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    Covert Café

    4.9 (16 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Covert Café Photos

    Business Info

    COVERT CAFÉ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Live music
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating

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    The cheesesteak, full of chunks of sirloin
    John K.

    I'm thrilled that we read about Covert Cafe on a Montavilla neighborhood site. It's a wonderful addition to SE 82nd. It's always nice to see a smallish menu, which makes me confident that everything offered will be done well, since they presumably gravitate towards their strengths. Based on my first visit, I'm certain this is the case. Red meat is a rare indulgance for me, and steak is even rarer. The Covert version is simple perfection - a slab of perfectly cooked meat, topped with rosemary and butter, accompanied by a terrific salad. My wife went with the cheesesteak, which turned out to be made with chunks of the same sirloin as my entree. Despite us being thrilled with our choices, I'm currently looking forward to returning and trying the pulled pork. Food aside, the decor at Covert is welcoming and comfortable. There's a glass front bookcase full of Star Trek memorabilia, a small stage that hosts a variety of performances and quizzes (check the calendar on the web site), and a TV that was showing a Star Trek TNG episonde, with the sound loud enough that we could have paid attention if we wanted, but there was also music playing through the same speaker, all in all forming a pleasant background for diners.

    Beer

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    5 months ago

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    29 days ago

    Wonderfully cozy music venue with a nice food and beverage menu and great staff! Plus Star Trek memorabilia! "Live long and prosper"

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    2 years ago

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    Joseph M.

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    2 months ago

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    2 months ago

    The best! Great cheeseburgers! Small, intimate, the perfect place to hear local musicians from all genres of music.

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    2 years ago

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    Joseph M.

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    2 years ago

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    Joseph M.

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    2 years ago

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    Joseph M.

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    Ask the Community - Covert Café

    Review Highlights - Covert Café

    Excellent food (try the grilled cheese with bacon jam!), super friendly staff, and a welcoming atmosphere with lots of indoor and outdoor seating.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    The Chinese Cowboy

    The Chinese Cowboy

    4.1
    (20 reviews)
    3.8 mi

    Sad to hear this place closed…read more Warsugai rebranded as the Chinese Cowboy. A western / Chinese fusion of not just food but vibes. The food became a bit more paired down and focused more on sandwiches and burgers. BBQ with Asian slaw for example. It was still pretty good but I think it may have gave off a small identity crisis with what it was trying to do. I'll miss some of the food I've had at Warsugai and Chinese Cowboy.

    TL:DR Lovely bar with unfortunately subpar food…read more.. To be painfully truthful I do hate writing sort of meh reviews especially for establishments that are locally owned but there are a couple of things that unfortunately left a bad taste in my mouth. To start off entering the bar was elegant, it feels high class. The ambiance was dark, intimate and again elegant. We stopped by before heading out to some clubs for the evening for some food and drinks. The drinks were delicious and refreshing. They really do take care of their cocktails. The server was pleasant and attentive, although it was a slower night. However when it came to the food it was disappointing to say the least, for a place when you first walk in that looks classy and upscale, you would expect the food to be somewhat decent. We ordered the dumplings and brisket fried rice. To be short the dumplings were chewy and felt undercooked in terms of steam dumplings. The brisket fried rice was overly salty and the brisket was not at all tender; in fact when I tried to share with it my wife I could not tear it apart with a fork or with even my hands, it felt fatty and chewy. Again, the vibes and general area of the bar was immaculate, I appreciated eating by a candlelight and enjoying some drinks, but when it came to the food I felt underwhelmed. I do wish the best for the place however.

    Photos
    The Chinese Cowboy
    The Chinese Cowboy
    The Chinese Cowboy

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    Urdaneta

    Urdaneta

    4.6
    (439 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$$

    Wow. I came here with some girlfriends for dining month and I'll definitely be returning and…read moreincorporating this into restaurants I recommend to friends in town. Hospitality: amazing Ambiance: cozy corner restaurant that instantly feels warm when you enter. You'll witness at least one hug (I saw two!) The set menu for dining month has two options for course 1 and 2, and then a dessert. My favorite was the Nuestra Ensaladilla Rusa with albacore tuna conserva, albacore tataki, confit potatoes, carrots, mayo, and tobiko. This was basically a main course for me and I only finished half the 2nd and my dessert. All very delicious.

    This is such a wonderful restaurant. My wife and I dined here with four other friends. I had a…read morebourbon+amaro cocktail and red wine. I ordered olives+anchovies,potato+onion+egg+tortilla, albacore tuna+potato+carrot +peas+mayo+avacado+toasted bun, blood sausage+quail egg+peppers+ piquillo jam+toasted bread, potato waffle+brava sauce+herb aioli+chives, shrimp toast+garlic+chili+sofrito+yuzu aioli+green olive relish, pan (warm baguette) olive oil+brown butter, jamon iberico de bellota, croquetas de jamon+bechamel+hard boiled egg+aioli, octopus+truffle potato+leek marmalade+chorizo, iberico pork collar steak+eggplant+apple relish, nantes carrots+yogurt+date+almond, lamb belly+rhubarb+onion+garlic. All of it, so very good. Our waiter was also great.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Gilda 2.0
    Gilda 2.0
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    Parallel

    Parallel

    4.8
    (25 reviews)
    2.8 mi

    We walked in and I expected a two star review. I was looking for a full menu with good salads and a…read moredrink menu. We were hungry and it was close to where we had been shopping. So I indulged my husband and we sat at the bar with bartender, Derrik. The chef helped us with our choices. The board with smoke trout was not my favorite, but I'm not a big trout fan. My husband loved it. The parallel salad... I would come here every day for that. Very refreshing. The wine pairing is exactly what you should do on the suggested menu Saffron cavatelli was unique. The flavors are mature and if you've ever been to Italy, you will appreciate this dish. Then we got dessert. We never get dessert. The strawberry shortcake was not a dessert. It was more like a delicate appetizer. Not sugar overload. A very rich and fresh dish. Please, if you're in the area, stop by just to say hi and get anything. You will not be disappointed.

