The Analog Cafe & Theater

Typical hole in the wall but, the local talent isn’t too bad, the food is good. Nice place to chill and listen to music

Leave your coat in the car if you are coming here for a show… It gets hot. And leave your bad attitude and drunk best friend in there too! Came here with a group of friends for the Internet show… Was thrown off with the children who were there at 10pm… All ages!!! What?!! So basically we had to drink all our alcohol downstairs and watch the show from the projector on the ground floor! When we did go upstairs for the show, it was so packed and hot, we could neither move or breathe. It’s definitely an intimate environment. Bartenders were cool but if you use you card be prepared to pay a 20% tip! They had it set to 20% 30% and 40% good lord… More money then I tip the strippers! But they did make some good drinks! I would def come back for another show, but I’d predrink in the car and be prepared to party with 16 year olds!

Updated: I went there yesterday for happy hour thinking I was going to get the same kind of food I had at my initial visit but I was disappointed!
the macaroni was cold, the french fries were cold it was like everything was sitting back there under a light in all they did was throw some cheese on it and put in the microwave.
now the chicken strips yes those did come fresh and they were still good but everything else was a no go!
the environment is extremely cold like no heat is on no nothing so I don’t know if I’ll be going here again

It was my first time at the Analog Café & Theater. There was nowhere to sit, because there were 200 people just in the downstairs room since the upstairs was closed for setup.
You know there’s a problem when the talk of the ladies room is how bad the restaurant smells. We couldn’t decide whether it was Parmesan cheese or bar puke we were smelling through the establishment. An employee on her break assured us it was the cheese fries. SMH. No way I was ordering a plate of vomit scented fries so we ate at Cartopia instead.
We came back during the comedy show which had a funny Samoan dude who has hysterical and some other really un-​funny guy. The comedy show started around 9 pm. The game show was scheduled at 10 pm, but they were at capacity upstairs. In order to herd us like cattle, they had a weed «giveaway» downstairs around 10:00 pm, because upstairs was over capacity. The «give away» was like watching animals fight over food. 300 people pushing and stepping on each other as they have 1/​8ths of weed thrown in the air. Several people, including myself, commented on how distasteful and uncomfortable and debasing this was. If you are high-​energy, aggressive, extrovert, this would be a great venue for you. If you enjoy conversation over a nice meal or are non-​competitive and chill, this probably won’t tickle your pickle. Very aggressive venue.
The show started a full hour late. Several points throughout the night the music was so loud that it sounded bad and blown out. Another thing that really made the night a lot less fun was the lack of music variety. Granted they did play Drake, Snoop and Salt-​n-​Pepa, but why only cater to people who like hip hop & rap? I found this event missed the market on the diversity of it’s audience.

I attend the Tim Burton-​themed burlesque show on Halloween, and there were at least 5 fans pointed at the audience. A few ladies put their jackets on because it was so cool. I was grateful for the strong breeze because the torrential rains had soaked me and the constant breeze dried me off in no time. However, I admit most of us were sitting so there wasn’t any mosh pit heat.
This is my second year attending the T.B. burlesque show. I really like the liberal, artistic crowd there. They allow under 21s until 11pm and host all ages shows (the burlesque show is held upstairs and is 21+).
PROS:
The bathrooms are cleaner than clubs on the West Side.
Shelter outside for smokers (or to get out of the rain when the line to get in is long).
Staff is friendly and seems accepting of everyone (who’s polite).
Bars on both floors make it easy to get a drink; you can order food on the ground floor (I haven’t eaten there but the food smells AMAZING — gotta get those fries next time).
Both times I’ve gone there strangers have struck up friendly conversations with me (two of those people had come alone, which I believe indicates a safe space).
On the 2^nd floor, there is at least one TV showing a central camera view of the stage so people in the rear can see what’s going on… but the video quality is poor.
CONS:
The chairs will put your butt to sleep.
The stage is only a foot above the main floor, so seated shows mean the people sitting in front of you will block your view.
The only bathrooms are on the ground floor at the back near the kitchen (not enough for a big show, especially for the ladies).
No handicapped access for the 2^nd floor. There’s a main staircase and a staff staircase, but I didn’t see how someone in a wheelchair could get upstairs — you should call them to find out if they can accommodate you.
Since I’ve only been to seated shows of less than 100 people, I can’t comment on the big concerts. If it’s a seated event, come early to grab a beverage and claim your spot.

