McMenamin’s
I would much rather be telling you about some of the “cool” McMenamin’s around, like Kennedy School, Edgefield, or Baghdad, but tonight I happened to be at the Mall 205 McMenamin’s, so that will have to do. These are local brewpubs that are only here in WA and OR, aren’t we special! (BTW, I just heard officially that Portland has more microbrews than anywhere in the world - it used to be anywhere outside of Germany.)
I had the Ruby, which is a light wheat beer with raspberries - very refreshing and light. If you like something a little darker, there is Terminator Stout, or the Porter, which is slightly nuttier, and I prefer it, especially if they have it on nitro. If you don’t like beer (shock and horror!!!) you can go with Caleb’s choice, homemade hard cider, or they have fresh pressed apple cider for the kids. They have a full bar as well, if you’d rather take the hard road. Our server tonight was Danie, (such a doll, she was from Newcastle, England) and she was right on the money, at my elbow as soon as my pint was dry. Our table was dirty when we sat down (that happens a lot here) but she was over to clean it in seconds. I got my usual, the hummus plate sans pita, I just have them put extra cucumbers and tomatoes. The hummus is not really anything to talk about, it tastes rather pasty in fact, could use a little more olive oil. It tastes like it’s made from a powder mix. So why do I keep getting it, you ask? Because they serve it with large chunks of solid feta, olives and red onions marinated in red wine vinegar. Yummy! Caleb likes their spinach artichoke dip, it’s very cheesy, not so much runny like the Newport Grill counterpart next door. I kind of feel about McMenamin’s that the food is kinda the second reason you would go, the first is if you like McMenamin’s beer. You can buy it to go, bring your own LIDDED container and they will fill it for you! (Must be beverage style container, they don’t do just tupperware, guys.) Located at 9710 SE Washington St, open M-Sa 11am-1am, Su 12pm-12am. Happy Hour everyday. Check out their Kennedy School (hotel, theater, restaurant and bar) at 33rd and Killingsworth, or Edgefield (a former poor farm and then nursing home, situated on 74 acres) where you can see a movie, concert (just recently went to Death Cab for Cutie there, best outdoor venue I’ve been to, which is another topic for another time), watch a glassblower, get a massage, or a myriad of other things. McMenamin’s also makes their own wines, whisky, brandy and gin, and roasts their own coffees. Or don’t pass up the Crystal Ballroom, where you can “dance on air” (the wooden floor is on springs!). Anywhere you go, I’m sure you’ll love the drinks!