I've always wanted to come here and try East African food but rarely had an excuse to drive 30+…read moreminutes to where this restaurant is located. When I came from PDX, I decided to make a detour and check it out on a Saturday evening at around 8pm. Was greeted by friendly staff and seated fast. We were only a handful of patrons with plenty of sitting space. First impression was good. Nice ambiance, good background afrobeats, large screen tvs, clean. Place seems to be a party place with disco lights, great sounds system, and a DJ. We got the classic glass bottled soda and explored the extensive East African ( mainly Kenyan) menu. Prices are on the higher end compared to other similar restaurants. I was hungry as heck though and everything on the menu looked delicious. I settled for the following which came out fresh and hot from the kitchen: - $26 Goat Stew with Sukuma Wiki and Ugali. Portion was kinda small for the price. Also too many bones on the goat stew...but delicious. Recommend eating with your hands like how it's done in the mother land :) We also ordered a side of $4 chapati which was quite a large and yummy. There are many other options I'd love to try next time I'm here. Overall, good experience. Will be back when I'm in the area.

Went here with my daughter to try egusi and it was terrible. I asked what meat was used and the…read moreperson that served us said he didn't know either goat or beef so that was not a good sign. I am pretty open to flavors and maybe I just don't like goat meat because it smelled like a goat so pretty sure that's the meat they are using but this was a hard no for us. Maybe it was old meat or something but the smell was so intense and when we tried it I legitimately couldn't stomach it. We tried the mixed platter and that was all good but watch out for the egusi. The fufu was also more mashed potatoe texture than I think it usually is supposed to be.

Had an awesome time at The Observatory the other weekend. Unlike a lot of places, they run their…read moreHappy Hour on the weekend, which is what drew my partner and I in. You can absolutely smell the fish and vinegar as soon as you walk through the door, which I think gives the place a very homey pub feel. I ordered a spiked peach Arnold Palmer, which I enjoyed (and it was pleasantly strong) and a glass of the house white, which was good for the price. Our server was very fast and attentive. To eat I got the tomato soup with a grilled cheese, which was absolutely fantastic. The soup was so creamy and flavorful, and I cannot imagine a better meal after spending all day walking outside in the rain. The fries were super crispy and I liked the batter. My partner and I shared some of their breadsticks, which were deliciously baked (fresh!) and came with a super refreshing basil crema and a nice tomato-y dip. Wonderful all. My partner ordered fish and chips, and was surprised to find that it is one large fillet of fish, not multiple pieces like you would typically expect. He said the fish was fine, but a little tough. Overall, a wonderful experience. I definitely hope to return. I highly recommend this place as a refuge during the cold winter months!

You know what I will admit that my ardor for The Observatory has cooled over time. I do still count…read moretheir rosemary pear martini as my favorite cocktail in town - and really their cocktail menu overall is still excellent. But the last few times I've stopped in for a meal, it feels like the food isn't quite as impressive as it used to be. Could be all in my head. Not sure. But it's always a nice spot to hang out and chat with friends, you can get seated quicker if you enter through Over & Out, which basically functions as an extension of the main Observatory, with it's own bar and pool tables.

A small vibey bar with fun energy. Space is pretty limited so plan accordingly…read more We had a couple of drinks here and they're tasty! Craft, refined cocktails. They also have a filipino food menu when we're there but we didn't try any. Would be down to come back, especially later at night to catch their last call cookies!

The drinks are really good and the staff was very friendly! The overall vibe/look of the bar is…read morecool as well. One thing that bothered me though (and I know maybe I'll get hate for this), is I feel like some of the decor is tone deaf. They have a bunch of colonial men ceramic decor, but they partner with and serve food from a Filipino company. I'm Filipino and it was a bit offensive to me because even if the point of having them is trying to make fun of them, it's not really funny. We were colonized for over 300 yrs and still deal with the trauma from it. Please consider removing the colonial decor. I really enjoyed the bar and want to enjoy it in the future, but I don't think it's necessary to have those things in the bar and doesn't add anything to how cool the bar is apart from that. UPDATE: the bar messaged me. They were super professional and kind in their response. I really appreciate that they were open to my perspective on the colonial items and said they will be removed. Thank you so much!! Looking forward to enjoying the bar in the future

Such a fake location this is not real. Something weirds going on. Tried to go here multiple times…read moreand call and they say they are not open yet at 9pm!!!!

