NEPO 42

As someone who lives in the neighborhood, I have been coming here since they opened. I've been tolerant of many not-so-great servers over the years, hoping that whoever does the hiring would eventually find a solid crew. I returned for the usually good food, prolific beer selection, and lovely patio. Today was my last visit. I came in around 5:15pm on Sunday 7/7. I let a server with a blond pony tail know that I would be on their patio, like the sign requested. She said they were only offering counter service- which means that I am welcome to eat on the patio but I need to be my own server. I mentioned in a very casual tone (I was thinking out loud) that I probably shouldn't do that, since I just had chemo. Entering and exiting the restaurant to be my own server would be A) exhausting and B) a high risk choice even with a mask on, considering I am extra-immune compromised after chemo. Experts say you wear a mask for others, not so much for your self. I learned this the hard way when I got Covid while wearing a mask where others were not. I respect other's choice not to wear a mask. What I do not respect is the server who responded to me with a facial expression that was so nonchalant and uncaring, it was the equivalent of a shoulder shrug. I don't want special treatment. What I want is to interact with humans who exhibit a healthy range of human emotions. Understanding. Compassion. Eye contact. I was a server for 8 years. I would have said, "We have limited staff right now and so are expected to be at the bar, but if you would sit at the table right outside the door I would be glad to wait on you, or hand you your order at the door." Again, while this is what I would have done, it is fine if she didn't offer that. But a little humanity was absolutely in order. I truly would rather have cancer than be a heartless, numb person who would respond in a dead faced way. I have lost a lot, but I have not lost my ability to relate to others and show basic respect. I don't think I could enjoy this place again.

We really like NEPO 42, great neighborhood restaurant/bar. Good food and big TV's for the Blazers game. The veggie Ruben, the South Western salad, chocolate chips cookies. Comfortable atmosphere with 40 taps to choose from. Happy servers and plenty of seating, Take the family and sit on the heated covered patio. The chocolate chip cookies are the best, tasty, and they had milk. The service is always fast with moderate prices.

Great little place. The spinach beet salad with blackened chicken was amazing. Service was very amicable and friendly.

Delicious food, happy tummy ! My husband and I ordered chicken wings as appetizer, it was so tasty and balanced well with the blue cheese. As for the main courses, we had chicken & waffle and south of the border hash. Overall we had a quite amazing experience here. Chicken breast was juicy and crispy which I liked very much, and it went well with the syrup they poured over the waffle. My favorite was the hash, it was so flavorful. Service was great as well.

Can't go wrong with any meal at nepo 42. Even the appetizers are filling, though this time I went with a chicken sandwich

Even with all the crazy happening with the storm (tore up tent out front and frozen pipes), Sol and the rest of the staff were welcoming and friendly. Chelsea knows how to make a darn good Old Fashioned, and the beer selection is great, too! Wish they were open today...I'd head over!

Been here a handful of times and overall give it 5 stars. I love the covered outdoor seating, the beer selection is great, and the barnyard fries are my favorite, pretzel is great, husband had the ribs and enjoyed them, he used to get the chicken fried steak, but that looks like it may have moved on from the menu. I like the Killingsworth Chicken Club also, and tried the Addy before. It was a little dry, but I'm sure had we asked they would have fixed it but it was fine enough. Service has always been pretty good and the only times it was a wait was when it was busy and they appeared understaffed which I totally understand being in the industry right now. Overall, enjoy going here.

The place is fine but the prices are ridiculous. $18 for a small plate of "nacho fries". It would've cost $5 to make at home and came out of the kitchen in about 4 minutes. Not sure what I paid for. 2 drinks, and one small plate of cheese fries cost me $42 before a tip. This place is for the 1%. Either that or the owner is trying to become the 1%.

Drinks and food were good, our server was incredible! Tall gal with curly hair and cool squid earrings was so nice and friendly and made our visit, even though it was really really busy for a fundraiser. 100% would come back.

