Met for brunch business meeting here on a Saturday while in Portland. They had an amazing mimosa deal ($2.50 until 2:30pm) and their brunch menu ends at 2, I believe. I ordered the tofu kale hash which was $10 and it was very tasty! The flavor was there, and the portion was good. Our server was on point. The one complaint I have is that, when we moved to a bigger booth because we had 5 people, the "bigger" booth felt super crammed. The space between the booth and table was too tight. We moved twice while there. Also, I can't really complain about this because sometimes I like it dark in restaurants but the others I was with didn't like that it was so dark there. Overall, I really dug the vibes and the food and would come back, for sure! read more

Dots Cafe - Tofu kale hash - Dive Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Amazing local dive that has been around for ages and is a vestige of the old school Portland I remember when I moved here in 2000. They have lots of vegan options which is great, all gender single stall restrooms, also a plus, and big roomy booths plus wifi. Great happy hour too and cool vibe. So glad I live within walking distance to be able to go often. read more

Stopped by after going to Clinton Street Theater for a show. I really loved the decor and the vibe. They had a nice range of drink options and a decent tap list. I had the happy hour Mezza Platter, and it was huge! All the different pieces really satisfied my flavor cravings. The dry cider I had was just right. read more

Dots Cafe - Happy hour mezza platter - Dive Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I've been here twice prior to reviewing, and am OBSESSED. As someone who is lactose intolerant, I often have difficulties finding bar food that I can eat and enjoy. First, the home made vegan ranch -- amazing. I also got the vegan cheese fries and they were unlike any other vegan cheese I've ever had. Often times when vegan cheese is melted, it becomes inedible. Not this. I was so happy. While I didn't try them, my partner noted that the vegan fried chicken sandwich and buffalo wings were delicious. The signature drinks are well priced and very very good. They have daily deals, as well as happy hour. The outdoor seating will be so nice to enjoy once the weather is better! Will for sure be returning often read more

The name, Dot's Cafe, can be misleading. This is no mom and pop cafe. This is one of the coolest hangouts I've been to in the last year. One side is a relaxed restaurant area with Spanish wallpaper, chandeliers, low light candles and art pieces. Large walkthrough area into the bar and there's nothing closer to vacation. The music is cool and on low/medium volume. It's carpeted but it's so clean. We weren't very hungry so I ordered some Homestyle fries and they came out fast ...we chowed down :-) read more

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Very disappointed in the service here. It doesn't have posted anywhere that after 8:00pm is "No minors allowed". I came here with my 20 year old sister with a huge group and we had to leave because she wasn't 21. A minor is anyone 18 and under, so they need to adjust their wording. Or make it clean on their doors and websites read more

I was a bit heartbroken that a local, always appreciated establishment would turn into a gross joke but that's exactly how I felt walking out... When a place mentions it allows minors in before 8 pm and you arrive at 4:30, you'd HOPE you'd be allowed to order fries, right? Instead I was laughed at and belittled by a bearded man, double my age stating that there was NO chance he'd serve a mix of people between the ages of 22 and 20. News flash, not everyone wants to drink and some people simply want to be treated as humans and not kicked out (despite the fact that we're all legally allowed in there, and no one is trying to drink at 4:30...). It's so disappointing and disheartening to see another place where everyone who is under the age of 26 and attempting to integrate into their community spaces is assumed a villain. I do not recommend. Burnt out millennial nightmare. read more

This was one of two places we were thinking of going to because they have vegan choices. We couldn't decide where to go, so we went to both places. This was our second choice after we were full. We didn't get a lot of food just french fries and beer The french fries were pretty good, and they are probably a good indication of the quality of the food here. They came and were nice and hot. The restaurant itself is divided into a bar and a restaurant, and both are very very cool. They are both dark with all kinds of pictures and paintings of movies and artists from the sixties, seventies, and eighties. The longer you look, the more you discover. read more

