Tad’s Chicken ‘n Dumplins

Love this place.
Only my Grandmas could beat their chicken and dumplings.
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Yyyyyyyy

I loved the chicken in dumplings but the server is what made me give this place a three star. Literally as I was ordering, she just grabbed the menu out of my hands and she did that to everyone at the table! Like excuse me? I was ordering but i was still looking at the menu… So irritating

I loved the grilled chicken with peppers and dumplin on the side. The side of fries and green beans topped off the meal. I’d be worried about anyone who has a dumpling here and leaves not feeling full.

My son had recently relocated from Denver to the Portland area and we were going to Salem and my Bro’s home for Thanksgiving thought we would take my grandkids to Tad’s and they loved it! I won’t re-​review our meal choices as they were as delicious as always.
Now Tad’s have new fans!
We arrived at open time and were seated and served right away.
As fore I’ll say «I’ll be back»!

We have been coming to Tads for most of our lives. It is one our list of go-​to places when we are celebrating something or just want to enjoy a good meal out.
It’s a bit of a drive from Portland, but the scenery is worth it. Get a table by the window if you can.
The relish trays and rolls are wonderful. Excellent assortment of seafood, steaks, pastas, salads, and of course, the chicken and dumplings. The green beans the accompany every meal and great! This is like a higher end mom-​and-​pop place.
Prices are a little steep, but the food and great and the service is great as well.

I’ve been here plenty of times as a kid and young adult. Came out to meet with the in laws and it was just as I remember.
I ordered the plain chicken and dumplings, wasn’t feeling the fried tonight. Super moist and the dumplings were on point.
The kids got chicken strips and fries, a good helping for kids.
We got the onion ring appetizer which they were awesome, although I prefer onion rings a bit more crispy. They were really wet.
The green beans were also delicious as well.
All in all, everything was delicious.
My only concern was the service, our waiter was very nice yet didn’t refill our drinks for at least 20 minutes and I had to ask to refill.
Will definitely return, always warms my belly and makes me wish the had couches so I can nap.

I don’t know what could make it 5 stars… but we all had the chicken & dumplings. They were all spot on. Really nice presentation, xtra gravy, and decently priced. (15 $) Nice view of the Sandy river. Oh yeah, staff was GREAT! If your in the area for dinner and want ALOT of leftovers, hit up Tads!

We love sneaking away from the kids for a date night here. The staff is friendly and prompt. The food and drinks are fabulous! We love love love the fried zucchini!

Pass the salt.
we came to tad’s on the suggestion of a friend of mine. they were full and we had to wait for 30 minutes downstairs in the bar. «oh boy this has to be good» i thought to myself. well… it was ok. where the place wins is its history, and the view. the chicken and dumplings did not have a pronounced flavor. it was rich but that is about it. i also tried the fried chicken which was almost grilled in nature. the staff were very nice and helpfull.

Friendly staff, not so good food. We had the popular chicken and dumplings, we were not impressed. The gravy was bland and the chicken was chewy. The serving size was huge. The only cool thing about this place is the outside dining by the river.

Tad’s ‘Chic Dump’ is a classic home style food experience. With the most amazing view of the Sandy River. We could hear the wind gently blowing through the trees in the covered dining room. This place is clearly all about the atmosphere. The food is not too shabby either. I had the pesto fettuccine with salmon. The smoked salmon was a bit salty. I think I would prefer the dish without. All meals come with fluffy white buns and butter and a tray of fresh veg and dip. There was an argument over who would eat the brown or white meat if chicken was shared. They ended up ordering two chicken dishes. Now everyone has plenty of lunch for tomorrow as the portions with sides are enormous.

A great spot along the Sandy River to grab some dinner.
We had the halibut fish and chips that were bite size pieces that were delicious and you cannot go wrong with the «Original Chicken and Dumplings» that give you enough for leftovers.
The food is just going back to the basics and keeping it simple just like Grandma would make.
On the weekends, definitely plan on arriving a bit earlier than you want to eat. Can get busy, especially for larger groups.

