Branch Whiskey Bar, (Grade A)

Date of last visit: June 2010
Address: 2926 NE Alberta St Portland OR
Phone| (503)206-6266
Hours:
Link: Branch Whiskey Bar

General Impressions of the place itself:  Big wrap around bar where you can eat &/or drink, tables lining the wall and a few tall tables in the front,  nice comfortable place with mod art on the walls, not fancy, not sloppy, busy --and a little noisy, but comfortable.

What we ordered: 

1) Spring Vegetables and Orecchiette Pasta tossed with a shallot and lemon cream sauce. With a Dark and Stormy – Goslings black seal rum, ginger, beer, and fresh lime
2) Pork Loin chop roasted fingerling potatoes, broccoli rabe, golden beet chutney.  With a Sazerac – Rye, peychaud’s bitters, angostura bitters, simple syrup, a bit of lemon.
3) Branch Beef Burger with arugula, shaved fennel salad, with Glenlivet 12yr on the rocks
4) Grilled Romaine Salad fried capers, croutons with a Ceasar style dressing with a Portland 75 – Aviation gin, lemon juice, simple syrup,sparkling wine
5) Two servings of Bread Pudding with a bourbon caramel sauce

The food was all around outstanding as were the drinks --we all really especially liked the Dark and Stormy --the only minor flaw was the bread pudding was a little dry--but the sauce on the bread pudding was super.  And it needs to be said the salad was, hands down, the best we've had in the city.

Things we liked and disliked:  oh my the food and the drinks are all to like and will call us back -- only down side was it was just a little noisy--but not terribly so. And great news--the prices are reasonable --and you can get a happy hour discount on the food between 5 &7.
Number in our party:  4
Total Bill: $83 + tip
Recommended?  you bet your life --this is a great place
With a Five Star Scale - and Five being perfect - we rate this place?  they get 5