The Roxy

03/27/2008 Posted by parkerveruski

The owner of the place is cooky, cool and friendly with an razor wit edge. You want to like her but then I've seen her chase people down (literally) for not leaving a tip for her server. A whole lot drastic! Would you want to know someone who easily snaps? Perhaps, it could be entertaining. All things considered, 'The Lovely Suzanne' is fun and friendly. Years ago it appears founder Suzanne turned the business over to her daughter to manage, service got better but atmosphere and fun factor dropped. Owner Suzanne would stand at the door and seat you wearing a purple bee-hive wig, funky retro glasses and shouting loudly. She would have so much fun giving everyone who walked through the door a hard time with 'pet names' and other silly stuff. She was the reason friends and I visited. She was crass, a bit rude and all in the name of being very busy, having fun and keeping it light. Where is she now? I love their food in the classic greasy spoon USA style. Bad for you but soo good for you at the same time! It's apparent that the small, narrow place does a good business for all ages, from street kids to gay club hoppers but in the end, the atmosphere has changed over the years to reflect a bland, day-in-day out feeling. No longer are the days of fun. This place still has charm but not like it did once before. How do you get it back? Owner Suzanne needs to spend more time in the drivers seat and less time out shopping around the world. We all miss her.

Pros: Lots of freaks and geeks to watch. No shortage of late night noise.

Cons: Prices are getting a bit too high, atmosphere is not what it once was.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful

03/15/2008 Posted by abovethetown

We just moved here from the mid-west and had some friends from way out of time come in to visit. We trying to show them the Portland experience. Once we ended up in this diner, we became so apologetic and try to convince them that Oregonians are not all such horrible a-holes. The serving staff was downright nasty. When the 4 of us initially walked in, they gave us nasty looks and looked put out to have to seat us. They screamed at my buddy for walking up to the bar to get his check after it was failed to be delivered in him and the server didn't respond to his attempts to catch her attention. The waitress started yelling at our friends for standing up and putting on their coats (in which they we told they needed sit back down because they were in the server's way) and for "congregating" because they were walking down the aisle o nthe way out. All this after my all too kind friend gave a 40% tip! The servers were way to stressed for the 8 tables they collectively shared. Ihorrible, embarassing experience; we will never go back!!!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful

02/07/2008 Posted by pdxchristy

I've been eating at the Roxy as a treat (too much of a good thing will give you a coronary, you know) since I moved to Portland five years ago. I absolutely love this place and the food is really great for those of us who enjoy the occasional heart attack special! Our first grader thinks that their blueberry pancakes are food nirvana, we almost always start with the cheese fries, and it's one of the only restaurants in town that I've been able to find a really good cold roast beef sandwich with all the trimmings. Their menu covers the gamut of tastes and even those watching their calories can get a salad made to their needs. The Italian sodas are loads of fun and don't forget to bring money for the jukebox! We rarely leave without at least one box of left-overs and the trick to eating here is to really not try to clean your plate. Obviously a good choice for a late-night booze soak-up, it's amazingly kid-friendly as well and we tend to go in the early evening and then walk over to Powell's. We love the decor and try to sit in a different spot each time to read the autographed photos on the walls. Oprah and Tom Jones are two that stand out as seriously funny. Kids (and adults) who are overly sheltered and unaware of how "WEIRD" Portland can be might be in for a major shock, but The Roxy is really one of the icons of why Portland is such a fantastically colorful city; a great place to bring out of town guests. It's also one of the few beyond Shari's and the Original Hotcake and Steak House that has a 24 hour menu and serves traditional "greasy spoon diner" food. I've always found the staff to be accommodating, quick and more interesting to talk to than most. As a note: the editorial review is so far out of date it's sad. The menu changed a few years back and took out all the celebrity names, so a double stack is just that...a double stack of pancakes. It's one of the few things that I really wish hadn't changed, but I could see how it might have been necessary.

Pros: Cheap eats, colorful ambience, kid and out-of-towner friendly, good for groups

Cons: menu titles lost their sparkle, bathrooms could use an update!

