Screen Door

recommended by a chef frined, five food lovers tried out this restaurant on saturday night. starters were fried green tomatoes and hush puppies. golden and crispy....yummmm. as the main dishes came out we all oohed and wowed over each other's order, shrimp w/ creamy grits, fried chicken w/ mashed sweet potatoes, pan fried white fish over chewy potato cake and swiss chard, celery root salad, etc....then we finished the dinner with a warm pecan pie and red velvet cake. they were all very good to excellent....except one item; corn bread was sadly tasteless. but it's good to have room for improvement! they should also work on the sound absorption (more than attaching a rug under tables - how about a short pile carpet tile or fabric wrapped ceiling tile?). we were quite tired of talking by the end of the dinner; however, our overall experience was close to excellent and i would definitely recommend to anybody who's looking for a quality dining experience. Pros: food! Cons: noise more

My husband, 4-year-old son, and I had brunch there and LOVED it. We highly recommend this wonderful neighborhood place to anyone looking for great food in a layed-back, yet stylish atmosphere. Price points were right in line, and we look forward to returning as soon as possible. Pros: quality of product, atmosphere, friendly service more

I'm not sure why this food is considered Southern. It just seemed like gourment American food. I didn't think it had the flavor or soul of southern food. It must be a NW thing to consider food comfort food? Its all American to me, southern is is just a region with lots of flavor that Screen Door lacks. I've been to chain restaurants that have better American comfort foods if that is what grits, collards and catfish are considered. If you make it to the east coast or south try Cracker Barrell. This place was very loud!!! more

I grew up in Alabama and want to remind every Southern expat up here that Southern food is not defined solely by your own experience. I visited Screen Door twice this weekend; the biggest disappointment was that they didn't actually have a screen door (and it needs to be a sqeaky one -- they sell these at Rejuvenation, btw). Of course I had sweet tea, which was made with the correct brand of tea (sorry Russell St, Tazo black for southern sweet tea just isn't right), but not -as- sweet as I would have liked. The food was interpreted fairly well. The collard greens tasted just fine, although they could have been chopped up a little more. The mashed sweet potatoes were the right consistency and flavor for me. Their unsweetened white cornbread was the best I've had up here (since I don't like sweet cornbread); my piece came with the ""Screen Door Plate"" (3 choices of any ""side"" off the menu). If you wanted a piece of cornbread with your meal, however, it was $2.50, which I think is a bit much. On Sunday we went back for their brunch, where I had a biscuit and gravy with grits and fruit. Grits were excellent -- very creamy and cheesy! Overall, both experiences were good and the food was enjoyed by both of us Alabamians. Pros: Good food, sweet tea, friendly staff Cons: Concrete acoustics (loud), priced a bit high more

I live in the neighborhood and as soon as I saw the menu I had to try this new place out. We went there for breakfast and I was very impressed, with both the food and the service. I disagree with the reviews on the food ""not being true southern"". This place isn't advertised as cajun, it's good old southern comfort type food. I lived in North Carolina for a good while and missed the country gravy and bisquits, okra, hush puppies, grits, and po boy sandwiches, and Screen Door has it all. We will definitely be back to try the dinner menu! more

We were very excited when this place opened up in our neighborhood. We went for brunch (their first). The service was excellent, and that just may keep us coming back. We didn't really delve into the ""southernness"" of this place ordering egg dishes, but we took a look at the dinner menu at least. We were hoping for a little more family-friendly, as in just a dollar or so cheaper for each dish. I guess ""Screen Door"" evoked something more casual to us. Pros: great service, decent portions Cons: a little expensive for what it is more

Great food! Great service! Friendly, welcoming owners and staff. Love that they offer brunch on Saturday as well as Sunday! The praline bacon is to die for! As are the shrimp and grits, the mashed sweet potatoes, and the fried oysters. You haven't really experienced southern food until you have a shrimp or oyster po' boy. Fresh fruit and veggies and daily specials also terrific. The decor is wonderful - can't believe how the owners have created such an inviting space. I sure hope they can do beignets for brunch, as is rumored? Y'all should ""come on in""!\r Pros: Great food, great service more

