McMenamins St. Johns Theater & Pub

This place is so cool!! There is a bar and restaurant with a movie theater inside. You order your food and drinks and they give you a number to take into the theater with you. They bring your food right to you as you're watching the movie. The decor is super unique and so cool to look at all the different things they have in there. In the movie theater, there is a dome up above that is super cool as well. The theater chairs are nice and big and give you lots of room. They have tables connected to the chairs in front of you for your food. We love this place and will definitely be coming back and recommending to others.

Food service wasn’t good at all. Guy spilled water all over the table and didn’t clean it up, wasn’t attentive to guests, half cleared the table, messed up multiple food orders, cross contamination. Took a very long time for food. Definitely needs more staff. Don’t think we’ll be back.

Really good burgers! Plenty of seating area, can sit outside or inside. Also has a movie theater which is my only complaint. While it’s a minor issue during parts of the movie you can hear the sound system while you are eating inside. But wasn’t a huge issue at least for me. My bacon burger was huge. Although I had another patty added to it. Normal price for a bacon burger was $17 But they do have happy hour from 3-6 & 9 until close everyday.

By far one of my favorite locations I’ve ever been to! The portions are generous, and the food is obviously made with love. I especially enjoyed the Cajun fries!!! Bartender Brendan made me a stunning cocktail, very well balanced flavor and presentation was on point. My server Bella was incredibly sweet and attentive, such a calm and self assured energy! Good vibes all around highly recommend whether you’re taking the whole family out for dinner or stopping in for a quick drink and to catch a movie.

The waiter was polite and was genuinely engaged in conversation with all attendees of the luncheon. The food came swiftly and was absolutely delicious. I had their Albacore Tunafish Sandwich!!! Definitely something I would buy again. Wish they had more space.

The theater has closed captioning devices for the deaf that sit in the cup holder and work very well!! Makes for a comfortable movie experience!! The seats are pleasant and have plenty of legroom. There's a table to hold the food and drinks. Such a pleasant place!

The atmosphere here is pretty decent. The food that I ordered unfortunately ended up being fairly bland. The drinks were good. The service was excellent! The service alone would get me to return back to this bar.

For almost $20 I expect a better burger! Not the flavorless dried out meat with overcooked bacon mass of sadness I got on a stale bun called a "burger". What's happened to your food?!? Are you feeling ok?

It's a true maze of wonder with random rooms of beer and food. It's like your uncle's basement, that you go in once a year, and find joy in the odd and mundane objects he pulls out of the cardboard box in the corner that you rarely get to see... but glad you did. That place.

Stopped in for a cold drink. Walked up to the front and it was a locked door with a sign that said to enter through the side door. Went around to the left and saw a walkway through a garden and found the side door. It was hot inside, but there is a heat wave going on so understandable. It's more interesting inside than it appears from the outside. Couldn't sit up in the balcony or risk being cooked, so I sat at the neat bar. The staff was friendly. They filled me in on the history of the theater. It was built as the National Cash Register Company pavilion for the 1905 World's Fair in Portland. The domed structure that is now a working theater, was meant to last just six months and is still going strong after over 100 years. The current movie is Jurassic Park: Rebirth. Small theater, but a cool spot, even when it's super hot.

Yummy! In our quest for passport stamps at McMenamin's we stumbled into this one. What a fun historical pub with a movie theater. I love the history and even the food was decent. Because we finished our passport page we both got a free appetizer so got the sliders and the pretzel sticks with cheese Fondue. Sat at the bar and the servers were quick and attentive. Tried the purple haze that was almost as good as my favorite the ruby. I'm a fan of fruit beers. If you live in Portland do yourself a favor and buy the passport. You'll experience such a fun time getting to explore all the McMenamin's!

I think it was just a typically pub food nothing stood out to me to be honest. The burger was good but meat was bland the salad was you know salad and I also got a teriyaki soup it was wack very very weird. Very dark in there as well with yellow lights so might make you tired and the service was good though.

