Russell Street Bar.B.Que

Every staff member we encountered was super-friendly, the atmosphere was fun and clean and the food was fantastic. We are going back for more!!!!

Pros: All-around great restaurant

Posted 07/21/09

I have been a patron of Russell Street BBQ for the last 5 years due to the consistency of their food. It is my tried and true place to always bring friends and family that are visiting from out-of-town. Typically, I do not post reviews good or bad, but when a friend from Vancouver said they went on Portland City Search to look at bbq reviews and said there were a couple poor reviews for the restaurant imagine my surprise. I can only figure that they are some people who are never pleased or they are competitors of Russell Street BBQ placing postings. So here I am telling you if you want great food that is reasonably priced go to Russell Street BBQ. Get there early though or you will wait since us locals already know how good it is.

Pros: Love the beef brisket

Cons: You will wait if you do not get there early.

Posted 07/05/09

Sometimes I find myself thinking nonstop about this place. The urge to go back can ba all-consuming sometimes. The ONLY bad things I've ever experienced here are the difficulty finding parking and the wait that is required for seating (only because they're so busy). When I go, I must have their Stumptown Iced Coffee with Cinnamon. It's better than words can describe!

Pros: Great food, great service.

Cons: Parking and occasionally the wait to get in.

Posted 06/30/09

I used to use citysearch all of the time. This is it. Are they high? Do they no longer pay a tiny bit of attention?

I do like Russel Street. This is in no way a bad review of Russel Street, but outdoor dining?

Same with Le Pigeon. Even after a few years of being around Le Pigeon is still one the best restaurants in Portland, if not the country, but under a category of Outdoor Dining?

You should be embarrassed citysearch.

Posted 06/27/09

it wasn't good as I expected like what review said...sauce was like bottled grocery stuff from safeway...meat was tender but not enough of smokey flavor, sides were so-so. Even the bbq from trailers can beat this! lots of choices though, but the price was not worth it. .Campbell's was better and unique,Red's was similar to .Podna's,Reo's is definitely regretable, clay's is rude..Buster's? nah... .so far, Red's and Campbell's are the best in my opinion.

Pros: it was convenient location

Cons: not what I expected

Posted 06/22/09

food is not real BBQ...anyone who knows the BBQ can tell this is not real...vegis are like from cans...meat is like from the electric smoker, doesn't have the evidence of slow cooked with real wood from the pit... these folks should of stayed in italian restaurant business, didn't realize the art of smoking it takes....it's a con! almost anyone can do better on their own backyard with some charcoal....it's like european chef trying to copy soul food.... not going to work.

Pros: location

Cons: shabby food

Posted 06/17/09

Great food, love the place and atmosphere. If you like like bbq pork, get the bbq pork sandwich! Great mac and cheese too!

Pros: Pork

Cons: Lengthy wait for food

Posted 06/02/09

I have heard many times this was a great BBQ restaurant. The service was above average, but not much more. Though the prices were reasonable, we were overall severely underwhelmed with the food .

The pulled pork though tender had very little smoke flavor and no smoke rings. The sauce used on it was very one dimensional and even the spicy sauce had very little kick. The side dishes which included their "signature mac n cheese was grainy and very bland. The meaty beans were even worse, tasting like canned beans with some meat scraps added.

All in all very disappointing as there are many far better BBQ resturants in the greater Portland area

Cons: food was very bland and no taste of smoke in the BBQ

Posted 02/27/09

It was one of the worst bbq i had, because it wasn't real bbq. Meat tasted like it came out of the electric oven. Portlanders who doesn't know what real bbq is don't know it I guess, as long as it's flavored with hickory pellets and liquid smoke in a GAS-fired oven? It's like someone from Northwest who tries to copy online recipes of southern cuising without ever lived there. I wouldn't recommend this place unless it was last resort. Service was taking too long, and it was not worth it.

Pros: effort

Cons: quality

Posted 01/18/09

I had the pulled pork sandwich and it was tasty! and the portion was big between the sandwich and the fries i was stuffed. They have a good selection on sauces from sweet to spicy. they are all good, I like the spicier sauces.

