Kenton Station Restaurant and Pub

Really great experience with large portions and delicious food! Living in the area for 20 years first time here.

Don't get me started on the ribs. Because O My God My man Dub makes the best damn homemade BBQ sauce on this side of the Mississippi! If you go, you will go back. 🤙

I’ve been rolling through Kenton for almost 25 years and it never even occurred to me to stop and eat here. For all of the history and great stonework it’s like the place is wrapped in an invisibility cloak. Well it popped up on my phone as a place for sustenance and I decided to rip away that invisible curtain and give the place a try. I’ve been craving burgers recently and The Kenton Station seemed promising. I was wondering to myself why I had never stopped there before and I realized it has the local drinking hole kind of look. The kind of place that might be a little run down and full of folks sitting around who all know everyone else. It didn’t look all that welcoming to me. I kind of hate ordering at the bar at restaurants. I resist sauntering up to a bar unless I’m wearing my shiny pearl handled six guns, my old beat up cowboy boots, and a tattered and tortured cowboy hat that has seen some stuff. But let us address the meal itself, all can be forgiven if the burger fills my withered old heart, if it lifts me like a glorious sunrise rising above the trees. Unfortunately it did not. The onion rings were ok, they had an odd taste that might be old oil or maybe the rings themselves might have come unaltered from a supply store. It was not a bad taste, but not great either. The bacon burger tasted alright, but was chewy and a bit dry. Nothing to write home about unless you are writing to your mother to complain about the food. To be honest, it was one of the worst burgers I’ve had in a while. Kenton itself is such an interesting little village. It looks like it wants to be better, but got caught on an old snag on the way up. And like the Kenton Station, it’s not living up to its own potential.

This place is super chill and easy going. I would highly recommend them for a date night, hanging with friends, or work happy hour. It is just such a good place to get some good food, good service at a decent price. I will say, I loved it here but the parking situation is not the greatest. Even so, I would go here again their menu is full of options for everyone. We got wings, a hamburger, fries, curly fries and a caesar salad. The burger was good, not dry and okay in flavor. The fries were salty like we wanted, the wings were pretty good as well. You have options and so I would highly recommend this place. The have tvs so you can watch games here also.

Great food and excellent prices. My wife and I love going here for the food and drinks. Wish they would stay open later but other than that it’s perfect.

Best burger in North Portland! Service was top notch. This was even after the F1 races at PIR. You won't be disappointed.

Slow but good bar. Foods ok. Weird hours now after Covid.

Chill, fun, Friendly spot with great comfort American style food. Love the bar tenders.

Neighborhood corner bar & restaurant that is casual, fun and chill atmosphere. The food is basic but good. Try the Reuben! Great serving of fries. Friends said the beer on tap was good. I had the BLT. It was decent but needed some mayo and full lettuce leaves, not shredded. Wait staff was attentive, friendly and spirited. Decent visit and I would come back.

Nothin fancy, just hearty pub grub here in a relaxed sports bar setting, and I believe they have free pool as well. The burgers, while not the best I've ever had are still tasty, cheap and hit the spot. The Bunyan burger (w/ ham and fried egg) was delicious and filling. You can also upgrade to curly fries. Also, their HH (3-6) is great value - $5.50 pints, $8 for cheeseburger as fries and other offerings as well.

WING WEDNESDAY!! IMHO these are the best wings in town. The only place that I have found that still has a good meaty wing. All the other so called wing specialty restaurants don't even compare. So good. If you like a good burger you must try the Paul Bunyan Burger. Unbelievable.

A great place that felt like authentic Portland. As a first time visitor to the city I wanted to go where a local would go. The outdoor seating was a few yards away from the farmers market. The indoor vibe was quirky and fun. The food was delicious!

It's a bar so expect bar food. I can't complain about the food since I didn't look at the menu. The website states it's "KENTON STATION IS A FAMILY FRIENDLY RESTAURANT AND PUB" and I can say for my first time in the pub I found it to be exactly that, friendly. I met some friends there and they had already ordered, so I just told the waitress I would have what they're having. The staff is very cool and relaxed. It's a very chilled place to eat and drink. The food was okay and it' was lots of food. The flavors was just as expected for fish and chips. I would go back.