Service was on the spot. Quick ask if I've been helped upon entry and when seated at the bar. First time visit, and fun atmosphere. The old building, history to the area, and a theatre to boot. Add a restaurant and full bar, woohoo! Happy hour every day until 6p. The unique beer to St. John's is the Yule Shoot Your Eye Out Double IPA. Not an IPA fan and enjoyed many other options. I enjoyed the Dilly Tuna Salad Sandwich w/cajun tots. Tots! How can you go wrong with Tots. Thee was an NFL playoff game playing that made the time pass. Overall, I enjoyed my service, meal, and drinks. Will return soon.

We came here on a rainy, cold winter night after driving everywhere looking for a pub. When we entered, we were blown away by the strange, artsy, boho atmosphere of this place. The high ceiling had amazing multicolored hanging lamps, and strange oddities and posters from many different eras including an old bicycle were displayed along the high walls. The pub was bustling so we decided to sit upstairs where the ambiance was dark and warm and overlooked the downstairs. Every wall was adorned with some artifact that was interesting. Our fish n chips and shepherd's pie were hearty and delicious and the local and British beers crisp, biting and thirst quenching. We really loved it here and will definitely be coming back.

McMenamins is a collection of nearly 60 eclectic locations situated throughout the Pacific Northwest and we visited the St. John's Theater & Pub. This special space was originally constructed as the National Cash Register Company pavilion for the 1905 World's Fair in Portland and its domed theater drew thousands to view some of the first publicly displayed motion pictures anywhere. During our visit there were multiple occasions when it appeared that a plane was flying low overhead or perhaps there was a freeway above us. Both of those assumptions proved incorrect as the noise and vibrations were actually being generated by the theater next door. Currently "Shazam: Fury of the Gods" is playing, but you can find their daily screening schedule at www.stjohnsmovies.com). If you choose to catch a flick here you may be pleased to know that their full menu of food and drinks can be consumed in the theater during your movie. As for the food, we enjoyed the "Black Bean Dip" and "Scooby Snacks" appetizers. No matter the entree that you order, I'd recommend that you sample their tater tots. They were really crispy and, while I preferred the regular version, a Cajun option is also available (which I found most appropriate for sharing, as it is fairly spicy). While the "El Diablo" chicken sandwich sounds a bit intimidating, it is actually not to be feared. The service was exemplary, which seemed fitting given that our server's name was "Harmony." While we didn't take in a movie during this visit, I suspect that we'll be paying them a return visit to rectify that. And that's...Henry's Take. #portlandpubs

My daughter and I went to St. John's Theatre to see the Wonka movie. This is a great theater. The building is really old and the architecture and the design show that throughout. It's McMenamins food so you know what you're going to get. We had a huge basket of Cajun tater tots. They were delicious. We shared a dungeon burger and it was Top-notch as well. Each of us had an old-fashioned to start off. If you have never had a McMenamins old-fashioned, you should check it out. We enjoyed a Couple of beers, ruby,throughout the movie, and Popcorn, which they freshly pop. The seating is comfortable, and the screen is huge and clear. You choose your own seat, so you may want to get there early if you have a favorite spot. One of my favorite McMenamins spots to watch movies ;)

Food is mediocre. Ambiance is cute inside and cute outside. Inside is a theatre also. Outside has some cute string lights. Server was friendly and helpful when needed. It's just a little overpriced for what it is, kind of like pub food. I ordered the chicken gyro because I didn't want a burger or something fried. The chicken was good, but don't expect authentic Greek gyros here.

I've only come here to watch movies because it's such a good deal! Matinee prices for adults and kids is only $5! For showings after 5pm, adult tickets are $8 and kid tickets are $6. You can buy them online or in person. They serve popcorn as well as the regular McMenamins menu. There is usually free water off to the side of the theater and long tables in front of the theater seats. The seats are not the most comfy, but for $5, I'll take it! I usually always get a large tots to share with my boyfriend when we watch a movie at St. Johns. The staff members bring the food to you which is nice, but sometimes is distracting if the movie has already started. Seats are first come first serve so plan accordingly if you need a specific seat. I've had McMenamins tots from multiple locations and this one is very comparable to Edgefield and Kennedy School McMenamins. Overall, such a fun and cheap date night!

