Roscoe’s

Enjoyed a great feast of oyster shooters, fried catfish and fried oyster. Lots of brew here.

You know someplace is serious about their beers when their webpage is a shot of the tap board that is auto-​updated every five minutes so you know EXACTLY what they have, updated 12 times each hour!
The brews span a wild variety and there really is something for every palate. I’m a stout drinker and suffer through summer months waiting for the first nip in the air so the big darks re-​emerge from their summer hibernation.
Beers aren’t the only thing goin’ on at Roscoe’s. The staff folk are terrific, making Roscoe feel like home from your first visit.
The cajun/​southern influenced menu serves up scrumptious comforts such as fried pickles and fried green tomatoes. Their catfish sliders (blackened or fried) on brioche are fantastic.

We made this our last stop of the night after meeting some locals at Cartopia who highly recommended this neighborhood dive bar. Had we needed to, the place where we were spending the night would have only been 0.5 miles away, so that was great! We ended up having between the three of us a white wine, and a Ransom gin barrel aged cider from Bend, OR. I hadn’t previously had any ciders that were made with barrel aging anything, so that was intriguing. This cider was light, not very sweet, and not dry at all. A pure delight and a good way to cap the night!
The service was really good, the bar was spacious, and the restrooms were clean. If you’re in the Montavilla neighborhood definitely stop in here!

I’ve been wanting to try this place since walking by several weeks ago and noticing their menu. I’ll definitely come here again. I ordered the jambalaya and my husband ordered the blackened catfish po’ boy. He was really happy with his po’boy and commented that even the slaw alone was delicious. It came with a side of Cajun tots which were perfect. My jambalaya was ok… not great, but not bad either. It was nice and hot temperature wise but could have used a little more Cajun seasonings. Next time I think I’ll try the gumbo.
The waitress was great — super friendly, attentive and just seemed like she enjoyed working there. Our beers and food came out in a timely manner. There’s a lot on the menu that appeals to my tastes, so I definitely will be back to try out some other things.

I’ve been to Roscoe’s several times. The catfish strips, fried oysters, and gumbo never disappoint. The taps are always on point with one of the best selections of beer you’ll find. Oh yeah… they also have the attentive, knowledgeable (beer) and absolutely wonderful Clare on their wait staff too! Well done Roscoe’s. Well done.

The absolute worst service. After waiting for minimum 10 minutes to order, our order was taken form what deemed to be the bar back. Another easily 10 minutes go by and I ask again. Was told the lady was making them but the salad was already being made. Salad arrives first. But get this, I asked for the protien to not be breaded. I’ll take the fish with blue cheese on the side. No wait. Fish and cheese don’t go together, I’ll get the chicken. Fish comes out eh fine I’m starving. But. Wait I asked for no breading. He says, «that the fish skin» your gotta be kidding me right??? Jut gimme the damn salad kid. And can I get my drink? It gets better the bartender gets the drinks wrong when I say loudly. «Ice please» she tells me to not yell at her. I still didn’t get mine. That was my friends wrong order. It goes on and on… Boo

This is my type of place! It has that dive bar type feel but not the dive bar hygiene or menu. Awesome beer selection. Cajun inspired menu. Pool tables and pinball machines. AND they even had a cheesy horror flick playing on the tube!
If you want some good beer, friendly atmosphere and good eats this is your place. I think I will be making it my go-​to from now on.

I am so tired of the lack of service here. It takes forever to place an order… They NEVER wipe the tables down… a total health code violation. This alone is just unbelievable. Service should be a premium with so many unemployed, over qulified folks in PDX, but it really just isn’t. The food used to be good but it seems they just cannot keep up with the growing popularity of Montavilla. Last few meals were highly disappointing. It’s sad because I used to love this place. Now, it is hardly worth the trip.

