Haymaker Bar

What a great surprise find this was. As we travel throughout different cities, my partner is a traveling nurse, it’s fun to find a bar with not only great atmosphere great cocktails but also fabulous music. Highly recommend.

A great beer, whiskey, cocktail, and food selection. The old fashioned with walnut bitters is amazing and a great deal too. I cannot wait to try more of the incredible food menu also. Thanks Nick!

First time visiting tonight and we will definitely be returning. Along with tasty drinks, the food was fantastic. We particularly loved the green beans, streak, potato, and mushroom. The cook was very sweet as well. Thank you for a great meal!

Vegetarians and vegans fear not! I always say restaurants need to have at least one bomb item on their menu for us non meat eaters. Man, does this place deliver on that! I had the bourbon mushrooms, and they were incredible! They also offered to put the mushrooms on top of their polenta dish rather than the prawns (may want to put that on your menu), but I wasn't that hungry. Maybe next time. Regardless, even for an appetizer, what I had was delicious and a solid portion. And they did the things that makes sense, make a great veg option other than some lame salad. I'm absolutely going back!

Came here for dinner and was surprised by a comedy show! Pretty small place, but friendly staff and atmosphere. Only one bar tender so the line to order is a quite a wait. We tried the Caesar salad, shrimp, hangar steak, & double smash burger. All yummy

Awesome food, friendly staff and music on Saturday nights.

I can see why Dave and his staff have such good reviews, stopped in after having dinner a few doors down for a nightcap. If you like good whiskies and a chill local spot, this might just be for you. I know what we are having for dinner next time we are in the area.

Went there to hear a friend perform. Had a beer, Ordered food. Everything was great. Bar tender was a super informative type with a great personality. I'll be back!!!

Food is fantastic. Our group had a wide variety from beet salad to steak bites. Everything was delicious. I had a chicken bacon club and it was cooked perfectly and very tasty. Don't go here if you are in a hurry. Food took a bit of time to come out but it was worth it. It is a small place. Only a few tables. Servers were very nice and attentive. A three-piece band played which seemed a bit much for the size of the bar but they were good and it wasn't impossible to still have a conversation. I will recommend Haymaker to friends when they are in the area.

This place was awesome. Like many times when I find the address of the airbnb I usually jump on the computer, search google maps, and look for near by gems. This place had great reviews and solid looking food, plus was within walking distance. I expected to enjoy it, but honestly it blew me away. The spot is cool, smallish, but a good amount of seating. The food was fire... literally in my case. I ordered a burger that has an option of fresh, homemade habanero sauce, and it was no joke. Most hot sauces I get are habanero, but this was on another level. It had great flavor, but burned in all directions. I loved it, but definitely paid the price later on. The beer list was solid. The pickle chips delicious. They have a ton of great whiskey. Honestly if I lived near here this would be my spot. I could not recommend more.

The dude abides. If you have been here, you know who I am talking about. He cooks, makes drinks, delivers food...fabulous food. Garlic shrimp, bourbon mushrooms, steak bites, smash burgers, or a NoPo chicken. Love the old fashioned and the huckleberry sour. Sometimes he has a little help, often not, and he gets it done with quality and a smile. I am surprised he isn't up on stage playing guitar too! One of my fav local spots, get there early on Fridays!

Stopped in on a cold rainy night to see a friend's band play and instantly felt at home. That maybe because the place was mostly empty (weather was pretty nasty) and we had the one big room to ourselves but the warm wood tones, the basic tables and just the overall vibe of the establishment was no-BS, just come as you are. It's not a big place - though there are a few tables outside - so if you have a large party, it's probably not ideal. To be clear this is a compact bar with a good wine and tap list, and they'll make any cocktail ya want; Bartenders were quick, friendly and generous with the laughs, and though I didn't get a chance to eat I will definitely come back and give it a go. As for the band... I don't know how the Haymaker squeezed a stage in there for four dudes, but they did! It's tiny but nicely situated and it worked, with a totally intimate cafe feel and a killer backdrop. A local business I definitely want to support. FYI: several giant apartment building are going up in the vicinity, so be warned: parking can be tricky.

