it is a very comfortable and welcoming atmosh
(4)Mike K.
Husband and I wanted to grab a bite and I remembered something about Starky's. We found it easily, went inside and were promptly seated. Husband says, "This has got to be the gayest place I've ever been in." That says a lot, too, since we've been in lots of gay places. There were rainbow thingies dangling from the ceiling every few inches, just in case people didn't get the hint from the crowd. We felt right at home. The food was surprisingly good. Not excellent, but very good, and there are plenty of restaurants that cater to a small clientele yet don't feel that they need to go beyond mediocre once they've gotten their targeted minyans to cross the threshold. We both had the special of the evening, chicken gumbo. Very tasty, very filling. Large portions, small prices, excellent service. We'll be going back, and soon.
(4)Katie S.
I loved the service we received here on our group of 15s Sunday brunch. The waiter was funny, kind and always right on top of what we needed. My group was impressed with the $7 bottomless Mimosas they server there. Unfortunately I came a couple minutes too late and we missed ordering off the breakfast menu. What I spied on my friends tables looked so good. I had to make myself not stare in jealousy. I ordered the Ahi Tuna Melt. I found it pretty good, cooked right, with just a tiny bit of pink in the middle area. I would have preferred the Eggs Benedict my friend was eating more though.
(3)Rhonda M.
I love this place! They serve great drinks and have some of the best food in Portland (cause they got an awesome kitchen staff!!!) I love this place for Sunday brunch with my girlfriends, drinks any night of the week, or a welcoming environment that all my friends can be comfortable in.
(5)Krista T.
Sunday brunch includes all you can drink mimosas for 7$. Who cares if the food is only mediocre?
(5)Douglas G.
A friend invited me out for brunch (and prefaced it with "This is a gay bar, are you okay with that...? LOL) and am I glad she did. Far and away one of the best meals I've ever had. The coffee was delicious and the smoked salmon omelette to die for. The waiter gave me a bit of a raised eyebrow when I asked for a garden salad instead of potatoes but the salad was perfect as well. Can't recommend highly enough. And no, I didn't care that it was a gay bar, sheesh. I did have to beat a couple of old queens off with a stick, but I'm used to that... ;-)
(5)jay d.
Starky's has at times been my "local". It delivers a particular something that I often crave. Be warned it can be a mixed bag though. The drinks are strong and good, the staff are, without exception, friendly, engaging and hardworking. The food is not particularly good and its a bit pricey for what you get...BUT they always have table service and their late night menu covers all your basics and is cheaper than the dinner menu. Dinner can be extremely expensive and totally mediocre. They have several tv's on which they play video compilations and live concerts. You never know what your are going to get...which is part of the fun. I've seen a lot of videos here. Some of the live concerts: Dolly Parton, Liza Minelli, Bette Midler, Celine Dion, Dead or Alive, Kandy Kane, Barry White, A Night at the Apollo...some of the video comps: Whitney Houston, George Michael, Bronski Beat (my favorite), Pet Shop Boys. Those are just some I remember, but they probably have a couple hundred DVDs they'll play. They do requests too. I don't always enjoy what they play, but they keep the volume at a reasonable level and you can just ignore the screens. It always very smoky in the front bar area. You can escape it, somewhat, by sitting further back into the restaurant area, but I tend to choose the smokey area so I can be with the crowd. Once the state smoking ban goes into effect Starky's will probably go back to being my favorite bar. Update: In a bold move of remarkable class, Starky's has gone NON-smoking months ahead of the state ban. Awesome. I say again AWESOME!!!!
(4)Mark B.
Amazing Sunday brunch and great service. Plenty of off street parking. Try the endless Mimosas if you aren't driving afterward!
(5)Lauren G.
I've been here but once and drank many a strong cocktail and watched many a Madonna music video in a rather subdued environment. These things, I like. Them gays are wisemen!
(4)Lindsay S B.
I like this place alot, went there for lunch alone and I would definitely go back alone. It's a very comfortable environment and the staff is really friendly. I got a turkey philly which I was sort of questioning but it was delicious! they let me sample beers before ordering one because I wasn't sure what I wanted. They were playing the Moody Blues on the TVs which was sort of random to watch. This is a good place to just go alone and sit and have a quick meal and a beer, but I'm sure it would be fun anytime with whomever. I likes I likes.
(4)Arnie Lewis T.
You know, this place is so comfortable. Easy to relax....even when it's busy -- which it can definitely be. The food is fine, nothing amazing or super great...but comfortable and good. But one of my favorite parts of going there is my favorite waiter TRAVIS. He always is pleasant and goes out of his way to separate checks and bring whatever is needed. Without attitude. He has become a guy that we look forward to seeing. They have a parking lot which is always a plus. Of course, we'll be going back....again and again.
(4)David B.
Great food great atmosphere, a several times a week must. Always a good choice.
(5)Jeff B.
Just an FYI - you might want to steer clear of this place if you're under 40. It's small, friendly, and laid-back, but caters to the older crowd. Drinks are plenty strong, tater tots are great, but the bathrooms are a bit on the dirty side. If you sit under one of the many plasma screens, it might feel like everyone is watching you. Don't flatter yourself; they're just watching Whitney in her better days.
(3)jade w.
Excellent service--friendly, personable, and quick. As we were waiting for a friend, the waiter brought us lemon bars and toast. The corned beef hash was tasty and I love the festive atmosphere. The $7 bottomless mimosas is great--would definitely go for Sunday brunch again.
(5)Andrew F.
cant speak for any other day then Sunday. I often go here for the brunch on Sundays. The food is great, the other customers are not always the friendliest and most social, but then again neither are my freinds and I. I like it, portions could be bigger, but hell I am a pig.
(3)Thomas Winston M.
We love Starkys. It's one of our favorite neighborhood hangouts. Besides that, it is so much fun to taunt Ronnie!
(5)Michael P.
Always fun for me I try to swing by here once in a while for late night or last bar of the night deals, love the later night bartender always friendly know my name my drink, life story, and favorite videos on top of that! can't beat it. nice strong drinks, how cocktails are supposed to be (you should taste the liqour mr twink boy) overall fun still have yet been here for actual dinner but have had their bar menu before and if any idication should be good simple fair that is decently cheap.
(5)Peter B.
