Bunk Bar — Restaurant in Portland

The absolute worst customer service I've received in many years. I was in the business for many years before moving into construction, and I would have fired my staff on the spot if I heard them behaving the way the woman at the front was. I had to come back because even tho the ticket was stapled to the bag and said "no pickles" in red on it, my sandwich was covered in them. That in itself wasn't the main issue, tho. I understand that mistakes happen.

The issue started when I mentioned that my wife also couldn't eat her salad because we didn't get a fork. She, pretty bluntly, stated that it's law that she can't give me a fork without me asking first. I'm not from Portland, so I'd never heard of not getting a fork or even being told that in advance. I said I'd never heard that before, and it set her off. Every time I tried to speak, she cut me off and repeated that it's the law. I really didn't care. I just expected understanding and wanted a fork now. When I tried to end the conversation by asking her to just make the sandwich so I could go, she told me I needed to wait outside at the street. I was shocked, to say the least. I calmly asked for my money back from my sandwich and the tip I left. She glared at me and slammed down the money for the sandwich. Apparently, she thought she deserved the tip.

I was wearing a 2nd amendment t-shirt. I would really hope that wouldn't change the way I was treated and normally wouldn't even mention that in a review, but I suspect that made her treat me differently. I don't agree with the views of some, but I try my best to respect the views of everyone. I observed multiple other interactions with her happy and bubbly. I got short and cold. Coming back because my order was wrong seemed to give her an excuse to let me have it for my views.

I still can't believe how poorly I was treated. It blows my mind that this woman even has a job. This was my first visit to Bunk Bar and will obviously be my last. I feel for the business owner. The food looked great, with a nice atmosphere. Interactions like this will sour a reputation faster and greater than good...

Tldr- skip the chicken sandwich unless you are feeling lucky, skip the tots, bring earplugs if you sit outside bc train horn. Everything else is perfect

I have ordered the fried chicken sammitch here on at least 4-6 occasions since I work around the block. 2 of those times were excellent, like really top tier level excellence. I might want slightly more seasoning in the breading but it really doesnt need it to be excellent. The rest were very bad. I have yet to call in and complain about it since my lunch break is usually wrapping up and I have to get back to work and have no time to f around trying to get a new sandwich. When it's good it's almost perfect. When it's not, the meat is somewhere between a Frisbee and a hockey puck in texture, the breading falls off like..... something gross. The bun is somehow ok through all of it, like that brave guy at the plane crash who just stays alive through sheer willpower. But enough about that. All of the other items on the menu have been totally consistent and good. The loaded tots are a pass, but the Mac is solid. The Cubano is pitch perfect, or just slightly too toasted if there's anything wrong at all. The burger is solid and worth it. The service is always, always friendly. The space is bright and open, a little echoey but not too bad. The beer selection isn't amazing but it's always solid. It's kid friendly. If you sit outside, be aware that the train that goes by randomly. It is close, loud, and lays on the horn like it's got a fever and the only prescription is...

I can't comment on the atmosphere as I ordered delivery via Caviar. The food arrived fresh and blazing hot so that was a good sign delivery didn't have a negative impact. I ordered a cubano, mozzarella sticks, and mole tater tots.

Received a call that they were out of mozzarella sticks, so subbed in some plain tots.

That proved to be a good choice. Their plain tots with salt are delicious. Perfectly cooked perfectly salted. The mole tots we're great, if not a bit over-smothered with the mole topping. Almost was like eating mole with some small amount of tots mixed in. Otherwise the flavor was great.

The pork belly cubano was simultaneously tasty and disappointing. The bread was perfect - right amount of chew, right amount of crisp. However, the fillings of the sandwich we're lacking. While everything within tasted great, there seemed to be very little fillings in amount. The net result of this was a rather dry sandwich, where I felt like I was eating more bread that sandwich. For the second half I absconded the fillings and ate them straight up. This showed me the flavor was great, but also lacking. The pork belly was so thin and so little that the ham and cheese overwhelmed, however standing alone it tasted divine.

All in all a mediocre experience for what was billed as one of the best cubanos in town. Not sure why the fillings of the cubano are so slim given the heft cost.

Will have to try another place next time I am in town...