Here’s the thing: Tad’s Chicken and Dumplings doesn’t have fantastic food. Dumpling-​to-​chicken portion is whack (way too much dumpling), the gravy is bland and requires several passes with the salt and pepper shakers before it makes it to my mouth.
Everything on the menu screams «mediocre».
BUT!
This place is not without its charms and I’ll always love this restaurant. The view is ridic romantic and scenic, as it’s perched right on the river. The prices are actually fair, I think – sure, $ 16 for the chicken and dumpling dinner, but are y’all forgetting that you get BREAD, SALAD, and A RELISH PLATE with that meal? That’s a shit-​ton of food! Price point is on point.
Not to mention, the entire feel of this spot hearkens back to a time when dining was an event, with multiple courses, takes over an hour, and the menu even showcases that. Who the hell serves chicken and dumplings anymore, anyways? Most of the diners here are approximately 45−50+ years old, so that only solidifies my point.
Tad’s is pretty damn ok! If you know what to expect when you walk in, you won’t leave disappointed.

I’ve been wanting to try this place, finally got the chance last night. We were seated right away (in a none view window)
When we saw 3 window tables opening up, we asked our server (who was a super nice young lady) if we could move to one of the window tables, she said she had to ask… she talks to a older lady (that did not look friendly at all)… Then comes back and says we’d have to move to the bar (we’ve already ordered) then wait for one to become available… huh??? I understand if there are people on a wait list, but why move from our table? There were plenty of open tables throughout both seating areas so not like we’d be taking up a table they could use, it was probably the worst placed table in there anyway.
On to the food… Wow, their prices are really HIGH! You are looking at a avg plate price of $ 16-​$ 26. I thought with that price, the Chicken and Dumplings must be REALLY good… oh wow not the case… they are simply mediocre. Chicken chunks tasted like they were pressure cooked or boiled.(or out of a can). the ‘gravy’ was very bland, someone else on here compared it to the Heinz jar gravy, and YES! It totally reminds me of that! There was no meat chunks in the extra gravy they bring you… so not like they use actual chicken stock to make it… so HOW is it being made??? I added a ton of pepper to get some flavor from it. Green beans tasted like they came straight out of a can.
The veggie tray they bring out as appetizer and the bread were really good.
I might have been willing to try it again and get something else had I been able to experience the view… but from my experience, nothing was worth the prices so meh’ not impressed

Do you miss your Grandma?
Did you ever go to your grandparent’s house for holiday dinner? Sunday supper? Complete with steamed vegetables? (Sorry, hope that last part didn’t pop your bubble there).
Not many places in PDX make food like this any more. It’s been deemed unhealthy and by and large rightly so. I don’t really eat like this any more; too much recovery time, too many future trade-​offs.
The place itself and the style of food they serve has been around for quite awhile, so set your expectations accordingly. Food of our Fathers should be your Phrase of the Day. Their idea of new wave is deep-​fried zucchini. After reading this far, don’t say you weren’t warned.
It’s a beautiful venue; everyone should go once just to see the place. I would urge you to pick a day that you can either sit outdoors or at least look out a window.
This place well deserves a spot on Anna’s National Registry of #PAF.
Don’t forget to wipe your feet.

3.5 stars. The setting of the restaurant beside the river was truly the best part of the experience. The ambience is home-​style and warm. There seemed to be a constant stream of customers when we got there.
Food wise, chicken and dumplings were the default dish that everyone seemed to get. When the server brought it out, the two ginormous dumplings make the dish look like a giant ice cream sundae. Our waitress said that kids sometimes get disappoint when they realize that it isn’t dessert. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of a big ball of dough drowning in gravy.
We also decided to get an order of the fried chicken and dumpling. It’s plain fried and doesn’t have a crust, which can be good. However, I found their version to be a bit dry.
The friendly staff made the visit nice.