Great service, food and staff. The history of this building is an additional plus. I had the chili which was delicious and my husband had the fish and chips, which he enjoyed.

I'm not sure how to rate Kenton Station. The place is obviously older, but clean... nothing trendy. The mid week night we were there, they were not providing table-side ordering. Drinks and food was all ordered at the bar, but they do bring your food out to the table. Staff was nice enough. My Rubin sandwich was fine, nothing special, but also no complaints. My guest had a burger, she said it was good, I'll take her work for it. From its appearance, it looked like it was made from a pre-formed (frozen?) patty, and typically these patties are denser than fresh formed. No complaints. I wouldn't seek it out as a go to establishment, but I also wouldn't avoid returning if that was the direction of the group I might be with.

We are in town for an event and came here 3 nights in a row because the food and beer are great!!! Would come back when in town again!!

t inconsistent at best. I have a guest who only eats chicken strips and ranch. our schedule is regimented. (to go order no time to check the bag ... melt down in progress.) No ranch...we had it included for an extra charge. had to make do with what we had as a melt down was eminent.. $3.25 for a bun listed as Texas Toast ( not toasted) a standard pack of hamburger rolls at Safeway is under $6.00.... this was this evening as chicken strip are the only option with fries. I wanted the bun. I'll accept a small charge for change or substitute items. However this a bit much.

Think of your living room, its comfy, inviting and super chill. Now add a bar, neon lights, heaping portions of food and stiff drinks. That's Kenton Station summed up. It's like the Cheers of Kenton, and its a great way to meet locals and share a warm meal. They make their soups in house and every one has been tasty. My boyfriend loves the swiss and mushroom burger, and I enjoy the cheesy beefy melt. The bartenders are kind and service is prompt and no fuss. Sound good to you? It's been great for us. Give a local business some support and enjoy a savory meal with an ice cold beer in the heart of Kenton. (Some say this place is haunted .)

I wasn't going to post but I feel it appropriate to warm some one else of this nightmare. Bowling alley concession stand (quality, or lack thereof) at best. I couldn't believe someone had the gall to serve what they did. The image is supposed to be onion rings. Someone checked out early.

Decent dive bar with some good food options located in the heart of the Kenton Neighborhood. Order at the bar and find a place to sit! Usually have games on the TVs and locals gathered at their local spot. Food was alright, nothing to ride home about, but it is a good spot if you are in Kenton and want a dive bar vibe!

This spot is right in the heart of Kenton. Best place to come grab lunch and watch games too! Service is really nice and courteous. They have a great kids menu! We recommend the deli sandwiches and the fries (curly fries and tater tots are great!). Tap list is excellent, always a good cider. Many tables, always a good spot for families and friends.

Came here for lunch on a Saturday after an event at PIR. Extremely convenient location, neighborhood seems really cool, lots of seating in and out (dogs welcome outside!). We ordered at the bar, as they requested with all of the signs ;-)... We were pleasantly surprised to see Boneyard beers on tap, and not just the RPM! I ordered the jalapeno cheeseburger, the cherry limeade special, and my husband had the Kenton sandwich (think philly cheesesteak crossed with a french dip). The drink was yummy and the server even checked in to make sure it wasn't too sweet. We didn't have to wait too long for the food, and the burger was just what I was looking for, a classic flavorful, if slightly messy/greasy, burger. The tots were good and crunchy too. The sandwich looked really good too, I tried a few slices of the beef and it was done very well, not in that it was overcooked but that it was delicious all on its own. Definitely recommend this place, wouldn't classify it as "just bar food". The service was very nice as well.

The food is so good and affordable. The staff is always friendly and the Bloody Mary's are delicious! You must try this place.

