Hamlet

secret gem. perfect place for amazing drinks and conversations with friends. killer drinks, great bartenders, and background east coast 90s rap. you won’t be disappointed. ask for your martini in a big kid glass… they’ll say yes.

New cocktail bar in the pearl. and the purveyor of some fine pork products. their selection of cured ham is impressive, had the iberico was damn tasty, though expensive for the portion size. their cocktail list is impressive, ask for the secret menu… or ask the bartender for suggestions… you can’t go wrong. they also make a mean burger. nice place to hang out at.

I think their Iberian ham earns them the extra 0.5 star, making it a perfect five. Best ham I’ve had in Portland, bar none. The right proportion of fat to get the flavor profile just perfect. Definitely order this if you’re there. They’ve a pretty decent burger as well. Toasted English muffin holding together a juicy patty, with aioli and pickled onions on the side.
But first and foremost this is a cocktail bar. And they’ve one of the most extensive cocktail menus I’ve seen anywhere. At least 6 pages long. But that’s the «secret» menu, so make sure to ask for it. I’m yet to try something that I didn’t like. All these combinations I’ve trie have been really good. Monarchy and Sleepover deserve a special mention. Oh and for kicks, try the one which comes with a garnish of prosciutto.

I looove charcuterie! And this place had it. We shared a meat sampler and a cheese plate. I like to build my food so this was how I ate it. A little piece of bread, a little spread of cheese, a piece of prosciutto, and a grape. Then NOM NOM NOM. And a sip of wine. One heaven. I was a bit disappointed that they didn’t have pâté. But I guess we’ll keep hopping around. The nights still young!

Really love this place. Modern interior and comforting décor. Friendly service and good cocktails. They have a great happy hour if you’re into meat and cheese. Their prosciutto is high quality and worth writing home about. We will be back!

If you like delicious hams and great cocktails, go here! We went for Happy Hour on a Saturday and were warmly greeted when we walked in. Our server, Bobby, was super helpful in suggesting cocktails and food any time we were debating between two things.
We had:
Iberico ham-​Pricey, but worth it! Words can’t describe how delicious this ham is.
Hamlet Burger– This burger has ruined me for beef burgers. Flavor combo with the arugula and onion relish sent it over the top.
Prosciutto Piccante– A slight kick, very tasty
Ham Biscuit– This is served with Surryano ham and a pepper jelly. I didn’t personally care for the jelly, but the biscuit and ham didn’t need it IMO. Melts in your mouth. Biscuit was the right combo of crisp on the outside and soft on the inside.
Scotch Egg– Soft boiled egg, rolled in breading, wrapped in diced prosciutto and deep fried. Yes, very bad for you, but SO very, very good.
Prosciutto de Parma– A classic, but way better than the stuff you get from the grocery store.
I don’t remember the names of the cocktails we had, but they were all very balanced.
Every single thing we had to eat and drink was on point. There were no misses. We will for sure be back!

Friendly staff, great service. Hamburger was amazing! Went for happy hour, had the accidental sour, some prosciutto, and the hamburger. Definitely going back.

Chefstable knocked it out of the park on this one. Amazing cocktail list, delicious pork small bites. If you are looking to swine and dine an out of town friend, this is the quintessential Portlandy place to bring them.

The service was fine, a little hipster behind the bar, but that’s ok. Here’s the problem… I told the bartender I didn’t feel like drinking alcohol and that I was just trying to kill some time. I asked him if they had iced tea, he said no but offered me a ginger ale. I also ordered the almonds. I received my ginger ale and small handful of almonds. The bill came and my ginger ale was $ 6.00. I grew up in New York so prices don’t usually bother me, but really?! I had to take a photo of the bill and post it, it was hilariously received. Better ways to spend your money in my opinion.

Ryan and Chefstable have done it again. Hamlet is the new incarnation of Ryan’s passion for great cocktails, good food and laid-​back atmosphere, and Chefstable’s passion for opening solid projects. One visit and I’m hooked.
Hamlet is a pretty straightforward concept. Cocktails, Wine and Swine. You can enjoy complex yet perfectly balanced drinks ranging from straightforward to out there. I sampled his Iberian Road Soda, a rare highball-​style sparkling water drink with no sugar added. This slightly bitter, slightly floral, totally refreshing bubbler could be an any-​day, any-​time drink for me. So good. The Melon vs. Meat is like a prosciutto-​wrapped melon ball in cocktail form — with fresh melon juice and a crispy ham garnish. It would be a novelty if it weren’t so damn tasty. The Piggy Back, a shot of Vida Mezcal paired with a ramekin of sliced ham, is a salty, smoky treat.
While I didn’t sample the food, the menu reads like any good small-​bites bar menu should. Tasty hams of various origin, and concoctions made thereof. Service is totally on point, but without the pretense that pervades most Pearl District proprietors. The prices? What you’d expect for fare of this caliber.
Hamlet is another big win by a team that knows how to make awesome things happen.