The food was great. I had a chicken club sandwich (see photo) and garlic fries. Both came out hot and fresh. The parking is not fun. Hard to find a spot on the street.

Have call multiple times on multiple days to place an order...never can. As a local, sad to never feel you can't support a local business, because the staff decides how busy it is. Was told the kitchen staff takes phone off the hook too...owners u see

Went in on a Sunday around 1:30, sign up front said to seat yourself. We sat down in the main dining area near the bar. There were 3-4 servers working, about half the tables had customers. We sat about 15 minutes and no one came by our table. Figured they may have had a busy rush, and were still catching up, so we continued to wait. Tried making eye contact, but were completely ignored. After almost 30 minutes we got up and left.

Awesome food and good menu. Sadly seem understaffed but they are really upfront if/when it will be along wait for food! Inside and outside tables are all great. Wild that this place is more packed! Parking can be tricky since there's not a parking lot and it's right on 42nd so just plan to street park, walk a min or two, and cross the street. Recommend: brunch, club sando

Arrived with my wife and two kids. A server told us it would be ten minutes before they could seat us. As we waited out front, a child-free couple walked in after us and were seated immediately. The staff told them that the open table we were waiting for was theirs. We have had this same server before and she's always been rude and claims to be short staffed. If you're not kid friendly just put up a sign or advertise it so we don't waste my family's time trying to give you money.

I came for brunch with a friend, took awhile after sitting down to get any service let alone be acknowledged, took awhile to get our order in, though no tables were being served for awhile. I specifically said no eggs. Got 'em! Sent it back. Subpar service. Subpar quality food. The waitress was especially dismissive towards me, I guess until she obnoxiously said, "Oh you're paying for the whole bill." At which point she said oh it's $43 & slammed down the bill. WOW! ...I'm REALLY taken aback & extremely disappointed. But also proud of myself that I'm not the kind person to treat others this way. I was far too kind in paying 20%, definitely WAS NOT 20% quality anything! I won't be back.

Mehhh. I feel like I've been here years ago and enjoyed it more, but I ordered a bunch of sides recently and was mostly unimpressed. Mashed potatoes? Deeeeply under-seasoned. Might not have been anything but potato. Fondue? Surprisingly bland as well. I added it to the mashers in hopes that it would liven them up, and ended up needing to add extra cheese (whyyyy?) and salt and seasoning to make it palatable. Felt more like roux than fondue. Greens? Pretty tasty. Would order again. Cornbread? Good but the consistency was strange to me for cornbread. A little dense, maybe. I'm sure I'll give it another go at some point, but not on my must-go list.

Soooo happy that this place is a nice walk from the house. Elevated bar food. Great beers and cocktails. Friendly staff. A true neighborhood gem here in Cully.

Pretty standard bar food but they have a big outdoor space which is nice for larger groups. The wait staff are nice but our last visit the table outside were pretty dirty which was disappointing.

The wings were okay, pretty salty, maybe rinse the brine before cooking, The fries were good but the Rueben was way over cooked and the meat had no flavor. I do appreciate the wait staff taking 50% off the sandwich due to the poor quality. Had a few beers that were not that great but that's my fault for not checking untapped first.

Food is overpriced for what it is but has a lovely patio and a lot of nice beers on tap

Not enthusiastic about an hour and a half wait up the road at Little Griddle, my sister suggested we head over to Nepo 42. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating available for our group of three. Outdoor is covered/tented with heaters, so we were sheltered and warm. Waitstaff was attentive. Short bloody mary with gin was the fucking best. If we were here for drinks this would be a 5-star review. The food, however, sort of missed the mark. Chicken n' Waffle ($16) was supposed to come with sage syrup but arrived plain and dry. When asked about it they brought over what tasted like regular maple syrup. Maybe the sage was just really subtle? A little disappointing. Huevos Rancheros ($14) was topped with a nacho cheese that did not do it any favors at all. I would not order this again, though I did like that it was accompanied by a side salad instead of something heavier. The Mr. October ($18 -- HOUSE-MADE BISCUIT TOPPED WITH FRIED CHICKEN, PEPPER BACON, AND EXTRA SHARP CHEDDAR. SERVED WITH YUKON GOLD BREAKFAST POTATOES). We requested no bacon and sub spinach instead. They left off the bacon and charged us $2 for adding spinach. Hardly seems like a fair trade, especially since we weren't informed of the additional cost when we ordered. This was a massive dish of food that easily made two meals, so the price wasn't too terrible if you take that into account. Definitely a meat-heavy menu but with a couple veggie/vegan options. I'd come back for drinks.

