Mary Todd’s Workers Bar & Grill

Mary’s is an old dive bar, nestled under the PCSB bridge. Walking inside was a step in time… Old-​skool, but intriguing.
I must say, I am a nut over great bar food and this place tops my charts. I had an awesome medium rare ribeye steak with garlic toast and onion rings– all of which, I delightfully (laughing, smiles and winks included) made into a couple open-​faced sandwiches… very rustic, but epic food… By far the best I’ve had while venturing out of the Portland area…
Btw, the bartender «wears all hats»… Cashier, bus-​boy, chef, and therapist ;)

I love this damn place. I have only ever been once but it was fantastic. The vibe was great, the beers cheap, the food delicious, and the bartender, Andy, was a perfect gentleman. I really wish this was my local. One day I will make my way back there and stay for a week or two.

Workers is a transporter to a different time and place.
The old, worn and well-​loved interior is filled with little curios that harken back to the many years that Astorians have loved this place. It is the kind of place that you might film an episode of Ghost Hunters. Not because it is creepy per se, but because Workers still has a connection to the auras of it’s past patrons.
Today it’s still home to devoted drinkers. Workers is home to a community where you can argue about football, joke about the foils of last night’s drunks or carry on a conversation about your life on the mouth of the Columbia.
And the food and drinks are good too.

Amazing food, amazing staff, all around a great experience and would come back in a heartbeat. Don’t believe the bad reviews… as long as you have an open mind about it being a dive… you’ll love it here.

Beware… this place is scrappy scrappy scrappy ! Even my son said it was the biggest dive bar he has ever visited… and that is saying something.
However…they don’t claim to be anything but a scrappy dive bar. The atmosphere is rough, limited beer selection, don’t bother with the wine. The food did feel home made and was quite good for what it was.
All in all… go if you know what to expect!

I simply fell in love with Mary Todd’s. We walked into this cash only tavern looking for breakfast and a stiff morning cocktail. We met Bobbi who was working the bar, and what a sweetheart she is! I see Mary Todd’s as a little local treasure. The bar is wood with whimsical carvings from various travelers and locals alike. The have a very large outdoor area with a BBQ, tables and a fire pit. It is just my kind of tavern.
We needed meat. The woman working the kitchen was a delight, and she is no stranger to grilling a steak. The Ribeye breakfast steak we ordered was cooked perfectly. It had a deep salty crust on it with a blood red, melt-​in-​your-​mouth texture. I salivate thinking of it. A knife was not needed. If only I could find a place in my home town that could do that to a piece of meat. Locally farmed meat to boot. It had a sweet grassy flavor. The hash browns and eggs that came with the steak were pushed to the side. We should have ordered the steak with a side of another steak.
I fully intend to stop at Mary Todd’s every time I am in Astoria. I will most likely compare every steak I eat from now on with that work of art the cook made for us.

Service is hilarious and the food rich. Can’t beat the local banter and dice throwing. Best «Dive» in Astoria. Great crowd. Beware the Yucca!

I really wanted to like this place and maybe I still do. To be honest, if it wasn’t for Unilocal there is no way in hell I would have stopped here to eat. Calling it a dive bar is being kind to the interior but then again that’s part of its charm. We ate here on the 4^th of July. Service was slower than a slug on a hot salted sidewalk but she was friendly enough and it was a holiday after all so I don’t hold it against her. I’m not sure if you can eat outside (I doubt you’d get any kind of service out there) but it appears they have a pretty cool seating area out back.
Anyway, the gf had a hamburger which looked pretty damn good. I had the prime rib which was also good. I wouldn’t say it was a great value but it was flavorful and cooked to order. Frankly, I’d give this place higher rating except both of us came down with a mild case of food poisoning (mine was more mild than the gf). I must be in a fantastic fucking mood because I’m still willing to give this place another shot but after a night spent vomiting I doubt I can convince the gf to give it another whirl. If I eat here again and don’t die I’d give this place at least 3 stars.

This bar gets my highest compliment… this is the kind if bar you want to be able to walk home from.

I never understood someone having a business and not keeping it up. Feels to me they are just taking my money and running out the door with it. A little paint, some new tables and chairs and perhaps a clean mop on the floor would help. This place without a doubt is a dive that is supported by the locals. The food is good and the coffee is almost brown and warm. Sad for a place that is next door to a coffee roaster. Beer garden I hear is nice.
Will I be back? That’s an interesting question.

