Raven and Rose

1331 SW Broadway
Happy Hour Monday-Friday 3:30-5 p.m.
http://www.ravenandrosepdx.com/

While normally this is a strictly happy hour blog, we decided to make an exception because we were invited as guests to a special Suntory Japanese Whisky dinner at Raven and Rose restaurant. None of us had ever been to Raven and Rose, and none of us had ever attended a whisky dinner, so we were all pretty excited. Note: our dinner was complimentary, but our host made it very clear that he did not expect us to do a blog entry or advertise for his company. We wanted to do a review because we had such an amazing time--so much so that we are definitely going to go back to try out their happy hour in the future!



I have always wanted to go to a dinner that paired multiple courses with alcoholic beverages. Sadly (well, actually happily...except when it comes to alcohol!), I am pregnant. I wasn't able to partake in the whisky part of the dinner, but I still had a great time! One of the reasons the dinner was so exciting for me was that I was able to try things I would never choose to order on my own. I was pushed a little outside of my comfort zone, and (for the most part) I enjoyed everything I tried.



Raven and Rose is a very beautiful restaurant. It is a restored carriage house, and our special dinner took place in what used to be the hay loft. It seems like the perfect place for a private party. We were seated at a long table with multiple people that we didn't know, but everyone was very friendly and enthusiastic about getting to know each other. Normally, this kind of situation would make me nervous (especially since I felt a little out of place at such a fancy dinner), but we were seated next to some very nice people who made us all feel at ease.



The service here was perfect. Everything came out at just the right pace, my water glass was never empty, and the servers contributed to the overall feeling of being spoiled rotten.

The first course was paired with an Umeshu Sour cocktail. Umeshu is not available in the United States, but it is very popular in Japan. My co-bloggers both thought this cocktail was delicious. The food was a bit outside of our comfort zone because it was a duck liver mousse paired with strawberries and rhubarb. I loved the strawberries (it seems they have been my number-one pregnancy craving besides bread), but I didn't love the duck liver mousse.



Every other course was paired with a different kind of whisky. Our host told us about each whisky, and he let us know that it would be served two ways to show the change in flavor. One way was straight, and the other way was as a highball with water and ice. From what I gathered in my pregnant jealousy, the flavor was very different depending on how it was served. I have never been a big whisky fan, and neither have my co-bloggers, but both of them seemed to find it quite enjoyable served as a highball.



The second course  came with a whisky called Hibiki 12. This was probably my second favorite course of the night. It was a Dungeness crab salad with Sunchokes. It had the prettiest presentation, and it was delicious. I had recently decided I didn't like crab after a couple of not-so-great crab experiences, but I changed my mind once I tried this crab! I even ate my vegetarian friend's serving. What? The baby was hungry!



Paired with a whisky called Hakushu 12, the third course was the most adventurous. It had morel mushrooms, English peas, Strozzapretti pasta and tripe. Yes, tripe. Also known as cow's stomach lining. I was a bit hesitant to try it, but I did try a number of bites. I discovered tripe is just not for me (it wasn't bad, but I just couldn't get past the weirdness factor). I actually really enjoyed the pasta, mushrooms, and peas (and I am not a pea fan), so maybe I do like the flavor given off by tripe. But tripe? No, thank you.



The fourth course was paired with Yamazaki 12 whisky. By this time people were feeling pretty good...and by pretty good, I mean people were starting to get a little silly and loud. This course was my favorite of the night. Smoked beef coppa with potato croquettes and asparagus, it was a slight twist on a more traditional meat and potatoes kind of meal. I loved it.



As if all of that wasn't enough, they served us a final whisky with a fancy chipped ice ball. For dessert, they gave us a dish of salted caramel ice cream with a shortbread cookie. It was a delicious end to the night (and I could have eaten two more, probably!)



Overall, our whisky dinner experience was so unique and so much fun. It made us all wish we were independently wealthy ladies who could dine like this on a regular basis. Maybe someday...and I will definitely have to give whisky another shot when I am able to imbibe again!

