Horse Brass Pub
(503) 232-2202
4534 SE Belmont St
Portland,
OR
97215
45.5165
-122.6157
Neighborhoods: Southeast Uplift Neighborhood Program, Sunnyside
What People Are Saying About Horse Brass Pub
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
In Short
Dark beams, round pub tables and real dart boards emphasize the British theme, and every vertical surface is covered with Guinness posters. The large space wraps around the bar and is sectioned off into smaller seating areas. Music plays softly, drowned out by the conversations of neighborhood regulars. The awe-inspiring selection of local and imported beers includes 52 taps, served in genuine 20-ounce pints.
User Reviews
cheese81
April 20, 2009
I went here as a first timer Friday night for a friend of mines 28th birthday. We wanted to sit down with our friends at the long table they were sitting at, but there were 2 ladies sitting at the end and we were waiting for them to finish. So, my 3 friends that I brought with me and I, were patiently waiting, and had to stand. It is a bar, right? A very pretty server with black wavy hair and an arm of tattoos came over to us and told us that we were blocking a high traffic area and that we needed to sit down or move. But she didn't stop there, she rudely continued on, that they were probably at max capacity and should start kicking people out. (not our fault) Our group apologized and moved to the side as best we could, out of the way. About 5 minutes later, she came up to us again and yelled in my face that we needed to move, sit down, or get out! It is a very noisy bar and the music was loud, so I leaned in to her to tell her that the 2 ladies at our friends table were just paying their tab and we were going to take their seats as soon as they left, when she suddenly reaches out and GRABS MY ARM, PUSHES ME backward and YELLS in my face that I don't need to talk to her like that and if I couldn't find a place to sit then I would need to get the f* out of there!!! I am a 5'1", very petite female. There is absolutely NO WAY I could possibly be threatening to her. She let go of me and walked away, as I stood there in PURE SHOCK as did my friends who just witnessed the most atrocious spectacle and behavior from a "SERVER" ever. I didn't want to cause a scene because it was my friends birthday, so I was trying to disregard what had just happened, but my other friend was so mad, she went to speak to a manager. He only agreed with her that the way his server treated a customer was not appropriate and asked if there was anything he could do. She said, "ya, buy our first round of beers." To which he agreed to do, but never did. About 20 minutes later, we found a different table, not even near where we were before and I was standing next to it, God forbid I ever stand, and the same server that grabbed me and pushed me, passed by and gave another rude and underhanded comment on how "it must be really hard to find a seat." WHAT!?!?!?!?!?!!? That was it for me. I will never go back there ever and I will yell from the rooftops about what a HORRIBLE business Horse Brass Pub is. They better get rid of that girl because she is driving business away. You can't work in the service industry if you can't be polite to your customers. I was a server for 5 years and a bartender for 3 and yes, it gets busy sometimes, yes, it not fun sometimes...but you buck up and deal with it. You don't EVER TOUCH SOMEONE! EVER! That girl must live a very sad and lonely life to be taking her anger out on innocent people and I hope she gets the help she needs. (The person that ended up being our server, who was a male with glasses, was very nice and considerate)
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HorseBrassSucks
February 28, 2009
We haven't been to the Horse Brass in a year due to a bad case of botulism caused by unclean beer lines. 6 out of 8 people in our group had gotten extremely ill - the only 2 people who didn't get sick *only* had bottled cider. All beer drinkers became very ill after 1-2 beers. We were finally convinced to return as we had heard the place had been cleaned up. While it may have been cleaned, the wait staff was downright rude from the moment we sat down. Our friends who had arrived earlier commented how rude she had been to them after they arrived (before us), and so did the table next to us! I was a little annoyed with her service, but was willing to let it slide before she began arguing with my husband. When she realized my husband was only ordering bottled beers, she asked why. He told her it was due to the previous experience, but had heard they were better and wanted to try again as he loved their selection. He then ordered his second beer for the evening, a draft beer (not bottled), as a sign of good faith. She then argued once with him, left, and then came back just to argue again. I can deal with her disagreeing once with him, but returning only for the sake of disagreeing with a customer is horrible service. We tried to give it a yet another chance, but we won't bother going back ever again. This was the first time in my life I've ever tipped below 20%.
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AnotherPubber
February 01, 2009
I have been to this bar numerous times. The beer selection is wonderful. What's not wonderful are the arrogant staff. As others have noted: it can be difficult to get their attention. When you do they are still often slow, inaccurate and downright rude. And lets face it, the food here is horrible. I was served a sandwhich with mold on the rye bread once, and suffered through a few other terrible offerings before giving up. With the smoking ban now in place this bar will have to change. They've lost the attraction they held for many as one of Portlands best cigar and pipe friendly bars. Lets hope that they replace many of the watiresses and upgrade the menu so that the brilliance of the beer selection can fully shine. Until then consider Green Dragon just down the street on Belmont (just as many beer selections, no attitude) or if you are craving the English atmposphere The Moon & Sixpence in the hollywood district (the real Brit-expat gathering place). Either is a far better choice for a nice draught or two.
read full reviewThe Details on Horse Brass Pub
When to Go:
Trivia contests are held on the second Wednesday of every month.
The Extras:
Next door, Belmont Station sells imported beer and microbrews to go, as well as British merchandise, from T-shirts to candy bars.
Know Before You Go:
Watch football matches on the big screen, September through May. The $10 admission includes a traditional English breakfast.
On the Menu:
The food--love it or not--is authentically British, with things like bangers, steak and kidney pie and the notorious Scotch egg. Breakfast (with fried bread included) is served Saturday and Sunday until noon.
Category:
Bars & Pubs, Neighborhood Bars, Whiskey Bars, Taverns, Lounges
Payment Methods:
American Express, Visa, Discover, MasterCard
Bar & Club Special Features:
Minimum Age:
21