Years later and Still love their wings - perfect every time! And cocktails are delicious!

First time going here my amazing partner and I went here for a date night out. They were very welcoming and offered outdoor seating which is a huge plus. The outside was well lit and had big heaters out to keep you toasty warm. After we sat down the waitresses came over there was one in training they asked what we wanted started with a round of drinks I ordered a old fashion, it was well made perfectly paired with a hand sliced orange slice and a delicious cherry. My partner got a mascow mule and I had a few sips also tasty. While we were enjoying one another company we enjoyed the hummus platter which included fresh pita slides, and different toppings peppers, olives. Menu: https://www.toasttab.com/nepo42/v3#!/order COVID 19 Didn't check temp Had masked workers and gloves Offered hand sanitizer in restroom. Plan on spending about 40.00 + for two people. Definitely would come back here again parking is close and walking distance to bar.

Best margarita and bartender in NE! a nice relaxing place with great atmosphere with indoor and outdoor facility. Go here!!

This spot is a hidden gem for brunch! A friend suggested we go as they have outside seating and are super clean during the pandemic and we headed over at 11am on Saturday. No wait! Widow unheard of in Portland for brunch. We sat right away and had coffee in front of us within minutes. Good coffee too! The setup outside was sunny and clean which we relished. The menu is awesome with great options for veg or meat dishes across the board. Heads up that many items contain jalapeños for you spice lovers! My Breakfast Barnyard potatoes were GOOD. The fondue cheese was *chef's kiss* and the portions for all were huge. My friend's chorizo dish was good but they did forget to remove the jalapeños as requested so it did put a damper on things. Overall we ended up swapping as I love spice and the chorizo was a little too spicy as well. We both agreed mine was 10/10 but I did love the spicy jalapeños and chorizo in theirs :) Parking was fine but there's no designated lot. Service was perfect (beyond the kitchen jalapeño issue). Highly recommend! But shhhh! Don't tell everyone you know about it so we can have no wait brunch for a while.

The worst service I have seen in long time...I had to go and order another drink at the bar myself because the server ignored my attempts I was sitting with empty glass for 20 minutes... I ordered chicken wings they were barely warm and dry nothing special... This day I got really bad experience in this place... The only nice thing about this place is good draft list...

I love Nepo 42 and think they have delicious food! Unfortunately when I tried to get some dinner and asked to sit outside at 8pm on a Friday night, they told me outdoor seating was closed. When I asked if we could try the table out the window as COVID exists and I don't have health insurance one employee working told me to "stay home if I'm so terrified." Not going to go back.

We just moved into the neighborhood and have been dying to check this place out. It came highly recommended by our neighbors. A short walk from out place! It has a wonderful outdoor patio that we are looking forward to using once we get warmer weather!! Hummus plate for appetizer was really good. Ruben, Wrap and Bowl were also very good and rich with bold flavors. Unfortunately service was very unpleasant. It seemed like our waitress was the only one working and didn't really want to be there... gave off a pretty negative vibe... Looking forward to trying it again for a better experience!

Came here for a Saturday brunch. No parking lot so use street parking. They have a great outside set up. They have a full bar and plenty of brews on draft. I ordered the chicken and waffle. It came with two chicken breasts and a giant waffle with bacon. Everything tasted great.

