Ram's Head

12/01/07

Tasty, comforting food in a relaxed setting

by chibijosh

My wife and I have eaten here a few times and always enjoy the experience. Everything we've tried has been excellent, with our favorite being "The Cannonball," delicious Potato-Cheddar-Beer soup served in a toasted bread bowl. The burgers and sandwiches are likewise tasty and the tater tots are perfectly crisped. We love the deep, intimate booths, though sometimes they can be a bit of an impediment when you're trying to attract your server's attention. That to my only real quibble with this establishment: the dining room is understaffed. There are usually only 2 staff waiting on the 20-odd tables and it can be a lengthy wait before one of them notices that you've come in and sat down. They've always been very friendly and helpful, just stretched a little thin. Also, there is usually a faint smell of cigarette smoke lingering in from the bar area. It's not enough to be seriously off putting, but we've noticed it everywhere we've sat, regardless of our proximity to the bar.

• Pros: Great food, frendly waitstaff, wonderful setting
• Cons: Waitstaff stretched too thin to provide great service, faint aroma of cigarette smoke is pervasive

03/07/07

Great cozy ambiance, funny waitstaff and cheap food!

by himbeer

Living only a couple blocks away this is one of my favorite haunts. The staff in the bar are just down to earth and funny making for a better dining experience. The cajunized tater tots for starters are excellent and really inexpensive, totally good compliment for a pitcher of beer after a long day at the office. I'd say overall favorite is their grilled smoked mozarella sammich its got pesto and grilled onions and tomato on it as well. SOoooo yummy! Just give it a shot and seat yourself and enjoy a nice pitcher of good beer!

• Pros: great waitstaff, good atmosphere, good value on food
• Cons: none!

11/05/06

Stuffed burger and Ruby Ale...

by jschultz107

Never read a review, just was in the neighborhood and stopped in. They have a limited menu, but everything sounded good. We went with the stuffed burger. I believe it changes daily, so I can't say all their stuffed burgers are this good. This day it was mushroom and mozzarella and it was excellent! Accompanied by a refreshing Ruby Ale, it was tasty lunch!

• Pros: Good food and ale
• Cons: Parking in the nieghborhood is difficult at best

10/31/06

Always just average

by smalls4967

I like the Ram's head for the most part. The menu is limited but usually they prepare it well enough that it doesn't matter. Although on more than one occassion our order was wrong. The sweet potatoe fries are to die for, don't recommend the chicken schnitzel(the mustard sauce is nasty). I go back in hopes that it will be better the next time and cause my boyfriend loves it there, and usually I'm satisfied. I would recommend you try it at least once, then you decide.

• Pros: Good beers, and decent wines, SWEET POTATOE FRIES
• Cons: Orders get mixed up, service can be floozy

10/24/06

Best place to sit outside with your dog and drink a beer

by katkin

If they have Nebraska bitter, get some! It's not a guarantee that they will have it though. Outside seating in the warmer days is fun to people watch on 23rd. People have their dogs out there too. Inside, on cooler days and nights, try and snag a couch for at-home feel. Food is average McMen's fare. Hamburgers are so-so, but Cajun tots are amazing!

• Pros: cajun tots
• Cons: they never keep the best beer around

This NW 23rd neighborhood pub offers a cozy atmosphere without being stuffy or intimidating.

by Contributor

In Short
Wood floors, low coffered ceilings, intimate booths, sofas and the hum of conversations lure locals and shoppers into staying awhile. The diverse menu includes burgers, steaks, pastas and steaks, as well as a cheap-eats menu (everything is less than $5) of soups, salads and appetizers. Part of the McMenamins family of pubs, a full range of microbrews and wines are available, including the thick Terminator stout and the chestnut-colored Hammerhead ale.

03/01/06

Microbrew on trendy-third

by srahim

Traditional McMenamin's beer and food with the bonus option of cocktails

• Pros: beer menu, cocktails, location
• Cons: limited menu, street parking

01/27/06

Worst service

by lindsaygarcia

I am a fan of Mcmenimens food but when I went to the rams head I had the worst service out of any place I have been in Portland, the food took about 40 minutes to come out and our waitress never came to our table to explain anything. The manager brought our food out and was not sympathetic at all, I am a server at a well known restraunt and I know how it can be when busy, there are ways to please guests if the restraunt is messing up, rams head service knows nothing about that. I would not recommend this place if you want good freindly service.

01/04/06

nice recommendation for us visitors!

by ediblecomplex

Visiting some friends who moved from the Bay Area, we took their suggestion of having a brew here. It looked interesting in passing so we decided to stop on in after we were drizzled upon. We found some nice cozy couches to take over. The brews hit the spot, and the french fries, upon suggestion from our server were perfect for the moment of not wanting more to eat but not wanting to drink empty-stomached. The service was really good, our server was very funny and informative once we told him we were visitors and he gave us several other good suggestions.

04/06/05

can't beat the consistency

by fisheyedview

i love this place because i know it's always going to be the same as i left it. i wish i could comment on the menu, but i order the same thing every time: communication breakdown burger (the commie) with a gardenburger and salad with ranch dressing. top it off with a shared slice of terminator cheesecake. ahhh... and mmmmm.

• Pros: consistent, inventive burgers, inexpensive