Jeremy C.
Yelp
Portland parents who have long known this prime NE space as Hopworks BikeBar will have their hearts drop as soon as they enter this new, cold, unwelcoming embodiment. Once upon a time -- before COVID shuttered its doors -- Hopworks BikeBar was a neighborhood place full of color, energy, warmth and phenomenal customer service. The waitstaff would remember your favorite orders, would bring the kids little soft serve ice cream cones, and would always earn every cent of their 30% tip I would love to grant them. Migration has taken that jovial, family-friendly haven and turned it into another cold, industrial-styled, Portland brewery with lazily-scattered tables and the absolute minimum of customer service. The scowling manager, counting receipts at a back table (so professional), barked at my 70-year-old mother to put on her mask one step inside the door. I mean, BARKED. Due to that first impression, we should have left. Lucky for Migration, we were hungry. It didn't get much better. Unfortunately, it's yet another Portland BrewPub that has decided to skimp on staff and consumer experience by taking orders exclusively at the bar, dolling out numbered flags with all the charm of a supermarket deli. This is a Portland trend which has never made sense to me -- and the only one I tolerate is The Old Gold in North Portland which offers a much friendlier staff, much better and more inventive menu, much better patio, and a much better bar, period. But, I digress. Migration's beer is good and their food was okay -- but certainly nothing outstanding nor worth returning to. And, we won't. For the cheap seats, I did some quick math; when BikeBar was open, I spent (on average) $4,160 per year for my family to happily dine there on a near-weekly basis. Tell us, Migration Brewing, what is hospitality and great service worth to your bottom line? Because I can simply get your canned beer at Fred Meyer's.