Cocktails & brews! New Pearl pub for pork-​out grub! I prefer to know what I’m eating, especially pork. The Hamlet owner responded to my text message with a web link
. Pigs are sustainably raised (happy hogs) on wide open pasture land. Farmers do no use hormones and antibiotics or feed with animal by-​products. Some farmers are organic and/​or heritage breeds – it doesn’t get any better than this – if you cook-​it-​up right! No-​No CAFO (confined animal feed operation) either.
Now I can picture the hog to my plate! I am ready to lick my lips and clamp my jaws on some juicy pork. Off the Happy Hour (4 – 7 PM) menu, I ordered hand carved, thin sliced, surryano ham aged 24 months, very smoky and cleverly served in a snow cone (perfecto)! Next, Hamlet burger (patty style) which is prosciutto, parm, pinenuts, toasted Pullman, arugula, lemon, aioli, spicy onion relish lettuce pickles – a salvation surprise of caramelization, spicy, juicy, bitter flavors – scrumptious!
This pub is a good place to hook-​it-​up with a friend or other. You’ll like the cozy bar with copper top, low lights and responsive, friendly service.
Why you should steer away from CAFO at other restaurants? Pigs living in the industrial food chain have a stressful life. The sow lives in a pen and cannot even turn around most of her sorry life. They eat garbage! Are shot up with antibiotics and hormones to fatten up and slaughtered inhumanely. CAFO pigs may carry hideous bacteria, like ecoli and C-​diff – a gut flora killer that is prevalent today – google it, it’s too gruesome to Unilocal-​out details! I do not want to picture CAFO pork on my plate!
Why should we support Hamlet? This is the sort of place PDX foodie-porker’s crave. Good hangout in a hip area with good cocktails and a few brews to compliment delicious pork – you know the pigs lived a happy life and were well cared for – good for me – good for the farmer and land.
Now, I digress, I get off my soapbox. All you need to really know is I did my due diligence for me and you, so you can go hog wild at Hamlet. Pig-​out, my fellow Porker-​Yelper pals!
Kudos Hamlet!

Hamlet is a neat late night spot in the pearl district. I just went there for drinks and sat at the bar. I got their house ginger beer with scotch. It was definitely not a weak drink and I enjoyed the fizzy part of ginger beer with the depth of scotch. Their beer selection is not great. The atmosphere is hip and bartenders are pretty friendly. I would definitely go back to this place for some late night drinks. I would like to try the food next time I go.

+ good drinks
— happy hour prices are basically normally prices

I was walking down 12^th and they had me at hello with their tagline: Cocktails, Beer and Swine. I had to go in.
The cocktail list is very creative, I had the Thumper for which they are infusing vodka with horseradish in house, a great meat pairing.
The options for swine are excellent cured meats, both classic international Iberico ham and new world varieties as well.

I recommend passing on anything on a baguette at night, the morning fresh bread is far from crisp. Go for sandwiches on toast — such as the open faced omelet — or other yummy offerings. Drinks are excellent, especially something with «honey» in the name off the secret menu.
Nicki, our super cute server, was stellar. Great vibe, understated décor.

Hamlet is as described — a ham centric bar where the meat is front and center, and all other choices revolved around that. I’m a little shocked at some of the poor reviews of this restaurant, and I think it’s because they’re doing something a little different… including showing you where meat comes from! Different enough that we plan to go back with some regularity.
WARNING: If all you’re looking for is another *amazing-​yet-​cheap* cocktail experience during your party night out in the pearl, I recommend you keep moving along and grab snacks at Whole Foods as one reviewer recommended. If you’re looking to try an array of rare, freshly cut hams with a variety of esoteric wine styles well-​matched to the salty/​fatty goodness, by all means proceed and definitely ask the staff for guidance through the menu.
The décor of the place is understated and very lovely. The lighting is dim and the paneling is dark, save for an amazing wall of Spanish tile along the south side of the room. An impressive selection of bottles lines the northern wall, both liquor as well as various permutations of sherry and madeira. But the highlight of the room are the two legs of ham, bone and hoof in, where the meat is cut to order so you know it’s as fresh and lovely as can be. Unfortunately many people are used to buying prosciutto pre-​cut, which can often be dry and chewy, so I can’t highlight the importance of a fresh slice to the enjoyment of the product.
The staff was amazing as well. Each customer was warmly greeted as they came in, and all appeared professional and friendly. We sat at the bar and the bartender helped us navigate the menu of traditional Spanish sherries and madeira. This was a real highlight as most establishments don’t serve more than one or two of these, and we got to take a guided tour through multiple bottles and really understand the different styles available from southern Spain. To say the man was passionate was an understatement, and while we didn’t try his mixed drinks, I’m sure they would be prepared with both knowledge and passion.
As I said above, you should approach the menu by starting with the ham, and proceeding from there. We were initially worried about the portion sizes (2 oz for machine cut, 1 oz for hand cut), but found a total of 3 oz the perfect snack amount for the two of us. I recommend a variety of styles, as we did. Traditional pairings are offered such as bread, biscuits, cheese, pickles, nuts, and warm olives (OMFG). We were close enough to watch them slice our ham, and my wife was taken back to Spain where each restaurant has a dedicated ham carver. The food came reasonably fast given the amount of labor involved, since each table’s ham is cut to order.
I can’t comment on the mixed drinks as I prefer whiskey over wine in my cocktails. That said, I spotted some lovely bottles such as Rittenhouse Rye, so don’t be afraid to order a more traditional drink if that’s what you’re in the mood for. Hopefully their mixed drink menu matures somewhat as they get a feel for the crowd.
As for pricing. Yes, the wines are expensive. Yes, the ham is expensive. But do I think it out of proportion with the quality of the product or portion sizes? No. Also, cocktails are on par with the remainder of the Pearl. I find that really annoying wherever I go, but it’s probably the price of rent in this ridiculous real estate market.
Go enjoy this for yourself. I expect things to change and mature since the place has been open for less than three weeks, but I think they scored with the core concept.

