There Be Monsters

I really like this spot. The bartenders were great and there's a nice variety of drink options and British food. The fish and chips are delicious. Most importantly, there's free shuffleboard.

I recently hosted a little birthday get together at There Be Monsters and it was delightful! The owner, Don, communicated with me in advance about utilizing the back room, our party ended up just chilling in the spacious main area, but the back room is very cool. Great long-track shuffleboard table. The drinks were good, staff was friendly, and the happy hour food was a really solid value. Also nice to see a bar that still actually does pitchers. Highly recommend.

Great bar! Love the ambiance, reasonable pricing, great portions on the food, and friendly staff.

Cool little tucked away gem in SE Portland. Great beer/liquor selection, very cozy. Would give 5 stars but the shuffle board table is whack

Chill on weeknights. A little gross with hipsters, but the “who cares?” vibe works in its favor. You can just drink n hide.

A group of 7 of us stopped in for food and drinks after the first bar we went to had their cook call out. Place seemed nice but was unable to order a drink after they didn't serve anything I normally drink so I just ordered a soda.... Pepsi had no flavor at all. We all ordered food just to have the server come over a few minutes later to let one of us know they were out of what he ordered.. He then tried to order something else and they were out of that as well so he ordered a burger... Food then took a long time to come out and there were only a few other patrons in the bar... Once all the food came out I asked where my fish and chips were that I ordered.. The server said I forgot to put it in, I'll do that now... I told her not to worry about it as the place was getting busy and I had seen other food orders get put in and wasn't willing to wait anymore. The rest of the group finished their food and we went elsewhere.

The server we had was extremely rude and we did NOT have a great experience. When I asked for extra cutlery because I dropped my fork, she made it a big deal that she had better stuff to do rather than get people extra forks. I have never had a server this unprofessional. She also made fun of how "little" we were drinking and we should drink more and eat less. The server was borderline obnoxious. I would NOT recommend this place to anyone wanting to have a fun time with friends.

Funky, completely chill neighborhood bar to relax with a great happy hour (goes until 7pm!). Good for before/after Revolution Hall as well.

We came here for the happy hour food and found it to be a pretty good value. We probably ordered one of every item on their $7 each, happy hour menu. The fish sliders were really good. They're deep fried with a very crispy batter. The Wagyu sliders were good, too. Sausage roll was also crispy and tasty. Added an additional star to our review because the bartender was really friendly.

Dimly lit cocktail bar with shuffleboard and Rainiers as well. My girlfriend loved the cocktail that she got and I loved being able to get a cheap beer at the same time. Need to come back for the happy hour food.

Good drinks, pro bartenders. Good old fashion drink. They have a small food and snack menu, including a dessert. Some food items will change. Good service. Spacious with large tables or bar seats. British inspired decor. Every time I've been, it's not overly packed - which is a good thing.

Perfect Portland. I mean that in every endearing sense of the way. Honestly, There Be Monsters. it's like Portland used to be 20 years ago. Low-key, laid-back, friendly, good beer . . . friendly. :-) I went the other night. I was the first person to enter the bar as they opened. Interesting feeling. Can't say I've ever been in that position before. And yet, the staff greeted me like I was their best friend. They were hospitable and really down to earth people. That right there, the people part of it, is why There Be Monsters deserves a five star-plus review! The parking situation in SE Portland is not easy - made even more challenging with the road and new condo construction. Don't let that deter you. There are plenty of street parking options if you head a block north over by the New Seasons headquarters.

First spot we visited as soon as we arrived in Oregon. We were hungry and nothing was open at 11pm but this place. As soon as we walked in, we absolutely loved the ambience. Very relaxing. We ordered fish and chips! Oh my god!! The best I've tried. Fish was so fresh and crispy. Flavorful. Fresh. Just perfect. Craving some more right now lol. Super cute place. Recommended! Drinks were also delicious.

