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DINING
caswell
Very few bars in the world serve both Hale's Special Bitter and Hair of the Dog Fred on tap. Both these beers are incredible, though the Hale's wins over when served with food. Almost as fine an import as the avocado, this California bitter streams out of the tap with a majestic 3-inch head that dissolves into a creamy and biting dark-gold ambrosia. Several of Caswell's menu items go perfectly with a bitter beer, especially the wild mushroom pizza ($5.75) and hot artichoke spread ($4.95). Huge salads, filled with wild greens, spinach, feta cheese and pine nuts, complement lighter beers, such as Mirror Pond and Pilsner Urquell. A hearty cannelloni bean and wild greens dip ($4.95) stands up to Black Butte Porter, Anchor Steam Winter and even the Peacemaker, a wineglass of Bushmills topped with Guinness. (BD) 533 SE Grand Ave., 232-6512. Open daily. 9 taps. hawthorne st. ale house
Of course the beer is great, but go to this tony outpost on hippie Hawthorne for the food. There's a complexly flavored smoked chicken quesadilla, a perfect juicy burger and exceptional gourmet pizzas (try the chevre, roasted red pepper and caramelized onion with a garlic sauce when you're not on a first date). The menu jumps across the globe, from duck and black bean chili with chorizo to pressed Italian panini sandwiches to a hummus plate, but it all works. The delicious BridgePort beers match perfectly with the well-spiced dishes, and there's a nice wine list as well. A note for fans of firkin: On Wednesdays, the cask-conditioned pints cost just $2.50. (AVB) 3632 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 233-6540. Open daily. 6 taps. higgins
As much of Portland has already discovered, Higgins is a beer drinker's dream. On tap a few locals--Hair of the Dog's Fred, BridgePort IPA and cask-conditioned Mirror Pond--share space with Guinness, a handful of Belgian brews and one pedestrian domestic, Miller Genuine Draft. Drinking at Higgins is not unlike betting on a horse race. You can handicap with the experts (Higgins' staff treats beer with reverence often reserved for wine and will guide you through the 125 bottled brews on the menu) or just pick a name you like. Perhaps Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier, Skullsplitter Orkeny or Oyster Stout will catch your fancy. Either method works: The waiter's picks are delicious, and the random long shots often become new favorites. Like its beverages, Higgins' bistro and dinner offerings are impeccable. A starchy focaccia goes well with the elegant fruit and cheese platter, while heirloom potatoes dipped in red pepper rouille paired with a dish of honey and chili-roasted hazelnuts provide excellent texture contrast. Look for actors and dancers kicking back post-show at this conveniently located late-night spot.(CM) 1239 SW Broadway, 222-9070. Open daily. 11 taps. portland brewing brewhouse tap room & grill
The view from the porch may not be eye-tingling, but the well-groomed crowd that packs the Tap Room allows for plenty of people-watching. Wednesday and Friday nights find this Bavarian-flavored barn overflowing with MacTarnahan's, sausages and jaw-flapping patrons. Between sips of Haystack Black and gobbles of garlic-rosemary fries and baby-back ribs, the business-casual set discuss taxes, vacation plans and the excellence of Portland Brewing's sweet onion, cheddar and green apple tart. That fortifying caramelized quiche comes with a side salad for $5.95, a better deal than the weak Dungeness crab dip appetizer ($7.95). Other house specialties include pork or chicken schnitzel, fish and chips, sausage, prime rib and a salad of grilled pears, gorgonzola and hazelnuts. If you get bored watching people, turn your gaze to the massive copper vessels transforming wort to porter. (CM) 2730 NW 31st Ave., 228-5269. Open daily. 10 taps. the rose and raindrop
Located at the former site of Digger O'Dell's, this genteel joint feels like a Victorian salon somewhere in Louisiana. Once you've pushed through the high and narrow double doors, you'll face a wide array of beers from which to choose. Try the Pike Kilt Lifter Scottish Ale, an appropriately red-tinted brew with a strong aftertaste, or Rogue's Younger Special Bitter, named after part-owner Don Younger. The medium-priced menu includes pasta, fish and beef. An unbeatable happy hour from 4 to 6 pm and 10 pm to midnight offers your pick of several delicious dishes (including succulent pan-fried oysters, a spicy Italian Sausage grinder, and sweet'n'hot chili chicken wings) when you buy one full-priced drink. Workmen are currently installing a walk-in fridge that will greatly expand the restaurant's already commendable beer selection. Stop by, drink a few, and pick up a copy of the Northwest Beer Journal while you're at it. (JG) 532 SE Grand Ave., 238-6996. Open daily. 15 taps. widmer gasthaus
With its sterile German ambience, reliable menu and signature ales, the Widmer Gasthaus is rapidly becoming a Portland institution. Set in the barren warehouse district that presses up against Interstate Avenue by the eastside rail yards, this restaurant and drinking establishment always satisfies. The Widmer brothers' brews are impeccable, from the landmark hefeweizen to the tasty amberbier and a slew of darker varieties. The kitchen cooks up Germanic fare such as sauerbraten, steaming soft pretzels and a must-try fondue consisting of tangy white cheese with hunks of pumpernickel. Divided into two parts--a raised section with a handsome blond bar and a sunken dining room--the wood-hued interior features a glass wall that looks in on part of the brewing operation. It adds up to one of the most authentic brewery experiences you'll get on this side of the Rhine. (RM) 955 N Russell St., 281-3333. Open daily. 8 taps. |
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