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After landing late at night and getting to the place we were staying, we were pretty hungry and wanted to see if there was anything open nearby. Dots Cafe was close, so we ended up walking there even though our host told us that there were better options. I had the bbq chicken quesadilla, and the bf had the dots burger. I asked how big the portions for the quesadilla were, and the waitress said you get 3 small triangles...so I wasn't expecting much. When they actually arrived however, they were bigger (and thicker) than I thought they were going to be! This one had bbq sauce, chicken, cheese, sour cream, pico de gallo, and guac. There was a good bite of chicken in almost every bite, and a generous amount of cheese (which made this cheese lover really happy). The dots burger was very flavorful with the pepper, guac, pickles, onion, and bacon. The patty itself was about an inch tick and well done. Fries were also flavorful and crips, with the ketchup tasting tangy and seemingly homemade. Only problem we had was the fact that the waitress was a bit rude, and the place seemed a little dirty (dirty glass left on the table where we sat down), table not wiped down etc. read more

Dots Cafe - BBQ chicken quesadilla - Dive Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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My favorite bar in town! My friends and I go just about every week. The best are the slushies and the Sauvie's Island cocktail. All their food is amazing and the bartenders are great! read more

Dot's sells chicken nugets as chicken strips. I literally doubled checked to make sure this wasn't a mistake. The bar tender reassured me my order was correct and this is their standard. So, if you are looking to spend 11+ dollars for 4 chicken nuggets and shoe string fries, Dot's cafe is you're place. Although, I should point out... You could save a ton of money and go to McDonalds, which is right down the road. read more

Dots Cafe - Chicken Strips & Fries Basket. Aka chicken nuggets pretending to be chicken strips. What a joke. - Dive Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

A fixture of Clinton street. Dark with some purposefully awful paintings on the walls. Staff were very attentive and helpful. Food was timely, their vegan options are plentiful and some of the better choices. I found myself mostly picking at my partners soy curl sandwich. My grilled chicken was dry but I'll take the hit for ordering that when there's some better options. Rice bowls seem like a good hearty choice. When I return that's what my sights are set on. Usually not an attraction and not their focus but the variety of salad dressings offered was a pleasant surprise. Tomato and Basil a hidden gem. Diverse menu, trve old Portland style, chicken was a miss but I'll bring my friends here again. read more

Food? Good! Service? Everyone employed there is doing you a favor by fulfilling their job description. No thanks. One woman literally yelled at us for singing happy birthday to a friend by saying "this isn't a bar, this is a family restaurant". Dumb broad. Please bring all your kids. This is now a family establishment. The Chuck E. Cheese of Division. read more

Went in with my son to grab dinner. My son likes bitters in his water and I've been giving them to him since he was a small child. The Bartender refused to give him a soda water and bitters even after I said it was OK because he said there's alcohol in them. Definitely not enough to get my child drunk. I don't know what the problem was, but we'll go somewhere that doesn't have this problem. We ended up having Pizza at Atlas Pizza right up the road which was a much better choice read more

Oh man, where do I begin? I love Dots! I had friends suggesting this place for a while and I'm glad I finally checked it out. The decor is rad.. tons of older looking velvet paintings, textured wallpaper, photo booth, etc. Friendly and helpful wait staff! I've only eaten the tuna melt here but it's so good that I haven't gotten anything else yet. Food and drinks are both reasonably priced. Definitely a good spot to check out in SE! read more

Dots Cafe - Tuna Melt - Dive Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I still love Dots and their tasty-tasting cocktails and burgers. If anything, the burgers are even tastier under the new owners. But they gotta lose those tragic hamburger buns they're now using. My burger's bun literally fell apart after just a couple bites. How about switching back to the old buns? 11/6/13 update - they are still using Pearl Street Bakery buns, and therefore their hamburgers are NOT recommended. The bun fell apart after one bite...just one bite! I was forced to eat the damn thing with a knife and fork. When oh when are restaurateurs going to get it that brioche buns can't stand up to the juices from the patty and crumple into a puddle, just like the Wicked Witch of the East did in the Wizard of Oz when she got splashed with water. But it's just best for Dot's, and everybody else, to NOT use Brioche buns in burgers. Brioche buns are a crappy idea that should be flung into the dustbin of history. read more

Vegan Options: Yes! Vegan tofu platter is tasty, tasty and there are several other options to choose from on the menu. Bathrooms: Three non-gendered single stall bathrooms labeled "It Doesn't Matter." When I want a quirky greasy spoon with good prices, cool help, and walls I just can't stop petting (velvet wallpaper), I walk up to Dot's. The cheesy bacon fries are nothing short of a tasty heart attack. The atmosphere, while hip, isn't hipster-than-thou, and the waiters are always pleasant, prompt, and awesome. Check out Dot's if you're looking to hang out with a bunch of friends, but don't be surprised if the music is too loud for extended conversation. Don't take your first date here unless you dig dives (I personally would not be adverse to this being a component of a first date -- but others may not be so minded.) read more

