The Candlelight Restaurant and Lounge

 

Business in the front, party in the back! Yep, it’s the mullet of dive bars. The Candlelight Restaurant and Lounge looks like your garden variety seedy Chinese restaurant at first, but this one has a dive bar attached. It’s pretty clean inside, which was a surprise given the exterior. Long bar that feels a little diner-y rather than bar-y, but it works. Some booths and tables too, overall a 1970s lounge-like feel. There’s a pool table and some video poker plus karaoke. We were sad, not sad to miss that last one. Sketchy but serviceable smoking shanty out back constitutes the outdoor seating area.

5 taps, all crap. But you should go there for the cocktails anyway. Waaaaay heavy handed bartender. Those drinks were as stiff as…I don’t know, I should have something pithy to say there, you can fill in the blank. But let’s just say we were grateful for the full menu on offer so we could have some classic, greasy Chinese food to sop up all that cheap booze.

FYI – the menu available veers confusingly between American and Chinese food throughout the day; part of it’s charm. The Candlelight Restaurant and Lounge would make an excellent last stop of the evening.

 

Address:  7334 NE Glisan St, Portland – [Google Map]

Quadrant: Northeast

Happy Hours: 4 pm-7 pm and 11 pm-1 am

Full Kitchen: Yes

Jalapeno Poppers: No

Breakfast: Yes, everyday!

Outdoor Seating: Not nice, but yes

Distinguishing Features: Chinese restaurant-American dive bar hybrid