FREE HOUSE - IMAGE: Inger Klekacz
Under the watchful eyes of Abraham Lincoln in two slightly creepy paintings on the walls of Free House (1325 NE Fremont St., 946-8161),
a dozen or so drinkers maintain a vibe of laid-back camaraderie.
Re-opening a couple months ago under the joint ownership of Victory Bar
chef Eric Moore and Olympic Provisions co-owner Martin Schwartz, the
revamped Free House now boasts the best influences of both, with
better-than-average bar food (banh mi, anyone?) and a rotating list of
house cocktails that fall into the “Portland eclectic” category. I had a
Tusken Raider (pisco, lemon, pineapple gomme and prosecco), which I
assume you’re supposed to drink one at a time so as to conceal your
numbers. A partially covered patio is one of the bar’s new features and
offers plenty of space for summertime drinking. Although it probably
never gets too rowdy at Free House—after all, Honest Abe is watching.
