Gold Dust Meridian

I love this place. I feel like people only write reviews when its negative. So I decided to write a great review because The Gold Dust deserves one. The food hear is super yummy, staff is friendly, cocktails are great. Happy Hour 2 – 8 WOW! Tends to be really busy but be patient it’s worth it.

Went here last night (a Saturday). They were short-​staffed, and I understand that can cause some slip-​ups. Our water glasses had lipstick stains on them, but were replaced right away. They entered our food order in wrong and we had to wait a long time. Again, the issue was fixed as soon as it was realized. Our mixed drinks were fantastic, though. So was the food. I would go back, but the issues we encountered were a little frustrating.

Decent. It was good, but just standard, nothing exciting. My friend & I both got the Veggie burger with fries, both were good. The patio is decent, on the sidewalk, unfortunately a majority of those around us were smoking :(I’d consider trying again. They do have a decent happy hour that goes until 8, and Sunday all day so that is certainly a draw.

Oh Gold Dust. So I’ll start this off by saying I went in on Sat, May 7^th around 2, they can look at their own schedule to figure out the unprofessional bartender behind the bar they had working.
You walk into a place with seating and a bar, where a waitress is supposed to take your order, but instead you have to order at the bar. Ok, that’s fine… I’ve got two legs, and I’m sure as hell not lazy. So I order food and a drink, so does my friend… they give you a number so they can bring you your food at your table. I go sit down and the waitress yells something towards are table which is by the door… no idea what she said, so I get up and ask. The first time in my 32 years in Portland did I ever have someone say to me «Well normally people tip …». Really?! Your going to yell that at us when we’re sitting down? Ha! I had a friend visiting from Germany who even asked me «was that lady really yelling at us to tip her?», if she wasn’t there, I would have walked out. Let me tell you something Gold Dust, if this is how you want your employees to act… you sure as hell suck. I’ll tip you after I eat and get my food and drink, like every other establishment throughout the USA. I have to already get up and order it myself, so the respect you can give your customers is to at least allow them to tip based on service and food… not demand it at the time we order. I told the lady I was going to leave it on the table before I left, I didn’t need her lesson on tipping. But I felt bad since she seemed new and not quite understanding of professionalism, not to mention it’s not a requirement to tip, that I gave her her money when she came with my drink. 7 bucks on an 8 dollar bill because she seemed a little off her rocker.
I’d give you no stars if I could, your bartender thinks she’s entitled to tips before she even does anything… in her words «just letting you know». I don’t need some young entitled child to teach me how to tip since I tip generously wherever I go being that I work in the service industry.
Overall, this place needs to train their employees better. I won’t be returning and I’m sure as hell gonna spread the work that this place isn’t worth going to spend the money on their over priced drinks. There’s are to many awesome places with awesome staff in Portland to waste your time on this place.

Great location, outside seating, delicious food and incredible happy hour. What else could you ask for? What’s that you say? Great service? Yep, they’ve got that too.
This is a great place to grab a couple of drinks while walking up and down the street shopping. Our group ended up getting a bunch of appetizers and splitting them. Everything was good and not over or under seasoned.

We only had drinks here, which were very good, as was the service. Most importantly, they kept my wife’s hat she had left and we were able to grab it the next day. One would think this would be normal, but this day in age, it stands out and is much appreciated.

I really don’t like to give a place a bad review. But after my experience last night, I’m afraid it is a must. Last night was the my second time at GDM. The first time I was a patron was a couple of months ago and I had mixed feelings-​the server was charming but the food and drinks came out at a glacial pace and was mediocre (esp. for the Portland food standard). Last night we tried to go to GDM after seeing a show downtown with relatives visiting from out of town. We were looking for a quick bite to eat before heading home and relieving the babysitter. Being no longer accustomed to finding food after 9:30 (ah, life with a toddler) GDM was the first place to pop into my mind and I (regrettably) just went with it even though the first time wasn’t fantastic. The mid century décor is pretty cool and I thought the folks that we were showing around might dig it. We had taken an Über to Hawthorne and it was raining sideways but the bouncer would not let my 31 year old brother-​in-​law in because his driver’s license had expired just a few days prior (you see he and his wife were visiting Portland on a birthday trip). Maybe, I’m wrong by being upset by this –maybe this is some super ironclad law that he was upholding. Or perhaps they recently got busted for serving under aged folks… but judging from some of the other bad reviews of this restaurant my feeling is it was just a real dick move on the part of that employee and symptomatic of terrible customer service all around.
Here’s the thing, there are so many wonderful bars and restaurants in Portland. There is incredible food with exceptional customer service everywhere. This place in my mind is really an anomaly in my personal experience going out in this city. If Gold Dust Meridian wants to stay in business they REALLY need to step up their game. We ended up just walking a few blocks north to Belmont where there are a bunch of yummy places-​Sweet Hereafter, Liquor Store, Circa 33 to name just a few.

