Jason V.
Yelp
Tap [keg]: Add 1 IPA to your Pint Glass. Activate only as long as you have money in your bank account, and only if you are not [Wasted].
I've been playing Magic: the Gathering since Alpha back in 1993, so you'd think I would have heard that Mox Boarding House had opened up shop in Portland by now, as they have apparently been here for two years. I guess I missed the memo. I remember the days when the only drafting happening in the CCG world involved opening packs of cards; now, the drafting happens behind the bar as well!
More than just a bar, Mox is a fantastically stocked board and card gaming store, tournament/event venue, AND a full-fledged restaurant serving surprisingly delicious food at competitive prices, in an elegant renovated space that used to be a dollar store, although you would never be able to tell. Dark hardwood tables, chandeliers, ambient light from paneled windows...the vibe in this collectible card game cathedral rivals, even outclasses a significant percentage of upscale restaurants in the (Mox) Pearl District.
Same can be said of the food and cocktails. Although we only ordered a drink a piece (Ruby Soho and Mini Love), plus the Coconut Tres Leches cake and the Mediterranean cauliflower appetizer, everything we tried was incredible, with potent, complex flavors, cunningly conceptualized and crafted, and sizably portioned for the price. I wouldn't hesitate to come here for the food and drinks alone, even if that were all that Mox had to offer!
But it's not! Check out any board game from their lending library, and challenge your companions to a match while waiting for your food to arrive (or while eating...they won't stop you)! Eavesdrop on one of the many tournaments taking place around you; there's nothing better than offering commentary or strategy tips with a mouthful of cake! And when you're finished, purchase a new game, figurine, paints, or dice from the shop before Planeswalking back home.
My only gripe is that the dishes should be renamed to be thematically appropriate to the gamer aesthetic. Why isn't the Hot Honey chicken sandwich called "The Cockatrice"?; why is there's no cocktail called the "Black Lotus?"; and not a single burger is named "The Stack"? C'MON! Time to take a Mulligan on the menu.
Like opening a chase rare in a booster pack, stumbling into a local Mox Boarding House was a happy surprise: I'm glad Seattle is no longer keeping all of their locations to themselves! We are spoilt for choice when it comes to fantastic gaming stores in the PDX area, but the arrival of Mox presents the first real challenge to the crown worn previously by places such as Guardian Games and Red Castle; one might say it has become the Monarch. And while each has their own perks, drawbacks, and food/drink options, Mox Boarding House is unique in that it caters to a more sophisticated gamer: one who enjoys drinking a glass of wine while simultaneously drinking the tears of the opponent being trampled by an army of 15/15 squirrel tokens. Suck it, Emrakul!