4. Restaurants

Branch Whiskey Bar

2926 NE Alberta St, Portland, OR, 97211
  • (503) 206-6266
  • Store is closed

Branch Whiskey Bar Menu

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  • kristin e.

    It's so nice to discover bars with that play GOOD music. It was as if someone stole my CD collection from my high school days and just made one continuous playlist. Blondie's "Dreaming", New Order's "Blue Monday", The Cure's "Pictures of You"', Smith's "How Soon is Now" and even Missing Persons "Words"...it just kept going and going. Every song brought back memories. Drinks were good too. Had their version of the Manhattan called the Branchattan. Tricky to say, easy to drink. The kumquat garnish wasn't ripe though but I didn't mind. I just wish that they didn't run out of their beet infused vodka/lemon drop martini cocktail. There's always next time!

    (5)

  • Carissa M.

    Went back for my birthday, shared photos all throughout the meal. Friends the country over were jealous. I mean, where else can you get a 12 year-old Japanese single-malt whiskey in your sampler flight? ::sigh:: Love this place.

    (5)

  • Amy C.

    Great margarita! ... Would love to go back again and stay a little longer. Quick stop on our way to dinner but loved the dim lighting and art on the walls (especially the door)!!

    (4)

  • Chris C.

    The Duck Fat Fries, like how everyone else describes them, are great. I was attracted to this place because of their wide selection of whisky, but the atmosphere is what would keep me coming back...if I lived local. I wish I could come back soon, but I can't since I live near Boston, MA. I do not know when I'll be back to Portland, OR., but for now, this place needs more butts in the seats so that I know it will be there when I return. Give Branch Whiskey Bar a try, as I know you'll like it if you like anything of good quality. I want to come back - so go now!

    (5)

  • Raven C.

    I've been here twice and have very much enjoyed both experiences. The Old Fashioned is fantastic as is their signature Manhattan. Although the service has tended to run on the chilly side when we first arrive, they quickly warm up. The pan-roasted chicken is delicious and moist and the burger is very good. I'm not a fan of the duck fat fries and really don't see the appeal but my dining partner gives two thumbs up. The noise level is up there but isn't so loud that you can't hear each other. This is a great place to come after work and relax over a cocktail or two.

    (4)

  • Hayden N.

    I don't have a good impression of Branch Whiskey Bar at this point in time, I am going to give them the benefit of the doubt with three-stars. It was Last Thursday and they got slammed. I could understand that customer service may not be as efficient when there are so many parties to take care of but, despite the fact of how busy the restaurant is, the attitude toward customers should never be rude. My two friends and I came in for drinks, we asked a server if we should just order at the bar or grab a seat. He told us that it would be more easier to take a seat and order with a server so he cleaned off a table for us. Thanks. My friends ordered a Johnny Walker neat and the Alberta. I just got oysters to share. While my friend is in the bathroom, the server returned to tell us that they were out of Johnny Walker. There was a couple times, a server came by and she tried to get their attention to be ignored because they were fanatically trying to keep up with service. Took a long time for her to order another drink. Eventually, the oysters came out and all we wanted was hot sauce--after asking two or three times, we never got the hot sauce. We didn't want to wait around for them to come pick up our check and run cards. I went up to the bar to pay because they had overcharged us. Our server was in the middle of a conversation with another customer, an out-of-towner visiting Portland and had issues with the service. He was defensive in explaining her that it's Last Thursday, they aren't normally as busy, and that he "wished he didn't have to be here working". I thought he could have handled that situation more calmly. He had charged us for the Johnny Walker (which they didn't have) and the order my friend had actually got. He asked if I rather be charged for the more expensive drink instead since the Johnny Walker is less. No, I don't want to be charged for a drink we didn't have. He ended up taking off both drinks due to his misunderstanding--that was nice of him. The oysters were good and all the food sounds amazing. I would be willing to give Branch Whiskey bar another try on a day that they aren't super busy.

    (3)

  • Anthony F.

    Honestly the Alberta burger is HANDS DOWN the most delicious burger I've ever tasted... If you are in the mood for a satisfying and unbelievably savory burger, this is the place! We were moaning for hours afterwards about how delicious it was.

    (5)

  • Sarah M.

    Had a really nice dinner for four. Friendly service and were seated for our reservation after just fifteen minutes wait which they were very apologetic for. We enjoyed our drinks, I had the 49er which was surprisingly delicious and complex in flavor. The guys had a Manhattan which I'm not too crazy about but he said it was the best he'd had. And when one of them couldn't decide on a beer to try, the waiter brought shot glasses of each to help him decide. That was really nice. The prices were very reasonable considering the quality of the food and cocktails which was very nice, so we will definitely be back soon.

    (4)

  • Sara K.

    Little known secret: This place has one of the best burgers in Portland. Its the Alberta Burger (not to be confused with the Branch Burger) and its a hunk of meat slathered with blue cheese, caramelized onions and a spicy sauce. The drinks? I mean if you like whiskey (and even if you don't), you'll find something to please your palate. This is a fantastic place for a date, the lights are dimmed enough that you'll look your best and it isn't loud or overly busy.

    (4)

  • Christina S.

    Cheese board : amazing We got so full from the cheese board that we couldn't even properly enjoy our dinner, which also was delicious. Love the whiskey selection. A little hipsterish vibe but that's to be expected from a whiskey restaurant on Alberta. Will be back

    (5)

  • Chris K.

    If you want to feel like a real jerk for arriving half an hour before a place closes this is the joint for you! On the way over we found awesome free pizza sitting outside Bella Faccia (apparently they put leftover pizza outside the restaurant when the close, how cool is that!). We got here at 10:30, a solid half out before they close, looking forward to their famous avian lard fried potatoes (not trying to contribute to the Yelp hype behind their positive reviews). We started to take a seat but before bums could even hit the booth the server said, and I quote, "One: outside food is not allowed here (referencing the pizza boxes we did not intend to eat while inside another restaurant because we are human beings) and two: we are about to close." Wow what awesome staff! I asked him what time they close and he said "either 10 or 11". There were plenty of other people there, so it's not like we were going to keep them open for just us. So make sure you check if crankypants is working or not before you go, because if he is, you're gonna have a bad time! What a meanie!

    (1)

  • Cessalee S.

    I'm tettering between three and four but the yelp deal pushed me over the edge. To keep it simple, we went late a night and the kitchen was about to close so we didn't have issues with food taking while or a long wait to be seated. I ordered a burger and my co-worker the chicken burger. We also got the grilled zucchini. The grilled zucchini was AWESOME! By far the best part of the meal! My burger was pretty good...I upgraded for the duck fat fries which were very salty, but I love a good duck fat fry. The meat was actually great, but I really didn't love the rest of the stuff on the burger, particularly the gruyere. And I LOVE gruyere. Weird. Oh, and they were out of ketchup. I'm a big dipper so that was a little disappointing. I mean, I love ketchup on everything and was looking forward to both the burger and the fries for their ketchup pairing abilities. That definitely makes me lame, but that's the truth. Although, the aioli they gave was pretty good. And I rarely actually order a medium burger that comes medium. Good job there, Whiskey! But for as much of a rush as they were in to get us to order, they certainly weren't in a rush for us to leave. We actually ended up having to go find the waitress to get her to adjust the bill for the yelp deal. I guess I wouldn't come out of my way to get back here, but if I was in the mood for a snack, I might check and see what's out on the grill :)

    (4)

  • Cathy T.

    Came here for a quick dinner with my cousins. The staff was really nice and friendly. The environment was different... it felt like I was on a romantic date, haha. The place was dark and there were candles on all the tables. I'm not much of a beer fan, so I didn't try the Portland beer. Food wise, it was okay. The meat platter was good! It was so good that we decided to make our own the next day! We didn't realize that the portions were going to be so big. When we ordered the mac and cheese, we thought it would be a personal size so we ordered 2 of them to share amongst all 8 of us. Sadly we were't able to finish both of it. It felt really heavy with all the cheese.

    (3)

  • Me H.

    V day night, place is hoping. Decided to give up our table for walk ins... Sat at our favorite place, the bar. First round OTH... Thanks. Food impressed, service even when busy great. Good joint good food, good service

    (5)

  • Kacee E.

    Great service and amazing drinks. I can't recommend the béchamel Mac n cheese enough and if you come during happy hour a hefty portion is only $8. Order heavy and then walk it off up and down Alberta St.

    (5)

  • Kelsey R.

    I have enjoyed my visit both trips to Branch. They feature a great selection of whiskey and bourbon. The Buffalo Bourbon is my personal favorite. It is a great place to come with people who don't care for or haven't really tried whiskey, either. They sell pairings of beer and whiskey so that you can try new combinations. They also have a full bar. I have gotten the Branch Burger before. They cook their meat to a true medium or other levels instead how most places overcook (so a medium here is a medium rare elsewhere). The duck fact fries are delicious. Full of flavor and perfectly crisp! It's great they keep glass water bottles on the table so you can just refill when you need it. The service is always friendly and they are more than willing to give suggestions!

    (5)

  • Pam B.

    Food was good...service was HORRIBLE!! We came with a large group and spent over $600. The waiter was rude and hardly present. He acted like we were a big inconvenience to him.

    (1)

  • Matt L.

    Great whisky selection. I will say the room is pretty dark and hard to see what you are eating. Small menu. Most items were decent but very rich. The burger had a very rich blue cheese on it. The bun was not that good. Service was good and they were very nice. I would go back again but not have the burger.

    (3)

  • Hanna S.

    Hands down, worst service I've ever had in Portland. The food was good, but not worth the 2 hours spent trying to chase down the rude/dismissive server and bartender. Best advice is to take your money and have a nice dining experience somewhere else.

    (1)

  • Tran Q.

    The service was terrible- I really don't want to go out to a restaurant and feel like I am burdening them by being there to eat. We had a larger party which we had reservations for- we added an extra person that they weren't ready for but they weren't full- but we're really rude about it. When they brought out food, they yelled "hey" to get our attention to ask who ordered what. Their service was horrible and would not recommend anyone going there- there are too many good restaurants in portland to go to somewhere that doesn't appreciate their patrons. Food was good, but mac and cheese was too salty.

    (1)

  • Jessica H.

    Three words: Duck fat fries. The little sage leaves intertwined with the fries were money. The branch burger is also possibly the most delicious burger I've ever had. You've got to order it with their bacon and gruyere cheese though. I've never been so impressed with a burger before. The drinks were also good. A little pricey, but well worth it for a good date night. I might have to save some money for my next time, but I'll definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Jason W.

    Great "Branch Burger" with bacon and gruyere! Really good flavor. The Duck Fat fries were ok, I think I like truffle fries better in general (didn't see those offered). The specials were sold out, but it was around midnight. Had a Big Red Toddy drink and that was also yummy. Wait staff were attentive. Generally, I don't go for noisy places, and there were only hard surfaces in the bar, so when it was crowded it got hard to hear my table-mates. But that seems kind of standard for most places now.

    (4)

  • Bob H.

    My wife and I read the last review in A&E listing top ten hamburgers! Branch was on the list at number ten. We tried it! Easily in the top five!!! Loved it. Burger Great! Service Great and Atmoshere casual and comfortable...

    (5)

  • Thi D.

    We frequent here on Fridays to celebrate TGIF. Bourbon is what first seduced us in here, but once in, we were enamored with their food. The Alberta burger is to die for. I've always been happy with their farm vegetable of the day. And today, i tried their seared scallops, and like the waiter warned me, it really did change my life - the vinaigrette was perfectly balanced with sweetness and tanginess, the snow peas delightful, coconut puree proving an ingenious marriage with the scallops. The service may be slow on most Fridays due to the business, but the waiters/waitresses have always been very sweet and wonderful to us!

    (5)

  • H S.

    sad sad sad... my boyfriend and I used to come in on a (far too) regular basis to eat the mac and cheese... sadly when that chef left, so did the AMAZING mac and cheese... by far, our FAV in PDX... why oh why is it off the menu? OR where did that delightful chef go, so we can follow him and beg him to make our favorite dish?

    (2)

  • Sherry S.

    We were roaming Alberta St. in the hot heat, and on a Monday, so not a lot going on. This place caught our eye as it looked dark, cool and unpretentious. Their menu taped on the glass also intrigued me, especially the Maine lobster corn dog? Whoa! That sealed the deal. We ordered that, and their heirloom tomato salad. The food showed up. The corn dog really did have a lot of lobster flavoring to it. I have not had a corn dog in years. Maine lobster sausage, Who woulda thought, I said to myself with my best east coast accent? It was unique to say the least and they have a great spicy mustard sauce to dip it all in. The heirloom tomato salad was so sweet though. This is where you can understand tomatoes are really a fruit. These were spectacular, red and yellow. The dressing added to the flavors. There were also sweet onions sliced as well. Yelp says that the bread pudding here is something you have to try so Doug and I split it. They are right. The warm sweet bread pudding was just dripping in whiskey, sugar, and whatever else they soaked it in. On top was the finest salted caramel ice cream. This is a whiskey bar but I don't do whiskey. They said they won't judge me though when I got myself one of their gin gimlets. Whiskey just seems like something you would drink in the winter anyway. Maybe I'll branch out once we get a cold snap.

    (3)

  • Katherine C.

    went in with friends and had a marvelous time. Staff is attentive, but not overly so, had a little bit of a wait for food without that many other diners, but the food was well prepared and savory. Had a couple of neats of whiskey- all in all great spot to relax and laugh with friends and totally feel like you are getting your moneys worth.

    (4)

  • Gina W.

    Late night duck fat fries. Late night duck fat fries. Late night duck fat fries!

    (3)

  • Cierra B.

    My date took me here for the first time on a Thursday evening since I like whisk(e)y. It was an intimate, relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. The nicest Irish bartender (who's admittedly biased) offered to help me with the menu and lead me to a nice peated Irish Single Malt. The fries were bomb, and the special veggie was maple roasted cauliflower which was surprisingly delicious as well. However, for what we ordered and the looks of surrounding tables I thought it could've been a little quicker. We were checked on often enough without them being too annoying. I didn't feel cramped though the place is a little on the small side, not sure how I'd feel about going there on a date if it were packed on a weekend. I'll certainly be going back!

    (4)

  • Anna A.

    I first went to Branch couple of years ago to use a coupon deal. While the ambience is laid back and neighborhood bar-like, the food was gourmet, which caught me by surprise. A no-frills whiskey bar with excellent comestibles near my home is definitely a winner in my book. My most recent visit was my foodie sister visiting from San Francisco for Xmas and she loved her French onion soup. I had the beet salad and was yummy. The only downside for me is I can't handle most items on menu- no mammals, dairy, starch, etc. Was disappointed they didn't have mussels on their menu on the last visit. And as a clean freak, not convinced the place is clean enough for me and sometimes, the service can be a bit slow.

    (4)

  • Gilbert R.

    I went here for my one of my friend's birthdays. It was pretty cool! I really enjoyed the wide election of whiskey and Branch had a good selection of food. I wish I had ordered a burger. My friend got a burger and it looked so good!! Next time I visit I will definitely have a burger. Price point wasn't too bad. Well worth the quality of food, drink and service that you get.

    (4)

  • Jason G.

    I arrived at the bar a little after most of my friends were there and so I missed out on most of the food. I was really sad that the duck fat fries weren't better. I love duck fat stuff, and I love fries so it should have been amazing. I can't speak to their menu because I had someone order me an old fashioned before I got there and so I don't know anything about it. The space though was a little cramped. Granted, we were there with about 8 people but that's not a super unreasonable amount of people to seat at a bar. Still, the atmosphere of the place was nice. I'm not incredibly into dive bars like a lot of people in town are, so this is more my style. I would come back just to get a proper look at the menu and maybe try those fries again. I want them to be good, so much.

    (4)

  • John J.

    The food is really great! The decor, ambiance and noise level makes for "let's eat" and hit the door" attitude because it is difficult to carry on a conversation.. Management may want to time the music selection to suit the patrons present (time of day) rather than the perception that it is the staff's choice as to what is airing. Otherwise, food and service were excellent.

    (4)

  • M R.

    My experience at Branch last night was very confusing! Service was WEIRD. The waitress that helped us initially was nice enough, but a bit snobby. When we asked in which oil the fish was prepared, she said she would ask the kitchen but never came back and told us. She kind of avoided us after that but then another waitress started taking care of us and she was phenomenal and very attentive! Then a third person served our food...tried pushing alcohol on us but since we weren't drinking perhaps that is why there were avoiding us. The food was AMAZING! Best caesar salad in Portland (called Grilled Romaine on the menu). I don't understand why they market themselves as a whiskey bar when the atmosphere is more restaurant-like and the food is amazing! Had I not been going there, seeing the sign on the sidewalk saying "whiskey bar" would have been a turn off because typically the food is not very good. This place was different! My main course was a chicken burger with a side of house greens - delicious! It was ground chicken (was expecting chicken breast) and it had prosciutto on it (which wasn't called out on the menu...) but definitely exceeded expectations. Will be back! Overall we ended up being in the restaurant for 90 minutes, so it's not a quick dinner, and it's quite loud, but, all the drunk people leaving trying the "wrong" door to get out will keep you as entertained as it did us I'm sure!

    (4)

  • Justin S.

    Last Sunday I had the best burger of my entire life and I can't wait to come back. Plus my Sazerac was perfect and the bartender was a major babe that couldn't have been nicer! Branch will be seeing more of me, that's for sure.

    (5)

  • Kimchi J.

    omg, salty. salty. salty. that is all I tasted on the mac n cheese. My husband ordered the duck oil fries with a burger. He complained, the fries were salty as well. The night was nothing memorable. I had a beer that the bartender recommended as the lightest beer on the tap. I couldn't finish it. My husband ordered a shot of whiskey and a beer. Disappointing meal for $65. Sad part was, I chose this place for my birthday meal. My husband must have thought, she has gone cooo-kooo for picking here. He knows how picky/selective/demanding/passionate I can be about food.

    (2)

  • Dennis A.

    Great service and excellent manhattan. Very interesting menu with very unique offerings. Food was good as well. Duck fat fries were great.

    (4)

  • Kelly R.

    This place has lovely drinks, but our recent experience was really fouled by the terrible service. There were not many people in the restaurant, but we were completely ignored by all of the wait staff after the first drink. We were ready to spend more money on dessert and drinks but eventually gave up. We had to beg just to pay the bill. We should have walked out without paying. The staff never would have noticed.

    (2)

  • Brandon M.

    Overwhelmingly impressed! Walking in my mouth started salivating and I wanted to eat everything. We had the butcher board and it was amazing. This is one of the best restaurants in Portland!

    (5)

  • Emma D.

    3 of us did the Portland Dining Month 3 course menu that just ended & 1 got the Alberta burger off the regular menu. We also got the steak tartar off the regular menu. Everything was delicious, presented beautifully and priced right for what we had. Their signature manhattan was great- not sweet so right up my alley. My sister & cousin loved their lemon drops. My husband loved his margarita but thought it was too small. What I really liked about BWB (in addition to the food) was the interesting combination of a 'sort of casual' atmosphere w/ upscale food - upscale casual may be the right term? Will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Jade B.

    Five stars specifically for the service - I am not sure I have ever had such a helpful and friendly server (and trust, I go out a LOT). The food was just what you would hope to have accompanying a lovely flight of whiskey. Great low-key atmosphere and a real winner for a date night.

    (5)

  • Sarah C.

    I stopped by for Happy Hour and was impressed! They have a great selection of whiskey, and some amazing Duck Fat fries! They also played some really good music while I was there, which consisted of The Cure, Pixies, Talking Heads, Clash. I am from MA and we could really use a place like this on the North Shore!

    (4)

  • Kara D.

    Things at Branch have taken a upward turn. They rearranged their space to make it more suitable to their growing following. We frequent this neighborhood gem often enough to say their new arrangement is working out for the better. We haven't had anything but perfectly cooked meats and great drinks in the last few months. Cheers to working out the kinks of business and food!

    (4)

  • Amy S.

    Oh my! My boyfriend and I ordered the Steak Frites the other night to share and immediately regretted that we hadn't each ordered it. It is incredible! Steak Frites can easily be the worst thing on the menu, a simple dish can be hard to get right but they nailed this one. Perfectly medium rare steak served in a shallot jus that was so rich it bordered on decadent. Not to be outshined were there crispy fries with warm blue cheese and a perfectly yolky hen egg that comingled with the cheese to make one hell of a sauce. Man, now I want it again! We also had the Grilled Prosciutto Wrapped Dates as an appetizer but agreed that had we known how awesome the steak would be we would have held off because the dates are so rich. Mind you that didn't stop us from sharing the Salted-Chocolate Tart with Caramel Sauce because, well, salted chocolate. Who can resist. Once again the cocktails were stellar. This go around we had the Branchhattan, the Cherry Bourbon Sour and the Brown Derby. I was pleasantly surprised that the maple syrup didn't overpower the grapefruit in the Brown Derby but it was the Cherry Bourbon Sour that won the night. It was bright and refreshing; perfect on a warm summer night.