Cool, cozy, small neighborhood bar with live music, good drinks, food and dessert. I came here for burger week. It was good! There were so many customers and the limited staff did a wonderful job. The cook was constantly cooking and ensured the orders came timely. The staff in front took orders, payments and made the drinks. I appreciate their work! Street parking.

If I could give a negative score I would, DO NOT EAT HERE!!! Horrible service and was served a paper thing burger that was 99% char and bread

A small restaurant bar with a stage for music performance. A corner building with the entrance on the corner. Rustic space inside with lots of wood and repurposed items like a whisky barrel table. They have a lot of whiskey behind the bar and a handful of beers on tap and some additional beverages and beers in a refrigerated case that you can select and have the bartender put in a glass for you. I haven't tried the food yet, but it looks pretty good with a variety of items including steak. The music was free on the night I went. Not sure if that's always the case.

Great place for small acts to perform an intimate show. For food, we recommend the steak bites & they have some NA options for those who aren't drinking alcohol.

Good food, good drinks, good location. A smaller place, so it can get crowded on a weekend. You order at the bar and grab a table if available. Has a rustic but trendy feel. Their signature cocktails are well made and unique. They have some live music on Fridays and Saturdays. But remember it's small so not great if you don't like feeling crowded. That's me. And seating indoors is limited. Most tables are two seaters. On a quiet day this place is fabulous. There are a few table out side that are better for four or more. Pricing can seem high but worth it. Just learned this, I got a smash burger which is a patty smashed thin so you get lots of crispy meat edges. Different but good. Don't expect a normal patty. Was a little breast because of this though. Definitely a must try.

Incredible food. Got smash burger fries and medalions. Flavors are unique and I cannot wait to go back and get the same things and everything else.

They have tasty drinks, but the food could use some tweakin. The steak was on the rare side, and pretty small for $22 with some veggies. The burger was fine, but a little dry. We also got the fried pickles which were tasty, and seemed homemade. Service was great!

It is a bar on a street (and block) with no dearth of more interesting options. If you're a regular, it's a bit more polished and affected than it needs to be for a good local (especially with George's and the Florida Room right there). If you're a visitor, you have far more interesting alternatives in Up North, Tulip Shop, the Old Gold, Advice Booth and Saraveza. Though it pours a fine drink, it's reminiscent of Backyard Social... where it exists seemingly just to catch overflow and provide a middle-of-the-road venue for workplace acquaintances and bad dates. It's a boring person's hole-in-the-wall, which may be a sound business plan given the high percentage of dullards moving into the four-and-store buildings on Interstate.

OK drinks, & crappy service - What more could you ask for in a neighborhood place? We ordered a beer which took 25 minutes and the place wasn't busy, and then we ordered what was supposed to be a "scratch" margarita made with Mezcal and it was uninteresting to say the least.

Easily my favorite bar in NE Portland. Amazing service, selection, and live shows. The food is not something to sleep on. I would come here for food and drinks any night. Solid whiskey selection. The Wren the Band played. Tremendous. Thank me later.

I love Haymaker! This bar cares about the people that come in, they make drinks affordable to all, I got to try Pappy Van Winkle : Rye, 12 yr & 10 yr a shot of each for less than 1 shot of 1 of them at any other bar, they also have great prices on other great options! The food is good , I got the smash burger and added bacon and it was loaded up with special sauce , veggies and some very thick bacon! The steak bites were really good and the fried pickles were a great side item. The bar tender Dave is a stand up dude and is cool to talk to. Definitely give this place a try! I'll be back soon

Gave Haymaker another chance and was delighted. This time it was an evening gig. Live music scene w some friends playing on stage. Bartender was a cool bearded guy who was friendly and a skilled mixologist. The vibe was so warm and upbeat that night. Much more efficient service that during a weekday happy hour.

We stumbled upon this bar recently while in the area and love it! Got some delicious, well-priced beverages and above average bar food. It felt like a solid neighborhood watering hole that raises the bar without becoming pretentious. The bartender, Nick, was completely awesome, relatable, and professional. As whiskey lovers, we were pleased by the cocktail, boilermaker, and liquor selections. The bar food went above & beyond, and we were very impressed with the smoked meats and the loaded fries. I wanted to try the Mac & cheese egg rolls but ran out of room. We'll definitely be making this place part of our regular rotation.

