Tucked into the neighborhood next to OK Omens, Naso is such a gem for a cozy date night. The vibe…read moreis warm, friendly, and totally unpretentious...the kind of place where you instantly feel comfortable whether you know a ton about wine or just want a good glass and good conversation. Also, don't sleep on the mystery bag wine bottles. Such a fun little surprise and a great way to try something new without spending a fortune. We didn't eat since we had dinner reservations next door, but everything coming out of the kitchen looked seriously delicious. Definitely adding it to the list for next time.

This was an unexpected but surprising find while visiting Portland. My friend and I were just…read morewalking down Hawthorne after having finished lunch to head to some shops and noticed a wine shop so we decided to check it out. We didn't expect much but we were immediately grabbed by the dark purple room in the back. There were only two customers inside but I believe they had just opened. The next thing we know, it's two hours later! Somehow we got sucked in by the ambiance, the friendly service, the wines, and trivia! We were treated to some wonderful concoctions that I wish I could take home. Will hopefully like to come back again for a visit.

Bar Vivant is a lovely spot for truly authentic tapas, and a large selection of drinks to go with…read morethem. Being able to get anchovies in vinegar, ham croquettes, and a Belgian beer takes me back to some of my favorite travel experiences, and the Pix Patisserie dessert options continue to provide a thrill. I have two quibbles that keep me from adding the fifth star - the Tortilla Espanola (closer to an egg and potato frittata than a Mexican tortilla) is served with a drizzle of red and a white sauces. A well made Tortilla (and this one is very nicely done) doesn't really need any embellishment. I'll try to remember to ask for the sauce on the side next time. The second issue I have is that the servers didn't appear to have received enough training to do justice to the things on the menu. Bar Vivant has a lot of wonderful offerings, enough of them that they really deserve better descriptions and recommendations. Between the drinks, the savory and the sweet options, this is a very special place.

I Love this little gem! They have beers, cocktails and such, but their specialty is most…read moredefinitely their Sherry selection and tapas. Bar Vivant is a place where you can get more than just Sherry, you get an education about the differences, variations and Spaniard regions where the sherry is cultivated. If you are into Sherry Wines, then this is the place for you. It's a "low-Key" spot with a sense of Romanticism. They have a beer garden that serves as a temporary escape from hustle and bustle. The chill vibe allows for you to take your time, sip on your sherry while trying the different tapas, such as pulpo, sardines, ham, croquettes and much more. If you are in the mood for a good dessert with your sherry, well, you are in luck because Bar Vivant is like a "two-for-one". The restaurant shares it's space with Pix Patisserie, the only place in Portland where you should purchase Macaroons! Because it is a chill spot, the service is chill as well. If you are in the area, waiting to be called for a table, I recommend you stop here while you wait.

Pairings it the best and most fun wine shop you'll find. They know their stuff - like, _really_…read moreknow their stuff - but it's presented in the most chill, friendly, open, and welcoming way. I have learned a ton about wine through this shop, and expanded my tastes. I had never heard of orange wines, and now they're a favorite - and I got my introduction because one was paired with Yoda. It is fun and delicious. The wine pairings are always great, and such a fun talking point for both wine and the topic in discussion. Grab a friend that also loved The Pitt, and chat about the nuances of characters while enjoying some good wine and reflecting on what makes a wine "ambitious". The conversation is built in, and the wine is fantastic. This is the wine shop that led to me buying a wine fridge, and then to upgrading to a larger wine fridge. This is one of my very favorite "third spaces" - where they get to know you quickly, where the tables next to you are always up for a little cross-talk, where the shop just feels like the hangout spot to be. I can go there with a book for a quiet glass of wine and time to myself, or I can chat and be a bit more social and meet some cool people - both are very welcome and fit in just fine. This wine shop is so good I'm a wine-club member, despite living in Washington.

Went there for dungeon crawler carl themed night. It was so much fun…read more Make a reservation online. Don't use the email to reschedule. Has some glitches. They are pretty cool about following up and checking in on your reservation. Eat first, or after, food is across the way. Have food delivered (just not charcuterie, they sell that there) you can even bring food in!

