11/06/09

great menu selection!

by charlie 21

We sat at the bar because of the long wait, but it was still great! From the bar we had a great view of the kitchen. They offer a great home style menu along with a local organic selection that can be incorrporated into your meal. They also had a great selection of local organic wines. Dessert was by far the best we had in Portland, the pear crisp was to die for!!! Great place!! Highly recommended

• Pros: atmosphere, food, local wine
• Cons: long wait, small place

10/27/09

Don't mean to be mean but it's the truth

by mkimber63

First let me validate. I am originally from Texas and I am used to Southern food being prepared with a certain style and flavor. First, a sweet tea should start off sweet and not watered down to try and stretch it. Secondly, smokeless brisket that's passed off with a tomato paste based BBQ sauce is not quite passing as acceptable for a person from the south. Also, the fatty riddled brisket was quite tough. The bland horseradish and bacon potato salad without the yellow mustard was a big disappointment. I expect and accept all Southern cuisine to have it's own unique presentation and flavor, but, to pass off foods prepared in a substandard manner and call them Southern style is offensive to real Southern cooks. The highly overpriced single serving of pecan pie was not only lacking in body but substance as well. It's sad to say the best and most authentic part of the meal was the green beans.

On the whole I felt as though I was misled to Southern style dishes or cuisine that was highly over rated. I have personal experience in hosting Soul Food samplers for community events and I truly expected to taste more authenticity for a highly rated Southern cuisine restaurant.

On a positive note, I did sample my date's chicken and dumplings that was very tasty and well represented the Southern style cuisine I am accustomed to.

• Pros: Very good service, nice home like feel
• Cons: Misrepresented food

10/04/09

Love it!

by Beast09

Screen Door is one of our favorites! Everyone that we've introduced to SD love it!

• Pros: Reasonably priced, good service, consistantly good food!
• Cons: long wait, no reservations

09/23/09

Amazing!

by mschoonyoung

The ambiance, food, service and cocktails are amazing. It is totally worth the wait. A must eat spot in Portland.

• Pros: Food and Service
• Cons: Wait

09/09/09

Food worth the wait

by Elle813

My mom and I had dinner here last week. We split the Beef Brisket and the Fried Chicken. Both were divine. The chicken wasn't greasy and the tasso ham gravy was divine (strong smoky, slightly spicy flavor). The potato salad had a bit of horseradish, dijon mustard, and bacon in it (yum!). The green beans also had bacon in it. The sauce on the brisket wasn't sweet and the onion straws (think thin strands of onion rings) were terrific. The only complaint I had regarding the food was that the beef brisket had a few largish sections of pure fat that had to be picked around, however that wouldn't stop me from ordering it again. Also, I think the owner should serve a larger side of gravy with the chicken and mashed potatoes. A small ramekin was not enough. And if someone orders an extra side, you shouldn't charge them for it (especially when they had to ask for it three times before they finally got it). If you need to, make the cost slightly higher and be more generous in your gravy portions.

• Pros: Phenomenal food, food served relatively quickly
• Cons: Long waits, loud, slight attitude from host

09/02/09

Excellent Southern Food

by Kentucky123

Good variety on menu, need to bring back red beans & rice!

• Pros: Best Southern fare in PDX
• Cons: Long waits

07/27/09

Almost died

by deltaloop

Our daughter was in from LA and she'd heard friends rave about this restaurant. Her nose for good food is unfailing and once again, she was right on. The service was quick, professional and friendly. We had six different dishes including "starters" between us and all were excellent. Can't wait to go back, although we almost died from over-indulgence on this, our first, visit.

• Pros: wonderful service and food
• Cons: on street parking

07/05/09

The best hushpuppies and dip I've ever had!

by momdlt

I used to live in the south and have eaten lots of good southern cooking in my day, and this place definitely ranks up there with the best. Food was to die for and the service and atmosphere were so much fun! Loved it, will definitely go back.

• Pros: Southern Cooking at its finest
• Cons: None, don't let the outside of the building fool you!

05/07/09

Fell in love with this restaurant

by PBOregon

The name "Screen Door" makes the restaurant seem sort of low-rent. I was invited by some friends, and reluctantly went along. As soon as I saw the menu, I knew I was going to like my dinner. When dinner came, I was so focused on enjoying my fried chicken, mashed potatoes and cornbread that I never really chatted with my friends. What a satisfying meal! Dessert was great, too. I left feeling 10lbs heavier, but in a positive way. =) I've eagerly recommended Screen Door to other friends.

• Pros: amazing southern cooking
• Cons: really busy, far from home

04/11/09

Not Impressed but Will Try Again

by Misae

Alright, one of my best friends raved about this place and so I went there not too long ago with her and another friend. I have to say, I'm not impressed AT ALL. I figure it's because of the service of my particular waitress, but she certainly did not make me pleased to be there.

I ordered the vanilla bean french toast. It certainly didn't look like vanilla bean french toast, but the waitress assured me it was. Guess what? I got the regular french toast, though I did not discover it until the check came and my food had been eaten. Also, my girlfriend ordered a mimosa. I know the waitress heard her because she wrote down the order while REPEATING the exact word "MIMOSA." 20 minutes later, no mimosa and no waitress. I had to snag some other guy and get him to bring it.

The waitress only checked on us once, and then we had to practically beg for the check so we could get OUT.

I will try the screen door again, yes I will. The food, even though it was not what I asked for, was good. I left feeling good about the food, but very, VERY ill-tempered. The waitress was nice, but she just did not get it. New girl, maybe? Train her better. I wish I could say something else nice about this restaurant.

• Pros: good food, nice decor and area
• Cons: bad service, forgetful waitress