Pros: Good food, parking

Cons: busy most of the time

Posted 01/12/09

I've just tried their pork ribs and it was over cooked, too small of volume for the price. Their sauce is not authentic southern sauce, food is more of a fusion southern food...I will not go there again. I also hate the bar that is visible from the restaurant because I wouldn't want my kids to be exposed to that type of atmosphere...

Pros: none

Cons: food,service

Posted 01/02/09

This place is talented and wise enough to make bbq healthy and better than any I have ever eaten. The meats ans sauces were great. Just enough of everything, smoky, juicy, tasty, sweet, tangy and flavorful. Our waiter said try the brisket and it melts in your mouth. The potato salad will make you think ou are at a family picnic. The greens are meatless and taste better than any I have has with meat.
I would give it 10 stars if I could.

Pros: Variety galore

Cons: No way to eat as much as you want to

Posted 12/09/08

Wow, what a fabulous restaurant! Had the brisket with mac n cheese and cole slaw. Also had the fresh cut fries for an appetizer with cajon sauce and wow, soooo yummy! The services was really good as well. A great local restaurant. My friend has the pork ribs with yams and cole slaw. The ribs were the best either of us have had and the yams were sooooo good! Their barbeque sauce is obviously homemade and it was very good. Totally recommend this restaurant. The only item that wasn't so good was the cornbread. It was very dry and not very flavorful which is kind of surprising for a barbeque restaurant.

Posted 12/06/08

I HAD TO WAIT TOO LONG TO SIT AND THEN FINALLY WHEN I GOT THE FOOD, IT TASTED TOO DRY AND FATTY...SIDES WERE MEDIOCRE AND FOR THE PRICE AND THE WAIT, I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND IT. THE SIGN HAS A TWO LARGE NEON PIG ON THE ENTRANCE, NO WONDER, IF I ATE HERE CONSTANTLY I WOULD LOOK LIKE A PIG TOO!

Pros: BAR WITH HARD LIQUOUR

Cons: NO PARKING(PARK ON STREET) ,NOT SUITABLE FOR FAMILY ATMOSPHERE, EXPENSIVE

Posted 11/21/08

Yummy, yummy, yummy !!!
Great quality food, organic and free range options. Bbq healthy but still so tasty. the sides were divine and the turkey, ribs and hot links were the best ever. We ordered them without the sauce and they were awesome. That is a true testament to how great it is when the meat can stand on its own and still be fabulous !!! We were able to try all the sauces and each one was better than the previous. There is one for every taste from spicy to sweet to mustard
Totally recommend !!!!!!

Pros: Best tasing, great quality and healthy

Cons: Not one

Posted 11/04/08

You need to go here. I don't care if you are a foodie who usually opts only for the seasonal and sustainable organic choices at a local northwest inspired restaurant. I enjoy that too. Russell Street has a huge selection, from TOFU (yes, at meat heaven), to salmon, shrimp, ribs, chicken, brisket, turkey, pork - you name it. The sides are divine and you get a wide selection to choose from. I ate here recently with my husband and two friends, we call got the sampler. With such a wide selection, I think that we did not overlap in our selections much! Even when you order the sampler, you can order a different sauce on each meat you choose. The service was fantastic. They do not take reservations, but the staff is extremely accomodating once you get your table.

Pros: Good quality food, fantastic wait staff

Cons: No reservations, first come first serve (with your complete party to get a table)

Posted 09/14/08

Great food! I love it all, but have a real place in my heart for the brisket sandwich with slaw, or a chicken sandwich with pimento cheese. My favorite must have sides are: mac and cheese, greens, and beans! Kids get perfect sized portions, and love the mac and cheese. The cocktails are great, and they are always coming up with something new to try. My husband enjoys the beer selection, because there are so many great local beers on tap. The service is friendly and prompt, and we always feel welcome at Russell Street!!!!!

Pros: food, service, beer, cocktails

Posted 07/16/08

I've been to this restaurant I guess 25+ times in the past year. It has always been consistently good. Everything from the brisket to the pulled pork sandwiches. I think they are very reasonably priced. It doesn't get any better than this..when you can go in..sit down to good music, good bbq, sweet tea and home cooked deserts. My brother, couple friends and I make a point to visit frequently. Two thumbs up.

Pros: Great Food, Music, Customer Service,Sweet Tea!