Been going to Starky's for 25 years. Went there tonite for cheap burger nite. Under staffed and the waiter too busy to ask if we wanted a refill or condiments. Complained to the manager and he had no response except to run my credit card and hand it over to the waiter to give to me. They acted like they were entitled to get my business Sadly they lost a long time customer for life. I find the straight owned establishments here work more to earn your business rather you are straight or gay. Wake up!
(2)Jeannie J.
Kitchy. Campy. Comfortable. Let's say you have a gaggle of gays. They aren't twinks. They prefer Diana Ross videos over football. It's Sunday morning. Where should you take them for brunch? Starky's!!! This restaurant has been around FOREVER. I have been going for at least 15 years that I can remember. I don't think it has ever changed. It's cozy. It could probably use a tiny bit of updating, but it is completely welcoming in every way. It's tough to beat the $8 bottomless mimosa during brunch. They don't hesitate to bring another bottle as soon as you start getting low. If you prefer something else, they have a full bar, so no problem. I have never had to wait for a table, and they have a parking lot. Like what you have read so far? On to the food. I noticed a few people complaining that the menu needs updating to make their dishes lighter and healthier, to cater to modern diets. Well guess what? Sometimes you want the classics with all of the fat, calories, and deliciousness that they were meant to have. I personally go for the chicken fried chicken. Every. Time. It is coated in bread crumbs instead of batter, and very crisp. My friends lean toward the chicken fried steak, and are consistently happy with it. The food won't blow your mind, but it's good in an old-school diner sort of way. The table gets a basket of toast to share. For the prices ($10 and under), you get a nice portion of food. As Valerie mentioned all of the plates come with a mini brownie. The perfect little morsel to end the meal. The staff has always been super congenial and on the ball. I love Sunday brunch at Starky's! There are quite a few regulars, and you will most likely see someone you know if you run with the gay crowd. Everyone is very friendly, and it's not packed with 21 year old kids. It attracts a more mature clientele. I only wish it were walking distance from my apartment. Pssst, read the review from Justin N. He's a funny dude.
(4)Shane S.
We love our Sunday Brunch with Chris or other staff. Food seems consistent, and the bottoms up cocktails never seem to fail is for three bottles as a rule. Maybe a rework of the menu is needed? Some weekends when the "fresh fruit" is a side of applesauce might not be appropriate for the same price as when it's "fresh fruit"? We won't frequent the bar, but Sundays are fun still!
(4)Shane C.
We come here on Sundays, since Chris works on Sundays. The staff is great, very welcoming.
(5)Shawn W.
Good drinks but don't order the corned beef hash if you are looking for real corned beef and not the dog food can variety...
(2)Tom J.
Okay, I'll give credit where credit is due. A friend talked me into going back after my last experience, which was bad. One of the main servers apologized for our bad experience and bought our first round of drinks, which was very nice. This is a fun place to go for a "totally gay" experience, even if it's a bit dated inside. Some of the food is really good, the fettuccine with chicken is garlic-y, fatty and great. The potato skins are pretty fab too. And if you're feeling the sugar need, they'll bring you a giant slab of tasty carrot cake. Drinks are strong and great always. I do think the servers could be a bit mellower at times, but they generally have a ton of customers to wait on so I'm sure they are doing their best. The interior and menu could definitely use some updating, though I guess that's part of the charm. I read in the local press that the owners have put the building up for sale, so I don't know if there will be a Starky's in the future, but I hope so.
(3)Jeff V.
Definitely our brunch spot for endless mimosas. All you can drink for 8 dollars and the staff is on top if it. "Are you low on your bottle?" "Why yes we are!" "Here's another bottle and OJ." Brunch has a breakfast special every Sunday. Today it was a waffle with berry puree which sounded good, but I ended up getting the french toast which is MORE than enough food. 8 slices of french toast, eggs, sausage and toast in a basket for the whole table. I forgot to mention that this place is never busy with a line out the door. We haven't waited more than 5 minutes for a table.
(5)Ginger T.
We had a wonderful waiter I need to say that who did his best to entertain us and make it a good experience but the food was less than desirable the fish and chip seem to be the best thing to order and still it was lacking flavor shrimp Louie had no flavor and frozen shrimp not necessary in Oregon this time of year the chicken fried steak did have real mashed potatoes and was okay but not a lot of flavor and the seared halibut was just bland. to top it off we did find a hair in one of the salads our friend had to pull it out of her mouth they did come for her meal which was very nice and again I credit that to the very nice waiter we have their house Merlot is delicious and everyone seem to be happy with their alcohol we probably won't go back again and the sad part is that years ago it was the bomb to go to with excellent 5 star cooking and just a really fun place for men and women both probably won't return in fact I know we won't return that we have wonderful memories anyway
(2)Anonymous A.
Whenever I'm in Portland, I have dinner at Starky's and I'm never disappointed. The food is great, prices reasonable and the service is personal and attentive. If you appreciate a quiet and relaxed atmosphere, this is the place to go. This place is a real gem.
(5)Macy T.
BEST BRUNCH PLACE EVER!! Truly bottomless mimosas delish food, SUPER friendly helpful staff, wonderful decor, especially during the holidays.
(5)Ryan M.
Up visiting from SF with friends and we were looking for a fun, LGBT friendly brunch spot. We hit the jackpot! The fried chicken with gravy is especially delish!
(5)JP R.
Update 5/1/15---this place goes up and down like a yoyo with quality control. Had steak and eggs - asked for eggs over medium got them over easy like raw - steak was tough as shoe leather and came in two bite size pieces also came with roasted potatoes - 3 bite size pieces and undercooked. Give it two stars because service was good and so was the coffee. For $12.95 I could of done better....came here because my friend likes it...going back to Bread and Ink cafe - better menu and prices and food is amazing every time!
(2)Valerie W.
Still love having brunch at Starky's! And when they say bottomless mimosas....they mean it. Although, they did raise the price...it is now $8. But seriously. Still cheap. Still excellent. Love how they just throw an ice bucket and bottle at your table. The service is always pretty good and staff is friendly. This place definitely gets a bit crowded on the weekends. This last go-round I tried the eggs benedict and it was pretty good. The ham was a super thick cut and their red potatoes are A-OK. What's odd is that it says your meal comes with fruit....however the fruit....was literally ONE piece of cantelope. I'm not sure if that even constitutes as such? The rest of my table recieved the same thing. Also we got a brownie square. Odd, yes. Delicious? Oh my, yes. All in all you can grab a great brunch here with drinks for under $20 which is great in my book!