A wonderful low key destination for cocktails. Unassuming but confident execution of a neighborhood pub. Our host behind the bar was knowledgeable engaging mixologist. If your in the mood for some delicious time travel in bourbon ask for the "Remember the Maine." Note that all orders for drinks and food are at the bar. Salute!

I usually don't make low star ratings. But sometimes I suppose - you should. There was a comedy show happening, which I was so excited about...after a few sets the haymaker lady who introduced each comedian felt the need to talk poorly on their neighboring bar....very petty, and in very poor taste. So, that'll my last time at haymaker. A new spot is coming in too I've heard - hopefully they mind their manners.

This is very difficult to write about, but I'm going to be brave enough to speak up. I have been a regular here for months. I had grown to think of Haymaker a place where, as a woman, I could relax after work and feel like I was in a safe and welcoming space. I had grown friendly with the owners and other regular customers. I've spent many hours talking and laughing with these people and Haymaker had started to become quite special to me. I have spent a lot of money here. I fell in love with the really great happy hour that includes affordable delicious cocktails and very good house smoked meats. They were wonderful about helping me out with diet restrictions so I could enjoy their food. What I really kept coming back for though was the atmosphere and sense of camaraderie. Weeks ago I became involved for short time with another regular. The situation involved deceptive and predatory tactics by him that started inside Haymaker, and ended up being horrifically abusive and traumatizing. I'm doing what I can to deal. I very much did not want to lose Haymaker as a haven and thought my relationship with the owners was strong enough that they would want to listen and be invested in the safety of people in their establishment. Instead, I was met with a literal refusal to speak to me after some language about how they prefer to remain neutral in situations like this. While trying to also cope with what happened to me, I have been in shock that in 2019 a bar would not make a concerted effort to make sure women are protected from predators within their place of business. I genuinely believed they would be different. It is my understanding that this customer is still welcomed at the bar. He is there generally 7 days a week. Please ask yourself, if this is how they extend protection to a woman who is a loyal customer that they treated like 'one of them', imagine how little they would care about the safety of a first-time female patron coming in there alone. Women beware of the regulars, and beware of a bar that encourages such a dangerous atmosphere. Actually, just PLEASE stay safe and don't go here.

This place rocks. Amazing food, great happy hour, and a top choice whiskey selection. Service is always really good. They also have weekly food specials which are always top notch. One of my favorite places to go in North Portland.

Cool hip bar in an up and coming area of Portland! Small but decent beer selection and a huge wall of liquor! The house specials looks yummy! I was torn on trying out the happy hour sliders, but just couldn't go for it knowing dinner was just around the corner! Kudos to the staff for playing sweet indie rock tunes (My kinda jam). This place encapsulates Portland!

Great atmosphere and as a special treat, live music on a Saturday night! Great bartenders and delicious food! Just visiting Portland, but would definitely visit this establishment again!

Head chef Dave Bertelo is a craftsman. That's all there is to it. Whether it's pulled pork dumplings, beef tenderloin with polenta & veg, craft brews & cocktails, or making & finishing his own wood knife handles, you know he's wielding & serving culinary art. Plus he's just a stand-up guy, taking his food to Covid nurses during the pandemic. But don't take my word for it: treat your taste buds here the next chance you get!

Dropped by here when Saraveza was busy and 10/10 would recommend. Definitely going to be a regular here

I moved to Portland over a year ago and while it's been half a year since I've been to The Haymaker I think about this place all the time. When my wife wasn't here yet and I was all alone the environment of this place by where I lived was so perfect it was like being able to come home for a second. Perfect spot. Amazing owner and worker(s)

Great bartenders, great drinks, cozy space. We came here on a Thursday night and had a blast. It's pretty quiet on a weekday so it's perfect for a chill hang out. Food was good. I recommend their boozy shakes if you are into sweets! Yummy cocktails. Nice whiskey flights (said one of my friend who is into whiskey. I wouldn't know haha). They have some games for you to play at the table. We will be back one of these nights.