Dots Cafe - Dive Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I have been going to Dot's for over 20 years through various owners and chapters. I decided to go there today for a solo date with myself and just had the BEST time. There was an energy of love, joy, and not any of that Portland-snootiness one can feel sometimes when going to certain bars in Portland. I had a very simple breakfast of two eggs, sausage, biscuits, and potatoes and it was perfectly priced served with a smile. Thank you Dot's. Don't ever change. read more

I love this place. Between the great selection of food for meat lovers to vegans, strong/cheap drinks, friendly & fun staff, eclectic styles... I can't go on enough. It is cash only but there is an ATM. read more

Allright Dot's, you have a pretty cool HH. Lasts awhile, food AND drink specials - you got me there. Plus it's kinda hipster-ish but not in the way that makes me want to gouge my eyes out. It's dark, there's velvet everywhere and the general atmosphere is just chill. I like that too! Waitstaff isn't overbearing - they won't check on you every second but if you make eye contact they're right there to help out. I'd recommend the spicy fries with the spicy tofu sauce. Yeah, I know I was all like tofu sauce? But then I was like TOFU SAUCE! And I'm no vegan/vegetarian/proletarian, and sorta -arian. Aka my run-in count with tofu is small. Thumbs down for cash only though, c'mon guys! read more

The things I love the most about Dots: * Vegan Tofu Platter - OMG * Petable Walls & crazy art * Genderless bathrooms * Walkable from my house * Prices What I don't like is that it is often so loud (in the evenings) I often can not hear the people I'm with. That said, I still come back, so, meh. read more

Dots Cafe - Pettable Walls! 'nough said. - Dive Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I missed going here before the pandemic - which was fabulous back then. It's definitely a different experience now but I'm happy they're still open and managing during these post covid times! I miss their old menu but the new drinks are really good! I recommend coming with a few friends for some small bites and drinks! read more

Love the food. Especially the eggs benny and coffee with their hot sauces mm! Just as everyone is saying, service can be way off sometimes. It helps to order everything at once as soon as they come to the table. Looks like a clean hipster bar in there. Prices are decent. Parking is doable and there's rarely no seating or a wait for brunch on the weekends. read more

Dots. Oh dear dots. I was never a fan of dive/divey bars until I met Dots. The food, service and general music selection is what initially drew me in. Once I spent a Saturday morning eating brunch there I knew it would be my regular spot for time to come. After being a regular for awhile I realize that just about every employee has a decent attitude, everything on the menu is delicious and the drinks are never weak. The prices are on par to keep me coming back and I really haven't found any reason to be dissuaded. If you're expecting an exclusively sourced chicken breast or you think time waiting in line directly equals quality, this isn't your place. If you want a purple navel cotton candy sour blast shot, it also may not be your place. But if you're a regular person seeking normal (excellent) food and a drink or two, this is probably your spot. My replies to other reviews: Madelyn, blibbity blabbity TL;DR. If you're gonna write reviews at least break them up so they are visually tolerable. Blanche, I think it adds to the charm of an establishment if the staff can be jovial and dance to their favorite song. What were you expecting, Ruth's Chris? You even said you were looking for something "dark and divey" but you're commenting like you showed up at Kimpton. read more

Dots Cafe - Don't ask. - Dive Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

A classic Portland place. There is a select outdoor seating option, but you need to be willing to jump on a seat to sit here. We couldn't find any out door seating; we took a lap inside before grabbing outside seating, but we decided it was better to see each other's faces than not at all. The inside is pretty dark, but if you like that sort of thing, then this is the place. I guess during the evenings it turns into a club? Either way, even with all the windows at the front of the establishment it wasn't light enough for us. We wanted to enjoy the Portland weather. We did another lap and were able to find a seat outside! The food was great. We ended up getting a rice bowl, that was really good. It's soy-free which is awesome. Even though it was a rice bowl instead of soy sauce they use coconut aminos to give you a little flavor! Your server will bring you sriracha to adjust your heat levels. We also ordered the happy hour fries. Be prepared to eat. These come in this enormous bowl and you will feel like it's a never ending bowl. Overall, Dots is a great spot with great food and drinks. They offer happy hour on rail drinks, draft beers and select foods items. I believe you need to order a drink to get the happy hour food prices. I would recommend this place to all! read more

