Beaker & Flask

Probably would still be in business if you PUT A SIGN UP.
It’s too bad. I had a «manhattan sampler» here on a visit to Portland last year. It was amazingly executed, the service was top notch and the drinks were tasty. But it took us forever to find the place because there was no sign. We just kept walking back and forth past it because it didn’t look like a restaurant at all. Oh well, doesn’t matter now.

Such a quiet neighbourhood! Where is this cocktail lounge?
Maybe it was for the better if we could not find Beaker & Flask as the experience was disappointing!
We ordered 2 drinks that we could barely finish as they were both not well executed and the balance were really off.
I did enjoy my greasy Crispy Pig Ears ($ 4) which was good to go with drinks, if the drinks were good. The Ota tofu was A-​OK and is a really healthy vegetarian option.
Service was really good.
But it is now closed permanently end of June 2013.

CLOSED :(With no warning…
Was visiting Portland for the weekend (first time). A friend made reservations for us to have a group dinner there on Saturday night (⁶⁄₀₈), and when we showed up there wasn’t a person in sight! A sign was posted on their door saying they were shut down. Not sure if it’s permanent or not…
Would’ve been nice of them to stop taking reservations or at least cancelled our reservation though… oh well. Was excited to try it out. Hopefully they’re able to reopen sometime, and I’ll try again on my next trip.

What a nifty little bar! Leave it to me to visit Rum Bar long before its older brother, Beaker & Flask. But I finally did pop in here a couple weeks ago and really enjoyed myself. Drinks are among the best in town, service is top notch, and the space is super unique. The exterior reminded me a bit of an auto sales spot. Lots of big glass windows, a rounded shape and a smallish parking lot surrounding the front. It’s certainly unique for a bar. What’s most special though is the inside. You’ve got your pick of bar stools, bistro tables or booths. Dates, meetings, or just getting a drink on your own, this is a bar for the everyman. And woman! I got my go-​to drink, an Old Fashioned. And it was just the way I like it! Perfect litmus test for any great cocktail bar.

Why have I not been here before? I should have believed the hype!
After our anniversary dinner at Andina we dropped in for some cocktails at Beaker & Flask. Little did we know they were closing in about 20 minutes. No worries, the friendly guy who seated us let us know we could still squeeze in a couple of drinks. We apologize but said we would make it quick.
Big mistake. These are no average cocktails. These cocktails can not be rushed. These cocktails must be savored and taken in slowly in order to appreciate the melodies and harmonies of the ingredients. We were torn between leaving and coming back again and ordering just one more before last call. We chose the latter. I had a delicious bourbon cocktail made with cherry balsamic and vermouth. The ingredients to my 2^nd cocktail of choice weren’t available so they suggested they make something similar. My request? Smokey, herbal, basil (y). Spot on. It was delicious and complex and I was kicking harder than the drinks were kicking me for not coming in earlier. By the looks of the food menu I would’ve been happy eating there as well. Better luck next time.
*My husband had the Wild Horses and it was as strong as a kick to the mouth by wild horses. And delicious!
Friendly staff, sexy candlelit atmosphere (they had me at round booth), and even more talented bartender. It’s nice to feel appreciated even if we were a bit too late. We quickly drank, quickly paid (sigh) and now we know to make it a night next time. Or day. Or weekend. Or life.

Truth be told, I stumbled into this famous cocktail bar quite by accident. I was actually looking for the Rum Club (next door) and since there’s no real Beaker & Flask signage out front and I wasn’t paying attention, my fiancé and I found ourselves sitting at the bar somewhat perplexed.
Turned out it was a good thing though! I’ve always been sort of wary of the «mixology» places in P-​Town because of the rep many of them have as being places for uptight cocktail obsessives. While I love a well-​made drink, my tastes generally skew a little more blue collar (see also the shitty/​wonderful dive bars I always seem to find myself reviewing).
In any case, while it’s silly to base a Unilocal review off a single round, we were both predictably very pleased with the quality and uniqueness of our cocktails. More than that, however, we were extremely impressed by the down-​to-​earth and downright jolly bartender that served us. While he obviously knew his craft exceptionally well, it didn’t automatically make him disaffected and aloof… who knew?!
Wonderful service, phenomenal cocktail… we shall return!

