Used to be Zeus but name changed to Hal's in 2023 for a beloved employee who died, or so the menu reads. Sat at a booth at the window, to better watch the pizza oven! So, of course, ordered a pizza, but also a smash burger, Brussels sprouts, green salad. I don't think I've met any McMenamins food I don't like. Inside was warm feeling with the light colored wood and the server was just the right attentiveness. read more

It remains kind of a tradition that if we stay at The Crystal Hotel that we get breakfast at Hal's Cafe. It's usually an annual visit here for my birthday and coming to this Cafe the following morning after exploring Portland the following day is a great cap off to the trip. On my last visit here I got a Santa Fe Tofu Scramble I believe it was. It was very good and perfect for breakfast or brunch. And having a spicy Bloody Mary made the meal all the more celebratory to go along with our breakfast which rounded out another great experience here. Looking forward to many more visits! read more

Hal’s Cafe - McMenamins - A Spicy Bloody Mary to go along with our breakfast! - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Took an early flight from Chicago and arrived in Portland pretty darn early. Stopped here for breakfast and it was awesome. I had the biscuitwich and loved it. My whole family enjoyed their breakfasts. Beautiful restaurant. Pretty much the middle of downtown Portland. Spent the rest of the morning walking around. read more

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I was really impressed by this place. Service was fantastic and the food was amazing. We came here for the brunch. The pancakes were clearly homemade. The bread was awesome. The lemon curd on the pancakes was delicious. Very happy. read more

I ate here a few times when it was still known as Zeus Cafe. I'm not sure why they changed the name as it's still a McMenamin's property. Anyway, my spouse and I decided to get brunch here while having a downtown staycation. At 11-ish on a Sunday, they were not packed and we were able to get a table right away. The ambiance was very cozy and our server was wonderful, friendly, efficient and mellow. For breakfast, we both chose the Santa Monica benedict, which is Eggs Benedict with spinach and tomatoes instead of ham. We had fruit for our side. The Benedicts were tasty and delish. The fruit was fresh and tasty. It was a lovely, relaxing experience, we will be back. read more

Popped in after strolling around time. We missed breakfast by about 5mins but fortunately we had an interest in the lunch menu. Our service was incredible. A very knowledgeable, funny and helpful server. The portions were perfect and matches the pricing. All of the food was delicious. The bonus was finally knowing what RC meant for RC Cola... mind blown lol. Definitely pop in here. The table behind us made the breakfast mark and after peeking over I was super sad to have missed the opportunity to enjoy those fluffy looking flapjacks or succulent French toast read more

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Been here twice today because the service and the beer were so great. My bartender, Alissa, was so fun and attentive and welcoming. And she had the best recommendations for what to do around town. Highly recommend this place for tourists, visitors on business, and locals alike. Such a special vibe, like most Mcmenamins, but this spot is truly special. Thanks to you all. read more

Hal’s Cafe - McMenamins - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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While staying at the Crystal Hotel for the weekend we stopped by twice for food and each night had a good time, great service, and delicious food. On Friday night pre concert we had: A Cider flight Rosemary Nuts and Charred Broccolini A Big Red drink On Saturday Night we had: Thai Yellow Coconut Curry with veggies, chicken and rice Grit City Shrimp which was served with a gumbo-style stew A white wine flight For both occasions we had the nicest servers and really good food in an awesomely decorated restaurant as most of the McMenamins have. It is very convenient being in the main floor of the hotel. A great place to try whether staying at the Crystal or not. Very cozy also. read more

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we came back for lunch yesterday and sat outside against the building facing south........i had a ruby, and my partner had a rubinator....we didn't know the drag brunch with poison waters and company was taking place...the outdoor seating area was festive and packed....some of the drag queens were arriving and sitting nearby....the folks on both sides of us were real friendly, one couple was visiting from oakland, california with their dog...the other couple were fun too...we all got into the spirit of the entertainment, and were handing out dollar bills....the beer was excellent on a warm day....our staff was excellent....she juggled numerous tables, and was very friendly....next, i had the quinoa black bean patty on a bun, sub salad with vinegarette .....she had the aztec without dairy.....both dishes were fabulous....the car free zone is permanent and so nice....great people watching too with jakes famous crawfish across the street, and newly opened, ''camp'', just west where scandals was...the mural is gorgeous on the car free st.........we love coming to hal's for the historic portions, and the drink/food....thx so much..... read more