Whew! Loved Cheese & Crack Snack Shop and will be thinking about it for a long time to come =')…read more Came here from a recommendation from a friend as an afternoon snack. Hubs & I shared the Beecher's & Brie Brulee and The Cheese & Crack Sundae. The Beecher's & Brie Brulee was honestly very good and shareable for 2 people. I've been a bit obsessed with brulee cheese since having it in Italy, but rarely see it anywhere so I was excited to see it here! And it was delish. Like an adult's lunchables, you can build your own sweet or salty or savory bite! Yum! The Cheese & Crack Sundae was delicious Vanilla Soft-Serve with a chocolate ganache and toasted marshmallow that make it like a s'more ice cream sundae. Really loved it, as it was *not to sweet* and I loved the toasted marshmallow bites. Service was fairly quick. They have one unisex restroom that was fairly clean. Parking is easy (street parking) if you don't mind walking a little.

Visited on a Wednesday night, thinking maybe there wouldn't be a long line, but I was surely wrong!…read moreWaited about 25-30 minutes, but I felt that it was worth it (for once!). The cones are $4 and you have the option to add flavored "dust" such as espresso, matcha, beet, and malt. My wife chose the malt dust with an added chocolate cowboy hat. She was very pleased with, but found the ganache at the bottom of the cone entirely too rich. Each cone offers a large amount of ice cream, and there did not appear to be sizes, but all in all, a very instagrammable and delicious cone. I opted for the banana pudding sundae, which consisted of the vanilla soft service and banana pudding topped with two Nilla wafers. I do this this could be a bit improved by adding Nilla wafers throughought the cup, but it was creamy and satisfied the sweet tooth nonethless. The indoor space was cozy with a few seats either facing the kitchen or the window. There's also an outdoor platform that most people opted for since the line really made inside feel crowded. Staff was friendly and delivered orders accurately in spite of crowds. I would love to return to cheese plates and/or the brie & marionberry sammy. Would 100% recommend if you're looking for a sweet treat with both traditional and more creative flavor profiles.

Somehow, I've neglected to review this neighborhood favorite. My apologies to the good people at…read moreDivision Wines. This place has become a go-to for taking friends, relatives, or just enjoying time with my wife. The selection of wines has never let me down, and their meat, cheese, and meat&cheese food offerings are delightful. Classics are classics for a reason. The servers are great at making sure cheeses fit into everyone's dietary preferences. On my most recent visit, I spotted something that was previously unnoticed - they offer half glasses for half price. Since part of the joy of visiting here is finding new things, half glasses make for twice the exposure to new friends. Our visits almost always end with a shopping expidition into the wine shop side of the space. As fans of white wines from NW Spain, we've always been pleased with their Albarino offerings, and this is the only place in Portland that I've ever found a Godello.

Was looking to get a nice bottle of wine as a gift, but wanted to get something fun and different…read more Not knowing too much about wine and seeing all the reviews about the great service, I gave them a call to see if they could help give a few suggestions over the phone. Garrett was super helpful and we talked a bit about what I was thinking, and found three options within my budget. We settled on a fun but not too crazy wine from the Canary Islands. He held the wine for me at the front and I was able to just grab and go later in the afternoon. The price was also just right, as it was listed for $18 more on the vino app. Came back in a week later for drinks and prices were also great with a 3 drink flight for $19 all with good pours. Had a chenin blanc, a chardonnay, and a Malbec. All were phenomenal and bar staff were friendly. This is definitely earned a spot in the rotation. Love it.

My friend had reserved this place to celebrate birthday with close friends. The venue is…read morebeautifully decorated with friendly vibe. Ryan, the owner was very friendly and attentive to our group. We ordered small plates and pizza to share. Their wines were great and the Non alcoholic flight was refreshingly good! Highly recommended.

Hosted a bridal shower here and Ryan was a more than gracious host. Contacted him several months…read moreago about having a group in the space, he was quick and easy to communicate with, allowing us to "reserve" the front room for our get together. On the day I got there, Ryan offered the back room which is normally rented at a fee, which was very kind. As a business owner, I know the dance that comes with not wanting to turn away customers, but trying not to overextend so he was very nice to do that. That said, we tried to clean up after ourselves and had a great time. Highly recommend if you have an event, shower, etc. Thanks again, Ryan!

Totally a vibe, and I would 100% recommend it…read more We walked in on a random weekday and were surprised to find the place absolutely bustling. The ambiance is dark and moody, with vintage touches throughout that give it a lot of character and charm. We ordered at the bar, and the drinks arrived quickly. The food, however, took quite a while to come out. Given how busy the restaurant was, I suspect the kitchen was simply backed up.We started with the burrata salad, which was everything you'd want from a spring salad - fresh, light, and full of flavor. The roasted chicken was slightly under-seasoned for my taste, but the portion was so generous that we ended up taking leftovers home. Reheated with a few sauces, it was still delicious the next day. The White Negroni and wine paired beautifully with the meal, and the cake we ordered for dessert was the perfect ending. Rich, satisfying, and exactly what we were hoping for after dinner. Great atmosphere, solid food, excellent drinks, and a lively energy that makes the place worth a visit.

