Downtown Drinking on a Dime

Our mission: To seek out downtown happy hour destinations where we can fill our bellies for $10 or less. The good news is that there are a ton of hot, hip fantastic options. That’s right, a table for two can enjoy cocktails and hearty appetizers and drop a $20.00 plus tip. So come along the LAD happy hour trail and drink up!

Red Star Happy Hour Beer and Food Pairings Under $10!

Places we went:

• 23 Hoyt
• Basta’s
• Carafe
• Clyde Common
• Masu
• Red Star
• Rock Bottom
• Silk
• Southpark
• Ten 01

23 Hoyt:

Here’s the great thing about 23 Hoyt’s happy hour menu: it runs until 7:00. Although I really like a good happy hour, I rarely make it out of the office in time to get somewhere by 6:00 p.m., so a later happy hour always makes me, well, happy. When I first went to 23 Hoyt’s happy hour I was seriously questioning whether it would pass the $10 happy hour challenge. I was expecting small portions and large prices, mostly given the location, atmosphere and clientele. I was pleasantly surprised on all fronts.

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Saturday was toasty in Portland but it was chilly at Patricia Green Cellars patriciagreencellars.com.  We set out to taste through J. Christopher jchristopherwine@msn.com, Andrew Rich’s andrewrichwines.com and Patty’s Sauv Blancs and were delighted by the range of styles and wines.

Our picks:

J. Christopher’s 2007 SB Croft Vineyard ($20) lovely stone-fruit nose, an unusual wave-like thing happened with the flavors, it was as if a chiffon scarf was lifting and falling on my palate.  Overall, it was our favorite of his wines — except it sold out 30 minutes before we left. Bummer.

J. Christopher’s 2007, SB, Willamette Valley ($16) — bracing acidity, grassy notes, perhaps not as interesting as the Maresh or Croft but a really pleasing wine and a great value.

Andrew Rich chats with guests

Andrew’s 2007 Sauvignon, Croft Vineyard ($20) was delicious.  Incredible lychée notes, the aromas seem to leap out of the glass way before you got it close to your nose.  

Patricia Green Cellars 2007 Oregon Sauvignon Blanc ($20) was on the opulent end of the spectrum, with more spice characteristics but still in balance with the ripe fruit flavors.

p.s. I noticed at the buffet, yet another chicken liver siting (this is everywhere right now!). This one had pistacchios (sp?) and raisins.  So good.