It was our first time visiting this establishment. It is on a fairly busy corner, and parking was an issue. We parked about a block away. At first we tried sitting outside; but because of the traffic noise we moved inside. Our reason for coming, was a NASCAR event that was to take place at 4 o'clock. All ordering was done upfront at the bar, and then you received numbers for your tables. It appeared clean, and my husband and I both use the restroom while we were there, and the restrooms were clean also. At first we purchase drinks that were good, and about 40 minutes later ordered our dinner. The waiters and waitresses were very pleasant bringing our food and picking up dirty dishes from other tables on their way back to the kitchen. A gentleman that we assumed was the manager or owner was visiting the large table behind us every 15 minutes or so. Taking photos, laughing; which was great but the volume increased double every time he came by. We, along with two families, and several other tables were totally ignored by him. Not even a greeting; but unfortunately we were along the pathway to his group of friends. Our food arrived and was tasty, and hot. I ordered their special kenton sandwich; which the bar tender recommended and i was not disappointed. My husband ordered a salad with blue cheese dressing; he did not care for the dressing at all. Outside; the people from Nascar were very nice and we got to have a short visit with a couple of drivers and see a few cars up close. Our decision to leave instead of having another drink was made only by the noise from the gentleman visiting his table of friends ( or lower his voice when he was talking over the top of our table). It is too bad he didn't circulate around and welcome people to his establishment; and even pick up a plate or two to help the staff out. Overall my suggestion would be to come here a little early before the working crowd arrives. I would consider sitting outside later in the evening when the traffic slows down.

Best wings and Patti melt that I have had send I left Chicago'. So fortunate they are in my neighborhood.

I've never been to a place where the staff is ruder than they are at Kenton station. The food is nothing special but the staff really sells the "don't ever come here again" vibe. Good job losing c

This is the best place in town to get a burger the owner james is awesome he will take care of you himself. The Paul Bunyan burger and their wings are flipping amazing Wing Wednesday you get a killer deal The 3rd Thursday of every month is the FREE underground tour Tell James that heidi sent ya You know it has to be amazing when I will drive from Milwaukie to North Portland to eat Right now with Covid you can pre order and pick up or you can order thru grub hub or other food apps

I'm really sad about this review. I was in the area researched on Yelp. I knew exactly what I wanted before and drove here. 2 tables inside were occupied when I arrived and 1 outside. As people are getting done with the day the room started filling up but all the tables around me were getting their orders. My phone starts notifying me that my 1 hour parking is about to expire so I went up to the counter to inquire. My food was NOT on the way. It was marked as done. It took less than 7 minutes for them to create my salad (well done when I asked for medium) and they didn't even discount or comp me for a beverage that I only bought because my blood sugar dropped really low waiting for my food. They recognized their mistake and didn't compensate in any way. Wow. I was really hoping that the black and blue salad would have been epic enough to make it worth it. Damn, I really wanted to like this place.

Compliments to the chef! I asked for extra fried, deep golden crunchy curly fries. They delivered when most places are afraid! I've not been so excited about fries in YEARS. Oh, the other stuff like the burger is always great ... like the service. This is the Cheers of Kenton... maybe all of portland.

I loved everything about this place! Well, almost everything... 1) their happy hour is every day. The foot long hot dogs and grilled ham and cheese sandwiches are bom-diggity. So is their Breakside Wanderlust IPA. 2) they provide very friendly service 3) it's a sports bar, but the owner loves the Dallas Cowboys (although that could be a minus to people that hate them) 4) they have a ghost hunt every 3rd Thursday (I did this and it was waaaaay too real!!) 5) The basement used to hold a speak-easy and illegal fight clubs, which is where the mediums will take you to go ghost hunt 6) the ghost hunt is FREE - so there's no catch or schtick. The downside: 1) the ghost hunt was scary 2) the mediums seemed a little too real 3) my friends all thought they saw ghosts 4) I was just spooked in general and chickened out before it was over.

Weekend breakfast is good. Prices very fair. Staff is awesome, extremely friendly, and lines nonexistent. Also. Know this. Giant awesome $10 breakfast steak!!!! Love the history of this place in North Portland. The building it's in was abandoned for my whole childhood. In the early 90s they finally remodeled the old "steam heat" asbestos packed hotel into a modern building. This bar was the first new Portland thing to locate. It's always had a soft spot for that in my heart. If you remember North Portland in the late 80s and 90s this was noticeable. Especially given the cactus club a block south with motorcycles stacked up on the curb or the dancing bare across the street. It also is down in earth and sill had that old Portland feel though in my mind I associate it with gentrification. It's a perfect mix of both worlds without pretense or posers. Also, it's a Benson Tech bar on NoPo. Take that Jeff and Roosevelt!

