09/11/09

Great place to catch a Steelers game!!!

by DBTRAVELER

I travel often and have been to Steelers bars in several states as well as Brussels Belgium. The Hedge House is high on my list. My wife and I had a great day on the deck watching the 2009 opener with wonderful people, good food and great Lompoc (own label) beers. Many of the people were regulars and huge fans, from Jerry the owner to Papa Paul making sure that everyone had a Terrible Towel. Chris and Deb at/near our table were a pleasure to be with as well. We had a great time. Make sure that you get there a little early and are prepared for being on the covered deck or beside it in the uncovered area. We were there on a sunny and warm day. Go Steelers!!!

• Pros: Large deck, 2 TVs, great beer, good food and great people
• Cons: parking and it can draw a crowd

08/03/09

Lame

by mstrongheart

If you're looking for overpriced, tasteless, heavy food served by rude people in a dirty atmosphere, this is the place!

My husband and I recently moved into the neighborhood, a few blocks from Hedge House. We're long time Portlanders and eat out once or twice a week. I'd eaten at Hedge House once before and found the food, atmosphere, and staff mediocre, but they had only just opened so I thought maybe they were just getting their act together.

Last week, we decided to give them another try. We asked the waitress if we could sit outside. Be warned, the pretty patio is likely not where you'll sit. There is the "Upper Deck", where we were routed to past the nice open tables. It is dark and loud and there was food under our table. I immediately stepped my sandal into a big glob of what I hope was mustard. Other patrons were then routed from the Upper Deck to the pretty patio, but we were never asked if we wanted that option.

Our waitress, a disheveled woman with short hair and huge glasses, was abrupt, unhelpful, and rude throughout the entire meal. We ordered nachos and beers to start. The nachos were good, the one good thing about the night. For our entrees we chose the pulled pork sandwich and the philly cheesesteak. Alas, there is not a burger on the menu. The pulled pork was tasteless. The cheesesteak was tough and gamy, tasting the way a wet dog smells. Perhaps I've been spoiled by the philly cheesesteak at Foti's, but this was inedible. I made my way through1/3 of the sandwich and then pushed it aside, leaving most of the Ruffles untouched, as well (no fries, but Ruffles). The waitress cleared my plate, not asking if it was unsatisfactory. Sometimes you're just not in the mood to complain, so you pay your bill and leave, vowing never to return.

Whenever we walk by, there are people eating, sometimes even waiting for a table. The Hedge House must have something, if they're all waiting, right? Or do that many people just have low standards?

07/16/09

Warning: Read before going

by Snakespeare

Important: There is a sign on the back wall. It is hard to see from the door or the patio, but it is important. It says that this is not one of your McMenamins where you can just take any seat. You must get permission to sit, even if the place is empty.

And don't ask the dishwasher for permission to sit. Only the waitress can grant that. If you ask the dishwasher, and he says go right ahead, the waitress will get angry at you anyway.

And don't confuse the dishwasher with a bartender, just because he's putting glasses behind the bar when he gives that permission. The waitress will inform you that there is no bartender, and assume that you are lying. After all, it is the waitresses job to call her customers liars if they mistake a dishwasher for a bartender and say, for instance, but the bartender said it is fine, just sit anywhere.

And when the waitress accuses you of lying, don't take it personally. If you insist that you weren't lying, that if there is no bartender, then there was somebody behond the bar, and that you feel she is being rude, she will refuse to serve you.

Yes, that's right. You can be refused service in the Hedge House merely for sitting where the dishwasher says you can sit, simply because the waitress considers it rude to sit without her own permission, and rude to imply that someone said you can sit, and rude to respond to her insults by insisting that you aren't lying.

This is all very important, if you wish to eat and drink at the Hedge House.

Better yet, skip the place. Anyone who lets their waitress behave like that shouldn't get your business.

• Pros: Nice neighborhood
• Cons: Argumentative wait staff