One year since our last visit to Screen Door. Went over after work Friday - waited in line for 1/2 hour until it opened at 5:30. Husband was taking bus from work to meet up with me.\r When it was finally my turn to get seated, I explained I needed a table for 2 and that my husband would be there in a couple of minutes - he had texted me and told me the bus was 3 blocks from Screen Door. They wouldn't seat me till he got there. so instead of a comfy booth that was available or a table out on the patio, I sat at the bar for 3 minutes to wait for husband - and watched both tables get occupied by others.\r I waited just as long as others in line - and we got seated at the table right in the entrance way to the kitchen - just swell. I wanted to leave, but we were tired and hungry and decided this was our last visit. Our server was was great - she was very attentive and friendly. My sazerac was delicious (as they always are) and the fried oysters are always top-notch. The jambalaya had no heat or good flavor - sorta tasted like chili. The ling cod was bland, but cooked perfectly. The pureed white beans it was served over were very bland - they were salted well, but had no flavor. My husbands burger was juicy and fresh and the fries are always great.\r BUT, it's food we can get elsewhere at places that are more accomodating. I'm happy for Screen Door's success and we love that it's right in our neighborhood, but don't think we want to play the seating game anymore...\r Pros: good food, reasonable prices, good service Cons: very, very noisy more

This place was amazing....service was good, food was excellent.. I had fried chicken with collard greens and sweet mashed potatoes I was overly satisfied. My boyfriend had shrimp and grits and it was just as good. I went to college in NOLA. The food was as good as any similar place in NOLA. The fried peach pie for dessert was amazing too!!! Pros: great experience more

I'm sorry but I've lived in the south and spent a few months in New Orleans. This food was bland. I had the shrimp and grits. The grits and the shrimp were okay but didn't remind me of southern food. Also I tried the mashed sweet potatoes. These weren't good.\r \r The service was okay but I felt that some of the servers were multi tasking so it took away from what they were doing. The bartenders gave me more service than my waitress. Pros: You can get food that isn't available at many places in Portland Cons: This is far from soul food. It was very bland as well. more

I recently ate at the Screen Door. I had collards, grits, green fried tomatoes and hush puppies. I thought the service was excellent. I sat at the bar. The bartender whom waited on me was super nice. He moved here, about 5 yrs ago, from LU. Now the food is another subject. I was born and raised in GA so I know good southern cooking when I taste it. The collards and the hushpuppies were bland. I know they change the food to appeal to NW taste, but it just wasn't good. The tomatoes they used to make the green fried tomatoes with were a little to pink. A green fried tomatoe should burst with flavor in your mouth, but these again were just bland. You couldn't really taste the tomato itself. The grits were horrible. I'm not sure those were grits. I've had a lot of grits before, but none quite like those. The collards were so bland I could of cryed. If you were born and raised in the south, the food at this place will make you sad. They just don't seem to know how to do southern cooking right here in the NW. The food lacked soul and heart. One other thing, presenting sothern food in a trendy portland style atmosphere somehow cuts away at the true character of southern cooking. Southern cooking isn't trendy by nature. It's just good cooking to be had when surrounded by family and loved ones. All the same I'll probally go there again. more

Ok, the person below says he/she is from Louisiana, but spells it wrong...huh? I am actually from Texas, right next door, and I have had some good cajun, creole, and southern food. I like this place a lot! The veggie options are excellent. Great greens, hush puppies, grits, yum!!! I love the Belmont area and this is a great new option for the neighborhood. The ambiance is excellent. Pros: Good authentic southern food. more

I could not disagree more! My girlfriend and I ventured out to our new neighborhood hot spot and completely fell in love with the food. Sure, Southern Creole is the hot thing right now, but this place is the one of many who are actually doing things right. As a Loisianna native, I felt right at home. The menu was large, but not overly pretentious, like some other restaurants in the area trying to do the same fare. Just real good food. Yeah, it was a little loud, but with flavors like that who cares? Pros: food was great, don't forget a full bar! Cons: wanted only a little more privacy inbetween tables more

