If the wine selection is not incentive enough, you may want to visit Corkscrew for the cozy decor, superlative service, live entertainment and tasty bites. Although you may not be offered as varied a selection as some of the bigger bars in the city of Portland, the wines-by-the-glass are excellent. A visit on a French Cafe Tuesday (6p to 10p) is particularly rewarding, for that is when you get to enjoy a great French meal with its perfect wine partner.
Offering a range of delightful dishes from Italy, Ava Gene's menu focuses on using the finest locally grown ingredients for its meals. It offers a special list of amari and grappa at its bar, in addition to a slew of Italian wines. Diners love the freshly made pastas, charcuterie and steaks served here, among several other authentic Northern Italian dishes that are part of its menu. The ambiance is casual and laid-back, and the beautiful lighting is a stand out feature of this eatery. With the help of local farmers and suppliers, Ava Gene's creates a menu with tasty Italian dishes and an equally impressive menu of wines and liquor.
Multnomah Whiskey Library is a bar that is renowned for its amazing whiskey offerings. The ambiance here is classy and vintage with hues of golden and brown. Exposed brick, wooden furnishings, sumptuous leather couches and subtle lighting choices give the place an air of class. The bar boasts of one of the best collection of whiskeys in the city. Besides this, they also serve finely mixed cocktails as well as beers and wines. The food menu ranges from bar snacks to steaks, and is perfectly designed to complement the drinks. All in all, the bar is the ultimate haven for whiskey connoisseurs.
Acclaimed bartender, Kyle Linden Webster, of St. Jack fame, and Naomi Pomeroy, celebrity chef and owner of Beast, have joined forces to create a casual lounge where guests can have a good time. Their collaboration resulted in the establishment of Expatriate, which opened its doors in mid-2013. Webster's creative concoctions deliciously complement the food prepared by Pomeroy. The place has been beautifully designed by Matthew Peterson; dim lighting surrounds the elegant furnishing, creating an ideal dining ambiance.
If you're a beer lover and happen to be in Portland, for business or play, make it a point to visit Cascade Brewing Barrel House in the Buckman area. The USP at Cascade is a wonderful range of cask and barrel conditioned sour brews that are made using a huge variety of fruits, oaks and spices. They serve over 18 ever-changing beers and ales - all of course, with varied degrees of tartness that only adds to the flavor and character of these brews. There's an eclectic food menu to complement these awesome brews as well. When you do drop in, try the Saison de Garde, Sun-kissed Indian Pale Ale and Strawberry Stout, they're truly quite inspired!
Bethany's Table is a bistro that specializes in the unique cuisine of Washington County. It believes in sustainable practices and mostly uses organic ingredients and meat from animals grown on natural diets. The menu changes seasonally to incorporate farm-fresh ingredients. Typical dishes include Steamed Manila Clams, Grilled Piedmontese Flank Steak and Asian Pear Crisp. Gourmets can try the Smoked Apple and Walnut Aged Cheddar sourced from Beehive Cheese in Utah, paired with Two Rivers Bordeaux Blend from Columbia Valley. The focus at this restaurant is on sharing and it is an ideal place to visit with large groups.