(4)Bee T.
I did some bottomless mimosas with a friend a few weeks back at Starky's. It's a quaint little spot. We took full advantage of their $8 bottomless mimosas (thank you very much!), but I will note that in order to qualify for the special you have to get food. This is a smart qualification because otherwise they would have been stuck with me, drunk, much MUCH longer. I had their basic eggs and toast, which hit the spot. They literally leave you a full bottle of champagne and a tall glass of OJ and let you mix at your own discretion. I loved this! Between my friend and I, we went through almost 2 bottles of champagne in a few hours. My only request is more comfortable outdoor seating (you're literally sitting on stone), but I suppose if they did that they'd never be rid of me! Remember to tip your waiter well for putting up with your drunk self for so long! They most certainly deserve it
(4)Mike S.
Great food and drink for decent prices.
(4)Davide S.
Love going here for drinks! Staff is very friendly and know how to pour a good drink! Wish they introduced a vegan option other than the veggie burger. Clientele is also very friendly. If you're new like me it's a great place to make new friends!
(4)Katie M.
My partner and I came last Saturday night for dinner. We'd never been here before so didn't know what to expect. Certainly wasn't expecting what we got. I ordered the mac and cheese which was ok. It had way too much sauce that drowned out the noodles. My partner ordered the Chicken Dijon which came with a salad. The server asked what type of dressing she wanted and she replied, "do you have a balsamic?" to which he replied "yes". He brought the salad out with another plate of oil and vinegar used for bread. Wtf? The chicken dijon was awful. The chicken was rubbery and incredibly salty like it was right out of the freezer and then microwaved. The worst part was this chicken dinner was $17!! Are you kidding me? We will not be back, which is a shame because there isn't very many LGBT establishments in Portland.
(2)Jessica H.
Always great after a night of drinking. The drinks here are stiff and the bottomless mimosa's really are bottomless. The toast they serve always comes out perfectly buttered and the jam is always tasty and presented well. Nice staff and I love all of the concerts they play in the bar. Been coming here for years and will continue. The patio is nice too.
(4)Scott W.
Great food. Waiters are very friendly and drinks are great. Fresh ingredient used and interesting menu each week
(5)Candace K.
I really wanted to love this bar. I live a few blocks away and was hoping this could be another regular place for me. I decided to go for RuPaul's Drag Race night because I'm a big fan of the show and wanted to watch it live with other enthusiasts. Unfortunately I think it needs to be noted that I am a young lady and I brought a young lady friend with me. I didn't think this would be an issue. I have never been to a bar in Portland where I have felt alienated and unwelcome before gay bar or not. Well, we did feel unwelcome. Some of the patrons were giving us the why are you here stares, but we didn't let that phase us. Whatever. It was the bartender that made us feel really awkward and uncomfortable. When we sat at the bar to order the older gentleman stared us down impatiently as we decided on drinks. We got our drinks, tipped nicely and went outside to smoke. We took our seats back at the bar when we were finished. I finished my drink fairly quickly, but was not being offered another so I figured he was busy (he wasn't really) and I would try to make it more obvious that I needed another drink. I put my empty glass at the edge of the bar. Nothing for well over five minutes. I pulled out a twenty dollar bill and set it on the bar in front of me. Nothing. I made eye contact with him many times and he would skip around to everyone else at the bar (all men) and serve them or just chit chat because they actually didn't need anything. I think some of the guys at the bar could see I was being ignored and felt bad. I eventually got my second drink of the evening after about 25min of patiently waiting for service. I still tipped. I probably shouldn't have, but I didn't want to be that person. I have never been blatantly ignored like that at a bar before. It was really shitty and the sexist context made it so much worse. I am super disappointed in this place. I'm sorry I crashed your boy party. I will be going to Beulahland for my Drag Race fix from now on.
(2)Tamara C.
Starky's serves up an awesome brunch and for a mere $8.00 you can indulge with bottomless mimosas. The nice thing about brunching at Starky's is that they just bring the bottle of bubbly and park it on your table with a little carafe of orange juice so there is none of that flagging down the server every 2 minutes for a mimosa refill. You'll find lots of choices to be had on the menu from sweet to savory. The chicken fried chicken is always a winning choice as are the benedicts. Most recently I had the top sirloin benedict which was the daily special and it was awesome. My only grumble is that the tables are rather on the smallish side so when you and your 3 friends all have a mimosa, a coffee and a water, there is little room for your plate of food, your silverware and any condiments. In fact, all the tables seem rather close together and it seems a little crowded. So if you don't mind a cozy dining experience, grab your bestest brunch buddies and head to Starky's. 2014 - Review # 94
(4)Eldon K.
I love coming here, always have good food! This time tried the chicken oriental salad and wasn't all that thrilled with with. Warm salad dressing and too much dressing
(4)Jeremy C.
Restaurant does not look like much from the outside but inside is very clean. The tables in the dinning room are covered with linen, nicely folded napkins, seats are very comfortable and the table has its own little plate with ketchup and house made jam. We arrived at 10am and the place was empty but by the time we left there was a full house. They have bottomless mimosas and leave the bottle of champagne at your table with an ice bucket, also a little carafe of orange juice. We had two bottles of champagne and it was nice to just sit and talk and not feel like we were being rushed. The food here was great, came out hot and had a little house made brownie on the rim of the plate. The staff is very friendly and make you feel welcomed. I will definitely return for brunch next weekend and recommend this place to others. The nice part about this restaurant is that it does have a parking lot so no circling around the block for parking.
(5)Nikki R.
They went out of business after 30 years. They were great when the original owners had it, but in recent years, it was like a kitchen nightmare. And the dining room was empty.
(3)Darci S.