This was my 2^nd visit and likely my last. I first visited in Fall 2010 with my sister and her fiancé, who live in the area. That time, the food and service were great (they’d lost our reservation but made accommodations for us anyway and comped our first cocktails — very classy and very much appreciated).
I was once again in town last weekend for my sister’s wedding shower. With a total of ten family members, most from outside of Portland, I thought this would be a great place to return to. I wish we hadn’t.
When our party grew from 8 people to 10 a few weeks before our reservation, I called the restaurant and spoke with management to make sure that they could still accommodate us. The restaurant is on the smaller side, so I didn’t want to take the risk. We determined that they could, but that we would be divided into two booths immediately next to each other. No problem — we could divide into the «kids» and «adults» tables with 6 and 4 people, respectively.
When we arrived at 7:30 (our reservation time), only one of our two booths was available. The occupants of the one booth were lingering, and I did see some effort to get them to move along (though apparently they knew people in the kitchen, so it wasn’t as strong an effort as it could have been). By the time both booths were seated and drinks arrived, it was 8:30pm. Not a good start.
I say drinks arrived at 8:30, but that’s not completely true. The booth of four ordered four drinks, but only three arrived. The bartender had forgotten to make my dad’s cocktail. The other three at the booth politely waited to enjoy their drinks while the bar scrambled to remedy their error. Their drinks were later comped, a nice gesture.
Then we tried to order. Right off the bat, they told us they were out of the wagyu beef. Our table made their orders, but by the time they got to the other booth, they were also out of the fried chicken. There are only five or six entrees on Beaker and Flask’s menu. How do you run out of TWO of them on a Saturday night? You know you have reservations booked — a full house — you should be able to plan your orders accordingly. Some members of our party had to go to a third choice — the pork loin with baby octopus, which didn’t earn great reviews — because of this restaurant’s inability to plan (sense a theme here?)
When the bill came, our table was comped for a $ 4 appetizer of fried pig ears. As I mentioned earlier, the other booth had their first round of drinks comped. While our waiter was friendly and apologized for the delays, I felt that more could have been done. My parents were told by the hostess/​manager (not sure of her role) that the errors were due to «overbooking» and «new staff.» Neither of those problems were caused by me, yet our evening was completely soured by those factors. What should have been a fun night with family turned into a comedy of errors that really wasn’t funny.
We’ll be back in Portland this fall for my sister’s wedding. With most guests coming in from out of town, I expect they’ll be looking for recommendations on where to dine. I can assure you that Beaker and Flask will be on our «avoid» list.

We’ve been here 3 times in the last year and have LOVED each meal.
The drinks are amazing and it’s great that the bar tenders and servers we so well versed in the speciality drinks that they serve. I love a Sazerak, but sometimes would like something a little different. The Bartender suggested a de La Louiseanne. He then went on to explain the drink and give some history, which we both found fascinating. The drink was AWESOME.
We moved on to starters, the Pig’s Ears are AWESOME! You don’t need very many, so it’s good they come in a small container. They are so good, very rich, but so good!
We’ve also had the Wagyu beef… WOW.
On one occasion we had the Salmon with Gnocci (which was perfectly done) and on another we had the Sweetbreads wrapped in Rabbit Saddle. OH… So good. The food is amazing and the combinations of they serve is so good.
The last time we were in, we had the Chocolate and Cheese Bread Pudding for dessert… NOT YOUR AVERAGE. It was made with taleggio cheese and 68% Cacao chocolate. It was also served with a sweet/​savory popcorn. I know, sounds weird, but it worked, magnificently too!
You won’t be disappointed whether dining in for a special occasion or hanging out for the awesome drinks and starters. This is a great place!

The drinks here are always amazingly delicious, creative, smart, and just plain beautiful to look at. (A good cocktail is like a good woman?). With their «small plate» offerings you can always get a nice variety of food. We ordered the Raw Brussel Sprout Salad, the pork belly sandwich, and the tuna with shrimp sausage. Lucky for us the waitress accidentally brought out the Butter lettuce salad instead of the Brussel Sprout salad, which they let us eat on the house and which tasted amazing. They then promptly brought out the correct salad. For dessert we split the Panna Cotta and Beignets, which are really tasty cinnamon and sugar donuts with a creamy custard on the side. We then got pleasant surprise while eating dessert: a shot of sherry on the house because «you looked like you’re really enjoying yourselves»
What a classy place!

