In my list of awesome things about the city of Portland, I neglected to mention one of my favorites: the ubiquitous happy-hour special. As you may have gathered from the eating-itinerary excerpt I posted last week, bargain-hunting played a major part in our restaurant selection.
Yes, restaurant selection. Nearly a quarter of a century ago, in an effort to minimize binge drinking, the state of Oregon passed a restrictive liquor law that banned establishments from advertising drink specials: Legally, the phrase “happy hour” could only be used when referencing food, resulting in a proliferation of restaurants owners who decided that the best way to get customers in the door would be to offer a discounted menu. Great news for those of us on a budget.
Matt and I started off our happy-hour hop at Clyde Common, best known for its chi-chi cocktails and well-regarded kitchen. Located in the Ace Hotel in downtown Portland, it’s a spot with a polished, rustic-industrial interior, an extensive beverage list, and dangerously welcoming bartenders.
Our snack options were limited, which made ordering a breeze, for once. The daily charcuterie offering ($4) was ham, and, as we both enjoy that form of pork almost as much as Liz Lemon does, the choice was easy. The meat itself was sliced thin and nearly fell apart at the touch; piled on a slice of bread with pickled onions and a wonderfully horseradishy mustard, mellowed by the addition of a chunk of hardboiled egg, each bite was simplicity, perfectly executed.
It was more difficult to decide on drinks. After a bit of debate, Matt went with the Bourbon Renewal ($5), made with Maker’s Mark, lemon, cassis, and bitters. It was sweet, tart, and smoky—a great palate-awakener.
I’m in the midst of a seasonally driven obsession with the brown-liquor-and-ginger combination and, continuing in that vein, ordered the B.M.O.C. ($5): bourbon, ginger soda, and Angostura bitters. It’s a potentially risky predilection; when the bartender knows what he’s doing, as this one did, overindulgence can be a serious hazard. Matt kept me on track, though, reminding me that our next destination had a more extensive food menu.
Ruled, as ever, by my appetite, I slurped up as much of the cocktail as I could, and, with only a tinge of regret, asked for the check. The following stop was only a few blocks away.
Clyde Common
1014 S.W. Stark Street
(in the Ace Hotel Building)
Portland, Oregon
503.228.3333
Tags: happy hour, PDX
December 17, 2009 at 8:45 pm |
AND?!!!?
December 17, 2009 at 11:37 pm |
Patience, lady!