We went to Starky's last night for a final hoo-rah. I had family in town and I figured with something as main stay to Portland as Starky's, that we couldn't go wrong. Fine fine fine...the burger and tots was a great value. But overall, a terrible experience. We had a reservation at 6:30. The others in our group were a half hour late! NOT STARKY'S fault. So while we waited, we decided to have a couple cocktails. The waiter in the bar area, Chris, was so rude to the customers. He was extremely short with me. I just felt like I was bothering him. I heard him say to a group of fellas standing at the bar, "move! I'm busy and you're in my way!" No need to talk to the customers that way. When our group finally arrived, we got seated. Not a joke, or an exaggeration, we waited 30 minutes to have our order taken. There was a table behind us that got up and walked out because they hadn't been served yet. I'm no princess and I don't act like one, I just expected something better. I am not alone in saying, nobody likes to be sassed by the waiter. I'm sad to see you leave, however last nights experience makes it not as sad.
(2)Shawn W.
Good drinks but don't order the corned beef hash if you are looking for real corned beef and not the dog food can variety...
(2)Tom J.
Okay, I'll give credit where credit is due. A friend talked me into going back after my last experience, which was bad. One of the main servers apologized for our bad experience and bought our first round of drinks, which was very nice. This is a fun place to go for a "totally gay" experience, even if it's a bit dated inside. Some of the food is really good, the fettuccine with chicken is garlic-y, fatty and great. The potato skins are pretty fab too. And if you're feeling the sugar need, they'll bring you a giant slab of tasty carrot cake. Drinks are strong and great always. I do think the servers could be a bit mellower at times, but they generally have a ton of customers to wait on so I'm sure they are doing their best. The interior and menu could definitely use some updating, though I guess that's part of the charm. I read in the local press that the owners have put the building up for sale, so I don't know if there will be a Starky's in the future, but I hope so.
(3)Jeannie J.
Kitchy. Campy. Comfortable. Let's say you have a gaggle of gays. They aren't twinks. They prefer Diana Ross videos over football. It's Sunday morning. Where should you take them for brunch? Starky's!!! This restaurant has been around FOREVER. I have been going for at least 15 years that I can remember. I don't think it has ever changed. It's cozy. It could probably use a tiny bit of updating, but it is completely welcoming in every way. It's tough to beat the $8 bottomless mimosa during brunch. They don't hesitate to bring another bottle as soon as you start getting low. If you prefer something else, they have a full bar, so no problem. I have never had to wait for a table, and they have a parking lot. Like what you have read so far? On to the food. I noticed a few people complaining that the menu needs updating to make their dishes lighter and healthier, to cater to modern diets. Well guess what? Sometimes you want the classics with all of the fat, calories, and deliciousness that they were meant to have. I personally go for the chicken fried chicken. Every. Time. It is coated in bread crumbs instead of batter, and very crisp. My friends lean toward the chicken fried steak, and are consistently happy with it. The food won't blow your mind, but it's good in an old-school diner sort of way. The table gets a basket of toast to share. For the prices ($10 and under), you get a nice portion of food. As Valerie mentioned all of the plates come with a mini brownie. The perfect little morsel to end the meal. The staff has always been super congenial and on the ball. I love Sunday brunch at Starky's! There are quite a few regulars, and you will most likely see someone you know if you run with the gay crowd. Everyone is very friendly, and it's not packed with 21 year old kids. It attracts a more mature clientele. I only wish it were walking distance from my apartment. Pssst, read the review from Justin N. He's a funny dude.
(4)Shane S.
We love our Sunday Brunch with Chris or other staff. Food seems consistent, and the bottoms up cocktails never seem to fail is for three bottles as a rule. Maybe a rework of the menu is needed? Some weekends when the "fresh fruit" is a side of applesauce might not be appropriate for the same price as when it's "fresh fruit"? We won't frequent the bar, but Sundays are fun still!
(4)Shane C.
We come here on Sundays, since Chris works on Sundays. The staff is great, very welcoming.
(5)Rare I.
Yeah, I had a great time here, but the waiters really need to find out how to charge credit cards correctly....
(3)S E.
Really good food and reasonable prices. Super generous portions: the nachos were enough for four, and we had ordered four other dishes. Oink! The burger looked and smelled fantastic but my friend wasn't about to let me have a bite! I still can't get over the reasonable prices for the portions we received. Well made drinks and good selection of beer. The crowd is friendly and mixed. Fantastic patio if the weather permits.
(4)David M.
Scary gays, awesome tater tots. It's a trade-off. Don't order doubles, and don't look at anyone in the eye for longer than .5 seconds. And don't go to the bathroom alone. I think those are all the dont's. I traipsed in one nite after wandering the streets of Portland for hours, and will probably never return for reasons that don't involve fried potatoes. If you really like 80's music videos and sketchball gay men, then this is your kinda place.
(3)David B.
Still one of the best deals in Portland. Twin Filet Mignons (yes, they are small 3 0z. ones). but the complete dinner, including salad is only $10.95. Food is good. Service is fun, sometimes slow, but attentive. Outdoor patio is so fun on Portland's month of summer. Been enjoying this place for 3 years now.
(4)Krista T.
Sunday brunch includes all you can drink mimosas for 7$. Who cares if the food is only mediocre?
(5)Douglas G.
A friend invited me out for brunch (and prefaced it with "This is a gay bar, are you okay with that...? LOL) and am I glad she did. Far and away one of the best meals I've ever had. The coffee was delicious and the smoked salmon omelette to die for. The waiter gave me a bit of a raised eyebrow when I asked for a garden salad instead of potatoes but the salad was perfect as well. Can't recommend highly enough. And no, I didn't care that it was a gay bar, sheesh. I did have to beat a couple of old queens off with a stick, but I'm used to that... ;-)
(5)Jeff B.
Just an FYI - you might want to steer clear of this place if you're under 40. It's small, friendly, and laid-back, but caters to the older crowd. Drinks are plenty strong, tater tots are great, but the bathrooms are a bit on the dirty side. If you sit under one of the many plasma screens, it might feel like everyone is watching you. Don't flatter yourself; they're just watching Whitney in her better days.
(3)jade w.
Excellent service--friendly, personable, and quick. As we were waiting for a friend, the waiter brought us lemon bars and toast. The corned beef hash was tasty and I love the festive atmosphere. The $7 bottomless mimosas is great--would definitely go for Sunday brunch again.
(5)Ginger T.
