Podnah's BBQ — Restaurant in Portland

I'm giving this two stars because everyone that had brisket hash said the brisket was delicious. Someone French toast was great. Grits and collards were well liked. Here's the rest. When we were arrived there were only three other customers. The service was extremely slow. tables aren't set. menues weren't brought. No salt and pepper on the table. Although two jugs of water came very quickly and I know this because they passed them over my head to set them onto the table.a good 15 minutes before we had menus. All the food, was passed over our heads to the other side of the table. A cup of coffee was set down on the edge of the table. So don't expect to be waited on although do expect to be charged a 20% gratuity for parties greater than six.. The menu items had a name but no descriptions. This led to numerous questions for the server. Who didn't have all the answers. This led to items being ordered that were unexpected leading to re-fires so more delays. And then orders were being taken in on those little handheld devices which takes so long. there was loud music, very frustrating to attempt to have a conversation or even order your food. Food came out and waves. My food was cold. My eggs were burned. Once I got the attention of the server said me they were still runny on top.. I asked for them to be redone, specifically I want the yolks running but I cannot have any of the white runny. they came back with runny whites. I gagged. 2 hours and I've had no food. The taco is not a taco, a burrito nor a tostada . It was a small omelette on top of a flour ( clearly store-bought) tortilla topped with a whole bunch of salsa and squirts of sour cream. did I mention there's no descriptions of the dishes on the menu.Extractor coffee. Rambler. Etc. Didn't explain that extractor is a local roaster. So who knew what that was supposed to be. When my second set of eggs came my hash was now ice cold. The eggs were undercooked with loose whites. I had water for breakfast. The biscuits had so much butter in them that the bottoms of them were crispy and oily, fried basically. Not pleasant. The sausage gravy was pretty darn good but you better like black pepper, is all I'm saying. it was the only thing that came actually seasoned. All the food was served and I'm pretty sure had my second set of eggs but I still hadn't gotten the salt and pepper. water glasses with napkins and silverware we're randomly set on the table at some point. But if they weren't set in front of you you didn't know you had silverware. they did take it off the bill, everyone agrees there were too many potatoes in the hash there had to be a pound of potatoes on each plate. Similarly my cousin ordered scrambled eggs and it had to be at least four eggs. And the three children ordered scrambled eggs. Oh by the way there's no children's menu. So I would say a half a dozen eggs or more ended up in the garbage. Wasteful. The collard greens came in a bowl but they weren't chopped so I watched people around me struggling to cut them in a bowl As they said they would they took the hash off of my bill, as well they should. They didn't ask if I wanted something else.. Nor did they take the gravy off since I had no food what did they think I was going to put the gravy on?. the price on my bill for the hash was higher than it was on the menu. sides weren't listed on the menu,. Turns out a side of gravy is $3.80.Plus at 20% gratuity on the original amount. so I ended up paying $6.80 for a half a cup of gravy. And I didn't have anything to eat. But at least the parking was free. The other thing that was far too much those that ordered scrambled eggs there had to be four eggs per serving. since they don't have a children's menu there was an awful lot of wasted food. I...

September 26, 2021 Update: Finally got the misses to Podnah's for some Smoked Brisket. We rented a car for the weekend to attend our daughter's wedding in Corvallis, and missed the drop off deadline at the car rental agency, so we had an extra 24 hours with a car and decided to put it to good use, and get some BBQ.

We both ordered the sliced smoked beef brisket with roasted green chili mac and cheese plus margaritas. My wife wasn't able to finish her meal, and while I did, along with the margarita, I should of stopped and have leftovers for the next day. I was so stuffed I could barely make it home.

The sliced brisket is the way to go, the portion was generous, with thick juicy meat, bun toasted to perfection and the roasted green chili mac and cheese to die for. My wife sampled all three sauces, but eventually went with the traditional brown BBQ sauce. The vinegar and mustard sauces were a little too hot/spicy for her liking. The margaritas were refreshing and a good compliment to the meal. Beer would have been too much given the quantity of the portions. That, or I just can't eat as much as I used to.

Anyway you slice it, it was well worth the trip, especially not having to take two buses and walking a half mile to get there.

August 17, 2021 Update: Bragged to my wife about Podnah's BBQ, so when she returned from an out-of-town trip we went for a follow-up visit on a Tuesday, only find out they have a limited menu featuring street tacos with smoked brisket and other meats. Being troopers we ordered tacos, which were good. They feature a Texas crunchy taco (photo) that's deep fried and folded to hold the brisket and fixin's. As an added treat, they have available margaritas to compliment their Mexican themed meal offerings.

While we were both disappointed that what we had came for wasn't available, we were happy we had what we did.

August 7, 2021 Based on previous reviews of mine, Google Map recommend Podnah's BBQ.

Had the day off and decided to give Podnah's BBQ a try. Based on other reviews, I got there about 2 PM with no wait and plenty of seating both inside and out. They do offer inside seating for only vaccinated guests, which I am, but they didn't ask for proof.

I ordered the sliced beef brisket sandwich with roasted green chili mac and cheese. The mac and cheese is made with orecchietta pasta topped breadcrumbs, was thick and creamy with a little kick from the roasted chili's. It would be great by itself, with cornbread on the side.

The sliced beef brisket is juicy and tender, smoked to perfection, with a nice layer of red myoglobin fairly deep into the meat. It's served on a lightly toasted bun with three choices of red, mustard or vinegar sauces served on the side, so you can add as much or little as you like.

If you want some seriously delicious Texas style smoked brisket, Podnah's BBQ is definitely the place to check out. The sliced beef brisket sandwich is a healthy portion of melts in mouth heaven.

On my next visit, I'll try their pulled pork and report back on my thoughts.

Now, I'm ready for my...

After a long wait I came in to Podnah's BBQ today with my daughter and ex-wife having flown in from Texas to see them after the loss of a loved one. Haven't been here in a couple of years since moving to Texas from Olympia,WA. I've been bragging about this place and referring it to friends near a even in Texas since coming the first time, which was in 2020/21. And so today I was in such disappointment that when checking out I had to ask twice if it had changed ownership in the past two years? The question was never answered but was met with another question, "Why?" So here's why: The first time that I was here, about four years ago with five other friends from my motorcycle club, and the last time, about two years ago with another from the same club it was an amazing experience! And we all agreed. On both occasions the food was absolutely delicious, the service extraordinary and the atmosphere unbelievable. Today I ordered a brisket sandwich with a side of mac-n-cheese and BBQ baked beans, same as before, impatiently waiting to relive the same experience only to wonder, why we traveled from Olympia,WA for this? The brisket sandwich I was used to, heaping with unbelievably moist, flavorful brisket on a large bun that took more that a very nice and time consuming conversation to consume came as a sandwich of 4 or 5 slices of 1"x 3" very dry and salty meat with a tiny side of BBQ beans and a recognizable side of mac-n-cheese. One napkin, no hand wipes and dirty utensils were also provided. My daughter and ex-wife both ordered brisket and smoked links with mac-n-cheese, one with potato salad, one with pinto beans. They each recieved 2 slices of meat and a small link about the length of a regular sized hot dog. In addition, 1 sweet tea, 1 lemonade (which of course came in small cups) and a mixed drink. After the added slap in the face of the 18% gratuity we limped our way back to Olympia,WA....