Twenty First Avenue Bar-Grill

I've been here a few times, and this was the worst... but also the last! I realize they are busy during peak hours (happy hour, etc), but management should staff appropriately or else this crap happens! My party of 6 sat on the patio- which is beautiful- and waited endlessly to put in a drink order, and then finally food. When the food was brought out, no napkins. I had to flag down another waitress who never even brought them. When we asked for the check, the waitress was perturbed that we were splitting it. We wrote it out neatly as to who was paying what, and when she returned with change she didn't even thank us for our sevice. I work in the industry and have for years, and that's just unacceptable. I get it if you're busy, but if you're gonna give me attitude on top of bad service, there goes your tip. Fabulous take on a BLT with avacado and swiss, but DANG that was the worst freaking service ever. Everyone else is right- go elsewhere. more

This place is horrible. I actually went into this place last night after work after looking up a decent bar online. I should've read the reviews... When I sat down I was greeted with a, ""oh, so do you want a drink or something?"" with her immediately walking away. I then grab her attention and put in my drink order. Only for her to fill 6 other people's orders that approached after me (separate parties) before I walked out. The back patio is nice but do not waste your time. The place is an absolute disgust. The staff can all go to hell in my opinion. more

The restaurant side of 21st Bar and Grill is pretty decent, featuring artwork by local artists hung nicely on the walls. However, the bar side is indeed pretty divvy. Forget about that and head straight back to the deck. Their patio is AMAZING! On to the rest... Ok, I don't mind dive bars, I fit in just as well there as I do at a nice restaurant in The Pearl. It sounds like some of the previous reviewers (is it more than one, or just someone who has a serious beef with the owner) may not enjoy dive bars. The weird thing is, once you make it past the deteriorating bar to the patio out back, it's like walking into a completely different place. It's really peaceful and nice. They have an amazing Koi pond, with a waterfall and incredible japanese style landscaping... Picture drinking a beer, and/or having a burger in the Japanese Gardens. The wait staff was very pleasant to me (on the patio). However, I did witness the bartender yelling at a customer inside, I don't know if she had a legitimate beef or not. But like I said, forget the inside and head straight back to the patio. You will love it... Unless you hate beautiful things, good food, nature, and an escape from the hustle and bustle just outside the building. In that case, I doubt you're happy anywhere. Cheers! Pros: Amazing back patio, good food & drinks, friendly wait staff. Cons: The inside needs a makeover, the bartender needs a timeout. more

Listen, I eat out all the time. I was hoping for a simple dive bar with simple food. What I got was all bad attitude, no service, a burger with a hair in it, waitstaff that didn't care, and yelled at when I asked for something else off the menu. Pros: don't bother Cons: get new ownership more

If you hate good times, great service, and good food then this is the place for you. Pros: They have beer...? Cons: Service is unacceptable more

This wouldn't be a bad place if the owner/management would never go into it again. I think the owner and managers are under some sort of belief that 21av bar is located on Rodeo drive LA and they are better than all the customers. The beer is fine it's hard to screw that up, the food is all deep fried nasty bar food so if you are into that.... Basically shocked on how horrible the owner and managers handle themselves around paying customers. I would suggest that you don?t give your money to these people I would literally feel better flushing it down the toilet. Pros: You can leave Cons: Owner more

I like the food here but I am repeatably disappointed in the customer service. It takes a long time to get the food and the atmoshere is dark, smoky and dingy. more

This is a great place considering it looks like a dive bar from the outside. The smoking section is, in fact, a little dive-y, but the other half is more upscale, giving you the option to go with either environment. The patio is one of the best in NW Portland. It doesn't seem like the kind of place that would have good food, but the menu ROCKS. I have never had a bad meal at the place. The drinks are strong and the bartenders nice. The owners seem nice enough; maybe a little frat-boyish but thats OK. Another reviewer rails the owner so hard they appear to be a furious ex-employee or jilted lover or something. more