We had a wonderful waiter I need to say that who did his best to entertain us and make it a good experience but the food was less than desirable the fish and chip seem to be the best thing to order and still it was lacking flavor shrimp Louie had no flavor and frozen shrimp not necessary in Oregon this time of year the chicken fried steak did have real mashed potatoes and was okay but not a lot of flavor and the seared halibut was just bland. to top it off we did find a hair in one of the salads our friend had to pull it out of her mouth they did come for her meal which was very nice and again I credit that to the very nice waiter we have their house Merlot is delicious and everyone seem to be happy with their alcohol we probably won't go back again and the sad part is that years ago it was the bomb to go to with excellent 5 star cooking and just a really fun place for men and women both probably won't return in fact I know we won't return that we have wonderful memories anyway
(2)Anonymous A.
Whenever I'm in Portland, I have dinner at Starky's and I'm never disappointed. The food is great, prices reasonable and the service is personal and attentive. If you appreciate a quiet and relaxed atmosphere, this is the place to go. This place is a real gem.
(5)Macy T.
BEST BRUNCH PLACE EVER!! Truly bottomless mimosas delish food, SUPER friendly helpful staff, wonderful decor, especially during the holidays.
(5)Ryan M.
Up visiting from SF with friends and we were looking for a fun, LGBT friendly brunch spot. We hit the jackpot! The fried chicken with gravy is especially delish!
(5)JP R.
Update 5/1/15---this place goes up and down like a yoyo with quality control. Had steak and eggs - asked for eggs over medium got them over easy like raw - steak was tough as shoe leather and came in two bite size pieces also came with roasted potatoes - 3 bite size pieces and undercooked. Give it two stars because service was good and so was the coffee. For $12.95 I could of done better....came here because my friend likes it...going back to Bread and Ink cafe - better menu and prices and food is amazing every time!
(2)Valerie W.
Still love having brunch at Starky's! And when they say bottomless mimosas....they mean it. Although, they did raise the price...it is now $8. But seriously. Still cheap. Still excellent. Love how they just throw an ice bucket and bottle at your table. The service is always pretty good and staff is friendly. This place definitely gets a bit crowded on the weekends. This last go-round I tried the eggs benedict and it was pretty good. The ham was a super thick cut and their red potatoes are A-OK. What's odd is that it says your meal comes with fruit....however the fruit....was literally ONE piece of cantelope. I'm not sure if that even constitutes as such? The rest of my table recieved the same thing. Also we got a brownie square. Odd, yes. Delicious? Oh my, yes. All in all you can grab a great brunch here with drinks for under $20 which is great in my book!
(4)Brian F.
My friend and I happen to drive by this place. We noticed the outdoor tables and the animated conversation going on among the customers. They looked like they're having a great dinner. So we decided to stop by and give it a try. We got a table outside. Our server informed us that today (Monday) was their happy hour special: Burgers for under $5. We decided to give it try. We were surprise by the size of the burger. It is not your typical McD's or Burger King's. It was thick and succulent (aka a Man-Burger)! We both loved the awesome onion rings. Crunchy and some serious onion slices in them (unlike the ones that is 99% batter and 1% onion). We're definitely coming back here on Mondays!
(4)J C.
I like that the waiter was attentive and that there are gays older than me having a Kiki (ol') time. Looks like there's a good nurturing sense of community at this establishment which is rare to find in big city gay spots. Food was filling: chicken parm, salad was ok and house merlot was great.
(3)Jenni L.
I love a good brunch place that will make you a nice stiff drink with great food to boot. Try the Bloody Mary's, one will have you properly buzzed.
(3)Bee T.
I did some bottomless mimosas with a friend a few weeks back at Starky's. It's a quaint little spot. We took full advantage of their $8 bottomless mimosas (thank you very much!), but I will note that in order to qualify for the special you have to get food. This is a smart qualification because otherwise they would have been stuck with me, drunk, much MUCH longer. I had their basic eggs and toast, which hit the spot. They literally leave you a full bottle of champagne and a tall glass of OJ and let you mix at your own discretion. I loved this! Between my friend and I, we went through almost 2 bottles of champagne in a few hours. My only request is more comfortable outdoor seating (you're literally sitting on stone), but I suppose if they did that they'd never be rid of me! Remember to tip your waiter well for putting up with your drunk self for so long! They most certainly deserve it
(4)Peter B.
Been going to Starky's for 25 years. Went there tonite for cheap burger nite. Under staffed and the waiter too busy to ask if we wanted a refill or condiments. Complained to the manager and he had no response except to run my credit card and hand it over to the waiter to give to me. They acted like they were entitled to get my business Sadly they lost a long time customer for life. I find the straight owned establishments here work more to earn your business rather you are straight or gay. Wake up!
(2)Robert V.
I love this place, i only go there for the food part because i am not 21 :/ but i still like to site see ;) I recommend the Mac and Cheese, i had that and it is very Delicious!! The staff if very friendly and the price is always good!
(5)Mark B.
You cannot go wrong at this hybrid bar and restaurant. Entrees always good as are the beverages. Service is consistently of high quality. If you want to smoke or enjoy a nice day, they have a large patio in front. Prefer to sit around the bar, you can do that. The dining area is divided between kind of a video section and a quieter and more demure area in back.
(4)Justin N.
