Bagdad Theatre and Pub Reviews

Standard McMenamin fare, beautiful historic interior, sort of run down, but that's half the charm. Who can beat a good beer, some hot pizza or popcorn, and a movie, right?

I really like this theater with it's food, beer, and balcony. If the show is very popular, the wait lines for food and beverages can be long and the method for the kitchen to bring you food needs improved (we ordered and didn't even get the food because it was so crowded, but they refunded our money as a result). When it's not crowded, it's just right and gives a nostalgic feeling without feeling old and musty.

The restaurant experience is mediocre at best. The food and service are OK, but there are a lot better and more interesting dining options. Outdoor seating on Hawthorne during nice weather is definitely a plus. The theater experience is much better, especially balcony seating where you can also have menu items delivered for you. Like hot dogs at the ballpark, OK food seems great when it's in the right environment, in this case, delivered to your movie theater seat (balcony only). The line for theater concessions can get very long, especially for popular movies. Although it moves pretty quickly, I'm sure many people miss trailers and even the first few minutes of films while waiting to get food and drinks. Going with a group can help - split up to grab seats and get a spot in line for concessions.

Typical McMenamin's food and second run movies, best when they have midnight shows.

Movies, pizza and beer!

My partner and I live near by and we love to go here for a dinner and a movie. The food has a lot of options for the meal. I generally get a salad+burger or pizza. The pizza is pretty good and the burgers are pretty decent. The mixed drinks are generally pretty good, and they always change them up for the movie they are showing which is pretty fun. The theatre is beautiful and all the employees are great. We love it and will always be returning. The movies are generally the big block busters and they can stay for 2 - 4 weeks.

This theater is great. Go early so you have time to explore. You can tell the owners have an eye for detail. It was fun looking around at all the decorations and embellishments. Oh, and also they show movies. There are plenty of seats on the main level, but the screen is huge, so I prefer sitting up top in the balcony. Even though the seats are farther from the screen, it is just so neat up there.

this is a fun venue in a fun neighborhood, but really- go and see a movie! other than that it is very typical mcmenamins pub fare, but fun to have a beer and a pizza while you watch a new, first run movie from comfy seats in the balcony.

I wanted to like this place with it's open air seating area and the great atmosphere of Alberta Ave. But the poor service just ruined it for me. We asked for the Happy Hour drink specials. She rhymed off one beer, one cocktail and one wine. After ordering we scanned the menu and found a whole section of drinks and food for Happy Hour which she could have pointed out. Truth be told we would have ordered the tasting flight of beers and the flight of wines if we had known about them. The lemon drop cocktail was very good but I was so disappointed by the service that we just drank up and got out of there.

Been here many times and as always a fun place to watch a movie. Unfortunately the cheeseburger I had was mediocre. Too much bun, and the patty itself was pretty tasteless. For the price not a good value at all. At least the fries were good.

Average food, consistently sub-par service, decent wine, pretty good beer, great location. Applies to all the McMenamins I've been in so far. If you want to have a drink, this is a great place to be. If you want to eat a good meal, don't bother. Their salad or tater tots are the only consistently good items I've found on their menu. This review is for the restaurant only. Service leaves a lot to be desired. Sitting down at a table to be greeted by a wait person who thinks we should be grateful for the opportunity to be at their table in their restaurant doesn't make one feel welcome. Location is great though....except in the summers when the windows are open & there is outside seating. There is a bus stop on the corner and the exhaust can be over powering.

McMenamins are good for beer and entertainment, but the food is basic pub food and the same at most of their places. They don't have many vegetarian/vegan choices. Nothing special.

The Bagdad has undergone some nice renovations recently. Projection and sound were very good. Seats quite comfortable with nice tables for those getting food in front of many rows. We enjoyed our pizza and cider. Beats popcorn and soda!

Lots of character and numerous pub choices including movies. Mcmenamins commitment to preservation and novel decor fits in this east Portland area. Good pub-style food available at table, pavement, bar, or movie. Easy to spends a few hours here!

