Surprise: River City Saloon wets our whistle on Tuesday in TD
River City Saloon is now open at the NE corner of Washington and Third streets in The Dalles.
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles, Ore., March 26, 2025 — The message from Mike Nagle flashed a giant sign of relief on Tuesday.
The Barber at Uppercut wrote: “FYI River City Saloon is opening today. I think he told me 4 p.m.”
The hook was set.
Joe Kirkwood has been working on the place for months at NE corner of Washington and Third streets.
Curiosity was killing the cat, and this cat was thirsty for a frosty pint after a laborious conversation with a local attorney.
We arrived around 4:30 p.m. and the place was jumpin.’
Kirkwood had the full bar in place, the kitchen was working and a majority of the tables were filled.
Mike, myself and my wife Peggy grabbed a table and dug into some amber glasses of bliss. Pints were $7. The simple menu also had some great starters like ‘Perfectly Crispy’ onion rings that are tender on the inside for $10.
Staff was fast and friendly even as they were learning the Point of Sale system in this innaugural day of business.
Conversation was quick and lively over the crack of pool balls at the table near the entrance.
Kirkwood is somewhat of a local legend with his eclectic taste in music, and he has for years delivered a great diversity of bands when he operated the River City Saloon in Hood River, prior to being displaced by the hotel renovation project at 2nd Street and Cascade Avenue.
And Joe is wasting no time in The Dalles.
His first show is set for Saturday, March 29 with Balladiers: a Gorge based funk/ jazz/ latin fusion band guaranteed to get the crowd dancing! Band Jovi, a tribute band to Bon Jovi will follow.
Show starts at 8 p.m.
I’m a cowboy
On a cold pint I ride
I’m wantin’ music (music) and jive
I want it dead or alive.
The River City Saloon takes advantage of the entire space with a small stage set off in the corner by the windows here. Capacity is currently set at 49, but that number is expected to increase.
Joe Kirkwood was all smiles with the reception of the latest itteration of the River City Saloon now open in The Dalles .
