Rocco’s Bar

I could do without the food they serve at Rocco’s, however, you can’t beat the location. This is a perfect place to meet up for pre-​partying drinks. I would have given 3 and a half stars if possible. I decided to give an extra half star based upon the friendliness and attentiveness of the staff. NO attitude in this place … by far. How refreshing.

Rocco’s?! What have you done? Your allure was the cheap booze, cheap eats, and great views. Now that you’ve raised your drink prices AND pizza prices, what’s left? Clean bathrooms (bar side, only) and the views. That’s not enough, my friends. Not even close.
My friends and I have been going in one night a week for the last 8 weeks. And for the last 4 weeks we’ve had a different bartender every time. Last week, they made my drink completely wrong. This week I was charged almost twice as much as they normally charge me: $ 10! For one drink. In fact, I have only paid $ 10 for that particular drink at the swankiest bar in Portland! But that is what your bartender charged me last night.
I’m sure I’ll go next door for your nastily delicious pizza once in a while. The barnyard massacre is too good to resist. But our bar money will definitely be spent elsewhere from here on out. It breaks my heart to say it, too…

Went to Rocco’s as our first stop on a barfly bus tour last night – to be fair it was the meeting place for our tour. So imagine, 56 salivating pre-​drunks ready to go to 8 different watering holes on a hot July day in a small venue – yep it was hot as well, balls – but they can’t really help that – except for a little invention called A/​C – but we’re in Portland and that’s not very green of us.
They had a decent beer selection and the bartender was super nice so no complaints. I imagine, well assume given that a group of likely PSU students left Rocco’s due to the noise our group was putting out there, that this place is probably a very chill little bar with regulars. If i lived in the area I could see this being one of «my bars».

I had a friend visiting from out of town, and thought it would be best to carbo load before the obligitory trip to Powell’s across the street. I suggested Rocco’s because we the most dough for the least amount of dough, and she would think it was cool, punk as fu*k, fun, cheap, etc…
Then I opened my big mouth and decided I wanted to support Rocco’s new venture, and maybe get an IPA instead of the perfunctory PBR that I like to swill at Rocco’s original. I felt bitchslapped once walking in, as a bright, airy roomy establishment met my gaze. It was a sunny day (I know! what?) and the peach décor was vulgar in the late afternoon sun. Very Bizarro Rocco’s. We were greeted by an empty bar at happy hour-​not a gutter punk to be seen or smelt. What the What?
OK, maybe this is just a slow start for Rocco’s Junior. Or maybe it was something else?
Maybe it was partially The strange bartender that seemed to be staring into our souls? The stupid Animaniacs cartoon on the big screen? The Sarah MacLaughlin Pandora channel blasting sappy pap into my ear holes? Or maybe the ‘happy hour’ deals were pretty lackluster. I can get a $ 3.50 pint of Ninkasi at somewhere with atmosphere that DIDN’T make me want to swallow glass.
Hated it. Sorry Rocco’s. I love ya, but your bar makes me sad. I will stick to your better half.

:Jaw dropped: $ 15!!!
Yes, that was my question when we got the tab from the bartender for 3 draft beers and 2 top shelf drinks. I could not believe it – coming from DC, the price tag on all those drinks would have easily been $ 30+. This is why I love Portland!!!
In all seriousness, the prices cannot be beat here. The bar has a laid-​back, chill vibe, — we went on a Monday where they had live music and weren’t crowded. The bartender was supercool, hanging with us and laughing at our jokes and persons in our party… ever so cooly entering in and out of our conversations as enjoyed our beverages. Place also has a cool, laid-​back, no frills-​just-​have-​a-​good-​time atmosphere, which is a definite plus in my book and a nice change from the pretentiousness of DC.

Have you ever picnicked at the beach? You know, when sand gets all over everything you eat? Roccos pizza is kind of like that.
It’s thick and doughy pizza with decent sauce and lots of cheese and this nondescript flavorless crust that has a sandy texture. While there are no crashing waves or opportunities to boogie board, there is a Gilligan’s Island pinball machine.
Pizza and beach analogy aside, there is a decent beer selection, a full bar, and a clean atmosphere. It’s not a terrible place to hang out and catch up, though you may want to get your food elsewhere.

Imagine Rocco’s, with a bar.
There ya go!
There’s a more thorough menu here than I remember them having next door, but I just look at the little standing white board and then order a pepperoni slice, so I dunno. Other than that there’s a bar, a few tables and some HDTVs. And liquor.
Think of this as a nicer, newer place to chow down on really big slices of pizza with good sauce and mediocre crust. Or to just have a drink, I got there during shift change and both bartenders were pretty friendly. The place is under a separate liquor license, so don’t expect to be able to walk a whiskey to the other end of the joint.
One word of warning, the walls are mostly window, so if it’s cold outside and you’re thin blooded, bring a sweater. We’ll see what it gets like in the summer.