One of McMenamins places to catch a movie and some great food. We go up for the OMSI Science Pub hosted there. The Theater itself is very comfy and amply seated. You can order food and they will bring it to your seat, (they have little "tables" to set your food on), or grab a slice of their pizza and a beer while you watch the show! The food is good, I usually opt for the humus plate, or tater tots, while my other half always gets a cheeseburger and a beer milkshake. Yes, BEER MILKSHAKE! And believe me, they ARE very good! I haven't interacted with any staff other than the girl at the front who takes admission (a $2.00 suggested fee), and she is very sweet. The atmosphere and decor are typical of a mcmenamins, we love it!

We liked it so much we went back a day later! Quaint movie theater, restaurant and bar. Has great vegan and gluten free options. Loved the rice bowls and Shepard's pie.

My wife and I stopped on a Sunday morning before it got crowded. I ordered the Jamaican rice bowl, split pea soup and a coffee. My wife ordered Mahi-mahi tostadas. Everything outside of the rice bowl was very good including the coffe

We went here to see The Hunger Games after an early dinner elsewhere. Since we did not know the concept of having tables in a cinema we were pleasantly surprised by the venue and the whole idea! Admission is 3 dollars per person, which is practically nothing for cinema, so this was another nice surprise. I loved the design of this place and had a very enjoyable evening. If you are looking for food and a movie, go there!

love it

Good food, love to have a pizza and a beer while watching a cheap movie!

For atmosphere alone. Not as many choices as Laurelhurst Theaters (which are nice too!) but the atmosphere here is so unique. We haven't gone to the large multi-plex theaters in Portland in many years. We always check here and Laurelhurst first. Plus, how cool is it to have a beer or two while watching a movie?? Best idea ever.

The best for casual drinks with friends.

Cheap Movies, OK Food.

I've heard for years from friends and family that McMennamin's service is poor and this visit confirmed it. We saw the new Star Wars movie at the Bagdad theater. The line for just popcorn and soda was so long, people gave up and had to go back during the movie after the line died down. They definitely don't have the staff to handle a busy crowd. That seems to be true in their pub as well. We had to wait 45 minutes for them just to clean a table for us to sit down, even though half the tables were sitting empty. From what I could tell, there were 3 people working -- 1 behind the bar and 2 wait staff. Maybe they were running between the restaurant and the theater -- I don't know how they were so inefficient. The food is mediocre and the service isn't friendly enough to make up for it. If you're planning on going, be prepared for a wait and to feel like your presence is a burden on the staff. Maybe someone needs to remind them why they're in business and where their paycheck comes from.

I love big theaters, and this is one. I've been here for OMSI Science Pub and to see a few movies. Standard Mcmenamins food and drink, which has room for improvement in my book, but still suits its purpose. Seats are comfy and the tables are nice when you want to eat and drink.

I have been to the Bagdad twice on recent trips to Portland and have enjoyed the tasty, reasonably-priced pub food and the neat atmosphere. The wide-open windows make things fun and bring the Pub way out onto the street. The burgers, sandwiches, and brews are all very tasty. Swing by if you want no lines and consistent food and service.

Saw a movie with my toddler during the week a while back and got a burger and fries and it was a great combo. The whole experience is a little spendy to me but I guess that's because it's a remodeled theater and not one of their older ones. Food is great though, love the gluten free buns for the burgers and the sound and screen is good quality.

In the area and needed quick lunch. Always friendly staff at a McMenamins quickly brought my Hammerhead and I order the half Tuna with the Split Pea soup. Sandwich just right and the soup was better than expected. Somewhat chunky, not the pureed style, nice surprise.

Great food options. They also gluten free, vegan and vegetarian food..just make sure that you ask. Movie theater is cool and has a balcony. Free pool on Sundays in the backstage bar after 1pm.

We enjoyed eating here and escaping from the rain. The food was very good, if little bit on the stingy side of the scale. Fabulous atmosphere.

This was the very first place my boyfriend and I went on our trip...well aside from our hostel. We were looking for a place to grab a bite to eat late and a beer or two! Staff was friendly, seating outside was so nice, and the beer was soo cheap (it was happy hour)! Definitely stop by and check this neat place out!!

I love this place! We go about once a month to catch a movie and drink some great micro-brew beers. They have a good food menu, too. Burgers, Pizza etc and will even bring it to your seat so you dont have to wait in the lobby. It is a part of a chain of micro-brew pubs all with different feels to them. Plus it is located in an old-school art-deco style movie theater that has been remodeled so you have a place for your beer and food in front of you. I always bring friends from out of town when they visit and when they come back they always ask to return!

