mcmenamins on the columbia

noisy, limited menu, beers are good.. okay, i get that that focus is onbeerand burgers. but still, the place is so noisy that you can't hear yourself think at least on a saturday night. we went becuase it was on the water and i wanted to watch the sunset. the burgers were okay, but for anything else, the menu is really limited. this place seems to be popular with the 35 and under set, but since i am nearly in my dotage (50+) i guess i need to choose a quieter place to eat with more fresh, well prepared food.

chicken mole sandwich?. went to this lovely location today for a business lunch. i ordered distractedly as we were talking. i like chicken mole, what could possibly go wrong?
my sandwich arrived. the bottom of the bun was plastered with jalepenos. the top of the chicken was splashed with salsa. has anyone at this restaurant even tasted mole???? so wrong. they should call that a chicken salsa sandwich. nothing whatever to do with mole. i might go back forbeerbut i doubt i'll order much food. the cream of spinach soup was good at least.

waste of time and money. walked in the other night for a quick bite and a beer. it was a few minutes after 9, and i thought i might grab some late night happy hour food. i guessed wrong, as usual the service was beyond terrible. i pulled up to the bar and noticed the other two people sitting there, waiting also. out came my phone and i started the timer, 11 minutes passed before the bartender even noticed i was even there. granted i understand that the two other guests at the bar had probably overloaded kitchen and bar, but 11 minutes for a simple greeting? i politely explained how long i had been waiting and he shortly told me how busy it was and he was sorry. ok a grand total of three guests at a bar designed to seat 25 means "busy"? it's time for this place to close down so a proper management company can take it over. epic fail again. rather than waste money,order food, and risk retaliation, i walked next door and had a drink-in-hand in under two minutes. this will be my last "review" of the place as i've decided to cure the insanity and never enter the door again.


-----16 may, 2012-----

waste of time. i've been going there for years (insanity i guess) and i must say that if you're looking for a nice place to look at, go. if you want service (at all) don't go. the food is typical of the other properties, ok on a good day. the service is also typical of the other properties, horrible/none. $5+ for a draftbeermade on sight is a bit much too. also they charge tax onbeerseparately, anybody else do that? i keep going back because it is on the river and pretty to look at but i refrain from ordering any big ticket items. this place could be so much better. imho the only reason it's still open is the location and view.

abeeron the deck with a sunset view over the river.... can't find that better anywhere in vancouver,

even the darker beers were pretty good, which are not typically my favorite. and look at that ruby ale on the left! the fact that they were able to brew abeerthat color was impressive, but to provide it with any reasonably tasty flavor is a complete fea

going to be completely honest and write i absolutely love the food and the beer! brewed in house, therebeerus perfect an playing around of golf! the staff are fun and the view of the columbia river... well see it for your self