I celebrated St. Patrick's Day here with my friends who swear by this place for a delicious corned beef and cabbage meal. Naturally, I had to get this, especially since Kenton Station only makes this once a year! The corned beef was phenomenal. It was perfectly marbled throughout and had a great brown sugar, honey mustard glaze on it. Although not as amazing as the corned beef at Kenny and Zuke's (my absolute favorite), for the $13 price tag + cabbage, carrots, potatoes, and bread, I was thoroughly impressed. Now onto the other parts of the plate. The cabbage was bland yet still enjoyable in order to break up the hearty taste of the corned beef. Carrots were fine - just carrots, nothing special. The potatoes were bland, but after smothering it with horseradish sauce, it went down just fine. I love bread - and for the most part, I haven't eaten a bread that I didn't find enjoyable - but this bread was an exception. It was dry, crumbled apart when I tried to eat it, and overall just extremely bland. I probably should have put some butter on it, but with the huge portion of delicious corned beef to tackle on my plate, I just pushed my bread aside. Also, just a side note: The portions here were not consistent. My friends and I all ordered the same dish, but two of my friends got their food on a bigger plate (with more food on it) compared to me and my boyfriend. The size of the corned beef slabs also weren't consistent, which I think is the most problematic. It's not a big deal, especially since we all left full and happy, but I think it's noteworthy to mention. Drinks were strong, albeit a little expensive for my liking. I particularly enjoyed having a few rounds of Irish car bombs with my friends! They definitely added up though. I think one of them cost around $6-7. On the other hand, my long island ice tea at $8 felt like a great value for how strong it was. Service was way too slow. I'll give them a slight pass since it was St. Patrick's Day after all, but dang. It took forever to order food, order drinks, get our food, and get our drinks (and my friend's Guinness was warm). Due to the slow service, I'm not sure if I'll come here again on a regular day, but maybe next year for St. Patrick's Day!

Good dicey bar with room and space. Not too noisy, and the food was great!!! Pickles so yummy. Prices are great

The only reason I gave three stars is because of the food that I've had there before. It's fantastic food. Last night my boyfriend and I came here for dinner around 7pm. There were probably about 6 or 7 tables occupied but it wasn't too busy. We sat down at our table and waited for our waitress. After 15 minutes of waiting for any kind of acknowledgement, we walked out and went elsewhere for dinner. We were very disappointed that we didn't get any kind of acknowledgement. If it were busy we would kinda understand but it wasn't. The bar tender and cooks were busy doing their work but the one waitress that was there never walked out into the dining area nor did she ever make any eye contact. This will not stop us from coming in but it will change how often we come in. If we need a quick bite, it won't be here.

Hours listed are not correct. Kitchen often closes an hour before close so be warned. Overall a business that seem s to just not wanna be open and serve customers... Good luck, you list me as a customer after being turned away multiple times when you are listed "open" Damn joke of an owner

For convenience and my love for the Kenton area I support the Kenton Station with orders. I'm usually disappointed with the quality of fries. seems I always get the bottom of the batch :( Tots are always good. And can Not get over why they shut down Early?? Do you Not want to make Money?? Can ya at least mirror others with like 10pm? Hard to Keep Supporting :(

Pastrami and swiss sandwich 5/5 Tots 4/5 Homestyle potatoes 3/5 (a bit overcooked) Ranch dip 5/5 Eggs Benedict 4/5 Friendly staff 5/5

Been here 4-5 times. They do a decent breakfast and they aren't cheap with the hooch! Their Bloody Mary isn't bad. No mixologist holds court here, but you can get a basic cocktail and they have enough beers to satisfy most portlanders. They have a cool motorcycle in the window, and the place is properly gritty for bikers on a Sunday morning meetup before ride. (Which is why im always there) The service has always been friendly, even when they are really busy. I kind of like going there, and it has the advantage of being kid friendly. A decent joint to drop into when in need of libations and food.