Where to take a toddler to see Minions? Bagdad Theatre of course! Comfy rocking seats with tables in front for food and drink. Burgers and pizza available and of course many McMenamin's brews.

We arrived at the theater early so we stopped at the pub for a few drinks before showtime. The pub is a fun stop.

I love this theater! it's my favorite in the whole country. it has a big screnn great sound system, upstairs balcony, has great food and brews. really cool theater.

I love the theatre and the ability to eat there, the pub should have more variety of foods . They should have more showings which would help

More likely than not, Bagdad has some great shows lined up. We've been here for a comedy show and several movies. We haven't eaten anything besides popcorn here, but you can't go wrong with a cold beer. We like the eclectic atmosphere of the theatre and the neighborhood. The floors and chairs aren't shiny and new, but they are clean and aged. Don't forget your ID if you're attending anything in the evening; you won't get in without it.

I haven't been to a McMenamin's joint in a long time -- in part because I knew the menu and there was never much on it that I thought was tasty. (I'm a vegetarian so my options were few and far between.) Imagine my delight when I discovered a new menu item under "salads" -- Kung Pow! Tofu Mune Louie. It sounded delicious and it was amazing! Best salad of its type that I can remember. In addition, I had a Tao of Tea pot of tea with a small white china tea cup. It was perfect, as well! The service was friendly, attentive and understanding! (For example, we spilled a glass of ice water and they dealt with it painlessly in a flash!) I'll be back soon, I promise!

Beer and pizza on somebody else's chairs while watching a movie? Excellent!

The experience at this theatre was very different as they had food and drink available. They had a great selection of beer. The theatre was big and the screen had a great picture.

I have eaten at a few McM's venues, and this is one of my least favorite. I paid too much money for steak bites that were too chewy to enjoy. The clam chowder is decent, and the cajun tots are always great. I am not a fan of any of the beer. I dont like IPA or anything similar to that full bodied, bitter taste. I have tried all of the beer, and not a single one agreed with me. To be fair, I prefer a great lager, kolsch or pilsner...so there's that. I would avoid this venue and go to the Kennedy School instead

We stopped in on a Monday at about 7pm. Great spot to sit outside and watch weird Portland walk by. You can't beat the location. Good food and tasty beer. Next time we'll see a movie too.

McMenamins food just isn't that great, at any of the restaurants.

This is a very large theatre with a big balcony that shows first run movies. Not only is it an amazing place to catch a show, the pricing is very reasonable at $7 for a matinee. You can purchase your tickets in advance on the theatre website for a $1 convenience fee. Sorry, you can't use Fandango. If you decide to purchase at the theatre, get there early on a weekend. Lines develop quickly within 30 minutes of the movie's start. You will want to get there early anyway to order your food and drink. Since this is affiliated with McMenamins, alcoholic beverages are served and there is a great menu. I didn't eat there, since I ate before I went, but the food looked and smelled good. Great place to see a movie with your family or a great date night for a couple. I'll definitely go again!

It is kinda odd to eat in the dark, but once you get the hang of it it is a real treat to east something other than popcorn at the theater, not to mention the awesome selection of mirco brews If only every town had a classic restored theater that served good food and great beer, but few do so when your in Portland and want to see a movie, check this place out, it is unique.

Food is better than average pub grub but the people watching is really what you come for on a nice day. The outside, sidewalk adjacent seating makes for some of the best people watching in PDX. Check it out on a sunny or not so sunny day!

I have special memories of the Baghdad and a place in my heart for all McMenamins'.

We really enjoyed our trip to the Baghdad to see Fantastic Beasts. The one room theater space is super cool, I love how the space has been preserved and revitalized. You could have food and drink in the theater too, which is always a plus. We took in some hard cider (and McMenamins makes their own, extra points there!) but no food. The chairs were comfy, nothing like a big mall theater but more than adequate for a 2 hour movie. Overall a great experience. We would come back!

We were visiting family in the Hawthorne district of Portland and went here for dinner one evening. Good pub food and very Portlandesqe spot. It is owned by McMinneman's. I had the Reuben sandwich which was delicious. Of course since it is a brew pub there are lots of good beer choices. No air conditioning and it was a warm day but the temp was ok in the restaurant.