    (5)

  • Danielle M.

    Just went for the first time- the whiskey, the duck fat fries (oh my) and the lobster dumplings.....delish!! I will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Chris A.

    I have seen a lot of complaints about the service in other reviews. I don't have any specific complaints, but I wouldn't brag about it either. The food was great. Limited menu, but everything on it looked really good and at reasonable prices. I had the Steak Frites which I would recommend. They have daily whiskey and beer parings for $9 that you should be sure to take advantage of. The space itself is great, very open and modern. They have an awesome little back patio that is perfect for this time of year, however I wouldn't go in expecting to get an outside seat when it is nice out.

    (4)

  • Tasha H.

    So the initial wait wasn't too bad. It was about 20 min for a table so we were invited to sit at the bar for drinks until one opened up. The bartender was great and really tried to figure out what drinks we would like best based on our tastes. He was great. We got seated and had our orders taken right away. So far so good. But then our order took forever to come. We only ordered a salad and the steak frites (thin slices of steak, which we ordered cooked medium, with fries and a poached egg). When asked whether we wanted it served together or not, we replied that we would have whatever was ready first (as we were decently hungry). It took about 45 min until the salad came... And then the steak frites came 15 min after that. Long time to wait for food... Especially a salad and medium cooked steak with fries. Don't get me wrong... The food was really amazing. But nobody should have to wait that long... Our server didn't even say anything during the long wait.. Only when we asked how much longer until one of the dishes would be out. I'm going to give this place another try, hoping that it was just an off day for them. But if it's like this again.. We probably won't be coming again for food. Maybe just drinks... Maybe...

    (3)

  • Wimberley M.

    Quote "I keep waiting for it to be less delicious, but it just isn't!" I came in not knowing what to expect-I just had a groupon I needed to use. My boyfriend and I were completely blown away. I love the way the cocktails are expertly crafted with precise recipes that require stirring, rather than shaking-and some shaking too!! And that's just in the front of house. We sat at the bar, close to the kitchen so we got dinner and a show. Beside me was an assortment of pickled veggies, vinegars and house made bourbons, just to name a few so I knew the pâté plate would be a success and I was right. But then dinner came. He ordered the Hanger Steak Frites and said it was savory and full-flavored. I ordered the Steak Cobb Salad... First of all, this is re-defining the way I look at a salad. To grill romaine-what a grand idea! Yum! What a perfect char to add to all the flavors of a Cobb. Every bite was a "money-shot!" It was a beautiful thing. Thank you Branch, for making my taste buds your bitch! We shall return!

    (5)

  • Joy M.

    This place is unique and fun. They know their whiskey and they have a lot of creative cocktails to try, and not just made of whiskey but other liquors too. The menu is full of unique dishes, as well. We went here with a Groupon and we're glad we did. The Alberta District is a great place to walk around, shop and people-watch and this place is right down in there amongst it all. It's close, cozy quarters in there, with seating inside and out including a little outdoor nook in the back. I had the Macaroni & Cheese Gratin (gruyere, Oregon black truffle oil, bread crumb)...crazy yummy, so yummy!! and one of their cocktails called, "Tang!", also very good. My boyfriend had a few of the whiskeys and the Alberta Burger (blue cheese, caramelized onions, spicy remoulade) which he loved! The waitstaff here is fun and attentive. We'll definitely go back soon to try something else on their menu.

    (4)

  • Troy S.

    While I've always liked the food here, the change in chef this past winter has seen a real step up in the quality and inventiveness in their menu. Perfect example: While the previous pork rillette dish was tasty, the new version is far more true to the french style I'm used to and is utterly delicious. It comes with baguette slices absolutely dripping in duck fat. (I should mention there are cornichons and great mustard with it, but, you know, duck fat.) It is highly addicting and alone is worthy of a visit in my opinion. Good thing I live close by. The menu changes often enough to keep regulars like me happy with new options and the standards I've tried multiple times have always been consistently produced. There's a sharpness to the kitchen execution that seems may have been missing previously. Of course, their whiskey list is extensive and drinks are done well (had a good Sazerac recently). They have only four beers on tap (almost always locals) and while those beers often aren't all that exciting I love the whiskey/beer pairings they do for each. And at $9 they are a bargain, too. Always one of my favorite things here. I'd have to agree that sometimes the service can seem aloof and doesn't want to make eye contact, but I'm not a shrinking violet and have no problem making myself seen when needed. If it's busy at the bar you may need to speak up to be seen/heard. The atmosphere is warm and the one, sports-tuned tv rarely ever has sound on as the standard soundtrack is 80's alternative/new wave. It can get chatty loud on weekdays even, but the low lighting adds a sense of intimacy in a real neighborhood gem.

    (4)

  • Laura B.

    Great food, great service, great cocktails. Started out with the duck fat fries, amazing. The wine by the glass is limited, but then again what can I expect in a whiskey bar? The old fashioned impressed my boyfriend, who is a connoisseur, and a bit of a snob. The food was delicious, and the server was timely and made great recommendations. Will definitely return.

    (4)

  • Kacie J.

    We went to Branch last night specifically for the Happy Hour. When we walked in a gentleman rudely asked us if we were there for the Groupon. When we said "no", he said "that is great" and let us sit down. It took forever for a server to come take our order, and he acted like he was too busy for us to ask questions or make up our minds. We were told we could not order from the Happy Hour Menu (even though we still had a good 20 minutes before it was supposed to end) because they were just "too busy". After ordering our $9 cocktails (which were actually pretty good,but not worth that much money), we never were even checked in on again. We needed to pay the bill to get over to our dinner reservations and couldn't get anyone's attention. One of our party went up to the bar with our credit cards and was ignored, even after making contact. When we did finally get the attention of our waiter he tried to tell us that he had already dropped off the check, which he hadn't, and was annoyed that we wanted out of there. I won't be back to Branch. That is great that you have a Groupon going, but it made you forget about your "real" customers that would have been there no matter what.

    (1)

  • Kim Y.

    Huge whiskey selections, great beer/booze pairings and a nice enough waiter who put up with our shenanigans. I am sure were were a teeny bit obnoxious, but dude was cool and friendly - even when the boys started asking for nutso chick drinks. Win. Even if you miss happy hour, you can start the night with a nice pricey cocktail and then continue your buzz with the $5 'Alberta' - ghetto whiskey shot and an 'old german' I think. Not mega quality, but not horrid either! Pretty interior and great little neighborhood. I dig.

    (5)

  • E G.

    God I love whiskey! And if you love whiskey, this is the place for you! There are so many different options to try! And knowledgeable staff to guide your through your whiskey tasting adventures! And duck fat fries! And flights of whiskey to enable trying new things! And for nights when you don't want to guzzle whiskey they have a lovely house Manhattan (the Branchattan I believe) which is delicious. Or, how about an adult sno-cone AKA a mint julep? Really good. One time I had some roasted potatoes with some delicious aioli but I haven't seen them on the menu since then. Bring them back please. They have a great outdoor patio. The only thing I am not crazy about is that they have a TV. Meh. Seriously, this place is great. Go here.

    (5)

  • Rachel S.

    I would give them 4 stars for their whiskey selection alone, but the overall place is just ok in my book. They have a good list, including a few hard to find varieties. Prices are a bit high compared to other spots (like Brooklyn Park Pub). Atmosphere is a little higher end, and they have a fancy-looking food menu, so I guess that's why they command a higher price. Their food is very un-vegetarian/vegan friendly, and service is variable. I find you're treated better if you sit at the bar. There are a lot of places I like better, but if I'm looking for whiskey and am in the area, Branch isn't too bad. Also, they are a Delta Skymiles Dining participant, which keeps me coming back.

    (3)

  • Jason H.

    Came here 8 or 9 months ago before a show at the Alberta Rose. Thought we could pop in for a quick appetizer and whiskey before the show. The food was fine, whiskey was great, staff was nice....and slower than slow. Got to the show later than I was hoping. Fast forward to today. Decided to try this place again before another show, hoping to make the show on time. Nope. Same thing. 2 bartenders to serve the entire (packed) place. One more server would be perfect. Food/drink gets a five and service gets a 2 (the bartenders were super friendly) My recommendation is only come here if you have no appointment to be anywhere else.

    (3)

  • Andrew Y.

    Generally the food draws me, but at this little spot: no. To be fair, they did have a few eats remaining by the time my friends and I arrived, but it just wasn't desirable. The items requested were either out-of-stock or the kitchen was closing, either way, eating wasn't the purpose (and granted we just had donuts...so...we were good). A nice warm tea was the rightful end of the day and a blueberry tea with cognac it was. Love the merge...hot alcohol beverages are hard to find it restaurants in southern California, so it was nice little blend that makes me wish there was a reason for warmth in a cup down here. The waiter was nice and helpful in his beverage suggestions but it appeared there were only two waiters...odd to observe, but didn't impact the service.

    (3)

  • Jamie C.

    So good! Great drinks-lots of whiskey and bourbon choices. Well made-homemade maraschino cherries-so very legit. Generous serving of fries served with aioli and friend in duck fat. We also ordered an olive bowl-AND THEY WERE THOSE BUTTERY GREEN ONES!!! Serious. Sit at the bar-it's a small place and it is probably the best way to get attention when it's busy. Perfect for a drink date.

    (5)

  • Jennifer M.

    I think there is a lot of potential here, but our experience wasn't very good. My friends updated the number in our party at 4pm, before they opened, and they did not update our reservation. That was OK, we were able to work it out. Service was very slow throughout the night. The menu is great - if you aren't gluten intolerant, dairy intolerant or have an interest in eating healthy. Usually that's not a problem for me because most places are flexible and want to work with you. The waiter did not seem interested in helping me out, so I ordered a burger, no bun, no cheese, and replaced the fries with the vegetable on their board, squash. When everyone's dishes came out, they were well-presented and and clearly time and effort went into the preparation. My dish took longer and when it came out, it looked like crap - like a hockey puck just sitting on the plate (unseasoned and without even a piece of lettuce under it. The squash was good, but I was turned off by the lack of service and feeling like not as much care went into my burger as the other people in my party who ordered a burger that looked really appetizing. I was really disappointed. I refuse to let that ruin my night, but I do think that when you have dishes on your menu from $12 - $24 you might consider being a little flexible with your menu. Particularly since the squash isn't called squash on the blackboard - they call it delicata. Meaning, if you want to present yourself as a mid-range dining experience, then there are some expectations - good, helpful service and a little flexibility.

    (2)

  • Erin N.

    I'm trying to learn to like whiskey. Met some friends out on a weeknight, a bit after 7, for drinks and some food. Branch was incredibly crowded, and based on the service we received, very understaffed. I'd love to be able to actually have a conversation with a server about the differences in whiskeys, and what I as a new whiskey drinker should be doing to best enjoy the drink. I've been once before when it wasn't so crowded, and service was much better...I'd like to come back again, so Branch, take note! Food was good but nothing mind-blowing. Music selection was top notch full of 80s pop (DM, Erasure, Naked Eyes, Soft Cell, etc.)

    (3)

  • Heather J.

    I like the manhattan here, they have a good selection of whiskeys and always a handful of beer+whiskey pairings. But the atmosphere leaves a bit to be desired. It's really dark, but feels a bit 'cold' to me. Great pre-theatre spot if you're heading over to Livewire like I was. Oh, and 5-7 every day happy hour is a great deal!

    (3)

  • Nancy Z.

    2-word summary: Boozy umami-fest. My husband and I went here for dinner last night, and were extremely satisfied! We ordered the following: 1. Booze: A draft IPA from their rotating selection and a $4 happy hour cocktail (and Old Fashioned). Both were quite good (and we are fairly snotty about our drinks). 2. Appetizer: House-Made Pork & Cognac Pate. Tasty! The plate came with two hefty slices of pate, sliced french bread, mustard, three jellies, bitter greens, and an assortment of pickled vegetables. Honestly, I was mostly full by the time I finished a beer and my share of the pate platter; but I can't complain about generous portions! 3. Entree: We got the macaroni and cheese gratin (with smoked gouda and ham), which was heavy but delicious, and the braised boar shoulder. OH MY GOD, the boar shoulder was SO GOOD! We will be going back just to have this again. The ambiance was hip-ish and intimate, with what I'd classify as semi-edgy 80's music playing (lesser known INXS, Morrissey, Clash, Ramones) - which was pleasingly nostalgic for us, since we're semi-edgy thirty-something-year-olds. Service was very reasonably prompt, and the waiter was friendly and attentive without being intrusive (e.g., checked in with us whenever our glasses were empty). Total damage was about $53 + tip, which included 3 drinks. Also, as mentioned above, they dished out in quantity as well as quality - we went home with enough leftovers for 1 or 2 more meals. (I just had some of the leftover boar shoulder for lunch, and it was at least as good the day after. Joy!)

    (5)

  • Sarah H.

    The service in many Portland restaurants is legendary in its badness. Branch takes this to a new level. Our party of 10 people was there to celebrate a birthday and have a good time over drinks and food. One would think this was a good thing for a restaurant on a Sunday night. We were repeatedly treated as if every request for food or beverage was a colossal imposition. Our surly waiter could not be bothered to take the entire table's order at one time, repeatedly forgot one of our party's orders, got orders wrong, brought one dinner AN HOUR after everyone else had been served. Not so much fun to be the one person eating at the table after all the other plates had been cleared. WTF? I will never be back here.

    (1)

  • Don T.

    excellent neighborhood bar and cafe. Has signature plates with suggested whiskey parings.

    (4)

  • Michelle M.

    The food and cocktails were delicious, but the service was SLOW. I went in for an early dinner (5pm) with 6 people. There was only one other table with people seated at it when we arrived and 3 when we left. We ordered cocktails, some simple apps and entrees (placed at the same time as apps). The meal took 1hr 45 minutes and we had to chase the server down for the bill or it would've been even longer. I may give it another try, but if the service is the same I won't return.

    (3)

  • Wolf L.

    We hung out on Branch's back patio for the first time. It's a cozy place to sip a delicious cocktail on a (partially) sunny afternoon. This place remains my favorite local bar--and not just because I can walk there in a Portland minute. Oh, yeah, and they make a mean Mint Julep. Nice and strong and served in a cold steel cup. I expect to be stopping in quite often for summer libations.

    (5)

  • Foodster I.

    Took my GF mother and girlfriend to Branch for my GF mom's birthday cause she loves whiskey. We were their for happy hour; place got busy and there was only one server and a bartender working. She was not impressed with the service and neither were we. Took for ever to get our drinks, waited a long time for our order to be taken and our food came out 33 minutes after we ordered. My fries were drenched in their famous "duck lard". they were freaking NASTY. Wont be going there again =(

    (1)

  • Sean O.

    Love the Branch Burger at Happy Hour, might just love it tonight!

    (4)

  • Beth M.

    I bought a Groupon for Branch on a whim - I'd never heard of it, we just don't get over to Alberta that often (since we live in the greatest neighborhood ever - Go Montavilla! Whoo!), and I didn't even catch that it was a whiskey bar - I must have been drunk when I purchased the deal. And I'm so glad I did! My super-cute manfriend and I had a hot date night, and after taking in a show, made our way to Branch in time for happy hour. After ordering the Old German/Henry McKenna - neat - ($4!), we settled on a few selections from the happy hour menu. The duck fat fries: The DUCK. FAT. FRIES. Do I even need to say anything? They are 100%, possibly 110%, as delicious as you might imagine them to be. The pate plate: tantalizingly rustic house-made pate, with just enough rough-chopped texture to be meaty and delightful, and creamy enough to spread on the baguette, or all over your body in a fit of pate-inspired passion. Wait, did I just say that out loud? Yes, yes I did. Not only is the pate amazing, but the accoutrement are thoughtfully selected and plentiful. The oysters: fresh, meaty and briny. I loved that they were served with a mignonette instead of cocktail sauce and horseradish - it allowed the excellent quality of the oysters to shine. Our server was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, and even as the place filled up, took time to talk to us about the different whiskeys. The back patio looked great, though it was a little chilly to be sitting outside at this time of year. Even without a Groupon or special deal, we will definitely be back. Keep up the great work, Branch!

    (5)

  • Valery C.

    Branch looks and feels, as they describe themselves, like a local hangout. Sleeker than the average pub, but not by much. We stopped by for a pre-dinner drink at the bar, when reliance on late afternoon natural light seeping in through the open storefront kept the place pleasantly dim. Comfortable space, neither expansive nor tight. Happy hour was in full swing, with a list of mostly classic whiskey cocktails, a few draft beers, and house wines for an average $4 each. Eschewing the classics, I chose the Alberta, a beer and whiskey cocktail mixing up Pittsburgh Brewing Company's Old German, a light Euro style lager, with Henry McKenna bourbon. I don't get into beer cocktails much, and this one probably wasn't a good one to start with. Drinkable, and fine for the price, but the pairing wasn't any more revelatory than the components separate. The Whiskey Rickey cocktail, basically a collins with bourbon, was better, benefiting from simplicity. One companion stayed on a bit to do a whiskey tasting from their extensive list. It was reportedly a better experience. Of course, dinner can also be had here, both from a short happy hour menu as well as upscale pub foods, but we had dinner down the block so didn't try it out. A casual, neighborhood watering hole, with a focus on whiskey.

    (3)

  • M B.

    My husband and I dined here for late dinner tonight with a friend. Ordering our food was fairly quick, but that was pretty much where quick stopped. After waiting for our food for forty minutes, one of the wait staff came by and only with our prompting were we told that the kitchen was running a little behind. Why weren't we told about this when we ordered our food? After twenty more minutes, we finally got our food. Now the two stars is really for our food. It was quite delicious!!! Overall service was really poor. Staff were friendly enough but my advice to management is to have your staff inform their customers the status of their order especially if you are running behind. I really don't think waiting for dinner for an hour at eight in the evening is acceptable anywhere, Also, if a customer does wait that long, something should be comped. In fact we didn't even get an apology for our food coming out so late.

    (2)

  • kelly s.

    The lady and I tried Branch after buying a Groupon Now on a whim. We are both fans of the world's many varieties of Whiskies, and figured this was a no fail. I must admit we were a bit turned off by the morbid emptiness of Branch when we arrived, but the food I saw coming out of the kitchen looked and smelled delicious. We were trying to be budget conscious, and so we didn't order some of the more extravagant choices we might normally have liked to. Nonetheless I can credit Branch for introducing me to my new favorite low end Whiskey. (When I say low end I mean real low, but so tasty)... After buying our share of regular drinks, we ended the night with an "Alberta" which, if memory serves me, was a pour of Henry McKenna and a tall boy for $5. Great deal, and the cheap well whiskey totally did the trick. At the time, I remember feeling like the environment was forgettable, but I haven't forgotten how good that food smelled, so I think that must be a great sign.

    (4)

  • Lydia H.

    Came in last Monday night with my best friend for some girl talk and to use my groupon. Our drinks were good, service was friendly, and the food we did order was also really good. I had a couple of the Portland 75s and she had a couple of some whiskey drink with ginger beer. However, we were both disappointed by the lack of veggie choices; luckily we both eat seafood. We shared the grilled romaine hearts, osyters, and lobster corndogs appetizers. There wasn't a single veggie or seafood entree choice; you can't even sub a veggie burger. Come on this is Portland and we weren't eating at Laurelhurst Market. I really want to like this place more but with my limited food choices I doubt I will return unless I just want some booze.

    (3)

  • Phong D.

    I feel like a kid come home from summer camp and I can't decide what was the best part about my recent experience. Everything about Branch was great: the drinks, the food, the staff, the atmosphere, the bathrooms, everything! We started with the Branch board which was a wonderful display of cheese, meats, and pickled items like the elusive pickled egg. This was followed by the life-changing Branch burger. The homemade bun carried the burger to my table like a roman emperor. The burger itself was meaty, flavorful, and juicy. It's presence was strong enough to stand alone without the help of condiments. We chose to top it with Tillamook cheese and homemade bacon - the perfect compliment to complete this team Avenger superburger. I can't wait to come back to this place.

    (5)

  • Miss Denice R.

    I want to wallow in those whiskey sours for life! I found Branch through zap hour and stopped in for a half-offy. The bartenders were excellent, informative and foxy. Cute ptowners aside, the food was exceptional. The house made Mortadella, accompanied by a rather large slice of pate on the meat board alone would bring me back. But the classically prepared whiskey sour, made just like granny made, with egg whites and lemon bitters? Dream come true.. I look forward to giving them five stars on my third visit!

    (4)

  • Michael G.

    Good service and decent atmosphere, but high chair and table setup were not very comfortable. The whiskey the bartender recommended (based on my assertion that I like Woodford and Knob Creek) had quite a burn. The mixed drinks that the people I was with had were tasty, though.

    (3)

  • Michael C.