Always a cool vibe in this bar however the food is questionable. I wonder if there are new owners since my last review a couple years ago. Reason for that is they used to have great fries...the fresh cut kind...not the Sysco frozen everyone type of fries. They used to have a menu...now a few items...Got some mixed nuts($4 for 4 oz) to snack on, thought they would be warmed, but they weren't. Eventually ordered the fish and chips. Decent fish but fries were blah (see above). Also saw on the menu: spinach and artichoke dip (which I did not order) but thought is this going to be Costco kind like the nuts?

Great food and even better cocktails. Cozy neighborhood spot with that Portland hip factor.

Came in on a weekday, and they have a limited menu, I ordered the fish and chips based on reviews, and my partner ordered the burger. I liked the stiff drinks, enjoyed the dark ambiance, and the food was good, but they are short-staffed, so I had to go to the bar to ask for a couple of things like napkins, but I get it. I'd come back and try new drinks, or food specials. They have certain specials, that I see on Instagram, which I'd love to come back and try. If anyone would like some advice, would be, as a former restaurant worker, have some patience. Call and see if they're open and serving food. We're all trying our best.

They serve food after midnight?? THEY SERVE FOOD AFTER MIDNIGHT! There Be Monsters is an oasis in an otherwise desolate late night dining scene here in Portland. My friends and I were hungry after a long night of responsibility sipping on adult beverages (I'm being serious- we're in our 30s!) and were struggling to find a place to get some grub. TBM popped up and I vaguely remembered my now ex randomly ordering fish and chips there at like 1am many years ago. Crossing our fingers we set out, and I am happy to say we were not disappointed. Their full menu is available after midnight. Yes, the fish and chips are still on there! We had a perfectly juicy burger, piping hot, crispy fries, and a grilled cheese sammy that is probably now in my top 10 drunk foods list. Seriously good. So glad I rediscovered There Be Monsters. Make this your late night dining destination next time you're out late & hungry.

Dark and comfy vibe. The place screams anti-pretentious, it's not the Pearl. The Bobby Boucher whiskey cocktail - which includes cherry heering - was oh so satisfying. I came for the acclaimed Fish & Chips and they were good, but not great. The fries were crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, better than simple frozen to fried. The mini portion during HH was plenty. Bartender was cool, no customers at 4:00 pm, and parking was easy (usually in this area it's not.) There's not much value at Happy Hour, cocktails are $10.

The.... Place..... quietly....Kills.... Stopped in before a show..(this place was the topic on the way home) The fish and chips were the best Ive had in a long time. Not like the pretreated, poured from a bag, fishlike, protein you might experience elsewhere. More like your aunt told you she could fry fish better than your favorite restaurant... then delivered beyond expectation. And made the best martini... My friends had the burgers and pasty with mules and wine, not a bad experience in the bunch.

Great hidden gem in SE. Great laid back atmosphere. Chill music. Chill people. Also a surprising great (but small) menu with GF options.

On a Saturday night.. The restaurant had a sign up in the window saying they'd be open at "6 or 7" that night due to a staffing shortage which I totally understand!! So I went to Creepy's first for a smash burger and a cocktail until 7.. man I should have just stayed there.. The lady behind the bar let me know that since they were experiencing a staffing issue that there would be a very limited menu. I was bummed bc I ubered down for this specific restaurant bc I heard their GF fish and chips are amazing! But no ones fault.. I'm still happy to be there at this time.. Still 5 stars in my book... Until another party came in of four. (4 parties all together in the bar. Me, a couple at the bar, another couple at the bar, and this new party of four.. so in total 9 people in the restaurant) Well this lady got overwhelmed or frustrated because I had asked to order food before the 4 top came in and was ready to get fries. (Hot and salty) She told me I needed to wait. Strike one. Okayyyy... I said. She took a long time to make the 4 cocktails because she was moving soooooo slooooow.. it was painful really. When I did order.. I asked for an order of "hot and salty fries" and any dipping sauce she liked for them. She recommended the spicy mustard. When the fries arrived they were tepid with no salt. Sad.. but knew she was having a hard day so didn't say anything. After a few mins, I asked for some salt and she mumbled under her breath something like "damn what the hell' or something like that. She told me that I needed to wait again because another couple had walked in... Dang.. ANOTHER zonk.. I usually am a whale and tip fat when I get friendly service. but this lady was so bad.. You can't have a bad attitude (even if someone called out and short staffed) because you don't live off your hourly.. as a bartender myself, I aim to exceed guests expectations because that's how YOU MAKE A LIVING AS A BARTENDER.. OFF TIPS!!!! I would have still given 5 stars and tipped 50% if the fries came out room temp with no salt, if the lady hadn't been so short with me and slow moving and badmouthed me under her breath RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME WHERE I CAN HEAR IT! Too bad because this place would be a destination spot, especially during October but with bad service like this most won't come back..