So, you want to meet up with some coworkers on a sunny Thursday afternoon, but you're not sure when…read morethey'll arrive, so you want a relaxed, spacious pub where you can have some wine or cocktails and catch up on expenses while you wait for them to arrive. Bar Loon is that pub. The back patio is a terrific relaxed atmosphere, and flexible to the weather since it's covered. They have a happy hour from 4-6pm; it's a short happy hour, but it has house onion chips and $10 wine, and what could be bad? (BTW: I see complaints in other reviews about needing to order at the bar -- and maybe wait in line. I don't get it. The bartenders are cheerful and efficient, it's really not a big deal. The only thing I might want from them is a longer bar snack menu, particularly for happy hour; that would make Bar Loon perfect, IMHO)

We did the ten-course chef's tasting menu at Navarre, and it was such a fun way to experience this…read morePortland institution! Navarre has been part of Portland's food scene since the early 2000s and guests are encouraged to explore a variety of small and large plates and eat however they want. The cuisine draws from French, Italian, and Spanish traditions, while incorporating seasonal Pacific Northwest ingredients. Based on my research, Navarre also works with 47th Avenue Farms, with specials changing based on what arrives each week. So, getting to sit back and let the kitchen choose ten courses felt especially fitting for Navarre. Instead of deciding what we wanted, we got to experience a little bit of everything. We started with a pâté dish served with green beans and Dijon mustard, which was delicious and had a wonderful savory richness. There was also raw radish with butter, which was a very unique combination! It wasn't my favorite dish of the night, but I appreciated how unexpected it was. The cod over a green sauce was one of my favorites. The fish was excellent, and the sauce really brought everything together. We also had a delicious crab-and-potato cake that paired beautifully with a kohlrabi salad. The meats were excellent as well. The steak was delicious, and the lamb was flavorful and tender, served with what seemed to be a quinoa-like grain. We also had greens and a salad that helped balance some of the richer courses. And then there was the potato gratin. My gosh....flavorful, crispy, and wonderfully comforting. Honestly, potatoes rarely need to do much convincing with me. I loved the variety of the tasting menu. Over ten courses, we got fish, meat, vegetables, salads, grains, and plenty of different textures and flavors. It felt less like simply ordering dinner and more like going on a little culinary adventure. This was an extremely memorable meal for us!

We met a friend here last night - - he had been several times before, but it was our first time…read more Tables are pretty close together with a decent sized dining area and both indoor and outdoor seating. The menu is clipboard style with lots of options - - just choose what you want in a small or large size. We shared a bunch of things - - but we were limited a bit because I am gluten-free and dairy-free, but what's new. The menu isn't marked for allergens, and our server wasn't quite sure what was safe for me - - she said to stay away from the gratins and that she would double check on the items we ordered to make sure they were ok. I'm not sure if what I had was made the way the chef normally prepares the dishes or if they altered dishes for my diet. So, keep this in mind while I run through my thoughts. Food came out in good time. Our table was filled with lots of little plates. Most of the vegetable dishes we ordered were kinda dry - cauliflower, zuchini, greens and the beets were ok. Nothing really special. The shrimp and tuna were prepared well. Wine, beer and cider only. Server was efficient. Street parking.

Perfect. Delicious oysters were amazing and what I'd expected…read more Artichoke and zucchini barigoule was so fresh the pine nuts were a nice touch. The happy hour white paired with both so well. My date got the burger and the fries are crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. The burger was delicious too The highlight is the kombu icecream. We had it last year and they have it again. Score!!! What a treat in this almost 100 weather!!! And rhubarb sorbet with passion fruit. What a surprise!