    The wife and I stopped by here after appetizers and drinks at The Station. I was very excited being that this was my first time here and I happen to love the Whiskey! All in all we had a nice time. I had an Old Fashioned and my wife (not a Whiskey lover) had the house red. The Old Fashioned was really good and my wife enjoyed the wine. The service was good, our waitress was attentive and friendly. However, the overall atmosphere was a little underwhelming. I think the place has a ton of potential but looks a bit run down right now. The main area is on the small side but its not too small and they have a fairly large patio area out back. Being located in the Alberta district area is a plus. i'd like to see a little work put into making the place look a bit nicer.

    (3)

  • Richard M.

    This is a story in 3 parts. Part 1: I went to Branch tonight with my girlfriend and another couple. One of our friends had a Groupon and suggested we help him redeem it. First of all- a note on Groupons. I'm used to Groupon sort of deals being half off, or some substantial impact on your meal. The $10 for $20 isn't as much a deal when most of the drinks are $8-10 and the entrees even more. Not really a complaint, just sort of anticlimactic. I started with high hopes. The food all had that sort of extra-special ingredients so I expected the few extra bucks for any given item to be well worth it. The round of pre-meal drinks were amazing...I surely recommend this place for DRINKS, and will return to give a happy hour a try (and if they redeem themselves, will edit this review.) The duck-fat french fries we ordered with drinks were delicious, and a sure sign this is NOT the place for vegetarians. However, I'm going to challenge that Fifth quadrant and Sunshine Tavern have better fries. For dinner, 2 of the party ordered burgers with salads, one ordered a burger without cheese (she has serious dairy related health concerns) and I ordered the half chicken. We received 3 burgers with cheese and fries on the side...so 3 out of 3 burger orders arrived wrong. My chicken dinner was exactly as ordered menu wise, but the slaw was bland, the salsa was bland, and while the sauce on the chicken was tasty, the meat itself was bland. It wasn't a BAD meal, but something I'd expect for $8 at a family restaurant or such. Normally, I'm inspired to write reviews either based on feeling the need to sing praises or warn of horrors. In this case it's more like there are dozens of places within a few blocks I think are delightful and serve better food, with better service, for better prices. I'm not mad at Branch, just disappointed. Part 2: Having written the above, and leaving 2 stars, Branch's manager contacted me and was very polite and professional, but personal, in how he responded. He explained a few issues with the staff that day- something to the extent there was a wedding that day, and so they had some core staff away, and also apologized and noted this was not an excuse. He offered to reimburse me for the meal (not the whole ticket, since we bought a bunch of drinks). I was so impressed with the wording of his correspondence, that I updated this review. I work in marketing, and this was the ideal way to respond to bad reviews. Part 3; The 4 of us returned, gift certificates in hand. I had the same meal as last time. This time I demolished the tasty dish and relished every bite, stopping just shy of licking the plate. The others enjoyed their salad, mac and cheese and burger, which all came exactly as ordered. The drinks remain the highlight. My mint julep was by far the best version of that cocktail I have had to date. The Ambassador also comes highly recommended. I leave you with 4 stars instead of 5 because the service still needs some improvement. On a hot day when you're air conditioning is out, you really need to keep the water flowing- especially when you give each table a bottle of water that doesn't have enough to fill 4 people's glasses. It's also surprising to see staff walk by empty cocktail/ beer glasses that many times without asking if more drinks are wanted. Finally, it was a bit ironic that after a conversation about my gift certificates at the start of the meal, in which one staff person took them, that I had to remind them to give me the discount when the bill came for the full amount. Finally- while this place clearly does not cater to vegetarians or vegans, I'd suggest one really impressive vegan, ideally gluten-free option. A lot of Portlanders don't eat meat, dairy or wheat, and it would be nice to see options besides salad for those folks. To be continued if and when I try the amazing looking Happy Hour menu.

    (4)

  • Sarah K.

    Love Branch. Great whiskey wine and cocktail list. Wonderful food. As mentioned in earlier posts, the duck fat fries are divine. Good gastro pub faire. Branch is a bit expensive and portions small if you're in the mood for bar-prices, but the atmosphere is lovely, the service knowledgeable and accommodating, and the lighting perfect.

    (4)

  • Dan H.

    Alcohol is the cause of and solution to all of life's problems. Someone famous said a variation on that. I think it was Homer...Simpson that is. Branch Whiskey Bar is yet another high end whiskey bar in Portland. My friends and I were looking to imbibe something a bit better than the usual and after discussing it a bit we came up with this place. One of my friends didn't know the name so I did a quick Yelp search for Alberta whiskey bar and our question was answered. What's in a name? That is a damn good question. I posed this question to myself. I talk to myself often because apparently I'm a good listener. If Branch Whiskey Bar was just called Branch Bar would the drinks be a dollar or two less in price? It makes you think. It really makes you think. Branch has a very nice selection of whiskey's from around the world as well as an interesting cocktails menu. Most of the cocktails will set you back around $8, but most of them will get you pretty hammered if you are into spending lots of money to get wasted at a nice bar. I am not. Spending $8 on two drinks that I can sit and enjoy is something I quite like to do every so often. It doesn't happen as much as I'd like as my wallet doesn't always allow me to do it, but it is nice when I can. Branch is probably not a place I would frequent very often, but it is good for a special occasion or a date or when you just want something better than your run of the mill hipster dive bar.

    (4)

  • Rayna A.

    Dark but intimate. Don't let that dirty south feel'n carry you to BBQ joint down the street cause it's disappointing!

    (5)

  • Lesa D.

    Meh - service... The food - great! Service - the only thing that was fast was providing us with the charged Visa (we did have to beg for the check). We were fairly ignored the entire time we were there - it was like they didn't really want us - too old? not cool enough? Our level of invisibility became humorous - we started making bets about how long it would be until someone looked, smiled, or stopped at our table. But we did eventually get service, and when the food came, it was great - but then maybe we were just so hungry...

    (3)

  • Michael F.

    Friendly staff, excellent food and good drinks. Not much more should you ask for in a bar.

    (4)

  • Lauren B.

    I've recently come to love whiskey cocktails, so I was excited to try Branch one night while in Portland. I wasn't disappointed, either. Their Brown Derby (Maker's Mark, maple syrup, grapefruit, lime, orange bitters, orange peel) was delicious, and the rest of my party enjoyed their drinks as well. We also had the oysters from the happy hour menu, and they were perfectly prepared. I would definitely go back, and try some other menu items.

    (3)

  • Taylor J.

    Laid back and delicious. At first glance this place didn't quite sweep me, but I've returned for a second visit, and I appreciate it quite a bit more now. If I was a whiskey drinker, I'm sure I'd be giving Branch a full five stars. It was a gorgeous warm evening when I was there, so the other diners were all congregated back on their sweet little back alley patio. The server was very friendly and helpful. We tried their delicious lobster corndogs, with an awesome beer mustard for dipping. We were even there on a Friday night fairly late, and ordered the last ones. I was actually surprised they still had any. The guy told us it's their most in demand menu item, and for obvious reasons. Its so surprisingly tasty! Duck fat fries with ranch, I think that speaks for itself. And I was glancing at their happy hour menu, and will most definitely be back to partake. They have Oysters on their said HH menu as well as a bunch of other amazingness. Their burgers also look very impressive. I have tried their Sweet tea & Bourbon drink and it was a sure winner! Check it out!

    (4)

  • Ann G.

    My second and LAST time eating here. We spent a ton of cash for a dinner with friends and the food was not good and the service was worse. The drinks were flowing heavy that night, so we let it slide. If you feel like having a whiskey and a burger and sitting at the bar by yourself, you should be fine. If you have more than one person at your table however and you get the waiter we had, forget it. Your order will be screwed up. Repeatedly. Food came out and was sent back multiple times because it wasn't right. Our waiter was so checked out that someone from the kitchen kindly gave him a hand (thank you). Oh, and when I order a steak medium well (hey, it's how I like it), do not bring it to the table in a pool of cool blood barely singed looking like beef sushi with an attitude. It's not what I ordered, I don't care if your chef thinks I'm a plebian. Get it right. It's a beautiful location in a really great neighborhood. I hope they spend a little extra time on training their waitstaff, it would serve them well.

    (2)

  • Megan R.

    We go here pretty frequently because of it's convenient location, lack of wait and they seem to always be running deals. The food is decent, the service is decent and the drinks are pretty good. Nothing is out of this world, but it's a consistent meal with a an opportunity to sit outside in the summer.

    (4)

  • Bob L.

    I don't want to slag it, but they need to work out their service. It's lazy. I always feel like they are doing ME a favor by letting me spend my money there. Burger and steak and fries are good. Whiskey selection is good. Stick to drinks and you'll be less frustrated.

    (3)

  • Paul L.

    We were sent here by An El Goucho waiter as a really good place for sazerac. He was not wrong. Best sazerac in Portland so far, and quite a big pour as well. We also had the duck fat fries and the bourbon paté. Not sure where the bourbon was but both plates were delicious and interesting and plenty of food.

    (4)

  • Melanie N.

    Came here on NYE to have dinner before heading over to a party nearby. I really thought the decor and vibe were cool. We sat down at a table for drinks. They have an interesting cocktail menu which most ordered from, but as I wasn't interested in any of them I just ordered a vodka soda. We waited a bit more to be seated but managed to order a charcuterie platter to share. It was pretty tasty. The actual menu is pretty small so I'd check it out online before you go (if you want food) just to be sure there's something that sounds good to you. We were told that the food was probably going to take longer than normal - I think they were cooking food for an event nearby. Overall I wasn't overly impressed with this. The food was so-so (the burger was the best thing I tasted out of the dishes) and the drinks are a bit pricey ($8 for a Vodka Soda...there are places in SF I expect this b/c they're overpriced, but shocked to see it in Portland). Out of all the great places to go to eat and drink in Portland, I probably won't be back. But I can see it's probably a cool neighborhood joint to hang at, especially if you like their drinks.

    (3)

  • Edward J.

    A friend called me up like 10pm asking if I wanted to go out. HELL YES. I wanted to go to Blow Pony but everyone flaked out, so i ended up here, at Branch, with live gypsy swing jazz music. HELL YES. I got three drinks, all whiskey cocktails, I remember one was fruity, one was spicy, and one was savory. I don't remember anything else 'cause I was drunk. We walked down to Bye and Bye until I was sober enough to bike home. I'll come back if they have more live gypsy jazz. PS: the place is cozy and feels really local.

    (4)

  • Andrea T.

    Can you say Whiskey anybody??? I mean a serious selection of whiskey/bourban! And good food as well. Who woulda thought that whiskey and grapefruit juice (the brown derby) would go hand in hand? And the smoke infused whiskey! Seriously, need I say more!

    (4)

  • Therese G.

    Love this place, especially the burger and the people. And the steak cobb salad.

    (5)

  • Shannon M.

    Hand's down the best french fries and whisky drinks I've had! Seriously, crazy good! I am looking forward to going again to see what else they have (but will struggle with ordering anything else but the fries and manhattan because they were just that good!)

    (5)

  • Tom A.

    Winter night. Full house. Jazz trio. Dr Ty Combo. Basil Hayden's. Corner Creek. All good. Good time. Walk home. Light rain. Next time I'll try the food.

    (4)

  • rick r.

    The first item on my checklist after moving back to Alberta was to check out Branch. N, a few friends, and I cruised by for some grub and beverages. The ambiance is good. I'd expected it to feel a bit more manly a la ringside, but it was making an effort at being non-pretentious fancy, similar to Mississippi Station but not quite as successful at that. That's okay, they're new, and by my vague it looks like they didn't make a lot of major changes from oyster bar take 2. Enough waxing whatever on "feelings" let's talk food. Rillettes. I am not a guy who know French food. But I do like moist, shredded pork, and that's what this was. My impression of rillettes is that they are typically creamier, with pork fat blending with fatty pork. This struck me more as a cousin or carolina pulled pork. And there is nothing wrong with that. It was delicious, a salty juicy treat to put on nice buttered bread. Burger burger burger. I don't mean sliders, and it wasn't huge. It was well-sized and juicy. House-ground beef dripping juices all over the plate and soaking into a bun build to stand up to it keeping its form and my fingers dry (until later when I licked them). A hint of dijon and an aioli to make the moist moister. I was ridiculed by a jealous companion as I painstakingly stacked lettuce and onion on my burger mound, but I persevered. Some magic held the delight together throughout the consumption process even as I set it down occasionally to grab a bite of German potato salad. Personally, Americans have ruined the potato salad. It just doesn't need to be dripping mayo. So I was very pleased that they serve theirs German-style. That'd be a mustard base with delicious smoky meats. This one was good, different than others I've had by being a bit dryer and lacking some vegetable chunks, but I'm down with change. It wasn't great, and it's not what will bring me back (if you skipped to here, go up one paragraph), but it is a nice side, and it worked well. Use them to mop some of the burger juice. Rigatoni. Neighborohood special. $12 for pasta, salad, and a beer or wine. Nice touch, I like. I tried a bite of the pasta with Kale and it was good. The Fall salad that it came with was excellent. Really delicious, understated dressing, fruit, some sort of roased squash or something I couldn't identify, fennel, mmm hmmm. And I got to drink the beer. One note on the burger, I got medium rare. I felt it was just a bit more cooked than I was envisioning, so if you like your medium rare on the rare side, you might consider going rare. With all that I drank beer. The tap list was small but quality. Upright and amnesia, a German beer (Paulaner I believe), and a couple other god choices were available. I had the Upright #6. Yay. I didn't delve deeply into the whiskey list. They do 3x1oz flights for $18, or you can get a shot for 5-15. The lit looked good but not great. I should've paid better attention, but I think it was more American bourbons than Irish and Scotches. Overall, a really nice spot. I think that with a bit of self-discovery Branch could easily jump to 5-stars. cheers.

    (4)

  • Merridawn D.

    End of the year and I want to put a special shout out for second chances. I was given a groupon (which everyone should check out) for Whiskey Branch and after that experience I wanted to Yelp that anyone seeking a great meal at great prices should park at Whisky Branch, turn left and walk as fast as possible down to Tin Shed. WB was, in a word, awful. The bartender pronounced himself "grumpy" as soon as we sat down, was ecstatic about being out of the special, practically in tears of happiness that there was no vegetarian option, and rushed to pour us some dwarf-sized drinks (my apologies, all dwarves) and then left us to cool our heels and every other part of our bodies because it was freezing in there. Never again, vow I. Then well, you know how those vows work out. I'm on Alberta and there is Whisky Branch and we still have the damn groupon. It's a recession, y'all so in we go. What a difference! This time we had a lovely waitress, wonderful trout salad, human-sized drinks (apologies, all humans) and a great burger, perfectly reasonable prices. So just want to say that I have been guilty of rushing to judgment sometimes and maybe this coming year I'll cut everyone a tiny bit of slack. Except of course of El Gouge-o. But that's another story.

    (4)

  • Ryan R.

    Have been here twice for drinks with friends. The first time - about a month ago - we had a very nice time. Tasty drinks, a very comprehensive (though pricey) flight of whiskey, and quick service. "Branchattan" was a fave at our table. The second time, celebrating with a friend, we waited about 10-15 minutes to be noticed and served. The drinks were good. Had the Blood and Sand, which was a little too sweet for me but tasty. The atmosphere is pretty cozy - lots of wood and dim lights. Crazy art on the walls, and what seems to be a very well stocked bar. I've never eaten here, so I can't speak about the food. However one of my favorite Portland pizza places is right next door! (Bella Faccia).

    (4)

  • Jeff M.

    OK. Food made up for lack of service here. Limited but very intriguing menu with reasonable prices. I really enjoyed the chicken which does not seem to be a regular thing for their menu. Unfortunately service was blah. Not terrible, but not great either. I would have been inclined to try the whiskey and beer pairing had It been offered. My bad for not noticing the big board sooner. Seems like a great space for what they are doing. Big room with lots of seating and a nice bar set up.

    (3)

  • Doug S.

    Checked this little neighborhood joint last Saturday. We were met with a full house and a jazz band. By the looks of the scene we were real "iffy" as to even try Branch: it seemed loud and crowded. The squeezed us in to a table and, honestly, I was a bit reluctant. Well F*$%K me! It was great. It was busy but the service was awesome (big thing for me), the cocktails came out quick and the food was very, very good. The wife and I had the shrimp and polenta and the pork. Both worth having again. I will come back to enjoy a few more of their Bourbon offerings. BTW- The band was good and not too loud, Made for a great evening~

    (4)

  • Aubree N.

    Considering I'm not a huge whiskey drinker, I really like this place. The cocktails are delicious-lots of fresh ingredients and unique combinations. I especially liked that the whiskey was the front runner in the drink-meaning, it wasn't diluted with lots of other flavors and mixes. The atmosphere was very warm, welcoming, and casual. This is a great place to stop in for a drink.

    (4)

  • Ryan M.

    Delicious duck-oil fries and gin gimlets. Cheap happy hour drinks.

    (3)

  • Tara M.

    Our first visit to Branch was a gift to my bourbon and whisky lovin' fiancé- I liked the idea of whisky flights and hoped for at least some decent food to go with... Wow, we were not disappointed!! We started by sharing a grilled romaine salad with fried capers and homemade caesar which was warmed through and a nice take on the boring salad courses I've been eating lately. My foodie of a partner has not stopped raving about the French dip hangar steak which was cooked to a perfect rare (he said possibly best French dip ever!) and I had a special which was orochiette pasta with calimari, arugula, and cauliflower that was delish and a little unusual (a good thing!) Oh and BTW the whisky was good too! The really nice server picked out a flight of a bourbon, a rye, and an Irish whisky for $18- and there are some pricy bottles on the list! We will definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Suzanne F.

    The other night The Big Man & I needed a little something to eat (and drink) after his flight from Oakland up here to PDX. We didn't want to go far, we wanted something new (for us) and we didn't want 'pub grub'. We wound up here and it was fine - no great shakes - but fine. Maybe it's Portland, maybe I'm just cranky, but since when did it become de riguer for a 'whiskey bar' to have a huge TV positioned so there was no getting away from it? It was annoying & something I'd expect in a sports bar or a local neighborhood tavern. The Big Man had a burger which he finished every last bite of, so I am assuming it was tasty (or he was hungrier than he let on). I had some white bean spread on crackers. It was....okay...kind of dry, and not much in the way of complexity. It was chunky and there were no pine nuts, olive oil, or parsley - just a little bit of paprika. I would not order it again. Honestly, the hummus from Trader Joe's is better, if that gives you any indication. I ordered a single malt Scotch straight up, so no surprises - it was exactly what I wanted. TBM had a glass of wine - again, fine. If you're in the area, stop by. It might be just what you want. As for me, I would not make a special trip to drink here. Not meaning any sort of backhand compliments, but it was just okay.

    (3)

  • Cassandra D.

    I went here about a week ago for an after dinner drink. Enjoyed...I don't know much about whiskey, except that I enjoying drinking it. They have a large selection here and I went with the local Pendleton Canadian whiskey, as I've had it before. It wasn't too crowded and the server was friendly and attentive. Disliked...This place is pretty cool, but nothing really stands out for me. I guess if I was really into whiskey, I'd be more into it, but I'm not.

    (3)

  • JEN S.

    I've been into Bourbon Sours a lot lately, so I thought I would check out Branch Whiskey Bar. I'll admit, it was a bit hard to find, I think because I forgot the name and didn't really know what I was looking for. Ended up at another bar that was NOT a whiskey bar and left. The bar itself is nice and chill, just what I was looking for. We pulled up a seat at the bar and checked out the menu. I think I might have been a little overwhelmed with the selection, so I just ordered a Bourbon Sour, not with anything special. I think next time I'll do a sampling of Bourbons. It tasted like your average Bourbon Sour but came with a Kumquat instead, which I thought was unique. We were a little bit hungry, not starving so we ordered a few smaller places. We ordered the salt cod mash and a shrimp and polenta dish, all of which were very tasty. The bartender was nice and the drinks I thought were well priced, it was only $5 for my sour. I think I'm going to have to come back for Happy Hour and try a bunch of Bourbons. Yum!

    (5)

  • Cara O.

    Well, I love whiskey (and whisky) and so do they. Our bartender/waiter was knowledgeable and friendly. Really friendly. Sit-down-at-your-table-and-help-you-choose friendly. But that was a good thing for the people who didn't know too much about the booze on the (extensive) menu. Food menu is pretty limited. And it's COLD inside. Those were the only downsides to this place that I experienced. So if you bring a coat and are prepared to taste some interesting whisk(e)ys in a spare but fancy, modern atmosphere, I'd recommend Branch for drinks on a weekday evening.

    (4)

  • Paula K.

    Excellent, beyond expectations! Please try the fries. JP is exceptional as a manager,server, bartender.

    (5)

  • M K.

    Duck fat fries. Nuff said.

    (4)

  • Beth G.

    Sigh. Branch is right around the corner from our house, and my sweetie loves whiskey. And cheeseburgers. Branch does both very well. In fact, the food is really pretty darn good. So why the sighs? Because you have to deal with the service. We've walked out twice. When we stay, we go in prepared to wait, and not be acknowledged, and have the wrong food brought to you...and...it goes on and on. To be fair, I think they are working on it--last night the waitstaff was completely different, and one waitress (not ours) seemed to be quite on top of it. And my french onion soup was rich, filling, and delicious. My salad was good, too. And the meatballs at the table next to us smelled divine. We'll go back (again and again, if my sweetie has his way), but only when we're feeling patient and tolerant and in need of a cheeseburger.