Wow! After a long day of roller skating me & my crew stopped by to see what these fish & chips were about!! Aysia, small but mighty, had us search the Portland metro area for the best fish and chips.... and boy did we succeed! As soon as we walked in we were warmly greeted by the inviting ambiance and the super sweet bartender! We ordered a round of personality drinks (whiskey & coke, Xxxtra Dirty Martini & a sweet Paloma) and our food (Fish & Chips and Chicken tendies!!) Once seated, we reveled in the dim lighting and comfortable booths. After a short while the adorable chef brings us out overflowing fried plates of crispy goodness!!!!!! We thanked him for his service and got to learn more about his passion for the culinary arts. We finished the night off with one more round and then went on our merry way. We will definitely be back to groove with the monsters P.S the garlic sauce is BOMB

This is my neighborhood bar. And it used to be cool. It could still be cool if they could keep a consistent staff and maybe some consistent hours. Really the owner just needs to sell to someone that keep it open. Right now, this is where dreams go to slowly die.

I first heard about There Be Monsters from a co-worker who has made it a regular stop for pre-show food and drinks for Revolution Hall events. I appreciate the retention of the historic sign outside, but I had no problems stopping to appreciate the terrific rhino mural outside, without realizing the actual name of the business in the building. That being said, once we found our way in for a post-show drink, we really liked what we found. Friendly service (even though it was clearly posted to 'order at the bar', the bartender swung by our table as we were making our decisions) and the music was just right. I didn't spot a dark beer of any kind on the draft list, but between the excellent cocktail that I ended up ordering, and some of the other beers listed, there was zero chance that I wouldn't find something I liked. I'm looking forward to coming back sometime when I'm hungry, to sample the simple but welcoming food menu.

I needed to get out of my neighborhood and couldn't believe I'd never visited this place in the "before times". So a friend and I met here for drinks and their exceptionally delish burger. They've got the covid thing down and it was a lovely Sunday diversion.

A business that takes care of its locals is one to be appreciated. After a rough visit a little while ago, ownership put things right. The fish and chips were back to their wonderful self! Nicely cooked, crispy and not dried out at all. I doused my chips in malt vinegar of course. I like the new addition of some table service which adds a friendly vibe. Looking forward to visiting again soon!

Unfortunately can't find my photos of my time here, but the Fish and Chips were phenomenal. Especially after a night of drinking! Lots of great beer available, and (prior-to-covid) are open late comparably to a lot of the other locations around, which was a huge plus.

Maya the barkeep was GREAT! Super friendly, recommended just the right beer to me, and whipped up a refreshing non-alcoholic drink on the spot for my friend who wasn't feeling boozy. I already dug TBM, but Maya is the barkeep I hope to see when I return!

Laid back pub serving a good selection of draft beef, cocktails and solid pub food. Friendly service and I really enjoyed the atmosphere. Great place to hang out, get some fish n chips, play trivia.

There Be Monster's definitely describes the customer service. It's unfortunate that such a cute atmosphere can be ruined by clearly unhappy staff; Not only disrespectful to patrons, but rude to her colleagues making an awkward an uncomfortable situation.