Food was really good and just what we needed to start the day. Service was extremely efficient and friendly. The atmosphere of the restaurant and decor was very good also. Will go back read more

Hal’s Cafe - McMenamins - Angel's French toast - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Came in on a Monday for happy hour from 3pm-6pm. Hal's was quiet with plenty of seating at the bar. I ordered a Raspberry Lemon Hard Seltzer, $5.50 with HH, along with the Crystal Smash Burger. A 4-oz beef patty, American cheese, lettuce, red onion, mayo, on a toasted bun for $10. The burger was wonderful dipped in ranch dressing, and the $4 side fries were perfect. We recently had a really bad fry experience at the McMenamins by Lloyd Center. Sent them back twice and they still came out hard as rocks. These were spot on! I have to admit that most McMenamins make excellent regular & sweet potato fries. The tots are pretty awesome, too. Those bad fries were a rare experience. These made up for it. My friend ordered the happy hour house salad with ricotta and hazelnuts for $8. She had a glass of the Black Rabbit red with it and enjoyed both. The server was lovely. She helped us make sure we got all the right stamps in our passport. The space is bright and welcoming during the day and I'm sure it's cozy at night.. It's located inside the Crystal Hotel. We will be back to get the rest of the stamps at this location and listen to some music. This was a lovely spot for friends to catch up after shopping downtown. read more

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Stopped en route to Powell's bookstore as we were hangry... now we're sated and good-humored again! Cat took good care of us. Coffee was fresh, stout and promptly refilled! read more

Hal’s Cafe - McMenamins - Lunchbox special: husband enjoyed cabbage & Italian sausage soup accompanied by fresh salad and roast beef half sandwich - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I'm not giving this rating based on my sandwich. As far as this location goes. It's another cool McMenamins to knock of the list. The weather is starting to improve so they offer a great outdoor eating area. I love it. And want to come back and spend a little longer time there just just a quick lunch and back to work. But for my hot chicken sandwich. Is was just mediocre. Nothing hot about it. The bun was find and I think the pickles were the best part about it. Either way for sure and come check this place out. I know I will. And I'll eat something else and give a better rating for there food read more

Hal’s Cafe - McMenamins - Hot chicken Sandwich - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Eclectic spot with history, an interesting menu, and a bit of opera music for good measure. We ate breakfast on New Year's Day and enjoyed the coffee, food, and service. The crunchy french toast was a nice variation on a traditional .dish read more

This was my first experience at a McMenamins and I had high hopes but was sorely disappointed. The waiter went to take our order and hadn't given us menus yet. We asked for our started to come out first. We watched our main course sit on the counter as they made our flatbread. We got our starter as the same time as our food. The flat bread was so hot it burned the roof of my mouth. For some reason I only got half a club sandwich didn't realize I had to request a whole sandwich. We were seated in the back next to the kitchen and could hear kitchen staff complaining about other workers. I will give other locations a shot but can't say I'd give Hal's another shot. read more

Delightful diner and beautiful bar to have a drink and possibly a chat with the friendly staff. The food is delicious and hefty servings as well! Clean establishment. Great environment and as anyways with a mcmenamins, the artwork Is a joy to appreciate. If you get a chance, ask how the place came to be named Hal's. It's a great story! We'll be back! read more

Hal’s Cafe - McMenamins - Cran mimmy - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Absolutely loved this place. Great service and wonderful food. The chicken chilaquiles was huge and the green sauce is legit. The bloody Mary was delicious and had some unique garnishments. A street lady was causing some issues and the staff handled her with compassion. Would come back here any time read more

