Bridge Port Brewpub & Bakery

So, I've been to the brewpub a couple years ago and the service and food was good. There were no complaints there. I just went a couple of days ago to meet with some friends there for happy hour. I was very thirsty when I got there and was looking forward to a glass of water before I decided on something to eat and some beer. While I was deciding on what beer I wanted I asked the waitress for a glass of water. 5 minutes go by and no water. She came around again and I order my beer and ask for a glass of water again. She comes back with my beer and still no water. And it's not like it was that busy at the time. I also noticed she was getting water for other people. How can a simple order of water be forgotten?! If I had been drunk and needed water this would have been a liability for the restaurant. A SIMPLE ORDER OF WATER, PEOPLE?! Yeah, I walked out with a bad taste in my mouth... more

My boyfriend and I are fans of Bridgeport and have been for some time. This summer we took my father there when he was in town, and he made us promise we'd take him every time he visits. This past weekend there was a convention in town, and I was saddled with the task of finding places to eat every night for random, large, assorted groups of people, with varying tastes, ages, preferences, you name it. The first night we had 11 people, with everyone from a vegan to a picky eater to a meat lover, all beer fiends. We were sat very quickly for what I thought was a busy place, and the good times began. Every plate was cleaned, we had ordered everything from pizzas to vegan dishes to chili, pork sandwiched, different beers, we really must have had one of everything on the menu. (Yes, the menu is limited, however, EVERYTHING on it is delicious!) After hours of sitting around, having fun, enjoying our meals, we left very satisfied with the whole event. I think it's amazing that you could find a place where 11 totally different business people could ALL enjoy a meal. (So much for ""can't please all the people""!!!) Pros: the food, the beer, handling our large group Cons: a bit noisy, but hey, it's a bar more

The first time I went to bridgeport was in 2003, a few months after I moved to Portland. I loved their beer, and I loved the building. I soon became a regular and was disappointed when they closed for a year to remodel. I was back after the reopening and was somewhat disappointed, but with a brand new staff and new menu, some kinks were to be expected. So I tried again some time later and was pleasantly surprised. It has since continuously gotten better and I have become a regular once again. The beer is still solid, the food has become consistently fantastic, and the staff is friendly and attentive. The building has become modern, but still retains the original charm. I understand that there is a stark contrast between the old and the new. But to everyone who hates the new bridgeport, I say you are very narrow-minded. I think you have to understand that it is a business, and when it opened in the 80s, it was surrounded by warehouses in an industrial part of town. That part of town has since become trendy and upscale. But the pearl district grew around bridgeport, and as a business, all they can do is adapt. It wouldn't be economically viable to have a dingy brewpub remiscent of the 1980s in the most up and coming part of portland. They did what they had to do. Soulless? I don't think so. Go in and eat the food, talk to the staff. Give it half a chance. I think that if you go in with an open mind and an empty stomach you will quickly have a new opinion. Some people are just flat out afraid of change. Bridgeport has done nothing but impress me lately, and it seems like everyone else likes it too, because their business is booming. Go in on a Saturday night and you'll see what I mean. Five stars. Pros: Excellent food, awesome service, solid beer Cons: if you are afraid of change, keep your comments to yourself more

When we return to places we love we want that original experience. We crave it. We bring our friends and brag to them about the great beer, the great pizza, the unique experience and then.... . We walk into a foo-foo place that is boring. That is not what I came for. That is trying to be one shinier buckle on the belt; when it was the back bone of the strip. A place where you got what you came for and never doubted the experience would be worth the trip. A place that you could visit with 21+ 8 year olds and they all would love the pizza and feel invited in to the inner world of classic adult beer appreciation. A place that you could visit with 8 21+ friends and hang. Enjoying fine food and the finest beer - no pretentious foo-foo too hip for you goo-goo. Please bring back the classic experience of Bridgeport. It wouldn't take much and I think that you would be repaid a thousand times over. We have tried to accpet what you have crafted. We don't. Please reach into you past and re-create yourself in your historical image. Pros: It was once great. Cons: It is empty of zest. more