We've been coming to NEPO42 for so long + the food & service are always top notch. Love that they have an outside with umbrellas as well as a big tent for our rainy brunch dates. We love the Huevos Rancheros & I see lots of folks get the Waffles & Fried Chicken. There's a large selection of beers & a decent selection of fancy drinks + wine. It's a hidden gem in the neighborhood.

Arrived on a Sunday morning 9:45am to get in line, but there wasn't anyone waiting. Service was prompted and our orders came out of the kitchen in reasonable time. Everyone enjoyed their breakfasts but... I ordered the Sampler with bacon at $14. Highlights were the biscuits and gravy (one had the mushroom gravy), the challah toast (french toast) and the south of the boarder hash. The bloody mary was one of the spicy my date has had. It wasn't very tomato flavored in fact it was so spicy she could not taste much of anything. She said she'd not have it again. $9, ouch. There was something major missing from the 2 beer selection boards. It lists the $ and ABV ( alcohol content) but not the far more important numbers, the IBU (International bitter units). If I were to come to have a beer, I'd have to look these up. By 10:45 it was packed and too noisy so we finished up and left about 11. We would not return again for breakfast but we'd try them for lunch and a beer that I'd have to research IBUs before ordering. We've heard the wings are super.

Very disappointed. I know it is hard to find people to work, but how about you find some that give a crap. We were seated inside, and waited for a full 10 minutes talking. I thought we must have to go to the bar to place our order. The woman behind the bar saw me and said she would be there to get our order. Another 5 minutes, she is litterly wiping down the counters before a different guy asks us for our drink order. We order, 10 minutes later we finally get our drinks. Worst service ever? YES! The food was average, but the serivce was the worst I have ever had in my life. I told them that, and they could have cared less. Save your time and go anywhere else.

Our go-to spot immediately after arriving at PDX or about to get on a plane! Greatest burgers & beers anywhere. We roll in here & they take care of you quickly. Food always DELICIOUS & beer selection always PHENOMENAL. Even for portland. And that's saying a lot! Most places have good selection, NEPO42 is always top notch! The wings are also great here. We have not been disappointed once & look forward to our many happy returns. GO HERE!!!

My sister in law likes the impossible burger here so we tried it out. ( tried a bite- not a fan) I probably wouldn't go back and definitely wouldn't get a burger.. Meat was dry and didn't have much flavor.. even the bacon didn't have much flavor. Bun was good. My husband got a burger as well with blue cheese and bacon and didn't like it much. He likes his beer though. Fries were good at least!

After Portland Pizza Week I was in need of something remotely nutritious. The Healthy Bowl definitely satisfied. A few times I bit into an entire garlic clove so I wish they would dice them. And the jalapeño grits were good. Nobody checked on my meal until I was finished. The bartender guy with the bun was cool. No salt and pepper or spoons on the table. Lastly, the hot sauce selection is very weak. Still, a nice place to dine especially outside on a sunny day.

Love this place! The addy sandwich is my go to. So delicious and eating outside is even better. Great selection of beer and cider.

Love this place! Food is always amazing. My kids love to go here. That's that's always their 1st choice. Had my sister try it & she now she's a repeat offender lol. They all love the chicken wings.

I heard great things about this place but I don't get it. The food was... fine, and the service was mediocre. The biggest problem was the flies. So many flies all over time he place. Gross.

I've been looking for chicken and waffles like they make back home at Roscoe's. No luck whatsoever. Tried all the places recommended and had given up. Went to NEPO 42 for the first time with friends for happy hour, and there they were! Honestly, I nearly didn't even order them since nothing had come close to what I hoped for. This was such an amazing surprise! I'll be back again and again and again. BTW, everything my friends ordered was also amazing. I tried the hotdog. So much flavor! Enjoyed all our drinks as well, and the one with grapefruit vodka shouldn't be missed. I normally get a Greyhound, but this was better.

I was very pleased. I ordered the full-sized wings on Grub hub and was very pleased. They were hot and the celery and carrots complemented the wings very well. I also made a new friend in the process with the delivery person because she was a patient for a hospital system I was in town interviewing for at the same time. Delicious food!

The craft beer was amazing. The owner and staff are eager to say hello. We had the brisket chili fries and pretzels. We should have came back to here instead of the brewery I sit in right now writing this.

Just repeating what's been said. Pre-pandemic this place was one of my goto spots. Got the "wings" today and while the flavors were spot on, chunks of chicken breast do not compare to actual wings. Please bring them back!!!

Nepo is a rare gem. I have enjoyed several delicious meals and the staff is great. Food really shows some skills. A Must visit place! Will definitely be back

Sad family cause they no longer have boneless smoked wings This place has the best wings ever - well did... I can't speak to the bone-in wings. We've had Many other items here that are all good but not great. I will miss those wings forever. The waitress said they only had boneless due to wing cost during pandemic.

Excellent spices and cooking. Definitely a spot to recommend for brunch, lunch and brews. Almost like a hidden gem in the city.

Great service and the wings on the past was wonderful. However, because of the Pandemic, the menu is limited. Still, the items they do have on the menu is very good. Cool and friendly atmosphere. Perfect place to hide out on a rainy day.

Boy have things changed! Not sure what happened, but this use to be our go to spot and things have absolutely changed at this restaurant. Went on Saturday and the entire experience was not the same, service was uncaring and the food below par. Ordered the 9 piece wings (which was our fav at this restaurant) and after about 20 minutes received a chicken breast cut into 9 strips...when it arrived noted to the server "your wings have changed" and simply got a flippant response of "yeah there's a wing shortage" with a roll of the eyes as she walked away. Ok, so I've read about the wing shortage...but maybe say that on the menu, or tell us when we ordered that it would be different?...I don't know but I kinda like places that are transparent and honest. Now combine that with a couple of bloody Mary's poured into bucket rock glasses (who serves a "short" Bloody Mary?) and having to chase down someone to get a glass of water - almost feeling bad about interrupting their conversation behind the bar - the total experience was simply mediocre. Again not sure what happened at this restaurant, but so not the same...what went from a "let's go there" to a "why go there" spot on our list. Very sad since it WAS so good

Really nice place. We came here because it was open late and just a few blocks away from where I live. I always see this place but never interested me enough to go until one night. My husband always gets burgers at places like this and it looked really good. I got the nachos and they are one of my all time favorites now. Their drinks options are really good, but I always stick to the ciders and they only have 2 options I believe. The seating outside looks nice but I always prefer to stay inside. Over all this is a nice place to come get your beer and nachos to hang out with friends. PS. Their bathrooms have chalk paint and I like to go write funny quotes. Does anyone else do that or am I just weird?

Love this place. Great atmosphere, wonderful service, and a menu to make everyone happy. The NEPO salad is FANTASTIC and I challenge you to find a better and more affordable pretzel and cheese!

Best place in NE Portland, Great customer service and AWESOME food. From the owners to the dishwashers this is top notch all the way around.

We just had an EXCEPTIONAL brunch there! We have not been going out much since COVID started... and really not eating out outside of our neighborhood. But the first sunny Sunday in 2021... We dared to venture out. Menu - Food - Service - Ambiance - Safety were all home runs. We were met with friendly smiles, sat quickly in a comfortable table (safely distant from other customers) under a (translucent) tent with heaters, labeled that it had been sanitized. Our server was speedy (really difficult - and rare - with outdoor seating) and charming. Wish I remembered her name - she had dark hair, tattoos, wore jeans and a dark shirt.... Hubby had the "Mr. October" - homemade biscuits topped with all kinds of deliciousness; crispy yet moist fried chicken, bacon, cheese, two eggs and decedent homemade sausage gravy. Came with perfectly seasoned fried breakfast potatoes prepared with with caramelized onions and tiny chopped green bell peppers. I had a special; Pulled Pork Benedict = Smoky, savory home done pulled pork resting on the same homemade biscuits, topped with Cajun hollandaise and lightly friend okra. Asked for my eggs over-medium and they were spot-on. Subbed a fruit cup for the side of potatoes. The fruit had obviously just been freshly cut when my meal was plated. And everything was huge. We took the leftovers with us and will get at least another full meal out of it. We are SO PUMPED to have discovered this place!

Great outdoor seating. Taking correct COVID protocols. Excellent beer offerings. I enjoy they offer a "beer back" if you're not in the mood for a second full beer. Menu offers a lot of pub food, but portion sizes are bigger than expected!

Rough one tonight. Usually good spot but chicken on 2 orders is rubber and photo below was $15???

Ugh. Such not a good dining experience. We got take out. I called first to make sure they were open and doing take out. The lady that answered said yes but to use the online app for my order. She said to call back with questions. We ordered wings, the pretzels, nepoke bowl and chicken strips, along with paying for a few extra sauces. The online time said 20-25 minutes wait. We went to pick up the food about 30 minutes later. They were super busy . The guy at the front said they were busy and the order wasn't ready. Ok, no problem. 20 minutes later our food was ready. We got out to the car and realized no wings.... After another 10 minute wait, they had wings to give us. This wasn't an easy online order or pick up process for sure. It seemed there was communication conflict between the workers which made the wait a bit more frustrating. The food really wasn't good. The fries were overly salted and soggy. The breading on the chicken fell off before you could eat it. The pretzel had a good flavor but was over baked. The wings were decent but not good enough to return for. The poke bowl...I ate 2 bites and that was enough for me. The tuna was warm, the cucumbers way to vinegary and the spiciness over powered the dish. Super disappointing dinner.

Okay absolutely 5 stars for the vegan Impossible Burger $14. I loved everything about it, the texture, the flavor. I mean it - loved it! We had to stand in line for 20 minutes because they only have a few small tables for two people... that was a bummer. I'd love to come here in the afternoon when the sun is coming through the windows. It was pretty dark while we were eating so I guess I'm into good lighting :-)

FLAVOR EXPLOSION! I dined in the magical outdoor seating that somehow contained he perfection temperature. I had the Breakfast Barnyard Potatoes with Braised Pork, Fondue Cheese, Peppered Bacon, Eggs and more...it was amazing. I'm going to have to keep going back and work my way through the pleasantly surprising menu! It's a must for anyone who enjoys eating.

I ate at NePo 42 on a Thursday morning just after they opened at 11:30. There were only a couple other people sitting at the bar watching a soccer game on the flat screen at the time so we got pretty fast service. I ordered the chicken and waffle which I've been dying to try since this place is only 5 minutes from my house. I have mostly positive feelings about it. The chicken was perfect: juicy, crisp, and perfectly breaded. The bacon was nicely cooked too. The waffle however was just ordinary. However, the worst part of my visit was that someone had completely doused the waffle with syrup before it even got to my table. I like syrup, but there was a puddle of the stuff surrounding the waffle so much so that the waffle was quickly a pile of mush on my plate. It was good tasting mush, but not something alive experienced since I was an over excited kid... since everywhere I've ordered waffles the syrup is always on the side without me asking. Weird. My friend ordered a turkey sandwich and was able to swap the fries for a salad. She said she didn't like the salty capers in the salad, but was able to leave them in a pile on her plate. She must have liked the sandwich because she got half of it to go. I also took a star off because they never asked us if we wanted refills on our water. On top of that, I ordered a pear cider and my friend ordered a Bloody Maria (without salt and they gave her salt anyway) and they never asked us if we we wanted a second drink. I felt a bit ignored to be honest. Overall, I would go there again because the food was good but so would be sure to ask for syrup on the side and be more vocal about our need for refills!

Was a solid place for my first time, we had appetizers and drinks. Definitely cool spot, especially for first dates.