Cloud & Kelly's

C&KPH is a great Irish pub!

SWMBO and I seated ourselves at a booth along the wall. I reached for a table-top reader board and promptly knocked the Salt shaker all cattywampus. Our effervescent server, Morgan, hastened to instruct me to toss some Salt over my left shoulder with my right hand and not to confuse the two. We liked her instantly!

After a quick scan of the menu, Carol chose Bangers and Mash and paired a pint of Cloud & Kelly's Irish Red Ale. C&K have this flavorful Ale crafted to their specifications by Flat Tail Brewery, just down the street. The Bangers are sourced from Mike Campbell's Pepper Tree Sausage House in Albany. (For my money, the Willamette Valley's premier Sausage maker.) I had to try their fabled Reuben Sandwich. Having met my French Fry quota for the week, I had a nice Side Salad with Dijon Mustard Dressing. The Corned Beef is house-made and the Sandwich was put together with a master's touch. The only thing that could have improved it would have been Jewish Rye with Caraway seeds. The Kraut was carefully drained and skillfully placed between the Meat and Swiss Cheese. I picked a pint of Yellow Wolf Imperial IPA from Alameda Brewhouse in Portland.

Morgan did top notch job and I had an opportunity to meet and thank Ko, the man whose kitchen wizardry created these masterpieces.

We were both delighted with our food, the service, the atmosphere and, indeed, the whole experience.

You may rest assured that Cloud & Kelly's will rank near the top on my "Reubens, Reubens who's got the Reubens" list!

Good food, good cocktails, friendly service, good location with some outdoor seating.

Food - particularly good comfort food. The irish breakfast (served all day), shepherd's pie, and fish and chips are particular favorites. Some lighter options as well, like the tuna salad nicoise (a "special" menu item that always seems to be on the menu).

Drinks - cocktails with fresh fruit purees and herbal tinctures. Not quite as good as Downward Dog next door IMHO, but still quite tasty. Better beer selection, with a focus on stouts, porters, and irish beers.

I've always liked Cloud 9 and then in turn enjoyed the newly named Cloud & Kelly's. Descent food, good prices and a great selection of beers on tap.

I've never been a big fan of their bartender who always seemed a little "too cool" or "too busy" to really give you good service. And then...

My book club (30 year old women) were on a pub crawl in Corvallis. We literally hit 9 bars that evening, and had good experiences all around. Some were better then others of course, but when some of us came to Cloud & Kelly's.

The group 4 of us simply ASKED the bartender if they carried PBR in a tall-boy can. And then he YELLED at us.

He said, "I'm tired of telling you guys this!! We DON'T HAVE PBR in a can and I'm TOO BUSY to deal with this again!"

I mean really?! Its not like we were asking to dance on the bar or anything.

I was so embarrassed, since a few people in our group are from out of town.

Its been a few weeks since the incident and wasn't going to write a review but then realized I've NEVER really liked this bartender and it was time I let people know. I don't care how busy and annoyed you are, but to YELL at people who basically just walked into your bar, and who planning are spending money there, isn't the best way to go about giving good customer service.

I know its the same owners and a lot of the same staff on both sides, but just go to Downward Dog next door and skip the asshole behind the bar at Clouds.