McMenamins Hal's Café

A little disappointed with the pizza I got here. As you can see from the photo, there was a lot of very thick crust and the dough was generally too thick for my liking. The toppings however were good - I had the "fall equinox" which had Brussels sprouts and butternut squash. Overall, disappointing for the high price, but the restaurant setting itself is cool and the toilets were charming! There was also only one vegan main course available, which is a bit archaic in my opinion.

Amazing food!! We flew into town on Christmas night and they were very nice about accommodating us, late at night, without a reservation. They were also great about communicating what would work for the food allergies in our party. We loved it so much that we had to make sure we went back again before the end of our short trip to Portland. Get the roasted fingerling potatoes -- the chef has some incredible creativity with those potatoes omgosh...🤤

01/11/2025 (Sat) We had the Three Rocks Rum Banana French Toast ($16) and the Slabtown Breakfast Sandwich ($16). The French toast, made with brioche bread, was soft and delicious, but it came with a lot of syrup already poured over it, and the bananas seemed to be cooked in syrup rather than served fresh. This made the dish overly sweet — I would have preferred fresh fruit instead. The bagel was served on its own without any sides, but it was very tasty. It seemed like the staff was a bit short-handed, as it took a while to request coffee refills. I also noticed that some dishes were left sitting on the counter for so long that the plates became too hot to touch. The food itself looked great, so I’d like to try other dishes in the future. But for today, it’s a 3-star experience. 01/18/2025 (Sat) There was an authentic pizza oven, so today we decided to enjoy the A Love Supreme Pizza (12in, $21) and Avocado Toast ($14), paired with a Pumpkin Buttered Rum ($14) and a Coke ($4.25). Everything was delicious, and we had a great time!

We had a relaxing and wonderful lunch here. We sat inside and enjoyed the interesting art and beautiful stained glass. The chandeliers really need dusting but other than that everything was perfect. We shared two small plates that were perfectly cooked and delicious. Wait staff was attentive. Service is a little slow but we weren't in a hurry.

Stopped by Hal’s Cafe earlier this month and really enjoyed it. I had the Margherita Flatbread and a Dark and Stormy — both were super tasty. The flatbread was fresh and had great flavor, and the drink was spot on. Service was solid too — friendly and quick. Definitely a place I’d come back to.

The food was pretty disappointing for how expensive it was. I got a pesto pasta which was slightly less good than if I had made it at home, and in the morning had a “just fine” eggs Benedict. Not “bad”, just not Good™️. Pros: my partner got the fish in chips and the bite I had was tasty! And the cinnamon roll in the morning was quite delicious. The drinks were also very yummy. The building is beautiful, the vibes is great, and the staff are very friendly and helpful. TLDR: Depends on what you get! Worthwhile for the building and vibe if you’re into that, and maybe stick to classic pub fare like a burger or fried stuff. Good spot for cocktails

Smaller place, but so very good! Charming, awesome, vintage building attached to a hotel. The hotel that has the Crystal Ballroom down the street. Our server was so nice and helpful and so was the bar staff. Club sandwich was great.

My husband and I visited during our trip. We were surprised to find this place open on Veteran's day. I truly enjoyed their corned beef hash, and grits were cooked to perfection. The Chai latte was absolutely delicious! I would also recommend the raspberry spread which had pleasant hints of herb(maybe thyme?) Great atmosphere and art. Our waiter was very efficient. We will be returning for our next trip!

I actually wish there were 7 stars for atmosphere! This place is on a whole other level. PURE MAGIC! The food, drinks and service, EXCELLENT. I tried my friend's "Old Fashioned" and it was etherial. My steak & mushroom bites, SUPER YUM. We had a fantastic booth view. I have only been here once before, in spite of seeing and driving by it a thousand times. I definately need to make a point of coming here more often! Can't believe it took me so long to revisit. Silly me!!!

We loved Hal’s so much that we ate there for breakfast all three days we were in Portland — and that says everything. The atmosphere is incredible — fun, welcoming, and such a vibe to start your day. It feels like an experience, not just a meal. The walkability from nearby hotels makes it even better, especially when you’re visiting and want something easy and memorable. And the food? Absolutely phenomenal. Every single morning was consistently delicious, fresh, and worth coming back for again and again. Thank you for being such a big part of our time in Portland. We’ll be dreaming about breakfast here until our next trip back!