not sure how this place fares with sit-​down shows, but I will tell you that with rowdy stand up concerts, it’s the pits. literally. the upstairs portion, when it’s lively & thrumming, feels like an armpit — in both temperature & the amount of space.
I saw The Internet play last night, & it was so hot up there that it felt like a sauna. actually, with the amount of body heat generated up there, it may as well have been. I’ve never sweated that much in my life. sure, the crowd was moving around a little while enjoying the music, but the amount we were all sweating felt as if we had spent hours moshing, when really we were mostly bobbing our heads.
what was even worse was that there was only one water station — in the very back — so to get water in the middle of the show would’ve meant having to elbow & peel your way through a damp, throbbing crowd, hoping that in the musty darkness you’d be able to find your original spot.
I actually ventured out to get water midway through the show; I *had* to. the air around me felt like it was closing in, thickened by all the hot bodies surrounding me, & I had begun to feel faint. so, I made the hard decision to begin my trek towards the back of the building, feeling like I was practically swimming amidst other people’s moist bodies, my arms sliding up against sweaty forearms & shoulders (which, gross). when I finally made it to the cooler, feeling unnecessarily tired & wobbling slightly from the arduous voyage, I was upset to see that the paper cups they provided were devastatingly small. like, if you filled the cup to the brim you’d maybe have ¼ cup of water. I had hoped that the cup would’ve been big enough to maybe bring back with me, but it would’ve surely been compromised before I even got into the thick of it. another hard decision. do I sit at this water cooler & chug thimble after thimble full of water to quench my thirst, a task that would take way longer than needed? or do I forfeit the entire mission & go back to the show, wherein I only miss a few moments? I opted for something right between the two — I chugged three cone-​fuls of water (to which my dehydrated body was like, «you gotta be kidding me») & made my way back through the sludge of sweat & impossible heat.
I actually found myself counting down the minutes, waiting impatiently for the show to end because I was so miserably hot. which was sad, because The Internet played amazingly & I really wanted to get lost in the experience of watching them play. but unfortunately, I had to thank god that they didn’t end up doing an encore.
as the show came to an end & we began to make our way towards the exit, I counted only two — TWO! — fans in the place that pointed toward the crowd, & they weren’t those large metal industrial ones that you’d think a business would use to help keep the air circulating for their patrons. no, they were the kind of fans that you’d buy at Freddie’s for $ 10 — plastic, rickety, small. no wonder we were melting.
I invite you to imagine the experience of this — the odor, the mirrors around room fogged to oblivion, the red-​cheeked patrons looking listless in their dehydrated states. imagine that & ask yourself if all of that is worth seeing a concert here. ask before you buy a non-​refundable ticket. as for me, I vowed that I will never go here again for a concert — not even if my fave was playing & the tickets were a a dollar.
I’m hoping that the additional $ 4 I spent in ticket processing fees (including $ 1 I lost to tickets that were meant to be mailed to me but never arrived) will be used toward funding the purchase of bigger cups or better fans.

This is possibly the worst experience I’ve had, anywhere.
We bought tickets to a show tonight, tickets said 7 pm. For starters, they didn’t even start letting people upstairs for the show we were here to see until 8:30, so we were waiting for quite a while.
While waiting, we were watching whatever was going on downstairs, and I ordered some food. All I ordered was fries. Well, these $ 6 fries… I repeat, SIX. DOLLAR. FRIES. took over 30 minutes. I started to get a little confused around 20 minutes, because. it’s just French fries. So I asked my boyfriend to go ask about them, I thought maybe they’d lost the ticket or something. The lady was a very rude. The conversation went like this:
Andrew asked, «Hey, we ordered fries quite some time ago, I was just wondering if those were coming up?» The women then, gestured to the window and replied, «does it look like anything is there?»
Not exactly great customer service.
So a bit after, my fries finally come.
Ten minutes later, I was throwing up in the bathroom. So I waited 35 minutes for some overpriced fries (more like a plate of grease and pepper with a sprinkle of French fries if you ask me) that made me vomit.
Finally, at about 8:30, it looked like they were letting people upstairs so we went over there. Let me start off by saying when we bought our tickets, the website AND our tickets said all ages, and the guy at the door checked the ID when finding our names on the list, and he let us in. So we go to the security guard to go upstairs, and he asks for ID so we show him. He proceeded to tell us the show is 21+ and we are not allowed upstairs. We ask about a refund, and he said «I don’t know if we’re able to do that.» After waiting too long, I finally asked who I could talk to about the situation.
He sent me over to Ryan, the cook and (apparently) the co-​owner as well. Ryan then sends another guy out to talk to us, and they tell us we can not be given a refund at the moment and need to call back tomorrow.
So we waited over an hour and a half to be overcharged for vomit-​inducing fries, and to be sent home without a refund because the tickets and website were falsely labeled as all ages.
Definitely will not be returning.

I took my boyfriend to see a Burlesque Nightmare before Christmas it was absolutely fabulous. I love everyones acceptance and open mindeness. The food was kind of a wait so we didnt get to order since our show was about to start but everyone there was very nice and the food looked and smelled great. I cant wait to see more fabulous shows. Finally a different style of theatre… very unique.

I’ve been here twice now. Both for my boyfriend’s shows. Both times the experience has been good. My most recent visit was really good! The server/​bartender was extremely helpful and nice. He had a wonderfully warm and welcoming personality. I ordered fries which were good. They have vinegar on them which I’m not a huge fan of but they were still good. It’s also pretty clean and the employers are attentive. I like the place.

At last a hangout place that feels like family! I just finished their Mother’s Day brunch, and the taste was awesome. Friendly, considerate, intelligent, non-​uppity servers. Amazingly diverse shows almost every day of the week. Bright, creative people. Definitely 5 stars.