Cons: Parking on Friday nights (understandably)

Posted 06/08/08

I read about this place about a year ago and always wanted to go. Im not too familiar with that part of town so I didnt rush into it, besides, nobody can get EVERYTHING right. Either the bbq is good but the side dishes are horrible, or vice versa. (IE Campbells, pahdnas, etc) I have learned to just bbq at home so I know it is good. Found ourselves in that part of town and decided to try it. Absolutely the best! The meat is all organic, grain fed, non fatty, not stringy. The mac n cheese was just like Moms, maybe better. Cornbread was good, everything was home made. The to go menu is great, cocktails, friendly service. I cant say enough good!!

Pros: Food, service, cleanliness, ambiance, actual parking spaces!!

Cons: That I dont live upstairs

Posted 05/25/08

I agree with some of the comments that it could use more hickory smoke flavor like some of the barbeque that I have had in the south, but overall I have enjoyed it very much in each of my return visits. The Carolina barbeque needs some work though, it is pretty weak compared to what I have have had in NC.

Posted 04/09/08

I was really impressed by Russell St. - the staff was friendly and we were promptly seated. I ordered the meatapalooza - including three meats, two sides and corn bread. Overall the meal was very good - the three choices I made for meat were brisket, pork ribs and beef ribs. I would have to say my least favorite was the beef rib - it was still good but paled in comparrison to the brisket and pork rib. - both of which are fall off the bone moist with a wonderful mix of spice and heat (I ordered mine hot). My only other wish is that the brisket was sliced instead of chopped but c'est la vie.

The sides were some what mixed - I ordered the collard greens, mac and cheese and also had the side of cornbread. The greens were great - truly flavorfull and I needed to fight my girlfriend off to maintain control of the dish. The mac-n-cheese was a little unremarkable. I really thought that the cornbread was pretty below average - kind of dry and very little taste.

Overall it was a great experience and I will go back many times

Pros- excellent BBQ, huge portions, great sauces, clean tables, fast and friendly service
Cons - so-so sides, prices a little high.

Pros: main dishes, portions, service

Cons: side dishes

Posted 02/25/08

The bbq was so good, especially because it doesn't leave you feeling overly full and gross. They put a lot of healthy options on the menu, which I really appreciated. Great food, decent wine selection, and really fun atmosphere. Definitely go!

Pros: Easy parking, good service, great food

Cons: None that I can think of

Posted 02/19/08

Seriously, how did this place get 5 stars? The portions are small, the food is bland and the atmosphere is that of an upscale mcdonalds. The chicken was grey and the ribs were dull. Maybe I just had a rare bad experience, but nothing we saw on any of our plates made us want to come back. It just wasnt as good as everyone made it out to be.

Posted 02/16/08

A little more expensive than I like for a restaurant I want to frequent often, but their bbq has never let me down!

Pros: Great BBQ

Cons: A little expensive

Posted 11/14/07

Russell Street BBQ is one of Portland's jewels.
It started with a friendly welcome from the hostess and fresh water served to your table right away. The ambiance is well balanced: warm from the wood furniture and floors (no more red and blue plastic table cloth) but also fresh and clean with lots of sunlight and cute deco. My previous experiences of BBQ restaurants were in Texas, where the places were always too dark, smoky and far from spotless. Pretty bad first experiences that made me think I knew, and didn't really like BBQ.

I think Russell Street BBQ could turn anyone into BBQ lovers for many reasons:

- the meat is out of this world. I think the tenderness is what strikes you first. You can tell that it is quality meat. The smoky flavor is not over powering and the right amount of sauce is put on it (you can always add more).
So many restaurant use spices and sauces to cover the lack of meat taste but it is not the case at Russell St. The meat is truly spectacular.

- the sauces are so good. I loved the fact that we had choices because not everybody likes the same flavors! The server helps you decide and in doubt, go for the classic (in all logic, it has to be their signature sauce so it must be perfect for the food they serve = tip for reviewer arkrube). My personal favorite was the mustard seeds one as it was less sweet to me.

- the prices on the menu are like a cherry on the cake. For the service and quality food you?re getting, this is a bargain! $12 for a 1/2 order of ribs, fries, 2 sides and corn bread. It was so much food that there was sadly no room for anything else that day.

The also have a full bar, with cocktails and beers on tap. Unfortunately, I?m not a drinker so I can?t recommend anything there.

