Russell Street Bar-B-Q

My highest rating ever! Six out of six piggies 2007 through Aug, 2009.

Overall impression...
Awesome!

Meats...
An expansive menu. Try the sublime Bar-B-Que salads.
The pulled pork is tender and delicious, with a deep and slightly smoky flavor. The large beef ribs are smoked and actually charred, so have lost a lot of fat. That kills some of the flavor, but they are still tasty. Try the beef ribs with the mustard seed sauce--it's amazing! The baby back ribs are especially meaty and succulent. Other meats include tender brisket, spicy sausage, chicken, turkey, salmon, and shrimp. Vegetarian options are available. The blue plate specials are reportedly amazing.

Vegetarian friendly.


Sides...
The usual delicious offerings also include a yummy mac & cheese and candied yams. The vegetarian greens are kale, the tastiest I've ever eaten. The cole slaw is a balanced blend made with red cabbage, which colors the mayo base an odd pink/magenta. There are little packets of honey on the table to put on the slightly dry corn bread. The desserts are amazingly rich and delicious.

Sauces...
An excellent lineup, including a sweet mild sauce, a slightly spicy smoky sauce, a mustard seed sauce, and hot sauce, which is much spicier than most. Also on the table are a vinegar and pepper flake blend, the amazingly good Frank's Hot Sauce, and ketchup. Ask for the sauces on the side so you can play with different sauce/meat combinations or even make your own special blend of sauces. There is a large assortment of bottled commercial hot sauces behind the bar, available on demand.

Portions...
The portions are ample.

Service...
Nice people, friendly, courteous, and professional. A diverse crowd and staff.

Cost...
Reasonable to moderate cost. The sandwiches are around $7 to $8 and come with one side. The platters range from $10 to $16 and include two sides. The $16 gut-busting "meatapalooza" is three meats plus two sides. It's enough for two.

Atmosphere...
The cozy atmosphere includes a back room and a small waiting area. It's open and airy, and a bit noisy on a busy night, which is often in this popular eatery.

Pros...
A very full menu, high quality and consistent BBQ, good sauces, and excellent service at a reasonable price.

Cons...
Not much. The beef ribs are too charred for my taste, but still good.

Russell Street Bar-B-Q
325 NE Russell St
Portland, OR 97212
(503)528-8224