This restaurant has been on my list of places to go for a while now, so when my husband mentioned…read moreit for our anniversary dinner, it felt like the perfect opportunity. Our server greeted us in a timely manner, but after that we didn't really see them often. We saw other servers for other sections checking on their tables frequently and also helping out with the delivering our drinks and food. We were at the table for at least an hour and I think our server checked on us maybe once. There is also a 20% gratuity added automatically to the bill, which I normally wouldn't have an issue with, but I also didn't feel our service was worth 20%. I was really excited for the food before we even arrived. The sample menu online looked so good and I had been thinking about it all day. I was actually pretty disappointed by how it all turned out. I really do believe they are trying to do upscale dishes and it feels like they're close, but not there. My cocktail was the Spring Old Fashioned and I didn't particularly know what to expect, but this blew my expectations out of the water. It was fresh and perfect for a hot day. It was almost floral, despite no floral ingredients listed. We started with the albacore crudo and the bread & butter. The albacore on the plate with the capers was good, but the sauce and the potato chips didn't feel like they complimented the fish. The chips were good on their own, but oily. The fish was already drizzled in oil, so it felt like a little much. I wanted a crunch with the fish, but didn't think this was the way to go. The sauce was very subtly flavored and also didn't contribute to the fish. I ended up eating the fish on its own and leaving most of the sauce and chips. The bread & butter was actually my favorite part of the meal. The bread had a nice crust, the middle was soft and perfectly flavored, and the butter was lush and salted. If all I had gotten here was bread and a cocktail, I would've left happy, if not still hungry. My main was the MacFarland dry aged trout, which I was really excited for, but the trout was just slightly undercooked for my liking. The sauce was fresh and there were plenty of greens, but there was a bitterness to the dish that I don't feel it needed. After the meal, I realized there wasn't really any reason I would go back.

Really enjoyed this place. Nice views from the restaurant up on the 4th floor…read more Really great meal. Ordered the cucumber chilled soup, homemade pasta with crab, Little Gems, and King Salmon. Everything was amazing! The salmon was cooked absolutely perfectly. Crispy skin and perfect texture on the meat, not overdone as many do. Hard to make cucumber awesome but they found a way with that soup - wow was that good. Loved the vibe in the restaurant Also great cocktails and great service. Would definitely come back.

Had dinner here over the weekend- it was a 2 hour dinner that started off fine but ended poorly…read more My husband had dinner here with some family a few weeks ago and said the food was great and that the pork secreto was so good, I had to come try it. We requested a table outside which they were able to accommodate. It was a bit chilly so I'd recommend bringing jackets if you're sitting outside. Our server at first was very friendly and helpful. He convinced us to get the lamb- said amazing things about it. He did say that it might be 25 minutes until it's back on the menu, which we said was totally fine- we ordered some other food and the lamb could come out whenever it was ready. Ordered a white wine flight to share since we don't drink much and it was definitely enough for us. We had onion rings- which I've only ever had a few times so I'm no expert, but I would think these are exceptionally good. 5/5 The zucchini soup was nothing special. I honestly don't care for blended soups. They don't have texture. The server made it sound good but it was meh, way too salty in some concentrated spots. We wait over half an hour, then the server comes back and tells us that the lamb has been taken off the menu so we decide on the salmon instead and said we'll try the lamb next time. An hour and half into our meal, we got the pork secreto, which was pretty firm.. then as we ate it we realized it was definitely overcooked. The plum sauce that went with it didn't work, and my husband said they had a much better cherry sauce a few weeks ago. The figs also didn't go with the pork and the sauce. There was this weird sweetness to the pork that wasn't pleasant. Then the salmon comes out and it's just sad and dry. It's overcooked but also not crispy, and the portions for both mains were almost comically small. The dessert menu didn't look that great and at this point we really didn't want to get anything else from this restaurant, and it had been 2 hours since we sat down so we were fighting off sleepiness while waiting for the mains so we could not make it another 30 minutes through dessert. We had thought, that's fine we just won't come back, but we were still trying to make the most out of the situation. Then our server comes to hand us the bill and we had noticed he had gotten progressively colder throughout the dinner, but it was extra apparent this time. I'm not sure what we did to upset him, but there was a stark contrast to how he spoke to us vs the couple next to us. Not sure if it's because we didn't order multiple drinks or if our bill wasn't high enough? We were patient and understanding and friendly throughout the dinner, when food was taking forever to come out (with no updates) and when we were told that the dish that he urged us to get was no longer being made. It came out to around $120ish before tip for a small amount of disappointing food and cold service. As we went down the elevator we had a conversation about how we feel when people treat us differently and how to handle those situations.. unfortunately it happens more often than not since we are both POC and look younger than we are. It's not usually a conversation I'd expect to have after a fun date night. Anyway, it's too bad if that lamb is amazing because we won't be returning to try it.