I have no idea if this bar has food - but when we came in a few Friday's ago - at 7 pm - and we…read morewere pretty much the only people there. The bartender said they need better signage but by 8 pm, the place was packed. I think this used to be a doggy day care or doggy spa. It's been open for 3 years and I never knew it was here. Too bad because I have moved from the neighborhood and this would have been a great neighborhood haunt. We just got a few rounds of beers but we stayed quite a while because they have a great vibe and video poker - which the guys in our group could not be torn away from. The decor is neon and chill but not hipster - like the rest of the places on this side of the river. They also have a billiard room. So, basically, there is just about something for everyone. I wish my new neighborhood had a bar like this that was walking distance.

Secret place to get your karaoke on Saturdays at 9! They've got a decent sound system and tons of…read moremusic to choose. There's also some great voices to listen to! I was amazed since it's a little place in a bowling alley. Depending on who's pouring you can get some decent drinks for cheap as well. Nothing fancy but more old school. Old school equal reals so there's that! Nothing to fear here!

A tall, thin man, wearing work boots and a denim shirt with "Mike" embroidered across the pocket,…read moreset his lunch pail and thermos on the floor of his truck, grabbed his bowling ball bag and headed into the lanes. We sat in our parking spot long enough for Norman Goldman to serve up a little justice on the head of some, star-spangeled, economic hit-man, grabbed our balls and followed the thin man. After two hours of bowling and drinking under the black-lights, we dropped into the Lava Lounge for thirteen or fifteen more drinks. The floor was strewn with bowling bags, and ex-bowlers turned bad playing video poker. Asian girls, punk rockers and wanna-be rappers were lining up for karaoke. We decided to have sixteen or twenty drinks instead and signed up for top billing with the karaoke DJ. Sherry's went first with Diana Krall's "Peel Me a Grape". She broke a leg man - not a dry eye in the house: even the punk rockers were beside themselves. I mopped up with Frank Zappa's "Dirty Love". The girl's were screaming like back in the 60s - they mobbed me and someone took my shoe. Our cash was gone so we left while some kid was bringing down the house with a rousing rendition of Snoop Dogg's "I Don't Need No Bitch".

To speak about Teardrop Lounge, I should probably start with this:…read more Ladies and gentlemen, I present my favorite cocktail bar. Not the best -- I'm not arrogant enough to claim that. I haven't been to every cocktail bar in Portland, and saying something is the best usually says more about your lack of experience than your conviction. But favorite? That I can stand behind. And I want to get that out of the way early, because of the amount of praise I'm about to pour on this place -- fully earned, completely intentional. The biggest crime here is that I only discovered it two weeks ago, after living in Portland for a year. It had been recommended to me countless times, and I ignored it. A mistake. A painful one. But now that I've found it, I don't plan on making that mistake again. I'm not typically an Old Fashioned drinker. In fact, I usually hate them. But somewhere between curiosity and too many episodes of Mad Men, I decided to try one anyway -- fully expecting to confirm my bias. Instead, it completely flipped me. Bright, almost citrus-forward in a way that felt unusual but entirely intentional. Balanced, smooth, just enough burn to remind you what you're drinking without overwhelming it. It was the first time I actually understood the appeal. I'm pretty sure I grew a few chest hairs that night. That alone would've been impressive. But it didn't stop there. The space is beautiful -- clean, intentional, but not cold. The staff are excellent: personable, engaged, and most importantly, authentic. Not scripted, not performative. The kind of people you actually want to talk to, and hopefully, eventually be on a first-name basis with. Now, all of that gets it close to a perfect score. But what pushes it over the edge -- what makes this place stick -- is the White Russian. One of the first drinks I ever had. My dad's drink. Not because of The Big Lebowski -- that came later -- but because it's just always been his thing. And at some point, it became mine too. Typically, when bars try to "elevate" a White Russian, they ruin it. They overthink it. Swap ingredients, tweak ratios, add unnecessary flair. And more often than not, it ends in disappointment. Teardrop does the opposite. They respect it -- but refine it. The coffee liqueur actually tastes like coffee. The heavy cream is properly integrated, not just dumped on top. The vodka -- whatever they're using -- is clean, present, and perfectly measured. There's a subtle complexity to it without losing what makes the drink what it is. It's the best White Russian I've ever had. No hesitation. I've gone back twice just to make sure it wasn't a fluke. It wasn't. If someone asked me what my death row drink would be -- this specific cocktail, from this specific bar, is in the conversation. Easily. Teardrop Lounge doesn't just make great cocktails. It reminds you why cocktails matter in the first place. And that's why it's my favorite.