Fun spot for a movie and a bite to eat. Delicious burgers and the history of the building is very interesting --you can always count on that with McMenamins!

If you haven't been to a McMenamins before be sure to add the St. Johns location to your list. If you're watching a movie be sure to come early since they sell out but as you enter the first thing you smell is theatre buttered popcorn and how could you not love it!? The location gives you a good mix of the movie theatre ambiance, filled with local memorabilia lining the walls. Most of the booths are downstairs but I would recommend the upstairs area for more open seating and they have a large TV that you can ask them to adjust the channel if you want to watch something specific. A little quieter upstairs too! If you want to enjoy the outdoors space they do have a firepit and the gates give you some privacy especially on a nice day. As for the food the burgers, mini corn dogs, and tots here are nice options to share. Obvious bar food so might not be the healthiest but what else would you pair with a nice brew. Prices here are on the pricier side coming closer to $20+ so you are getting an upcharge but if you're trying to check all places on your passport might as well get some items to share with everyone. I really enjoyed the space and can see why it's a local favorite in the area. I need to watch a movie here next time since the theatre was so cute!

Had a great experience here with my friends. All of the staff were so friendly, especially Kaden who made me an amazing Moscow Mule and was super friendly! Will definitely be visiting this location again.

Best theatre ever! So cheap and lovely. I love supporting small theatres. Seats could be more comfortable but the vibe of looking at what clearly used to hold plays is really fun.

Token service. Staff is as cold as the cold burger with the stale Bun they served me. Looked forward to there buger all day only to disappointed. Bugerville is the better choicr.​

Hands down the best place to play eye spy! Tons of great, interesting decor to see. Service was a little bit slow, but once we got our drinks I noticed the care and attention the bartenders put into making them, so make sure you aren't in a hurry when you stop in.

Yes, yet another McMenamins location I went to! I got to get those stamps for my passport! This pub was a really fun outing as it's in a historic building and in addition to the restaurant there is also a movie theater here as well which makes it all more special! There is good outdoor seating as well when weather permits. As always the food at McMenamins is solid and the atmosphere is a lot fun with the quirky art. The t-shirt for this location has a fun logo for the pub(which of course I had to buy) rounding out another enjoyable experience at McMenamins.

The best matinee in St. John's. Never can be mad at affordable movie outings I've been coming here since I was kid so it holds a special place in my heart. Great popcorn and pizza and usually has decent cider and beer on tap.

Man, I am stuffed to the brim with their delicious takeout! I keep going to the same spots so I decided to check out this McMenamins location for lunch. I ordered the Greek Chicken Gyro - it was refreshing and HUGE! I tried as hard as I could to finish it as it wouldn't reheat well with the fresh veggies. I called it a day about 3/4 way through. In the COVID era everything was as good as possible - door open upon arrival (no shared touching), everyone with masks, no contact pick up ... happy camper!

Pulled pork burger with tots, el Diablo burger, milkshake beer, coffee beer All the food was below average.... except for the tots and fries. Good thing they didn't mess that up. Skip it all together if you can. Milkshake beer was NOT a milkshake. I was so disappointed. How misleading! Tastes more like a berry beer. Skip it. Coffee beer tastes like beer. What happened to that coffee part? Guess they forgot. Super cute venue. Not very clean. A lot of tables left dirty. We had to sit at a dirty table and Our server didn't even wipe down the table. We put the dirty dishes on another table and used the old (untouched) napkins to brush off the crumbs. They need more staff! Server gave us a blanket from the theater! Will NOT be returning or recommending.

Fun ambiance and a great value to go to the theater but the menu has poor selection of finger foods to eat with our beer in the theater. Also, that kitchen looked disorganized and grimy. We decided not to take a chance on their food.