I love it when I don't notice a bar is a gay bar at first, I can actually look back and pause on the exact moment when I get it. I don't mind gay bars one bit, if they sell booze I'm all for it, but I'm used to the SF style where it's rainbow flags and bears standing outside with posters of mostly nekid "sailors" all over the wall advertising for a party. Starky's had a modest 'Dining and Spirits' sign and not a rainbow in sight, I figured it was a sports bar if anything... ~~~~~flashing back to Portland vacation inner monologue~~~~~ *sigh* More vintage clothing shops, my lady is gonna be busy for at least another 30 minutes.... Wait, a bar, that works.. "Hey babe, I'll be next door with some liquid fun, come find me when you've wrapped up." Starky's ey? Sure, why not, looks quiet. Where's the bathroom? Ahhh back there, cool. That's odd, everyone is watching me walk towards the bathroom. What are they smirking at? They better not be hating on my sweet old school Milwaukee Brewers hat, maybe they're jealous because Portland doesn't have a MLB team. Hah! OK.... nothing like 6 middle aged guys watching me stroll to the can... Wait, it's pretty much all middle aged guys here. Must be a common hangout spot, OK, cool. Me: "I'll take a PBR and a shot of Jameson. And I'm sorry, what the hell is on the TV?" Bartender: "It's a DVD of a Dido concert." Me: "Ok..." Dido? Who the hell is Dido.... oh yea, she did that song with Eminem, all emotional and shit. That song was depressing, I don't want to think about depressing stuff while drinking. I didn't even know they MADE Dido DVDs. It would be cooler if her name was 'Dino' , or 'Dildo'. Hmmm, interesting. This place seems chill enough though. Decent booze prices, seating, wait... Is that a sketch of guy's ass hanging on the wall? I stand corrected, are those multiple sketches of guy's asses hanging all over the place? Lots of hand holding going on between these bros too, I wonder if.... *LIGHT BULB* Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... ~~~~~fading back to current times~~~~~ There you have it, Starky's is a chill gay bar without being a crazy disco ball leather chaps rainbow cape wearing techno fest. No, I'm not stereotyping, I've had gay friends that have dragged me to bars exactly like that. Love Fest in San Francisco anybody? Starky's certainly suited my purpose; I killed a few drinks, killed about 30 minutes, and killed my ears listening to Dido. I guess what I'm trying to say is this bar suits all types. Looking for a relaxed gay bar? Starky's works. Don't care about background, just want a fairly priced drink? Starky's has you covered. Want to expand your horizons on terrible music from the early 2000s? Starky's has live Dido locked and loaded. Good shit for everyone.
(4)Jeff V.
Definitely our brunch spot for endless mimosas. All you can drink for 8 dollars and the staff is on top if it. "Are you low on your bottle?" "Why yes we are!" "Here's another bottle and OJ." Brunch has a breakfast special every Sunday. Today it was a waffle with berry puree which sounded good, but I ended up getting the french toast which is MORE than enough food. 8 slices of french toast, eggs, sausage and toast in a basket for the whole table. I forgot to mention that this place is never busy with a line out the door. We haven't waited more than 5 minutes for a table.
(5)Candice Z.
This is now my go to brunch spot, and if I could find an apartment within walking distance, I'm certain I would be there almost every weekend. Good old fashion diner type fare, the food is good and filling, and the portions are huge. And for $8 you can have bottomless mimosas! These are hard to come by in Portland, and usually cost quite a bit more. To me, mimosas are what make brunch so amazing, and there's nothing like getting hammered off of cheap champagne and spending the remainder or your Sunday cursing that 3rd bottle that you insisted on downing. The other best part about Starky's is the great service! Everyone is super friendly, and they are good about checking if you need anything (including another bottle of champagne). And don't worry, this place is big enough that you won't have to wait for a table like at most other brunch spots. Thank you Portland for the wonderful place known as Starky's!
(5)Olivia T.
NOoooOOOooOOOppppEeeEE... This bar was listed for happy hour, but what it didn't make the list is the fact that they only have happy hour for drinks. No food. We came to Starky's for happy hour at the patio. We just got there and the server/bartender came and asked if we knew what we wanted to order. I didn't even have a chance to put my purse down yet. I told them to give us a minute. He didn't come back with menu for drinks or food. 10 minutes later, he came back and asked if we knew what we wanted. Jesse ordered Hefeweizen on draft and I ordered Vodka cranberry. I asked if they have happy hour food and he said no, only drinks. He told us there were some free Chicken fingers and tater tots left. Apparently they do that every Friday. We checked out the chicken fingers and tots. The chicken fingers are chicken nuggets like ones they serve at McDonald's. He brought us our drinks and my drink was clear. They made my Vodka Cran with waaaayyy too much alcohol. I couldn't even drink half of it. I'm not an alcoholic or a person who loves to get wasted whenever I drink. I actually like to enjoy the taste of my drink. Seems like all customers at Starky's were regulars which is good for them. However, I don't think they know to take care of their potential new customers. Jesse chugged his beer and we paid for our drinks. So much for trying out new place and good luck, Starky's. Hopefully your regular customers will stick with you till foreva and eva because I don't think you can gain new customers wih the non existent service, awful drinks, and food.
(1)Julia R.
Our experience was limited, but great. Four of us were having dinner at Laurelhurst Market on a Friday night. We wanted to go have a drink or two before dinner, and stumbled upon Starky's, which is just a few blocks away. We decided to stop there because the weather was fabulous and Starky's had ample outdoor seating. We got prompt, friendly service and the drinks were perfectly mixed. A few hours later, after we were done with dinner, we decided to head back to Starky's for one more cocktail. The server recognized us, welcomed us back, asked us if we wanted the same things we'd had earlier (we said yes) and he brought them out very quickly. That was impressive enough - but he won huge points for coming out a bit later with a big slice of chocolate cake and birthday candles (on the house) because it was my birthday. Seriously great service. We'll be back!
(5)Jessica D.
Mmmmm.... Bottomless mimosa brunch. My favorite!
(4)Gregory M.
Starkys is a clubby, comfortalbe and often friendly place for older gay men to relax an enjoy a meal or drinks at the bar. It's got a nice patio. After enduring an obnoxious water, he seems to have been dispatched. The dining room staff is hardworking and very pleasant. But the food is just terrible, heavy, tired, old-school. They can never seem to get a steak cooked right. The chef doesn't understand the difference between black and blue and medium rare. Heavy salads dressings are ladled in with an equally heavy hand. I'd gotten to the point where all I would order is Cobb Salad, but there are dozens and dozens of restaurants around town that make better versions. For a restaurant catering to an older clientele, the food on the menu features too many cream sauces. Much of the choices are downright unhealthy in this day and age. Surely we should expect a little better than coffee shop fare. Fish is invariably overcooked here, the salmon is like sawdust. I had a reasonably good grilled porkchop, but the chef got heavy-handed with the Asian glaze, which was soupy and way too sweet. My brother tried the hamburger when he was here on a visit, and declared it really good. It looked good and so were the fries it came with. Based on my choices, I wouldn't order pasta here on a dare. The wine choices are good, but one unfortunate night I came in and ordered a vodka martini, straight up. My martini arrived in a stainless steel stem glass. The whole romance of a martini was lost as the drink demands a proper martini glass--this one merely sweated in my hand. I'm not a brunch person, so I haven't been there on a Sunday, but based on the photos here, I would avoid brunch here unless I were 20 and didn't care about my cholesterol or blood pressure (and I'm not a health addict). The gay restaurant like so much other gay culture has gone the way of the Dodo bird. Starky's is a great idea with a large and loyal, if aging, clientele. It's nice to go to a place with a clubby atmosphere, and my friends often come here on Friday nights, where they can enjoy themselves without feeling invisible as they might in a club catering to a younger clientele. But invariably everyone complains about the food. Note to owners: fire the chef and find someone who can gently update your menu. The prices are good, the drinks are good, the ambiance and service are welcoming. Getting the food right is a quick fix.
