Dots Cafe

Unbelievably rude bartender here during brunch last week forced me and my friends leave before food even arrived. I have never ducked out on a res... more

A friend recommened Dots for a late night dinner and I was not impressed. The service was great and I really liked the ambiance but the fries were awful and the food was mediocre. Their fries are soft and tasted like card board and my patty melt was soaked in the oil that they used to sautee the mushrooms and onions. Overall great place to get drinks but wouldn't go there again for food! more

I am just visiting my boyfriend in Portland, so I had no idea what to choose when he asked me what I wanted to do for dinner. He took me to Dots and we had a great time. There is a great atmosphere; good art, a layed back feel, a pool table. \r This is definitely a hipster hangout, and it was dimly lit and rather romatic as well. We shared the chips and salsa, which was fresh, authentic and spicy. He got the Farmer's Chicken Sandwhich, and I got a salad with grilled cheese. The dressings were awesome!\r The bartender/server made my drink wonderfully, with just the right proportions.\r \r And I agree with Annonymous - if you can't afford to tip, then you CAN'T afford to go out - Simple as that. Go to your own bank and withdraw cash (to avoid fees) to go to Dots, and you will be happy as a clam when you leave! Pros: Ambiance, good food, inexpensive drinks. Cons: Being a weekday, the server was a bit overloaded because she had to tend bar as well. more

I have been eating and drinking at Dot's since 1992. When I lived out of Portland for 12 years every trip I made back would mean at least one night at Dot's. The deluxe grilled cheese is my pick and don't forget the french fries YUM! You can eat healthy here and they have great vegetarian options. Bring cash or your checkbook they do not accept credit cards. Everyone knows about the crazy wonderful velvet decor, my favorite is the picture of spock! Pros: Food, ambience, neighborhood (Clinton), drinks, portions, price, & service. Cons: parking more

wow. I can't believe someone would go on one of these things to justify not tipping their waitress because he had to use the atm. That's the biggest bunch of b.s. i've ever heard. They just work there, it's not their fault that they don't take cards and if you know that, why not just bring cash? oh yeah, because you're so spineless you need an excuse not to tip. wow. i bet you get a lot of dates with that kind of class!\r \r anyway, though, I do love dots. It will be interesting to see what's going to happen after the smoking ban. I think it will be a lot more pleasant to be in. I smoke and still get grossed out. I love the vegan platter and gentle ben. Pros: open late, vegetarian/vegan options, can entertain large parties Cons: can be a little big chaotic sometimes more

I'm surprised about the poor service reviews I've read on this site. I'm usually the first to complain about poor service, but can't find anything wrong with this place. We go a couple times a month when we want a kicked back atmosphere, great drinks and good food. Yes, ""good"" food, not great. You're paying ""good"" food prices and you get a consistent product which, in my opinion, is a definite step above the standard pub fare and is anything but, standard. Once again, service has always been top notch. I haven't pulled a late night session at Dot's in many years (we tend to go late afternoon or early evening), so maybe this is when the service declines, if at all? Pros: Great value, great drinks, good food, excellent service Cons: None, really . .. It's not their fault they don't have an outdoor patio!!! more

This bar is cash only. This is an inconvience, but any repeat customer should be able to come prepared. Cheap, good, greasy bar food. Fabulous selection of cheese fries, chili fries, tofu fries, you name it. The drinks are cheap, the staff is attentive. The lights are dimmed, and this is a great place to hang out with friends and get a couple of quick drinks if you are passing by. I will gladly bring cash, and enjoy the velvet wallpaper and the portrait of KFC founder Sanders. PLEASE tip the staff, it is not their fault that this place is cash only. Pros: Good Food, Good and Cheap Drinks, Attentive Servers Cons: Cash Only more

I love the food here, the hummus plate is my favorite. However, with the lack of taking cards, I'm constantly at worry to go there. The ATM charges me a fee and so basically I figure this. If I'm eating at Dots, the ATM fee is your tip. So that's why I'm ""too cheap to tip you guys"". getting a credit machine can't be that much of a cost to you, you've got the business. MOVE ON! Pros: Great Food Cons: Doesn't take Credit more

Do they seriously think that wonky ATM in the back is going to cut it forever? C'mon Dots, step into the 21st century and take debit/credit cards. \r \r It is maddening and I avoid this place because of it. That ATM is sick. more

Dots has some of the best food in Portland, and I LOVE the environment! It is such a super fun experiance to eat there! And the Farmer's Chicken sandwich is to die for!!! Pros: Super fun enviornment!! Cons: Being 19 years old, the no minor's after 10 is a problem for me... but only for 2 more years :) more

