Mock Crest Tavern — Restaurant in Portland

I am very disappointed in this establishment. Yesterday I was denied entry because I had my service dog with me. Not only did they completely ask the wrong questions "what is your disability?" (this is ILLEGAL), every person working there stopped what they were doing to look and argue with me, everyone in the bar was staring and it was incredibly embarrassing. As a disabled person, it is hard for me to even leave my house some days and yesterday I was able to because I had my service dog with me, I knew I would be safe if something happened. I was so flustered and embarrassed by everyone looking and the staff speaking so loudly at me, that I was unable to defend myself and educate these people on ADA standards. Even though it is NOT MY JOB to do that, I wish I had been able to stand up for myself. One employee in particular made a point to tell me my disability was invalid because it wasn't a physical disability (seeing eye dog for example). Under the ADA, I am protected because my dog is specially trained to approach me and warn me of an attack as well as help me to return to a normal state. I have filed a complaint with the ADA and will be contacting their manager in hopes they will be better informed for other disabled people who visit their establishment in the future. I am very disappointed that I will not get to enjoy my favorite neighborhood bar where I used to feel safe and be part of my community but I will no longer be coming back to the Mock...

A proper portland dive bar. Some would call it an institution, probably, like the crusty neighborhood dude sitting next to me. A sunny afternoon outside did not keep the patrons from scarfing down a $3 basket of spicy tater tots, a $3 pint, or select mixed drink. Rubbing elbows with the salt of the earth, as they say, can yield some astonishing benefits for one's health. On my very first visit, the gentleman sitting beside me had just won several thousand dollars from the in-house video poker machines. He was not exactly chatty, however he made up for this by purchasing the entire bar a round. I'd have hugged him if I didn't think he might stab me in response. He did have a fat stack of bills so he should be suspicious of a grown man trying to hug him...probably. While there were some younger folks in the place it was definitely an older sort of hang-out, with people who remember the days when you could smoke in a bar outnumbering those who never saw the glare of the sun through the blue tint of nicotine smoke. Despite that feeling, the various people who filed through the door were all treated equally, and well, by the attentive staff. While this is a dive bar in the truest fashion, they take that moniker seriously and go to great effort to get everyone where they need to be. you'll be happy and fed for less than $15 and there's no pretense involved....

Based on the breakfast reviews, I decided to give the Mock Crest AM scene a try on a sunny weekend. I live close by and have been looking for a good brunch spot within walking distance.

Can't say I'll be making that walk again, at least for breakfast. They may be great at being a somewhat gentrified, hipsterfied dive bar, but morning fare does not appear to be their strong suit.

I ordered the special: blueberry pancakes, which I'm sure by the taste came straight outta the box; scrambled eggs that ended up being a bit cold, overcooked, and not at all tasting like eggs; and bacon, ever the highpoint, that was thick and pretty tasty but that I saw later just sits in a big pre-cooked plastic tub by the grill. In a town with such good coffee options, I was disappointed to keep finding myself sipping a rather thin brew. The condiments were also a bit dismaying: single-serving smuckers corn syrup for the pancakes, single-serving preservo-cream for the coffee and no aardvark hotsauce (a longshot, I know).

And so, $12 later, a third of a doughy, corn syrup soaked, white-flour pancake sat on my plate oozing a puddle toward the remaining eggs. Greasy spoon, fine, but not for that price. Hope they raise the bar a little. This part of town desperately needs a good...