The place has always been fun and McMenamins has done it up right, We had a good meal outside, we had two dogs with us and the food and service was great and people watching the very best. Since I grew up in the Hawthorne neighborhood it is always a trip in the past to stroll up and down the street.Portland is a very dog friendly place.... very nice...

Really enjoyed stopping here for dinner last month. Keshav our server was brilliant. The food was all excellent (particularly the soft pretzel sticks!) Burgers are superb. Great suggestion on beer. Really worth going in for food & drinks.

We stopped in for a quick burger and a beer. Did not realize it was part of the McMennamins chain, so the menu was familiar after having eaten at the Kennedy and out at Edgefield. Like all the other sites, the staff is outgoing and attentive.

how can you beat complete menu, hard cider and a movie!!!

Nicely situated on E. Burnside amongst some vintage clothing stores (which my wife had fun exploring), there are seats outside to enjoy the nice fall weather. We ordered the sampler of beers and relaxed and watched the world go by, if you need a break from shopping this is a nice little oasis.

Love the architecture of this theater. They have a full menu and a full bar. Hard to beat this. The seats are comfortable and big, per the old time theaters. I have been several times and always enjoyed it. Went today (Star Wars) and really appreciated that they had two lines for people going into the theater - one for people who had to buy tickets and the other for those who have purchased ahead of time. Always a good experience.

Pretty much similar to all the other McMenamins in feel, nothing really worse or better here in my opinion.The staff were great and very helpful, service was attentive and friendly though a bit hurried in feel. The "Diablo" sandwich was pretty good, not great, but good.Their menu is a bit small I feel and could be enlarged.The waitresses were all great. The bathrooms could have been better cleaned and the trash was noticeably full when I was there.

Bagdad was one of the first places we visited when we came to Portland--and it still a favorite. The menu varies as does the entertainment roving on down the street. Fun neighborhood--parking is HORRIBLE so if you find a spot--stay and schmooze the whole neighborhood. Bagdad is a glorious old theater--stately and beautifully restored. Pub food can be enjoyed in the Pub or in the theater. Pizzas are good, soups are good and creative--prices are a bit high but then you get entertainment from the passing parade--so it is fine. Service is usually really good--nice servers. Go--a Portland MUST!!

flix & beer, yeah!

This restaurant is located perfectly on the funky Hawthorne Street. My family enjoyed lunch outside and could not get enough of the Cajun Tater Tots! The theater and pub are restored beautifully.

Went to see the new Avengers movie with Aussie husband and brother and sis-in-law and had such a good time. Dinner and a drink in pub first - excellent pub food and service and prices. Pressed for time as movie about to start but could bring drinks in with us- along with "buttered" popcorn from the snack bar where you can also buy a drink. Comfortable theatre seats with table in front. First run movies and excellent prices. Went again in a few weeks to see John Wick 3. Such fun!!

We popped in for an early dinner with four adults and two five-year-olds. Good choice for us. Service and food were both great. Our servers helped make sure the kids were happy. Especially nice to get their milk in covered cups.

Slice of pizza and a beer while you sit in a wonderfully renovated theater and watch a movie. Or sit outside at a table and watch the people walk by on Hawthorne Blvd. The only negative ... it's McMenamin's food and beer ...

Decent pub fare, best thing is you can have pizza and a beer while checking out a movie!

Went to the Backstage area and ordered a chicken sandwich as it was 9:00 and I had to eat something after watching NCAA hoop all day. It wasn't busy and at 10 I asked the bartender where my order was. His exact words, "Oh we have been out of that all day." I couldn't believe it and asked for a refund as I was asked to pay when ordering. This is part of the McMenamins group and a sad example of professional hospitality.

Its fun b/c you can get actual food (Not that its good) and watch movies.

The food is pretty consistently good - I've never gone wrong with any of the beers though. Make sure and check out The Backstage too!

The Bagdad theatre is absolutely beautiful. It was built in the 1920s and has retained its beautiful architecture. McMenamin's is right next door and if you want to order a pizza and a beer, they'll actually deliver to you in the balcony section of the theatre. They only have a single showing at a time, but with a theatre that beautiful and service so good, it's worth it for the experience.