Charming and always enjoyable, this pub delivers on grub, drinks, happy hour and movies. Sit inside or out in the vibrant garden--it's all good. Know that this place gets busy and the the pathways get clogged, so you may have to wait a bit for your food. I think it's worth it. Know, too, that pours on drinks are measured and accurate. I applaud that, not being a fan of out of proportion gin and tonics--and being a fan of place's fabulous freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and vodka. Balance, people, balance. I like nights in the garden patio because of the fire place and artistic torch. The seating is comfortable and the food and service are consistent. I've only been here with 1-2 people at a time, so I can't vouch for arriving here with a larger group. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't do that without reservations or with guests who don't eat pub food. As with all McMenamins--Cajun tots are a must and Scooby Snacks deserve a sampling at least once. The salads are all great and the burgers always satisfy. I think ordering steak is a misstep here--even the smaller steak bites. McMenamins' vegetarian bowls are truly delicious and filling. Movies are awesome here--intimate theater and red wine with a first run movie; I'm in!

A movie, hard cider and popcorn for under $15? Yep! At a time when first run movies are $12, popcorn another $10 and a bottle of water is $5, getting the full movie experience with an adult beverage is worth the 5 stars! The theatre is small, but you can reserve a seat. I prefer sitting in the middle section, that has a long table in front of the chairs, but if you don't have a table, they provide trays for your lap. Yes, there are usually lines of people placing their orders for movie time drinks/food, but the lines move quickly, the bartenders give full pours and it's all good! Personally, I love watching movies in small intimate theatres like this and will drive out to St. John's just for the theatre. In warm weather, the outdoor garden is a great way to spend an evening. Lots of seating areas, a fire pit, party lights - all contribute to a backyard feel. I love it! Food is typical pub food: burgers, tater tots, tacos, corn dogs. I enjoy the albacore tuna sandwich or the tacos. There is a parking lot, but it fills quickly! You can enter the garden in a gap in the hedge, or walk around to the side entrance. If you can't find parking in the lot, there are several side streets with parking.

Another great classic McMenamins experience! Cool design and theater to boot! Beautiful outdoor patio.

This is everything that you expect from the chain. The staff is funky cool with a great attitude. The food was consistent, fresh popcorn and Chardonnay great combo. Glad I stopped while in St Johns. Thee place itself is decorated well and the clean tables and bar help with the dark rooms. The bathrooms are clean and well kept. Not a single complaint

Exhausted from a turbulent flight from LA, we were famished at the hour of 330. The turbulence was so bad, Southwest didn't hand out peanuts or pretzels, let alone a drink, but that's another review. This little gem is located in the St John's district, a charming little community in Northwest Portland. This restaurant / brewery/ theater was simply perfect and we hit it at the time of happy hour. Between us, we had an amazing burger, a pulled pork slider, and a smoked mozzarella grilled cheese, all with cajun tater tots. The beers were delicious as promised by our attentive waiter, Devon. Sorry for the lack of photos, it truly indicates our hunger. All in all, a great experience. The decor is lovely, sit upstairs and you will see the charm from above. We will be back when we have more time.

If you're going for the food it is pretty classic of any other McMenamins out there. The staple including Tater-tots and pub-style food. The quality of food is pretty standard with the typical high cost of a regular Mcmenamins. If you're going for the cinema, I would definitely recommend the St. Johns Twin Cinemas that is about a 10 minute walk. There are typically more showings and more movies available with a much larger seating arrangement.

Almost tucked away in St. John's area is another chill place to grab a drink and hang out. This location has a nice outdoor seating and also a movie theater inside. I have not watched a movie in here yet, but maybe one day. The interior is spacious and the decor reminds me of the other McMenamins. You can't go wrong with their cajun tots and drinks. The service is friendly and drinks come out quick.

The ambiance is the best around - hands down. Sometimes the food is solid, other times it's not good. The service is consistently friendly and painfully slow. Sitting outside... it is always downright glacial. But... sitting inside is usually passable enough. Not speedy... but not rage inducing. Drinks are not strong at all. Had a great salad there recently and their soups are usually tasty. Sandwiches are shockingly inconsistent.

