McMenamins Chapel Pub

OK anybody that has lived in Portland for over 20 years knows McMenamin’s isn’t known for their food. I know I know I know. Go for the unique factor. Go to support local. Go to support preservation. Go for a beer. However I can’t drink beer anymore. So sad…
I recently moved a few blocks from this location and wanted to check it out. I was looking for a place to camp out for a few hours while I finished a book (it was slow enough for this… Dozen of empty tables). I also wanted to eat & have a few drinks. I knew the food would be mediocre & some what challenging for a foodie dairy — gluten free sometimes vegan eater. But I was at least hoping for a decent cocktail (Yes, PDX has also made me a craft cocktail snob. It’s not my fault. I wasn’t born high maintenance. PDX made me this way after 21 years). And they are known for their fresh squeezed juices, plus I was already downgrading my expectations a tiny bit. I was surprise when the bartender couldn’t answer questions about their brand-​name liquors. I was just told lots of people like it. Well I’m not lots of people. Most award-​winning bartenders tell me their drinks are balanced and not sweet. I tend to disagree. My taste buds just made me that person. They like to live on the side of sour/​bitter/​herbaceous over even the typically considered balanced sweet. So, «lots of people like it» isn’t gonna cut it for me.
In the end I managed to piece together a cocktail for myself, but it wasn’t with the help of the bartender. He was certainly nice enough. Just didn’t have the knowledge. So in conclusion … Cool space. Slightly below average PDX food. Decent hot weather cocktail of my own brainstorming. It is what it is. Would go back for a cold gin greyhound on the patio. But if they would upgrade their food & expand the cocktails to include a Negroni or amaro or two, I would live there!

We’ve been to various McMenamins places before and really liked them. This was not good.
I have no hang ups about it being a former funeral home but there is no need to play seriously depressing music as well.
Also, they were out of IPA, vacuumed beside our table during dinner, I had to ask for a knife for my wife, I had to get my own fork for my dinner, my Mac and Cheese looked awful, as though served from a school cafeteria
The woman who served us was completely disinterested and the other two guys appeared to be as engaged. When one guy said they were out of IPA he tried to talk me into a malty brown ale, so not much product knowledge either it would seem.
Overall, nothing worth repeating here, move along to your next choice.

I absolutely loved McMenamins Chapel Pub! We came here based on a suggestion from a friend and I’m really glad we stopped here for lunch on my way out of town as it was the perfect end to a good trip. The ambiance and décor were probably my favorite aspects.
The outside seating area looked beautiful and would probably be a great place to sit had it not been raining. The area we sat in had a really cool fireplace so we still got to enjoy a nice atmosphere.
I ordered the Brewery Taster and was pleasantly surprised. The size is certainly worth the $ 8. I also ordered the Mac & Cheese. Among the other dishes ordered at our table were the Smokestack Lightning mac & cheese, two Flame-​Grilled Burgers and an order of Tater Tots. Both bowls of mac & cheese contained generous portions and I ended up liking the Smokestack better. I’m not sure why but the tater tots were incredible, I couldn’t stop eating them! I’ll definitely have to stop by again next time I’m in the Portland area.

Great food! We sat near the bar and the bartender was friendly and service was quick!

I am a tripster, a few times over now, That means I have seen every McMenamins hotel, theater, bar, hot tub… you get the idea. I have noticed that different McMenamins have different strengths and weaknesses, This one has it all going on.
I have noticed that my favorites are all in older buildings that they have transformed. I love to see what They have found and what the creative minds at McMenamins have done with it. This is a great space!
First off unlike some this one has its own parking lot! It was freezing out when we walked up. First thing inside? A hot fireplace to cuddle up to until we thawed a bit. Its in a nice room with tables surrounding it.
Once we had warmed a bit we went through a doorway into the main room. This room is still not huge but has the bar right in the middle with booths lining the walls. We sat at the bar for a snack, a drink and some stamps for our McMenamins passport!
The bartender was great, she told us that she had been with the company for years (I think she said 20 some…) The building also holds most of McMenamins corporate offices, (maybe thats why it’s so great)? After a while she was due to leave and passed us off to another server who we saw less of… of course by then we had our drinks and food.
Food, we both got pretzels and fondue… it was ok, cheese was kind of stringy but it tasted good. Drinks were good also. Even my Dr Pepper (I was driving).
In all it was a warm comfortable place on a cold day. We sat talked, programed the McMenamins app into our phones… and generally relaxed. Good times. I’d go back!
Tip if your trying to find it, it’s just east of PCC.

This McMenamins has a beautiful location — its always fun to see how they transform old buildings! There are many rooms to choose from and the patios looked like they would be lots of fun on a warm evening. However, we noticed as we walked around many of the tables were dirty.
The bartender was also our server and she did a great job. She was friendly and quick with service without being intrusive. The food is standard McMenamins, but sometimes it really hits the spot. The Louis Mac, in particular, is absolutely delicious!

Classic. Cool setting, but the service is bad. Why do all Mcmenamins have bad service? I don’t understand.

Ooef. This is a beautiful building but the service was ridiculous. There were less than 15 tables and one large party and we waited over 40 minutes for food. The bartender and the waiter were not to be bothered and very nonchalant when we asked to cancel our order. We left without receiving our food and will not be back again. At least I got the stamp.

I come here frequently because it’s where my knitting group meets. I have seen a lot of changes over the years, some good, some bad.
First, there are gluten free options. They can make a decent bun-​less burger if you want low carb, and they have a GF bun as well. I was really disappointed when they took the bowls off the menu, because that used to be my go-​to. I hope they bring them back!
The service is hit or miss. The veterans are AWESOME and have always treated our group very well. Sometimes we get someone who seems a bit newer and has trouble with the big table. The ladies can be finicky, but I try to give anyone a break who deals with us knitting all evening.
The space is cool and people seem really into the organ. It’s the kind of place I would bring my parents when they visit from out of town.