While the performance (Offbeat Bellydance) was incredible, the food and service left a lot to be desired. Overdone, over-​salted food with a side of snark. Go for the performances but, eat and drink before you get there.

I love this place… Amazing. Cole is an amazing cook… And I couldn’t stop from watching those amazing girls and sexy as hell… I want to go back every Sunday @ 12 – 2

This is a great music venue, with downright killer food. I think the burger is one of the best in town.
There always seems to be some really cool music show or performance art show going on. Remember to check the website daily for what shows are happening, cause is sucks to miss the show.

It’s fun here!
Such a diverse variety of entertainment. From hiphop to rock and burlesque to rock opera. Also, the sound in the theater can’t be beat.
Delicious food. These chefs put love in everything they serve on a plate. Circus Church brunches are a great excuse to sit in a dark theater and have some breakfast to nurse your hangover and keep drinking while watching fun and sexy performances. Come to fetish night! It’s a thing of beauty to see everyone so comfortable and free to fly their sexy flags.

Let’s get this out of the way: the steak was so salty that I had to leave during the burlesque show to go be sick at home. Yes, I left a striptease just after it began because of abdominal pain and chills from the «food».
Now, $ 14 for the steak & eggs dish — that ended up being nearly as small as a Scotch Egg (cheaper) — flopped atop a pinch of potatoes sloshed with the saltiest sauce I’ve ever tried to choke down. Honestly, it seemed like they’d poured Au Jus concentrate, undiluted, over the plate and then laid the two greasy eggs on top of the mess.
What’s more is that the chef is co-​owner and made my abomination of a brunch today. This doesn’t bode well for second chances here, no.
Furthermore, it would be ridiculous to use the term «service» to describe the staff: the single slowest, least personable, and overall clueless group I’ve ever paid for food and drink. Imagine my surprise when I discovered at Analog that a Spanish Coffee is apparently just three slugs of Jameson in a bakelite mug of black coffee. Who knew, right? We’ve all been doing it wrong for decades! :/​
TL;DR: Circus Church is fun and definitely worth your time, just stay away from the carnie game of a menu unless you enjoy disappointment and nausea at grifter prices.

Went here for the first time last night for the Northwest House Music Conference event. I had such a great time I will make a point of going here again.
The venue has two levels with a bar on each. We didn’t order too many drinks but prices seemed to be pretty standard.
The star of the evening for me was the excellent sound system. DJ Dan’ s set sounded amazing. Other music events world be worth checking out here.
I noticed they seem to have frequent burlesque shows. Maybe this will be the purpose for my next trip.
On a side note: I had called Analog earlier in the day with a few questions and the person who helped me was super friendly and did a great job of answering all my questions.

This place absolutely feels like one of those Portland quirky spots. It seems there’s a number of regulars and they have a variety of special nights and events. I was excited to check out their Monday night «Gothique Blend» variety show, something or another, whatever you call it. It was interesting, and certainly kept me entertained for a Monday night. Plus you can’t beat it for their suggested donation of $ 5. The drawback, granted I should get used to this in Portland, is that it started much later than advertised. It was also quite weird, but then again that’s what you get in Portland! Go without expectations and a few drinks and you can’t complain much.
Coming here on a regular night with nothing going on may not be worth it. Nothing on the menus stood out to me and they only have a couple of draft beers available. Nonetheless service was friendly, and it ended up being a decent place to chill for a bit.

Bad, bad experience here. This was the least professional experience I’ve witnessed in a restaurant in a long, long time.
I’d heard promising things about this place– the Happy Hour specifically. So when a friend invited me yesterday, I was all for it.
But…
1. Server wearing nasty flip-​flops, ratty shorts and t-​shirt? Disgusting. I’m simply grossed out. If this isn’t a health violation, I’d be very very surprised. Is there ANYONE thinking this is a good way to represent the restaurant?
The last thing I wanna see on my server is their filthy feet.
But my friends were already there & seated. So I guess I will drink this kool-​aid.
2. Server advised us there was no longer a happy hour. He said they were working on something new… but he’d figure out what to charge us later… at his discretion??? Offering to knock off a few bucks off of whatever we ordered.
If my friends weren’t already seated and halfway into a beverage, I again would have walked out at this point.
3. I order a Diet Coke and a water. It was friggin’ 90 degrees out. I got both beverages in a 10 oz glass filled to the brim with ice. After drinking the two gulps of each beverage provided, I didn’t see the server again for 15 minutes. Getting a refill took him another 5+ minutes. And oh yeah, besides another couple, we were the only ones in there.
4. Food was pretty simple stuff. Fries and some green bean dish that was decent, but you don’t get very much of.
To the staff, owners, whoever… I’m very sorry our little group of 3 kept you from spending ALL your time bullshitting each other & deciding your fashion choices are OK.
I will definitely be sure not to bother you again.

Love this place. When it’s quiet it’s great because the bartenders are fantastic. When it’s crowded it’s great because the energy is fantastic. Highly, HIGHLY recommend.