So I have to preface this with: I don’t write reviews unless something is SUPER good or SUPER bad. this was SUPER bad.
First of all, I have a friend visiting from Minnesota, and I had a local friend spinning a DJ set at this bar – prime for welcoming homie to Portland, right? NO. (The music was good, though.)
We ordered beers/​drinks and were standing off to the side of the bar, and were told by one of the bartenders that she would be «walking through here frequently – eye roll» okay, so what? we shouldn’t stand there??? IN THE BAR??? Anyway, we moved to a booth. And then the bartender literally ignored us all night. Did not ask a single time if we wanted another drink. We went to the bar to get drinks from who I thought was the nicer bartender.
He actually was an ass as well. My friend accidentally spilled his beer and not only did I clean the entire thing up (I was a bartender once, I don’t mind – plus it WAS my friend who fucked up) but the bartender didn’t even offer to help. Not a huge deal, but honestly, a little good faith goes a long way. The biggest issue I had all night was asking for a replacement beer for my friend, which I was charged for!!! I got in a verbal dispute when I was presented my bill because there were multiple beer charges on it for that single beer my friend had spilled. Never in my life have I been charged for a spilled beer. I worked at a beer bar in California with 50 beers on tap – we never charged if someone spilled a beer. It’s not like anyone got to drink it. I have spilled plenty of beers myself in different bars all over SF, PDX, SoCal, NYC, where ever – never ONCE charged.
This bartender felt the need to dispute the charge for at least 5 minutes, telling me that OF COURSE they would charge for ANY beer that was poured. Get off your high horse, asshole.
I just can’t deal with shitty service, high prices, and (honestly) a bad beer selection when I will be charged for a mistake that no one wanted to make. My purse was covered in beer. No, I did not get to drink it. No, I did not want to pay $ 8 for my beer bath. Also $ 8 for beer?! In Portland?!
I will not be going back. I will never recommend this bar to anyone.

Today’s restaurant adventure is Happy Hour at Gold Dust Meridian… 2 – 8 pm… Awesome because they usually don’t start till later. Cute place, very casual, dimly lit with upbeat music that’s not too loud… A pitcher of water with my glass… YYAAYYY no empty glass… Waiter is polite and gave recommendations… I’m always looking for a good soup… The cream of mushroom was delicious… I also got wings. 5 choices of sauces I got the marionberry habanero… Great choice:) The regular menu looked great… I will be back:)

I came to this place a while ago and have been trying to figure out the name for several years. I finally figure it out because of the awesome décor. Such a mellow atmospheres with low lights, which can border on too dim.
There is a pretty decent happy happy hour it it doesn’t include their giant «family bowls». But the bowls are totally worth it. We had the Radio Cab, which has some tasty marionberry in it.

Went here on 2÷18÷16 at about 11pm with a friend. The girl bartending was incredibly rude and made horrible drinks. I ordered a dark and stormy (muddled lime, dark rum, ginger beer) and even asked to make sure they had ginger beer, and she poured me rum and ginger ale. I wasn’t going to ask her to remake it, she was already being rude and unaccommodating, so I just asked for some limes (which the drink is supposed to come with…) and still got attitude! Anyway, I’m still bothered by her uncalled for behavior a week later, so I’m writing a review.
This place has such cool décor and a great atmosphere, but I’d rather hang out at a dive bar across the street where I’m treated better by the staff. I felt very unwelcome at The Gold dust.

i loooooove this place. one of the first places i came to when i recently moved to portland. i was staying at a friend’s house across the street, so i would come here often for a drink and/​or a bite.
i definitely recommend the crab cakes, or the spinach artichoke dip with fresh pita chips. although, everything i’ve had there has never disappointed.
they are always playing awesome music, from hip hop to jazz to trip hop to indie, etc. and the staff there are so friendly & cool.
will definitely be returning here often & would recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a mellow, jazzy lounge vibe & some quality food & drinks.
ps: hit up happy hour and you won’t be disappointed.