Food: Exceeds
Drinks: Incomplete (due to pregnancy--grade will change next semester!)
Service: Exceeds
Ambiance: Exceeds
Value: Exceeds (for us--pricy for those who were not guests)

--E

23 Hoyt

529 NW 23rd Avenue
Happy Hour: 4 - 6, daily

The goal of any happy hour--in my opinion--should be to convince customers to return, whether for another round of discounted eats and drinks OR for a full-fledged dinner. 23 Hoyt has officially met that goal, in my opinion...but they've also got me thinking about what I want to try next in my own kitchen. (I am determined to pickle my own vegetables.) I will never be able to master all of the flavors as they have...so there's no worry about me not returning. And the more I return, the more I will find, the more I will try, the more I will love, and so on.

23 Hoyt has one of the most consumer-friendly happy hour menus I've seen in a long time. It's perfect for just about anyone. They've got price-points for food items starting at just one buck (for shareable snacks) to eight dollars (if you want to make it a meal). And the variety of flavors seems to be endless. Plus, they have many "_____ of the day" items listed, so you can almost always try something new.

We were there early enough to find a table inside without issue, but opted to take an outdoor seat. We've had a lot of those sunny-rainy-sunny-sunny-rainy-sunny-hailing-sunny Portland days lately...making outdoor seating a bit risky but so very worth it if it lasts. It's a greater location for people watching. And if you get the right table, you might even be able to watch the line at Salt & Straw grow longer and longer. And longer.

The menu was so lengthy, we thought it best to start with drinks. I ordered the wrong drink. Mine was good and all. It was made with Pimms and I almost always love Pimms. But after sipping the second cocktail to arrive, I knew I should have gone with the bartender's choice. It was infused with something I expected to taste a bit too flowery. It was so not what I was expecting. Now if only it weren't a daily specialty cocktail. I suppose this will remind not to judge a beverage by its description alone and to venture out every now and then to try something I haven't already fallen in love with.

For one dollar, we were able to purchase a plate of pickled green beans. I don't love green beans, but I am starting to love pickled vegetables more and more. So much, in fact, that I am in the middle of researching how and what I should pickle first.

Because I couldn't stop at just a simple snack, I ordered the creamy polenta and the flatbread of the day. We were sharing, after all. I love love love polenta. In fact, there is just one place that I haven't loved it (and they have since closed their doors). This was creamy and delicious and could have been served on its own but came topped with a mushroom ragu and was sprinkled with freshly grated Parmesan.I absolutely loved every bite.

The flatbread was super thin and quite a disaster to eat but tasted so very delightbful. It was the perfect pairing of goat cheese and onions. It was topped with greens and currants that added a lot to the presentation but not a lot to the overall flavor. Not for me, at least, but that's only because the onions were so perfectly caramelized that that's really all I tasted.

There are about four flavors pulling me back to 23 Hoyt and another five or six menu items that I still want to try. I feel like this will be one of my first stops when the sun comes back out and I have more time to relax. The last day of school is in the middle of June, so anytime after that should work.

Food: Meets
Drinks: Meets
Service: Meets
Ambiance: Meets
Value: Meets

-b

Tasty n Alder

580 SW 12th Avenue
Happy Hour: 2 - 5:30 PM, daily

Another Tasty location. Bright idea. Now that there are two, there should be less of a wait to get in, right? I don't really think so...but it's fun to hope.

I've only been to the Tasty locations (including Toro Bravo) a handful of times. With even that little experience, though, I would have to say that they are all worth the wait. And maybe even worth the price. (Remember, going for Happy Hour--or what they call the Mid Day Menu--is a most excellent way to avoid a hefty bill. It's part of why we do what we do...)

We stopped in at Tasty n Alder during Spring Break. We were the last to fit at the bar, and therefore the last to take advantage of the Happy Hour discounts (before any other seats opened up, that is). Happy Hour starts early at Tasty n Alder, so if you want a guaranteed seat you might want to plan ahead. (And if you end up with a wait time that is longer than you are willing to wait, there are plenty of places within walking distance to try. Just don't forget to come back another time.)

