Cliff’s Bar reopens in former Assembly Brewing Northeast Portland space
Cliff’s, a beloved Eliot neighborhood pub in the basement of the Wonder Ballroom, has now reopened in the former Assembly Brewing satellite location in northeast Portland.
Husband/wife owners Josh and Sierra Luebke opened the original Cliff’s in 2019, taking over the downstairs Wonder Ballroom bar from Bunk Sandwiches where Josh was working already as their longtime chef and manager. Sierra, a veteran bartender and manager of Hale Pele Tiki Bar and Pope House Bourbon Lounge, held down the front of the house and built up a strong neighborhood clientele that didn’t rely on inconsistent concertgoers. So it was heartbreaking when Wonder Ballroom owner Mike Quinn decided to not renew their lease at the end of 2025, reportedly to open a venue exclusive bar in the same space. Cliffs closed their original location at the close of 2025 and began looking for a new space.
“While we were sad to leave our cozy little basement, we realized (once we took everything out and repainted), that the cozy welcoming vibes were because of you and us and not the actual space,” said Sierra Luebke.
Judging by the attendance and enthusiasm shown by the public on the first day of their soft reopening on April 22nd, the new location has been extremely well received garnering lines and a long wait list to get in.
The space is scarcely recognizeable from its former status as Assembly Brewing’s Pizza Annex, a location which outlived the original southeast Foster road brewery and served primarily as a takeout Detroit-style pizzeria with limited seating and beers on tap. The Luebkes have nearly completely re-envisioned the space with a hunting lodge meets dive bar meets kitschy New Orleans cocktail bar decor bathed in warm lamp lights.
Aesthetically the new Cliff’s is covered in Bauhaus and Pulp posters, vintage paintings of the northwest, old beer signs, mirrors, lighted classic beer signs, and an assortment of globes. From the walls, archways, and shelves, a collection of “unhinged taxidermy” peers down upon the patrons.
“We’ve set up all the tables and booths and while the layout is obviously different, we actually have more seating both at the bar and tables!” says Sierra Luebke. “And this summer, y’all are in for a real treat! Inside the restaurant, the Alberta facing windows completely accordion open, and for the really hot days, we have AC! We also have a courtyard patio with almost double the tables of the last patio. It’s completely tucked away from the street and we can’t wait to fill it with plants and cafe lights and create a real New Orleans vibe for you all. Josh keeps bringing up a water feature...”
I’ve heard the returning Friday Night Fish Fry ($25 served in house only 5-9 every Friday) from the original Cliff’s is a cant miss if that is your type of thing. The special (which they recommend showing up early or pre-ordering) is fried wild Canadian Walleye, house potato pancake with sour cream, Supper Club Salad with house ranch dressing, and slaw.
We tried the Cliff’s Nachos which had already become a cult favorite. Its easy to see why these are so popular, from the housemade chips to the gigantic proportion as large as your head. The well stacked and layered platter has charred green chili cheese sauce, pinto puree, Queso Fresco & Queso Oaxaca, fried pepitas, shredded cabbage, radish, charred corn, pickled onions & jalapenos, sour cream, and salsa. You can choose between keeping it vegetarian with guacamole ($17), or add steak ($27), or the option we chose for smoked pork ($18).
We also tried the Cliffs Caesar Salad (small $8 / large $14) and added smoked fried chicken ( +$7) instead of boquerones ($4). Wow this was a huge salad, this would be more than a full meal for one person, and enough to share with 3-4 people as a side or appetizer. The fried chicken was a new to us take, typically a ceasar has grilled or blackened chicken breast, but these were thick and thick breaded crunchy strips. Each was heavily smoked with intensity that I imagine will be a love it or hate it feature depending on your tastes.
Cliff’s isn't a taphouse, or a cocktail bar per se, its more of a neighbors pub but with charm, hospitality, and excellent food and drink that don’t attempt to be any one thing.
Shots, Jello-Shots, Scoots, mid-west classics like Malort, a house Manhattan and Margarita, plus Slushees, Side Pipe, and Iceberg floats. Enjoy with Modelitos, or a side car.
A spirits menu is broken down with sections for Whiskey, Rum, Tequila & Mezcal, Gin, & Vodka.
Wino’s can choose between a Red or white from Spain, a Rose from Italy, or a can of bubbly Brut.
If beer is your thing (likely so if you are reading this) they have the good stuff and the cheap and light stuff.
Drafts from pFriem, Recluse Brew Works, Baerlic Brewing, and Stevens Point Brewery. Cans or bottles: Budweiser, Heidelburg Lager, San Juan Seltzer (peach rose or Rainier cherry) Stiegl Radler, and High Life by the bottle.
Cliff’s is soft opened now with days/hours soon to expand. For now you can visit them Wednesday through Sunday from 4pm - 11pm at 2934 NE Alberta.