Everything from the rustic-​inspired food and inventive drinks to the unparalleled service and polished atmosphere was out of this world! Beaker & Flask is a great place to go for an intimate date or to grab unique drinks with a friend.
I went in late on a Saturday with my boyfriend and we were seated immediately without a reservation. The waitress was quick and attentive, kind and conversational, and knew the menu very well (I wish I could remember her name, she had short brown hair). I told her that I usually like to drink whiskey cocktails, and she gave me several good recommendations and broke down the tastes and unusual ingredients. I decided to go with the Manhattan Trio, which is three different versions of the classic drink. All three were delicious and fun to taste side by side.
The menu was very distinctive, a handful of well-​planned appetizers and dishes. I ordered the Sweetbread Stuffed Rabbit Saddle, and I believe my bf had venison with some sort of apple chutney. Both were delectable and the presentation was gorgeous! We sat in a booth near the open kitchen, which gave us a chance to chat with the chef. He was also very friendly, and sent free samples of other menu items to our table! We thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it. I wish that I had room for dessert, but I hear that the Panna Cotta is to die for.
The restaurant is very stylish/​hipster and classy, yet the ambiance is casual and comfortable. The space is commodious — so you’re not knocking elbows or eavesdropping on your neighbors — and the dim lighting with candles is romantic. The quiet music lends itself to good conversation over your meal.
One thing that really set this place apart was that the manager checked on our table once during our meal to make sure everything was up to our standards, and he shook our hands and bid us farewell on our way out. I thought it was a wonderful touch. Between the waitress, bartender, chef and manager, I was very impressed with the service. They all worked smoothly together.
My only criticism is the industrial location. There is not much else nearby and we had to drive around the block a few times to find it (it is not well-​advertised from outside). But this is such a nit-​picky minimal complaint that I still feel this place deserves a five-​star review based off of everything above. I highly recommend astounding your honey with a date to Beaker & Flask.

Went here last night for the first time with my boyfriend and a girlfriend of mine. Wow! I have been remiss! This place has been open for 2 years and I FINALLY checked it out. I must say that it is now on my radar and probably one of my top 5 bars in the Portland area.
It is classy yet low key, a fairly large space that works well for an intimate date in one of their rounded booths as well as for a group of friends seeking out non-​typical cocktails.
I ordered the And & And. Actually, I ordered two because they were sooo tasty! Tart with just a hint of sweetness.
Service was über friendly.
I am looking forward to my next visit!

This striking bar and restaurant adheres to the Portland code of low-​key exteriors; despite address in hand, we wandered about quite a bit to ascertain its location. Like a beacon in the dark, warm orange light glowed from its portico-​esque front that eventually drew us in.
Contemporary with an industrial touch, Beaker & Flask’s high-​ceiling room is warm and sophisticated. Small wood high tables fill the space; we settled into comfortable round booths beneath those tall windows up front for cocktails and snacks.
Beaker & Flask turned up in searches for cocktails. While their original creations as read in print perked my interest, execution was frankly disappointing. The New Vieux, their take on the spirit-​forward New Orleans classic Vieux Carre, much enjoyed during trips to NOLA this past year, was harsh and difficult to drink, not well-​blended at all. A friend’s drink by name of Sal’s Minion, a tiki-​style cocktail of rum, pineapple gomme, and coconut water ice cubes, likewise failed to please; while easier to drink, it simply lacked harmony. The drinks were well-​presented, with a large ice sphere in the former and sharply cut cubes in the latter, but the taste wasn’t there for either.
The inventive food menu fared far better. Compact, it features a seasonally changing roster with interesting flavor and texture combinations, just about everything appealing to my adventurous palate. The two dishes sampled are enough to get me back here to try more food. First, perfectly crispy fried pig ears served out of a paper bag, rich and fatty. It was nicely countered by the delicate and refreshing flavors of the locally made Ota tofu served with grapes, bright celery-​vermouth granita, microgreens, and peanut brittle.
Considering the positive press about Beaker & Flask’s cocktail program, I suppose we may have had the ill luck to come when they were poorly made. The interesting and excellent food could draw me back to give those cocktails another try, but for now, it gets a resounding plus for food, and a negative for drinks.