The server, Devin, was wonderful! He recommended a great cider and helped us out with all of our wine ordering needs. We got a bowl and a salad and ended up splitting the two and combining them. It was delicious! Don't forget your passport, because you'll want to get your stamp at this location.

So usually I post food pics, but I demolished it before I remembered! I had the "El Diablo" with tots. This sandwich was packed with flavor! 10/10 would eat again & I definitely recommend you try it. Also, the staff were ALL very very friendly, attentive and gave off the best vibes! Super cute area and outside dining area I'm excited to try one day!

First time I was trying this place and sat at the bar. I had a full hour for lunch, ordered a cold sandwich with salad because the bartender said it would be faster. I barely got to take it to go! Lunch date with my son was $80 for nothing! He still didn't have his food yet after an hour when I had to leave, and looks like I won't be eating lunch today. Waste of money, wouldn't recommend going here unless you have HOURS to wait.

I have a really hard time with huge thick brioche hamburger buns that are dry and not fresh, when I'm paying $15 for that burger. It happens pretty often around Portland; these places always use the thickest possible brioche buns with a tiny thin coating of mayonnaise. There is nothing more insulting than nickle and diming on unfresh buns and condiments. It's an annoying pattern in Portland. I always have to ask for a side of mayo, and that side is also always a thimble full. What is the big deal with giving people some mayo? McMenamins gets the ire because it is a quintessential Portland restaurant chain.

This quaint pub is tucked into the up and coming neighborhood of St. John's. The first time I came here, we sat outside in the garden, which was lovely. This time, we had lunch inside. I ordered the El Gusto Carnitas Tacos ($10.25). Nothing accompanies these 3 house-smoked tacos, garnished with cabbage, corn & black bean salsa, and cilantro sour cream, but they were more than satisfying. I boxed up one of them to take home, and it was equally tasty later. Service was fine, and there's a huge parking lot in the back. What stands out the most is the fun, quirky decor. Pigs don't have to fly (see photo) for me to return to this atmospheric pub!

Seriously some of the best service I've ever had. Everyone was super attentive and kind. Our server (didn't catch his name but he was working at the bar and had finger tattoos) was super kind and was on top of making sure we always had full drinks. Everyone was helping each other out. Just seemed like a great environment to be in and the place itself is beautiful. We're new to the area and making this a signature date night spot.

An above average McMenamins. The food is meh, prices for said food is high, beer is below average (maybe in 1987 it was the best, now it's overpriced and underwhelming.) This location, however, is located in the National Cash Register Building built for the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition, and later used during the 1905-1906 Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition. It's actually one of the only remaining buildings from the Lewis and Clark Exposition, which is arguably the greatest event in Portland history. More information here (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Cash_Register_Building). Movies here are cheap, second run movies and the seats are comfortable enough. I recommend coming here during happy hour because the prices are more reasonable. I also enjoy their outdoor dining area, in a peaceful little garden. Overall a good experience, and one of the better McMenamins locations.

Pretty disappointed in this place. I have a passport. Was very eager to fill my page with this last stamp. However it closer early without posting. Made last call on food, drinks everything. How disappointing that is especially with ponthias saying yeah sorry, come back tomorrow we will open regular hours. Why would i want to? Will he sure not to come back again.

Took our family in for some dinner all 8 of us. Friendly service, prompt food delivery, everything cooked to our liking and the seasonal cider was recommended too. We enjoyed ourselves. The bathrooms were clean and the local patrons kind enough to take our families photo when asked. Our only slight complaint would be battling fruit flies...but it was during the god awful August heatwave here in Portland so all the critters come alive.