Wow wow wow!!! This place was so great! We went to Revolution Hall for a event and came here afterwards for some food. Everyone in my group loved their food! Service was also great. Get the hotdog!! It's really good Also the lamb burgers were beyond delish.

I went here with my friends last year to play some more shuffleboard after having a blast there the night before. There was a man and two women playing on the board when we arrived, and we patiently waited for them to finish their game. After two games, they just stopped playing and stood around the shuffleboard table drinking and talking for about 20 minutes. I went over and asked if they were done playing, and the (now drunk) man started laying profanities on me, before one of his companions calmed him down and brought him to the bar. This wouldn't have been a big issue if I hadn't found out that the drunk man was the owner. I only realize this once the bartender came over and asked to borrow my ID for using the shuffleboard pieces, saying that the previous man hadn't needed to since he was the owner. This place has a great vibe, great food, great drinks, and I had a blast until that happened. The issue is that it's run by an absolute piece of work. If I turn out to be wrong I do apologise, but I had an absolutely awful experience that night.

I have always dug this spot. Found it one day with a friend, and I immediately enjoyed the vibe. The shuffleboard table is a treat. Ofcourse, everything is a bit different now, living in the time of covid. I took the opportunity to stop by recently, and I was not disappointed. They have clearly gone out of their way to observe all the proper protocols, and have taken the time off to update their menu. They now have some truly amazing craft cocktails to delight you with, without any of the pretentiousness. The food is surprisingly fantastic too.

I used to go here a lot when I lived in the neighborhood. I remember it being overpriced, poorly lit and possessed of some conviction to never adequately staff the bar. I don't recall having had as inconceivably long a wait for anything anywhere ever. But the shuffleboard was fun. Went back recently and things were still the same as I left, except with a few more rules.

Three stars- two for the quality of the drinks and one for the rustic, relaxing decor. Pretty much minus both stars for the frantic, bearded man working the bar, late on a Friday night. It took a while for him to even acknowledge us, but even when he did, there was some air of panic surrounding him and I wasn't really sure why. The entire bar wasn't even full. The drinks were good, despite him being on the verge of having some sort of breakdown. I know I've mentioned that three times, but...that shit was palpable. Also, it's really kinda stupid that they have an awesome name like "THERE BE MONSTERS", but the marquee outside says "Hal's Tavern." (I was informed by another Yelper that the neighborhood wanted to keep this marquee up because of its historical and local significance. That's cool n' stuff, but to me, that says they just want locals attending. I almost didn't walk in, because I assumed Yelp was incorrect about the location of the actual "There Be Monsters". *shrug* Whatever works.) Overall it was middle of the road.

I happen to stop in here to kill some time, and am beyond pleasantly surprised with what I found. The place is clean, the staff is friendly but the food, just off the happy hour menu is amazing! The $3 pub salad I purchased was better than most regular salads I've ever purchased. The wings are great, the blue cheese is oh so blue...simply a fantastic experience.

Had an amazing time here on a Saturday night. An absolute must try! If you are lucky enough to go on a night that Jack's working, you're in for a treat. Jack held down the entire place all by himself, all while mixing excellent top notch cocktails! His Sazerac was top notch! He was awesome!! Thank you, Jack!! We ordered several food options here. The burger was excellent! The mac and cheese with bacon was also great. Had fish and chips as well, it was decent but didnt knock our socks off. Overall great food from a small kitchen. The kitchen staff was very nice and kept us updated on the progress of our food coming out for our party of 8. This was our first time here but had such an enjoyable time, we will be back. We will cross our fingers that Jack will be behind the bar!

Wow. Super impressed. Dark, cozy place, great music. Service and food was off the hook and those Long Island ice teas...whoa baby! Thanks Adam!!

I came here with friends and had a pretty chill time. They have a nice tap list and lots of space. I was bummed that their back area was closed. Next time! My friend got the mac and cheese with caramelized onions. The one bite I had was amazing! I hope to try some of there food at some point.

