Russell Street Bar.B.Que

Old-fashioned barbecue with lots of sauces heats up Northeast.

(971) 285-3132

325 NE Russell St
Portland, OR 97212 45.54092 -122.662244

Neighborhoods: Eliot, Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods

russellstreetbbq.c…

Reviews & Ratings for Russell Street Bar.B.Que

4 Star Rating: Recommended

72 reviews

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4 Star Rating: Recommended

by rodmclaughlin

August 02, 2007

I had the 'three meat' special but I chose no meat - just tofu, shrimp and salmon. For sides, I had coleslaw and greens, with cornbread and the Virginia classic sauce. It must be the healthiest and tastiest barbecue I've ever had. They have some good microbrews too. I'm not an expert on Southern food, but this was good. The service was excellent too. I'm glad we went there instead of the new yuppie Spanish place opposite. Good value - total cost for two was $50 including $10 tip and four beers. I'd recommed it for vegetarians too - there's a variety of sin-free dishes including bbq'd tofu and various side dishes.

  • Pros: Great food
  • Cons: Parking difficult because of all the Audis and Saabs in this newly-yuppified district

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5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

by justsomelady

July 01, 2009

Sometimes I find myself thinking nonstop about this place. The urge to go back can ba all-consuming sometimes. The ONLY bad things I've ever experienced here are the difficulty finding parking and the wait that is required for seating (only because they're so busy). When I go, I must have their Stumptown Iced Coffee with Cinnamon. It's better than words can describe!

  • Pros: Great food, great service.
  • Cons: Parking and occasionally the wait to get in.

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1 Star Rating: Poor

by chadillac

June 28, 2009

I used to use citysearch all of the time. This is it. Are they high? Do they no longer pay a tiny bit of attention?

I do like Russel Street. This is in no way a bad review of Russel Street, but outdoor dining?

Same with Le Pigeon. Even after a few years of being around Le Pigeon is still one the best restaurants in Portland, if not the country, but under a category of Outdoor Dining?

You should be embarrassed citysearch.

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1 Star Rating: Poor

by simpsonsbart

June 23, 2009

it wasn't good as I expected like what review said...sauce was like bottled grocery stuff from safeway...meat was tender but not enough of smokey flavor, sides were so-so. Even the bbq from trailers can beat this! lots of choices though, but the price was not worth it. .Campbell's was better and unique,Red's was similar to .Podna's,Reo's is definitely regretable, clay's is rude..Buster's? nah... .so far, Red's and Campbell's are the best in my opinion.

  • Pros: it was convenient location
  • Cons: not what I expected

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1 Star Rating: Poor

by amymusic

June 18, 2009

food is not real BBQ...anyone who knows the BBQ can tell this is not real...vegis are like from cans...meat is like from the electric smoker, doesn't have the evidence of slow cooked with real wood from the pit... these folks should of stayed in italian restaurant business, didn't realize the art of smoking it takes....it's a con! almost anyone can do better on their own backyard with some charcoal....it's like european chef trying to copy soul food.... not going to work.

  • Pros: location
  • Cons: shabby food

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4 Star Rating: Recommended

by footlong

June 03, 2009

Great food, love the place and atmosphere. If you like like bbq pork, get the bbq pork sandwich! Great mac and cheese too!

  • Pros: Pork
  • Cons: Lengthy wait for food

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2 Star Rating: Below Average

by lsb123

February 28, 2009

I have heard many times this was a great BBQ restaurant. The service was above average, but not much more. Though the prices were reasonable, we were overall severely underwhelmed with the food .

The pulled pork though tender had very little smoke flavor and no smoke rings. The sauce used on it was very one dimensional and even the spicy sauce had very little kick. The side dishes which included their "signature mac n cheese was grainy and very bland. The meaty beans were even worse, tasting like canned beans with some meat scraps added.

All in all very disappointing as there are many far better BBQ resturants in the greater Portland area

  • Cons: food was very bland and no taste of smoke in the BBQ

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4 Star Rating: Recommended

Contributor

January 22, 2009

Some of the best BBQ I've had! The meats are flavorful and well seasoned with a choice of four different sauces. The greens are to die for! They also have peppermint ice cream and delicious iced tea. One of my very favorite restaurants in Portland. Prices are a bit high, but this place is worth the cost.

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2 Star Rating: Below Average

by pdx2009

January 19, 2009

It was one of the worst bbq i had, because it wasn't real bbq. Meat tasted like it came out of the electric oven. Portlanders who doesn't know what real bbq is don't know it I guess, as long as it's flavored with hickory pellets and liquid smoke in a GAS-fired oven? It's like someone from Northwest who tries to copy online recipes of southern cuising without ever lived there. I wouldn't recommend this place unless it was last resort. Service was taking too long, and it was not worth it.

  • Pros: effort
  • Cons: quality

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4 Star Rating: Recommended

by tiltrocks

January 13, 2009

I had the pulled pork sandwich and it was tasty! and the portion was big between the sandwich and the fries i was stuffed. They have a good selection on sauces from sweet to spicy. they are all good, I like the spicier sauces.

  • Pros: Good food, parking
  • Cons: busy most of the time

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1 Star Rating: Poor

by paulbunyun

January 03, 2009

I've just tried their pork ribs and it was over cooked, too small of volume for the price. Their sauce is not authentic southern sauce, food is more of a fusion southern food...I will not go there again. I also hate the bar that is visible from the restaurant because I wouldn't want my kids to be exposed to that type of atmosphere...

  • Pros: none
  • Cons: food,service

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Russell Street Bar.B.Que

325 NE Russell St
Portland, OR 97212

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