On our first time to Roscoe’s we tried the pulled pork and burger. I didn’t know there was sushi until after I ordered. Apparently they don’t give that menu out automatically. Anyways, the water was self serve, which is normal in most bars but the cups were so small I had to get up 5 times throughout my dinner. Also I’m a picky American and I like ice water. The pulled pork was okay and the burger was pretty standard. Nothing special. The pear cider was delicious though and the atmosphere was laid back. Next time I’ll try the sushi.

I won’t pretend to be familiar with what’s going on over on SE 82^nd. Roscoe’s is to date the one and only bar, restaurant, or otherwise that I’ve visited in this part of town. As far as dive-​ish bars go, what you see is what you get. The place was filled up by 4 on what I think was a weeknight, the crowd was a solid mix of old school locals, new hipsters infiltrating the area, and whatever else category might exist in Portland.
The HH menu is pretty great for alcohol and food. I ordered the gumbo w/​cornbread and was pretty happy with both. I can’t drink right now, but they looked to have an extensive beer list. Service was surprisingly attentive given how packed the place was.
I’d certainly come back if I found myself in the area again.

Ordered chicken strips with tater tots.
The tomato soup with corn bread and butter.
The Cajun Boudin.
The service was good and almost everything was house made. House Made makes me think quality of ingredients, freshness and tasty as hell.
Not the case. Everything tasted the same, like chalk and blah, «baby powder?»
The soup was like beer and raw flour but so was the chicken and tots.
The sausage was worst, mostly just unseasoned rice with so little protein and anything else to bind the fill that it fell apart when you used the fork to hold it and the provided steak knife to slice it.
No shape help, no bite. Just unseasoned rice pilaf with chalk, baby powder and raw flour.
Included is the fall apart sausage.
Pretty looking whole but taste like chalk.

I have a serious love affair with Roscoe’s! Every time me and my friend goes for happy hour this had always been our to go to place! Don’t get fooled by what everyone and been saying about the ambience, about it being dark etc. Yes, all true, but I’m the type that’s really here to try the FOOD out. As the saying goes, don’t judge a book by its cover! I’ve been here multiple times and they never disappoint. The service and always been friendly and prompt. The food had always been consistently great! If you’re a beer drinker or lover, this place is heaven. They have a long list of different beers that do rotates and changes every so often (I think every month, honestly). If I remember correctly most of them our IPA’s with a few selections lager and cider. I’ve had both the IPA and cider, and they were delicious! I have to say though, I have not totally tried their full on menu, hence I’m a sushi lover so during happy hour, it’s all about the sushi! However I did tell myself that the next time I’m here, I’m definitely going to give that bison or Kobe beef burger a try! So if you’re looking for a tasty bite to eat that’s also decently priced, you can’t go wrong here. Finding a place that sill offers happy hour from $ 3 – 6 is rare now a days, especially with the whole food booming scene Portland had been experiencing this past year or so.

New update. Eat the chicken and waffles. The honey mustard is a bit odd (get it on the side or without), but the waffles… OMG, the waffles… Better than most that I’ve had in Portland. Staff continues to be kind & professional, if a bit aloof/​overworked.

We were wandering along Stark, debating where to eat, and saw this spot. The menu here looked interesting, so we wandered on in. Dive bar feel when we walked in. There were some tables and booths in the area you walk in, and a bar towards the back. The east side of the building was a bit more open with a pool table and some TVs and what not.
Menu is southern, with po-​boys, fried oysters, and the like. We ordered the fried oysters (4 for $ 6), the jambalaya with blackened catfish ($ 10), and the chicken and waffles with honey mustard ($ 6).
The fried oysters and the accompanying remoulade were a nice start. The jambalya felt more like a Spanish rice with a piece of blackened catfish. That being said, it was a generous portion of catfish, and nicely prepared. The accompanying cornbread was very sweet — to the point where the GF was suggesting a bit of buttery frosting and it’d basically be cake. The chicken and waffles was a very generous portion, with a waffle and three good sized, boneless pieces of chicken on top. A bit overboard with the honey mustard, which had been drizzled all over it — great presentation, but over powering to eat. A steal at $ 6.
Beer selection was solid.
The one miss might have been the pacing. Food came out slowly, and one dish at a time. Not a big deal since the GF and I were sharing stuff, and if we had been sitting at the bar and just having bites, would have felt fine. Just felt a bit disjointed sitting in a booth and having dinner.
Overall, a diver bar vibe with a value-​filled, Southern menu.