The Good: darkly lit, decent wifi and a few available outlets, plenty of seating, friendly bar staff (I love you, Gong!) and usually friendly clientele, strong drinks, decent beer, and really good food - not just average pub stuff. And occasionally fun movies on the tiny black & white TV above the bar. The Less Than Good: really long wait times for service when they're busy (bar service only, many times with only one overworked bartender - so please tip well!) and completely taken over by basketball on Thursday nights shown on a huge projector screen with the volume jacked up. The Meh: food menu is pretty limited, but at least it's good. and there's shuffleboard in the back, but only mentioning because I hear some people like this. Takeaway: good for laptop work on weekday evenings (except for Thursdays) and good for second dates. A first date will make you think they're waaay more attractive than they are. But hey, maybe that's your thing. If so, go for it. Split the hot wings and make it interesting.

What a cool little spot. But the thing of it is, if you don't realize it's there.... you pass right by. For those that know the area and know where Rimsky is, then you just walk around the corner and you're there. It's that close. I was out on Saturday night and noticed that friends had checked in a while before and it got me curious as to the place. So I went with a friend down to Rimsky and afterwards realized how close we were and walked over for a drink before they closed. English pub style, wood, maps, shuffleboard and a black and white TV playing the first Home Alone movie. It reminded me a little of the Alberta Street Pub (and I like that place!) Not quite sure why it's called There Be Monsters, but really, does it matter? The beer/ cider prices were ok and the food menu looked pretty good. Grilled cheese with shoulder bacon? Yes please... but on my next visit, it was a little too late to start ordering food. This place is very chill and great for conversations, I dare say it's good for a date night if you like low key. The background music was 80s up to Muse and whatever else in between. Cool little spot, and I will make my way back soon. Enjoy.

Loved this place! The monster theme is very neat and the service was excellent. It looks kind of divey from the outside but once you order a drink and some food you realize it's not a dive. I was worried about getting an old fashioned but it was wonderful. They even have a few kinds of bitters if you're feeling adventurous. I highly recommend the fish and chips. The happy hour portion was massive and really, really good. If you can swing it, they also have a pretty fun trivia night here. It was the first time I've done trivia not put on by Geeks Who Drink, but it was well worth it. I liked the different style and types of questions, there was even a coloring round!

I've always been an old lady at heart, but it's really sinking in these days. I just want to chat quietly with my folks, get the lowdown on what's up, maybe furtively plot the next revolution. But it feels like every bar I've been to lately is about noisy distractions. Blaring music, live and recorded. TVs everywhere. Fun & games. Scene-ry scene scenesters. And my old lady ears are over it. And then, There Be Monsters. It's quietly cozy, an elegant spot for plotting and scheming. So few of those places around anymore. The name at first, had me weary. Is this theme gonna be a problem? Are there pirates and pretensions? Is this a scene? Happily, absolutely, no. It's just a nice, easy place, which suits my old lady pace.

Had a phenomenal time here on Monday evening for trivia. Admittedly, the logistics of the trivia needs some help, but that didn't stop our group from having a great time. The staff were friendly and the bartender worked quickly when making drinks. One member of our group made a bit of a mess and no one was angry. They let us do our own thing, stopping by every so often to clear empty glasses. The trivia was fun, but honestly somewhat difficult to hear at the back of the bar. Also, the announcer went very quickly with the questions. Just a few more seconds in between each one would have been very helpful. I mean, it's free, so I think that's pretty great. I would come back for sure.