Cute place, but unless you LOVE the smell of rotting animal flesh, STAY AWAY. We walked in because their cocktail menu looks fantastic but couldn’t bare staying inside for longer than 2 minutes without wanting to gag. Even my pork-​loving friend couldn’t bare it.
Somehow in Italy legs of prosciutto are less grotesque.

The staff were very friendly and welcoming as soon as we walked in. They just opened a couple days ago so there are still a few things being worked out (e.g., secret drink menu). Cocktail menu had about 8 choices, none really grabbed me as something I’d want to try. Friends tried a couple and enjoyed them. I stuck with a traditional Manhattan and thought it was prepared well. Drink prices are on the high side ($ 12). The food menu is ham focussed (hence the bar’s name) with some rather outrageous prices. Maybe it’s extremely good and satisfying. Just didn’t find anything too special to draw me back.

I know this place is new, so I’ll give it a little slack, but it’s the project of some very experienced restauranteurs that should know better. The biggest issue with it is it seems like an incomplete thought that shouldn’t have opened yet.
Their whole concept is a ham and sherry bar. It was, according to our waiter, inspired by a restaurant in Washington DC of the same concept called Mockingbird Hill. The biggest difference is that a quick glance at the menu at Mockingbird Hill shows that they know what they’re doing and have a solid concept, whereas Hamlet just doesn’t make any sense.
The Drinks:
We had the Kojo which had Oloroso sherry, gin, falernum and grapefruit and was good but did a very poor job of showing off the sherry. We also had the Daydream, a cocktail made with Manzanilla sherry, silver tequila, Maraschino liquer, Combier Rose, and a ton of soda water. To be quite honest, it tasted like someone left out a frozen margarita from last night’s Cinco de Mayo celebration and tried to pass it off the next day as a drink. Our waiter alluded to the fact that a lot of people who have ordered it had been less than thrilled with it. We also had the Melon vs Meat which gets its name from the cantaloupe juice in the drink and the dried prosciutto garnish. It was alright, but nothing to write home about. I believe that only 3 of their cocktails had any sherry in them, which seems odd considering it’s their stated focus. They have a small list of sherries to order by the glass, but it’s a little overpriced for the 3oz pour size and they’re nothing you can’t find at your local wine shop.
The Food:
The menu is horribly laid out and makes no sense until you ask the waiter to explain it. You can order some types of ham a la carte (pretty self explanatory) or do like we did and order an ambiguously named plate such as the Ham and Cheese. Our Ham and Cheese plate came with three small portions of meat, speck, prosciutto americano, and a mildly spicy ham whose name escapes me. It came with three types of Ancient Heritage cheese, some slices of baguette, fig jam, and hazelnuts. The meat was fine, and the cheeses were fine, but they didn’t go together at all. For $ 32, you got something that you literally could have gotten at Whole Foods 2 blocks away and made at home for less. The other options on the menu were sandwiches such as a piece of baguette with butter and prosciutto, nothing too exciting.
The Service:
The service was slow, but I’m more willing to forgive that because they’re so new. It just took so long to get anyone to even acknowledge we had sat down, and even longer for our drinks to be made. They had 4 servers working a very small dining room, but couldn’t seem to get anything done.
Our meal with drinks came to $ 63 with tip, and it just really didn’t feel worth it and I can’t imagine that changing without some major alterations to their restaurant. They’re part of the ChefStable group and have a lot of experience with restaurants, so it’s just a mystery why they’d launch something that feels like it’s still in the early concept stage.

Stopped in for day one… So far so smooth! The atmosphere is lively in an intimate setting, and on its first evening, 7pm, I see a lot of happy faces around the room, so far almost ¾ full! The staff is super friendly and the ham selection is nice! Quite a tasty Bellota Iberico jamón they serve here! Well located and easy access; this should be an automatic hit! Nice work you guys…
Mixed drinks $ 10 – 12
Beers $ 6
Wines by the glass $ 7 – 13
Lite fare and bar snacks available.
Enjoy this one Portland… I know I will!