We came to Teardrop Cocktail Lounge while visiting Portland and were genuinely impressed…read more The cocktails were excellent -- thoughtful, well-balanced, and clearly made by people who know what they're doing. One of the best parts was how approachable the bartenders were. We asked for custom drinks based on our preferences, and both came out perfectly tailored. Creative without being weird, and strong without being sloppy. What really stood out was the price point. For the quality of cocktails, the prices felt very reasonable compared to similar craft cocktail bars in other cities. The vibe was also great -- relaxed, cozy, and not pretentious. It felt like a place where you could come for a special drink experience without feeling like you had to "perform" or order off a rigid menu. We liked it so much we actually came back a second time during our trip. Highly recommend if you're into well-crafted cocktails, friendly bartenders, and a laid-back but elevated atmosphere.

Kaya has immaculate vibes and they've got a DJ turning it up after 8pm(?). I know I'm at a cool…read morespot because all the melanin in the Portland metro area is here. Love the decor and the drinks are fun and super tasty. Happy Hour is lit! We ordered a bunch of truffle/parmesan fries and the food was very hot/fresh. Will definitely be coming back here!

Stopped in last night with a few girlfriends to celebrate my birthday. Such a cute spot for a chill…read morenight out with friends. Good vibes and good ambiance with great music. Service was great. Staff was nice. They were very accommodating to our large party (8 people). It did take awhile for us to receive our last round of drinks, but we weren't sure if the bartender knew how to make the shots or not that we ordered. Before we left, a DJ was setting up to play live music. They do pay you down and check your bags/purses when they check your ID. Will definitely be back soon with my friends.

Wanted to like this place cause we can really use another nicer restaurant in Happy Valley. Sadly,…read morethis ain't it. Came here for dinner with wife and toddler. After getting sat down, we just... waited. For about 10-15 minutes, nobody showed up. Eventually a server came and took our order in a very disinterested fashion. We ordered a cocktail, the bruschetta appetizer, and then a burger, the king salmon and a plate of chicken pasta in white sauce for the little one. Everything took forever to come out (even the drink), nobody came out to check or refill waters in the 90 minutes we were there. Cocktail (Spring Break) - 5/5 great! Bruschetta - 3/5. Generally good but the bread was carbonized and as hard as a rock. Burger + fries - 3/5. Burger looked sad but was actually pretty tasty, if a little overcooked. Fries looked great (hand cut) but upon us closer inspection in the low light, you could see they were 50% those tiny peel pieces that get burned when frying. Guys! You are supposed to take those pieces out! Salmon - 3/5. Kind of... fine. A little fishy, not really what i expect for King salmon. Chicken pasta for toddler - 4/5. Actually this was delicious (if a bit overcooked) and it will my leftover lunch (toddler didn't eat it but that isn't the pasta's fault). Total bill for everyone, with tip: $126 So pretty mediocre food, downright bad service, and premium pricing. It's a pass from me!

We had our 4th Annual HV Moms Jingle & Mingle here, and we were treated so well by the staff…read more Sarah, our server was attentive, quick, and accommodating with the bill. Drinks were amazing, and so was the food. My steak fries was cooked perfectly and seasoned well. Always a hit, this place.

Jamie has absolutely the best service I've had in a bar ever she's the sweetest bartender I've…read morecome across and she always makes sure my glass is never empty # best service ever

Walked in sober asked for a double of Malibu rum and a mimosa and was told No. I could have a…read moredouble but not a mimosa or I could have a mimosa and one shot of Malibu. Like Really?!

The interior is soooo cute! I absolutely loved it. The service was also top notch…read more I ordered the pulled chicken sandwich which was really good. It was so flavorful. The only reason they got 4 stars and not 5 is because the menu is very limited.

I cannot say enough nice things about the Annex! Very chill vibe, the staff is amazing friendly!…read more And the food they offer especially the salads are all home made and excellent. Clean and beautiful establishment! Today I had Bella as my server. She is always terrific! But so is Jamie, Rob and Rachel in the several other visits I have made here. If you like Whiskeys, they specialize in it! But offer allot of different beers. There is something here for everybody! Had a side of the Italian Salad! It's a definite favorite for me here!