Great place! Our bartender was the absolute sweetest lady ever. She stayed open till midnight, and smiled and chatted with us the entire time. Cold beer, great Bloody Mary!

I am completely floored that this place has any good reviews. We recently went to this bar on a Friday night and were 2 of about 9 people, the others being questionably 21 year olds and mid-​50s. A very strange and decidedly unfriendly atmosphere. The sole bartender was disinterested in us all night until the cash came out to pay the tab, he sprinted over like an Olympian. Speaking of cash, when asked if the take credit cards, I didn’t get a ‘polite’ no, but rather a grunt and pointing to the ATM. I can’t believe this place serves food. It looks absolutely filthy. I enjoy a good dive bar, but this was awful. In Astoria you can do much better than here for both service and quality of beverage.
My only thought is that there must have been a recent ownership change or serious turnover of staff because I simply cannot believe these positive reviews from what I experienced.

This place is great! Stopped by last night to enjoy a drink and a smoke. There is a firepit and chairs out back and it feels like home. Mary (the owner) was out there roasting hot dogs for her granddaughter and chatting with patrons. Everyone here seems to know everyone else so it’s very local. Don’t let that scare you away! Everyone is super friendly! Don’t expect to get your ass kissed here as that’s not how this place works. Don’t be shy, go to the bar and ask for menus and drinks! The pours are generous and the food is fantastic! This is a meat and potatoes place so prepare to get stuffed! Came back tonight for dinner and meat bingo. Yes, meat bingo. LOL! Prizes are hotdogs, bacon, etc. There is also a raffle tonight for shrimp, canned fish, and a fresh caught salmon! Super fun and we’ll be back!

Workers is home.
Friendly customers. Friendly bartenders.
Best breakfast in town. Served all day. Awesome Bloody Mary’s, no Foo foo.
The Bloody Mary you would make at home.
If your coming from Portland or Seattle to the beach. Stop by the Workers!

Walked in and liked the local small bar vibe. Smaller menu, but big food. Trust me! Burgers and beef are awesome. The owner came over to our table and spoke with us, very friendly. Cheap beers. Good stop for some hungry and thirsty with affordable prices

Looks like a bikers bar. You definitely get your money worth. Very good food. I didn’t drink.

This place is great. Beer snobs beware: there are like two beers on tap, a hefe and bud light. Uhhhh, I’ll take the hefe ;)
The server with the blonde asymmetric haircut is a GEM who made a lemonade out of lemons and simple syrup for my boyfriend when she could have just said no, we don’t have lemonade. (It was damn good as well!!)
The Buschman burger is YUMMY and The Workers Burger which my boyfriend had was towering full of egg and ham, daaang. The fries make your fingers look microscopic! Big strips of addictive potato, oooooo! This place is not fancy at all, but it really delivered.

Prime rib dinner, huge, juicy, seasoned just right and comes with potato, salad, veggies, and garlic toast. Husband was in heaven during this dinner. Staff was busy but attentive. Locals can get rowdy but hey it’s the local bar. Happy with our visit.

Oh my… We took a jaunt up the coast and what a beautiful city Astoria is! So much history, a lot of fun stuff to do! Ended up in a hotel across the street and hit Mary Todd’s across the street! Great friendly service, and the best burger I have ever eaten! Fresh local beef, if you like bacon, fresh thick. local and delicious. great veggies and homemade potato salad n fries so delicious! Big burger, starts of at 9 oz. I think it stayed at 9 oz! Hats off chef!
Love this place! Local fun if you like a beer n drink that’s here as well! Great people, hit the back and check out the bridge !

I have been to… a LOT of bars. This is my favorite bar in Oregon, hands down. Every time I’m in town there’s always a really fun experience or encounter to be had within this storied old room. Most importantly, the staff is incredibly friendly (hats off to our bartender/​cook/​server last visit who not only juggled all his jobs but gave us a free album of our choice on the jukebox and only teased us a little when my friend insisted on Grand Funk Railroad).
On my first visit, my now-​husband and I spent about two hours chatting with Ms. Todd herself. Memorable!
People are all about the prime rib on the weekends; it’s tasty but way too much for a moderate-​eater like me; I dig the patty melt. Drinks are very strong; be forewarned. This is a must-​visit if you don’t mind getting your hands a little dirty.