08/05/2007 Posted by 5m4llp0x

While the fine establishment does not serve alcohol, it will, however, serve you a meal so rich in flavor that you will not need such mind-altering substances to enjoy life! With quality meals that rival any 4, or 5, star restaurant in the city, The Roxy, somehow, manages to maintain prices that appeal to the general populous. Within the menu you will find typical American comfort food with a twist of elegance that not only caters everyday people, but an up-scale crowd as well. On top of this, each staff member has gone through rigorous training and a competitive hiring process to ensure each patron at The Roxy not only gets the treatment they deserve, but the respect they are entitled to. Pros: Exquisite service, impeccable timing, and amazing food Cons: Closed Mondays

Pros: Exquisite service, impeccable timing, and amazing food

Cons: Closed Mondays

07/01/2007 Posted by cbbreaze

My boyfriend and I came here after romping around The Pearl on a friday night trying to find some good food. We have a passion for little hole in the walls and this diner, 2 blocks north of The Pearl caught our eye. The food wasnt "spectacular" by any means, but was definitely tasty. The people in the restaruant were friendly and I thought the waitress was very nice. There were lots of interesting things to look at on the walls and plenty of conversation starters. Its one of those places that you'll hate or love it. I say try it before you judge it.

Pros: Fun enviroment, variety of food-

Cons: Average taste

06/10/2007 Posted by egodraconis

Many restaurants referred to as an institution serve institutional food, but this can't be said of The Roxy. An established menu offering something for everyone from meat eaters to vegetarians alike. The staff is friendly, and they go out of their way to make sure you're happy with your meal. I recommend the bacon double cheeseburger as the best burger in Portland! All menu items are served 24 hours a day, and for those on a budget they even serve single pancakes. I can be a picky eater at times, and the restaurant has always accommodated special requests without a fuss getting the order right on the first try.

Pros: Tasty food, quick service, friendly atmosphere

Cons: No American cheese (boo!) only cheddar or swiss

02/22/2007 Posted by darksyren

I live in NW Portland and frequent the Roxy. Anytime late night partying has got me down, I can go to the Roxy, have a huge, grease-dripping meatburger and feel right again. I have had almost everything on the menu but I certainly have my favorite: The Avocado Cheeseburger with a side of fries and chocolate milk. Also, the Lord of the Fries (a massive plate of fries covered in chili and cheese) is a great snack to split with a friend or two. They give you a small carafe of coffee when you order coffee which greatly appeals to a caffiene junkie like myself. As for the service, they have always been friendly to me and my friends. Chris and April especially are very friendly and will come and chat with me when they aren't too busy. My only complaint about the Roxy is that they are closed on Mondays, because when you've had "a case of the Mondays" you really need the Roxy. This is a total greasy spoon and not a place you're going to find "high dining" but it's absolutely one of my most favorite places to go.

Pros: Open 24 hours, greasy hangover curing food, some yummy veggie options, lots of coffee

Cons: Closed on Mondays

01/05/2007 Posted by livvyonthelabel

I used to go to the Roxy after late night concerts and things would get crazy with all the drunks in there. It was a grand time. The food wasn't too bad either. The last time I was in there after a concert, we actually got in troubled for being too loud. Since when are you not able to have group karoake in a dive at 2 in the morning? The food went downhill, and the service is scary sometimes. I might still go if I really needed a late night dose of grease.

Pros: OPen Late

Cons: Scary service

11/11/2006 Posted by mammawong

I’m afraid of the food, sometimes afraid of the staff. But when its late coffee is coffee and there are lots of glowy, shiny things to look at. And besides, hot fryer oil kills everything, right?

Pros: if everyone was the same life would be boring

Cons: the staff is angry, be prepared.

10/07/2006 Posted by veronicaxy

I'm dating myself wildly here but wish that kids today had the total Toots Empire to enjoy like we did. Back in the 70s The Roxy used to be the late night, edgier sister restaurant to more familial (and I use that in the larger sense) Hamburger Mary's. Hamburger Mary's was the place my high-school friends and I could go (we didn't know we were goth then, the phrase hadn't been coined) and drink coffee and feel like we had a place to call home because gay was just coming out and everyone who was positive and weird was welcome to the party around Toots. I have no idea what happened to him, if he has anything to do with this one still but his innovative stamp and inclusiveness is still a hallmark. The food is fine, but the decor and the people spell out one of the best parts of Portland, the willingness to be downhome, funky and have a very cheeky sense of humor. If you have out of town visitors, take them here if nothing for coffee in a busy day. They'll never wonder why there are "Keep Portland Weird" stickers and why that's a good thing.

Pros: atmosphere, fun, down home food

Cons: The focus isn't as much on the food quality as it used to be, but that's a high standard