To conclude, I recommend you start with a strawberry lemonade and pimento cheese. Then, ribs or brisket with mac and cheese (made with real cheeses, no yellow box stuff) and potato salad.
If you still have room, try their floats.

Pros: great service and food, clean and spacious restaurant, easy parking.

Cons: need to open a branch in LA

Posted 08/22/07

I had the 'three meat' special but I chose no meat - just tofu, shrimp and salmon. For sides, I had coleslaw and greens, with cornbread and the Virginia classic sauce. It must be the healthiest and tastiest barbecue I've ever had. They have some good microbrews too. I'm not an expert on Southern food, but this was good. The service was excellent too. I'm glad we went there instead of the new yuppie Spanish place opposite. Good value - total cost for two was $50 including $10 tip and four beers. I'd recommed it for vegetarians too - there's a variety of sin-free dishes including bbq'd tofu and various side dishes.

Pros: Great food

Cons: Parking difficult because of all the Audis and Saabs in this newly-yuppified district

Posted 08/01/07

Being a displaced Southerner, I had been overwhelmed by my co-workers and friends about Russell Street BBQ and it's greatness. Well, I ordered the 3 Meat Sampler (MeataPoolza) in which I got chicken, beef brisket, and pork ribs; plus, a side of cole slaw and beans with meat.
I placed my order and was informed I had to "pick" which style sauce I wanted on each piece of meat...WTF? Well, the chicken was received with no sauce and it was terribly overcooked; plus, the brisket had little/no sauce and there was no "smoke" about it at all...the pork ribs were ok, but could have endured the smoke process awhile longer.
Side dishes: cole slaw was acceptable, but was lacking some freshness, almost soggy...look at adding a bit of horseradish and black pepper to this mix, you might be impressed...and the beans with meat? I have had better at cafeteria style settings.
I own a Traeger smoker, as they profess in their menu, but I don't fear the hickory smoke like these folks. I suggest smoke the meat, stick with ONE sauce, add something to your beans, and add to your cole slaw; plus, be willing to make some more often...
I am not promoting Russell St. BBQ...I have had better, but decent BBQ hasbeen/is tough to find it in this "neck of the woods"...I'll keep looking, elsewhere.

Pros: Parking, service, ambience...

Cons: No hickory smoke to be found, side dishes were tastless and slaw was somehwat soggy

Posted 07/12/07

On the way home from a long day of work we decided to order out from RUSSELL STREET BBQ. Hadn't eaten there for awhile and we were in a bad way. Jonesing for that taste of smoky goodness and sauces that just can't be beat in Portland. We pretty much stick to our usual. For me its the chicken sandwich with derby mustard sauce and a side of the creamy coleslaw. My partner get the small chopped salad with brisket and corn bread. My partner ordered his and I just couldn't help myself, I veered and I ordered a classic, the pulled pork sandwich and I love the slaw on it, it comes that way and it's fantastic, with classic sauce and a side of the yummy mac and cheese. Not only was our meal grrrrrreat! But, it was still hot when we got home. We used to go all the time but have moved a little farther out so now, not as often but THANK GOODNESS THEY ARE HERE. Their commitment to keeping it local and fresh pays off big time in my book! Great job! We'll be back again and again!

Pros: sometimes a wait, parking, patio, great atmosphere, the best pralene.

Cons: sometimes a wait

Posted 07/07/07

This is one of the few restaurants in town that remains consistently excellent. Whether my husband and I pop in for lunch with our toddler on Saturday for a beef brisket sandwich (with classic sauce, add pimento cheese) and mac & cheese, meet a large group of friends for a celebration (family style makes it EASY), or go out on a week night or two (the bursting with flavor chopped turkey salad is my favorite order) I always get the same quality service, food, and experience. The new big booths provide a sound barrier and lots of entertainment for my active little one, and I appreciate the addition of liquor for nights we get a babysitter! My 11 year old niece said when visiting from New Mexico, "I have never had better fries in my life...and I've eaten a LOT of fries!" She still talks about them every time we speak. So go, enjoy, and you too will experience the magic that is RSQ.

Pros: Chopped turkey salad, pork ribs, brisket, mac and cheese, fries, service, atmosphere

Cons: Addictive!