I love the big glass bowl salads that they serve at Tasty n Sons, Tasty n Alder, and Toro Bravo. It's one of their many signatures, I've decided. The Radiccio Salad is beyond delicious even without the lardons. It's seven dollars--even during the Mid Day Menu discounts--but can easily serve two or more.

After a quick inquiry about the exact contents of the hush puppies, we ordered a set. They come three to a plate and are just four dollars. I can't be certain that they are always served piping hot, but these were definitely as fresh as fresh can be. And the herbed whipped butter added just the right amount of flavor.

To drink, we each tried one of the seven dollar cocktails. I was impressed with both and will have a hard time choosing between them in the future. The Tasty Sour is made with vermouth, a multitude of bitters, and a little fresh citrus. And the Alder Club Cocktail mixes gin with combier. Both with very different flavors, but both perfectly sip-able during a Mid Day Meal.

Before leaving, we opted to end things right with an order of the Bruleed Banana Panna Cotta. Any Happy Hour menu--even if they don't necessarily call it Happy Hour--that ends with dessert options deserves extra credit. I love a discount. I love dessert. So it's natural that I would love love LOVE a discounted dessert. This is one that will have me coming back for more. Panna Cotta is fancy, yes. But this one--with its bruleed banana and that crisp sugar coating--was ridiculously delicious. I want more. And I want it now.

Food: Exceeds
Drinks: Meets
Service: Meets
Ambiance: Meets
Value: Meets

-b

Gruner

527 SW 12th Avenue
Happy Hour: 4:30 - 6 PM, Monday through Friday

Gruner has been on my happy hour to do list for almost as long as it's been open. For whatever reason, we haven't had the chance to make it here. Must have something to do with the weekday-only happy hour offerings. But that's why Spring Break is my official Happy Hour week. It gives me a chance to try out some of those places that are almost impossible to get to during the school year. I haven't been able to keep up with all of the writing, of course...but have officially outdone my Spring Break record by hitting a dozen new happy hours within the week.

Gruner was stop number one of two, so we were a bit selective on what we ordered and did our best to share everything. We ordered a few snacks and one drink each. It was enough to allow us the flavor experience without getting too full.

I was excited to try the Schwarzwalder Sling because it sounded refreshingly delicious and I was able to pronounce it. (Many thanks to Frau Breckon and two years of high school German, I can successfully order cocktails.) The Sling was made with Gin, Kirschwasser (which--I'm fairly certain--is called for in a number of fondue recipes), house-made grenadine, and soda water. I've given up my love of black cherry soda (it's just too sweet) but I loved the light cherry flavor this had to it.

As a snack, we ordered a bowl of the roasted pumpkin seeds, the polenta croquettes, and an order of the Hungarian cauliflower soup. I was apparently too excited when the soup arrived because I failed to take a picture of it. And it was so beautiful upon delivery, too. It had been topped with grated gruyere and it was easy to see the sweet and hot paprika.

The roasted pumpkin seeds were equally enjoyed by all three of us at the table. They were a perfect snack to share.

It was the polenta croquettes that became my ultimate favorite. I've already checked and know for sure that these are available on the dinner menu, too. (And next door at Kask.) They are similar to arancini balls that are on happy hour menus across Portland but are made with polenta instead of risotto. The crisp outside and melted cheese inside is by far what makes them so appealing. It's a perfect texture combination and so fun to eat.

Service was nearly perfect at Gruner. I was almost disappointed that we weren't planning to stay longer. I might be limited in what I can order (which is true at almost any German restaurant) but I am so ready to return for a full dinner. Hopefully the menu doesn't change too often because I already know what I want.

