With the Blazers season in full swing, the NFL season entering its stretch run, a Civil War clash looming, and some other sports metaphor dangling, its time to take a look at a few places to catch a game. These aren't your typical sports bars, but that's the point. Sometimes you want to be social among your fellow fans without having to endure typical sports bar clientele. Here are a few suggestions food-nerds and bar-flies that happen to also be sports-junkies.
North 45 and Pope House Bourbon Lounge
pdxplate has long extolled the virtues of brown liquor and these two NW 21st bars are right around the corner from each other so it just makes sense to pair them together. Both offer an excellent whiskey selection, but a special nod has to go to North 45 for excelling in other areas as well, with its larger spirits selection and excellent pub-grub.
Brooklyn Park Pub
Nestled out in SE, Boogie Down Brooklyn Park has lots of whiskey, a bunch of beer, tasty fried food, half a dozen TVs and all at a comfortable neighborhood vibe and a price to match. Brooklyn Park has satellite dishes so you're just as likely to catch Scottish soccer or Australian rules football as you are a Blazers game. The bar leans in favor of Washington State University, so I guess technically that makes it a Cougar bar as well.
Slammer Tavern
Not only is it a great place to wait for your table at Beaker and Flask, but it's also a fun spot to watch the game. This corner bar has everything you'd want from a neighborhood joint: a fun jukebox, laid back customers, cheap drinks, and TVs that you can see from outside while you're smoking.
Prost!
This Mississippi Marketplace beer hall hasn't been open very long, but the cozy confines and festive atmosphere make it an excellent spot to watch the game. Remember the rule when passing the two-liter glass boot filled with beer: it can't be set down on a table. A corollary: don't drop it on the floor either.
Other Notable Spots
- EaT Oyster Bar - Mmm... po' boys
- Superdog - Mmm... hot dogs
- Chicago's Windy City - Mmm... Italian beef
- Windows Lounge - Mmm... convention center
- Sandwichworks - Mmm... boutiquey bottled soda
- El Gaucho - Mmm... cigar smoke
When I lived in Concordia I watched the last few weeks of the regular season and every single playoff game with my buddy Chad at 52nd Ave Sports Bar on Sandy, which bills itself as a "Raiders" bar.
They had crappy domestic piss beer that we ordered by the pitcher. There was just one huge screen television, and just one smaller one next to the pool table. Pool was free on Sundays.
Once the afternoon game hit, they would break out a crock pot full of Lil' Smokies. A basket full of wooden toothpicks next to the pot implied you helped yourself.
They ran a $2 burger and fries special during every playoff game. The ingredients were straight off a Sysco truck. Every time I asked for no mayo on my burger but I still got mayo.
It was the best 6 weeks of my life.