    (3)

  • H T.

    cheap happy hour w/ delicious drinks. i got a cherry infused bourbon cocktail for $5!

    (4)

  • Coleen M.

    Black truffle oil mac n cheese + a server who knows his whiskey = an awesome dining experience. Loved this place!

    (5)

  • J B.

    I decided to check out Branch because I was curious. I was curious to see a *whiskey* bar in my neighborhood. I was curious because it was in a space I had seen turn over several times in the 7+ yrs I've lived in the neighborhood. I was just curious. I was pleasantly surprised by the collection of whiskeys and the reasonable prices of them. They don't have the list that the Brooklyn Park Pub but it's a nice list and they do flights. I'm a sucker for flights. The room was nice and comfortable. Definitely felt like the kind of place I could visit often and hang out for a good long while. The service was attentive and knowledgeable. The menu looked good but we didn't eat that night. Definitely recommend it and I'll definitely be back.

    (4)

  • Matt K.

    I was not a whiskey fan until I started going to Branch. Their Brown Derby cocktail (bourbon, grapefruit, bitters and maple syrup) turned me onto the path to whiskey enlightenment. If you are a whiskey person, you need to come here because they have a huge selection (naturally, they call themselves a whiskey bar). We don't have dinner here often, but have food on happy hour. The Pork Rillettes are bold and satisfying, and the grilled hearts of romaine are smoky but light. I've heard the burger here is amazing and i believe it. Service has always been stellar. They also understand that treating regulars (and neighborhood locals) well is the best thing a restaurant can do. Best bet is to hit this place for happy hour and appetizers.

    (5)

  • Nicole R.

    Oddly, I haven't tried their whiskey, but I actually think that is a plus for groups, because I hate whiskey and I STILL love it here. Fantastic food, with a decent happy hour, too. Small beer selection, but it's usually got you covered. Great lighting, fun atmosphere, really friendly bartenders. Even delicious cocktails.

    (5)

  • Kelli B.

    We were definitely warm enough and pleased as punch by the booze list and the (amazing) live Blues band playing in the corner. The food, however, seemed to be just shy of their mark. A few of us ordered the Pork Belly special and it was ALL fat. No meat. The Pork Rillette was a little too salty and the burger left much to be desired. Also, the mashed potatoes were WAY too buttery and milky. I would definitely recommend going for drinks and maybe an appetizer. But if you want that style of food done well, you may as well just fork it over at Beaker & Flask.

    (3)

  • Lisa C.

    I wish I could give this place four stars. I love the food, staff & location. But they consistently play terrible music and have terrible art hung on the walls. Upgrading both would make the experience SO much better! I would visit much more often.

    (3)

  • Pablo H.

    Branch may tout itself as a "whiskey bar" but this new Alberta Street business will be known for its food. The New American menu is simple, clean, and well executed. I've been excited about trying Branch for a few weeks now, and finally made it in last night. Upon first glance, this is the sort of place that you might expect to see in the area. A series bare tables each simply lit with a single tea light, a well stocked bar, and art on the walls that would welcome in anyone who is on Alberta for "Last Thursday". Make your way to the back and you'll find cozy patio seating that invites a relaxed evening with friends. The menu consists of only 6 main dishes as well as a couple of chalkboard specials. The drinks were well made, we chose Branch's signature Manhattan, the "Branchhattan" and whiskey gingers (this is a whiskey bar after all). Like the rest of the menu, the cherry in the Manhattan had a peppery kick. The food exceeded my expectations given that the most expensive entrée cost less than $15. The heirloom mixed greens were a welcome change from the spring mix that you will find at any other restaurant. They were dressed with a fresh vinaigrette and topped with croutons flavored with a fiery paprika. One salad was large enough for both of us to share. My date had grilled hanger steak with a vibrant chimichurri atop a bed of arugula. I opted for the Duck Confit Hash, which was served with roasted potatoes and bell peppers. The dish was topped with an egg, poached to perfection. Either of these comes recommended, but the hanger steak outshone my duck by far. Desert consisted of a Tarte Tatin which was spiced beautifully and served a la mode. Other highlights include a MAMMOTH hamburger that looked and smelled delicious, and a happy hour from 5-7 and 10 (11 on Fri/Sat)-Close which features food and drink specials.

    (4)

  • Steve R.

    I've got to mention the vegatarian gnocci I had here the other night. It was on the specials menu, but I hope those in charge will put this item on the regular menu. It was incredible. It is made with a white sauce and was about the tastiest meal I've had lately. My companion absolutely agreed. Also, great service and good whiskey menu.

    (4)

  • Brent B.

    I've been hitting up Branch for a while now, and its always been a stellar spot, especially the burger. But as of late (the last 2 times I've been) its been awful! I don't know if the owners/chef has changed or what. My burger, both times have been either WAY overcooked, or WAY undercooked. Forgotten sides for the burger, over-salted fries one time, followed by soggy (YUK) fries the next... Salad with so much dressing I couldn't even choke it down. Its never been this bad. So whatever is going on over there, I hope they shape up, because this used to be a gem, but as of the last few months its been a lump of coal in the neighborhood. Ill try it once again, and update this accordingly, but if its bad the 3rd time, this place is off my list of places to eat, especially with so much great food nearby...

    (2)

  • J Q.

    I love this place. The staff are helpful and hilarious (especially the nice brunette lady and the dude named Michael) if you really talk to them. My two wishes (the third obviously being more wishes) are 1. Another vegetarian friendly entree or two, and 2. Get rid of that whack ass cocktail "Whiskey Flip". No good, and it takes like 25 minutes to make. Go home, Whiskey Flip, you're drunk.

    (4)

  • Jessica B.

    Decent ambiance and decent food. Service was very lacking. It is annoying when you have to flag down your server every time instead of them checking in on you. It is also annoying when you order a glass of red wine and they forget it and are behind the bar watching the game. They need a better system.

    (2)

  • Peter S.

    I was looking for a place to grab a bite and almost passed this place by due to its extensive beverage offerings (I was interested in EATING). SO glad I didn't! The grilled romaine was amazing and the roasted half chicken (and accoutrements) delicious. Nice choice of local brews and I really enjoyed the one I ended up picking. All in all, a very satisfying dining experience!

    (4)

  • Andy B.

    I generally like Branch. A good cocktail menu with some interesting options (i like the Gimme Three Steps) and a decent menu options (my wife loves their burger, i like the homemade bangers and mash). i haven't been here particularly late, so i dont know how big that crowd is, but its pretty steady but not too crowded at happy hour.

    (4)

  • Ron R.

    haven't eaten much here yet but another great whiskey bar. love the beer/bourbon pairing specials. great atmosphere and the staff is friendly. good for dates, good for catching a game, good for something casual. like the joint mucho.

    (5)

  • Jennifer S.

    Great staff and environment. The drinks are killer and I thought the Alberta burger was excellent. No complaints.

    (5)

  • akzidenz g.

    new favorite bar on alberta. didja hear? new favorite bar on alberta. no douchebagss allowed. just whiskey snobs.

    (4)

  • Jeremy L.

    Very good whiskey. Small cozy place to enjoy nice drinks after dinner or late night conversations. Staff was friendly and helpful as well. I would reccomend the Dickel and Stout beer and whiskey pairing.

    (4)

  • Bryna S.

    A friend took me out for drinks, and we went here. It's a pretty little spot, very Portland, what with the tree branch thing going on. Then my friend explained Whiskey is called branch water. Ah-ha! Still, super urban/chic. I liked the odd art. The menu was difficult to navigate. I wish they'd split it into sweet, dry, aromatic, whatever. Divide it by flavors if you're not going to describe yourself! The antipasti was fabulous. I still remember those yummy caperberries. We ate it all. I had the Glenmorangie and a Portland 75. The Glen had too much water in it, but the drink was solid. The cocktail was DELICIOUS, but it was gin, not whiskey. No thanks to the unhelpful waiter who couldn't pronounce "Glenmorangie" much less describe it! The second waiter was fabulous. But they emptied the trash and froze the bar with the door standing open. It's a small space. You'd think they could figure that out. Brr! All in all it's a neat place to bring a bunch of friends and a cab fare. There's another waiter who knows his stuff. He recommended the 4 roses to my friend, and I was envious. That stuff is phenomenal!

    (3)

  • Danielle N.

    This place was great. My husband and I walked here on a Friday night and got warm service, never had to sit around waiting for anyone to check in with us, good whiskey recommendations and creative food. We're definitely coming back. It's nice to find a quality place, especially on Alberta that doesn't think "snooty" has to be a factor in "quality."

    (4)

  • Theresa E.

    If you live in Portland or are visiting Portland soon - and you adore whiskey - then get your butt on down to Branch - a whiskey bar. This place has an amazing whiskey selection. One of my favorites is Black Maple Hill and it is hard to find in the bars - and guess what... they have it!! To top it off the food is amazing, the servers and bartenders are awesome and the ambiance and lighting is just right. What are you waiting for? Go to Branch - NOW!

    (5)

  • Art V. B.

    Excellent service with a good whiskey selection. It will probably be repetitive but ask for the whiskey flights and ask for recommendations. You won't regret it.

    (5)

  • David C.

    This is a great place to hangout with a small group of friends. They have four rotating taps of great beer and do great mixed drinks (and whiskey)! The food is good and worth the price but not something you'll rave to your friends about. They USED to have an evening happy hour (which was great) but have recently discontinued it.

    (4)

  • Dan Q.

    Best burger/fries in the city. Great service. I don't understand why this place is not busier. Small menu for food

    (5)

  • Rachael J.

    GREAT happy hour burger. I repeat. GREAT BURGER! Overall a nicehappy hour menu with some non-traditional options. Showed up around 5ish and the place was dead. A few Maker's and gingers later there was standing room only. Great atmosphere, almost an upscale feel to it making Branch a nice addition to the Alberta Arts area.

    (4)

  • Marilyn A.

    Went here for drinks and a bite one night with the man I was dating and we were having a terrific time until the owner fired our server/told her to leave on the spot in front of us. He didn't wait until the end of her shift. He didn't pull her aside to speak with her in private. It was a nightmare and wrecked the entire atmosphere for us. He never apologized. Nothing. Horrible display of professionalism and customer service.

    (1)

  • Pavel L.

    Excellent whiskey selection combined with a knowledgeable and attentive staff made this a perfect stop for a Saturday night. Great mixed drinks. Definitely try the Branchattan. Will be back again.

    (5)

  • Steven W.

    Shitty decor. Great whiskey. Good service. Nuff' said.

    (3)

  • Marcia R.

    Great food - warm friendly atmosphere - outstanding live entertainment on Saturday nights!

    (5)

  • Alan L.

    The current fad of the week appears to be Whiskey Bars. There are now multiple options in Portland if you want to drink at a place that calls itself a dedicated Whiskey Bar. To me it reeks a bit of an investor seeing a presentation on Whiskey Bars in NYC and wanting to make a quick buck in Portland. This can go poorly (see my review of Pope House Bourbon Lounge) or it can go well, as is the case with Branch. I recently hit Branch on a Monday night. It was slow, but quite enjoyable. The bartender was great, gladly handing out advice on the different whiskeys. I had Pendleton on the rocks, which I shortly there after spilled on my girlfriends lap. The bartender got me another nearly full glass. Classy. I made it through the refilled glass by focusing my spills in the direction of my mouth. They can probably ditch the kitschy signs that are placed throughout the bar (Trespassers will be shot, surviors will be shot again). The food selection looks good; I didn't eat, however. There are a four beers on tap, with a local spin on their choices. The bartender's description of trying to hit in between a fancy restaurant and a neighborhood bar is spot on.

    (4)

  • Jihae H.

    Whiskey is my life blood, so I couldn't think of a better place to end the evening on Last Thursday than at the aptly named Branch Whiskey Bar! We actually were able to find a table, which is super rare on a busy night like Last Thursday - Service was prompt and efficient, and the busboy was so good that we scarcely ever had extra glasses on our table. We were definitely drinking at a healthy pace, so I'm sure that dude had quite the job keeping up. It's strange to compliment the busboy, but when you have just been to a bar where every empty space is filled with someone elses old glasses and bottles, you can appreciate a good front of the house. They mix a mean Whiskey sour here, and have most every whiskey you can think of. My rating is based off drinks only, so I will have to revisit this when I've had the chance to actually eat. Chill spot to go with friends or on a romantic date - def a place to check out!

    (5)

  • David H.

    I love their whiskey list, so it's hard to dismiss this place, but I jut didn't think the food was as good as previous reviewers. My wife and I stopped by for dinner after getting a Groupon here. We tried the potatoes with the aioli, which was good, but my steak was undercooked, the flavors weren't that bold. However, the Branch burger was almost as good as everyone else has said. I'd go back just for the burger and some great whiskey.

    (4)

  • Shelly B.

    I like Branch otherwise known as "the Whiskey bar" for locals. I've lived within a mile of it since it opened and think it brought a nice vibe to the neighborhood. It's primarily a bar, but with high-end liquors, and quality food. It has more of an upscale feel at the tables, but the flat screen TV that plays sports is in view, reminding you that it's not too pretentious. See also, I'm not a whiskey girl and I like it here.

    (4)

  • Tom H.

    Really. I like spirit-driven cocktails, and I liked my visit to Branch. Had their version of a Manhattan--it was interesting and layered, as a good cocktail should be. A friend had the Sazerac; it was also very good. The server was very friendly and knowledgeable. We didn't have food, but the menu looked good; I'll be back to try some. And did I mention they have a ton of unusual whiskeys?

    (5)

  • James C.

    Great find. Duck fat fries incredible. Butchers board very well done and not duplicated anywhere I have been. Drinks $5 at happy hour and are excellent! Go out of your way for this one.

    (5)

  • Courtney D.

    Horrible service. Don't bother making a reservation. They don't honor it and give tables to whoever comes in. Why even have a reservation service in the first place?

    (1)

  • Alvarez S.

    The food and drinks were good, our server was good too. But we had some dickhead server/busser what ever he was tell us to hurry up cuz he had someone waiting for an hour for our table. So what...we spent $90 bucks, should have taken back the tip. Not going back to that shit box again.

    (2)

  • Tien D.

    Before I start my review, let me just say that I didn't eat here. We went on Valentines Day and didn't have reservations. After reading all the rave reviews on yelp, I asked my fiance to take me here. When we arrived we were met with a very rude host at the door. After asking for our names (and us telling him that we didn't have reservations), he shortly said "no walk ins, no happy hour." I was confused and wondered whether these rave reviews I was reading was from a different restaurant. I agree, being Valentines Day, we should have made reservations. But we didn't see anything about it on the website prior to visiting. He finally told us there was a spot at the bar and "you have one hour." That experience just put a bad taste in my mouth and I didn't really want to stay because quite honestly, I don't like to put up with bad service. You don't have to treat me in a special way, but at least be polite about it. After sitting down for about a minute we decided to leave without ordering anything. Don't get me wrong, the service isn't all bad. The man behind the bar seemed super friendly. But I can't vouch for quickness of service and quality of food. My fiance (who is a very understanding guy) tried calming me down, telling me that the host was probably just stressed out since it was Valentine's Day. Even still, I am reluctant to come back. If I do, I hope I get service from someone else.

    (2)

  • Bill W.

    Love this place, especially the duck fat fries! My chicken entree with mac n cheese was also great. Wish we lived in the neighborhood so we could be regulars as others have expressed!

    (5)

  • Adam L.

    Experienced Branch for the first time, and was really pleased with the menu and whisky selection. Each dish is thoughtfully it together, exceptional ingredients and plated well. Highly recommend anything on "Special", the fries, burger and Mac and cheese etc etc. I do recommend you do not have plans after, the process of making this food was quite a wait. So be patient and enjoy your company.

    (4)

  • Ricky L.

    Coming from California, the culture here is really different. People are really friendly and chill. The food is alright, not the greatest, but really good for a late night hang out with a few beers.

    (4)

  • Henry L.

    Food is still tasty, but has changed since I last was there. No longer did the duck fat fries come with garlic aioli and no more prosciutto wrapped dates. Staff confirmed chef had changed, and I think that was not a change for the better. I have had some amazing food here, but wasn't amazed this time.

    (3)

  • Leslie P.

    Knowledgeable staff! Nice wine list. Great service. Delicious oysters - had seconds. Lamb shank was very good. Felt like a bar when I walked in, however the food menu is really nice. Will definitely go back - will try some Whiskeys next time.

    (5)

  • peabody j.

    We were there just before 6PM on a Sunday. Not a big crowd there at the time. My drink was great, I've always had quality cocktails here and would come back for that. Nice patio as well. Service was kind. No complaint on prices. However, we ordered a grilled romaine salad and a steak frites and it took over 1/2 hour to get to our table. We were sitting right next to the kitchen and only one plate left the kitchen outside of ours the entire time. I'm also not sure why the grilled romaine (appetizer) didn't come prior to the steak, but that wasn't a huge deal. It just felt much too long at the time to wait for our food, especially with no crowd in the restaurant and the kitchen not being busy. It just felt too long and left us a little disappointed by the meal. The food was OK, I felt over-seasoned and overly greasy, but I would eat the food again, that wasn't a big deal. If it had been incredible it might have made up for the wait.

    (2)

  • Alice C.

    Don't come here if you're already starving, or in a hurry. now that I'm a BWB pro, I actually brought a snack bar with me to munch on while I'm waiting for my food. the food takes THAT LONG. ps, while you're waiting for your food, you WILL get plenty of drinks, therefore getting pretty sauced on an empty stomach. HOWEVER, you'll be glad you waited. the food is really good -- oysters, all kinds of meats, interestingly prepared vegetables, and yeah the fries. I also love the atmosphere, the whiskey, the pairings, the wine. love it all! just bring a survival pack, you'll be here a while. and don't expect anyone to apologize for it either :P

    (4)

  • Alex S.

    the fried oyster flavors and the finest old fashioned make up for the occasional slow service. branch is the perfect date night locale. whiskey drinkers beware, libation fixation.

    (4)

  • Juan Manuel C.

    Good oysters, good whiskey, good beer. Also good crowd for weekday. This is my review not my tip lol

    (4)

  • Kerri M.

    I mainly came here for duck fat fries, which turned out to hit the spot. I also probably sat there long enough to drink two Old Fashioned's and they were both pretty tasty. I liked the vibe of this place and would return!

    (4)

  • Claire G.

    I have now been here at least 20 times and can definitely bump up the rating. Consistently superior service, friendly, accommodating, and observant. Food is consistently amazing. I always leave fat and happy and the specials are well worth trying. The atmosphere is lovely, though a bit loud. The rotating a artwork is always interesting as well. There is a reason I keep coming back, it's fucking delightful every time.

    (5)

  • Mykael M.

    Stopped in on a food crawl and we were not disappointed! The French 75 was to die for, the whiskey list was spot on, and the fresca was "the best fucking drink" my partner had ever had. Not to mention we ordered the entire appetizer menu and didn't find one thing we didn't like! We highly recommend the duck fat French fries!

    (4)

  • Sarah C.

    I would've never known about this place if it weren't for my bf's love for whiskey. What we ordered: grilled romaine hearts ($9), duck fat french fries (HH $4) & fried heirloom zucchini (HH $4) What we ate: all of it What he drank: whiskey/beer pairing $9 The high priced grilled romaine hearts were uncessary for the three to four pieces smothered with creamy garlic dressing. Some of it tasted too much like grilled hamburger grease while the rest tasted like a caesar salad. The romaine hearts weren't on the HH menu but I like to try caesar salads whenever I eat somewhere new. If it was an option during HH I'd order it again otherwise I had my fix. The generous portions of duck fat french fries & fried heirloom zucchini were so good but so unhealthy for you, I'm sure. French fries are normally $6 & the zucchini is only available during HH. The jalapeño ranch for the zucchini, genius. HH Food $4 - $6 & $12 (5pm - 7pm Sun-Thurs) HH Cocktails $3 - $5 (5pm - 7pm everyday) (10pm-close Mon-Thurs) BWB has over 50 whiskeys, bourbons & scotches along with a full bar including an impressive cocktail list. If you can't decide which whiskey to try then ask about their whiskey flight of three different whiskeys. The place is modern & spacious with dim lighting. The staff was attentive, prompt & unpretentious. There wasn't a wait for a table, the food was delicious & we left with our belly's full. It was a good night.

    (4)

  • Scott A.

    Great food with friendly and helpful staff. Grilled trout special with roasted leeks and fennel was excellent. Good drink selections. Wasn't real impressed by Japanese scotch, but they have lots of other options. Wish they had Laphroig. Pork rillettes were awesome! We'll be back.

    (4)

  • Lily S.