Poor management, lazy service and inconsisent recipes.The owner should either learn the behavior of a host to his guests and a supervisor to his staff or (likely a better idea) go into a business that doesn't require direct contact with his clientele and hire a staff manager for his employees....to the benefit of all. Service is spotty and the food mediocre. It is unfair to his customers and staff when he refuses to accept the responsibilities of ownership. He is clearly in it only for the money and none of the fun or privilege of being a small business owner. Pros: the back patio Cons: everything else more

If you are looking for a quiet, low-key romantic bar to get a cocktail, this isn't the place for you. However, when you want to hang out at a neighorhood bar that offers very good food (especially as far as bar food goes - the steaks are excellent), great drinks, video poker, or a great singles scene (they are the only bar open after 1AM on Portland's bustling 21st Ave) - then I strongly recommend stopping by. more

The hamburger was average, but definately not the best in portland as I read in reviews. Service was super slow for a football Saturday, and the older man who helped us was kind of rude. Jalepeno poppers were hot and decent, but a bit greasy from not hot enough oil. Not too many OSU fans though, so it was hard to get our game on a big television. Pros: Not terribly crowded, decent food Cons: Off kilter service, not enough screens more

The food here is good, but after the owner/manager was incredibly rude to our party I will never return again. He SCREAMED at us and we walked out it was so bad. Do NOT go to this place, the service is so lousy that it's not worth it. The owner has NO concept of what customer service is all about. Pros: okay food Cons: extremely rude manage, got yelled at, felt bad for waitress more

Been going to this place for years, I own a business in the neighborhood. Since it switched to this establishment, I have seen better service at a truck stop. Granted, it is a bar. But come on, the service is awful and the owner does not care about customers. Too bad, we used to go to Seafood Mama (old name) at least 2x weekly... Cons: rude staff, bad service more

I don't agree with any of the bad reviews! I have never had bad service or had a manager be rude to me or witnessed it. They have a great and cheap happy hour menu. This place also gets jam packed at night in NW. One of the only bars able to stay open late. Gotta try it out!!! more

The manager was incredibly rude to us - I've never had someone treat me that way in a restaurant. He yelled at us like we were little kids for essen. NO WAY would I recommend this restaurant to ANYONE!! By the way, the food was mediocre. We got these chicken skewers that were really salty, the chicken on the salad was dry, and the fettuccini was runny and salty as well. The drinks were okay, but then again, it's hard to mess up gin and tonics. Cons: , mediocre food, awful atmosphere more

The beer selection was diverse and the drinks were properly made. The food menu was decent with good variety. The entrées were a bit expensive, but you got a lot for the price. Chicken appetizer was very good!! Staff was very friendly and responsive. I will definitely go back here again. Pros: Beer slection, Menu variety, Chicken appetizer Cons: Prices more

they only care about the money....think about the people they have working there now compared to who used to work there. it used to be a fun place....the previous bartenders cared about the customers....if you want food and drinks till 2 am it's the place to go....don't expect much else. more

I had a friend visiting from Michigan this evening and brought her to one of my favorite places in Portland--the 21st Avenue Bar and Grill. Our experience was less than pleasant. The ""manager""/""owner"" treated us with little respect and spoke to us as if we were ignorant women. The restaurant has little knowledge of what ""customer service"" entails. Don't waste your time! more

I have been going to this place for years and it has been one of my favorites until a few nights ago. I have never been to a restaurant and treated so horrible by THE OWNER! We had a group of 8 and we were out for a laidback dinner and some drinks. When we arrived we were told it was a hassle to seat us. The owner continued to talk to us like we were children (ages 27-31) and made us feel that our business was not at all welcome. I worked in the restaurant industry for years and know this is not how you treat customers - especially loyal ones. I will not go back. more

The menu is not extensive, but it is delicious. The thing that makes this place the BEST is the Back Patio. Multi level decking seats a surprising number of people without feeling crowded. Can be very romantic after dark. NO TRAFFIC NOISE. Perfect for a cooling off with a good meal and cold libations on a hot summer day/evening. Bar scene is pretty crowded/ loud inside after 9 pm. Pros: The patio is cool, no traffic noise, very friendly Cons: problem parking more