(1)Tyr R.
Sunday Brunch is the Best. I highly recommend the French Toast on that day. But not for diabetics. Sorry. Parking is a bit of a pain. & every time we've been there it get's pretty loud; but us queens can be. Waiters: friendly; ok to look at, but not fast & they tend to pass your table without asking "How's everything". But if you are just looking for a place to eat & be happy this is it. But it can use work. New front door even?
(4)kelly s.
I really don't know how to rate this place. At first look the exterior reeks of run down bar and grill, further inspection shows a pretty good amount of outdoor seating. Once inside, I was pleasantly surprised at the level of cleanliness, coupled with a semi-recent update, at least more recent than the exterior. I sat at the bar, and was really doubting my choice to come here, after all, it was a completely random choice in the heat of the moment while driving by. I could not decide what to get this day, so picking a place was doubly difficult. Starky's helped in this regard, they were chok full of menu options. This initially scared me, as overly choice-filled menus usually result in a "jack of all trades, master of none" effect. Out of fear, I ordered the mac and cheese, and became further skeptical, as I couldn't tell if the bartender was hating that I was ladying up the man vibe in here, or he was just busy. All awkwardness was forgiven as the resulting mac and cheese was DELICIOUS, rich, dreamy, creamy and cheap. Also, I later realized the bartender was in fact a really nice guy, probably just busy trying to politely make conversation with the loquacious chatty cathy at the bar.
(4)Jens J.
OK...so some people refer to Starky's as "God's waiting room." It just might be that. But I will limit the scope of this review to the food, drinks and service, which are all decent. Was pleasantly amazed that our waiter could remember all our drink and food orders without writing anything down and not making any mistakes. I tried the Steak Diane since I've never had this dish before anywhere. Turned out to be a tender tenderloin with an tangy onion mushroom sauce made with Worcestershire Sauce. Trivia question: do you know what it is that gives Worcestershire sauce its distinctive flavor? No it's not onions, garlic, molasses or vinegar. It is fish! Anchovies! Oh...I love how they prepared my side salad. They toss the salad with the dressing before bringing to the table, like a Caeser Salad. Drink service was super fast. Bartender certainly knows how to mix a delightful martini with Tangeray gin, Cointreau and vermouth.
(4)Christa A.
We came here on a Sunday with our good buddies and we had a blast! Super yummy brunch/breakfast and $8 bottomless mimosas. The service was 5 stars. Our waiters were attentive and genuinely friendly. We didn't have a reservation and they were still accommodating. I could have stayed there all day sipping on our mimosas, maybe next time.
(5)Rex N.
Sunday "BOTTOMLESS $5 MIMOSA" Brunch! need i say more? For $5 they bring you a carafe of OJ, a bucket of ice and a bottle of Cook's sparkling wine. When the juice is gone, they bring you more. When the bottle is empty, they bring you another one. They keep bringing you juice and bottles of shitty sparkling wine until you're either visually intoxicated (and they cut you off) or 'til you can't take anymore and beg them to stop bringing them out. The breakfast dishes are a little over-priced for the quality of the food, but you're gonna be five bottles of Cook's deep, so you really won't care. Oh, it is also an old Bear bar. (Read: OLD, BIG GAY MEN) So, if you can't hang, don't go, but if you aren't weird about who drinks in the bar with you, prepare to get waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasted.
(4)Mike S.
Great food and drink for decent prices.
(4)Ace C.
"Note to owners: fire the chef and find someone who can gently update your menu. The prices are good, the drinks are good, the ambiance and service are welcoming. Getting the food right is a quick fix." I have to start my review off with a quote from another review. I couldn't agree more with the statement above. Starky's is a nice place for when you want to get away from the normal day to day trials of other gay establishments, but the outdated and heavy food is such a let down. I stumbled upon this place a few years ago when I first moved to Portland. I found myself here a couple nights a week, but these days the very mention of this place makes me just roll my eyes. The wait staff clumsily does the best job that they can do, which is forgivable. The food on the other hands is not forgivable, it's just out right terrible. I find myself going only because it's great quality time with friends and associates that don't know better. Today marked the last time that I will be wasting my money in Starky's. There were a couple things wrong with my service today, but screwing up my simple order was the nail in the coffin. I can overlook a lot of things if the food knocks me off my feet. I wanted to keep it simple this time around when ordering. I ordered a California burger from the menu and ended up receiving a plain burger. When I asked the waiter why I received the wrong burger he simply stated that they weren't making those burgers at this time. I think that that's something you discuss with the patron before making the call to change the order and bringing me what you assume is comparable. The plain burger was just OK. The top bun had been toasted, but still tasted stale and cold. The meat patty was mediocre (Salt and Pepper required). I also could have done with the side of fries due to my ever growing waistline and because they were cold. It seems to be one thing after another when I visit Starky's, but the food is just terrible and there's no gaining my service back without possibly doing in overhaul to kitchen staff. And one last thing. Let's move away from the tired music video playlist and get an updated jukebox in the joint please. Signed.....a patron that just wants to come back at some point.
(1)Brian H.
Fun friendly place. Drinks are strong and good. Food is good, especially brunch. Clientele and staff are friendly. Starky's takes me back to the 80's gay bar scene. In a good way. Whitney Houston, Gloria Estefan, Madonna on the TV. Men and women socializing together. Extreme fashionistas mingling with the occasional mullet. Love it here.
(4)Our R.
have been coming here for over 10 years ... Great service .. (we love Pete, the bar tender!!) good fresh food, great specials - Sunday brunch is a must. and a great little local bar as well. there are always fun folks having a blast there, they even have their own parking lot. a great local treasure.
(5)Lindsay S B.
