Where is the Best Martini in Portland, Oregon?
I have been here a few times and the food is absolutely good and has always been good!. Everything we had a few days ago was well prepared and of superb quality from the garlic bread to the sauteed spinach to everyones steaks! Nothing frou-frou, and certainly nothing super creative but just good food! The Bananas Foster were a great way to end a very satisfying meal.The service was attentive without being overbearing. The only negative was the faint smell of cigar/cigarette?? smoke which everyone at our table commented on that evening.I will go back in a heartbeat for one of the best steaks in Portland.Pros + FoodCons – Smell of smoke!
A friend and I stopped into Bartini a month or so ago for happy hour after hearing rave reviews. Unfortunately, we were SORELY DISSAPOINTED with the service. As it was pretty busy we sat at the bar, and the bartender asked to see our ID (good job doing your job). He then loudly told us we couldn’t be there because we weren’t of age, and, as the rest of the patrons were staring at us, told us to leave. Too bad we are, and a coworker awkwardly corrected his math. The bartender didn’t didnt apologize, but instead ignored us the rest of the meal. It isn’t like we were expecting to be comped or anything, but an acknowledgement of his embarassing mistake would have been in line. Perhaps he was embaressed, but it is more awkward if you just ignore customers who are a foot away from you on the other side of the bar. Anyways, the services was extremely slow for a simple happy hour. I don’t care for the excuse of “it is being made fresh”…it doesn’t take that long to make fondu or plate a salad
I called in advance to see if it was o.k. to bring our own birthday cake, which it was. Our party started rolling in at 8 pm. As our group expanded the wait staff found us more chairs until other near-by tables emptied out. No one had to wait long to order drinks that were top notch. I ordered some of the house’s specialty cocktails that were excellent – there bartenders know how to pour! Though most of us had already eaten, we ordered up a number of appetizers after a few rounds of drinks. The dates wrapped in bacon were perfect ( o hard crusty skins o the dates – they were warm and soft and melted in your mouth with a silky texture next to the smoky-saltiness of the bacon) We also got an anti-pasta platter that was nearly licked clean by the time we left. The kitchen dressed up the birthday cake and served it with a beautiful light fresh fruit garnish. They also found some birthday candles, which I had forgotten, and didn’t embarrass the birthday boy by singing – his friends took
I agree with all comments from the previous review.The staff is wonderful, kind and personable.The food is superb. Fresh wrapped is good if it is not fried. All soup is scrumptious. The fried lobster bites are awsome (especially with the sauce)… the list goes on. Eat anything and you will be happy. Drinks are great and made by a bartender who knows their stuff.Big screen that is showing cartoons (or sportscenter) as you are listening to music.I miss the live DJ, but the staff generally has a good choice in music (or Aqua Teen Hunger Force). Not too crowded… and to me, this is the best part. This is an intimate and cozy bar with a non-smoking room in the front, a smoking room in the back (with great wall-art), and a couple tables out front during the dry season. Highly recommended! You must go there and try it out yourself!Pros + food, drinks, intimate atmosphere
