I must have walked by this joint a hundred times and never noticed it. Went there today because I am working my way thru other people’s burger reviews on Yelp and Urban Spoon, see if I agree or disagree. One review calls this “a fake British pub.” I don’t know about that, it is what it is, typical of Portland, or anywehre, a mish-mash of theme and localization. And that’s fine.
The Thirsty Lion offers a number of burgers, (a bunch of sausages, too – for another day) which come with fries, “pub chips” or slaw. I went with the Tavern Burger, a 1/2 lb. patty grilled with black forest ham, cheddar cheese, and onion ring(s). It is offered with lettuce, tomato, and mayo, which I suggested they leave in the kitchen. I selected the pub chips as my side, after an explanation of what they were (house made thick potato chips, like you get at the Palm).
It didn’t take long for my order, it was about 12:30 and there weren’t that many customers. Many were men watching futbol (ahem, soccer) on the raft of big screen tvs.
The burger looked outstanding when it arrived, juice trickling from the side, flour-dusted bakery roll, steak knife impaled thru the burger in case you were mad at your server. The menu touts “eat local”, and they mention the various local brands they buy, including Beaverton Mustards, which were on the table in a variety of styles.
The patty, dissected, was done just a hair past medium rare. It is quality meat, and I was delighted with the black forest ham, that it was “real” and not some pressed, chopped and formed lunch meat. There was one onion ring atop the burger, and it was pretty fair, as well. I like to find a “ham” burger once and awhile, I them as much as bacons. Maybe more.
The chips, I loved.
This is a great burger, and a great value. It’s not a Violetta, but it could sit proudly right up next to one.
The complete menu is online here, and the burger portion of the menu is below.
Returned on July 30, 2010 for lunch. Burgers were ok, had the “pub chips” as my side choice, house-made potato chips, which were above average. Brick: even tho there were very few customers, service was poor to non-existent. Waited a long time for food, and waitress took reorders on drinks and never returned. We had to seek out assistance at the bar for the drinks, and they didn’t know where the waitress had gone off to, either. She did return to collect the check.