Danggg... I'm so sad I am writing this because I REALLY wanted to like this place. Came here at about 8:20ish this evening on our way home because we had heard good things about it from people in our neighborhood (we live in Saint Johns). We saw a big sign outside that said they were open until 7.. but we saw that all the open signs were on and the doors were propped all the way open so we thought we'd at least check and see if maybe they forgot to take the sign down. Sure enough, they were still open, until 9 now (thats what the sign on their door said). We walked in and politely asked if they were still open, we didn't want to go somewhere that was closing right now because thats hella rude. The lady EXTREMELY passively aggressive said "well we technically called last call but if you want I guess I'll make you another drink". we were like ok thank you thats really nice of you and tried to order something simple that we could drink quickly (vodka/soda & whiskey/sprite). The server said the fryer was still open too if we wanted food so we got chicken strips, repeatedly letting her know that if we needed to take it to go that was fine, she said we could eat it there no problem. We got our food and it was mediocre at best, but that wasn't an issue because we weren't expecting any crazy food experience. We ate and were almost done with our drinks when the lady started walking around the restaurant at 8:57 yelling that everyone had to be completely out of the restaurant by 9, her and the other server were loudly grabbing drinks and throwing them in the sink making it very clear they wanted everyone out. Whatever, no biggie... we were done anyway. As we got up to leave there was a much older gentleman that walked up to the bar to ask a question or pay or something for his to-go order and the lady began yelling at him repeatedly to leave the bar and put his mask on. she cut him off multiple times saying "put your mask on, put your mask on, put your mask on".. the guy was clearly confused and walked up to the other waiter and paid and left. On our way out the lady ran out to the patio to this couple that had en empty table and was just finishing their drink and she began repeating that they had to leave now because they were closed, the couple was so confused and polite I felt awful.. This place had some charm and seemed chill.. but this lady so clearly wanted to leave that she took it out on a bunch of customers that had not done anything rude or indecent to her at all.. and the fact that she was yelling at people literally as the clock struck 9 was extremely off-putting... expected better.

Ordered a Mushroom Swiss Burger and a Garden Burger. Mushroom Swiss was pretty good, if a little soggy. Garden Burger wasn't a Garden Burger. It was an Impossible or Beyond Burger. Greasy fake meat patty. My friend took one bite and spit it out. It went in the trash. Very disappointing.

I was in the market for a BLT with avocado in north Portland, and saw Mike N's review -- have always wondered about this place. Best bacon in town? Really? It's in the historic Kenton hotel -- an old bar with antique woodwork, an eclectic collection of motorcycles as decor, pinball and video games, TVs, video poker. Smells a little like old stale tobacco smoke, when you walk in, but one gets used to it. It's seat-yourself casual. I did; my waitress appeared immediately and asked what I wanted to drink. Do they have lemonade? The kind that comes out of a soda machine... I opted for Dr. Pepper, which she went off to fetch (she waited patiently while I chose). Brought back a huge glass with iced soda and a straw (I didn't have to ask -- sensitive teeth). I ordered the BLT, of course, with avocado; the menu stated that it was made with "the best bacon in town". Aha! That's where Mike got it! Did I want the potato chips that came with that, or fries, beer-battered fries, onion rings, or a salad? Having been dietarily very naughty for a while, now, I chose the salad, with raspberry vinaigrette. The salad arrived immediately -- it was HUGE, with thick slices of cucumber and wedges of tomato. A nice spring mix, too. The vinaigrette had a bizarre, syrupy texture... should have gone for the house-made ranch or house-made blue cheese. Tomatoes weren't local, and were largely flavorless. Still, a mighty nice salad for a side! Sandwich showed up; the bacon was still warm, and perfectly crisped. It was on toasted white bread (meh), but I didn't ask for anything special, and choices weren't offered. The avocado was fresh, but not generously applied. The lettuce was shreds of iceberg -- pointless and annoying -- and I have no memory of the tomato. Still, for a typical, run-of-the-mill BLT, it was good, and I enjoyed it. I can do fancy versions elsewhere. And for the soda, the salad, and the sandwich, delivered with a smile, it was only $10! AND they were open for lunch until 4 PM -- they didn't have a "foodless hour" between lunch and dinner (which is usually when I find I'm hungry).