Dots Cafe - Happy hour fries. Whhhhhat - Dive Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Cute place! I'll be back. Everything was awesome, the food could have been better though. Great ambiance and lots of vegan options. Ambiance - the decor is really cute. Fuzzy wallpaper, funky artwork all over, bright red shiny booths, colored lights, overall a really cool vibe. I guess it is divey but it's quirky too. They have a photo booth. It's definitely a diner vibe. Customer service - really good. And fast. We were approached as soon as we sat down for our drink order and never had to wait when we needed something. They don't let your glass stay empty! Food - this is the only area I did not love. Don't get me wrong, it is pretty good. I wasn't disappointed but I wasn't wowed. We got the grilled cheese, hush puppies, and vegan burger. All were pretty decent and hit the spot, but they could step it up a little with flavor. Maybe next time I'll try something else. I did love the fact that they had a ton of vegan and vegetarian options! Love this! Price - price is very fair for what you get and even better on happy hour! Plus happy hour goes til 7, um yes please. read more

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Great food, amazing bread on the sandwiches, and the vibe is great!! The draft is great and super bubbly! Will 100% be coming here again!

Good ol Dots Cafe. I jus don't think you can go wrong there. Great food. Great drinks. An awesome group of employees. And great velvet paintings. read more

dots is some sort of fucked up historical landmark in Portland. A Portland institution. I can't explain the mysticism of Dots. It's holed up in the magic jagged block of Clinton street where life is perfect, understanding it would certainly require you becoming friends with the people who own and work it because there's so much more to dots than just being a good place to eat and drink. Dots is it's own self sustained community of weirdinthebestway type of people. I heard members of the Dandy Warhols and other 90's epic bands worked here as dishwashers. Everythings cheap and good, the owners are badass but chances are you will not know the wonder of Dots unless you work there (lucky you) or befriend the people who do. Also, get the grilled cheese deluxe read more

Dots Cafe - velvet wallpaper and paintings - Dive Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Ordered delivery today and am so glad I have leftovers! I had the vegan burrito bowl, which had a great mix of flavor and spice (the soy curls were a perfect addition!) and my partner had the vegan bbq soy curl sandwich, also delicious. Will definitely order from here again! read more

We didn't eat here, but the bar food that passed us by looked really good. Instead, we were here to get a drink while waiting for a table at No-Ho's. What a great little spot to stop in for a pre-funk, since No-Ho's doesn't serve alcohol. The place reminds me of the old Gypsy, in NW (RIP) with its retro decor. It's weird and cool and hip and very laid back. Just like you would expect in Portland. The bartenders were friendly and we had a blast using their $5 photobooth. It's definitely a neighborhood dive bar and a place the locals seem enjoy. read more

I really love this place. I nearly gave it 5 stars. We got the falafal and fries and split it for 8 bucks. The fries were really really good and the falafal was good, but I have had some really good falafal lately. It was only 2 bucks for a PBR tall boy and I had one of those too. We sat outside and the cafe was divey in a good sort of way. It seemed really popular and busy and I can see why. I would totally recommend this place to anybody. P.S. sorry for the bite out of the sandwich, I forgot to take a pic. read more

Dots Cafe - Falafal sandwich and fries 8 bucks 4 stars - Dive Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Gave Dot's my phone number, they repeated it back, I then waited over an hour with no response. Walked back and they claimed they called me multiple times, yet I have no missed calls. They then proceeded to tell me to leave if I was going to be rude. Then another customer accosted me verbally for asking why I hadn't been called. I loved this establishment but I will it be returning after this horrific customer service. read more

Great little cafe in a super hip neighbourhood. We wanted to go to Cafe Broder on the same street but the line was way too long! It was chilly outside so we got a table inside....and I can tell you, this place is so, so dark! There were only candles on tables and some neon signs if I recall well. Pretty weird to have that type of lighting at 10.30am but it was such a nice atmosphere we didn't care at all! The waitress was extremely nice and accommodated our allergy requirementa, she even asked if we had too much ice in our orange juice! read more