Mcmenamins + brunch! Always enjoy their relaxing and cozy atmosphere. The place was pretty empty on a Sunday for brunch, which we like. Service was fast and friendly. I really like their brewed coffee that wasn't too dark or light. The Forest Park Benedict came with a super crispy hashbrowns, as they should be. Eggs were well-poached and the sauteed greens went surprisingly well with the rest of the dish. Only thing was the english muffin could have been toasted more. Their French Toast was also good. Custardy in the center and just the right amount of sweet. A great spot for a more lowkey brunch. read more

Hal’s Cafe - McMenamins - French Toast - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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My wife and I definitely love our McMenamins stops! Decided to have a bite before the Green Day concert and McMenamins appetizers always hit the spot! We shared a Crystal Smash Burger which was just the right size to share, and was excellent to boot. We also shared an order of Korean Fried Chicken Wings, and the spicy version is indeed spicy so make sure you have enough beverage to keep your whistle wet. As always the service staff is awesome, we just wish our server had told us she was taking a break because we waited a bit for our bill waiting for her to come back around. read more

Hal’s Cafe - McMenamins - Korean Fried Chicken Wings (spicy) and a Crystal Smash Burger - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

They have a great happy hour throughout the week, so come check them out for some discounted deals. Great fresh food and Amazing choices on the menu! read more

Hal’s Cafe - McMenamins - Fresh Mozzarella , Tomato & Basil Pizza - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I love Hal's Cafe! They have a relatively short menu so everything is done really well. They specialize in local ingredients support and house made dishes. They have great beer, wine, and cocktail menu. Service is always above average and the prices are reasonable. read more

Came here for dinner which was not on my list of places as I had overslept and by the time I woke up it was later than when I would normally eat dinner when traveling for business - especially in this town where the Homeless situation has gotten worse over the years coupled by the cold rainy weather that Portland has encountered. My hotel recommended this place as it was a short walk and the direction was not going through a gauntlet of Homeless to get there. Ordered one of their pizzas and it was the perfect size for one individual as well as their banana cream coconut tarte although it is listed as a pie. Staff who waited on me were very nice and guided me thru the menu and helping me make a decision. Definitely would come again the next time I am in the area. read more

Hal’s Cafe - McMenamins - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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With a floorplan that wraps around the front desk and runs most of the length of the hotel on the first floor (seceding the remaining space to Ringler's Annex), the Zeus Cafe is the primary workhorse for your dining options at the McMenamins hotel. There's plenty of seating on either side of the restaurant, a full bar, and a robust menu of McMenamins' favorites and specials. This time around, as we were guests of the hotel, we had the breakfast package delivered to our room via room service. Our order was received and delivered promptly, and they got everything right; the food was tasty with sizeable portions, but nothing to write home about - McMenamins entrees tend to vary from stellar to passable: my wife raved about her Mt. Hood scramble, while my Huevos Rancheros were decent, if a little heavy on the beans and light on the cheese and crema - things I could have easily corrected if we were in the restaurant. Still, on any given day, the lunch & dinner options have plenty of fantastic choices, including some ambitious entrees that have piqued my curiosity and demand a return visit to investigate. And with it being so close to home, and right in the heart of downtown, it is only a matter of time. read more

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While Ace is the place for hardware, Zeus is the place for Covid safe and friendly dining. Plenty of good grub and home brew! Zeus expanded outdoor seating into the Harvey Milk street with lots of plants and big umbrellas to set a convivial and comfy place. Tables are placed at least 12 feet apart. Gotta like that. Wear you mask, it is the polite showing of respect for your server when they swing by. Amy is the best! Serving us on this day! The happy hour is 3-6PM and we have always loved the wood fired pizza with fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, roasted tomato sauce - albeit a little light on the sauce, but someone was training in the kitchen. Try the wood fired cauliflower said Amy - and we did - amazingly delish! So good we ate it before I thought to get my pic. It is big, plated to please, toasty in a balsamic reduction sauce. The menus feature local ingredients, house-baked breads, desserts and pastries, a solid cocktail menu, selection of beer on tap and a wine list. And the Oregonian sunshine while you dine! If you wanting out to dine, but a bit worried, this is a pandemic safe place with good eats - McMenamins always is aiming to please. Tables and chairs cleaned for every customer experience. read more