I usually don't write on these things, but do use them too look at people's recommendations. And in looking at the recommendation for this one I felt the need to stand up for bridgeport. I live in the area and frequently visit. The stout is excellent and the cheapest in town. The service can be slow at times but only because the place is full. But as for rude and ""hipster"" servers I see only the opposite. I have always had pleasant service and experiences. The food is always excellent. I know people have a hard time with change, but walking into it with an already bad assumption because it changed makes it a bad experience. The vegan bowl is to die for. The cashew sauce is something different then most pubs have and thank god they have it. The cupcakes are wonderful and a good dessert after a beer and the hawthorne pizza. I say give it a chance even if it is different. Pros: cheap good beer, great food, wonderful service more

As someone who has become obsessed with craft beer after a life changing visit to Portland in 1992, I wanted to love the new Bridgeport. I wanted my memories of the warm, pubby atmosphere, the laughter, the families, the inviting light, the smell of fresh baked pizza, and the funky charm of the pre-chic establishment to seem dated, an embarrassment. I wanted to be taught how crass my sensibilities were in the face of the inevitable gentrification of the neighborhood. Instead, I want to cry after visiting Bridgeport for the first time since the ""renovation."" The character and families are gone; black surfaces, surly staff members, creepy patrons, and a somber, hipster mood are in. The place is as inviting as the Viper Room in Hollywood. Bridgeport would have carved a wonderful niche for itself by remaining the same -- a timeless reminder of the ""old"" Pearl in a sea of sterility. Instead, it ""reinvented"" itself into blandness. They don't even offer their barleywine on tap (let alone cask) anymore, and laughed when I asked about it. The last time I had it was before the ""remodel,"" and it was the only time a beer was amazing enough to make me cry. No joke. Now their focus on beer is gone, and a brewpub without a passion for its product is nothing more than another restaurant. Such a sad and terrible loss for a wonderful city. The ownership says the change was inevitable; I say hogwash--go check out Edgefield for a bit of education. Pros: Blue Heron is still a great pale ale Cons: Everything else--terrible atmosphere, horrible staff, awful food, no soul more

My husband and I went here during the weekday for happy hour this week: service was decent, beer was good (although he got the beer sampler and the labeling was totally incorrect on which beer was which), and the food was decent. more

We go to Bridgeport frequently when we're downtown. It's pretty reliable for easy parking and being seated quickly. We like to go upstairs to the seat yourself bar part, where they still serve the full dinner menu. The food is always good (I had a delicious pork dish last time) and the beer is reasonably priced. The service is occasionally a little slow, but everything is worth the wait. Pros: good reasonable priced beer, easier to park than other parts of the Pearl Cons: slow service more

My wife and I had an enjoyable experience at Bridgeport. I hadn't been since the remodel and was hesitant to go, but was pleasantly surprised. Still the same old classic beer (I love the IPA), but the food was nothing short of fantastic. I had the seared steelhead and my wife had a mushroom risotto. Both were phenomenal. I've had much worse food at trendy restaurants and paid twice as much. I didn't think much of the new look, but any place that can combine great cheap beer (20 oz pints!) and great cheap food is definitely high on my list. I will be back. more

We live just a block away from Bridgeport in the Pearl, so this is our local watering hole and we like it just fine. Pros: happy hour menu & location Cons: n/a more

What's with the new re-model? When did BrewPubs start doing Fine dining? Is this what there trying to do? Serve great Beer, the Beer is still great, at the pace of fine dining? WTF?! Most Pub drinkers I meet/know like there beer delivered at the pace of there appitite!! When they want Beer they want it now! When my Beer starts to get empty........starts to get empty..... ask me If I'd like another! Oh I'm Sorry....you're going to make me wait.....this is Fine Dining...I forgot. Did'nt have Food...I thought It might take to long to get. Yawn....Yawn.....need to leave. Pros: It's Bridgeport Brew!!!!! Cons: There serving there Beer in Fine Crystal more

