Ponderosa Lounge & Grill — Restaurant in Portland

I’ve enjoyed going to Ponderosa for years now. They hosted a event called electric rodeo last weekend. When I purchased the tickets I did so for my birthday so I got a VIP table and two VIP bar seats. Because I know everyone does the minimum at their jobs I went ahead and called and said could I request to have the two bar seats next to the table so that we’re all together. They said absolutely we will make note of that now and the two bar seats will be by the table.

I show up and the VIP table is at the opposite end of the two bar seats. But we’re the first ones there so I go down and ask them why they didn’t do what I requested. The woman looked at me and said you certainly can just pick it up and move it so that you all are together. So I did so.

Then security and the event planner had so much attitude and came up and spoke with me. They were very inconvenienced by my request and didn’t have good customer service at all. It’s literally their job to have people want to show up to an event and I was being talked to like I was in an inconvenience. She looked at me and said what are you talking about? Whoever you talk to isn’t even the person who runs the event, I RUN THE EVENT. Then most of the night we shoved in a corner and every time that a waitress would come up to the section. She would physically push us into our table, which I guess meant we were taking up too much space… Which were not we’re all tiny women that respect our surroundings so…

Honestly, it’s making me not want to ever celebrate my birthday or any event at the Ponderosa because of how absurdly disrespectful The whole situation was. Which is insane because I am super nice, I’ve been in customer service my entire life.

Whoever the event planner woman is, she’s an old woman with long gray brown hair that was wearing a huge black and white top… Is the worst to deal with. If you are an event planner, it goes beyond planning an event. You actually have to be pleasant and allow people to attend the event in whatever manner they would like. Absolutely horrific experience with her and honestly, it’s making me not want to support Ponderosa ever again- so that’s a bad...

I was recommended to go to the bar by family member, but I think my expectations were way too high when they told me it was at a truckstop which was perfect for my scenario and they played “country music”. I ordered a burger and fries, which turned out to be awful. The burger was cold and the fries were soggy, but the beer was ice cold for the most part and the service was great. As for the atmosphere, this is not a country bar. They advertise line dancing and country music, but it is way far left on the spectrum level to be called a country bar. I can tell you that if you played that garbage in my home state you would go bankrupt. But then again it’s also the atmosphere of people that showed up. It was geared more for the younger crowd, which is fine. But in that defense, there are country bars in California that actually play country music and have a very large atmosphere of young people. The music they played was pretty much hip-hop. I was there for 5 hours watching the show because that was pretty much what it was “a show” and when they finally played one country song, not one person went on the dance floor, which even made it even more apparent. Yes they did line dancing but not too sure how you can line dance to a bunch of hippity hop pop music. Maybe I’m old-school, maybe I was raised country, maybe I was raised in the country state where they play Merle Haggard and George Strait on the radio, but this was not a country bar pretty much false advertising at his best. So if you’re reading this post and you want a show to go watch a bunch of dancers shake their asses. It’s a great place for you, but if you want country music, don’t...

update review: this place is great! I mean Tony the tiger great!!!!! great food, great people, great place. still covid mask required. all good. check website for events. 👍👍👍👍

Nice place to enjoy a beer and a full bar menu. It's mostly country folk but before any event.... its ambience is like a regular sports bar. Staff members are great. I really enjoy their service and food.

As far as the events go.... I was charged a cover for a two band concert. I got a cdl discount as well. It's not a good venue for loud bands. I can see why they host lots of country bands. The acoustics to the entire building didn't help the 2nd band. The lead singer was just way to loud. I figured the sound and lighting booth would bring her down.... Never did. It wasn't the band nor the lead singer's fault. That guy should of recognized how loud she was. I walked in to use the restroom and can hear the difference. Next day I was told after I left, people began to leave. It was an..... outside performance but done inside. All and all it was great to see both bands play. I hope both bands continue to rock on! Small dives with live music are the best!!

P.s. That sound guy needs a hearing test done. I couldn't believe he never adjusted her mic. If he thought that was good enough.... I would ask for a 2nd set of ears!

Hopefully, this is helpful for all...