After deciding to stay the night in Portland, I texted my friend Sonni for a dinner recommendation. She replied almost instantly: “Reel M Inn.”
She also mentioned Oma’s Hideaway and another airline representative recommended his favorite spot – Thai Peacock. But, as it was later in the evening, I couldn’t get to either of them in time before they closed. So, Reel M Inn Tavern was it.
After settling in to my room at The Duniway Portland, a Hilton Hotel, I did a quick refresh before getting a Lyft over to the dive bar. My driver, a total gem, warned me that many Portland kitchens close by 9:00 PM; he even waited to make sure the tavern was still open before dropping me off at 9:30 PM. I was shocked. But as we drove past restaurants that were closed, I remarked on how right he was.
He assured me that he would make sure that the restaurant was open, with people in it, before he officially ended the ride and dropped me off. Once we arrived, he did exactly that. Which I deeply appreciated.
Walking in, The vibe inside was exactly what I’d hoped for – authentic, gritty, and welcoming.
I placed my order with the “bartender-slash-cook-slash-everything,” who warned me of an hour-long wait for the food. Having been tipped off by Sonni, I was prepared. I grabbed a Stiegl Grapefruit Radler and took a seat at the bar.
That’s the one good thing about my experience during the Evening Food Tour with Fork & Walk Tours Berlin - it taught me that I appreciate good fruit forward beers.
The time flew by as I listened to music, vibed to the ambiance and read a rather piss ass book on my Kindle app. Before I knew it, the bartender came over to me and let me know that my order was 15 minutes away from being done.
When she set the Four Tendie Meal with Housemade Ranch and Sweet Chili Sauce in front of me, I was shocked by how large the dish was. This was clearly a situation of my mind writing a check that my mouth and stomach wouldn’t be able to cash in one sitting.
I did the best I could, savoring the fat potato spears as I dipped them in sauce, took a drink and did the same with the chicken tenders. It was the ideal vibe rotation.
While it might not dethrone the gold standard chicken meals of brines of Ad Hoc or Prince’s Hot Chicken, it was a perfectly solid, satisfying choice for a Sunday night. But, was it a solid choice for a Sunday night? Absolutely.
There are some spots that you go to – not just for the fact that they serve food – but because the whole ambiance envelopes you in a sense of the city. As I found myself unconsciously bopping my head and singing along to music tracks, I was completely satisfied with my choice to stay an extra night in Portland.
Reel M Inn Tavern
2430 SE Division StreetPortland, Oregon 97202
