The Roxy
Portland, OR 97205-2309
Phone: (503) 223-9160
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 As a note: the editorial review is so far out of date it's sad.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!
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