Where is the Best Wine List in Portland, Oregon?
No more tableside cooking: Used to be five stars now four stars. New chef and no tableside cooking is a big change for us. The food is still very good and John Louie is the best waiter in Portland. I hope they bring back the tableside service. That is a big problem for us.Stu CookPros + best waiter in portland is John LouieCons – no more tableside cooking
This has been one of my favorite happy hour spots for a few years, but I have noticed that the quality of the tapas has suffered: Some examples: the pan con tomate is now being served with canned tomatoes, which is extremely evident the moment you take a bite. Previously it seemed like they just rubbed some fresh tomato on the bread, which is the correct way to do it. The manchego cheese in the jamon y queso platter is of a noticeably lesser quality than before. The red ceviche was made with shrimp and octopus that was either previously frozen or has been in a fridge for long enough for it to be way too cold. The filling in the croquetas is dry, and the breading seems oilier. The chorizo is of lesser quality than before, as it is less flavorful and actually reminds me of something Jimmy Dean might sell. I used to come here for both great wine *and* great tapas, but now the wine is the main draw for me (for example, bottles of wine $50 and under are 50% off every Tuesday, and they have
It’s a new location at the “old Rocket”, on top of a great building on E. Burnside. It’s definitely lost some of the “neighborhood” vibe from the old location and is now a more trendy yet still comfortable wine bar. It is VERY different from the old location. If you liked the cozy, low key environment from the old place, the new busy trendy vibe from the new NR may not be your thing. It seems that it’s no longer a “neighborhood wine bar” but a “downtown wine bar”. There’s still the same staff and same menu, which kept a continuity, but there is definitely some growing pains with the added staff getting used to the new kitchen. I’m excited to experience it in the summer with the view. The wine list is great, the prices are fantastic, the food….could have been better, could have been worse. Our party (5) enjoyed a lot of the menu. Our favorites: The cheese plate (great variety and the most fantastic triple creme that I’ve ever had) and the onion tart (classic and the perfect size). Th
What’s nice about South Park is many-fold. It always has a solid wine list with interesting choices made by someone who is obviously paying attention to the global and local wine business. Service is always solid, well-paced and executed by professionals. The menu is interesting, mature, and remains modern enough; exceution is always solid and thoughtful. The atmosphere is warm and cozy, not unlike an homage to European bistro and cafe spaces, but upon closer inspection, it falls apart as dated, and this is my biggest gripe. The mural, that covers the North wall (while clearly laboured), reminds me of late 80’s Napa-wine-craze art; It doesn’t lend credibility to the restaurant. Likewise, the Ikea-looking lights above the bar harken to a college dorm more than a bistrot or gastro-pub. They detract from the gorgeous wood of the floor and horse-shoe bar. I imagine warm beige walls with muted lighting, which might make the bar and floor pop and be the focal point, as wood work of that muc
The other day, my wife happened upon this charming restaurant and spent an hour or so enjoying a glass of wine and talking with some of the patrons and the bartender. She, of course, told me about it when she came home. So this evening we decided to try it for dinner. I must say that while my wife is quite a connoisseur of gourmet eating establishments, my tastes tend to be a bit less sophisticated. Wine Down on 28th was the perfect choice. My wife had a glass of sangria and we started with a cheese tray. I don’t know what kinds of cheeses there were, but I liked them. For our entree, my wife ordered the Adobe Marinated Pork Loin with citrus demi-glaze and chili-lime mojo and sliced avocado. Our waiter (who was PERFECT) recommended it, and advised us that it was a bit spicy. My wife did think it was extremely flavorful, but not spicy in a “hot” kind of way. I ordered the Ribeye, but started with some soup. Like I said, I’m not very adventurous, but the soup was… get this..