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The service was very nice and welcoming. I ordered the Benedict which was GREAT. The potatoes were so good! My boyfriend ordered the huevos which was delicious. I love the tortilla they used. I'd definitely eat here again. read more

Hal’s Cafe - McMenamins - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Came in on a Saturday afternoon after doing some shopping for a Bloody Mary. In the pictures, the bloody looks great with a solid garnish game but what we ordered, the opposite, 2 olive and a lime wedge. This isn't a game changer but the bloody itself was not ideal either. It had a very odd taste, almost sour? Aside from this, the service was slow and not overly friendly or helpful. On their happy hour menu, they have a cheese board so I asked what the cheeses were and was told "I don't know". After I left some room for silence after his response, he said he would check. When he returned he named one cheese and said "and I forgot the other". I did not order the cheese plate. I ended up ordered the cauliflower which was pretty meh. I wouldn't recommend it but it wasn't hard to choke down. I was not impressed with this spot and will not be returning. read more

Hal’s Cafe - McMenamins - Cauliflower - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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After only having breakfast then having this for dinner I was starvvving! I got the market salad, margarita pizza and tots and of course tasted some of the fries. All the food was another level of deliciousness! If you live and die for all things potatoes and especially those of the fried kind you'll love the tots here! Crispy, crunchy and oh so fitting with their amazing ranch. The booths are super comfortable and the employees and service make you feel even more at home. Our server was Stevie and she did a great job making sure to get all our prefers right and made some great recommendation of food and beverage. My girlfriend and I are definitely going to be back and will for sure be getting their passport in the future! read more

Hal’s Cafe - McMenamins - Tiger IPA - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Now called Hal's. Awesome service. Love the vibe has a diner vibe in the morning, but in the evening feels like a nice dim lit restaurant. Food was amazing!! The potato's are worth writing home about. read more

Hal’s Cafe - McMenamins - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

The Zeus Cafe is a nice treat for anyone staying at the Crystal Hotel. I had the Zeus Benedict and John had the chicken and waffle. John said it was the best chicken and waffle he'd ever had. The side of cheddar-jalapeño grits was the surprise star of the meal, so savory and decadent. We ended up putting it on everything. The restaurant is impeccably decorated, as is usual for a McMenamin, and clean. The staff were always welcoming and helpful. The patio is also extremely pleasant with plenty of shade. read more

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We visited Portland in spring when it is still chilly and rainy. The hotel we were staying at recommended Zeus. Since it was right around the corner from our hotel, and we'd just gotten off a flight we decided to try Zeus for lunch. It was so good we came back here for multiple meals, dessert, nightcaps. They have a very nice outdoor seating area. Covered and with plenty of heaters. We and our dog loved the outdoor seating. All the servers were great. Friendly, courteous and efficient. They even got out a water bowl for our pup. Everything we tried was great (we pretty much tried most things from their menu). The drinks were excellent. Lots of vegetarian options (and they were happy to substitute or leave out meat from some dishes to make them vegetarian. Zeus was the highlight of our Portland visit. We will be making a beeline for Zeus the next time we visit Portland. read more

A little chilly, a little rainy and this stop had everything I needed to get through the rest of my day. I had the grilled radicchio salad. Served with a hearty Cesar dressing and croutons, the bitter is a great compliment to the creamy dressing. I also had a cup of corn chowder. The broth is light rather than a heavy cream. So good. Service was extremely engaging. Friendly place. read more

Hal’s Cafe - McMenamins - H20 - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Phenomenal! Three people in there ... doesn't matter. So professional! Waitress amazing . The food wasn't bad . The biscuit sucked ..doesn't Matter . Great experience. I will be back ... but I won't be ordering the biscuits! read more

So so so good! I wish I got a full order of their French toast! It is honestly to die for! The best French toast that I have ever very had honestly read more

Hal’s Cafe - McMenamins - Vanilla French Toast - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

We came through during my g a slow happy hour. Service was good, we had beer and the 33rd St tots. All good.