    I like Branch Whiskey. Their menu is pretty solid (Mac n cheese that is DELICIOUS. A giant burger that's yummy. Olives. Etc) and I've had some pretty good whiskey drinks there. They're located close to where we live (ie: we can walk there) and as you all know, I like whiskey. The staff has always been attentive to us, v friendly, and always ask us if we want duck fat fries with our order - which I've politely declined every time, b/c duck fat scares me a bit. The last time we were there, they had the tv off, which was SOOOO NICE. We could carry on a conversation w/o people shrieking when whatever sports team is playing scores. The next time I want to be a complete glutton I will come back here and gorge myself on their mac n cheese. You should too.

    (4)

  • Jennifer K.

    Branch Whiskey Bar was not on our "A Weekend in Portland" Itineraries. While my travel mates were walking briskly ahead of me, I could not take my eyes off the "Happy Hour" Menu - $4 cocktails! I know I want to chill here for awhile! I want a pre dinner drink..... Aside from cocktails, of course Branch Whiskey Bar has Whiskey Flight! I ended up trying a Standard Flight ($18) which let me pick 1 whiskey from each of the three tiers. My friends ended up with a Old German Beer ($2) and Whiskey Rickey ($4) which they enjoyed! I guess drinking whiskey makes me happy? I ended up picking up the tap but how often can I buy my friend a beer for $2?? Nice friendly staffs! Great Cozy Vibe! Great Happy Hour! Whiskey Lovers Heaven!

    (4)

  • Evan S.

    Great little place on the eastern tip of Alberta Ave. Duck fat fries were delightful, Mac and Cheese was the Bombay, and the burger with an egg on it...stupid good. Nice patio space in the back, as well as some tables out front. Vast whiskey selection, though the Canadian Whiskey and local Oregon selection need a serious revamp (minus points!). Also, unfortunately the service was absolutely terrible out front. They definitely seemed to forget about us and the other tables outside from the rumblings of our neighbours...in saying that, they are lucky their food and drink (I enjoyed the Branchhattan) are superb enough to balance the terrible outdoor service we had last Friday evening.

    (4)

  • Stephanie S.

    I ordered the prime rib and waited almost 40 minutes for a cold grisly mess floating in a sea of liquid smoke. After 15 minutes I flagged down our waiter and told him it was awful. He grabbed the plate and took it away without saying a word and then brought the check that included the prime rib. I flagged down another wait person and asked for the manager. She offered dessert but I told her I didn't need dessert just did not want to pay for completely repulsive food that I didn't eat. The Original waiter came back and said, "is this because I didn't say I was sorry?" He was rude and confrontational. Worst food and service ever.

    (1)

  • Bob S.

    The Halibut Fish N' Chips is by far the best in the land. Smaller chucks of fish in a light batter that's super tasty. And of course it's paired with their signature Duck Fat Fries, a very tasty twist on fries. Great down to earth servers that were attentive and friendly. I hope you'll love it as much as we did. What , no mushy peas¿

    (5)

  • Tim P.

    Had the burger with cheddar, bacon, and fried egg. Amazing flavor and great combo. Loved the duck fat fries as well. Accompanied the meal with a 49er signature cocktail which was also incredible. Highly recommend this little joint on Alberta!

    (5)

  • Nikki H.

    Came here with a group of 5 around 5pm on a wednesday. We were seated on the patio initially but got too hot in the sun and our server was happy to let us move and was not irritated about it. I ordered fish and chips and a couple of old fashioneds and was extremely happy with my order. Drinks were well made and the fish and chips was piping hot and crispy. None of my friends had any complaints. Will return here for another happy hour!

    (4)

  • Dian K.

    I came during Portland Dining Month and was VERY impressed with the food quality here. Who would've thunk it in a basically bar venue where pub grub is usually the case? The lobster truffle pot pie was amazing - it had a full lobster tail inside, albeit small, and a shaving of truffle mushroom on top. The Delmonico steak was also very good - the only minor imperfection was the saltiness of the sauce/gravy. Which was also the case with the salad - it was way overdressed and (surprisingly in a salad) salty. The desert was impressive. Something that I would expect to see in a fine dining restaurant. It was a chocolate-cherry hemisphere with cherry caramel FROTH! and a meringue-type thing that was divine. I thought service was pretty good too. We were 15 mins early for our reservation and they already have our table ready. They warned us that the kitchen is backed up, so it'll be awhile before food comes out. Which is fine because they have a nice list of cocktails, 4 beers on draft and a plethora of bourbon/whiskey to taste (they are, after all, a whiskey bar). They use different used bottles of liquor as the water bottle (cool) and it was constantly refilled as necessary. Again, I wasn't expecting all that from here and was pleasantly surprised. Would definitely come back here for dinner again!

    (4)

  • Julie D.

    The mac and cheese is to die for. I had the chicken dish, which was pretty perfect all around. My husband had the burger, which he devoured. Large portions, but so delicious it's hard not to lick the plate. I had a '49er cocktail which was also fantastic. Wish I could give four and 1/2 stars, but had to reserve one star for the service, which was really quite slow and not super friendly... took a long time to get someone's attention after we were seated. But, the ambiance was lovely, music set a fun and light mood and it was a good experience overall. I'd definitely return - making sure I was ready for a hearty meal.

    (4)

  • Mardi C.

    in the weeds up in here. we had the fries which were over the top. had oysters which were fun, but lacking the good things I like to put on mine. ONE of the oysters was a bit hard to consume, be it the texture, and the way it was dressed. and I love oysters. they were pretty, but overpriced, and under dressed.... where's the spice? the drinks were good, but again, you were in the weeds so the service was under staffed, so I tipped my usual and was patient, but I always wonder about these kind of places that put so much strain on the people who work there, and then don't staff accordingly. I'll be back tho, cause I like the ambiance, and I think I just hit an off night. It was more about my visit with my friends and I loved the courtyard out back. all in all not really a whiskey drinker, but I did spend some money up in here, and again.... will come back .

    (3)

  • Myra F.

    And again a great meal! Another Groupon but we would go anyway! Hubby's Ahi dinner with mushrooms was amazing and complex! And a large portion, And my Mac and cheese was fabulous! I upped my star rating to 5 because I found nothing to criticize! From swift attentive service to the completetion of the meal! Perfecto!

    (5)

  • Jennifer J.

    Bought a Groupon recently and we decided to go last night on a Saturday about 7:30. The restaurant is somewhat small with a bar area. It wasn't packed. We got seated immediately and started looking over menus. A waiter walked past but didn't say hello nor did anyone for quite some time. We had enough to peruse the menu and decide on drinks and food before someone came over. This a Whisky bar, so Bourbon drinks were ordered: Blood and Sand and an Old Fashioned. Both were great! Made properly! Very slow at coming. The menu has quite a few options that caught our attention like Wagu Beef Tartare, oysters on the half shell, duck fat french fries for starters to name a few. The entree options are bit a more limited. We opted for baguette with butter ($3) and Wagu Beef Tartare ($14) to start. The bread was bread, so whatever. The Tartare was a large portion and came with pickled Delicata squash, pickles blueberries and pickled Calabrese peppers. Everything was delicious. The Wagu was flavorful, nice texture and delicious! It was a meal in itself. It could of been chopped smaller, some bits were a little too long. The pickled veg was awesome but not a great compliment to the tartare in my book. For dinner we had the grilled romaine salad ($10 - pass on this - its just ok) and the chicken with mac and cheese, broccolini and lardon ($17). DELICIOUS!! The chicken was perfect and the mac and cheese---ooey gooey goodness! Everyone around us seemed to be getting the chicken and the burger. We will be going back to to try that burger! it looked pretty dang good. Overall dinner was good. Service in our opinion lacked. It didn't seem like they were in the weeds. They just aren't fluid.

    (4)

  • Hank K.

    Stellar meal! Better then Mom's home cooked! Because this is freshly prepared, it takes a while to receive your meal; some may not like the wait but I say... kick back, enjoy the ambiance and sip your drink: good things come to those who wait. Mac & Cheese was a side dish with what I ordered, and it was the best damn Mac & Cheese I've ever eaten; worthy of dessert, which is how I treated it, saving it for last.

    (5)

  • Denise M.

    Drinks were pretty good (regular menu drinks were definitely better than happy hour drinks). The food blew me away - way better than I'd ever expected. Reuben was great, beet salad was great, butcher board was out of this world. Yes - it will take a while to get your food, but whatever. Shut up, wait a while, and appreciate the goodness when it happens.

    (4)

  • Chris B.

    After a great meal at nearby eatery, we found this delicious establishment. Great atmosphere, attentive servers, and five star drinks. We left saying that we needed to return soon.

    (5)

  • Dave D.

    Great scotch selection , which is rare in Portland. The bartenders and waiters are nice and pretty slick. This place gets my vote for a great whisky bar.

    (4)

  • Carl J.

    Went with my Dad just after a big write up on Branch in some local rag which meant the place was packed. However the staff did a good job keeping up on people, both those coming in and those already seated. I've waited a while to do this review so I've forgotten what I ordered, but I did get an appetizer and an entree, both of which were quite tasty.

    (4)

  • Jonathan M.

    Great atmosphere to go along with an extensive selection. I'll definitely be stopping by again.

    (4)

  • Megs L.

    Date night! Came here due to it being a whiskey bar with excellent Mac and cheese and it did not disappoint. Was a bit sad that the specials were all sold out by the time we got there (about 630). I mean it wasn't even last dinner time and it was only a Thursday. A bit of a wait but once seated everything was quick hot and delicious! Blood orange boulevardier and a perfectly made old fashioned started our night. Duck fat fries - YUM! And black truffle Mac and cheese for the win. Not an everyday dinner place but perfect for a date night out of town!!

    (5)

  • Horace A.

    I've been to Branch when it has been good and also when it has been bad. It's not really a 2 star kind of place but also not really deserving of three, but we'll round up out of respect for good memories from earlier visits. I'd say that it's a decent bar with a nice selection of things to choose from. However, I'd never recommend it as a restaurant. The last time I was there, the food was really horrid. The service wasn't much better. But the rough edges were rounded off with plenty of strong drink. See how that works?

    (3)

  • Jacob M.

    The drinks and the ambiance are fantastic here, the service leaves a lot to be desired. We waited so long to even be acknowledged and even longer for another drink; it wasn't that busy either. If you're ok with waiting, you won't regret it on the drink.

    (3)

  • Spencer D.

    I try to stay away from writing bad reviews on Yelp, but I felt compelled to write this one as we have visited 3 times now and all three times we have experienced poor business practices. The first time we went we ordered some food and drinks. They brought out the drinks and the duck fat fries first (OMG THE FRIES RULE!). But then when we received our other food it was all incorrectly done. Sure, mistakes happen, we sent the food back and they brought it back about 20 minutes later. No biggie, must have just caught them on a bad night. Second time, we waited, and waited, and waited. There was almost no one else at the place but for some reason our waiter seemed to be avoiding us. The food was good again, and this time they got our orders right, but I actually had to walk inside after sitting in their patio seating (after our table had been cleared) for about half an hour to pay our tab because our waiter wasn't paying attention to us when we tried to get a hold of him. The third time I went was last night. I had a craving for duck fat fries and thought I'd order some over the phone to pick up. The service this time was good...but then they tacked on an extra dollar for each order of duck fat fries I got just because it was take out. Sorry guys, you lost my business. I really want to like you, but you've got to stop nickel and dining and start providing better customer service.

    (2)

  • Terri W.

    Eat here and drink here always. The service is top rate and the steak with blue cheese fries is heaven on a plate. Did I mention the whiskey cocktails are numerous and well crafted, they even have a splendid apricot infused tequila its so choice.

    (5)

  • Gerard H.

    Good whiskey selection, but it's a little over priced, duck fat fries are dank, burger is to fancy Portland style and over priced, if you want to pay extra for whiskey and have some mediocre food I recommend this place

    (3)

  • Ophelia Y.

    Love the atmosphere. Dim lights, relaxed, laid back environment with a giant TV so we wouldn't have to miss out on the Blazer game. Was motivated to try this place out with a Groupon, and I have to say I was pretty impressed. The place was packed, but we managed to get a seat (they told us it would be a 45 min to an hour wait...love the 'under promise, over deliver'). For how busy the place was, the service was decent--I wasn't expecting much, but our water glasses stayed full, they were polite, and we left with no complaints. Didn't try the whiskey, as I'm not one to booze often, but the food? Delicious. The burger with cheese was crumbly and moist. The pasta salad was flavorful, albeit slightly too peppery. I would definitely dine here again!

    (4)

  • Rebel Y.

    BAD ROMANCE Branch - such tasty, reliable food. Such abysmal service. You're like a bad lover. I like what you have to give, and I know it will be good in the moment, but I also know I'll walk out with a shameful, nagging feeling that I should have known better. The staff, for the most part, is knowledgeable and friendly. But they either suffer from understaffing or a lackadaisical attitude, or both, because service here takes FOREVER. Your drinks are empty, the dregs of your dinner are long since cold, and all you want to do is cash out and leave the place with a semblance of feeling your money was well spent. But no, you must wait. And wait. And wait some more. Hire more staff. Hire better staff. Otherwise, I will resign myself to a burrito down the street even when my belly cries out for rillettes and mussels and whiskey if you don't fix your glaring non-commitment to good service.

    (2)

  • J. Kirsten E.

    Rich and flavorful. We had the lobster dumplings, duck fat fries, the steak frites-- All super good. Not healthy just delicious.The whiskey is good too. Service and ambiance are good. We will go back. (P.S. not a lot of vegan or veggie only options). If you eat meat, fish and eggs you will enjoy this food.

    (4)

  • jason b.

    Are you kidding me!?!! We live in Hillsboro and are now seriously considering moving just to be closer to this joint. As the name implies they have a great selection of high end bourbons, and the staff knows about them too so you can ask questions. The food was insane. I had the special chorizo-stuffed calamari. That's right, take spicy Mexican sausage and jamb it inside an unsuspecting squid, roast it on a skewer and viola! I don't even remember what my wife had, just that she loved it and the drew back a bloody stump when she tried to sample my food.

    (5)

  • Lisa S.

    My God, where did this food come from? And where has this bread pudding been all my life? After decades of ordering pale, soggy, runny, lackluster bread pudding cubes.....to finally find gold is a delight on it's own, never mind the main meal..... But I digress. Branch Whiskey Bar is a real find in the NE quadrant. Tonight I had the neighborhood special: a green salad, baked rigatoni and glass of wine. All were exceptional and all total...was $12.00. My dining companion has a VERY DISCERNING PALATE (wink) and for the first time since I met him, he said he got goosebumps from his meal: duck confit hash. A duck confit meal for only $13.00! Now back to the baked rigatoni. Imagine the best mac-n-cheese you've ever had - creamy, smooth, sharp. Now add fall veggies like roasted yellow zucchini and squash, add a chewy crispy parmesan cheese topping and broil in a ramekin. Rich beyond belief. Back to the bread pudding: soft on the inside, caramelized and crispy on the outside with a ribbon of chocolate running through it....and just enough bourbon sauce to balance it out. Nothing's perfect: the ice cream served with the fantastic dessert was not homemade, better to leave it off. The salad was dressed a little too much and a little too peppery, and had croutons (?) instead of a few cranberries or nuts, but it was quickly forgotten once the main course arrived. Now to address the concerns of other reviewers...Too many kids for ya? Stop eating dinner at 4:30 pm like an old person. That should take care of that. The TV? It's muted, unobtrusive and we actually enjoyed watching the end of a baseball game. Don't like that TV? Park yourself along the other side of the bar. Done. Don't like the name? Uhh.....who cares? Service, Cleanliness, Professionalism....it's all there. Our experience was *easily* five stars.

    (5)

  • JW R.

    "Branch, A Whisky Bar", I call it. I can't help it, the name with subtitle is just a bit pretentious. Even after I realized it's not "A" whisky bar and they spell it with an e, well, the damage is done. But it's warranted because this is definitely a bobo/yuppie spot, so if you're a dive bar person, brace yourself. But you SHOULD brace yourself because I was introduced at Branch, A Whisky Bar to something called pork rillets. I think the bartender pronounced it "ree-yet" so it's probably some damn French thing but I can't hate (much) because it's really awesome distilled to edible form and poured into a ramekin. Witness, shredded pork fried in duck fat to be spread on little pieces of toast. If you have any sense at all you had a moment there. I had one with every bite. It's worth the trip. But it's not called "Branch, An Awesome Pork Fried In Duck Fat Bar", so I'll talk about booze. The selection is good. I didn't see anything super exotic but they've got tons of good whisky at almost reasonable prices. So why only three stars? This is also an overly indulgent yuppie parents with hummer strollers bar. That's right, God damned kids are allowed at Branch, A Whisky Daycare Center. That's some bullshit there. And the other menu items are a burger for $10 and up from there. So just do the rillets, which is apparently French for OMGAWEZOME and flee the spawn.

    (3)

  • Christina T.

    So we came here to have a few drinks before dinner downtown. We specifically came for the whiskey and cocktails but the food smelled and looked so amazing we had to order something while enjoying our drinks. GET the Duck Fat Fries, you'll thank me! They were heavenly. Service was truly on point and the staff were friendly and smiling. The vibe inside was chill and inviting. I thought the happy hour drink specials were a really great deal and had the Orange Sidecar and Chocolate Fashioned. Hubby ordered a whiskey/scotch flight and our two favorites were the: Ezra B 12 yr Single Barrel and Glenmorangie Port Wood Finish 12yr. I'm not a huge whiskey fan, yet loved those two. We can't wait to go back to try the other food and drinks on the menu.

    (5)

  • Brandon T.

    We went on a weekday and they closed at midnight :( Other than that the drinks were well made, I had an old fashioned and something on their menu (old man maybe? i dunno...). The music reminded me of the stuff on the iPod in my car and the TV was set to ESPN which is one of the few channels that you can follow easily without audio (good choices all around). Anyway it is a whiskey bar so don't come here unless you want whiskey....I mean they probably have other alcohol available but you would just look silly.

    (4)

  • Jenny C.

    I took a left out of La Bonita. I never take a left. And walking east to nearly the edge of the Alberta Arts District for something to do, my sister and I stopped. How long has this building been here? How long has Branch been here? Did this swanky little bar just somehow magically appear? It must have. There could be no other explanation. So of course we had to check it out, right? Walking in at 7.30 on a Friday night the small bar was empty save for a pair of couples discussing whiskey with the bartender and a waitress. We hopped up into a tall pair of chairs and looked over the menus. Being gin girls, we bypassed the extensive whiskey list and each ordered a Summer 75, or Aviation Gin with simple syrup, lemon juice and sparkling wine. Light and sweet, it's the type of drink I wouldn't hesitate to order any time of the day (move over breakfast bloody mary?) but at $8 might feel a little bad doing so. The bar is simple and with the times, a huge wall painted with chalkboard paint lists the specials and points to the beers on tap off to the side. Art adorns the walls and huge picture windows punch through a front brick facade. During the day it's bright and airy, and I imagine cozy an intimate after sunset. They are attentive but never hover, and quick to turn out drink rounds. It's truly a place that follows the quirky nature of the district, yet pulls it off with a bit of flare that makes it stand apart on its own. It would be a spot equally appropriate to take your folks or a date for a drink... Branch is pretty impressive. But I suggest you discover that for yourself.

    (4)

  • Marilyn T.

    The service is sloowwwwwwwww but the cocktails are delicious. Also, the mac and cheese and truffle fries are excellent.

    (3)

  • Alex S.

    A simple menu, but everything as delicious as you could want. And cocktails to boot! The specials are where it's at.

    (5)

  • David K.

    I had a great experience here and was VERY impressed with the food and the setting. The only reason why I am giving it 4 stars rather than 5 is because I think the staffing and planning falls short of a perfect experience. Love - whiskey selection was interesting and extensive. Also, I liked the setting, most tables are along the wall - typical row setting parallel to bar seating. Then in the floor are higher seat tables, and then a few seating along the windows. The setting is about the right size for either quaint fun or a romantic eats. I was really blown away by the quality of food. The duck fat fries are amazing ... and unlike in other places, the duck fat taste comes really alive. Tastes more like meat than fries. The coq au vin looked lovely. I also tried the lobster corn dogs, and they were to die for. The dough was so soft and tender - not the cheap flour fried cover. And the sausage ... so soft and savory! Basically, I am not sure who the chef was that night, but the cooking was top notch. Really quite amazing - someone knew his or her craft. Could be better - so first, they were out of burgers because of order back-log, then we waited forever for our food. Either the restaurant is understaffed, or their planning is not the best.

    (4)

  • Jean H.

    Haven't been to Branch yet? Shame on you! You may come for the burgers - which I can't blame you for - possibly the best I've had in Portland...but do NOT miss the rest of the menu, or the specials - cuz this is what they mean when they say "special". Tonight was Weathervane scallops with citrus gastrique and blood orange hollandaise. Nothing short of amazing... Add to that great, well-thought out cocktails, on-point service, cozy surroundings - you have a night well spent.

    (5)

  • Angela S.

    Surly staff, bad service, didn't want to take yelp deal.... Will not be going there again.

