Paccini Restaurant & Bar
1717 SW Park Avenue Portland, OR 97201
Paccini’s is a restaurant and bar (as you would guess by their name) on Portland State University campus in SW Portland. When you first walk in, it initially seems like a pizza parlor with limited seating where you can order pizza and sandwiches. As you walk back into the rear of the building, there is a bar and a dining room with a full menu.
Their mission statement: “Wanting nothing more than to make you happy with quality scratch cooking, a warm and comfortable environment and friendly service.” I guess they don’t mean warm in a literal sense since it was absolutely freezing cold inside. Anyway. The menu description:
Cheeseburger 3.00
They really could be a bit more descriptive with this. When I ordered it, I was expecting a bun, a tiny slice of beef, and a bland slice of cheese. The bartender handed me a number, I set it on the table, and my plate was delivered about 15 minutes later.
My prediction wasn’t that far off. Except I also received lettuce, a pile of raw red onion, and two tiny slimy tomato slices. I am not sure if they added the grease droplets on the plate for an intended decorative effect or if it was just laziness. They should have wiped these off before bringing out the plate, or at the very least, pick off the giant grease/char ball as seen at 12:00 on the photo.
Despite the freezing cold temperature, grease-filled plate, and mysterious description, the burger was exceptionally good for $3.
Burger Ratings:
Burger: 7
The burger itself was very thin and very juicy – mostly attributed to the startling amount of grease. The bun was lightly toasted and spread with mayonnaise and mustard and I could actually taste the cheese. Great burger for the price.
Side: N/A
I made a poor decision and didn’t spring for the $2 side of garlic fries. Son of a bitch.
Environment: 5
There were 3 entrances, or something equally ridiculous at Paccini’s, which directly translates into constant bursts of freezing cold air each time someone enters or leaves. The table set-up in the dining room is really poor and it is a complete pain in the ass to get back to your table after walking to the bar. There are way too many tables for the space given. Additionally, there is a fireplace in the middle of the room, a few TV’s, and a pool table.
Value: 9
It’s a decent burger on it’s own, but at $3 it tastes even better.
OVERALL BURGER REVIEW:
Paccini Restaurant & Bar
1717 SW Park Avenue Portland, OR 97201
(503) 219.8000
Tags: $DEALZ$, happy hour, paccini's, portland, SW
Listed Under: 7 - Real Good