Pretty chill spot. Been here about 7 times feels like. Just a good spot to watch some sport games and eat cheap food with a good beer list. Their sloppy fries are good for only a few bites, otherwise its just too heavy. The atmosphere is alright. Not digging their back area — it’s like a narrow alley way but fully covered, which makes me feel a bit claustrophobic. I’m a outside back patio girl, so a crappy one is a big minus for me. Otherwise, this is a decent, your average dive bar.

Man I thought I’d already reviewed this place, but since I haven’t it gets to be my 100^th review on Unilocal.Different angle on bar food – love the oyster sliders, the catfish strips – but leaning toward the fried. good happy hour value. i love the funkiness of the place – just two blocks from portland’s life stream of funky, 82^nd — peeling furniture, splintery floor. Great people work here. Broad and unusual span of beers, which tend a little less hoppy than my leaning. And I think you can order sushi from the place around the corner – monkey brains and octopus balls.

It’s Roscoe’s or Bust!
This is just Montavilla all put together here. Friendly, good brews, a pool table, and just a handful of hipster that says you’re in SE PDX baby!
Roscoe’s has had a bit of a makeover in recent years. It was pretty run down and shabby, but they’ve made an honest effort to clean it up and the hard work has paid off. They offer a decent menu if pub and bar food, but I’ve only ever been here for beers so I can’t review for the fork and knife crowd.
A buddy and I went here post Blazer game recently and I was pleasantly surprised. They have a rather impressive beer tap list, with loads of local and regional taps to please even the pickiest of pallets. Service is pretty good, and they check on you often. Fairly large seating area at the bar, and a few tv’s to keep you busy.
Only place it loses points for me is cleanliness. It’s tough when you have an old, dark building and no matter how hard you try it still seems old and dark. Just gives the appearance that it’s dirty. I don’t feel it is, but there could be a better wiping of tables and cleanliness of the floor.
Great place to meet up with friends for beers, snacks, and knock a few balls around (see pool table for details, lol!)

Came for the fresh hops. Great service and selection.
This is a non-​hipster beer bar. Super comfortable on a week night.
Is it worth the distance for most? No, but those of us that live in the 70s+ have something good nearby.

We have been to Roscoe’s several times over the last year… It seems every time we go, they get worse!
The beers are mostly IPA’s or aged something or another… SOUR SUMMIT was this weekend and it sucked! The prices get higher every time we go, too!!!
I have had the oyster Po’Boy many times and this time it left a huge GUT-​BOMB in my belly! The bun was dry as all get out AND the sandwich barely had any slaw OR oysters!!! It was a huge disappointment and I doubt we will be back!!!

Have never actually ordered the food from roscoes but as a tavern their beer list is superb! Always have a great selection of rotating taps. They always have a sour, cask, nitro, some ciders, plenty of iPas. For those that like beers this is definitely a noteworthy place.
Other pros dogs are allowed inside as long as they’re well behaved. That’s freaking awesome. Who doesn’t want to bring food to go grab a pint. Also they have some pool tables in the back. Maybe it’s just the elation from the beer, but Roscoes showed me that I like hanging out and playing pool. Who knew… and one of the last Awesome things about roscoes, you can order off the sushi menu of Miyamoto next door and get it served over at roscoes… the sushi there is bomb but sometimes you don’t want the sushi ambience. Sometimes you want to drink beers and play pool but also casuslly munch on a salmon nigiri you know? Freaking awesome that roscoes can make that happen