    (1)

  • Sage S.

    Branch Whiskey bar is great! I really enjoyed this cocktail that was ginger ale and whiskey. They also had a great happy hour with delicious appetizers. Definitely work going to.

    (4)

  • Angelene G.

    Love, love, love this place! The apps offer such delicious fare as duck fat fries and lobster corn dogs but the mac 'n cheese was my favorite. The servers were very helpful and didn't mind steering me in the right direction when I admitted I don't know as much about whiskey as I would like and hoped I could learn more from their selection. Great atmosphere, great food, great whiskey.

    (5)

  • Cooper M.

    Fun local spot with a ton of great drinks. The steak and frites was.... decent.

    (4)

  • Lauren A.

    It was a decent bar. It's not in my neighborhood, so I wouldn't return frequently, but if I was in the area and thirsty, I very well might come back.

    (3)

  • Willie S.

    It was a Sunday night. We had a group of 10. Food service was terrible. Drink service was terrible. Wrong drinks. Wrong food. Outrageously long wait time on the food (salads) and a heaping portion of attitude. That's ten of us that won't ever go back. And yes, we'll make sure and warn all of our friends as well.

    (1)

  • Graham B.

    Three things that I like: 1) Whiskey, 2) Flights, 3) A cozy atmosphere and helpful service. Branch Whiskey Bar has all of those things. The server was very helpful. I said, "Hey, if I like Woodford Reserve, what three whisk(e)ys should I get in a flight?" Bam. Suggestions out and down the hatch. We both had a burger. Of the two different kinds they had there. Her a more traditional, me the speciality. Both delicious on some kind of custom bun they have that was not light and fluffy like so many restaurants here (good, but sometimes you need a change). It was more dense. Think Texas Toast. In bun form. Great. Also had the duckfat fries. Now those'll get ya. TM had a Branch Manhattan that came with a cherry on a stick. It was significantly boozy in a way that Manhattans should be. Not too sweet, but the flavors were mingled well. They know their whiskey there. My flight (which could include one selection from 3 pre-populated categories) was well balanced and let me sip on some different flavors. Bourbon and Irish Whiskey on the list for flights, but next time I'm going to forgo my love of lineups and sample some Scotch.

    (4)

  • Aaron K.

    This place is solid. Had dinner with a buddy and sat at the bar, the bartender was up to speed on his whiskey and brews. I went for the burger and mouth orgasmed at the big ass house made patty, gruyere, extra thick cut bacon, and egg on an amazingly soft bun with aoili.... There were some sort of lettuce and perhaps a tomato, but that really does not come into account or memory when overshadowed by the kick-assness of the aforementioned. The knowledgeable guy behind the bar upsold me on some duck fat fries and aside from my body going into cardiac arrest it found a place of culinary bliss that it had been missing... My buddy was equally moved by the pan roasted chicken... Plan on spending a few bucks, but it is well worth it.

    (5)

  • Christy W.

    This is a great bar and hang out spot. The whiskey selection was decent, great cocktails, and fantastic food. We had duck fat french fries and maine lobster corn dogs. Everything was delicious and the prices were reasonable. We sat outside and the space has a great ambiance with arbors and vines. The waiter was attentive and friendly without being overbearing. All in all a great experience.

    (4)

  • Jessica V.

    Excellent! Great place for foodies and drinkers. I had the truffle chicken pot pie- it was amazing! Great service, great music in the background and a lovely experience overall. Went here with a Groupon, but will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Lisa T.

    I used to live right around the corner from Branch Whiskey Bar, and I have to say I find it massively unfair they moved in right after I departed for SE. I spotted them on Groupon Now on date night and was super happy. I didn't know just how happy I would soon be. Seriously, Branch I love you and your whiskey diversity and creativity. If you know me, then you know that whiskey is my libation of choice. I scan the cocktail list of each bar for it. So joy! An entire bar of it! Huzzah! On that first visit we found out it was happy hour from 5-7 and oh what an amazingly happy hour it is! The Manhattan's are $4 and the Old Fashioned is only $3. Now, these drinks are a little smaller (not much) but for cheap drinks they are superb. Combined with the Groupon, we were using and they were rockstar amazing! We had the pork rilletes as well, which is huge, and $2 off during happy hour. It was served warm, which is my favorite, and was very filling. The duck fat fries were great too. The burgers were pretty good, as was the espresso rubbed steak, but it is the whiskey where Branch wins my heart. There are whiskey/beer pairings up on the chalkboard and both of the ones we tried were great in different ways. The first pairing we tried the beer and wine complemented each others flavor, melding into a wonderful whole. On the second pairing they contrasted, enhancing the intensity of each's notes. They have great list of whiskeys, very diverse. There are two (!!) from Japan, which made my husband happy. The regualar cocktail list looks great as well, if I can pry myself away from the Branchhattan. We had such a great time, that we have been back four times in the last month! This is the first time I think that I have seen a Groupon Now work like it is supposed to. There is no question that when they stop offering it on Friday nights, we will still be there, planted on stools at the bar having Manhattans (happy hour or otherwise) and sipping Japanese whiskey.

    (5)

  • jack s.

    Fantastic pork rillet, and duck fat fries. Not to mention excellent drinks, served with genuine aplomb and conviviality.

    (4)

  • Corinn M.

    Good food, nice whiskey selection. Probably wouldn't make a point to come back if we didn't live so close... but not bad.

    (3)

  • Jeff M.

    I have been to Branch consistently since it opened and each time I go back, I wonder why I don't go more often, especially since I live down the street. I have always been a fan of their drinks. Julips served in silver glasses, great beer and whiskey pairings, and a great whiskey ginger. For the first time in a dozen plus visits, I finally ate there and I will say it was some of the best food I have had on Alberta. I had the Alberta Burger with fries, cooked perfectly, juicy, fries are crispy but got some great substance, the bun was toasted inside and out, which made it even more awesome. My girlfriend had the Black Truffle Mac and Cheese. I am a bit of a junky, so I stole some. I will say that it is top 2-3 Mac and Cheese in Portland. I have gone a number of places "known" for Mac and Cheese and this blows those out of the water. So two huge loves of my life come together - whiskey and mac and cheese. I am sad it took me a couple years to find this out, but very happy I did.

    (4)

  • Chris D.

    Great whiskey bar, but has regressed in the last couple of years. Still a fun place to get a cocktail.

    (3)

  • Courtney G.

    Total bummer. I've liked Branch, really. I've been a half dozen or so times. And I live in SE. But after a recent visit, I think I'm done. Pretty empty when we arrived on a weeknight a bit after 6 (6 other patrons),and it seems like they might be struggling a bit. So maybe that was why they decided not to heat the place? I was wearing a thermal, a hoodie, a scarf, and a wool pea coat and I didn't even unbutton my coat throughout my meal. It was unpleasantly arctic. We waited quite some time to get our beverages and alas, when we got them, they weren't very good. Really, an Old Fashioned shouldn't be a 50/50 blend of whiskey and simple syrup. It was cloying and kind of gross. I would have sent it back, but I didn't get the opportunity and I feared that I would get the "You really aren't cool enough to send back that cocktail" eyeroll. So, I just didn't drink it. Our food took over 30 minutes to arrive after we ordered it, and did I mention that there were only 6 other people in the entire bar? Oh, and that we ordered 3 things that included the charcuterie and a salad? Our entree of housemade sausages was tasty and served with smashed red potatoes and glazed carrots (also tasty), but at $15, I'm not running back for it. The duck liver pate on the Branch Board charcuterie plate was a standout, but there were only 2 other flavors on what initially appeared to be a really nice platter: vinegar and salt. The housemade mortadella was like a salt lick and the house pickled beets and egg were like slugging white vinegar straight from the bottle. Our freezing experience took us an hour and half overall, and we weren't lingering and enjoying ourselves, unfortunately. Maybe we just hit them on an off night. Maybe everybody working that evening was new. Maybe so and maybe not.

    (2)

  • Alex K.

    it lost 1/2 star for being a bit over-priced (go for happy hour) and a 1/2 a star for having a limited menu The mixed drinks are delicious. the whiskey selection is solid. The whiskey flight was great and the bartender did an excellent job helping me pick whiskeys I didn't know but matched my tastes (but you can't get any scotch with the flight). However, $18 for the flight was too much $. i was familiar enough with the whiskeys on the menu to know they're essentially up-charging. you'd be better off just ordering 3 whiskeys off the menu for probably $24 and you'd get twice as much whiskey. I'd recommend getting the whiskey paired with beer backs. In terms of food, it's simple and straight forward and delicious. I've now had the pork rillettes, grilled romaine salad and burger. The burger was really amazing. I'd normally NEVER say this, but - don't add cheese or bacon

    (4)

  • Iana A.

    I came here on Dec 6th and used my Yelp deal. Overall its a decent spot. I got the duck fat fries and a branch burger with a whiskey ginger to wash it all down. The cocktail was tasty enough to order two--especially at happy hour prices. The fries were very salty and they sucked up a lot of oil so they were soft and kind of limp. I wanted them crispier so I hardly ate any. The burger was moist and flavorful, though it's not the best burger in these parts. Service was great and the place is cozy yet cool.

    (3)

  • Kristen M.

    Sucky service. Bar tenders were kinda douchey. Didn't wait on us for quite a while and didn't even offer menus until we asked. Duh, why would we be sitting around? Finally ordered some drinks and saw a table getting cleared off. Asked if we could move there and they said yes, just wait for it to be wiped off. Immediately, the table next to the newly cleaned table grabbed that table and added it to their party. Oh well. The bar tender told us to order our food and when a new table got cleaned, we could move. So we did. A table cleaned and we asked if we could move. Another bar tender told us there was a wait and it was someone else's table. We told him the story and how we were waiting and he shrugged his shoulders and said, whatever, go sit. Very uncomfortable. We wanted to leave right then. He came over to apologize, which was nice, but still felt awkward and unwelcome. The waitress was nice. Food was okay (croquettes and dates) and Mac and cheese was delicious but verrrry filling. Like to the point of getting sick. Drinks overpriced and watered down tasting. Wouldn't go back based on service and price.

    (2)

  • Candice F.

    My beau & I are big fans of Branch Whiskey. From the food & wine/cocktails to the good service & great music, so when we saw a Yelp deal, we were all over it. Turned out they had an $8 dinner special last night that was amazing! Braised lamb cheeks with Cauliflower au gratin. A steal!! I highly recommend this joint.

    (5)

  • Michelle H.

    Branch gets points on creativity, that's for sure. Who doesn't want to try chorizo stuffed calamari? I'm always intrigued by things that I usually wouldn't find anywhere else. When I took a seat at the bar and saw that exact meal (with chickpea ragu and lemon aoili) on the chalkboard as a special, I knew it was pretty pointless to look at the rest of the menu. While I waited, I ordered one of the whiskey concoctions, which I don't remember the name of now, but had whiskey (shocking, right?), apple cider, and bitters. Autumn inspired, but it didn't inspire my taste buds. It was pretty ho-hum, and I found myself hurrying to finish it so I could order up a hot toddy. Sometimes second guessing myself, and ordering something unique, doesn't work out in my favor. My meal presented itself after I got my grubby hands on a toddy. The toddy was really good--very spicy in that extra cinnamon-y kind of way. The chorizo stuffed calamari was good, but chickpea ragu was kind of meh. Each individual flavor presented itself and battled for my taste buds attention. They weren't exactly playing nice. Again, it was probably my own fault for ordering something unique. I saw many flank steaks and burgers head out to other tables. They looked way better. This would probably be a decent watering hole for anyone in the neighborhood. I don't know that I'd necessarily make my way out for the food, though. They have a TV, which happened to have Monday Night Football on, so you can get your dose of sports. It was a busy weeknight, and the place can get loud--voices bouncing off walls in the dim ambiance. Just stick to the normal menu. You'll probably be better for it.

    (3)

  • Puanani L.

    In walking distance from my house: Check Mellow, attentive service: Check Caesar Salad: Check The Best I have ever eaten. Really. It is rich and kind of warm with what I think are toasted anchovies, and the best crunchy, spicy croutons! The Burger with Cheddar and Thick Cut Bacon: Check Oh. My. The Bread Pudding: Check Grown-up Bread Pudding. Yum Everything was flavorful, fresh and served with a smile. My sweetheart and I shared it all. It was a great way to taste it all and not leave feelling too full. We can't wait to go back. P.S. The cocktails were great. Really great.

    (5)

  • Lauren G.

    I love this burger!!! Bring back the charcuterie plate though.

    (4)

  • Thomas G.

    Branch has some of the best burgers in Portland. The service is excellent, the food is top notch, and the Whiskey is incredible. When you order, always get Bacon. They have a side of bacon hanging in the kitchen and only cut your slices when ordered, so they are incredibly rich and flavorful. The wait staff was very helpful and suggested different whiskeys to complement to food.

    (5)

  • G W.

    To be fair, it was a groupon thing and the place was jammed. However, over an hour to wait for a burger is nuts. The staff was slightly frazzled and fairly terse. With that said, the food was really good except for oversalted fries. The whiskey selection was awesome.

    (3)

  • Mary M.

    Had dinner with friends at Branch. One of them ...like me is a foodie. So we were excited by the menu. Three of us are whiskey drinkers so we were stoked by the drink menu. The drinks did not disappoint, nice pours and excellent mix. We started with the lobster corn dogs and duck fat fries. I am a fan of both lobster and corn dogs. The breading was perfectly done, crispy on the outside, tender inside. The "lobster" was less tongue tantalizing. It was fishy, but not what I would call lobster,the dipping sauce tasted heavily of tarragon. I would not order this a second time. The duck fries were tasty and crisp, only suggestion would be less salt. My hubby is a salt addict and these were too much for him. For dinner we had Alberta burger and the milk braised pork on polenta. Not sure if the over salted fries had skewed our taste buds or not. But everything else now tasted way over salted. The waitress was very nice and comped my husbands burger. I took my pork home and reheated it for lunch......yes it could do with a little less salt.

    (3)

  • Neil B.

    Quite good. Prices reasonable if not cheap. The duck fat fries are stellar. Service was good, but the food took just a little longer than I'm accustomed to. Luckily, the ambiance was good and we enjoyed ourselves.

    (4)

  • Andrea B.

    I like the food pretty well and the drinks are good....IF you order whiskey, of course. Now, I know what you're thinking: why go to a whiskey bar if you are looking to drink something else? Well, my other half enjoys it, but my palette calls for something a little more "girly". So, I took a glass of red with one of my fave grapes: tempranillo. Not a bad bottle and a pretty good price. The food is good, but do expect to spend a little money if you are getting more than apps. We shared an app and a main course and had a drink each and it was a "typical tab" at almost anywhere else we like to go and get 2 complete dinners....just sayin'. The atmosphere is typical for that area of PDX: friendly and easy going, well lit but not "in your face" so it's good for everyone you might bring with you: spouse, friends, extended family. The tables are all small with a bar area (we had to sit here as there was nothing else available) and a wall of small tables with a bench on one side and chair on the other. Reminded me of a cafeteria a little? But, definitely better furnishings, don't get me wrong. The bartenders know what they're talking about, but don't seem to really talk much and I didn't have the nerve to ask more than a question or two...may be just me, but I like to pick the staff's brain a bit when it's my first time?? I would go back, but I won't run.....

    (3)

  • Orian I.

    We headed here after organic beer fest, our first choice had been the carts but the selection of open carts was an indication we needed another place. Our pal Andy who has impeccable taste, probably cause he's a cocktail blogger said, branch has an awesome burger. And boy was it. both Andy and my man got a blood and sand, and exceptionally good cocktail and I got a dark and stormy mostly cause not many places carry gosslings. They had one of my favorites on tap as well, double mt. choco stout. Anyways, the server was great, fast friendly, all things of excellence. We ordered branch burger X2 one with cheese one without, Branch board, nice charcuterie, the duck confit salad, and the house bangers. First the burgers - I had mine with cheddar(they were out of bacon) I would recommend this burger to any burger lover, it's a little on the small side but it's girthy, i doubt you'd be left hunger. The slight fail was the semi sweet pickle on the side. really..can't complain at all. the frise was incredible, with a puckeringly lovely vinaigrette, shaved fennel and parm. I'd also say, go ahead and get the cheese, unlike other burgers where you can't even taste the cheese or it adds nothing, this was actually an excellent pairing and i nomed on that bad boy and licked my finger tips like a hedon. the sausage plate served on top of a farro, currant, red onion and arugula salad, wow, that's all i have to say..wow..so tasty and that combo was incredibly perfect. The mustard was excellent complement with the house made sausages, nice crisp skin and peppery. The Branch board was on the smaller side, the pickles were excellent and i love the caper berrys. The duck confit salad was done well, but the stand out was that burger..om nom nom nom. Since this particular group has had some bad luck as of late on our excursions the fact we did so well for almost a 1/3 of what we spent at our last disaster, it made it even more memorable.

    (4)

  • Ryan Y.

    So many food reviews. Here's one for the whiskey lovers. I stopped by Branch on a Thursday night for a couple of drinks. The bar was comfortable and the bartender (also the owner if I'm not mistaken) provided quick service. The bourbon list is the best I've seen outside of Chicago or Bardstown, KY. This is really a Bourbon Bar, which I have no complaint about. I had recently had many bourbons on their list while visiting Bardstown -- Elmer T. Lee, Jefferson's, Elijah Craig 18yr, etc. -- so I started with the Jefferson's Reserve Very Old, neat as always. It was smooth and tasty. Better than others I've had of the same age. The bartender was friendly and knowledgable so I asked which bourbon was his favorite. Thank God I did. He answered Black Maple Hill and it was delicious. In summary, the ambiance, selection, & service are just right at Branch Whiskey Bar.

    (5)

  • Kate B.

    First time here and was a bit disappointed. I'm not a whiskey connoisseur but I do like bourbon and was excited to try this neighborhood spot. Unfortunately for a neophyte like myself the menu is merely a list of what they have, there is no explanation provided to distinguish between each of the options. And if you don't have a knowledgeable server then you're stuck just choosing based on the price or the name. The first server we had didn't know how to pronounce one of the Scotches and couldn't remember what was included on the charcuterie tray. Not helpful. But the second guy was awesome and was able to guide us through the menu and give recommendations based on our preferences. He was terrific and really saved the experience for us. We ordered the Branch Board charcuterie platter and it was really good. Very diverse and tasty meats, cheeses and pickled options. I'd go in just for that. The Branchhattan was a nice, less sweet manhattan with a house made bourbon soaked cherry that was amazing. My friend had the gin drink (Portland 27, I think?) that was quite refreshing but it was puzzling as to why they even had it on the menu. They also inexplicably had a mai tai listed and some tequila drink. Random. We also tried a Scotch (that we still can't pronounce) and based on the 2nd guy's reco, and a Four Roses single malt that was lovely. Though the menu is unfocused, I'll give it a try again.

    (3)

  • Adrienne A.

    Branch is a great addition to the Alberta St. line-up, and I'm glad to see that it's doing well. As far as drinks go, the wine list is a little sparse, and beer choices are few and far between, but the rotating beers on tap are always interesting and seasonally-appropriate. I really enjoy their cocktails, and of course, if you're into whiskey, you know what to do...order one of their flights. The atmosphere is dark and cozy, but it's still got a flatscreen TV for those all-important Blazers games. Foodwise, the menu is really limited, but I think they choose to focus on a few things they do well, rather than a lot of things that are mediocre. I see this as more of a pub menu - good simple food for enjoying with your drinks. My last visit, we tried the pork rillettes and the housemade sausage with smashed potatoes and a creamy mustard sauce. Both were delicious, although we did roll out of there in a meat coma. Everything's fresh and the meat items are all made or ground in-house. Service was attentive but not overly in-your-face. Branch: cozy little neighborhood pub that's consistently good quality.

    (4)

  • Melissa S.

    Awesome atmosphere! Friendly owners! Delicious beers and whiskeys!! Yummy food too!

    (4)

  • Lisa Z.

    SALTY SALTY SALTY. My tongue feels like it's bleeding. Hugely disappointing meal for over $60. Both fries and chips were drenched in salt. I am really, really in love with salt too. This is the first time it's ever been too much (and really, like WAY TOO MUCH). So salty that I was paranoid the cook somehow knew us and hated us. They seemed really in the weeds although it wasn't busy there. Don't eat the ceviche. Drink was good. Place itself is cute. Liked the choice of music. But, overall, very overpriced and SAAAAALTY. Oh, also, it was really salty. Did I mention that?

    (1)

  • Kyle E.