I just love this place. And there is so much to love about this place. The location is fabulous. Overlooking the Sandy River, it has such a relaxing feel — even as crowded as it was on a Friday at 5:30. They say come early or be prepared to wait… they mean it!
The lot was fairly full, but spots still open. Parking along the front of the restaurant as well as a lot across the street. Watch the cars! There’s three dining rooms — two of them overlook the River in a most amazing way. There was no open window table so Toby and I sat at the small (6 person?) bar. We could still see the river. There’s a weird sound effect when it’s busy. It often sounded like someone was up on stage announcing at a bat mizvah or something. But it wasnt too disturbing and you got used to it.
Our server David was simply divine! Such a proffesional. Tad’s couldn’t ask for a better ambassadar and should give him a raise — stat! He was social and talked up Tads in a really positive way — without being obnoxious or «salesly». He really seemed to love the place. The lighting at 5:50 was amazing — as I bet it is almost any hour of the day!
So we ordered chicken and dumplings and fried zuchinni. I am a fried zuchinni fan, so I am always on the lookout for a new, fresh or interesting way to serve them. It was good, very fresh. Large pieces of zuchinni so you got lots of veggie… maybe even a little too big — chunky wise. The coating was light and tatsty, could use some more seasining and perhaps a bite of something in the mix. But good. A decent amount of food for $ 6. The dumplings were pretty good too. I am not a dumpling afficiniado — shocker, I know. But they were big and yummy and oh so comforting, Three large dumplings and pieces of chicken served with gravy and green beans for $ 16. The smoked salmon soup was devine! We both enjoyed them quite a bit, but again, there could be more flavor there (esp the green beans which were very old fashioned). But I couldnt hep but notice how much it felt like an east coast diner meal (without the sass, super cheap deals and tacky atmosphere, of course).
But the food here is good! And let me add, a day later, that the zuchinni, ckn & dumplings were so very tasty as breakfast the next morning! The service is great! The feel and look and setup are just so wonderful, I suggest you go if you havent yet — and do get there early!

Decided to take the scenic drive from Hood River to Portland when we came across chicken n dumplings. Being a California native on a work sponsored road trip across Oregon with a native Texan it was only appropriate that we should stop and enjoy the local fare. Mind you, I’ve never had chicken n dumplings and my friend makes chicken n dumplings as a comfort food for her family so there was real interest in the quality of this offering.
Upon entering the establishment we were greeted by friendly staff who offered a choice of dinning tables. We opted for a table right at the window that overlooks the Sandy River. The view was incredible! I could see myself as a kid running through the pebbled river bed crowed with forest trees on a summer day. Mind you, I am 100% a city dweller– always have been!
They quickly provided us with water and a plate of crudités with a house made dill ranch. The veggies were crisp and fresh and the dip was creamy and delicious. It was a great alternative to your typical bread and butter.
Our original intent was to just grab an appetizer portion of chicken n dumplings bcz we were looking forward to having dinner in the city. There wasn’t a small portion of the chicken n dumplings so we decided to share a dinner portion. The dinner comes with the choice of soup or salad so we went with the salad. All the salad dressings are house prepared. I had the blue cheese and my friend had the ranch. The salad was fresh and simple.
Now, let’s talk chicken n dumplings… I always thought this dish was a hearty soup. Not a brothy soup, but more like a clam chowder with a steamed biscuit. This was more like a pot pie without veggies and a steamed biscuit. The gravy was very thick. It was not good but it wasn’t terrible either. It was just kinda there. The chicken was TOUGH! I’ve never had chicken like this. The dark meat taste like giblets. It wasn’t succulent or flavorful. The white meat was hard to chew. You could tell that everything had been cooked in mass potions and separately. There was no melding of the flavors. Sorry chicken n dumplings but you are failing your namesake!
The worse of it was that the restroom is on the downstairs floor and they have a weight scale there! I am thinking «who on earth wants to weigh themselves after eating chicken n biscuits»?
In sum, the location is great and the staff is very nice, but the chicken n biscuits weren’t that good. There are so many great eateries in the area that I would definitely save my food points for a different place.

Holy dumplings! I visited Portland on vacation and was told no matter what we were going to Tad’s, and I’m so grateful we did. The place is perfect from the minute you walk in the door. The décor and atmosphere are what cool places are made of. I, of course, ordered the chicken and dumplings and was not let down. The dumpligs were the size of my hand and the chicken was delightful! We had a large table and the service never slowed and the server was quite friendly. Every trip to Portland WILL include a stop at Tad’s.

You cannot go wrong here. Got to get you some! Tad’s is comfort home cooking at its best and is a landmark. Our family has always went here for gatherings and I always recommend it to people who are new to town or visiting. It’s located on the beautiful sandy river Close to the Troutdale bridge. The lower dining room has retractable doors that they open up in the summer time for open air overlooking the beautiful river. This place is known for their chicken and fluffy mouth watering dumplings in large serving fashion. It comes with green beans with bacon and onions as a side. The halibut fish and chips is very fresh and delicious as well as the finger licking good southern fried chicken. Enjoy!