Boy, I hate to come back with just two stars again, but damn - the service is still horrible. Sat there for about 10 minutes and saw a server head that way. She stopped to talk to a friend, regular, whatever, and got to us about five minutes later, finally saying " I need to take care of a table." It sucks, because both of the meals we got were a solid 4.5 or better, but even after we got our food there was not one visit back to see how it was or if we needed anything else. I would have had at least one more drink, and I certainly would have tipped much better as well. The really sad part is that they were at about 20% - 25% capacity, not full at all and three servers working when we walked in counting the bartender. James, your servers are costing you and themselves money. I've been going here off and on for a good 13-15 years and the place has so much potential. The food is really good, but the service has finally made this my last trip.

They have a variety of food and drinks available! The food is great! Open for all ages and great for families! Everyone is super nice there! I definitely recommend this restaurant/bar for any type of outing!

What misadventure brought me here in Kenton... a cavernous, mostly dead vibe that would be oh so NOT genki! Oh yeah; it was a coupon, if I remember correctly. Ate, got the good deal, hoped not to have to run for a toilet from the grease, and split. Pub grub type stuff... hey, at least I didn't have to blow too much gas to get here....not that gas is a problem in Pdx, compared to CA prices! eegads... plus, what I miss most was opening up all my mail and writing to-do lists, cleaning up my car while I was being full-served, as it is illegal in OR to pump one's own gas. Uh... do you really see me complaining.... especially in the inclement weather that Pdx seems to sport so well at times? shakey shakey uvda head. so sorry for the digression!

The food over the years has definately improved, which is a good thing, but I still have some issues. The hubby and I were in for a burger and tots the other week...the place was busy, as usual. The Burger was wrong and the reason why it was wrong is because there was not enough staff working...two girls out front, plus working the bar on a Friday evening during dinner...hire some more people please.

Good food cool place and in a really good location. The Kenton Special is a must have.

Giant veggie or meaty Omlettes and Specials EVERY weekend, with bargain bar drinks. Frriendly, Max, a Library, and Casons BBQ BUTCHER SHOP all across the Street! Community minded Owner makes Kenton Fest and Girl scout Cookie Sales suceed every year!

Great specials Tuesday through Sunday. Love the servers and bartenders. It gets busy so get here early for blazers games! The owners are great, and are here frequently, mingling with the guests and making everyone feel at home. Great prices for large portions and strong drinks.

Great neighborhood place with sandwich/burgers and specials and a tasty array of drinks. Love the pickles for some reason, one time I asked for an extra little dish of them. Check out the haunted basement tour every 3rd Thursday of the month! I didn't see a ghost but I came away wanting to see one and knowing a little more about the building and North Portland history.

Not bad. This area is really trying to come around and has had a few cute cafe/bars/food carts pop up, but this place seems to have been around so long it's even been aquired into the historic buildings of portland. Theres not much to look at here ambiance wise but when you have $2.50 beers on tuesday and awesome monday night football specials, why would you come here to look at anything. If you're into a few old school arcade games and/or video poker this would definitely be a good spot to enjoy a brew or two. They allow kids here (meh) I think until around 8:30pm. So, the food....we both throughly enjoyed what we ordered a lot. I ordered the Paul JR (half size, I eat like a bird) and it was fantastic, which definitely surpassed my expectation. He ordered their "Kenton Special" which I guess is like their verison of a french dip and he loved it as well. Service was quick and everyone was friendly as well. I would definitely come back just to enjoy some beers (and football and basketball, cause they have a ton of screens). Also, it's basically door-to-door max line for us, so bonus!

I visited this establishment and was delighted as soon as I came in. The bartender really gave me exceptional service and I loved it. If you've ever been to Kenton Station make sure you get a "happy hour burger"! Make sure to ask for bet!