Excellent location, much better than "Lost & Found"an "Old Gold. " No Gossiping about local customers and plenty of good service. No drama like "Georges Tavern." Support local if they deserve it. Not if Yelp says so ( you can buy that).

legit visit. Looking for a post-work beverage and had a friend mention it earlier in the week. It's close my work, why not tonight? I drove by it at first. It was a bit dark. It's on the corner. When I entered there weren't too many folks. I grabbed a seat at the bar. Seemed like a one man show. Interesting to look around, but a shame not busier. I engaged a little convo with another patron. The owner/cook got my beer order. I had a sample of the Left Hand Porter, it was legit - a bit chocolaty. The owner, Nick, came out to chat, nice man - charming. I just was in for a bit of beer but their food looked really solid, lots of nice choices and a good happy hour menu. All in Big Print on the menu - Whisky oriented bar as well - Couple big TVs w some basketball on. Great, big windows, multiple types of seating, bar, sofa, tables, decor was tasteful, lighting-perfect. Beer choices were eclectic. I would return because of the personal attention, small business element, and to try the food.

Nick can cook!?!? I'm glad I was sitting before that revelation. Gonna gather up my crew and get in there for HAIKU NIGHT. Dave likes Curling. Dave cooks so I gotta be careful what I say. Yeah, Portland's number one hangout place. Everything Amanda G. says is right. Exactly right.

Could not love this bar more. The owner is super cool and fun to talk to. They always have some great hard to find whiskeys and awesome beers on tap. I really like their food too. The Buffalo cauliflower is flavorful and not deep fried. Will definitely have the steak salad next time. Thanks! We will definitely be coming back!!

Dear Haymaker, It's me. Your secret admirer. I just want to say, I love you. Here are my top 5 reasons why: 1. You are beautiful. Inside and out. Your shiny bar top, pretty lights and awesome authentic Oktoberfest table. Yes. You are gorgeous. 2. You have a great personality. You make me feel so welcome. You make me feel like I matter. 3. You know how to cook. And it's GOOD. 4. You have great friends. Seriously. Every time I visit you I meet someone awesome. 5. You know how to have fun and you love to show everyone else a good time too. Thanks for being awesome. Love always, Amanda Really though, this is easily one of my favorite bars in Portland! Beautiful, fun and comfortable atmosphere with a primo selection of beer and cocktails to back it up! The owners make it their mission to make sure everyone is happy, full and having a great time. I love this addition to the neighborhood and tell everyone to check it out when in town! A good bar needs booze and people, a great bar needs SOUL and this place has it!

Great bar, great bar tenders, an intimate no bullshit feel, beer selection is pretty dope, they have some fine bourbon on hand, all in all the place is great. Come catch it some time and order fries, take a friend to chop it up over the intricacies of life over fries and an IPA.

This place is a pretty rad spot not that far out in NoPo. Food menu is dialed for pub fare and drinks are delicious, boozy and not overly expensive. Check it out if you're in the neighborhood, you won't be disappointed.

Delicious sliders with several options including Pastrami, mushroom, meatball and spicy chicken. Complex flavors; good portion size, even during happy hour. $5 craft cocktails during HH. Yum. Will be back!

I kinda hate to say anything good cuz I don't want a bunch of people coming and ruining something awesome, so I won't say anything more. Ok 1 more thing. It's great...don't go if you're not awesome. That is all.

Haymaker is undoubtably an important stop for me in the neighborhood. Great cocktail and bottle selection, good beers on tap or to take home, and meals that are downright worth having. Plus, who doesn't love seeing the Nicks & Dave?

Got turned away nearly 4 hours before close during burger week (7:20 pm on Saturday).  Told us they were done serving when we entered the building without us asking or saying anything.  Wouldn't even give us the option to order beer or anything.  There was a sign on the door that read "We love you, but we're done."  Any sort of explanation would have been nice, out of ingredients, understaffed, booked until close, all understandable.  "We're done" is just asinine.

