08/21/09

Need an Alibi for Alibi

by BolaKaraoke

The dark and dreary, 70s-style tiki lounge would perhaps cause most to walk back out and head for trendier waters. Those willing to take a few more steps past the bar and up the stairs to the back room, would be happily greeted by tipsy, fun-loving, karaoke-heads singing (and screaming) their favorite karaoke tunes. The crowd? Almost 100% 20 and 30 year olds, although their song repertoire would suggest older souls. Barry Manilow, Beach Boys, Peter Gabriel were among the artists who were paid homage with performances that often included passionate jumping! The KJ (whose name escapes me) was thoroughly enthused as he called performers up to the stage. Later in the evening, he did a throwback to Meat Loaf during a down time. "And I would do anything for love, but I won't do that..." he sang with most of the crowd singing along. Sunday night at the Alibi, I give it a 4 star rating for great atmosphere, great happy hour and a top-notch KJ. A rating less than perfect because I'm not convinced that older singers would enjoy their time and importantly, the karaoke section of the bar is not wheelchair accessible.

• Pros: Cool crowd, cheap drinks and eats
• Cons: Old school, dark, not ada accesible

10/19/08

I love The Alibi!

by KatieKat7676

The Alibi is a great place to come to just have a good time. Unlike a lot of other bars, it doesn't possess the meat market atmosphere, and I've yet to see any fights, arguments, etc- so it's a nice place to go if you want to avoid drama. The atmosphere is great: there are several separate rooms to sit in, so if you're not into karaoke and you just want to chat and hang out with your friends, you can.

I love karaoke here. If you want to hear good singers, though, this is NOT the place to go. Most of the people who get up to sing goof off and don't take it seriously. I love to sing, and the Alibi totally has me covered with a HUGE selection of songs (more than I've seen at any other karaoke bars in Portland or Vancouver). Erin, the KJ, is really friendly and quick, so even if she has a ton of singers you can plan on singing. She's awesome!

The drinks are a little weak and overpriced, so order beer or a straight shot- stay away from their selection of fruity tropical drinks.

On saturday nights they have a free buffet, which is actually really good!

This place can be really crowded, especially in the karaoke area, and sometimes its hard to find a place to sit. The waiters are a little slow, too, but they have a lot of customers so cut them some slack.

• Pros: Great song selection, fun atmosphere, drama-free
• Cons: ONE bathroom stall (LAME!), weak drinks

09/01/08

Fun karaoke, mediocre service

by alyssatinling

The bar has a fun tiki theme and the karaoke 7 days a week is always a blast. But the service is always a bit slow and the drinks are a bit overpriced. Fun place to have a party though.

08/28/08

Great place to Karaoke!

by nobsts

I can?t vouch for their food but this was a cool place to Karaoke! You can?t miss their sign right off Interstate as the sign reminds me of something I?d see in Reno. Entering here, you see the bar and off to the right booths to sit in with that cheesy red leather type look to it from the 70?s. A Happy Days feel. Then towards the back it turns into a Tiki Lounge setting. They have a TON of phat songs to choose from. This place was real busy on Friday night. We put our song request in around 11pm and it took about 20 songs for ours to be called. So get your song in early and often. Fun place! They do allow smoking, however.

08/14/08

Awesome service, avoid weekend nights if you want to do karaoke

by stonehill

Went to the Alibi a couple of weeks ago for a bachelorette party and even though it was packed, we managed to grab a booth in the back for all 10 of us. Unfortunately we were told there were 40 people ahead of us for karaoke already. A few of us put songs up plus the requisite $1 each (which I only think you should have to pay when you actually sing a song) including the bride. The KJ was very nice and after slipping her a fiver, she said she would make sure the bride-to-be sang, which she did after not too long. We were also told we could only order 3 items from the menu since we got there a bit after midnight and the kitchen was closed. We ended up ordering all three items including chips and salsa, which was good, hummus with pita, which was also good, and the macaroni and cheese, which was totally AWESOME! It was made with pepperjack and other cheeses and it was honestly the best I have ever had! Our server was SO nice (I can't remember his name but he was young and cute and probably new) and he was very attentive to our needs. He wasn't rude or stressed out even though it was so packed and we had a big party.

Overall, I really liked the Alibi, although I would recommend getting there early in the evening if you want to sing or eat. I also probably wouldn't recommend it for a bachelorette party, although a birthday party would probably be fun there.

Oh yeah, their bathrooms do indeed need improvement (maybe they will be expanded in the future?), but didn't quite keep me from wanting to go back.

• Pros: Friendly waitstaff, awesome mac n cheese
• Cons: Bathrooms, karaoke wait time

05/17/08

Cool atmosphere, weak drinks

by Monamuffins

The atmosphere is really chill and the crowd is really into the karaoke there. The drinks are weak and the list for singing is really long.....expect to wait about an hour before your name is called.

05/11/08

Be drunk and plan to stay drunk

by Tracy80

I've been to the Alibi a few times, and each visit has been a memorable experience. The decor is unbeatable, the staff is friendly, and on weekends it's packed with excited karaoke fans and singers. However, this fun joint has some major flaws. It is large establishment with a sizable karaoke lounge and a sprawling dining area and bar, yet there is only one women's restroom--a sad, single-stall job consistently in disrepair (clogged toilet, broken lock, missing lock, missing DOOR, etc.). Although the staff is upbeat and hardworking, there are clearly not enough servers working on weekends. The wait staff is spread thin and service is slow, so prepare to order two of your favorite drinks at a time. And while you're at it, plan to keep downing the drinks all night long. Although this place is fun when you're appropriately boozy, the thrill wears off big time when sobriety hits. On weekends the Alibi is crowded, dirty, smokey, and home to the absolute worst karaoke crooners I've ever heard, all of which can be a real treat....if you're dunk.

A few final pros: The Cesar salad is great, and you can buy a bucket of Landsharks for $12.

04/28/08

Portland Institution - just don't eat here

by kapuanani01

I don't ever want to see this place in the light of day. I want my Alibi dark, loud, and seen through drunken eyes. I have so many great memories of this place, I can only praise it. It's Portland's original tiki bar with little pretention (hipsters have been known to frequent it), cheap watery drinks, awesome decor, karaoke (sometimes too many people though) all packaged under the best neon sign this side of the 45th parallel. The food? Don't eat here unless you have the munchies and are craving something unhealthy and fried covered in bright red sweet and sour sauce. Yuppies and families avoided it, hipsters have loved it. But over the years, it still maintains this blue collar familial feeling, dirt and all.

• Pros: Best sign, great atmosphere if you are into it
• Cons: Often too crowded with karaoke people

04/03/08

Lunch could be better

by HansenB

My spouse and I tried the Alibi for a weekday lunch. Found the drinks watery and the food mostly breaded and fried.

• Pros: Free parking, unique tiki decor
• Cons: Heavy food, lite drinks

02/14/08

Hello Karaoke and Fun PooPoo!

by lindejos

I had a great time here twice. Hard to get a cab after hours though and the whole "pay for karaoke" situation was just about unacceptable. Several situations to experience, near bar, far from bar, back hall...a nice diversity. The crowd was eclectic: hippies, slackers, frat-crowd (but not to unbearable), our aging parental generation...all good folks. I gave it a four because of pay per play karaoke...not "kewl." All in all a favorable experience.

• Pros: Eclectic crowd, fun drink menu, tasty poopoos
• Cons: Pay per play Karaoke?