    The ambience was loud, making it a little difficult to carry a conversation, but we relaxed at the bar and waited patiently. About ten minutes later, an unshaven baldheaded bartender came over and asked, "How are you guys?" We pleasantly replied, "We're good. Thank you! Could we please order two glasses of the cabernet?" He sighed, smiled sarcastically and then snapped, "I'm doing good too. Thank you guys for even asking." He then rolled his eyes and proceeded to grab two wine glasses from the shelf. Stunned, I told him to not pour the glasses and that we would take our business elsewhere. When he asked us why we were leaving, I shared that his comment was not only surprising but incredibly rude apropos of nothing. We could barely even hear anything and just wanted to order a drink. In no way did I feel like we had slighted him by not engaging in some banal back and forth greeting game. I thought it was bartender etiquette to simply make eye contact, cut the small talk and know your drink order when they approach you. I didn't realize that we were suppose to start a podcast together. Anyway. While putting away our glasses, he sarcastically and insincerely thanked us for coming in. This shocking experience was not only completely uncalled for but altogether deplorable and morally reprehensible. I will never go back. That ass hat should get a promotion.

    (1)

  • Becky F.

    Great whiskey bar with a diverse and unique food selection! I had the hanger steak frites with blue cheese, so good and hearty, as seemed to be most of the dishes. I told the bar tender about my new found excitement about whiskey and not only did he give recommendations, but also gave me a book he recommended about the basics and sampling. Personable staff, great food and drinks, and intimate setting- would recommend to anyone!

    (5)

  • Amy L.

    My favorite place to go after going to a show at the Alberta Rose theater. Bartender and wait staff is always friendly. Food is excellent and made with fresh ingredients. One of my favorites is the mac and cheese and the cheese board. I especially love their long list of whiskeys and scotches. Inside looks great nice wood theme decor and big windows to people watch and hang out. Overall I would come here again.

    (5)

  • Laura N.

    I often dabble in the dark spirit arts, and while it's no secret that a peppery añejo is my go-to, I'm smart enough to know that one should never turn away a delicious bourbon, scotch, or whiskey when offered. And offer they did. (In the form of $4 happy hour craft cocktails. Yes, that says $4.) The whiskey (and whisky) selection alone is 50+ deep, and proper flights are available for the thirsty and curious. Which I usually am. It seems that Branch has gone through some iterations throughout the years. The bartender, with no shade thrown on past decisions, was eager to tell us about bringing their food game back to its former fine dining glory with a renewed focus on high quality French + Northwest fare. Most importantly, the food complimented the booze and the bartenders were more than eager to assist with pairings. While it's not the shiniest bar on the block, it's an unpretentious little spot in a sea of gentrification. I dig it.

    (4)

  • Kayla T.

    We had girls night here, then I came back with my boyfriend. A week later I came back with my boyfriend and his brother. We live all the way in camas and I'm hooked on this place. Their menu is constantly changing with whatever is in season (which to me means fresh). What sold me was the mac and cheese....OMG. I just planned a night with my girls again. I'm coming back for that mac :-)

    (5)

  • Tim F.

    The alberta burget is probably my #2 or #3 after le pigeon and trifecta. The meat is perfect. the blue cheese is pungent but not too over beating. the grilled onions add a perfect sweetness. We also had the grilled romaine lettuce with chicken. what made me happy is that they didn't use chicken breast. It was a whole thigh, which made is juicy and flavorful. The skin was good too. The grilled romaine was tasty also. The duck fat fries are legit duck fat fries. I use duck fat and know its taste. It is definitely worth it to upgrade because the regular fries are simply ok; they aren't bad but not that good. The duck fat makes them easier to eat because of the duckfat aroma and adds a clean after taste.

    (5)

  • Sebastian K.

    I really, really want to like this place but I received one of the most terrible service experiences in recent memory the other night. I have gone here on three occasions; one experience was fantastic, one was mediocre and one was so terrible I left before even ordering a drink. I live a two minute walk away from this place and it is incredibly convenient, but I have found myself walking further to a more sub par place just because I know I'll get service immediately. I will give credit where credit is due, because I still do want to give Branch another chance and it's true that there is huge potential here. Their happy hour is awesome for one, and is ranked as one of the best in Portland (I believe it was the Mercury that said that). It only lasts from 5PM to 6PM, but their drinks and food are marked down significantly and it's all high quality stuff. Definitely no complaints there. The ambiance is also very nice, and it's a great place to take a date. Their whiskey and scotch selection is one of the best I've seen in Portland, and it's all fairly priced. The service, while normally very friendly was not acceptable the last time I came here. The wait staff looked overwhelmed and rushed, yet the place was not terribly busy. I sat down at the bar, waited over fifteen minutes for service and eventually left. Not even an acknowledgement or an apology for the slow service, and I ended up going to another one of the many bars that Alberta Street has to offer, where I was served immediately upon entering. Also, the music was played WAY too high during my last visit. I actually invited someone for drinks here, but I told them to go somewhere else because I could barely hear anything outside of the music. I will return to Branch when I use their $12 for $20 deal here on Yelp and give them another chance. I will update my review when this happens, to reflect if it was just a bad night or if there is something more serious going on.

    (3)

  • Julie S.

    Wanted to believe in this place. But the food was cold and the service slow. Won't be a next time. We would have easily spent $50 more.

    (2)

  • Elysia M.

    Whiskey bar... he whole vibe is very cool ambience is mellow, there are a couple tables everywhere pretty small tables but you could definitely bunch them together to fit a larger group. We came after dinner so we really just came for drinks and we got the duck fries. We met a couple who were actually there for dinner and they said they go there all the time and they really love the menu. The drink menu is pretty big so I took a second to kind of take it all in. But there are lots of whiskey drinks, obviously, and they're also drinks I don't have whiskey. There aren't many without whiskey but there are some. They make this orange slushy with whiskey in it I'm not sure what the exact name is however it is AMAZING. I'm sure if you'd asked the bartender somebody would know exactly what you're talking about. Not the cheapest place but it's kind of swanky so it's worth it. The staff are also really nice so just come and hang out.

    (4)

  • Brent M.

    One of...if not the best burgers I have ever had. The burger was cooked med-well and still juicy and bursting with flavor. The only thing that was said for the rest of the meal and several minutes after was....this is soooo good! The only negative was that I think they needed to change out the duck fat for the duck fat fries....but the burger was so awesome that they still got 5 stars! We need one of these in LA area!!

    (5)

  • Lee H.

    I love Portland for its well honed dedication to the art of happy hour. Drink and food specials that last longer than the requisite 4-5 p.m. is genius, and seems to be a Portland thing. I moved from the land of practically non existent happy hours, so exploring Portland's version has been refreshing. Branch Whiskey Bar's happy hour runs from 5-6 p.m. every day. Happy hour noshes: Cheeseburger Duck fat french fries House salad Whiskey cocktail All for about $20.

    (5)

  • Debbie L.

    Had a burger last summer on the patio at Branch and as I recall, it was pretty good. Had a few cocktails there since then and finally went back for the burger again last night. Opted for the veggie burger and fries and again, it was good! Tasted the Mac n Chz off someone else's plate, they offered... it was rich with really good flavor. Another in our group enjoyed the steak and frites and also really enjoyed their meal. Hubby had the real burger and the fries with duck fat and loved it! Cocktails were tasty as well. I had the Oro Blanco made with grapefruit juice and if they are true to form, they used a real Oro Blanco grapefruit which BTW, was created just miles from my home where I lived in SoCal years ago at UCR. Also, I enjoyed picking the grapefruit right from the tree myself in my backyard. It's a sweeter grapefruit filled with flavor. Anyways, Branch Whiskey Bar is two blocks from my home here in Portland and with their whiskey, beer and cocktail selections, along with the food, you can't go wrong here. Enjoy!

    (4)

  • Steph W.

    Extensive list of whiskeys and a well thought out beer and whiskey pairing option on the large black board. Has a lovely warm ambiance with a pretty random music choice. I think one of the times I went it was totally nostalgia inducing 90's jams. Not what I expected. It can be much noisier so probably not a good place to go if you're wanting to chat. It is, however, a great place to snuggle up next to your sweetie at the bar and sample a well made Old Fashioned or one of their other cocktails. Haven't tried the food there but it did look really appetizing as I saw plates pass by.

    (4)

  • Stacy C.

    First time visit In asking what the waiter felt was the best on the list, he recommended the roasted chicken. I don't know that I've ever ordered roasted chicken. It's one of those 'I can roast chicken at home' dishes. I like to order items I dont/cant/wont make at home...but I ordered it as it also came with their mac n cheese (which I wanted to try) and a veg. Out came perfectly roasted chicken, a nice helping of mac and perfectly prepared broccoli rabe. An excellent meal. Not too much of one thing, no skimping on another but a perfect plate. And re the mac? This mac should be on PDX top 10 list. *if I ordered one thing, this is it* For my dessert/nightcap it would be a spanish coffee Hubers step back, there's a new Spanish coffee in town and it's at BRANCH. Great service

    (4)

  • Matthew A.

    was one of the bist places i still love them still my friend Scott work there iwe use to trade food from my old restaurant and i he make me try the bist shots and drinks lol

    (5)

  • Kristina K.

    Yelp is saying in a regular, but I don't want to consider myself a regular at Branch Whiskey. After reading rave reviews, I gave Branch Whiskey a solid try - once on a Saturday evening and tonight on a quiet Sunday evening. The back of house really knows how to hustle and shuffle around their small kitchen. The wait for food can be REALLY long on a busy night. While the food is quite good, the front of the house is unredeemable. I should have seen those Yelp reviews earlier. They our bad service again and again and again. On our first visit, they were slammed. All tables were full. The front staff sat us even though they had issues providing good service. We waited uncomfortable amounts of time to get the servers' attention to get drink, place or orders, get more drinks, get the bill, and cash out. We thought this experience was a fluke and there's no way Branch Whiskey could be that bad. Unfortunately, the service tonight was no different. With nearly a full staff and few tables, the service was still unsatisfactory. We waited nearly as long. While there was other patron sitting at the bar and another server sitting at the bar, we thought walking up and standing at the bar was a sure way to get the server's or any servers' attention. It was getting late, the kitchen was closed, and we wanted to get home. Nope! The server's undivided attention was on her coworker. They both stood by the bar, next to the register and chatted away. The server's coworker, facing us, even looked our way while speaking several times in the long 5 minutes while we waited for some type of acknowledgement. The front of the house had different priorities. If Branch Whiskey didn't have table service, I would understand the in attentiveness, but the service at Branch Whiskey is below par. There's really good food and service all over the city, so we will just take our business elsewhere.

    (1)

  • katie s.

    Don't go here if you care about having a conversation with anyone else you are sitting with. The music is blaringly loud with a tinny quality. An hour later, my ears are still ringing. If you ask the servers to turn it down you will find them unable to help due to other servers or managers who turn the volume right back up, as if in some Portlandia stereotype of comically bad service. Also ridiculous, by my San Francisco standards: menus never taken off the table during dinner. Forks and napkins not offered. Long wait to order. (Did I say this was all at happy hour when there were only a few tables full?) In short: The food was good. The drinks were ok. (Sazerac too sweet, house Cabernet mediocre.) The service was pretty bad. The ambiance was totally unacceptable. Oh yeah and my clothes now smell like food due to the clouds of duck fat smoke bellowing out of the kitchen. If I lived in this city I would rather make food at home than go here. It would be faster and more pleasant.

    (2)

  • Aimee L.

    Great little midweek place to grab a seriously delicious Scotch or Bourbon, and appetizers to boot. Knowing the drinks are pretty watered down, this time we went for straight up and were not disappointed, and the waitress was awesome. We had the vegetable appetizer - maple roasted cauliflower with marcona almonds and gruyere, and wow that changed me forever about cauliflower - in a good way! And the music was dialed right from my high school 80's new wave playlist :)

    (5)

  • Michelle M.

    Came here for happy hour and it was almost empty. The place was really nice and actually pretty romantic, with some of the tables seated next to knee-high windows. We ordered exclusively from the happy hour menu. The duck fat fries were some of the best that I've ever ordered anywhere else. I'm a sucker for soft french fries, and almost every single piece was soft, just soaked in all the flavors they put in that dish and melted in my mouth. I am obsessed with duck fat fries, so I'm happy to find one that exceeded my expectations! The mac & cheese was super creamy and rich. Absolutely delicious but so rich that I couldn't even finish it. I did have to add on a lot of salt and pepper, but that's really because my taste buds need more than the average salt to survive a meal. My date ordered the burger, medium rare, and it actually came out medium rare. We both really enjoyed that. My favorite drink off the Happy Hour menu was the (whiskey) one with a nice orange twist in it and a nice sour flavor to it. Of course, I forgot what it's called. Service was quick and attentive. Nice people! I definitely plan on coming back here for more HH.

    (4)

  • Von T.

    Yes I just left my number one burger ever place I will say once again this place does not ever disappoint. So consistently delicious. Service and atmosphere a plus. Before you start naming off your all time favorite burgers try this place out...then we will talk. Oh yea duck fat fries, mac and cheese, double pork chops the list of food cooked with passion goes on and on. Don't forget to save room for dessert like a whiskey chocolate mousse prehaps?

    (5)

  • Dean R.

    A lot to like about this place. They make a mean whiskey sour and hot damn that rabbit pot pie, though on the sweet side, is pretty tasty. Good service too.

    (4)

  • Pam B.

    Food was good...service was HORRIBLE!! We came with a large group and spent over $600. The waiter was rude and hardly present. He acted like we were a big inconvenience to him.

    (1)

  • Matt L.

    Great whisky selection. I will say the room is pretty dark and hard to see what you are eating. Small menu. Most items were decent but very rich. The burger had a very rich blue cheese on it. The bun was not that good. Service was good and they were very nice. I would go back again but not have the burger.

    (3)

  • Hanna S.

    Hands down, worst service I've ever had in Portland. The food was good, but not worth the 2 hours spent trying to chase down the rude/dismissive server and bartender. Best advice is to take your money and have a nice dining experience somewhere else.

    (1)

  • Tran Q.

    The service was terrible- I really don't want to go out to a restaurant and feel like I am burdening them by being there to eat. We had a larger party which we had reservations for- we added an extra person that they weren't ready for but they weren't full- but we're really rude about it. When they brought out food, they yelled "hey" to get our attention to ask who ordered what. Their service was horrible and would not recommend anyone going there- there are too many good restaurants in portland to go to somewhere that doesn't appreciate their patrons. Food was good, but mac and cheese was too salty.

    (1)

  • James C.

    Great find. Duck fat fries incredible. Butchers board very well done and not duplicated anywhere I have been. Drinks $5 at happy hour and are excellent! Go out of your way for this one.

    (5)

  • Courtney D.

    Horrible service. Don't bother making a reservation. They don't honor it and give tables to whoever comes in. Why even have a reservation service in the first place?

    (1)

  • Alvarez S.

    The food and drinks were good, our server was good too. But we had some dickhead server/busser what ever he was tell us to hurry up cuz he had someone waiting for an hour for our table. So what...we spent $90 bucks, should have taken back the tip. Not going back to that shit box again.

    (2)

  • Julie D.

    The mac and cheese is to die for. I had the chicken dish, which was pretty perfect all around. My husband had the burger, which he devoured. Large portions, but so delicious it's hard not to lick the plate. I had a '49er cocktail which was also fantastic. Wish I could give four and 1/2 stars, but had to reserve one star for the service, which was really quite slow and not super friendly... took a long time to get someone's attention after we were seated. But, the ambiance was lovely, music set a fun and light mood and it was a good experience overall. I'd definitely return - making sure I was ready for a hearty meal.

    (4)

  • Tien D.

    Before I start my review, let me just say that I didn't eat here. We went on Valentines Day and didn't have reservations. After reading all the rave reviews on yelp, I asked my fiance to take me here. When we arrived we were met with a very rude host at the door. After asking for our names (and us telling him that we didn't have reservations), he shortly said "no walk ins, no happy hour." I was confused and wondered whether these rave reviews I was reading was from a different restaurant. I agree, being Valentines Day, we should have made reservations. But we didn't see anything about it on the website prior to visiting. He finally told us there was a spot at the bar and "you have one hour." That experience just put a bad taste in my mouth and I didn't really want to stay because quite honestly, I don't like to put up with bad service. You don't have to treat me in a special way, but at least be polite about it. After sitting down for about a minute we decided to leave without ordering anything. Don't get me wrong, the service isn't all bad. The man behind the bar seemed super friendly. But I can't vouch for quickness of service and quality of food. My fiance (who is a very understanding guy) tried calming me down, telling me that the host was probably just stressed out since it was Valentine's Day. Even still, I am reluctant to come back. If I do, I hope I get service from someone else.

    (2)

  • Bill W.

    Love this place, especially the duck fat fries! My chicken entree with mac n cheese was also great. Wish we lived in the neighborhood so we could be regulars as others have expressed!

    (5)

  • Adam L.

    Experienced Branch for the first time, and was really pleased with the menu and whisky selection. Each dish is thoughtfully it together, exceptional ingredients and plated well. Highly recommend anything on "Special", the fries, burger and Mac and cheese etc etc. I do recommend you do not have plans after, the process of making this food was quite a wait. So be patient and enjoy your company.

    (4)

  • Ricky L.

    Coming from California, the culture here is really different. People are really friendly and chill. The food is alright, not the greatest, but really good for a late night hang out with a few beers.

    (4)

  • Henry L.

    Food is still tasty, but has changed since I last was there. No longer did the duck fat fries come with garlic aioli and no more prosciutto wrapped dates. Staff confirmed chef had changed, and I think that was not a change for the better. I have had some amazing food here, but wasn't amazed this time.

    (3)

  • Leslie P.

    Knowledgeable staff! Nice wine list. Great service. Delicious oysters - had seconds. Lamb shank was very good. Felt like a bar when I walked in, however the food menu is really nice. Will definitely go back - will try some Whiskeys next time.

    (5)

  • peabody j.

    We were there just before 6PM on a Sunday. Not a big crowd there at the time. My drink was great, I've always had quality cocktails here and would come back for that. Nice patio as well. Service was kind. No complaint on prices. However, we ordered a grilled romaine salad and a steak frites and it took over 1/2 hour to get to our table. We were sitting right next to the kitchen and only one plate left the kitchen outside of ours the entire time. I'm also not sure why the grilled romaine (appetizer) didn't come prior to the steak, but that wasn't a huge deal. It just felt much too long at the time to wait for our food, especially with no crowd in the restaurant and the kitchen not being busy. It just felt too long and left us a little disappointed by the meal. The food was OK, I felt over-seasoned and overly greasy, but I would eat the food again, that wasn't a big deal. If it had been incredible it might have made up for the wait.

    (2)

  • Alice C.

    Don't come here if you're already starving, or in a hurry. now that I'm a BWB pro, I actually brought a snack bar with me to munch on while I'm waiting for my food. the food takes THAT LONG. ps, while you're waiting for your food, you WILL get plenty of drinks, therefore getting pretty sauced on an empty stomach. HOWEVER, you'll be glad you waited. the food is really good -- oysters, all kinds of meats, interestingly prepared vegetables, and yeah the fries. I also love the atmosphere, the whiskey, the pairings, the wine. love it all! just bring a survival pack, you'll be here a while. and don't expect anyone to apologize for it either :P

    (4)

  • Alex S.

    the fried oyster flavors and the finest old fashioned make up for the occasional slow service. branch is the perfect date night locale. whiskey drinkers beware, libation fixation.

    (4)

  • Juan Manuel C.

    Good oysters, good whiskey, good beer. Also good crowd for weekday. This is my review not my tip lol

    (4)

  • Kerri M.

    I mainly came here for duck fat fries, which turned out to hit the spot. I also probably sat there long enough to drink two Old Fashioned's and they were both pretty tasty. I liked the vibe of this place and would return!

    (4)

  • Claire G.

    I have now been here at least 20 times and can definitely bump up the rating. Consistently superior service, friendly, accommodating, and observant. Food is consistently amazing. I always leave fat and happy and the specials are well worth trying. The atmosphere is lovely, though a bit loud. The rotating a artwork is always interesting as well. There is a reason I keep coming back, it's fucking delightful every time.

    (5)

  • Mykael M.

    Stopped in on a food crawl and we were not disappointed! The French 75 was to die for, the whiskey list was spot on, and the fresca was "the best fucking drink" my partner had ever had. Not to mention we ordered the entire appetizer menu and didn't find one thing we didn't like! We highly recommend the duck fat French fries!

    (4)

  • Melissa S.

    Awesome atmosphere! Friendly owners! Delicious beers and whiskeys!! Yummy food too!

    (4)

  • Lisa Z.

    SALTY SALTY SALTY. My tongue feels like it's bleeding. Hugely disappointing meal for over $60. Both fries and chips were drenched in salt. I am really, really in love with salt too. This is the first time it's ever been too much (and really, like WAY TOO MUCH). So salty that I was paranoid the cook somehow knew us and hated us. They seemed really in the weeds although it wasn't busy there. Don't eat the ceviche. Drink was good. Place itself is cute. Liked the choice of music. But, overall, very overpriced and SAAAAALTY. Oh, also, it was really salty. Did I mention that?

    (1)

  • Kyle E.

