Dockside Saloon & Restaurant — Restaurant in Portland

Yes, this is a dive-y sports bar in a 90 year old saloon with pot holes in the parking lot. BUT, inside you will be pleasantly surprised inside by the service, food and homey all-wood interior. All of the food is scratch made home style; they are an American traditional breakfast/lunch diner. This is one of my favorite Sunday brunch spots because we always get there late afternoon after the rush and have great service.

On the weekend they serve breakfast all day and also have brunch specials that are favorites such as blueberry pancakes, breakfast scramble, and perfect eggs benedict. Weekday favorites include chicken fried steak, omelet, and the kids love the strawberry waffles. They have good coffee (Bridgetown) but I haven't tried the espresso yet. The portions are slightly generous. The staff is fast and friendly, and tends to toe their own in the banter with the M-F lunch regulars.

This is a family favorite for weekend brunch, but I was also on a streak for a few months going there for a quick lunch almost everyday. They have a rotating daily lunch special that was always excellent and a great way to try something new that isn't on the menu.

This can be a good place for groups, but I would call ahead if you have more than 10. This is a small place. They have 10 booths, 10 tables, and about 6 people can sit at the bar. Walk in and grab a table, there is no hostess seating. The menus are on the table. You can pay your server or up at the bar if you're in a hurry. They can be very quick during lunch if you are in a rush. They are also open very early for breakfast (5am).

While you are waiting for your order, read their story on the back...

I'd never even heard of Dockside before a couple months ago, and had we stopped in on the day I'd intended, we would have coincidentally visited on its last day of operation under the helm of the original owners. Shame. Even so, the handoff to the new owners appears to have been a smooth transition, because this place rocks!

Fantastic food, (mostly) attentive service, and a charming, rustic aesthetic. We stopped in for brunch, ordering between us the taco omelet, Florentine eggs benedict with ham, a Loaded Mary (Bloody Mary with all the fixins), and a MANmosa, because screw your fluted glass, pour us a big one!

I expected to be a bit underwhelmed by my omelet, as I generally don't order breakfast food much. I'd tried to order off the lunch menu, which wasn't available at the time, and had to pivot at the last minute, but fortunately, I landed on a winner! It's hard to go wrong with spiced beef, cheese, egg, salsa and sour cream!

Across the table, my wife was in ecstasy over her eggs benedict, claiming it was one of the best she'd had anywhere! From the sampling I took, she's probably right - even the Hollandaise, which can be tricky to execute correctly, found itself firmly in the Goldilocks zone - not too egg-y, not too lemon-y.

We may have missed the Dockside during the reign of its founding generation, but its legacy, and continued operation, are...

Dockside Saloon isn’t just a brunch spot…it’s a piece of Portland history. Yes, this is where Tanya Harding allegedly plotted her “whack heard ‘round the world.” And honestly? If I were scheming in the 90s, I’d have done it over Dockside’s pancakes too. They’re that good.

And then there’s Krissi. Oh. My. God. If sunshine could be poured into human form, hand you coffee before you even ask, and somehow know your life story within 3 minutes, her name would be Krissi. She is hands-down the most personable server on the face of the planet. You could walk in after a breakup, a bad haircut, or a tax audit, and she’ll make you feel like you just won The Lottery.

The food is classic diner comfort with a side of Portland weird, the vibes are history-meets-hashbrowns (BEST HASHBROWNS IN TOWN BTW), and thanks to Krissi, even your worst mornings feel like the best.

If you live in Portland and haven’t been here yet, ask yourself why you hate joy. 10/10 would let Krissi brighten up my gloomy PNW...