I ordered the chicken tortilla soup and it was thick and chunky. So tasty and warming. I've been here once before and ordered the spinach artichoke dip and yumm... thick Parmesan slices. The only downside is that I had no cell service so my date probably thinks that I stood him up haha on a plus, I had a lovely, independent night full of yummy food and tasty drinks. Did I mention how cool it looks inside

Man people are too harsh, it is a pub! It gets busy, you might have to wait, the staff might be overwhelmed if it's the weekend or a busy time. The food is good but not great. The beer is good but lord knows if the taps have been cleaned ever. The bartender has no idea about craft beer but they know how to pour it. Again, say it with me - IT. IS. A. PUB. Also, they have a theater, theaters get cold, that's pretty standard, bring a sweater. We went here for the first time last week. The decor is really fun and reminds me of a funky little European pub. Yes, the staff was overwhelmed but the food was surprisingly delicious. The theater is small but you can eat and drink which is the #1 reason to go there and they have a little station on the side with condiments and water which was helpful. TIP: When picking seats, the seats down the middle of the theater have tables but the ones on the sides don't. However they do have food/drink caddies that you can put on your lap, very handy! Does it deserve 5 stars? Probably not, but it gave me everything I came for and that says enough :)

This is a nice place to hang out in St John's. Like many McMenamins thus is in a restored old building. of course the building is cool. It was brought to here from.the Lewis and Clark exposition. It even has a dome. On one side of the building they have a movie theater. On the other a bar with upstairs seating. There is also outside seating but it's on a busy road. The food and drinks are standard McMenamins. The service here tries hard but always seems short staffed.

Good food, great service. Cool aesthetic. We were quick to be seated and waiter was friendly and attentive. I enjoyed my St. John's Drip sandwich with cajun tater tots and my coworker had the Backyard Burger. Portions were very filling - he wished he had boxed half his burger to go like I did for my sandwich! I hope to have a chance to visit again and check out the theater or take a look at the books!

Its such a cute place. Love the fire pit they have outside. I didn't get to explore the whole building but from what i can tell it's cute. The waiter was really nice and this time i didnt have to wait hours for my food. Maybe next time ill change my review when i get to explore a little bit more.

Really? Because you know the economy is tanking so at some point we're wondering if the staff at this place will ever get it. Yes it has atmosphere. And it's fun to watch a movie here (crappy seating be damned!). The food is good, the beer is good (be nice if the bartender was friendly) but don't consider a visit if you have only a few hours to live and you want to eat first; you will starve before you shed that mortal coil. But then, you'll probably lose your appetite once you pick up the scum covered menu anyway.

McMenamins is what it is. But I kinda like it. Since I didn't grow up in Portland and never had the luxury of microbrews on every corner, the beer here in my opinion is good! In fact, I took my parents here last night and my mom gulped down half her Terminator stout within 2 min of the waiter putting it down in front of her. This is MY MOM. She doesn't normally drink beer. Anyways, this is a fun place for me to take my out of town guests. Not the best food (it's pub food, people). Cool ambiance, tasty beer, decent-ish happy hour. I will be coming back for movies. Haven't experienced that yet. What keeps me coming back: Cajun Tater Tots, Beer, Cool vibe

This is my go to place for get togetherd and to celebrate birthdays. I continue to do outdoor dining only. The patio is so beautiful and relaxing with the trees and greenery so it's ideal. I always order the Aztec salad or garden burger. Service is always friendly and quick. Love having this place in NoPo.

5 stars, yes I'm giving my neighborhood Mcmenamins 5 stars! Why you might ask? Because it's a chill, come as your are, very Portland, type place. I can go in a dress, or cut off sweats & I still feel at home. And yes, I've went here in both. Seat yourself here. The place is small enough, they'll notice you. Outside is also great during the nice summer days. Their burgers are AMAZING.... and I never eat burgers. Give it a try, don't forget to order some tots!

I had never been to this location, and it was really good! I had a chicken sandwich, and my boyfriend had a burger and beer before we watched Deadpool (which, if you haven't seen already, is a MUST see) I will be going back here, for food, and cheap movie viewings!

Cheap movies, delicious food, and friendly staff make this a wonderful off-the-beaten track Portland destination. Mostly inhabited by locals, the wanderer is treated to $3 cinema and a fantastic atmosphere in the eatery. I especially love the comfy chairs upstairs on the balcony that overlooks the rest of the bar.