So, I finally ate some red beans and rice from someone who knows how to do them right. I am glad they did not have corn in them like the Montage. It was also served with a fried pork chop. Most people think southern food is barbeque or what not. I think this restaurant is only going to get better and better as time goes by. The music playing is very nice, the booths are nice and yes it is a little noisy but I know a lot of the top notch restaurants in New Orleans are incredibly noisy, it gives it life. \r The hush puppies were not over fried, the fried green tomatoes are excellent. I saw the fried chicken go out to another table and I plan on getting that the next time. This restaurant is just adding more charm to a very cool up and coming area on burnside. I also heard a table next to me talking about the shrimp and grits, mmmm this is good I never new grits tasted like this. Now you know you are not from the south or even been there if you never had grits. SCREEN DOOR KEEP IT COMING. YEAH YA RIGHT! Pros: Great Service with a smile more

Super fresh produce, great appetizers and a vareity of menu items at this place make it stand out form the crowd. We had vegetarians and meat eaters at the table and everyone was had a great meal! Pros: open kitchen, clean & pleasant atmosphere - awesome food more

I've been here twice -- breakfast and dinner/cocktails. I love having a casual restaurant that actually has great food and service in my neighborhood. Breakfast was excellent -- great choices, food quality and service. Cocktails are inventive and the bloody marys, made with fresh tomato juice, shouldn't be missed (especially with a side of sweet potato fries!) Pros: Food, cocktails, service Cons: Noise -- the place is concrete, after all more

The Screen Door brings a taste of the Southeast to the Northwest. I was pleased to be served a good approximation of a Sazerac at the bar as I waited for the rest of my party to arrive. They even had Old Overholt whiskey, recognized as the best whiskey to make them. They just need some Peychaud bitters instead of Angastora to get it just right. \r The service was attentive and helpful. The dining room cozy despite it's street corner locale. The menu is limited but you'll find southern favorites such as fried green tomatoes (tasty), crab cakes (fresh, but a bit messy), hush puppies (moist and delicious), fried chicken with tasso gravy and sweet mashed potatoes (not bad, but could be better), shrimp & grits, a few vegetarian offerings, and several southern style side dishes (the mac & cheese was very good). \r Prices are very reasonable. the wine list is small but affordable. Parking might be a challenge. Not a bad choice for a change of pace from NW cuisine. Pros: Affordable Cons: Parking more

With a birthday party of 5, we ate dinner at Screen Door this past week (8/06). We had heard a new Southern restaurant was open and we went to check it out. We met the owner when we came through the door. He greeted us warmly, wanted to know how we heard of them and seated us immediately at a large table. I shared my Louisiana heritage with him and he with me. We talked about foods, brand names and the difficulty of getting the ""right"" red beans in Portland. He brings in ""Camillia brand"" red beans from New Orleans. They are worth a try. We didn't order the red beans and rice, but he sent out a taste and we all agreed, they were very good.\r \r Everyone started with appetizers, fried oysters, fried green tomatoes and the sweet onion soup. We were delighted. The fried foods were fresh, crispy and not at all greasy. We passed them around, every bit was eaten. \r \r Our entire party ordered the fried chicken dinner with mashed sweet potatoes and and extra side. Delicious! Most had collard greens, one had the baked mac 'n cheese, both were well received. Everyone ate with relish and agreed the food was very very good. \r \r The soundtrack was too a delicious gumbo of Louisiana artists, one after the other. From a Louisiana-raised person, although a Portlander for the past 16 years, the music was as good as the food.\r \r I am not sure what the previous reviewer's Mama's kitchen produced, but the delicious foods, wonderful scents and spotlessly clean open cooking space certainly reminded me of my Mother's house. She lives in Louisiana still! If you want some great food, and excellent service, give the Screen Door a try.\r \r It is a little spendy for every day, but if you crave a little Louisiana in your life, we recommend you have a meal at Screen Door. Pros: Nice people, nice food, wonderful service. Cons: A little too expensive (maybe half orders?) Really wish there was a creaky screen door! more

I was very excited to try this new restaurant and the food. We had 4 different palates at the table, with different items on each plate and... what a disappointment. This is not ""Moma's Cook'in"", this is just cooking. Pros: Ambience was nice and the servers were very attentative Cons: Open dining, voices carry so can be loud and the meal takes awhile to arrive. more