I like this place alot, went there for lunch alone and I would definitely go back alone. It's a very comfortable environment and the staff is really friendly. I got a turkey philly which I was sort of questioning but it was delicious! they let me sample beers before ordering one because I wasn't sure what I wanted. They were playing the Moody Blues on the TVs which was sort of random to watch. This is a good place to just go alone and sit and have a quick meal and a beer, but I'm sure it would be fun anytime with whomever. I likes I likes.
(4)Arnie Lewis T.
You know, this place is so comfortable. Easy to relax....even when it's busy -- which it can definitely be. The food is fine, nothing amazing or super great...but comfortable and good. But one of my favorite parts of going there is my favorite waiter TRAVIS. He always is pleasant and goes out of his way to separate checks and bring whatever is needed. Without attitude. He has become a guy that we look forward to seeing. They have a parking lot which is always a plus. Of course, we'll be going back....again and again.
(4)David B.
Great food great atmosphere, a several times a week must. Always a good choice.
(5)Andrew F.
cant speak for any other day then Sunday. I often go here for the brunch on Sundays. The food is great, the other customers are not always the friendliest and most social, but then again neither are my freinds and I. I like it, portions could be bigger, but hell I am a pig.
(3)Thomas Winston M.
We love Starkys. It's one of our favorite neighborhood hangouts. Besides that, it is so much fun to taunt Ronnie!
(5)Michael P.
Always fun for me I try to swing by here once in a while for late night or last bar of the night deals, love the later night bartender always friendly know my name my drink, life story, and favorite videos on top of that! can't beat it. nice strong drinks, how cocktails are supposed to be (you should taste the liqour mr twink boy) overall fun still have yet been here for actual dinner but have had their bar menu before and if any idication should be good simple fair that is decently cheap.
(5)Mark P.
Ok Starky's you outdid yourselves last night! Went there with a couple of friends and enjoyed the bar menu and the terrific drinks. Your bar waiter is a gem, don't let him getaway. Saw some people I knew who were having just as a good time as I was. No pretentiousness just fun people out having a good time. Keep up the good work.
(5)Del R.
Starky's feels sort of like a Cheer's for us queers. Ok, if Cheer's had a really decent restaurant attached to it. I primarily stick to the restaurant side of Starky's which offers a decent fair with everything from burgers and fries to a variety of surf and turf options. Last night I had the most amazing coconut prawns with a beautiful (and strong) pomegranate martini. The staff are very friendly, but a bit over worked as there was only one waiter for an almost full dining room. Overall, though, it is a very comfortable and welcoming atmosh
(4)Turner M.
$5 burger night on Monday, bottomless $7 Mimosas for Sunday brunch and if you're young and good at flirting you might even get a free drink - what's not to love!!! The drinks are strong, the food scrumptious and (if you're lucky) you might even bump into your gay uncle.... This place is amazing - check it out!
(4)Amanda R.
5 bucks for a burger on Monday nights? Oh, and the lovely Poison Waters offering up conversation while eating the delicious 5 dollar burger? hells to the yeah. This place is unassumingly interesting and just the kind of gay friendly I appreciate and love about Portland. The crowd was diverse and the drinks were strong, what more can I say!
(5)Mike K.
Husband and I wanted to grab a bite and I remembered something about Starky's. We found it easily, went inside and were promptly seated. Husband says, "This has got to be the gayest place I've ever been in." That says a lot, too, since we've been in lots of gay places. There were rainbow thingies dangling from the ceiling every few inches, just in case people didn't get the hint from the crowd. We felt right at home. The food was surprisingly good. Not excellent, but very good, and there are plenty of restaurants that cater to a small clientele yet don't feel that they need to go beyond mediocre once they've gotten their targeted minyans to cross the threshold. We both had the special of the evening, chicken gumbo. Very tasty, very filling. Large portions, small prices, excellent service. We'll be going back, and soon.
(4)Katie S.
I loved the service we received here on our group of 15s Sunday brunch. The waiter was funny, kind and always right on top of what we needed. My group was impressed with the $7 bottomless Mimosas they server there. Unfortunately I came a couple minutes too late and we missed ordering off the breakfast menu. What I spied on my friends tables looked so good. I had to make myself not stare in jealousy. I ordered the Ahi Tuna Melt. I found it pretty good, cooked right, with just a tiny bit of pink in the middle area. I would have preferred the Eggs Benedict my friend was eating more though.
(3)Rhonda M.
I love this place! They serve great drinks and have some of the best food in Portland (cause they got an awesome kitchen staff!!!) I love this place for Sunday brunch with my girlfriends, drinks any night of the week, or a welcoming environment that all my friends can be comfortable in.
(5)jay d.
Starky's has at times been my "local". It delivers a particular something that I often crave. Be warned it can be a mixed bag though. The drinks are strong and good, the staff are, without exception, friendly, engaging and hardworking. The food is not particularly good and its a bit pricey for what you get...BUT they always have table service and their late night menu covers all your basics and is cheaper than the dinner menu. Dinner can be extremely expensive and totally mediocre. They have several tv's on which they play video compilations and live concerts. You never know what your are going to get...which is part of the fun. I've seen a lot of videos here. Some of the live concerts: Dolly Parton, Liza Minelli, Bette Midler, Celine Dion, Dead or Alive, Kandy Kane, Barry White, A Night at the Apollo...some of the video comps: Whitney Houston, George Michael, Bronski Beat (my favorite), Pet Shop Boys. Those are just some I remember, but they probably have a couple hundred DVDs they'll play. They do requests too. I don't always enjoy what they play, but they keep the volume at a reasonable level and you can just ignore the screens. It always very smoky in the front bar area. You can escape it, somewhat, by sitting further back into the restaurant area, but I tend to choose the smokey area so I can be with the crowd. Once the state smoking ban goes into effect Starky's will probably go back to being my favorite bar. Update: In a bold move of remarkable class, Starky's has gone NON-smoking months ahead of the state ban. Awesome. I say again AWESOME!!!!
(4)Mark B.
Amazing Sunday brunch and great service. Plenty of off street parking. Try the endless Mimosas if you aren't driving afterward!
(5)Lauren G.
I've been here but once and drank many a strong cocktail and watched many a Madonna music video in a rather subdued environment. These things, I like. Them gays are wisemen!
(4)