Posted 07/05/07

i love a pork sandwich and i found my love at russell street bbq. the smokey pork is delicious with the derby mustard sauce and the slaw topping takes it over the top. delicious. however, my favorite dish on the menu is the unique bbq shrimp appetizer. the creamy sauce with a spicey kick i could eat with a spoon...and i have.
great atmosphere, friendly service and don't forget a prailine on the way out!
head on out to the que for a little bit of the south in the northwest.

Pros: pork, service, outside seating

Posted 07/04/07

I love this place, and I've been a customer since it opened. The food is fantastic - my favorites are Smoked Beef Ribs, Turkey BBQ salad, and strawberry lemonade. The service rocks and the owners and staff are super friendly. I recommend Russell Street BBQ to anyone visiting Portland, friends, family, and total strangers.

Pros: The food

Posted 07/04/07

My husband and I went to Russell Street Bar.B.Que our first night in Portland. After a long drive we wanted a relaxed atmosphere. The service was prompt and friendly, and our server was able to give us details and his opinion on what to get. They didn't even rush us and we came near closing.

We both got the baby back ribs and while mine was a little spicy for my taste (which is my own fault for ordering that sauce!) we agreed they were the smokiest, most tender and to die for ribs we've had in a long time. We tried our first hush puppies which are my husbands new favorite food and their selection of sides was good but nothing to write home about.

Great service, atmosphere and food, it really helped set the tone for our vacation and I'd go back in a heartbeat.

Pros: Service, atmosphere, variety

Cons: Sides could be better

Posted 06/24/07

It's a bright, cheery place; no question. The sauces are great and the service is very friendly. I ordered a half order of the beef ribs for $12 and got an overcooked order. The outside was so tough as to be inedible and there was so little sweet inside meat left that what looked to be an enormous order yielded a very small amount of food.

The server asked me how my order was. I asked if they intended the crust of the ribs to be so tough and dry. She went to ask and came back to tell me that the rib's are supposed to be "crunchy". She offered to replace them and finally offered to not charge me for my order. I paid anyway, because I ate what I could and they insisted that I received the ribs they way they intend to cook them.

Ultimately, my server told me that they don't do beef ribs very well. Pork is better.

I loved the sauces. The sides (potato salad and baked beans) were a little plain.

Posted 06/20/07

Even if you don't eat meat the side dishes are awesome. Everything on the menu is great!
The spare ribs are the best deal in town!

Pros: Hot Sauces are wonderful!

Cons: None

Posted 04/09/07

I love BBQ and have tried most of the joints in Portland. How I missed Russell Street is beyond me. Pork Ribs were very good, not drowned in sauce and done to mouth watering perfection. If you like your meat to fall off the bone and melt in your mouth this place can't be beat. My wife had the mild sauce and I had the classic, both were good although the mild was a bit bland for my taste. For our sides we both had the greens and mac n cheese, both were very good. The greens, in particular, were almost as good as Campbell's before the ownership switch. The service was attentive but not annoying and the sweet tea was a perfect compliment to the meal. The only drawback was that we did not care for the fried chocalate pie we ordered for dessert -- it was tough and seemed overdone. Would not order that again, but would highly reccomend this place for a great BBQ experience.

Pros: BBQ done right. Pork ribs outstanding. Great sides, sweet tea a good compliment to the meal.

Cons: Didn't care for the fried chocalate pie dessert

Posted 02/16/07

I love this place. The food is terrific. The ribs are juicy, tangy and meaty. The portions are a bit too large--which with ribs means they are perfect! Service is friendly, the interior is nice and parking is easy. I only eat there once per year because it's so lethal. So we pick a special occassion. If my doctor would let me, I'd eat there every week.

Pros: Tangy sweet meaty ribs.

Cons: Fattening and artery clogging

Posted 02/03/07

I have eaten here three times and have loved it every time. The meats are wonderfully smoked, the sides are delicious, and the sauces compliment everything well. The grilled shrimp are without a doubt some of the best shrimp I have enjoyed from any type of restaurant. A must-try item. They have very nice, if sometimes brisk servers. I can only fault them on their beef brisket, which I found to be rather dry. That said, don't miss the other meats, they're wonderful!

Pros: The pork ribs, shrimp, pulled pork, pecan pralines

Cons: Somewhat dry brisket, service can be abrupt

Posted 11/20/06

Always looking for good barbecue,have always been pleased with the food here, love the ribs. sides are always good!!!