Haymaker has a good Happy Hour menu. My group shared 6 sliders, way too many mac and cheese eggrolls, and fries. I tried the pork slider and burger slider. The pork slider was tender, but needed more sauce/moistness to break up the rich meaty flavor. The burger slider was on point, however. I loved the char and crispiness of the burger, which was perfectly seasoned and tender. Make sure to do the math to figure out the cheapest deal for ordering sliders, as I recall it being cheaper to place two orders of a smaller number of sliders rather than getting one larger order of sliders. The mac and cheese eggrolls ($2) were so darn good. They came with this delicious spicy aardvark ranch sauce that amped up the flavor of the perfectly fried wonton wrapper stuffed with creamy mac and cheese. The mac and cheese was well seasoned and had a nice consistency to it. One order equals one eggroll cut into 2 halves, but I will note that these eggrolls are thick. Really delicious and worth it for $2 a pop. I liked the fries we got; they reminded me of the Dirty Fries from Lardo. They were seasoned well, crispy, and came with a bunch of tasty toppings like parmesan and crispy kale. While I'd recommend Haymaker for food, I wouldn't recommend Haymaker if you're looking for a robust beer selection. They had only a few beers on tap, though I guess they covered the basics with their selection. I ended up getting a ginger lemon fizzy wine that was pretty good. Regardless of the small beer selection, I still enjoyed Haymaker a lot. I was quite stuffed on the cheap, and the food tasted really good.

(Neighborhood bias alert) All the great things you want in a neighborhood bar/eatery. Not a big menu but that means they excel at whatever they make. I had a Zenner's sausage and all they added was deep fried onions and mustard! That's ALL that's needed! The ketchup is a delicious blend of ketchup and spices and will ensure I always order fries when I'm there. Great woodsy decor, mini oil lanterns, warm lighting, an intimate (but not cramped) space, delicious food and strong drinks... what more could you want? Definitely will be in my regular neighborhood rotation!

This place is awesome! The service is solid, they have a book dedicated to Whisky, lots of awesome seating, and good food options! Some items are a little pricier than I'd want to spend (a full sandwich is $13). The sandwich is huge, so it's worth it, but it's not the best if you're not super hungry. I loved the chicken waffle on a stick with maple syrup for $5--it was a perfect price, and a perfect few bites! The staff were probably my favorite though--friendly, attentive, and had a good sense humor. Thanks for being an awesome bar near my house!

It's Nachos week. First stop Haymaker. Huge mistake. Don't bother folks. Didn't look anything like it's picture in the Mercury. Portions were mediocre. Its nachos was serve in paper tray. I felt like i was at a food truck stop. Here is an opportunity to introduce new people to its quaint little bar but the food was disappointing. I wouldn't go back. Too bad I live so close too.

This place opened up in the neighborhood a few months ago and I can't stop coming back. Never been a regular anywhere but I certainly am here. Classy environment with friendly and hilarious owners. Usually good spirits on TV. Order anything with the chicken. You won't regret it.

So choice. Laid back and real. It's a relaxed and meaty Happy HR... owners are as up-front as the fair. I recognize a hint of real Portland, with just the right bit of Clackamas County on the menu; something a local can recognize. It feels like a bit of what we used to feel in the city... in this otherwise destruction of Portland. Clean comfortable space, noise is low, listening is perfect. The margarita was a surprise and: FK, please, again!

I don't understand all of these good reviews for this bar. Although I have heard a rumor that the owner has his friends write good reviews to cover up all the bad ones that real patrons write. This place is very sketchy. The bartender seemed drunk, and was hanging out with his drunk friend at the end of the bar, who was yelling belligerent comments at women, (and the bartender just laughed and did nothing to stop him). Pretty much the opposite of a congenial neighborhood bar. I got out of there fast. It had a real "The Accused" vibe. Women beware.

Came here for the first time. Had a great greeting from the bar tender, Nick. Set me and my friend up with beers almost immediately. The menu is varied from small bites to large. The sandwiches are healthy portions and could be shared. Overall, a great experience for a first visit!

Fantastic neighborhood bar. Owners are fantastic. Lots of laughs, great food, and great drinks. Always a good time here.

Great atmosphere, BBQ chicken sando is my favorite with a pint and whiskey. Their bourbon selection is incredible and they even put a table out with propane firepit for us under the awning. I go to a lot of bars in N Portland but this is my favorite. Also the staff are wonderful.

Boo!!!! Rude staff. Small porch. Bad food, questionable covid standards. Won't be back, would not recommend.