Happy Hour, Take Two: The Best Late Night Specials in PDX
by
Alexander Frane in
Roundups
Portlanders seem to operate on an unconventional schedule. Whether it’s drinking early in the morning, or eating pizza at 3 AM, we tend to have our meals at odd times throughout the day. Perhaps it’s because many of us work in the food and beverage world, and are either off our café job at 2 PM and want to grab an after-work drink, or leave our restaurant job at 9 PM and want to get dinner.
While bars are required to serve food until they close, sometimes you want a real restaurant meal late at night. Luckily, a number of restaurants not only stay open late, but also offer specials for their late-night diners. Like the fine-dining happy hour list we recently compiled, many of these menus feature burgers. Here are a few of our favorite late-night restaurant specials. If we missed your favorite, let us know on our Facebook or Twitter.
Bang Bang
The product of bartenders Alex and Kate Wood (of Aalto Lounge), and chef Adam Kaplan, the relatively new Bang Bang serves up some of the best curry bowls and cocktails in town, as well as awesome appetizers, like chicken wings with black vinegar and garlic. From 10 PM until the restaurant closes at midnight, the late night happy hour is available with a number of amazing items not on the normal menu, including the deluxe curry french fries with coconut curry, fried chicken bits, fried garlic, soft egg, and cilantro; and the Bang Bang Burger. There are also discounted appetizers and curry bowls, as well as $2 Miller High Lifes and $4 shots of Fernet Branca. (4727 NE Fremont St.; 503-287-3846)
The product of bartenders Alex and Kate Wood (of Aalto Lounge), and chef Adam Kaplan, the relatively new Bang Bang serves up some of the best curry bowls and cocktails in town, as well as awesome appetizers, like chicken wings with black vinegar and garlic. From 10 PM until the restaurant closes at midnight, the late night happy hour is available with a number of amazing items not on the normal menu, including the deluxe curry french fries with coconut curry, fried chicken bits, fried garlic, soft egg, and cilantro; and the Bang Bang Burger. There are also discounted appetizers and curry bowls, as well as $2 Miller High Lifes and $4 shots of Fernet Branca. (4727 NE Fremont St.; 503-287-3846)
Little Bird
One of Portland’s most beloved fine-dining spots, Little Bird is the spin-off of another well loved fine-dining spot, Le Pigeon. The 10 PM–12 AM late-night menu here is a not-so-well-kept secret. House cocktails are $3 off, house wine is only $5–$6 a glass, and there are some amazing food options, especially the double-brie burger for only $5. Oysters are half-price at $1.50 each, and for the more decadent crowd, the roasted marrow bones and foie gras torchon are both discounted. The late night menu is also available as a happy hour from 2:30–5 PM (6 PM in the bar). (219 SW 6th Ave.; 503-688-5952)
One of Portland’s most beloved fine-dining spots, Little Bird is the spin-off of another well loved fine-dining spot, Le Pigeon. The 10 PM–12 AM late-night menu here is a not-so-well-kept secret. House cocktails are $3 off, house wine is only $5–$6 a glass, and there are some amazing food options, especially the double-brie burger for only $5. Oysters are half-price at $1.50 each, and for the more decadent crowd, the roasted marrow bones and foie gras torchon are both discounted. The late night menu is also available as a happy hour from 2:30–5 PM (6 PM in the bar). (219 SW 6th Ave.; 503-688-5952)
B&T Oyster Bar
B&T is, of course, devoted to oysters, as well as other amazing Pacific Northwest seafood. As of October, it has been offering an amazing late-night only special menu from 9 PM to close, Tuesday–Thursday, and 10 PM to close, Friday and Saturday. All oysters are half-price, highball cocktails (delicious sparkling drinks made with a variety of bubbles, from sodas to prosecco, and even a still coffee drink) and draught beers are $2 off, and more. Instead of the traditional burger that dominates the other late night menus, B&T offers an $11 fish sandwich, only available late. (3113 SE Division St.; 503-236-0205)
B&T is, of course, devoted to oysters, as well as other amazing Pacific Northwest seafood. As of October, it has been offering an amazing late-night only special menu from 9 PM to close, Tuesday–Thursday, and 10 PM to close, Friday and Saturday. All oysters are half-price, highball cocktails (delicious sparkling drinks made with a variety of bubbles, from sodas to prosecco, and even a still coffee drink) and draught beers are $2 off, and more. Instead of the traditional burger that dominates the other late night menus, B&T offers an $11 fish sandwich, only available late. (3113 SE Division St.; 503-236-0205)
Another fairly recent addition to the Portland dining scene is Smokehouse Tavern, the East Side extension of BJ Smith’s Smokehouse 21. Besides amazing barbeque and a fantastic cocktail menu developed by Rum Club’s Mike Shea, Smokehouse 21 also offers a unique late-night menu. Like other places, there’s a burger on it. Unlike other places, only nine are made each night: Nine burgers for $9 after 9 PM. It’s worth it to try and get one, though: BJ’s burgers are made with ground chuck and brisket, marrow, bacon-onion jam, and cheese (pictured at top). (1401 SE Morrison St. #117; 971-279-4850)
The “inauthentic Asian” restaurant Smallwares has an excellent happy hour from 5–7 PM, but has a separate, more comprehensive late night menu from 10 PM until 1 AM when it closes. Unlike the happy hour menu, there are no drink specials, but there are far more options for food, such as the pork & sausage burger with peanut sauce, slaw, and fish sauce for $9, or the fried kale with candied bacon, fish sauce, and mint also for $9. The menu is offered at the adjoining Barwares. (4605 NE Fremont St.; 971-229-0995)
Photo via Smokehouse Tavern
Photo via Smokehouse Tavern
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