Teardrop Lounge

07/09/2008 Posted by knuj123

Hands down, they have the best Martinis in Portland. The bad news is once you start coming here you wont be able to drink anything but beer at other bars. So, my advise is simple! Avoid the Teardrop lounge all together or get use to starting out there till your taste is dulled and then head out to other bars.

04/30/2008 Posted by Nitch

Several recent visits to the nine-month-old lounge have made it my new favorite in town. Owners Ted and Daniel are a refreshingly constant presence behind the bar and their combined passion for this new enterprise, its clientèle and the art of the perfect cocktail speaks volumes about what it takes to succeed in this business in Portland. Local and Seasonal are hardly unfamiliar words in restaurants around these parts, but in a bar? Teardrop changes its cocktail menu regularly to reflect the availability of the ingredients found in the house-made mixers. Not to be outdone by the fare, the space itself is also very inviting. The centerpiece of the room is the large, circular bar, with small tables surrounding. High ceilings allow room for the movies Daniel screens nightly on a hanging velvet curtain. Chosen from his personal collection, the movies are arranged by theme. Conspiracy Movie night included All the President’s Men and China Town, all the more interesting when viewed with the sound off and the ideal accompanying libation.

11/06/2007 Posted by hypercrit

I was perplexed on my recent inaugural visit to Teardrop at how simply awful the drinks were. The server suggested that we try the warm signature drink which quickly turned into mistake #1. Imagine warmed pine-sol cleaner with a splash of applejuice and there you have it. Wanting to avoid the other "house specials" I decided to go with a standard gin & tonic...mistake #2. I've tasted bubble bath that was more refreshing. Not sure how you ruin tonic water, but this place has it figured out. While our server was nice, another server seemed to be too involved with herself to care about anyone wanting a drink or food. I ultimately went for a safe option- a beer. The beers I was interested in on their menu they were apparently out of and I went with the only ale on there, in particular one of the only decent 12oz beers less than about $10. In summary, not sure what the masses are excited about. Plenty of other good options within walking distance.

Pros: Close to other great bars

Cons: drinks, service, atmosphere

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful

10/31/2007 Posted by smizz

Teardrop has become a frequent location my friends and I on nights out on the town. The owners and staff are very welcoming and seem to have a passion for making your experience, drinks, and food enjoyable. I'm always intrigued by the new and unique cocktail offerings they have on their list. It's interesting to hear stories from the bartenders on how they design their delightful concoctions. As a fan of spicy drinks, I really enjoy the Araby, which is a sweet drink complimented with firey thai chilis. The combonation creates a nice balance of sweet and spicy. Another personal favorite is their sake sangria made with seasonal fruit. I appreciate their use of local and fresh ingredients in their drinks. If you are not a fan of cocktails, but like beer, try the Samurai Ale, you won't be disappointed.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful

10/16/2007 Posted by leewatson

I have been here two times now, and in my honest opinion this is the hands down best bar in town. I know my cocktails and I know my spirits. I read a lot and I rarely talk to a bartender who knows more than I do. I'm not someone who is easily impressed. But I was blown away within minutes of sitting down at the bar in Teardrop. Their spirit selection is limited but carefully picked. They have a lot of lesser known yet exceptional sprits. They don't use a lot of infused vodkas or liqueurs. And they don't use a lot of fruit purees and fruit juices like most other cocktail bars today. Places like that tend to artfully mask the taste of the spirits. Instead the people at Teardrop try to enhance the qualities of the spirits using superior ingredients. I've never seen a place which has put so much time and thought into their ingredients. Most other bars take things like tonic water, vermouth, olives, and maraschino cherries for granted. At Teardrop, all those things are carefully picked. They make their own tonic water and ginger beer which is naturally carbonated due to the addition of champagne yeast. They also make about 8 different bitters. Try ordering a Manhattan there with Carpano Antica sweet vermouth and an Amarena cherry, and you will see what I'm talking about. It will make it difficult to go back to the standard Manhattan with Martini & Rossi and the neon red abomination which they call maraschino cherries today. Daniel, the owner, and David, the bartender, both took the time to tailor a cocktail to my palate despite the busy bar. And they were both happy to answer all the questions I threw at them. Having a cocktail here is a wonderful experience. This is truly a cocktail bar for the cocktail connoisseur. And if you think otherwise, well, you just don't know your cocktails!

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful

09/30/2007 Posted by jjwpdx

Like a great restaurant, they actually care about what goes into your drink, the owner spent much time talking to us about the ingredients, not trying to sell anything, trying to find out what we liked, we tried a couple different things, everything was great, great service, great drinks, no pretence, just the right atmosphere. Not the place to grab a beer, or to go get drunk, but if you want a couple of cocktails served by knowledgeable, friendly people, this is a wonderful choice!

Pros: Service, quality ingredients

Cons: Parking, hey it's the Pearl.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful

08/28/2007 Posted by dcourey

Just a standard pearl lounge - nothing special as made out to be in all the *glorious* reviews. Plus, twelve bucks for the Achel blond Belgian beer! Take a clue from the menus around town on how to set the prices right. Eg: Higgins.

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful

08/01/2007 Posted by seanmarie

Cocktails the way God intended—complex, potent, and intriguing to the last drop. Great bar menu, too. Fusion cooking isn’t usually my thing (too often, it’s the worst of both worlds), but the Teardrop won me over with their fabulous Viking-in-a-kimono wasabi-dressed gravlax. Do try the Mai Tai—it’s Bali Ha’i on the rocks!

Pros: Elegant, but not pretentious.

Cons: You might spend more than you intended, but it's worth it.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful

07/27/2007 Posted by maneiser

This bar in the Pearl most recently opened this month and as a local of the Pearl I went over to check out their drinks. The drink menu was eclectic and fun. I had something called the Golden Child that was a true winner. I decided that I would dabble in the food menu to see if they could go two for two, and low and behold I had the gravlax and it was incredible. The paper thin slices melted in my mouth and the cucumbers and caviar were the perfect garnish. Props to a place that can do both Drink and Food!

Pros: Anything edible

Cons: There are a lot of beautiful people there and if you're not one of them then....

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful

07/27/2007 Posted by getyourheadonstraight

This place just opened last week and they make mouth-watering cocktails. We sat at one of the tables near the front window that opens up all the way. The service was prompt and friendly. I've been to some lounges where the servers are pretentious, but here they answered all of my questions in a non-assuming manner. I ordered the little cloud, and it was a delicate balance of elderflower syrup, aviation gin and lime. After the first, I had to order another one. They also had cocktails on special for happy hour from 4-7. We ordered the gazpacho to start; it was very refreshing on a warm day, and when they started serving hot food at 6, we ordered the edamame, ahi, salmon and drumsticks. It was all delicious and plated beautifully. You might have trouble using the chopsticks for the ahi dish, but just ask for a fork, they have them :) I would definitely recommend this place to meet for business or pleasure. I'll be there this weekend.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful