Portway Tavern

I went for a drive to the coast and I ended up exploring downtown Astoria for a little while. And when I got hungry I went looking for some place where I could go and sit down and have a good meal, out of the 30 mph winds. It was nice and cozy inside. A single room, with enough room for 30 people to congregate. The glasses are thick and heavy carved like crystal, giving the impression that they have been purchased from one of the many antique stores in town. I ordered the fish and chips, even though they seemed a little pricey, But the portions were big And I said I couldn't finish. The bartender topped off my glass without me needing to ask her to. And they even had a problematic old man sitting at the end of the bar, talking with everyone in the room like he was already their friend. He was lovely whoever he was! One of the gentlemen who was at the Lottery machines had a big payout while I was there, so that was fun to see.

Excellent halibut fish and chips. Make sure they don’t sit for too long if you order them to go. This was a great local space and had a little luck on their poker machine.

Great place for good food and good beer. We had the bone in wings and they were perfectly crisp with med sauce on the side. We also shared the pastrami which was enough for us to share since we had wings too. My wife had a few of the local beers which were all good, it just depends on what your in the mood for. Awesome place!

The server was excellent but it seemed to take awhile to get our order. If you don't like or can't eat mayo make sure you tell the server while placing your order. Some of the burgers come with mayo.

January 2025: Be very careful when you order vegetarian! There's a good chance you still get meat (see details in the "vegetarian options" section below). June 2024: I appreciate the owner's very thoughtful and detailed response to my old review and I have to admit that things are better again. We've been coming back sporadically. September 2023: The new owners have implemented some changes that we don't like. The best cooks have either been fired or resigned and the new cooks are clearly below the level we were used to. Also almost all bartenders have been replaced. Some vegetarian options have been removed from the menu. They're still available when asked for, but that's thus only for people who knew those options existed. They're no longer advertised. We now also need to pay extra to get cheese on some burgers!? And there's also a surcharge now if you want mayo with your fries. Hmmm... There are some significant price hikes that are making my wallet hurt (and we're hearing our local friends there complain too). We've given up and have decided to no longer come here. Reducing from 5 to 3 stars and hoping to see this place turn around. ---- Before September 2023: Best food in town! We've become "regulars" here, mostly because of the food, coming here at least once a week for about a year now. Sometimes 2 or even 3 times (not always eating though). We made some friends here. We learned yesterday that the best cook, Travis, has been moved to Tuesdays and Wednesdays by the new owners. This is terrible!!! Travis is the best cook in town by a longshot! We want him back to make our food on his old weekend schedule! Changing his schedule was a bad idea!!! Removing the QR code as payment option was sad but having to miss Travis is an extra level of sad. Hope see Alek again soon too!

Had my first meal at Portway this evening and it was fantastic! The blue cheese bacon cheeseburger was mouthwatering and absolutely delicious. And those waffle fries? I could eat a whole bucket of them! Our waitress was super friendly and attentive, making the experience even better. The atmosphere was lively, with plenty to see and enjoy. As a new local business owner, I’ll definitely be spreading the word. Highly recommend! 🍔😃👍

Their clam chowder was some of the best we've had. The calamari was nicely battered and not chewy. The burgers are fabulous and feature hand pressed patties. I highly recommend this place. Seating is limited, so be mindful of that since it's a rather small tavern.

Visited on a Friday night, about half full. Sat at bar and got fast and friendly service. Clam Chowder is best I've ever had, it had a tad of spice which was nice because a lot of restaurants chowder is bland. The bowl of chowders portion was very big, almost a meal in itself. Big chunks of clam and potatoes and nicely garnished too. The patty melt was great, and the fries were crisp and tasty. Stiff drinks. Nice atmosphere. Ended up taking the patty melt home as leftovers due to the size of the bowl of chowder. Will definitely go back. Also they're open later than most other restaurants in the area. Everyone else was closing at 6 or 8pm unless you went downtown

As a former local, I love stopping at the Portway. It's even better than I remember, with amazing food, service, and I love the atmosphere.

It looks like a New England saltbox house from outside, but it's a tavern, or a bar. It's got a sign saying no minors, there's a long bar for seating but also tables. I was here because the clam chowder was supposed to be good, and it was. Very thick, more than the usual potato but also lots of chewy clam. To go with it I had a burger, varieties of which occupy most of the rest of the menu. It was a good solid burger: I got the western bbq with onion rings on it.

Stopped in yesterday after trying for the 2nd time to visit a pizza and burger place on the East side of Astoria. Which was closed again on a Saturday at 3 PM. Ugh. Anyway, we ended up at the Portway, it wasn't that busy, and service was fast and friendly. The place is also clean! We've been to more than a few taverns in Oregon and Washington where dust and dead insects are part of the decor. Not do at the Portway! Drink prices and pours were good, and our cheese curds were excellent. The side salad was really fresh, and our seasoned waffle fries were good. The burgers we had were tasty - we had the Jamaican burger and the Mushroom/Swiss burger. We might have stayed for another drink if they offered desserts... We'll be back.

Astoria OR Stopped in for the chowder and drinks. Rotating drink menu so we got new samples. Looking for the best chowder and folks say this is it. Pretty dang good. I'd like it a little more heat hot, but flavors and clams were right! We had three of the drinks and all were great. Definitely coming back for more.

You will not be disappointed choosing Portway Tavern it is a solid choice. We stopped by on a Sunday around noon on a chowder quest. The tavern is tastefully decorated, clean and comfortable. We chose to sit at the bar. The bartender Krissy was really sweet and helpful. She suggested I try the drink of the day which was a Shamrock Mimosa. It was delicious and the garnish was St Patty's Day festive. For food she said they are known for their clam chowder, Burgers and Fish and Chips. We chose clam chowder and a Jalapeño Burger. The New England style Clam Chowder is creamy and thick like you're sipping a gravy with tender chunks of potatoes that almost feel like it melts in your month. I loved the contrasting flavor of the saltiness and smokiness of the bacon and the fading bitterness of fresh "oceany" clams. Our cup of deliciousness came with a piece of garlic toast upon request. Perfect for dipping. My ultimate favorite chowder is a west coast style from Hog Island Oyster Company in San Francisco . Served with fresh clams (shell and all) over a fresh creamy potato' base. Portway's clam chowder is delicious as promised. I now have a new favorite "New England style". The Jalapeño burger was delicious as well. Fresh, perfectly seasoned and cooked 80/20 burger patty dressed with pickled jalapeños, tillamook cheddar, red onion, tomato, leaf lettuce and a secret sauce that reminded me of chipotle flavored cream cheese. I was happy the pub bun held this juicy burger together. Holy smokes it was tasty. We will be back that chowder and burger for sure.

After the bridge walk we went to the Portway. Food and drinks were good but service was horrible!! We got there at 12:00 PM because thats what Facebook said but they were closed. They had a new sign on the door with a new time of 12:30 pm. We had people meeting us so we decided to wait until they open. Once we sat down service was horrible from the start, I think it's because we were the biggest group there.The place wasn't pack but I felt like we were a burden being there by the way the waitress treated us. She reminded us multiple times that she was the only one working. Once it was time to pay she told everyone to come up to the bar and tell her what you got so you can pay. I went up there and paid and she ended up adding people drinks and food to my tab. Everyone paid and it was too late to fix the problem. I left irritated but moved on since I have gone multiple times and had a great time but with a different waitress. I went back for the first time in December since the bridge walk and again had the same waitress. This time it was only 4 of us around 2 pm. We sat at a table and the bar was dead there were only a few people in there. She immediately took our drink order and made our drinks. But after that we never got waited on again. We sat there talking waiting for her to come back but caught the waitress talking to an employee and customer and didn't want to interrupt. Once they were done she made her way towards us but instead cleaned off a table next to us, when we had 4 empty drinks and still hadn't order food yet. More time went by and still haven't seen her we decided to go up to the bar and cash out and went to a different bar in town. This is the second time back to back I have been to the Portway and had horrible service by the same bartender Krisy E.

...I was told that Portway had great cheeseburgers and was not disappointed....great crispy fries also...will try the fried pickle brined chicken sandwich next time ‍

This place is awsom. I make sure I visit everytime I am on Astoria. Food is better then bar food. All the staff do a GREAT job. Always busy but never disappointed.

W e got bloody Mary's and food! Everything was amazing!! Chowder was honestly best I've ever had! Will definitely be back

Delicious halibut fish and chips & reasonably priced drinks. The halibut comes in weekly from Alaska and it was perfectly fried. The tarter sauce is also very delicious. Overall, we enjoyed our meal!

Had a late lunch here a week ago. The good news is that they have an outside deck, and we were able to bring our dog along to lunch with us. I had a burger; my wife had a chicken sandwich, and both were good. Plenty of fries and a decent IPA. Service was good. I would go back again.

This is a great historic pub just down the street from downtown in Uniontown. There's a parking lot around the back. Staff was delightful. I got the crab roll special: $17.75 for what seemed like 2lbs of crab! The fries seemed to be battered or double fried and were piping hot. This place is a gem.

I ordered one take-out order of fish and chips. It was ready in 20 minutes for pickup and the fish tasted great. However, I paid $26.50 for three pieces of fish. Unfortunately, it felt pretty overpriced, especially for bar food. Will save $10 and choose another location next time.

Went here because I had read reviews of god clam chowder. That is NOT the case. After ordering, we waited 25 minutes for a bowl of chowder that was lukewarm and nothing to rave about. I would not have been surprise if it came from a microwaved can of Campbells. Very disappointed!

Best chili burger I've had, and the waffle fries are the business. Cool decorations plus it's the easiest place to park at in Astoria

Fantastic food, friendly service! We ordered takeout when we realized it's a 21 and over place and couldn't bring the kids. The food was stellar and the staff were warm and kind. I loved the clam chowder. We also ordered fish and chips, burgers, calamari and boneless chicken. All good!

We have been to the tavern many times in past years. This time was extra special because the girls that were cooking and serving did such an excellent job. They had a completely full house. They were a blur getting everyone served and fed. Thank you girls for your hard work. See you again soon.

Good food, and I've always had good service when I go there, I do like the poker machines as well

Good food, good atmosphere, great staff... A little overcooked on the onion rings but other than that? Amazing time getting lunch after a long day. Wouldn't order the onions rings next time Y'all should definitely fix that hole in the drive way by the way. Definitely a risk.

Thank you Krissy for the amazing customer service and thank you Scotty for making a fantastic lunch. 100% spot on team!

We visited Portway Tavern last night and were welcomed by both the hardworking server, Travis, and the locals who shared their table with us. We opted for the recommended seasoned fries with my sweetheart's halibut & chips and my bacon cheeseburger. Both were perfectly prepared and delivered quickly by Travis, who remained warm and personable in spite of the busy restaurant. The decor was fun and reflected this historic location. Glad we followed the Yelp reviews to a spot within walking distance from our dog-friendly hotel. On our way home, we stopped at a lunch restaurant south of Seattle where the food has always been reliably good and the decor just as fun as Portway. The biggest difference was the server at this not-very-busy restaurant, who was cordial, but barely, and not warmly welcoming. About the same age as Travis, but not likely to entice us back, while we look forward to another experience at Portway Tavern.

Sorry to say this place was awful. Would not recommend it to anybody. Got my order wrong four times settled for what they gave me, took my food off the table put napkins and silver in it when I was going to get it to go container. Got half of it had to wait over half an hour and still got it wrong. Service didn't give a damn. Would not recommend ever going there . If the servers gave a s*** it'd be a different story but they didn't care. Don't go there

Busy for a weeknight. The Bartender said she didn't call in her bar back because the night started out slow. How busy? Clam Chowder and Halibut fish and chips sold out. No worries - my fall a k was the Bacon-Blue burger. It was awesome! This place is almost 100 years old. Lots of character. It is convenient for those staying at the Best Western - because the brainiacs that developed that hotel must have gotten a deal on the industrial land upon which the hotel sits. Fortunately, Portway is walking distance. Portway is the ONLY way - I recommend!

So I've been in here many times but tonight was a joke. Came in to watch the game. The bartender took our order dropped it off and brought a new beer and never came back. Two plus hours I will add!! Fish and chips was gross and would have said something but she never came back. Every beer we had to order at the bar even when it slowed down and she chatted at the bar with her friends. If management disagrees please watch your video. Your regulars are important but pissing off new customers seems self destructive. Left $3 on $86 and that was way too much!! People have bad days but this is a way to keep people away. As I said check your video and it is clear!! I get she was busy but even when it slowed she didn't come check on people. If she is too busy to come back after serving food to people because she doesn't have enough help then it falls on owners and managers. If you expect your bartender/server to bring you refills or check on your food this is not the place!!

The burger and waffle fries were fabulous! The service was outstanding! Fun and historic stop.

best chowder on the west coast! New owners and excellent service! Same great historical pub ambiance.

absolutely the worst serves today 9/14/23 the bartender never came outside to take our drink order. We waited 25 mins and we went and order a drink and then went back to order lunch. total time there 2.5hrs. The food sucked too!

Very slow service. Be prepared to sit at a dirty table and wait Several people gave up and left. Didn't used to be like that

Updated review - I decided to give Portway another chance, glad I did. This was my favorite burger and beer bar in Astoria and I had a bad experience with a bar tender. Went back last night and had a great experience with Kristi and Ashley. Service was excellent as well as the food. Good local and Oregon beers on tap. Very cool atmosphere! I'll be back!

This was the first time I had been since the change over... and it's wonderful to see nothing has changed. The fish and chips (plus coleslaw) are still delicious and the drinks well poured. For being so busy and full on a weeknight, we were delighted at how our orders came so quickly. Everyone at our table was thrilled and we all had a lovely night there with the rest of the locals

Ashley was awesome , drinks she made were excellent. She was very nice and very accommodating. The food was just okay, we had patty melts. The cook was extremely rude. I do not need to be cursed at, because of his shortcomings, like him smoking as customers are waiting for their meals. Will never go back there because of him and their poor health rating.