Food: Meets
Drinks: Meets
Service: Exceeds
Ambiance: Meets
Value: Meets

-b

Southland Whiskey Kitchen

1422 NW 23rd Avenue
Happy Hour: 3:30 - 6 and 10 - close, daily

A new favorite! Almost everything on the menu is meat-laden and I still love it. Perhaps it was the perfectly sunny weekday afternoon that made it so enticing. We were able to get to the window seats before the crowd grew. And when I say window I mean garage-door, open-to-the-breeze, as-if-you-were-sitting-outside kind of window. If you can get there early enough to snag one of those tables, do it. It'll be worth your while. Promise.

Happy Hour at Southland Whiskey Kitchen runs from 3:30 to six everyday. They've got a pretty long list of food options, but if you are a vegetarian--like me--be sure to let them know. Even the mac and cheese has a bacon breadcrumb topping.

We started with drinks. It's a whiskey bar so I played the part. But I did pick the sweetest thing I could find on the happy hour drink menu. Or maybe a mint julep is sweeter. Now I suppose I will have to go back to taste test the two. I ordered the Southern Punch. It is peachy, but good good good.

First of the food items to arrive was the chopped salad. It's a Smoke Master Chop Salad which means--if you aren't a vegetarian--you'll enjoy the chopped romaine, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, red pepper, and smoked cheddar with a choice of chicken or pork. For me, it came without and I loved every bite. The cheddar chunks were a little too much, I suppose...not excessive, just more than I could finish. I will definitely order this again.

Next to arrive was a plate of fried chicken and collard greens. I didn't taste either, of course, but took note that they were both very well-liked. In fact, the deliciousness of the chicken might have lead to a truncated happy hour adventure. We were in a great neighborhood for multiple stops, but after having such great eats at the first place...we didn't last as long as planned.

The macaroni and cheese was just a side and for $2.50 the serving seemed just right. I am super thankful that our server was paying attention when we started to order. She recognized that I was meat-free right away and gave me all sorts of warning. You see, the mac and cheese is usually topped with bacon breadcrumbs. I love a good breadcrumb topping, but this was one I was ready to go without. The mac and cheese was thick and  had a little bit of spiciness to it. Nothing extreme, of course, just a little kick.

Last to arrive to our table was the plate of cornbread. We ordered this after learning that the hush puppies were more than just cornmeal. The cornbread was still moist (which is often hard to find) and served with a butter that might have had a little honey mixed in. I couldn't find any mention of it on the happy hour menu and forgot to ask, but definitely noticed some sweet qualities to the mix. I suppose, though, it could have been the cornbread. Either way, there was a presence of honey.

What intrigued me the most--and something that I didn't notice until the end of our visit--was that they offer flights. Whiskey flights. And more than just one. I sent a text (with picture included) to my husband almost immediately. And, I think, he--almost immediately--became jealous of my whereabouts. We will definitely go back. And I'm guessing it will be in the near future.

Food: Meets (or maybe I should say Meats)
Drinks: Meets
Service: Meets
Ambiance: Exceeds (especially on a sunny day)
Value: Exceeds

-b

Cibo

3593 SE Division
Happy Hour: 5 - 6:30

Dinner. I'm calling Happy Hour at Cibo dinner. Five dollars gets you a gigantic pizza that--especially when paired with a salad--can make a full-sized dinner easily. And Happy Hour is served throughout the entire establishment so there's not much worry about not getting a table. It's a perfect set up, really...and I think that the neighborhood knows it because the place definitely filled up as we were there.

We rolled in just as Cibo was opening. They don't open their doors until five. (I'm almost surprised that they don't offer lunch. Maybe that's still to come.) They gave us our choice of tables and we quickly began perusing the menus. There were a number of unfamiliar ingredients on the drink menu and so when the server arrived we hit him with all of our questions at once. He made it through every one and was able to answer them all with ease.

The drink menu must change frequently. What is online is definitely not all that they offer in the restaurant and--at one time--our server actually mentioned that one of the cocktails was brand new. It's nice to know that they are mixing things up. And I bet if I were to already have found a favorite, they would have the ingredients on hand even if it was no longer listed on the drink menu.