Yas!!!! My friend suggested meeting there tonight, and so naturally I looked here on yelp to see what this place is all about. Seriously, before you read any further, go on their website, scroll to the bottom, and read their section on Love. Just read it. Trust me. That alone is worth coming to support such an incredible stance and business model. OK, so I arrived there this evening (Saturday night) around 5:30p, and the air conditioning welcomed me with open arms. We immediately found a table, the bartender noticed right away and smiled as we came in, and it just immediately felt comfortable. The lighting was perfect and the music was great. You order at the bar, And the bartender was a really lovely man. We each got an orange Cider (which was so tasty!), and we both wanted hamburgers. It felt like we barely even put our order in and before we knew it, another super nice server came out with our hamburgers. They were super delicious and my friend, who is gluten-free, really enjoyed her bun on that hamburger. The fries were excellent. I really just am out of words about how great this place is. It was just a really relaxing vibe. I don't know how it is at other hours, but we will definitely be back. Thank you to the bartender and to the server and the cook who just created such a welcoming space with delicious food for us after a very long week.

I have been here 3 times now, and because it is one block from home I will probably be back. However, some of their specialty mixed drinks are incredibly small. Served half full in glasses that resemble shot glasses. I actually thought my boyfriend had ordered a shot when I saw it. Definitely not worth 9 dollars. The first time was opening week and the vegetable masala was under cooked, which they did recook and it was opening week after all. Went back for happy hour though and was happy with well drinks for 4 dollars served in regular glasses. The burger was small but good. The chicken salad was very small though. I'm sure if I had added fries it at least would have looked more substantial, but it was served on a small side salad plate. If nothing else it was just presented in a way that looked tiny.

Me like There Be Monsters. It good. I drink beer there, also play shuffleboard with friends. Go to here and enjoy self with other people also there. You play shuffleboard also. You like it too. Food good too. Drink booze drinks here. Enjoy self here when you go to this place for drink and eating food. Do not also forget shuffleboard, it fun! Like Monsters Be There. It Good!

Fantastic gluten free fish and chips. Comfortable place. Fast and friendly service. Can't wait to visit again.

Street parking. Lots of seating space inside, at the bar, and outdoor seating as well. Friendly staff. It's a little divey and a lot of hipster. There's eclectic decor inspired from the Renaissance and Japanese culture. Full bar and a vast selection of bar food. They also provide trivia on Monday nights. I would come here again.

Came here on a Friday night and listened to some good rock n roll. Great atmosphere and cheap drinks. If I lived closer, I'd pre game here every weekend.

Really liked this restaurant. Good food and atmosphere!

D&B Happy Hour is lit! one of my new fav bars on the SE side will def try their food next time. Drinks are on point. Fun place!

Excellent!!! Came here with my boyfriend and my best buddy from high school tonight. Here's the rundown: The fish n' chips is one of the best I've ever had. EVER!!!!! Huge pieces perfectly breaded and fried. Drinks -- something for everyone, including quality mixed drinks, beers, and even decent wines! Super cool and comfy atmosphere with friendly service. Can't wait to come back!

Great service. Bartender told us about all the popular local beers and local cocktails

It took me 30 mins to eventually find it! The name was not written clearly! It's so loud and smelly! The bartender was nice but we didn't stay because there was no atmosphere!

This is the place to go when you just wanna chill out in a really awesome "vibey" setting. It even has a shuffle board table in the back of the room. On the particular evening that a few friends and I hung out here, they had some of the greatest music playing. Old school tunes. Like old jazz tunes and stuff. And the decor is quite eclectic. The nip slip painting was my fave! I just kept looking around and finding new, fun things to look at. The HH fries were crispy and salted to perfection. I enjoyed one of the stouts they had on tap and there was also a nice cherry cider that my friend enjoyed. Happy Hour goes from 4-7pm. Love that extra hour. I will remember this bar because I'm always looking for great places to chill that I feel super comfortable in. This place definitely fits that bill!

The wife and I were in the area, killin time while our daughter was at Benson watchin a ball game. Come across this joint. Severely impressed. Momma had a few spicy cocktials she really enjoyed, I had me an IPA. As far as grub goes, we just snacked on brussel sprouts. I was raised eating brussel sprouts...my wife goes out of her way to make them for us...the sprouts they serve here are amazing. Dont let the char look fool you either. It adds to the flavor.