contents
PUB
CRAWLS
BREWPUBS
BREW
CLUB PROFILE
BRITISH,
IRISH
COCKTAILS
THE
SCIENCE OF DRINKING
FUN
AND GAMES
GAY
BARS
KARAOKE
OLD
MEN
OUTDOORS
SPORTS
BARS
THE
YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
WINE
WINE
WORDS
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The term "upscale" can have such negative connotations.
But it's simplistic to write off bars we might deem as too
good for us barely-scraping-by types. These bars may be
spendier and have real wood paneling, but they are neither
the sole domain of moneyed professionals, nor prohibitively
expensive. Though watering holes that use real glasses don't
appeal to everyone, they're not as exclusive as you think.
If you believe that Higgins only attracts the kind of customer
that can afford to drop $50 on dinner and drinks seven nights
a week or that the Veritable Quandary is a pick-up joint
for boisterous SUV-drivers who crunch numbers from 9 to
5 and schmooze from 6 to 11, take a peek at what the patrons
are wearing. As in most Portland establishments, jeans,
not bowties, prevail, and the clientele is far from one-dimensional.
Consider chi-chi bars for what they offer: a social experience
that's aesthetically pleasing and devoid of a joyless hipster
quotient. You won't find any chunky shoes or Betty Page
hairdos at these places. If it's your first time visiting,
go after happy hour to guarantee a table from which to observe
the scene. Take a good look. Sure, there may be a few cackling,
unctuous patrons, but you're more likely to notice the staff's
attentiveness and the high comfort level.
HIGGINS RESTAURANT AND BAR
Hazelnuts roasted in chilies and honey, beer from Belgium
and Norway. These menu choices exemplify the flavor of Higgins--Pacific
Northwest earthiness and foreign panache. The clubby interior,
with the charm and comfort of a well-worn leather briefcase,
makes you feel at home, but the unconquerable list of libations
takes you on an exotic odyssey. The journey is quite likely
to transport you to Belgium as the tiny country enjoys a
healthy representation of about 50 brews on Higgins' beer
list. There are also a few from France--though the French,
however nationalistic, prefer Heineken over their homegrown
ales--as well as England, Germany, Canada and the U.S.,
including four barleywines. New on tap is the German Späten
Bock ($4 for a pint), a malty beer that goes down a little
too easy. The wowing Scotch menu comes complete with descriptions
so mouth-watering--"Glenrothes: toffee, vanilla and malt
tones with an alluring hint of mint and smoke"--you may
be reduced to a drooling babe who's only choice is to fork
over the $12.50 fee. While you're at it, invest in some
haute pub fare. Choose anything, it's all delicious.
1239 SW BROADWAY, 222-9070. OPEN DAILY. BEER, WINE AND
LIQUOR.
MCCORMICK & SCHMICK'S HARBORSIDE PILSNER ROOM
The Willamette River is fine, but it's no Chesapeake Bay
or Boston Harbor. One annex of Portland's waterfront does
come close to emulating those historic ports: River Place.
Along a stretch of sidewalk that beach-deprived Portlanders
refer to as a boardwalk, sits the Harborside Hotel's Pilsner
Room. Windows overlooking the water lend an Annapolis feel
to this roomy bar, but there's no Old Bay seasoning (such
a fine companion to beer) peppering the menu. You will find
the brass railings and Dartmouth green upholstery common
to so many hotel hangouts. You'll also come head to head,
so to speak, with a host of regional brews on tap and a
few standard bottles--Amstel Light, MGD, Bud. Draft beers
include several by Full Sail, including Mercator Doppelbock
and, for a limited time, Hawthorne Ale; the popular Deschutes
trilogy of Black Butte, Mirror Pond and Obsidian Stout;
and Pilsner Urquell. To cater to its diverse clientele of
travelers and locals, the Pilsner Room is equipped with
televisions, video games and lots of food: a giant dinner
menu, pub grub and a celebrated happy-hour hot sheet that
changes monthly.
0309 SW MONTGOMERY ST., 220-1865.
OPEN DAILY. BEER, WINE AND LIQUOR.
THE ROSE AND RAINDROP
This bar looks like a remnant of the belle époque,
and it exudes an appropriately uplifting ambience. High
ceilings, potted palms and pink accents help to create welcoming
environs that can support either a raucous or subdued crowd.
Whether you grab a bunch of pals and squeeze into an intimate
round booth or flirt solo at the classy bar, you'll find
a place to fit into this spacious parlor. Though there's
plenty of beer to choose from, you'll feel more at home
with ice cubes clinking in your glass. The after-work happy
hour can be a mob scene, so do yourself a favor and hold
out for the 10 pm-to-midnight special, when you can eat
oysters with your bourbon and ginger on a shoestring. All
in all, this is the most accessible bar in the chi-chi genre.
532 SE GRAND AVE., 238-6996.
OPEN DAILY. BEER, WINE AND LIQUOR.
VERITABLE QUANDARY
The VQ looks formal from the street but once tucked into
a booth or perched on a swivel stool inside, the place is
as comfortable as Cheers appeared to be. Like the fabled
TV bar, VQ has brick walls, a gleaming wooden bar, high-backed
booths and an old-school atmosphere. Though not as glib,
the wait staff is more courteous than Carla and less bumbling
than Diane; you'll never wait long for a drink or meal.
There is only one menu for both the dining room and bar,
but it boasts elegant light fare for those with small appetites
and wallets. The spinach salad is exquisite: Deep green
leaves are slightly wilted by a handful of grilled apple
slices and supplemented with filberts and peppered chèvre,
and made slippery by a subtle vinaigrette ($5, $8 for a
large). In terms of beer, VQ stocks all the usual suspects,
which undoubtedly taste better while seated on the quaint
patio. A weird side note: A corral of video poker machines
are hidden in a little dark room, as if to say, "Gambling
is an impure addiction, but we're not adverse to taking
your money."
1220 SW 1ST AVE., 227-7342.
OPEN DAILY. BEER, WINE AND LIQUOR.
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