Judging on cocktails alone, this place stole my heart. The And & And brought my taste buds alive– the combination of blackberry liqueur and lemon creates this incredibly well balanced, tart, refreshing drink. I tried another cocktail off the menu that mixed pumpkin and lime– what a brilliant idea! It’s so easy for drinks with pumpkin to go for the full traditional autumnal flavor profile, but the lime breathed some lightness into the pumpkin– I was in love.
The wait for drinks was pretty long, but the bar was absolutely packed. Despite this, the waitress was incredibly friendly and helpful. Though I did not try any food this visit, after seeing the exquisite dishes, I am excited to return for dinner.

The boy and I were in town from SF to celebrate our anniversary and made an 8:00 reservation at Beaker & Flask. From beginning to end, everything was on point and darn near perfect.
The small plate wagyu was perfectly rare; the accompanying white bean and hazelnut «tapenade» perfectly seasoned. The delicata squash was seasonal and fresh and excellent. My pan-​fried trout was tender and the crispy shoestring potatoes were a perfect complement. Dessert was perhaps the highlight — a bread pudding featuring dark chocolate, Taleggio cheese and maybe cumin? It was a completely unexpected and exciting end to an amazing meal.
The cocktails were delicious. We had four (between us). My favorite was the Unladen Swallow which featured an interesting herbaceous Czech liqueur. I loved not having to settle on a bottle of wine.
And while the food and drinks hit all the right notes, it was the service that made the evening special. From the host to the waiter to the chef, everyone was warm and clearly excited about making and serving great food. The space just buzzed with great energy.
I highly recommend Beaker & Flask. It’s a rare and special place to eat.

Signage? I felt like I was walking into an empty office building until I saw the shiny glass liquor bottles on the front wall. Phew. OK I’m here.
The décor is warm industrial with nice clean lines. We got a booth by the kitchen and got to watch some action there.
Meanwhile, it was time to check out the reading material. I saw so many items on their menu that I had no idea of so I was googling them for their definitions. Fun to discover new foods you had never tasted. They had mixed up so many different flavors in the dishes I was enjoying trying to identify each one. This also includes their unique drinks. I suggested they get a definition list for folks to use as a tool. I mean seriously, I know that I’m not the only one that does not know what some of those items are on their menus. I’m also not the type that doesn’t ask in fear of looking stupid. That would just keep me from trying anything new now wouldn’t it?
My friend and I were on our way to a Unilocal event but thought we would stop here for a bite first. I had myself a Pisco drink, with their unusual additives. The flavors were explained to us and it tasted as good as it sounded.
I got the green lettuce salad with the delicious buttermilk/​tarragon vinaigrette. We then split the albacore tuna. Perfectly cooked, rare on the inside, lovely spiced, awesome potato salad.
Berni our server was just so knowledgeable and warm. In fact the whole crew looked happy working together.
I am genuinely looking forward to introducing my palate to more new flavors and indulging my taste buds here again. I would love it if they had just a few more pescatarian or vegetarian large plates.

Beaker & Flask in a nutshell: stellar ambiance with a wildly original menu, cold cocktails, and personalty +++ service.
After 5 blissful days on the Oregon Coast, we had only one fleeting night to spend in Portland. I sifted through dozens (literally) of restaurant options before deciding on Beaker & Flask for our Last Supper. Thanks be, I chose well.
We had a booth towards the back, by the open kitchen, where we could watch all the magic swirling around us. The space is quite nice. Industrialish décor, but warm and cozy. Service was flawless. (Side note: if Topher is still employed by Beaker & Flask, definitely ask for him to be your waiter!)
To start, we shared the grilled romaine salad with salsa verde and smoked feta, followed by the pan seared salmon for me, tails and trotters for him. For dessert– panna cotta, with beignets and local strawberries whilst sipping on some Stumptown coffee. Jealous?
Truly, a sumptuous, memorable Portland feast! Highly recommend.

