820
820 N Russell St Portland, OR 97227Phone: (503) 460.0820
Located in: North Portland - Visit Website
BarFly's Review of 820
As racy and surprisingly-tasteful as one of their famed cocktails (owner Lucy Brennan recently named among Food & Wine's top five mixologists), 820 may be a date bar, but it's a great date bar - that one night stand with the kinky foreign socialite writ architectural, say. With an eighteen foot bar winding through to a sunken lounge, 820's lit just enough to page through the drink menu. Attached to sister-bar Mint by excellent American bistro kitchen. Open @ 4pm Friday thru Sunday. Food till close. Spacious deck open seasonally. $3 well & 2.50 drafts plus select drink specials 4-6:30pm. See www.mintrestaurant.com for details.
| 820's Happy Hours | |
|---|---|
| Monday | $3 well & 2.50 drafts plus select drink specials 4-6:30pm |
| Tuesday | $3 well & 2.50 drafts plus select drink specials 4-6:30pm |
| Wednesday | $3 well & 2.50 drafts plus select drink specials 4-6:30pm |
| Thursday | $3 well & 2.50 drafts plus select drink specials 4-6:30pm |
| Friday | $3 well & 2.50 drafts plus select drink specials 4-6:30pm |
| Saturday | $3 well & 2.50 drafts plus select drink specials 4-6:30pm |
| Sunday | Alas, no happy hour today. |
I've enjoyed the food, drinks and atmosphere over the years, but I have to say my most recent experience with the new management at 820 was very disappointing. I brought my monthly networking event, pdxMindShare, to 820 for all the right reasons (location, staff, layout, etc.) and for the past few months all was good. I received an email from the manager a week or so prior to the next event informing me they were no longer interested in hosting my event at 820 (no explanation). I've hosted my event at many venues in the Portland area and I was excited to take it to the East side, but the management at 820 just didn't appreciate my business, nor could they figure out a professional way to transition the event. I will never patronize 820/Mint ever again, as much as it pains me to say so. Thank goodness Paddy's Bar & Grill was able to step up on short notice...great folks over there that really get it.
Okay… So I don’t generally go for the frou-frou, girlie drink thing, but these unfortunately christened sake concoctions are quite alright. But really, should I expect less from an expert drink-slinger (I refuse to use the term mixologist *gag*) like Lucy Brennan? I mean, I might expect a bit more creativity in the name… I mean, c’mon… sake-tini? Anyhow, give them a shot. Then chase it down with a mind and palate bending avocado daiquiri- simply ruinous. By the way, the place looks like what would happen if new Batman and old Batman decided to swap interior design notes- kinda gothic mod, but in a good way. Dig the sunken lounge. In agreement that the happy hour kicks ass and the bartenders can make a well vodka martini taste like a top shelf libation.
Drinks are awesome, second only to the Saucebox. I like the lighting and lack of smoke, but the crowd is a bit snotty and the food sucks except for the sweet potato fries.