Grand Cafe

Name: Grand Cafe
Address: 832 SE Grand Avenue Portland, OR
Contact information: 503.230.1166
Cover charge: $3 on weekends, $1 per song
Type of music: Karaoke
Full bar: yes
In a line: If you feel like belting out a tune, skip the Grand Cafe and head to the Alibi or Boiler Room.

Review: It’s dark and stuck in the 80s, but if you’re heading to the East side for karaoke, chances are you’ll end up at the Grand Cafe.

The small dance floor is surrounded by large booths and the bar. Framed pictures of no-name celebs are on the walls and a few tv monitors show generic videos shot twenty years ago, to go along with the songs.

There’s a mix of young and old – the ones who take karaoke seriously and the ones who are coming to hang out in a dive because it’s ‘cool’. They’re not dive prices on the drinks, however, and watch out for the attitude of the woman working the door. There’s a better feel – and voices – at the Alibi in North Portland.