My wife and I had a terrible experience eating dinner here. We sat for 10 minutes, watching waitresses socialize with other customers, before one of them came over to our table to take our order. Our drinks, ice water and iced tea, took another 10 minutes to arrive at the table. There wasn't more than 3-4 other customers, but they were talking so loud and shouting, with the widescreen tv blaring overheard, I literally had to shout to have a conversation with my wife. We both had the veggie burger, which would have been tasty if they were not over cooked. To top it off, two families in the place allowed their young children to run around inside the restaurant, screaming and chasing each other. When I complained about the noise to the waitress, she replied "Sir, we're a family place", turned and walked away. The Kenton Station is no longer the great place it used to

Old school Portland with locals and a good beer selection. Good bar food. Servers are pretty nice and it feels comfy. Especially when it's not too packed. Also kids can eat there. I'm not sure if there's a cut-off for kids at a certain time.

As we sit here on a rare snowy Sunday in Portland we are enjoying some delicious breakfast and bloody mary's while watching the people line up for Cup and Saucer. The staff here is friendly and they have your classic bar breakfast. The omelette was giant and the gravy is a great addition to the country potatoes. The biscuits and gravy are also well worth the $4! This place is amazing and there is never a wait. It's not classy like Swift and Union, but it's a great spot for a quick drink and cheap eats.

This place is what it is, a greasy ran down pub that has it's share of locals who hang out here all day everyday. It seems that it's seen better days- the interior looks decrepit, unclean, and just sad. This is especially made poignant by the "video lottery" corner of the pub. I know video lottery is popular here in PDX, but it's just sad. Beyond the space is the food and the waitstaff, neither of which have much redemptive value. I had a pretty stellar cream of tomato soup here a fews weeks ago, but that is an exception because the norm is that every menu item here somehow tastes like old grease, you know the kind of taste when you know the kitchen isn't cycling out there oil often enough. This is just gross. Their tap list is decent, but then again this is PDX where you can find world class beers in just about any corner dive. The waistaff look tired and sad, and they don't go out their way to be friendly. There are many many better places to drink in PDX, with better food, nicer people, and better space/atmosphere. I'd kindly pass the Kenton Station if I were you.......

The little eatery that led the charge to the complete rejuvenation of the Kenton area. Kenton Station's been going for what? 10-12+ years now? Believe me when I say, when they started the project, Kenton was still fully submerged in a decades-long, funk-ta-fied, cirrhotic slump. With apologies to the Stone Pony-cum-Dancin' Bare (ugh, it pains one to even write it, let alone say it aloud), Kenton Station was the first and only "classy" eatery for miles around (not sure if you'd count a bit north, to Hayden Meadows or Island, but Shari's and Hooters don't exactly make the cut, based on that criteria, either). It's true, Kenton Station is little other than glorified pub grub. I usually have their salads, and find 'em large, with complex profiles (and tangy vinaigrette!). A broad variety of brews on tap and in bottle will appeal to a broad mis-mash of patrons. Not by any means the fanciest place, even for pub grub, that you'll find in Portland. But it's clean, up-scale, miles better than anything in all of Kenton in for-EVER. Huzzah for the Station! Kenton these days looks down-right respectable (again, w/apologies to the "Bare"). Let's not forget the pioneers blazing the trail for all who've followed...

Yelpers, you rarely let us down, but you sure left us standing in the rain, waiting for a train that won't ever arrive at Kenton Station. We took our son and his wife there for their birthdays. Walking in, we realized that it was a pub caught in a time-warp from the sixties. Walking out, we wondered if we should apologize to our guests. The bad news began with the drinks, each one handed down by a waitress who wrapped all four fingers and her thumb firmly around the lip of each glass, as if she were about to drop it into a garbage can. I considered challenging her unsanitary habit but her relaxed manner assured me that it was of long standing. Moreover, a look around convinced me that I would be the first to call her attention to it. Why embarrass her? I was the one who was out of place and I wasn't coming back. The food was uniformly bad. Not necessarily unsanitary although, given the treatment of the glasses, we had to wonder about what went on in the kitchen. And although the food was fifty or sixty years old, it was not spoiled, it was just -- old. Nineteen sixties old. Bread made from library paste. Cheese made from plastic. That sort of thing. Tasteless and bland, with flavor added back through the addition of bacon and plenty of grease. The off-flavors told me that the grease at Kenton Station is changed about as often as its menu but, obesity and atherosclerosis aside, I didn't view that as a danger to our health because whatever was in it had been dead for some time.