Helvetia Tavern

Doesn't Recommend

H S.

Joined 2 months ago

Once upon a time they had good burgers, they had good service and they were the closest watering hole to many rural families (which means that dad and mom went there for a quick break), but things have changed...

They serve average bar burgers at a gourmet burger price. The "famous" jumbo burger is 9.25!! It's mostly bread. Yes, the fries are "fresh" potatoes, but the onion rings come from the freezer I'm pretty sure, and are not worth what they charge.

And now at a tavern (which is what really throws me for a loop, because the point of a tavern is to have people go to socialize), they have a policy that parties of 8+ pay an 18% gratuity. Really?!? You require I pay you a gift because your afraid that you wont get your just reward unless it's require? It's not like we called ahead and had a table reserved at a restaurant, we walked into a tavern separately from other people (who had already a running tab), happened to know them and now have to share the 18% on what they ordered before we even set foot in the establishment. That's just lame... This place is making bank! Why not give your employees raises so you don't have to require us to do it for you by the 18% added to our bill.

We had nice looking servers with mediocre personalities and little skills at dealing with customer requests. I'm sure they make plenty of good tips based purely on their looks, so why learn how to be good at a job? Here are the two big examples...1. The only special food request that was made on any of the food was I wanted extra pickles. That, as a former server myself, seems like a pretty easy "table" to deal with, but I guess that was too overwhelming for her or the cook staff cause it didn't happen. 2. (The big one) When at the end, after not putting us on separate checks like we had asked, I take a look at the tab and it is a MESS! Can not read it! Scribbles everywhere. There were items we had not ordered crossed out but the total next to them had not been. So we asked several times to have it rewritten so we could understand it, she refused. She just kept pointing to all the scribbles and told us this and that. It became a very unnecessarily confusing and anger arousing situation. Someone asked to speak with the manager and found out that they had been. Poor skills miss manager!

If you've never been to a local dive, I can understand that this place would seem cool and funky, but do yourself a favor and go someplace with better food that has better prices and where they STILL care about the customer....

Recommends

PDX Diner

Joined 3 years ago

The best burger (and best onion rings) in the city. A bit of a drive, but excellent burgers, fries, and onion rings. If you're a burger fan, this is the pinnacle.

Recommends

amy S.

Joined 1 year ago

LOVE this place! It is by far the BEST burgers I have had in the Portland/Hillsboro area! Great prices, always great service and food.

Recommends

Sharon J.

Joined 1 year ago

I was here a couple nights ago and the place was packed (as usual) 10 min wait tops, great food, fun environment, good service.

There aren't that many neat places left like this, so if you get the chance I definitely recommend going to Helvetia Tavern. Its a little out of the way but once you get up there its so secluded and peaceful. If you go during the day sometimes there are animals right across the street that my family really enjoyed, and don't get me started on the hats! My kids ask "How many hats do you think there are" every time we're up there and the servers are great sports about it!

If you have a craving for a big burger and local beer, this is the place to go!

Oh and don't forget to bring CASH! ( cash or check only)

Doesn't Recommend

Rodney R.

Joined 1 year ago

So I'm having a beer with my buddy on a Friday night and this guy comes in and it's obvious the waitress Erica knows him and doesn't want him there. Instead of getting her boss she starts cussing at him, dropping f bombs and a lot of other inappropriate language. All I wanted was a relaxing night and a few beers, def won't be coming back here after that tirade.

Doesn't Recommend

bjonharlene

Joined 2 years ago

Really!!!!. The highlight of my trip was walking in the door. My fries (which were greasy) showed up ten minutes before my burger (which was so dry it was hard to swallow) and the side of mayo had pickle chunks in it (I don't care for pickles on my burger), also I was not offered a refill of my coffee. All in all it was a bad experience!

Recommends

Shellyee

Joined 2 years ago

Love the fries. Our family has enjoyed the burgers,fries and onion rings for years. We love the out door seating. If you enjoy rustic and small town places you will love it.

Doesn't Recommend

cpbanb82

Joined 3 years ago

Don't Understand What All the Hype Was About. We came here because some people at my husband's office had recommended this place because of their burgers and fries and I had read some reviews that this was the place to try if you wanted a good burger. When we got the fries they were so greasy we had to dry them off with a paper towel before we could even eat them, and they weren't even cooked through. Our main reason for coming was because of the burgers really. I expected a nice thick juicy burger. Boy were we surprised when the burger was about as thin as the burgers you get on a McDonald's sandwich and the unidentifiable sauce that was on the burger came closest to the same kind of sauce that is on a Big Mac Sandwich at McDonald's. So all in all we paid more money to eat poor quality food when we could have gone to McDonald's and got two Big Mac value meals for less than what one of our meals cost at this place.

Recommends

eatpdx

Joined 4 years ago

Wow best burger in Portland metro!!!. My wife and I have been in search for the best burger around. We moved here 2 years ago and have tried lots of good burgers but we tried this today and we both said this is our favorite by far.

Small menu and that's a good thing. They have turkey sandwich's and grilled cheese for those crazy enough to not get the burger. There is a hamburger,cheese and a jumbo which is big enough to share for 2 and one order of fries with burger is penty for 2 of you each get one. Also add bacon, it's crispy goodness.

Over all great place to end up after a nice drive to the

country or when your craving it like I am right now and I had is only a few hours ago.

Recommends

seesamfly

Joined 8 years ago

Best Burger Ever. We've been enjoying these burgers for years. I've stopped going to other burger joints because they just don't compare. I brought my sister and her two boys here (they're Californians) and the boys said that the burgers were better than In & Out!

Good food. Good, friendly service.