Dots Cafe - Dive Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

All but one of my half-dozen visits to Dot's have been characterized by moderate intoxication. You know how it feels when you've had about three drinks too many and you desire, crave, NEED a grilled cheese sandwich to soak up the booze? That's when I end up at Dot's. The grilled cheese sandwich here is sublime. It comes in a cute basket with pickles, celery, little carrots, peperoncinis and a small paper tub of creamcheesy ranchy spread that you either dip the sandwich in, or dip the the veggies in, or both. I came here once sober and was alarmed at the large number of pseudo-Mexican items on the menu. I stuck with the grilled cheese. read more

Dots Cafe - Famous Grilled Cheese (now with bacon!) - Dive Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Sealed the deal with my girl here. Starting with an under the table move while playing a game of free pool; which lead to an order of hot & spicy frys for the group and then shots. We were "cut off" later that same evening for getting to hot and heavy in the corner booth by the door. The music's relevant (great for making out); the lights are low (great for making out); the booths are comfy cozy (great for making out), and the walls are patterned velvet with pretty cool pop art (you guessed it, great for making small talk about things you have in common with your date; which lead to making out). I keep coming back here for it's Boont Amber on tap; hot & spicy fries; good music and all around comfortable environs. We dont quite make out like we used to here - but the getting drunk is always fun and we haven't been cut off in a long long while.... read more

My husband and I split two vegetarian dishes at Dot's Café. I expected totally average with the Garden Burger, but it was better than expected. I think the bread and dressing had a lot to do with it. The Asian Tofu Bowl was the star of the show, though - yummy! That definitely deserves four stars. read more

Dots Cafe - Asian Tofu Bowl - Dive Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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This place rocks. Great food. Great drinks. Friendly service. Love decor and the dive bar atmosphere.

One of my favorite places to eat and my dinner yesterday solidified this for me. My family and I were looking for dinner on Postmates and settled on this for the many options and it being black-owned. Double win. I ordered a quesadilla, absolutely delicious. Simple, yet I've had many quesadillas that were soggy and horrible, but this was great. I was worried that it wouldn't be enough food, but I was happily satisfied. My mama ordered a grilled cheese sandwich on rye and a cobb salad. The grilled cheese was fabulous. You'd think it wouldn't be hard to mess up a grilled cheese, but you'd be surprised how the simplest items on the menu often get overlooked. That is just not the case with Dots Cafe. From the grilled cheese, tater tots, quesadilla, and salad - some "simple" items tasted refreshingly good. The devil is in the details. For the more complicated orders like their Dots burger and Farmers Bill sandwich, I was completely blown away by the flavors. I would totally recommend this place. My only criticism is that for delivery orders to not put the sauce packets inside the plates for sanitary reasons, I'm sure you're taking precautions, but it would ease my mind a bit more. read more

I've been searching Yelp trying to find more restaurants with vegetarian/vegan options. I've heard nice things about Dot"s out in the community and also in Yelp reviews, so we had some errands to run on charming Clinton Street very near Clinton Street Theater, and Dot's is just steps away from the theater (where Rocky Horror Picture Show has been showing since 1978). There is only street parking and it is very tight. Restrooms are gender neutral and very clean. The restaurant front itself is pretty non-descript. We had to search for a minute for a sign to identify the establishment as Dot's. As plain and non-descript as the outside is, the interior decor is a trip and so much fun to talk about. For example, one wall has several large black-and-white portraits of big stars from the 1960s (Tom Jones, Star Trek stars, Sean Connery) and such other things as black velvet paintings. Truly fun items. In the end, the atmosphere reminds me of basement rumpus rooms in the 1960s (a little hard to admit, but I do remember rumpus rooms). Their sound system was good as was the music. I was really amazed at the number of vegan/vegetarian AND regular items in categories such as burgers, quesadillas, and soups and sandwiches. I ordered a mushroom, black bean, and cheese quesadilla. It was tasty and came with nice amounts of picadillo, sour cream, and guacamole. Ron did not care for the vegan burger he ordered, so our very nice server helped Ron order a great bowl of smoked chicken Serrano soup which he enjoyed. Everything was reasonably priced at between $7 to $9. If we're back in the neighborhood, we Wil return to continue to explore the menu. read more