Every time I return to Beaker and Flask I am blown away by both the food and the drinks. And now that Brandon Wise is behind the bar (in his signature striped cardigan) I fail to see how it would even be possible to improve upon.
Recent visits have found me concentrating on the small plates menu, which if you order right, can feed a whole table tapas style. And «small» is a very loose term here. For the quality, size and price I’d call them medium. Regardless, stand-​out dishes currently on the menu are Ben Bettinger’s signature borscht — different from your standard cold beet purée, this chunky beat, bread and meat stew is topped by a nice piece of pork confit. The braised pork cheeks with pickled squid continues to be my favorite dish on the menu. Peppers and onions braised with pork and a tomato-​ish sauce and piled up with the squid on a thick slice of bread. Incredible and for around $ 10, one of the most accessible advanced small-​plates you’ll see in town.
Other highlights include the fried chicken livers atop a salad of radiccchio, cabbage and squash that’s perched on a smear of liver pâté. The combination of liver pâté, the creamy/​chunky cabbage-​radicchio slaw, the hunks of delicata-​esque squash and the fried livers spans a range of flavors and textures to create a 100% complete experience. Each component of the dish is good on its own but intense. When eaten together as a package they all balance out to a perfect harmony. So good. The fried pig ears deserve a mention as well. This crispy/​chewy porcine bar snack is a perfect pair to a nice cold beer.
The cured and fried sweetbreads on lard-​whipped potatoes with a bordelaise sauce is another culinary adventure that will net you a nice reward. Don’t fear the offal. It tastes the opposite of awful. Finally the sardines atop a breaded and baked pepper and fennel marinara (for lack of a better term) reminded me of a roman tripe but with the heady fishy sardine on top it goes 100% a different direction.
And while I can say that I have always been a fan of the drinks at B&F, they seem to keep getting better. I won’t tell you what to order, but I can tell you that the folks behind the bar know what they’re doing and you can trust their advice. Just tell them what you like and they will make it with a smile.
The only thing that baffles me about B&F is why there isn’t a line out the door every night. For this food and drink at these prices you’re silly to sleep on it. Oh, and the service? Ours has always been impeccable.

ODE TO THE BEST PLACE EVER:
First impression was great. No sign on the building, how trendy! Large windows yet the atmosphere is cozy and warm. How do they do that?
Drinks are perfect, savory, bitter… starting to fall in love.
Sitting next to the kitchen, watching the symphony of food preparation, fast but not frantic. Chef is calmly announcing each ready item and whomever is nearby grabs it to bring it to the table. These people are a team.
And we eat… now I am definitely in love. I am suggesting my husband that we buy the vacant spot next door and move in so we can eat here daily. I don’t know why he didn’t jump all over that.
The dessert is perfect, layers of flavors, several components working perfectly together.
I want to hug Ben Bettinger, the chef but I restrain myself to a handshake.
Can I give B&F more than 5 stars? I would if I could.

Several additional visits under my belt, and the honeymoon phase is decidedly over. What I’m left with, though, is a perfectly acceptable place that I continue to recommend to anyone who enjoys a craft cocktail.
It is still my go-​to spot for grilled corn on the cob when in season, but there have been too many service issues here for me to feel so gushing about it. Service is very much hit or miss with regard to both timing, and friendliness. If the place is hopping, do yourself a favor and move along. I realize that as humans, we are conditioned to think that bustling equals «the» place to be, but I’m warning you in advance that it is more likely than not that the place is filled to the brim because they are having a heck of a time actually turning tables, bringing checks, etc.
If there is a spot at the bar, by all means grab it. Otherwise, enter at your own risk.

2008 Laura N: Special occasion? Hey guys let’s jog over to that new Beaker & Flask spot! Not open yet? Balls.
2009 Laura N: Why hello! Yes, it’s good to be home. When can we drink? I could really use a cocktail. The size of my face. Immediately, if not sooner. Beaker & Flask? Ok fine, Scooters it is.
2010 Laura N: I fancy a tipple. Reckon we head to Beaker & Flask? I’ve been meaning to try it for quite some time now. OPEN? Aces!
So a few things have changed over the past couple years, but my desire to give Beaker & Flask a go is not one of them. And I must say, the late night menu and cocktails did not disappoint! Not only was their house infused Sloe Gin snappy and delicious, but my cocktails (yes, plural) involved everything from cynar, oloroso sherry and ginger beer to
rye and benedictine. And of course bitters. A star might be given simply for the tasty beer that comes with the house made pretzels.
While I’m still not sold on the space, cocktails like this make the world go ’round… (and around, and around, and around…)