I am only rating Dot's TO-GO service in this review. I am a pretty usual customer of Dot's since a group of us hang out on Clinton Street. Usually, I am more than satisfied with the food. But, I ordered a Jack and Chili quesadilla and some cheezy fries TO-GO around 7pm on a Thursday. The food was ready promptly (about 20 minutes, just as the cashier said). I took it across the street to the bar and when I opened the quesadilla, I was pretty disappointed. The quesadilla was just a tortilla folded in half and stuffed into the TO-GO container, not cut into pieces, and had a glob of guacamole on top with chips scattered all over the container. I didn't get any plastic utensils or napkins to eat with so I had to go back across the street to get some. I finally got to sit down and eat my food after cutting it into smaller pieces so I could eat it. The chicken was shredded, which is nice for a quesadillas, but it tasted like cheap, canned chicken. I am not a fan of super spicy food, so I made sure that the chili's were not too spicy. Unfortunately, I don't think there were any chili's in my food! All I could taste was canned chicken and some cheese. I am sadly disappointed. I really enjoy Dot's and the food usually, but last week's visit was not good. Pros: Atmosphere, yummy Veggy food Cons: TO-GO food, poor service more

This small dark eatery has been a local favorite of mine for several years now. It all started years ago. I was brought here to eat, right before my 1st GWAR concert. That's when I was introduced ti thier famous ""Cheese Fries"". I've been hooked ever since. The fries are oven baked with melted cheese, and really good. They also have a good turkey bacon sandwhich. It's a little greasy, while falling apart on contact. Dot's is a fun place to eat. The dark atmosphere is calming, with a good cup of joe. The evenings get busy, especially weedend nights. You don't have to wait long for your food, just to be seated. The customer service needs a little improving, and more in the evenings. This little place fills up quick, so be prepaired. But, if you like good cheese fries, then come on down to Dot's. I recommened it. Pros: Lots of taste! Cons: Lots of grease! more

It's has a great atmosphere, good food, great drinks, and it's an over all good time. I would recommend it to anyone! more

The atmosphere is really cool and a lot different from other places. The velvety 70's style walls and pictures make it really interesting. The food was pretty good, but for the price they don't even include french fries--you have to pay for everything seperately. The service was really really horrible. They barely spoke to us, and never checked on us once. I would recommend this place for late night grub, or the munchies. Pros: good atmosphere, good night-life, tasty burgers Cons: horrible service more

We love this place! The decor is fun and the servers are almost always super-helpful and happy, but the food is why we come back here. My favorite is the vegan vavoom (pita, cucumber, tomato, falafel, cucumber sauce, hummus, yum), and he goes for the burger with herbed cream cheese. Vanilla cokes rock. And you can smoke in here! Seriously good food and drinks. Pros: yummy vegan, yummy non-vegan, really reasonable prices, smoking Cons: dark atmosphere is almost too dark, particularly in non-smoking section. more

I loved the walls of Dots. It has some really unique wallpaper with interspersing silver and black patterns. The rest of the the place has a red glow to it. And the paintings on the walls are intriguing.\r \r I had the Turkey Monterey, thanks to a brilliant recommendation that I read in the Citysearch review. Grilled sourdough, crammed full with turket breast, Monterey Jack cheese, tomato, lettuce, mustard and mayo. It was dripping grease down my fingers the whole time I was eating it. Yummy! It passed the ultimate greasy food test. It was grease-licking delicious! \r \r I had the spicy fries which came with spicy tofu dipping sauce. That was tremendously disappointing. The fries were overtly salty at the bottom. My rock climbing partner had the exact same comment. Plus they felt like they have been either, fried once before and then again or been left sitting out for way too long. Too much oil had soak into the fries and they weren't crispy but soggy. \r \r Go for the amazingly greasy sandwiches and skip the fries! Pros: Turkey Monterey Cons: Soggy fries more

This place will cure the munchies if your in the area of 26h and Clinton. with it's almost goofy decor, Dot's is an interesting place to hang out for a few munchies. Service was good and the food was fine. more

Good for munchies, all right, but don't come 'spectin' to be wowed by the food. It's incidental anyway to the fun, it's-always-midnight-inside atmoshpere and good juketunes. I don't get my panties in a bunch over the jalapeno or pepper fries like everyone else seems to (again, they're fine for the munchies but they're not exactly Parisian.) Decent veggie burger. A hipster see-and-be-seen kinda joint, but a charming one. Did I see a Ms. Pac-man by the bar? Pros: late, late, late Cons: how much are drinks.. more

As a Portland native I have been a DOT'S fan for a decade. This place never ages, its kinda got a timeless ambiance, always current in Portland sub-fashion. For first timers this is kinda like entering the twilight zone. The vegie burrito with the cilantro sauce is heaven, along with the cheese fries. Yum. Pros: velvety, sub-culture-ish, tasty Cons: contrived funky, snooty service, too 'portland' more

Dots is a charmer. The food is excellent, especially the quesedilla, and pepper chicken burger. The drinks are strong and newcastles on tap. the interior is a perpetual nocturnal slumber. The only thing missing is a jukebox, but the wait staff music taste is usually on spot. Pros: burgers, fries, good american grub, ambience more