Oh, GDM, how I love thee. I discovered it last night while waiting for an address to a nearby party, and it did the trick. This bar has a laid-​back but hip feel to it, and not to mention surprisingly decadent food and cocktails that definitely don’t skimp on the booze. But more on that later.
When you approach it, it’s hard not to get a little intimidated. (Everyone looks so cool! It’s dim, fairly busy, and effortlessly trendy! Nearly everyone is wearing black!) But then you start to realize how laid back this place is, and all your anxieties go away. Cool as this place may be, it is also very approachable. Gold Dust Meridian is welcomingly unpretentious, which can really be a rarity.
I ordered a True Detective cocktail, and although I initially thought it was a tad overpriced, they certainly gave you your money’s worth in alcohol. Strong as an ox, and with a perfect balance between sweet and bitter, it’s one I would order again. They also have a large selection of champagne cocktails that look scrumptious, so I might have to try a couple of those next time I go, as well as an intriguing marionberry margarita. Hell, every drink sounds good…
And oh my god the food. I ordered a bacon tomato jam sandwich and it was divine. Perfectly toasted sourdough, melty mozzarella, lots of bacon, and a sweet tomato jam. I devoured it. It also came with a side of fries thickly cut into twisty shapes, and they were very well executed — I like my fries to actually taste like potatoes, so I was overjoyed. My friend had the macaroni and cheese, and if I wasn’t so bewitched by my own meal, I would have stolen a bite or two of her’s — it looked (and smelled!) out of this world.
I’ll be coming back here as soon as I can! Champagne cocktails and deviled eggs await me to try!

Skip-​diddily-​deee! One of the best happy hour spots in Portland! This funky bar on Hawthorne has a very relaxed, dimly lit feel to it. But best of all, happy hour goes until 8 pm! So far, I’ve never had a problem getting a table. The drinks seem fairly poured and the food is tasty-​tasty! The chicken wings are meaty and available in a handful of flavor choices, I like the Asian sauce. The calamari is excellent and the fries, oh, the fries! I know, it’s just fries, right? But they seem to do something magical to theirs.
Great place to while away the evening with friends, the last time we there for three hours as the evening flew by! Fly on over so you can enjoy it too!

I come here regularly, and I must say that I enjoy that they have funky happy hour times! 2 – 8!
Love the Radio Cab family bowl. They don’t skimp on the alcohol ;)
Also, the food is quite delicious! I love the deviled eggs!
Staff attentiveness can improve a bit. But otherwise, a good spot to have drinks and a bite with friends!

Gold dust is a cute place to go to at night, with friends or a date. It can get busy and loud at night just like any other popular bar. The food is super fantastic! The Mac and cheese with bacon is always a favorite of mine. Drinks are delicious as well. Service is on the slower side (it’s a bar, not a fancy restaurant), food came out quickly though! But go there expecting to stay for at least an hour if you’re getting food… more of a place to chill, not get in get out.

This was a little hidden gem in Portland! YES i know it sounds like it should be in 1980’s porn movie. But it sure didn’t disappoint for bar with a portland feel. Drinks are cheap and the DJ on busy nights they will definitely hook you up with anything that you want to hear and believe me the bar was hopping it sounded great outdoor patio also Sito hipster!

This place kills me. They have an entire champagne cocktail list, which I adore. Their happy hour food and drink specials are well-​priced and deliciousss. The décor is perfection.
And the waitstaff is mostly atrocious.
I’ve been about a dozen times and only twice have I been served by an attentive bartender. The same man both times, thank you! Every other time, I’ve been in during slow hours and had practically no service. Like, holy-smokes-I’ve-never-had-less-service service. Like, I’m-nearly-the-only-person-in-here-and-I-haven’t-seen-the-bartender-in-30-minutes service. Helloo, I want to pay more money for another drink and some food please.
I still can’t stay away, because great food, champagne, décor, that one bartender. But, damn, maybe a retraining session is in order.

Got food for a carry out,
Tempura fried chicken with jasmine rice
Greenbeans
Stuffed mushrooms
The vegetable plates were amazing, the tempura fried chicken was raw, it looked as if a newbie just threw raw chicken into a deep fryer. Most definitely not happy. Called to let them know about the health situation and found myself talking to a voicemail box. Not happy. RAW RAW RAW RAW RAW

The first obvious thing was that the bartender was rushed off her feet trying to deal with a relatively small number of customers. It’s not that we were in a hurry, but it did seem disorganized. The server came in half an hour later.
The only vegan item, without chancing the veggie burger was the black bean soup. It was good with the small amount of bread, but it was definitely bland when that ran out. Would it kill you to throw a few vegetables in?
The beer selection looked good, although I opted for the marrionberry margherita, which was novel, but really not that special.
Still, seems like a cool place to hang out, with a slight hipster vibe, but not an obvious place to return to.