Bars, Restaurants, & Taverns

THE FISH GROTTO SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

Above is a swizzle stick (cocktail stir stick) from Fish Grotto

Check out Fish Grotto Wikipedia page: Fish Grotto - Wikipedia

The Fish Grotto was a seafood restaurant. Then from the ‘70s-2014 a large portion of the lower floor of the Joyce Hotel had several gay bars. In its final decades, the downtown restaurant Fish Grotto was little more than the kitchen that kept adjacent gay bars Boxxes and The Brig within Oregon Liquor Control Commission standards for adequate food service. But the restaurant, which was located at Southwest 11th Avenue and Stark Street since 1919, was a legitimate restaurant for most of its long history, known for lobster Thermidor and crab Louie. In a 1977 review, The Oregonian explained the restaurant’s long success: “It charges fair prices, uses good ingredients and, in the main, offers excellent preparation and good service.” It closed in 2014, and the entire Joyce Hotel building is currently unoccupied.

https://www.oregonlive.com/dining/2017/01/another_round_of_memories_84_m.html

Bars such as Boxx’s, The Brig, Panorama, later The Red Star Garage, and The Sand Bar. Each of these spaces has its own detail which can be found within the Bars, Restaurants & Tavern portion of this website.

Ad in Portland Guide October 1974

Fish Grotto's general manager announces: "After careful consideration, we have decided to close the Fish Grotto indefinitely to retool the business. This change has taken effect as of 1.7.14. Please note, we are closing the Fish Grotto only. The Sand Bar is NOT closing, the Sand bar will remain open. We will be posting updated hours of operation for the Sand Bar soon." Closed around January 9, 2014. https://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-31102-fish-grotto-restaurant-is-closed.html

(Right) Date of ad unknown.

or simply, Fish Grotto

citations & references:

·       First listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1986 notations (R- Restaurant) (E-Entertainment) (Liquor)

·       Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1987 notations (R- Restaurant) (E-Entertainment) (Liquor)

·       Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1988 notations (R- Restaurant 24-hours) ((Liquor)

·       Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1989 notations (Disco) (Bar & R- Restaurant)

·       Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1990 under Restaurants & Cafes (at Boxx’s bar) notations (*MX, MW)

·       Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1991 under Restaurants & Cafes (at Boxx’s bar) notations (*MX, MW)

·       Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1992 under Restaurants & Cafes (at Boxx’s bar) notations (*MX)

·       Do not possess Damron Address Book 1993

·       Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1994 under Restaurants & Cafes (at Boxx’s) notations (*GF, WC)

·       Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1995 under Restaurants & Cafes (at Boxx’s) notations (*WC)

·       Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1996 under Restaurants & Cafes (at Boxx’s) notations (*)

·       Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1997 under Restaurants & Cafes (at Boxx’s) notations (*)

·       Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1998 under Restaurants & Cafes (at Boxx’s Bar) notations (*)

·       Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1999 under Restaurants & Cafes (at Boxx’s) notations (*)