Alberta Street Pub — Restaurant in Portland

I like this venue, and I’m thankful for its presence in the neighborhood, and so I don’t want to trash it, as people are so eager to do today.

I do have to offer my comments, though, on the credit card fees and the beer prices.

Here’s the problem with charging credit card fees: it is a foolproof way for venues to pass their costs on to customers because they know nobody carries cash anymore. We live in Portland, and so everyone wants to change one system or another, but there is no way our society will ever again return to cash as a primary form of payment. That horse has left the barn, folks. Not only are things too expensive, but people don’t actually have money, and so they require credit cards to pay for everyday things.

This means that places like the Alberta St. Pub have found a perfect way to pass on to customers that which should be the normal cost of doing business, which is providing customers with a payment method. It’s unseemly because they are taking advantage of customers by doing this.

The better way for merchants to pass on this fee is to build it into prices - here's the thing, though: the Alberta St. Pub has already done that. They are charging a whopping $8 for a beer, which is at the top of the market. Point being, they are easily making up their credit card percentage with that pricing. To then charge a credit card fee on top of that is what hurts as a patron.

Adding insult to injury, the Alberta St. Pub makes it seem like they're doing you a favor if you pay cash, by marketing cash payment as a "discount." It’s sneaky, and it feels lousy as a customer to be manipulated. (Do you really think we don’t understand what you’re trying to do - I mean, c’mon.)

I’d also like to add that jacking up beer prices higher than any other establishments - including hotels - inspires other places to do the same. The Alberta St. Pub has a responsibility to its own bottom line, you bet, but it also has a responsibility to its community - of which they, their employees, and their customers are a part - to stem the tide of unbridled cash grabbing, which is all too commonplace in Portland nowadays.

Bottom line, I like the Alberta St. Pub, and I’m thankful for their live music and menu and beer selection - and it’s not easy to be in business these days, I get it - but when I leave there feeling used and overcharged, guess what, I don’t leave saying “That place was amazing - let’s go back.” And so, our not wanting to return is not about punishing them - it’s just about realizing what venues seem to be missing these days - which is that, when people go out, they are in search of a feeling - a feeling of ease, perhaps, or maybe a feeling of connectedness that comes from music, fun, laughter, etc., and when they leave a venue feeling used - well, that’s not what makes people return. My advice: stop the credit card fee shenanigans, and drop the beer prices by at...

I came to this bar for a couple of events, and I found out by looking in my bank statements that I've been overcharged twice, for items I physically went into the establishment (the phone doesn't work) to try to settle it a bartender took my name and passed my information along (SUPPOSED). no one's contacted me back on being over charged. My bank told me to contact the merchant and settle it with the merchant before we do a dispute so that's what I did. And I still have not got a response. Long story short, if you come to this establishment bring cash, don't. Even bother using credit or debit, you will have unsuspecting charges on your card. I have photos as well but they won't let me update..

Well, the story is still long but someone did reach back out to me the manager her name is (Monica). It's been well over 4 weeks and I have yet to receive my refund. Now I wouldn't even be complaining about a refund but I was charged on two separate cards. And then was told that they don't even accept a third-party money app (cashapp). But yeah I have a whole transaction history of it.

So this company is definitely doing fraud, the bartenders are putting in things on people's tabs that should not be there things that they did not order. Honestly my next best bet is to call the better Business bureau and just to tell my bank that this company is doing fraud. Honestly if you're a person like me who cares about the integrity of your hard-earned money like me this is not a place to go. Just go to the bar...

We came here for Portland Burger week 2013 to try the $5 Elk Burger and we LOVED it!

First of all, even though they were crazy slammed, our waiters were super nice and accomodating, ensuring we always had a nice frosty beverage while we waited for our food. Second, the burger was a slam dunk! Definitely my favorite burger I've tried during all of Portland Burger Week. Elk is a really different flavor of beef, and I don't know if it's my favorite, but the sheer artistry of this burger was super impressive and I loved the flavor profiles and how juicy everything was. They have a super beautiful outdoor patio where we got to listen to live music while we drank and dined. It was a fabulous evening, a fabulous burger, and they even crafted a Portland Burger week menu with other featured items including some amazing looking corn on the cob, salads, fries, etc.

Cheers to Alberta Street Pub for handling a promotion the right way and making me want to come back for more!! Yum

I recently came back here and I gotta say - this is one of my new favorite places.

I got the BLT which was DELICIOUS - this place has super yummy fries and a tap list that is nearly unmatched! And can you IMAGINE how stoked I was when they had Guinness on tap and I could get my annual Irish car bomb? Yes!!!

Super friendly staff, low key place, delicious food, good live music, patio....yeah, I'm gonna be a...