Screen Door Eastside — Restaurant in Portland

Parking around the restaurant can be a little tricky, but we were fortunate to find a good spot nearby. Once inside, the ambiance was incredible—warm, stylish, and inviting. It’s a place that immediately feels special.

We started our meal with the hush puppies, which were full of flavor and not bland at all. We requested a little butter on the side, which added a nice touch, though they stood well on their own. The sugar snap peas were another highlight—fresh, crisp, and perfectly seasoned.

For the main course, we enjoyed the fried chicken with mac and cheese. The chicken was crispy and well-seasoned, while the mac and cheese was solid, if a bit average. The standout dish of the evening, however, was the seared trout—easily the best fish I’ve ever had. The preparation and flavor profile were simply outstanding.

The ribs were also on the table and described as delightful, tender, and flavorful. The baked beans that came with them were rich and satisfying.

We ended the meal with a cup of coffee and the strawberry shortcake—an absolute treat and the perfect finish to a fantastic dining experience.

Highly recommend Screen Door. We’ll definitely be back!

We returned Review of Screen Door Eastside – Brunch Visit

Our family recently returned to Screen Door on Burnside for brunch. It was a mixed experience overall, with some clear highlights and a few letdowns.

Kids’ Meals: • Two of the boys ordered the Golden Waffles, which were a hit. Described as “good” and nicely cooked, they were a solid choice for a kid-friendly brunch. • The cinnamon buns were also well-received—soft, sweet, and clearly a favorite at the table. • One child ordered a hamburger, which he said was good and filling—it hit the mark for a simple, satisfying option. • Unfortunately, the chicken strips were a miss. While the breading was noted as good and crispy, it came off easily and the flavor of the chicken itself was lacking.

Adult Meals: • One adult had the Cajun Scramble, which was described as “average.” It didn’t stand out, especially compared to other brunch items on the menu. • The star of the meal, however, was the Huevos Rancheros. Flavorful, well-balanced, and satisfying, it earned top marks and would easily be ordered again. • The cheesy grits that came with the dish also got a special mention for being particularly tasty.

Summary: While some dishes were forgettable, the Huevos Rancheros and cinnamon buns stood out as highlights. The overall atmosphere and service continue to make Screen Door a worthwhile brunch stop, though quality can vary by dish. We’d return—but skip the chicken strips next time.

3rd trip:

This was our third visit to Screen Door, and as always, the experience was a mix of highs and a few lows.

We ordered quite a variety this time. The seared Columbia River steelhead trout was cooked beautifully, and my wife especially enjoyed the addition of corn—though I wasn’t as fond of that part. The chicken and waffles were a clear winner at the table and definitely lived up to the hype.

On the other hand, the New Orleans red beans and rice with chicken fell flat for me—it came across as bland and didn’t have the depth of flavor I was hoping for. The burgers were a mixed bag as well: one of the kids didn’t care for them, while another thought the meat was very good.

Dessert was where Screen Door really shined. The standout was a multi-layered lemon and blueberry cake—light, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. It stole the show and was the perfect way to end the meal.

Overall, Screen Door remains a solid spot with some great dishes (especially chicken and waffles and dessert), though a few items missed the...

As good as ever, week day breakfast stop with work associate, we each had the exquisite Huevos Rancheros, ever so smoky from the beef brisket, a lovely side of fruit, Creole Bloody Mary, and for dessert a heavenly pillow of Strawberry Shortcake--I swear that shortcake biscuit would have floated off the table if not held down by berries and whipped cream, it was sooo light and fluffy. It is so hard to go wrong here (I arrived 8:45 and was seated immediately; on leaving around 9:50, the Screen Door scrum was in full swing, sigh.)

Return August 17, 2017 8:30 a.m. Seated with no wait at a window table, super prompt and friendly service throughout. I enjoyed the seasonal specials: fresh NW Blackberries, and an herbed feta frittata with cherry tomatoes and fresh basil, new pics added. Great breakfast at Screen Door again.

Return visit Dec. 4, 2017, 8:15 a.m., no wait, and none when I finished at 9:20. I enjoyed the vegetable-bacon 3 egg frittata with a micro green salad on top, cheddar grits and wheat toast. All were excellent, the only distraction was the wailing of a toddler, very unhappy about something, or everything. Kid's got the pipes for Carnegie Hall, and he had down pat the part about "practice, practice, practice"! Go, kid, you will make it some day. Frittata pictured below.

2.14.17. I returned for a nice breakfast on my birthday, it was a solo visit and was unfortunately a very sad experience. I arrived around 8:45 and was promptly seated. I was quickly provided with water and coffee. After that I somehow became completely invisible. Seriously, I could not get the attention of any wait staff to place my food order for 20 minutes, Bend actual 20 minutes by my watch. I observed the single Diner next to me have her order taken and delivered, and a party of eight Seated on the other side of me and have their order taken all the while I kept trying to get a server's attention even waving my menu in the air. I did finally get to place my order after never even having my coffee refilled during that hiatus. The food was delivered promptly after ordering, but my coffee was again not refilled and I waited, waited and waited some more and only when I got up and began to approach the coffee pots at the service station that a server said he would get me another cup of coffee. That was the last cup of coffee that I got. The photos I posted four of my half finished main dish because I was so God damn mad so I just didn't feel like eating much anymore. I finished my very nice fruit plate, paid my bill, tips my usual 25% and got the hell out of there. I was so terribly terribly disappointed and what is usually and all around five star experience. This was just a complete complete bust. I don't know what went wrong, but it just...

There's always a bit of a wait at Screen Door, but that's because it's GOOD. Southern Comfort food is a big deal in Portland, which I can't understand but I'm cool with it. Maybe it's the cold weather.

It's a lively restaurant and full of chatter whether you're seated indoors or outdoors. Real great spot for large parties. I recall during my visit last year, I got mixed up into a stranger's convo and we actually shared bites from each other's plates- they had to try the shrimp and grits! I've been here twice now, and I wanted to visit another time during my most recent short visit to Portland. The wait is about precisely how long it takes to walk down the street and grab a cup of Heart coffee and head back - like 30 minutes at most.

My friends and I ordered brunch appetizers, some crispy fried oysters and biscuits and gravy. All gone so fast we couldn't snap any pics. Our server was on point and hooked us up with coffee and juice and complimentary water as we were seated basically. Our appetizers came out fast, too. I drowned everything in their house made hot sauce. I also bought a bottle and mailed it to myself.

The portions are monstrous, if your eyes are bigger than your tummy. We shared grits, veggie hash, huevos rancheros, and chicken and waffles. Screen Door gets all of the brownie points for genuinely making over medium eggs. Coming from the San Gabriel Valley it's a rarity to receive over medium eggs as requested and I continually receive over hard eggs or straight up runny over easy eggs at diners. But NOT at Screen Door! That buttermilk batter on the chicken and their syrup and remoulade is something...