Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub

04/30/2008 Posted by PDX08

My girlfriends and I always joke that Kells never fails- and it hasn't yet! This is THE hookup place in portland, and the men are usually pretty dang hot! The food is great, the bartenders and friendly and funny, the music is fantastic (albeit quite loud- it doesn't hurt to bring some ear plugs), and a fantastic selection of booze is available! It's non-smoking upstairs, and I have never noticed any smoke odor from the cigar room downstairs. Kells is just a guaranteed good time, no matter when you go!

Pros: Everything

Cons: Can get loud, but it's an Irish pub- this comes with the territory after a certain hour!

03/20/2008 Posted by plushie1

I went to Kells for my 21st birthday, and haven't stopped coming back since then (I'll be celebrating my 29th this year). I LOVE this place. Happy hour is good (the daily sandwich and quesadillas change every day), the sweet potatoe fries are to die for, and the beer is refreshing, especially after a day at work. They know how to pour a good Guinness :-) The staff there has always been nice, conversational, and layed (it won't let me spell it the correct way...I think it's an "inappropriate" word. hahaha) back, even on the really busy nights. The crowd can show up in a T-shirt and jeans, or come by in formal wear. Either way, everyone tends to have a good time. One of my favorite things that I like about Kells (aside from the staff I've come to know over the years) is that they give back to the community. As mentioned in the editorial comments, the money that gets tossed up on the ceiling is donated to a children's charity every year before St Patrick's Day. So even if you don't got for a pint, at least put down $1.50 and have your server show you how Irish Magic works :-) If you don't like crowded places, then stay away on the weekends. Happy hours are typically low key early and mid-week. It picks up on Thurs/Friday. If you don't like beer, then stay away. If you don't like good bartenders, don't drop in.

Pros: tasty food, good selection of beers and mixed drinks, live music every night

Cons: parking, hard to find seats when crowded

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

03/11/2008 Posted by BrendaCurrieconcierge

As Concierge for Embassy Suites Downtown, and VP/ Portland Concierge Assn. hospitality and great dining spots are my specialty. Nobody does it better than Kell's and their awesome staff. I proudly send all my guests to Kell's, and frequent often with friends and family. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, with old world charm. The cuisine is wonderful, with something tasty for everyone. My personal favorites are the shepard's pie, the lamb stew, and the Bailey's cheesecake. The entire staff exude a contagious enthusiasm, and passion for what they do. My family has celebrated many a wake, wedding, and every occasion imaginable at Kell's, it's long been our favorite. I highly recommend you stop in for a pint and a civilized meal, and kick up your heels amidst the fun and festivities. The good folks at Kell's will make sure you, your colleagues, friends, and family, all leave with a smile on your face!!! Thank you Kell's for making Portland a better place.

03/04/2008 Posted by amegee

This place definitely ranks among my favorite places in the world. EVERY time I go, I have an amazing time. The music is great. I never knew Irish music was so fun. The crowd is the best in the city. I went there for my 21st, been there for lots of 21sts, I've seen bachelor and bachelorette parties, but I've also seen people 60+ who are not out of place at all. People wear tuxes and nice dresses and t-shirts and jeans. The bartenders are busy but friendly, fun, and fast (and can pour a Guinness). On Friday and Saturday nights, the bar is full, the tables are full, the dance floor is full. And it's a real dance floor! Yes, hard wood, but also people DANCE, not just grind. Get to Kells early enough, and you might see the bagpipes or the step dancers! Added bonus: be there for sweet happy hour prices on great food and miss the cover charge (though for $3, not a big deterrent). I recommend the food too, but for the real experience, you need to go on a weekend night!

06/08/2007 Posted by tracysmama

Let's see- they forgot my order, then brought the wrong thing, then accused me of not paying my bill as I was leaving. Sheesh.

01/23/2007 Posted by willisinaustin

I ate here twice during my recent trip to Portland. The fish and chips were above average, and the full irish breakfast was perfect. The place has a bit of a glossed over tourist trap feel to it, but it was still a good place to grab some food and a few pints.

10/24/2006 Posted by katkin

The Willamette Weekly had a two for one lunch coupon, so my boyfriend and I decided to give it a try on our lunch hour downtown. The place was not crowded and comfortable. The food (shepards pie and lamb stew) was very homey and stick to your gut good. The price ($10.00) was exceptional. Beats a food cart any day!

Pros: Amazing lunch cupon special, warm Irish food

Cons: Deal might not last forever

10/20/2006 Posted by jamieoconn

My husband had been to the pub here before and so we tried it for dinner with our 4 year old. It doesn't appear so at first, but Kells is very kid friendly, with booster seats and a kids menu. We were there last night, and it was a nice atmosphere with low lights and quiet enough for conversation, though the noise from the pub carried over a little. Our waitress recommended the special of the night which was meatloaf. IF THE MEATLOAF IS A SPECIAL WHEN YOU GO, DEFINIETLY GET IT! Your mother couldn't make a better meatloaf! My husband had the Irish Stew which was also good. Our son had a little bit of an "episode" and our waitress was there right away with towels to help clean up, very attentive and understanding. Great service, great food, great atmosphere!

Pros: Service, food, atmosphere

Cons: a little on the expensive side.

10/07/2006 Posted by anelmc

We just celebrated our wedding last month with our reception party at Kell's. We have commented since then, and all of our friends have raved as well, that our reception at Kell's was the best wedding party any of us had ever been to. The banquet coordinator was extremely wonderful to work with. She went out of her way to accommodate our needs by providing us with many suggestions and the freedom to bring in our own live band as well as a troupe of Irish step dancers. As we had a schedule to follow, the service was impeccable and kept everything on time. The presentation of the food was superb, and as I have catered many a wedding myself, the food was outstanding (not to mention their incredible Bailey's Irish Cheesecake!). We truly enjoyed the elegant yet lively "Irish" atmosphere, the service of the bar, and the cigar room, which added such a memorable touch to the evening as many of our friends congregated for a lively cigar-smoke. As many wedding receptions tend to be stifling and redundant, Kell's provided us with all the elements that we had hoped for and much more, in order to make our wedding party truly one of the most memorable days of our lives. If we had it to do over again, there would be no changes, except that we would stay longer! We are now looking for another reason to host a party at Kell's ... our experience was superb!

Pros: Excellent Service, Great Irish Food, Very Enjoyable Atmosphere

09/28/2006 Posted by eknadn

We recently attended a rehearsal dinner for our son and daughter in laws wedding . The evening could not have been more perfect. We don't live in the Portland area so had not previously attended any large gathering such as this at Kell's . The banquet coordinator,and all staff were very attentive and accomodated our every need. The food was excellent and many people were commenting at the wedding the next day about how much they enjoyed their evening at Kell's. Two thumbs up from this couple. We have already reccommended Kell's to others in search of a restaurant for celebrating a special event.