    I took my spouse here for his birthday and reserved the tasting menu, and it turned out to be an…read moreincredible experience. Every dish was beautifully prepared and absolutely delicious, and the wine pairings complemented each course perfectly. The service was outstanding. Everyone was warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. You can really tell they care about the details, from the presentation of each plate to the glassware used for the wine. If you're in the city and looking for a winery-style dining experience with exceptional food, I highly recommend this place. The tasting menu is especially worth it, as it gives you the chance to try a variety of dishes along with thoughtfully selected wines. I would definitely recommend it.

    Photos
    Restaurant entrance.
    Restaurant entrance.
    Parallel
    Parallel

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    Lechon

    Lechon

    4.5
    (2.2k reviews)
    4.4 mi
    $$$

    South American (Argentina-Chile-Peru) by way of the Willamette: a winning culinary team presents…read moretapas and an affordable Chef's tasting menu, à la carte also available. A bar backlit by ethereal jellyfish ebbing in blue light, and an incredible (but focused) wine program, along with creative & fun ZERO-proof options. I've had 4 years of mostly unremarkable experiences with service in Portland, but Hunter changed all that. He's thoughtful, thinking ahead, smart & an asset to the ambiance. Meanwhile 3/3 items were exceptional, starting with BRISKET EMPANADAS - buttery smoked brisket & ooey gooey fontina studded with tart little golden raisins in a crisp crust - like a cheesy Argentinian gyoza! PAN SEARED SCALLOPS (by the half-order, thank you!) are precisely seared on the outside, sweet & tender on the inside, plated over a creamy sweet corn polenta that contrasts beautifully with the acid in slightly charred, roasted tomatoes. Finally (in traditional European fashion) a FARMERS GREEN SALAD gently dressed in piquant vinegar balanced by mild goat cheese & roasted pine nuts for a smoky crunch. Chef's Counter is lovely, but the space is deceptively large and accommodating with cozy booths and larger rooms - the more, the merrier sharing tapas to go around!

    TLDR: Crazy meal. Great experience. Matthew was awesome. Besides sushi, never had a meal where…read moreeverything slapped hard AND amazing service. We got outdoor seating which was a table adjacent to the curb. Was actually really nice with the shade from the building. We ordered: -bone marrow: MUST GET. We've had bone marrow a couple times and never thought it was worth it. Small portions and not too much flavor. This one changed our minds. So rich and buttery and a decent helping per bone. When we got the order, one of the marrows over rendered and Matthew immediately said he was gonna get us more because it wasn't up to par. Brought us 2 more! -shrimp ceviche: -ahi: the texture was perfect and the chips it came with was a nice neutral bite with all the other flavors. -corn fritters: these were yummy with the green sauce it came with but dipped into the palenta from the scallops, AMAZING. We're gonna always order the palenta and fritters together from now on. -4 scallop and palenta: the scallops were cooked perfectly with a nice buttery crust. The palenta was sooooo good. Had a nice corn flavor and nice and savory to dip pretty much everything else in. -duck breast: the duck breast was really juicy and had a ham like flavor which I enjoyed because I really liked ham. The mushrooms were bursting with flavor as well. Amazing experience and this will be our go to for a nice celebratory splurge dinner. We still wanna try the other items on the menu but our staples will be: bone marrow, scallops and palenta, and fritters.

    Photos
    LeChon Restaurant interior
    LeChon Restaurant interior
    8 oz Snake River Farms Flank Steak*
    8 oz Snake River Farms Flank Steak*
    Pan Seared Scallops*

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    Pan Seared Scallops*
    Luc Lac

    Luc Lac

    4.1
    (4.7k reviews)
    4.7 mi
    $$
    Outdoor seating
    Family-owned & operated

    Luc Lac is a great spot if you're craving Vietnamese food with a fun cocktail bar vibe. The moody…read morered lighting, lantern décor, and creative drink menu make it a great place for dinner. We tried the pho, which had a rich, flavorful broth with plenty of fresh herbs. The sugar cane shrimp was delicious, generously portioned, and beautifully presented. Lemon grass stir fry and the coconut shrimp curry came with white rice and it was delicious. I also tried a specialty cocktail it was just as impressive beautifully crafted and refreshing. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and filling. Great service, generous portions, and a menu with both Vietnamese classics and unique cocktails. We'll definitely be back!

    I decided to give Luc Lac a try after seeing all of the excellent Yelp reviews, and it definitely…read morelived up to the hype. When I arrived, there was a line out the door, which is always a good sign. Fortunately, it moved quickly. The process is simple: order at the counter, grab your own utensils and water, and then they'll seat you. I ordered the papaya salad and the beef pho. The portions were very generous, and both dishes were delicious. The beef in the pho was sliced a little thicker than I expected, but there was plenty of it, and the broth was flavorful. The papaya salad was the standout--fresh, crisp, and packed with flavor. I highly recommend ordering it. The restaurant also has a cool, funky vibe that adds to the experience. If you're looking for great Vietnamese food in Portland, Luc Lac is absolutely worth the wait.

    Photos
    Boo'd Up
    Boo'd Up
    Indoor Dining
    Indoor Dining
    Papaya Salad, Luc Lac, Pho Train, Coconut Curry, Cream Cheese Wonton

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    Papaya Salad, Luc Lac, Pho Train, Coconut Curry, Cream Cheese Wonton

    Covert Café - bars - Updated August 2026

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