    The ambience was loud, making it a little difficult to carry a conversation, but we relaxed at the bar and waited patiently. About ten minutes later, an unshaven baldheaded bartender came over and asked, "How are you guys?" We pleasantly replied, "We're good. Thank you! Could we please order two glasses of the cabernet?" He sighed, smiled sarcastically and then snapped, "I'm doing good too. Thank you guys for even asking." He then rolled his eyes and proceeded to grab two wine glasses from the shelf. Stunned, I told him to not pour the glasses and that we would take our business elsewhere. When he asked us why we were leaving, I shared that his comment was not only surprising but incredibly rude apropos of nothing. We could barely even hear anything and just wanted to order a drink. In no way did I feel like we had slighted him by not engaging in some banal back and forth greeting game. I thought it was bartender etiquette to simply make eye contact, cut the small talk and know your drink order when they approach you. I didn't realize that we were suppose to start a podcast together. Anyway. While putting away our glasses, he sarcastically and insincerely thanked us for coming in. This shocking experience was not only completely uncalled for but altogether deplorable and morally reprehensible. I will never go back. That ass hat should get a promotion.

    (1)

  • Becky F.

    Great whiskey bar with a diverse and unique food selection! I had the hanger steak frites with blue cheese, so good and hearty, as seemed to be most of the dishes. I told the bar tender about my new found excitement about whiskey and not only did he give recommendations, but also gave me a book he recommended about the basics and sampling. Personable staff, great food and drinks, and intimate setting- would recommend to anyone!

    (5)

  • Amy L.

    My favorite place to go after going to a show at the Alberta Rose theater. Bartender and wait staff is always friendly. Food is excellent and made with fresh ingredients. One of my favorites is the mac and cheese and the cheese board. I especially love their long list of whiskeys and scotches. Inside looks great nice wood theme decor and big windows to people watch and hang out. Overall I would come here again.

    (5)

  • Laura N.

    I often dabble in the dark spirit arts, and while it's no secret that a peppery añejo is my go-to, I'm smart enough to know that one should never turn away a delicious bourbon, scotch, or whiskey when offered. And offer they did. (In the form of $4 happy hour craft cocktails. Yes, that says $4.) The whiskey (and whisky) selection alone is 50+ deep, and proper flights are available for the thirsty and curious. Which I usually am. It seems that Branch has gone through some iterations throughout the years. The bartender, with no shade thrown on past decisions, was eager to tell us about bringing their food game back to its former fine dining glory with a renewed focus on high quality French + Northwest fare. Most importantly, the food complimented the booze and the bartenders were more than eager to assist with pairings. While it's not the shiniest bar on the block, it's an unpretentious little spot in a sea of gentrification. I dig it.

    (4)

  • Kayla T.

    We had girls night here, then I came back with my boyfriend. A week later I came back with my boyfriend and his brother. We live all the way in camas and I'm hooked on this place. Their menu is constantly changing with whatever is in season (which to me means fresh). What sold me was the mac and cheese....OMG. I just planned a night with my girls again. I'm coming back for that mac :-)

    (5)

  • Tim F.

    The alberta burget is probably my #2 or #3 after le pigeon and trifecta. The meat is perfect. the blue cheese is pungent but not too over beating. the grilled onions add a perfect sweetness. We also had the grilled romaine lettuce with chicken. what made me happy is that they didn't use chicken breast. It was a whole thigh, which made is juicy and flavorful. The skin was good too. The grilled romaine was tasty also. The duck fat fries are legit duck fat fries. I use duck fat and know its taste. It is definitely worth it to upgrade because the regular fries are simply ok; they aren't bad but not that good. The duck fat makes them easier to eat because of the duckfat aroma and adds a clean after taste.

    (5)

  • Sebastian K.

    I really, really want to like this place but I received one of the most terrible service experiences in recent memory the other night. I have gone here on three occasions; one experience was fantastic, one was mediocre and one was so terrible I left before even ordering a drink. I live a two minute walk away from this place and it is incredibly convenient, but I have found myself walking further to a more sub par place just because I know I'll get service immediately. I will give credit where credit is due, because I still do want to give Branch another chance and it's true that there is huge potential here. Their happy hour is awesome for one, and is ranked as one of the best in Portland (I believe it was the Mercury that said that). It only lasts from 5PM to 6PM, but their drinks and food are marked down significantly and it's all high quality stuff. Definitely no complaints there. The ambiance is also very nice, and it's a great place to take a date. Their whiskey and scotch selection is one of the best I've seen in Portland, and it's all fairly priced. The service, while normally very friendly was not acceptable the last time I came here. The wait staff looked overwhelmed and rushed, yet the place was not terribly busy. I sat down at the bar, waited over fifteen minutes for service and eventually left. Not even an acknowledgement or an apology for the slow service, and I ended up going to another one of the many bars that Alberta Street has to offer, where I was served immediately upon entering. Also, the music was played WAY too high during my last visit. I actually invited someone for drinks here, but I told them to go somewhere else because I could barely hear anything outside of the music. I will return to Branch when I use their $12 for $20 deal here on Yelp and give them another chance. I will update my review when this happens, to reflect if it was just a bad night or if there is something more serious going on.

    (3)

  • Julie S.

    Wanted to believe in this place. But the food was cold and the service slow. Won't be a next time. We would have easily spent $50 more.

    (2)

  • Elysia M.

    Whiskey bar... he whole vibe is very cool ambience is mellow, there are a couple tables everywhere pretty small tables but you could definitely bunch them together to fit a larger group. We came after dinner so we really just came for drinks and we got the duck fries. We met a couple who were actually there for dinner and they said they go there all the time and they really love the menu. The drink menu is pretty big so I took a second to kind of take it all in. But there are lots of whiskey drinks, obviously, and they're also drinks I don't have whiskey. There aren't many without whiskey but there are some. They make this orange slushy with whiskey in it I'm not sure what the exact name is however it is AMAZING. I'm sure if you'd asked the bartender somebody would know exactly what you're talking about. Not the cheapest place but it's kind of swanky so it's worth it. The staff are also really nice so just come and hang out.

    (4)

  • Brent M.

    One of...if not the best burgers I have ever had. The burger was cooked med-well and still juicy and bursting with flavor. The only thing that was said for the rest of the meal and several minutes after was....this is soooo good! The only negative was that I think they needed to change out the duck fat for the duck fat fries....but the burger was so awesome that they still got 5 stars! We need one of these in LA area!!

    (5)

  • Lee H.

    I love Portland for its well honed dedication to the art of happy hour. Drink and food specials that last longer than the requisite 4-5 p.m. is genius, and seems to be a Portland thing. I moved from the land of practically non existent happy hours, so exploring Portland's version has been refreshing. Branch Whiskey Bar's happy hour runs from 5-6 p.m. every day. Happy hour noshes: Cheeseburger Duck fat french fries House salad Whiskey cocktail All for about $20.

    (5)

  • Debbie L.

    Had a burger last summer on the patio at Branch and as I recall, it was pretty good. Had a few cocktails there since then and finally went back for the burger again last night. Opted for the veggie burger and fries and again, it was good! Tasted the Mac n Chz off someone else's plate, they offered... it was rich with really good flavor. Another in our group enjoyed the steak and frites and also really enjoyed their meal. Hubby had the real burger and the fries with duck fat and loved it! Cocktails were tasty as well. I had the Oro Blanco made with grapefruit juice and if they are true to form, they used a real Oro Blanco grapefruit which BTW, was created just miles from my home where I lived in SoCal years ago at UCR. Also, I enjoyed picking the grapefruit right from the tree myself in my backyard. It's a sweeter grapefruit filled with flavor. Anyways, Branch Whiskey Bar is two blocks from my home here in Portland and with their whiskey, beer and cocktail selections, along with the food, you can't go wrong here. Enjoy!

    (4)

  • Steph W.

    Extensive list of whiskeys and a well thought out beer and whiskey pairing option on the large black board. Has a lovely warm ambiance with a pretty random music choice. I think one of the times I went it was totally nostalgia inducing 90's jams. Not what I expected. It can be much noisier so probably not a good place to go if you're wanting to chat. It is, however, a great place to snuggle up next to your sweetie at the bar and sample a well made Old Fashioned or one of their other cocktails. Haven't tried the food there but it did look really appetizing as I saw plates pass by.

    (4)

  • Stacy C.

    First time visit In asking what the waiter felt was the best on the list, he recommended the roasted chicken. I don't know that I've ever ordered roasted chicken. It's one of those 'I can roast chicken at home' dishes. I like to order items I dont/cant/wont make at home...but I ordered it as it also came with their mac n cheese (which I wanted to try) and a veg. Out came perfectly roasted chicken, a nice helping of mac and perfectly prepared broccoli rabe. An excellent meal. Not too much of one thing, no skimping on another but a perfect plate. And re the mac? This mac should be on PDX top 10 list. *if I ordered one thing, this is it* For my dessert/nightcap it would be a spanish coffee Hubers step back, there's a new Spanish coffee in town and it's at BRANCH. Great service

    (4)

  • Matthew A.

    was one of the bist places i still love them still my friend Scott work there iwe use to trade food from my old restaurant and i he make me try the bist shots and drinks lol

    (5)

  • Kristina K.

    Yelp is saying in a regular, but I don't want to consider myself a regular at Branch Whiskey. After reading rave reviews, I gave Branch Whiskey a solid try - once on a Saturday evening and tonight on a quiet Sunday evening. The back of house really knows how to hustle and shuffle around their small kitchen. The wait for food can be REALLY long on a busy night. While the food is quite good, the front of the house is unredeemable. I should have seen those Yelp reviews earlier. They our bad service again and again and again. On our first visit, they were slammed. All tables were full. The front staff sat us even though they had issues providing good service. We waited uncomfortable amounts of time to get the servers' attention to get drink, place or orders, get more drinks, get the bill, and cash out. We thought this experience was a fluke and there's no way Branch Whiskey could be that bad. Unfortunately, the service tonight was no different. With nearly a full staff and few tables, the service was still unsatisfactory. We waited nearly as long. While there was other patron sitting at the bar and another server sitting at the bar, we thought walking up and standing at the bar was a sure way to get the server's or any servers' attention. It was getting late, the kitchen was closed, and we wanted to get home. Nope! The server's undivided attention was on her coworker. They both stood by the bar, next to the register and chatted away. The server's coworker, facing us, even looked our way while speaking several times in the long 5 minutes while we waited for some type of acknowledgement. The front of the house had different priorities. If Branch Whiskey didn't have table service, I would understand the in attentiveness, but the service at Branch Whiskey is below par. There's really good food and service all over the city, so we will just take our business elsewhere.

    (1)

  • katie s.

    Don't go here if you care about having a conversation with anyone else you are sitting with. The music is blaringly loud with a tinny quality. An hour later, my ears are still ringing. If you ask the servers to turn it down you will find them unable to help due to other servers or managers who turn the volume right back up, as if in some Portlandia stereotype of comically bad service. Also ridiculous, by my San Francisco standards: menus never taken off the table during dinner. Forks and napkins not offered. Long wait to order. (Did I say this was all at happy hour when there were only a few tables full?) In short: The food was good. The drinks were ok. (Sazerac too sweet, house Cabernet mediocre.) The service was pretty bad. The ambiance was totally unacceptable. Oh yeah and my clothes now smell like food due to the clouds of duck fat smoke bellowing out of the kitchen. If I lived in this city I would rather make food at home than go here. It would be faster and more pleasant.

    (2)

  • Aimee L.

    Great little midweek place to grab a seriously delicious Scotch or Bourbon, and appetizers to boot. Knowing the drinks are pretty watered down, this time we went for straight up and were not disappointed, and the waitress was awesome. We had the vegetable appetizer - maple roasted cauliflower with marcona almonds and gruyere, and wow that changed me forever about cauliflower - in a good way! And the music was dialed right from my high school 80's new wave playlist :)

    (5)

  • Michelle M.

    Came here for happy hour and it was almost empty. The place was really nice and actually pretty romantic, with some of the tables seated next to knee-high windows. We ordered exclusively from the happy hour menu. The duck fat fries were some of the best that I've ever ordered anywhere else. I'm a sucker for soft french fries, and almost every single piece was soft, just soaked in all the flavors they put in that dish and melted in my mouth. I am obsessed with duck fat fries, so I'm happy to find one that exceeded my expectations! The mac & cheese was super creamy and rich. Absolutely delicious but so rich that I couldn't even finish it. I did have to add on a lot of salt and pepper, but that's really because my taste buds need more than the average salt to survive a meal. My date ordered the burger, medium rare, and it actually came out medium rare. We both really enjoyed that. My favorite drink off the Happy Hour menu was the (whiskey) one with a nice orange twist in it and a nice sour flavor to it. Of course, I forgot what it's called. Service was quick and attentive. Nice people! I definitely plan on coming back here for more HH.

    (4)

  • Von T.

    Yes I just left my number one burger ever place I will say once again this place does not ever disappoint. So consistently delicious. Service and atmosphere a plus. Before you start naming off your all time favorite burgers try this place out...then we will talk. Oh yea duck fat fries, mac and cheese, double pork chops the list of food cooked with passion goes on and on. Don't forget to save room for dessert like a whiskey chocolate mousse prehaps?

    (5)

  • Dean R.

    A lot to like about this place. They make a mean whiskey sour and hot damn that rabbit pot pie, though on the sweet side, is pretty tasty. Good service too.

    (4)

  • Chris C.

    The Duck Fat Fries, like how everyone else describes them, are great. I was attracted to this place because of their wide selection of whisky, but the atmosphere is what would keep me coming back...if I lived local. I wish I could come back soon, but I can't since I live near Boston, MA. I do not know when I'll be back to Portland, OR., but for now, this place needs more butts in the seats so that I know it will be there when I return. Give Branch Whiskey Bar a try, as I know you'll like it if you like anything of good quality. I want to come back - so go now!

    (5)

  • Raven C.

    I've been here twice and have very much enjoyed both experiences. The Old Fashioned is fantastic as is their signature Manhattan. Although the service has tended to run on the chilly side when we first arrive, they quickly warm up. The pan-roasted chicken is delicious and moist and the burger is very good. I'm not a fan of the duck fat fries and really don't see the appeal but my dining partner gives two thumbs up. The noise level is up there but isn't so loud that you can't hear each other. This is a great place to come after work and relax over a cocktail or two.

    (4)

  • Hayden N.

    I don't have a good impression of Branch Whiskey Bar at this point in time, I am going to give them the benefit of the doubt with three-stars. It was Last Thursday and they got slammed. I could understand that customer service may not be as efficient when there are so many parties to take care of but, despite the fact of how busy the restaurant is, the attitude toward customers should never be rude. My two friends and I came in for drinks, we asked a server if we should just order at the bar or grab a seat. He told us that it would be more easier to take a seat and order with a server so he cleaned off a table for us. Thanks. My friends ordered a Johnny Walker neat and the Alberta. I just got oysters to share. While my friend is in the bathroom, the server returned to tell us that they were out of Johnny Walker. There was a couple times, a server came by and she tried to get their attention to be ignored because they were fanatically trying to keep up with service. Took a long time for her to order another drink. Eventually, the oysters came out and all we wanted was hot sauce--after asking two or three times, we never got the hot sauce. We didn't want to wait around for them to come pick up our check and run cards. I went up to the bar to pay because they had overcharged us. Our server was in the middle of a conversation with another customer, an out-of-towner visiting Portland and had issues with the service. He was defensive in explaining her that it's Last Thursday, they aren't normally as busy, and that he "wished he didn't have to be here working". I thought he could have handled that situation more calmly. He had charged us for the Johnny Walker (which they didn't have) and the order my friend had actually got. He asked if I rather be charged for the more expensive drink instead since the Johnny Walker is less. No, I don't want to be charged for a drink we didn't have. He ended up taking off both drinks due to his misunderstanding--that was nice of him. The oysters were good and all the food sounds amazing. I would be willing to give Branch Whiskey bar another try on a day that they aren't super busy.

    (3)

  • Anthony F.

    Honestly the Alberta burger is HANDS DOWN the most delicious burger I've ever tasted... If you are in the mood for a satisfying and unbelievably savory burger, this is the place! We were moaning for hours afterwards about how delicious it was.

    (5)

  • Sarah M.

    Had a really nice dinner for four. Friendly service and were seated for our reservation after just fifteen minutes wait which they were very apologetic for. We enjoyed our drinks, I had the 49er which was surprisingly delicious and complex in flavor. The guys had a Manhattan which I'm not too crazy about but he said it was the best he'd had. And when one of them couldn't decide on a beer to try, the waiter brought shot glasses of each to help him decide. That was really nice. The prices were very reasonable considering the quality of the food and cocktails which was very nice, so we will definitely be back soon.

    (4)

  • Sara K.

    Little known secret: This place has one of the best burgers in Portland. Its the Alberta Burger (not to be confused with the Branch Burger) and its a hunk of meat slathered with blue cheese, caramelized onions and a spicy sauce. The drinks? I mean if you like whiskey (and even if you don't), you'll find something to please your palate. This is a fantastic place for a date, the lights are dimmed enough that you'll look your best and it isn't loud or overly busy.

    (4)

  • Christina S.

    Cheese board : amazing We got so full from the cheese board that we couldn't even properly enjoy our dinner, which also was delicious. Love the whiskey selection. A little hipsterish vibe but that's to be expected from a whiskey restaurant on Alberta. Will be back

    (5)

  • Chris K.

    If you want to feel like a real jerk for arriving half an hour before a place closes this is the joint for you! On the way over we found awesome free pizza sitting outside Bella Faccia (apparently they put leftover pizza outside the restaurant when the close, how cool is that!). We got here at 10:30, a solid half out before they close, looking forward to their famous avian lard fried potatoes (not trying to contribute to the Yelp hype behind their positive reviews). We started to take a seat but before bums could even hit the booth the server said, and I quote, "One: outside food is not allowed here (referencing the pizza boxes we did not intend to eat while inside another restaurant because we are human beings) and two: we are about to close." Wow what awesome staff! I asked him what time they close and he said "either 10 or 11". There were plenty of other people there, so it's not like we were going to keep them open for just us. So make sure you check if crankypants is working or not before you go, because if he is, you're gonna have a bad time! What a meanie!

    (1)

  • Cessalee S.

    I'm tettering between three and four but the yelp deal pushed me over the edge. To keep it simple, we went late a night and the kitchen was about to close so we didn't have issues with food taking while or a long wait to be seated. I ordered a burger and my co-worker the chicken burger. We also got the grilled zucchini. The grilled zucchini was AWESOME! By far the best part of the meal! My burger was pretty good...I upgraded for the duck fat fries which were very salty, but I love a good duck fat fry. The meat was actually great, but I really didn't love the rest of the stuff on the burger, particularly the gruyere. And I LOVE gruyere. Weird. Oh, and they were out of ketchup. I'm a big dipper so that was a little disappointing. I mean, I love ketchup on everything and was looking forward to both the burger and the fries for their ketchup pairing abilities. That definitely makes me lame, but that's the truth. Although, the aioli they gave was pretty good. And I rarely actually order a medium burger that comes medium. Good job there, Whiskey! But for as much of a rush as they were in to get us to order, they certainly weren't in a rush for us to leave. We actually ended up having to go find the waitress to get her to adjust the bill for the yelp deal. I guess I wouldn't come out of my way to get back here, but if I was in the mood for a snack, I might check and see what's out on the grill :)

    (4)

  • Cathy T.

    Came here for a quick dinner with my cousins. The staff was really nice and friendly. The environment was different... it felt like I was on a romantic date, haha. The place was dark and there were candles on all the tables. I'm not much of a beer fan, so I didn't try the Portland beer. Food wise, it was okay. The meat platter was good! It was so good that we decided to make our own the next day! We didn't realize that the portions were going to be so big. When we ordered the mac and cheese, we thought it would be a personal size so we ordered 2 of them to share amongst all 8 of us. Sadly we were't able to finish both of it. It felt really heavy with all the cheese.

    (3)

  • Me H.

    V day night, place is hoping. Decided to give up our table for walk ins... Sat at our favorite place, the bar. First round OTH... Thanks. Food impressed, service even when busy great. Good joint good food, good service

    (5)

  • Kacee E.

    Great service and amazing drinks. I can't recommend the béchamel Mac n cheese enough and if you come during happy hour a hefty portion is only $8. Order heavy and then walk it off up and down Alberta St.

    (5)

  • Kelsey R.

    I have enjoyed my visit both trips to Branch. They feature a great selection of whiskey and bourbon. The Buffalo Bourbon is my personal favorite. It is a great place to come with people who don't care for or haven't really tried whiskey, either. They sell pairings of beer and whiskey so that you can try new combinations. They also have a full bar. I have gotten the Branch Burger before. They cook their meat to a true medium or other levels instead how most places overcook (so a medium here is a medium rare elsewhere). The duck fact fries are delicious. Full of flavor and perfectly crisp! It's great they keep glass water bottles on the table so you can just refill when you need it. The service is always friendly and they are more than willing to give suggestions!

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :5:00 pm - 11:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner, Late Night
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Music : Background
    Good For Dancing : No
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Happy Hour : Yes
    Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
    Coat Check : No
    Smoking : No
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : No
    Dogs Allowed : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Branch Whiskey Bar

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