I opted for the Margarita Italiano. I'm not exactly sure what makes it different from any other twist on the traditional Margarita. It was good, came with a salted rim, and went well with the snacks we had selected.

To start, the three of us shared a plate of polenta fries. It seems that I love polenta no matter how it is made. These were perfectly crisp on the outside but with that creaminess still present on the inside. The marinara that accompanied the fries was missing something. I'm not sure what, but I think it had to do with its consistency. It had good flavor--and seemed to be quite fresh--but it didn't stick as well as it should have leaving very little to enjoy on each bite. Maybe if it were just a touch thicker.

The next to arrive at the table was the pizza. It was HUGE and that's why I know that this place would make a perfect happy hour for dinner. It came with a pair of scissors instead of a typical pizza cutter. Cutting through a pizza with a pair of scissors is not something I practice often. It was comical, but very efficient. I suppose that's why they do it. The pizza was simple. Just fresh mozzarella on a tomato base and a little torn basil to top it. I loved every bite. Even the crust. I suppose I will have to go back to try some of the other pizza offerings. There's one on the menu with mushrooms, seasonal veggies, and goat cheese that sounds intriguing.

We also tried the veggie bedoni. It was my first, but I recognize the concept. It reminded me of a piroshki. Or a teeny-tiny calzone. Ours was filled with collard greens and cheese but the original is stuffed with tomatoes, anchovies, and capers.

Happy Hour done right will always make me want to come back for dinner. That's a true sign of success, in my opinion. And I want to go back for dinner. Soon. Maybe next week.

Food: Meets
Drinks: Meets
Service: Meets
Ambiance: Meets
Value: Exceeds

-b

Lucca

3449 NE 24th
http://luccapdx.com/
Happy Hour Tuesday-Friday 2:30-5 p.m.

It's been a long time since I have done a Happy Hour review! I have a few backlogged that I need to catch up on, but I figured I would start with the most recent one...since I am sitting here eating the leftovers as I type! Why the long absence from Happy Hour? Well, for one thing, I have been busy with work...but also Happy Hour is a little less happy when you can't drink alcohol! I am very, very happy to be abstaining, though, because I am pregnant. :) (That beer in the picture belongs to my husband).

Happy Hour at Lucca is an early one, but it worked out fine for us since it is spring break. I do wonder if it would be busier if it ran a little longer. In any case, both my husband and I really enjoyed it. Although the food was slightly more expensive than a typical Happy Hour, the big portions made it a good value--and it made it dinner for us, which is my favorite kind of Happy Hour. We started with the skillet crisped potatoes ($4). These were really, really good! Soft and flavorful, they reminded us of a recipe my husband makes from the Pioneer Woman, hot crashed potatoes. These were even better, though, because of the spicy aioli dipping sauce. It had a smoky flavor, and even the potatoes seemed to be flavored with something extra special (definitely NOT rosemary, my least favorite herb).

I believe the wood-fired pizza is the full-size, for a discounted price ($9). These are probably big enough that you could share one and just get an appetizer or salad, but my husband is a big eater, and my baby is HUNGRY all the time, so we each got our own. I got the funghi pizza, which had all kinds of mushrooms and truffle oil. I was really enjoying it until I traded a piece with my husband. He got the salsicce and added an egg for an added charge of $1.50. His pizza was definitely the star of the table--it had house-made fennel sausage and a tomato base. I was seriously jealous. I didn't try the egg, but he said it was great. My pizza was great, too, don't get me wrong, but I will get the salsicce next time!

Now if I were drinking, they had something for every type of drinker; beer, wine, well drinks, and cosmos and lemon drops are all on special during Happy Hour. 

Service was also great--our server was on top of things (he offered me refills twice), he was friendly and genuine, and everything came out quickly without feeling rushed. Both of us left feeling exactly as you should after a good Happy Hour--like we wanted to come back again!

Food: Exceeds

Drinks: Meets

Service: Exceeds

Ambiance: Meets

Value: Meets

--E