This place is good for a standard brunch. We stopped here after making rounds at nearby brunch spots and finding insane wait times. It's a nice spot with a good menu, but our food took 45 minutes to come out, which was unfortunate. Our server was trying her best to keep us happy, and comped our drinks, which was nice. The food was pretty standard, no frills. The Benedict's were both good with nicely poached eggs. The hollandaise is super tangy. The grits are cheesy and comforting. Overall, solid place to stop if you don't want to wait for brunch. read more

I'm a regular long time since Zue's cafe was opened and throughout the pandemic's... love the foods and services... well, everything hot time and ages I guess. Anyway, I'm from Seattle., every time I'm visiting Portland I'm always stopping by this place. Which I've always love. But Thusday 12//28th I thought I would stop by my my favorite place again at this Evening.,, quiet... But surprisingly, the young bartender he seem very nice! I seat at the bar as always... Everything is turned around and upside down and very disappointing to my surprise ... I love the place and I will trying to come back. read more

I really fell in love with this place. Friend took me here one evening for drinks. We were going to have dinner close by but decided to catch up instead at Zeus Cafe. It felt more like a pub than a cafe to me. The place wasn't very busy so we were able to snag a comfy booth in the corner. I had my first try of Oregonian wine and loved it so much here. Friend asked if we could buy a bottle for me to take back to CA and the nice waitress said yes. It was $35 for the bottle of pinot. Not cheap but it really was a fab wine. Friend also tried their whiskey which we both loved. He also ordered their charcuterie board as well as french fries. Both were good portions and went well with our drinks. Service was just as fantastic. Not intrusive or pretentious. She gave us our time to enjoy our drinks, food, and company without ever making us feel rushed. It felt like a perfect evening that night thanks to Zeus. I'd absolutely return here if I'm back in town. read more

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The drinks are great, the menu lacks the variety of the other McMenamins locations I've visited, but hey you go to McMenamins for the decor and fun bars scattered throughout. Our waitress was very kind and fun to chat with. read more

We had low expectations for this restaurant, but boy were we wrong. For breakfast I had a fantastic eggs Benedict made with shiitake and crimini mushrooms and spinach under the eggs. Breakfast is served with an optional side of polenta, which was delicious. We love the staff at the Crystal ballroom hotel, the server was great as was the bartender the night before. read more

Hal’s Cafe - McMenamins - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I've been to Zeus, now renamed Hal's, several times. One time I had something I wasn't crazy about, but otherwise this place is always fantastic. I know it's not high praise to say it's the best McMenamins, but it is easily that and more. The Spanish Steps tapas restaurant in Tacoma is another good one. But what is always impressive is that this is a good restaurant even when compared to other portland restaurants. But don't go here expecting this to have the regular burgers and pizza. It's a unique menu, even including the kids menu. My one year old had wood fired pizza with fresh mozzarella here today, to give you an idea. For less than $10. We had a Caesar with added flank steak, a seared ahi salad, some kind of loco burger with pork belly( my husband being a bit of a boring eater), and I had the kalbi ribs. I have kalbi ribs often, and these were a whole new level. The quality of the meat, the flavors, and the presentation were all outstanding. The service from everywhere in the connected buildings was really above standard. Even a busser walked out to help us with the bathroom code based on our body language of looking lost. Our server was great. All the way. I didn't keep my receipt to tell you her name but it started with an S. And, most importantly, I saw familiar faces. McMenamins has a habit, at times, of being a hard place for people to thrive at work, but this place always seems different. In fact, the name change from Zeus to Hal's is in honor of a manager who recently passed away. My point of this is that this is not an place to walk past just because it might be a McMenamins with questionable service and carbon-copy food. Its not typical at all. And I love the general model, but it's hit or miss. But Hal's is a great place to eat with fantastic service at a decent price. read more

Hal’s Cafe - McMenamins - My 8 and 9 year olds enjoying steak and ahi and a side of my rice noodles - Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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