Posted 11/14/06

We have made this place one of our regular haunts, thanks to the terrific food and the consistency of the service. The ribs, mac and cheese, fries, and hush puppies are our favorites, but we (or our guests) have also tried the chicken, pork, and even the BBQ tofu, and all were excellent.
We've never had a bad meal, although once my partner's ribs arrived on the cold side. The staff were very apologetic, fixed the problem promptly, and took his meal off the bill. Many places wouldn't go this far to please their customers.
We will be back. Again and again.

Pros: Great food, huge portions, good service

Cons: Well ... none.

Posted 10/31/06

As Im always in a search for excellent BBQ, I thought Id try Russells. The decor was clean, upscale pig. There were little porkers all through the restaurant. It was a nice touch. Although there is a variety of pork on the menu, I felt the place leaned more to a North Carolina style of BBQ.

I sampled the ribs and brisket. The ribs were excellent, they were tender and tasty. The brisket, however, left something to be desired. The brisket was NOT tender, but fortunately I had the ribs.

In short, an excellent spot if you are looking for ribs, particularly if you like NC style. If you are looking for more of a Texas style BBQ, youll be disappointed.

Posted 10/07/06

First, we would like to thank everyone for their opinions and taking the time to post their thoughts here.

We have never responded to a review but it is important to us to point out a few mis-interpretations. The Derby Mustard Sauce is a wholegrain mustard mixed with spices and seasoning, then pureed in a blender for a great smooth sauce.
The pork ribs are braised then grilled with sauce. The brisket is smoked overnight, with another round of smoke in the morning. The beef ribs are smoked for at least 5 hours.

Thank you again to everyone who takes the time to provide feedback. We appreciate it!

Posted 09/15/06

we started our city search for a restaurant with beef ribs for my mom's 60th (her request) and russel street bbq popped up with it's rave reviews so we went to check it out...atmostphere was casual, yet clean and interesting, menu was wide with selection, and we sampled many items between us-the beef ribs were good, nice and meaty, but not quite as tender as i have had other places, and i tried the mustard bbq sauce which really isn't mustard at all but was unique and flavorful. my daughter loved their mac-n-cheese made from scratch, and candied yams tasted like grandma's (a good thing). My husband (meatsa platter with shrimp, pork ribs, and brisket) who eats nothing but meat 100% of the time could tell his meat was boiled then seared, as opposed to long time smoking of other bbq and that seemed to bother him a bit but i enjoyed for what it was, a casual lunch out. our bill for 2 adults and 2 children was 30$ including drinks (my husband had 2 beers and their sweet tea was wonderful) which was pretty decent. service was good, a little short with my kids, but to be fair they are kind of wild and she even packed my dog back home a left over bag. outside patio looked nice, kinda wish we had ate out there since the weather was nice. we will go back, but not out of our way to do so. we will probably just stick to rib city or goldies (although no beef ribs)- on our side of river.

Pros: menu variety, fast service, parking

Cons: 18 % gratuity required on parties of more than 6

Posted 09/11/06

My friend suggested we have lunch at Russel Street BBQ. Being a person who can not turned down good BBQ I obliged the offer. The pulled pork sandwhich was one of the best that I have ever had. Nice Tender Meat, great service too. Worth the trip across town.

Posted 08/30/06

I am a BBQ man - I que several times a week and enjoy nothing more than fine BBQ. And Russell St BBQ is fantastic. The fries are excellent (douple fried and good to the last crumb).
We both got the combo platter and agree the shredded pork and classic sauce were excellent. The sausage was good but a little too hot dogish for me. The baby back ribs brought the excellence back again. Side dished - mac & cheese evry good, meaty beans quite good, greens were excellent, candied yams excellent (not too sweet, just right).
We both took home 1/2 our meals and split the turtle brownie which was excellent.
Service was great, super friendly and they had all of their sauces on the table to use as condiments (and so you can try them all).
I'm still sticking to Clay's as my No 1 but Russell Street is a close second and different enough that I could eat here just as often.

Pros: BBQ, fries, service

Posted 08/28/06

This place is great....yummy barbeque, family friendly and a great little outdoor dining area. I keep taking more and more peoiple here and everyone loves it!

Posted 08/08/06