There are lots of McMennimans choices in Portland, but on the sidewalk in the Hawthorne District is my favorite and my home location.

Just okay, really. Pizza - what more can you say? The atmosphere is fun, though, and I love to watch movies and eat pizza!

I visit a lot of the McMenamins restaurants and I come here the most. Not for the theater, though it is great. I usually come here for the the pub because it has sidewalk seating. The service is good too, food and drinks come out quickly and they don't forget about you if you stay for a long time. This pub has the beer milkshakes, which I highly recommend. They also make a good European-style pizza.

They have very good pizza and excellent beer. The atmosphere is perfect - sit outside if you can because there is great people watching and it's a fun culture to be around. They have beer milkshakes at this place - chocolate ice cream with a dark, rich beer. They were good but hard to taste the actual beer in.

Legendary McMenamins brew, historic theater, $3 ticket prices. Not the place to go if you're looking for anything fresh and new on the menu, but a Portland Landmark!

great for what it is. good pizza and beer. okay service. nice atmosphere.

Around back from the Baghdad theater is the Backstage Pub. Shuffle board, an old theater curtain on the wall, very big screen tv, and filled with locals. I mean everyone goes to the Hawthorne district to see the true characters of Portlandia, so go ahead and enjoy. The girls had white wine and we had a shot of whiskey. $28.00

I don't normally drink much beer - but the beer is exceptional. It is very smooth. I had wheat, porter and Hillsdale Ale. All 3 were great. I didn't have much to eat so don't know much about the food, but the beer was great.

We don't live in Potland Oregon, but were visiting and driving around. On a really funky street called SE Hawthorne, we saw this wild looking theater. Parked and saw they had a restaurant. Went inside on a frigid January day. VERY COOL: heated inside! And Totally struck by the really cool Arabian artwork all over the walls. Decided to have lunch. It was delicious!! I had a Reuben, and the kids had a pizza from the kids menu. Reasonably priced, and really great service. Huge bar in the middle makes for an interesting experience overall. Totally found it by accident, and totally made the fun of finding cool stuff in Portland, that much more so. There is a movie theater that has been remodeled attached to it. Absolutely gorgeous job. Eat drink and be merry! I would totally go there again!

The is the McMenamin's associated with the Bagdad theatre. I am not sure if this is the original location for the pub, as there are a few of them now, but it is still a fun place to hang out, get a drink, some cheap eats, and watch the people on Hawthorne street. Typical American fare, some local beers, and the usual drafts - nothing too fancy, but solid.

This is an absolute must for both the beer connoisseur and foodie alike. The monkey punch cocktail was incredible we also enjoyed the Bagdad Ale and Terminator Stout. The blistered green bean appetizer and the Aussie lamb burger were out of this world delicious. Portland Ketchup Company's organic ketchup was amazingly great. A trip to Portland would not be complete without a visit here and you can even catch the latest movies as well. Superb!!

It's a bar with bands that change. Popular with the grunge and grunge-lite set. Usually will find a line late nite. Surprisingly popular place.

on of my favorite mcmennamin's. the calzone served with red sauce followed by the cobbler, with a few sets of pool and monster ballads in the grand ol' hall.

We went in the Back Stage to watch Monday night football. The biggest screen that I have ever seen. Like all of the McMenamin properties, it was an old renovated theatre. Complete with high ceiling and a looooong bar, it was fantastic! The drinks are made with freshly squeezed fruit right in front of you and they are delicious.Staff was very friendly and we had a nice evening out. I can't wait to go back.

Decided at the last minute to visit a McMenamin pub and landed at Bagdad Theatre and Pub. The beer was cold, the tater tots out of this world and the service great. The only reason for the "very good" rating is that 3 things we requested that were listed on the menu weren't available and hadn't been for awhile and they inferred that we should have known that. Go figure. Great old theatre with lots of history so worth the trip but be flexible on the food.

Regardless if it is a "view and brew" night or local stand up comedy - there is great beer, fun atmosphere and you can just relax

Eclectic is the word that describes the over-all atmosphere here. We stopped in at the pub for a late (mid-afternoon) lunch. The sidewalk seating wasn't available so we opted to go inside. Not a bad choice, but it is fun to sit along the edge of the sidewalk or at one of the close-by tables to take in all the action out on the street. It's kind of a hippy dippy area. Lots of fun. We shared a Mai Thai rice bowl, some Cajun tots and topped everything off with some Thundercone Fresh Hop Ale. Perfect! We shared the rice bowl and felt that the portions were just right for the two of us. This a great place with friendly service, good food and great for people watching.