Came here with a large party of people and only had one waitress, but she was great and quick. The food wasn’t anything to brag about. We came during happy hour and only ordered happy hour food and drinks. I got the hard black-​cherry cider (which was really good), a mini burger, and tots. Not bad but they mostly taste like bar food. The ambiance here is like a old chapel, dark and haunted feeling. Overall, I will probably come again (only during happy hour) because prices are good and service was efficient.

Very unique building as are most of the McMenamins locations (minus the strip mall locations). Great artwork and painting as well.
We have stopped in here a few times since completing our passports when we have been in the area. The menu has some great sandwiches that we are not privy to in Salem along with some other creative cocktails. Def worth the stop.

This is by far my favorite McMenamins to go to! We always get seated IMMEDIATELY and get great service. If the one on the Columbia has a wait we drive over here and are done eating by the time we would get seated at the other. It’s wonderful!

I am a tripster. This is not my favorite McMenamins, but is it close to home. The service is generally pretty darn good because this place is never that busy. The food is McMenamins general menu.
We did show up with a group of about a dozen people and took over the bar. The tenders where fantastic, patient and super friendly. We ended up having a super great time.
The outside seating area is nice — and dog friendly.
This location is kinda odd, until recently it was funeral home and some of the local neighbors had their loved ones memorials and funerals here. Maybe that is why it is not that busy…

Fun times! Our group of ridiculous friends were treated like family here. We were on the NOPO Pub Pedal and the Chapel was one of our stops. We took over the bar, broke out our glow sticks (we were ‘those’ people glowing down the street!), the wait staff wanted some and next thing you know, they’re taking pics with us and being just as ridiculous as we were. Good stuff! Plus the food and drinks were fabulous! Yay!!! :)

11 of my fellow school mates went here last Sunday after class & we all sat down outside & ordered happy hour food & a beer. We were told we couldn’t order 2 beers at a time from the server/​bartender, so 3 of us got up & went inside to the bar to order 1 before our food & original beer came outside. We soon found out that our server was the bartender and was confused about us wanting to order a beer «off the original outside tab» and started giving us attitude & acting like he hated his job… Maybe he was mad that we were trying to get happy hour prices since cut off was in 10 min. Of trying to order a beer from the bar I don’t know.
Needless to say, he continued to show attitude and disgust at us 3 so I asked him to calm his fucking attitude «in those same words» and he snapped back by saying that beer was on the house & he was canceling my order while walking away.
Great! I didn’t want to come to this establishment in the 1^st place so I walked across the street to get actual SERVICE. Soooooo… My 10 classmates were sitting outside not knowing what went on inside & waiting for their food & beer for over 45 min.
I heard one of them went in to ask what was taking so long & he said, «your whole order was cancelled»
Who would do that??? Thee most horrible service I’ve ever had & would not recommend this location 100 thumbs down plus some

If you want a quiet spot to be left alone while you eat pretty good pub food, then this is the place. The service can be a little negligent, but the building itself is gorgeous.
I like to go here in the summer when it’s hot and loud outside because its always quiet and calm and they do make an amazing whiskey sour.

With all the hipster trash and flotsam that frequents this area, I’m glad Chapel is still around.
It’s a McMenamins. It’s not a Pearl location brewery. Do you need a quick bite and beer? This is your place. Do you have a giant group of people that need to convene in one location, without calling ahead first? This is not your place (and also rude).
You know what you’re getting into when you go to a McMenamins. For better or for worse.

This McMenamins is located in a former wedding chapel and funeral home. The transformation into a bar/​restaurant was done well and there are lots of nooks and crannies to find yourself tucked into. Their Black Widow Porter was the crowd favorite and at $ 11/​pitcher — our family from Hawaii was very impressed with the value offered by the food and drinks. The food itself is standard McMenamin’s fair with burgers, sandwiches, fries, and tots — the cajun tots are the best with ranch. Yummm!
Service can be spotty but no bad attitudes, so that’s nice.

Another good McMenamins experience. I bought my first bottle of McMenamins Cabernet, the Queen Anne sandwich was good, and the clam chowder as well. Kayla, our server was pleasant, attentive, personal and knowledgable. The only reason I’m
Giving 4 stars is because I asked for cajun fries and ranch, and when I didn’t receive them, I brought them to our servers attention, and literally all they did was over season the same fries I got with the cajun spices, no new ranch. It’s was so laughable I couldn’t even be mad, and Kayla WAS super personable and sweet. One more stamp down, plenty more to go :)

I would prefer to have given a 3 ½ star as a compromise between my wife’s experience and mine. We arrived before 5pm as part of a group that eventually counted to 13. The first thing I heard from the bartender was that they didn’t have anyone coming in until after five. Really, on a Saturday? We sat for 15 minutes before the apologetic and helpful bartender came in and got us started. Service was excellent and that is the main reason for my 4 star review. My neon burger was ordered cooked «medium» but see the photo, that looks rare. I’ve ordered the neon burger many times in the past at other McMenamins but this one was lacking in the blue cheese that usually runs down and all over while being eaten. As for the bacon, barely noticeable. Drinks and tater tots were great. However the order of falafel bites server across the table from me looked like mini dark brown brownies and tasted (yes I had two of them) way over cooked and on the edge of being burnt. They were awful and the woman who ordered them didn’t eat even half.
Again, service was excellent and the atmosphere of this McMenamins is really fun and interesting. But they were under staffed and food was either under cooked or nearly burnt.
Will we be back? Yes, but I have hopes of better results out of the kitchen.