I just went to Bridgeport for the first time after the opening and all I have to say is: WOW! The place was packed yet we were still able to receive the prompt and professional service you would expect from a well established business. The IPA (an old favorite) was better than I remembered, I had a pizza with bacon and BBQ sauce that was amazing, though I was slightly skeptical at first! My spouse had shepard's pie which blew us both away, it was the perfect dish for a cold rainy night in Portland! Pros: Food, beer and great service. Cons: parking more

good beer as usual but the atmosphere and ambience are gone!!!the remodel is a attractive with the mix of exposed brick and wood. don't get me started on the seating! bar stools suuuck. half backs???pub tables and chairs are the most uncomfortable ever. worse than my elementary school cafeteria. food was great. good menu. not your typical ""pub fare"" thank god. if i see one more chicken wing on a restaurant menu... Pros: beer and above average pub fare Cons: bar seats and uncomfortable tables and chairs more

The beer is good. Otherwise, I'm not impressed with this place. First, the menu was somewhat limited and lacked the typical pub fare one expects. Were the food spectacular, this would be fine, but it wasn't. I ordered bangers and mash, which (at $9) was bland. The sausages were no more flavorful than a Johnsonville (less actually) from the Winco and the potatoes brought me back to my childhood KFC and school lunch experiences. The gravy, well, I've experienced gravy packets with more kick. Also, for $9, one gets 2 sausages and a mound of potatoes... that's it. No salad, no bread, no interesting veggies... Pros: Beer Cons: Service, Food Quality/Flavor, Comfort, Parking more

Went last Saturday nite and was very dissapointed. Our waitress was totally lame and the pizza was not good. She brought everything out at one time instead of bringing soup/salad before the main meal, we asked for ice cream with a dessert and she said they did not have it then proceeded to tell us after the fact that they did, but she was to lazy to go get it? Would not recommend Pros: Cool ambience, nice bar Cons: Terrible service, terrible pizza more

Salad was d.r.y. Pizza was pure sugar. Service was good. Beer was decent. They changed the menu again. Why? Who knows...they were better off before they changed the place around. Great atmosphere, but the pizza was weak. Some sort of onion and mushroom. Has anyone ever heard of keeping it simple? Spend your money on a Papa Johns pizza and pick up a few IPA's at Plaid pantry. Much better value. Pros: Easy access. Good atmosphere. Good drinks. Cons: Food is terrible and expensive. more

I've been here quite a few times. We were at BridgePort the other night and had yet another great experience. We had a desert sampler platter that was fantastic. I had a couple of their awesome beers and My girlfriend had a Pear Drop (I think that is what it was called) I had a taste and it was awesome! Great Atmosphere, Great Food, GREAT!!! BEER!!! and a cool mix of people too. Can't say enough good things about this place. Pros: Atmosphere, BEER! Food, Parking, All of it... Cons: Not within walking distance from home more

as a frequent traveler to Portland, I loved the new look. Dined with my 75 year old mother Pros: easily reached by streetcar more

AMBIENCE-->As others have said, it's pretty much unrecognizable to anyone who knew and loved the old Bridgeport. Shiny hardwoods, white granite, modern fixtures, etc. Dining room on one side, more casual setup on the other side, which the hostess informed us ""honors the spirit of the traditional pub"" with long tables to encourage mingling, etc. I don't what this place is, but with white cloth napkins wrapped in lead holders, silverware nicer than anything in your house, and water brought to your table in a fancy bottle, a pub it ain't. ""Honors the spirit of the traditional pub""- what a crock. Grade: D Pros: Good beer Cons: Everything else more

Had to at least give it a try, and the food wasn't bad, and the beer is still the beer, but wow, what a major disappointment. The old place had so much great atmosphere, great beer, great pizza-by-the-slice. you name it. All that has been removed and replaced with an upscale cafeteria-like restaurant. A sad loss. Pros: Nice people, decent food, good beer Cons: Cafeteria-ambience, long wait for food, small portions. more