I didn't see a movie in the Theater portion, but I enjoyed dinner and drinks in the back Pub. Very unique spot (in an old theater). The food was very good and the bar had a fun atmosphere.

Good pub food!

We also ate at the zeus cafe and the food is amazing. Somehow they use just the right amount of seasoning so their food is delicious. Better that the Diners Drive ins and Dives places we went to

Love the Pizza, beer and of course, the movies.

The food is McMenamin's standard, but having the theater there too is a lot of fun.

Food is decent, great spot for a drink, nice bartenders. Stop in while touring around SE, or before a movie.

Very very friendly service, and now what they need to do is devise a menu with food to match the service. Food is bland and unimaginative, and very few choices

cheap movies, couches, decent pizza and beer all rolled into one. What a deal!

We stopped by for early dinner. The food was fine, we enjoy the McMenamin's menu, and the staff was friendly. While working on the Passport program, this is in one of the most busy spots.

Standar McMenamins fare...pizza is pretty good

Movies, Pizza, and Beer. Nuf' Said

This place is a old style theater and it is so very cool to go see a film there. There is also a pup next door so you can get a drink before your movie starts. I also hear the place is haunted so maybe you will see something cool when your there.

Had eaten here before and got decent food, nothing special. It's small, crowded and noisy. On the plus side, you can watch the people walk by on Hawthorne, and they have radiant heaters :) On a recent visit, we sat down and were ignored for 10 minutes (although they weren't busy) so we left. With so many good places on Hawthorne, who needs this?

I vastly prefer the Bagdad for live comedy, though it can be a great place to catch a second-run movie. And they're beer is phenomenal. I've never been impressed with the food, though the tots are truly great.

We liked the calibre and friendliness of the staff who gave us great advice on the food and the beers and also helped us out by telling us where to find the best Portland site for gigs. Which incidentally is PC-PDX.com

This is a large, old and extensively restored time-tunnel of an establishment that provides a very comfortable and relatively unique movie-going experience. The food is decent and there is very good drink selection. All the seats seemed to have good sight lines and the "dining" did not intrude on the "watching" as tends to happen in the chain cinemas that try this. Best for action and adventure movies to my mind or perhaps something like "Midnight in Paris".

Visited the Hawthorne district, this place looked neat and decided to eat. I ordered the fish and chips. The fish was pretty good at first, towards the end, the grease started to make me sick. The fries(chips) were undercooked, somewhat cold and not crispy. The cole slaw had no flavor. The waitress never came back to our table after the food was served. RC Cola? Where's the Coke or Pepsi?

I stopped in for a snack at Happy Hour. Ordered a Terminator Stout and a basket of Cajun Tots. Wow, there were a lot of tots in that basket. And they were a bit too hot 'n' spicy for me after I ate half of them. I ended up taking them home to share. Next time I'll go with the basket of fries. The pint was very good as always and help to cool off the taste buds. I love the art work in side the Bagdad Pub. all related to the theme of the name and the old mythology. Great stuff. And on a warm hot day you will find all the seats outside at the sidewalk area filled up. Okay with me, they was plenty of room inside to just walk in a take a seat. Some nice booth in here as well. Great place to sit, relax, and enjoy the atmosphere. Good place to kill time if you are waiting for a movie to start.

My sister and I came here for a late lunch. She ordered a special cheese pizza that was off the menu, a salad and a coffee. I just mooched off of her. The pizza was awesome. Gold star for the wait staff person who took the time to fulfill our custom order. I ate half the pizza. I would have eaten more, but my sister wouldn't let me. My sister said that the salad was delicious. A good balance of everything. I ate the croutons, and can attest that they were really good The coffee was just OK. Nothing to write home about. However, since this is more of a pub than a coffeehouse, I don't think it is fair to judge them on their coffee. It might help them win people over, however, if they started brewing better coffee. That would make them a Triple Threat. Great food, great pub drinks and great coffee. At this point, only the first two would be true. The wait staff were great. Friendly, warm and personable. Would come here again.