Found a new favorite bar recently, The Houston Blacklight in Portland, OR. Located on SE Clinton & 21st, this is the new offering from the team behind Gado Gado and Oma’s Hideaway, two of the best restaurant/bars in town. This is truly an excellent bar, both as a destination spot and, if you’re lucky enough, your neighborhood bar. They have a limited menu of interesting items with an Indonesian/Pan-Asian twist as well as top-tier cocktails. I ordered the Blacklight Burger (pictured above) as well as a Tomato Panzanella accompanied by a Tequila and Mezcal cocktail. The burger was incredible, rich and juicy and cooked perfectly. With their “our-BQ” sauce, smoked gouda, pickles and sweet onion, it was everything I could want in a burger. The fries were well seasoned and tasty.

Ah, Panzanella. For when you are in the mood for a salad but don’t want all those greens and want bread instead. I love salads of all kinds, but it seems like panzanella is pushing the envelope on what defines a salad. Who cares, they are delicious. This one was exceptional, with heirloom tomatoes, nectarines, mozarella, basil, parsley, corn, croutons, and a delicious and addictive miso vinaigrette. The only complaint is that I wish they would have cut the tomatoes, nectarines and croutons into more bite-size pieces. Otherwise the flavors were really on point.

As good as the food was, the cocktail threatened to steal the show! Sorry for the poor pics but the lighting was dark in the bar. I lean towards Tequila and Mezcal cocktails, so their “take me on a trip” was perfect. Tequila, lime leaf Mezcal, Aperol, strawberry, lime, lactic acid. They infused Mezcal with a lime leaf and it was a revelation. It wound up tasting strongly life kaffir lime (maybe they used that leaf I don’t know). It really changed the mezcal and made it intensely citrusy and took away the smokiness (which I love). The cocktail was delicious and well-balanced, one of the best ones I’ve ever had. I wish this bar was closer to me as I would go a lot more often. Highly recommend it (as well as Gado Gado and Oma’s Hideaway) no matter where you live! Happy eating and imbibing.