Came for my son's 21st birthday. Bartender gave him a free drink. Super friendly! Excellent clam chowder and onion rings! Great atmosphere, 100 year old place. Had great menu options. Enjoyed the visit!

Cool local bar. Stopped in for some beers and a late lunch on the suggestion of a local guy we were working with. Food is typical pub fare...burgers, fries stuff, etc. The bar itself is small and cozy, the bartender knew most folks who came in and greeted them warmly, which I thought was very cool. The kind of place I'd frequent if I were a local here. Not really a good spot for kids, just be advised. Food is about 4 stars, 5 stars for ambiance and service.

Truly a hidden gem and new on our list of must-return-to spots. Great owner operated tidy dive bar with great service, good food, ambiance and dogs allowed on the deck. Highly recommend.

Best halibut fish n chips ON THE PLANET!Great service and ambiance. Quaint setting and reasonably priced. Very impressed.

RUDE! I think the sign outside said "please protect yourself and others". We walked in without masks (we are both vaccinated) and the bartender YELLED at us!! Not even a "please", "thank you", nope.... RUDE! And I love their food. But.... We left. We had just left Costco where there were over 100 people and masks were not required.

Qualifies as a dive bar, although it is a dive bar with history. Ask about the shanghai door and the ghost. Food is edible. Drinks are cold. Bartender is friendly. Charming little spot with additional outdoor seating when warm.

Killer burger, cold beer A definite go to place for a great burger and great atmosphere

We enjoyed a wonderful meal and experience here. It's quaint, great history, friendly and the locals seem to love it. The service was amazing and they paced our food coming out perfectly and we never felt rushed. The food came out hot and perfectly cooked. We enjoyed clam chowder, onion rings and the bacon blue cheese burger with the home made garlic chips. Everything was really good but the blue cheese burger was exceptional.

Had a mojito. Busy place, but found a nice seat by the creek to drink it. Closes at 8 p.m., so we didn't really have time to stay for another drink.

Very good food! My wife and I stopped in to eat dinner, after we moored our boat at the west basin marina. We had the clam chowder and split a bacon bleu burger. The chowder was excellent! It had plenty of clams and good flavor, not fishy at all. The burger was ample and delicious w/ seasoned fries. I had read prior reviews before going in,and expected it busy. It was and the waitress was extremely busy but efficient. We both enjoyed the atmosphere. There we're Coast Guard life rings on the walls as well as other Astoria memorabilia. We love all the good restaurants in Astoria. Give this place a try.

Great food! Service was a bit slow but very worth it. Awesome clam chowder !! Cool little old time looking bar.. great surroundings.

Great local hangout, in easy walking distance to where we stayed at the Best Western. I love a place where you can be welcomed and feel like a regular from the very first moment you walk in the door, and this place made us feel right at home. This great hometown hangout was a comfy, cozy "dive" bar with some great dining choices, served up by friendly, attentive wait staff. Friday night was also Karaoke night, and quite a few regulars took a turn. Would come back here often if we were from the area.... Unique, fun spot, well worth a visit for the "food, folks, and FUN!!!"

Best burger in Astoria and Really good seasoned fries. Really nice little bar. Would recommend eating here.

Amazing halibut fish and chips! Loved them tartar sauce--definitely homemade. Hamburgers are fantastic too! The service was great and we felt very welcome! A historic tavern that has been in operation since the 1920s. The tavern is spotless and follows COVID protocols. The bartendress and waitress handled a delicate situation with a wayward soul with care which really impressed those at our table. Not fancy but one of those rare finds.

Good burgers! Cooked just right, pink in the middle, and juicy. The only thing i would change is less salt. It was a bit salty. Could be one off. I will try it again. Best part is grey Poupon and leaf lettuce ripe tomato!

Used to be an icon in Astoria. Now it's horrible. August. Stopped serving patrons drinks on a Wednesday at 9:45. Now the next 2 nights they stop serving food at 8:40 on a Thursday and 9:10 on a Friday. Lazy staff and an absent owner equals a bar that won't prosper. Workers bar it is.

I liked the food and the service. It got uncomfortable though. A local patron came in and apparently touched our server as she was waiting on us. She was doing a good job getting to know our party of 5 with her back to the door. All of a sudden this man comes in and as he walks passed her, caused her to flinch. She said something about it and was then verbally harassed by the guy, affecting our mood and hers as well. Strange patronage to say the least. Don't think I want to go back for any reason now. There is other good food and drink in Astoria.

Portway is great! A very appropriate unique stop in this small but beautiful fishing town. Good food! Have patience with the small town slightly slower service since locals like to chat at their bartender a lot! It's the "island time" attitude