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Saucebox Cafe & Bar
Categories: Nightlife Bars Lounges Restaurants American (New) Restaurants Asian Fusion Lounges, American (New), Asian Fusion [Edit]
214 SW BroadwayPortland, OR 97205
Neighborhood: Downtown
(503) 241-3393
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 4:30 pm - 12 am
Fri 4:30 pm - 2 am
Sat 5 pm - 2 am
Sun 5 pm - 12 am
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Classy, Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
Yolo Lounge serves delicious, meticulously crafted Sushi and a variety of tasty hot plates (with an asian flair) served in a classy yet relaxed setting.… read more »
268 reviews for Saucebox Cafe & Bar
Review Highlights
"This place has a great little happy hour."
(in 116 reviews)
"LOVE the sweet potato spring rolls- we had to fight over..."
(in 5 reviews)
"For cocktails, this place is awesome."
(in 38 reviews)
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268 reviews in English
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Review from Olivia O.
Portland, OR
1/27/2012
Happy Hour here is amazing. Okay, so definitely not the cheapest happy hour - this place will run up the bill quick - but definitely one of the tastiest.
Goddamn - the Umami-cheese Burger? Watch out, it'll fall apart in your hands and get all over the place, but you will be dreaming about it tomorrow at work. The mussels? Slightly spicy and very holy-shit-someone-feed-me-this-forever.
And the music? Finally a bar in Portland that realizes music has been made post 2005! There are so many places that play the same old boring shit over and over, like the owner forgot he was in this to make food and didn't realize he can't be a DJ as well. This place, you're listening to the bass beat, and you think, Shit, Kanye dropped a new song this week? Who the fuck knew? That's right. Saucebox knew. Saucebox knew Missy Elliott made a song with Spice last summer. Saucebox knew you wanted a flower in your drink. Saucebox knew you wanted more taro chips before you fell off your chair.
Also the waiters here are hella hip. Some dude with white-rimmed glasses and a crazy fade asked me if I wanted a refill. No dude. I want you to tell me where you got that star shaved into the back of your head. And where you got this Justice remix.Listed in: Best Happy Hour
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Review from Rei N.
Beaverton, OR
1/14/2012
SauceBox's atmosphere and food is undeniably cool - I've eaten udon noodles in many restaurants from Alaska to Washington to Oregon to California to Japan to...you get the picture; but their pulled pork udon noodle dish is one of the best I've ever had.
SauceBox is not the place to go if you have a huge appetite and are looking for a bargain, though. Their happy hour food has great prices but the drinks will more than make up for that difference on your final bill.
That being said, they have some of the best cocktails in the city and have been doing it since 1995. Kickboxer anyone? -
Review from michelle pearl s.
Portland, OR
1/6/2012
This was a birthday dinner for my husband and we decided to try Saucebox (gotta love the name!). Unfortunately, it was just, "Meh. Ive experienced better"...especially for the price.
The cocktails were good, (except 'downtown girl, waaaaay too sweet)-- but we mostly wanted dinner. We thought the pork spring rolls were good, but I've had much better lumpia. The sushi was only average & not very eclectic. The pork ribs were very good. There was not enough vegetables in the dishes or offered as complete dishes so it felt unbalanced. The desert was only fair. We won't be back for dinner but we will for drinks.
Great atmosphere, furniture, nice flower arrangements...bathrooms way too dark...good music.
Service was flat, unattentive and very indifferent--too bad, we love conversing with the waiters -that's part of what we enjoy about dining out.
Lastly, the food took a long time to arrive and we waited too long for each dish. -
Review from Ryan S.
Portland, OR
2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
The drink list seems endless and I've eaten dinner here once although I don't remember how good it was because of all the drinks (hence the name Saucebox) and the service is great from what I've experienced!
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Review from Frank L.
1/6/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Yeah, any evening that ends with me chowing down a Naga Ghost Chile is a successful one in my book...'cuz... that's just how I roll. A mouth full of fiery red capsaicin death. Awesome! If I ever get stuck between some unruly protesters and the pepper spray wielding PoPo, I'm ready!
I got on the MAX late the other night and the train was packed with folks headed for the Trailblazer game. I can only stand the sardine pack for just so long. I disembarked downtown with a plan to catch a bus the rest of the way home. Damn if I didn't miss that bus by a second or two. Another one wouldn't be along for 30 minutes. Crap. I was starving so I wandered around until I saw the Saucebox's neon beckoning me to check out the menu in the window. Looked good, so I went inside.
Trendy decor with some trendy people scattered about the place, enjoying trendy libations and trendy pu pu's in a trendy atmosphere. Actually, I'm just jealous because it's been a long time since I could go into a bar to see and be seen. This old dog is better suited to a dark corner in a place a bit more seedy.
I bellied up to the bar and ordered a drink--Ruby Manhattan. That was a tasty beverage and I enjoyed sipping down every ounce of it while the ribeye I ordered was prepared. That was a nice steak. I asked for it rare and it came that way. It practically melted in my mouth.
My kid is an MMA fighter, so I had to order the "Kickboxer" for my second cocktail. It was made with Thai Chile infused vodka. It was genuinely spicy. I liked it. I asked the friendly bar manager, Sean, about the vodka and it turns out that he's some kind of hot pepper spirits wizard. He fixed me a margarita that contained a pepper tequila that he created with none other than the hottest of the hottest--the Bhut Jolokia, AKA the Naga Ghost Chile. Awesome.
Sean pulled one of the little red devils out of the fridge and asked me if I want to try a bite. I popped the whole thing in my mouth and gobbled it up. "Most people just take a nibble," said Sean.
"Most people are wussies," said I... to myself... before the burn started to go straight through my ears. Ow. Hey, I didn't cry but I did start to hallucinate. My eyes didn't stop watering until about five minutes ago.
Saucebox gets my seal of approval and I'll absolutely go back again to see what other kind of devilishly hot cocktails can be made behind Sean's bar. There's certainly something special about a place that can help turn a slow, miserable commute into a fantastical, spicy adventure. I'm certain my lady will like the atmosphere and the food. I'll be back. -
Review from Jarrod S.
1/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Happy hour at this place rules. Awesome portions, delicious food, and quite a variety to choose from. I hear dinner at this place is pricy, but I didn't have dinner so who cares?!
The server was great, splitting the check even though they don't do that, making sure we always had a drink, and an empty plate never sat in front of me. As a matter of fact, the service was better than awesome because I don't even remember ordering anything, or feeling interrupted, or waiting for anything, at all!
The place seemed a bit dark, I was the dork in the back using his phone as a light, but if you can't see, you can't see! But other than trying to order, the light is a non-issue, and is pleasant.
I can't speak for the cocktails as I was the DD and only had a beer, which only 1 craft beer is available for HH pricing, but next time I am trying something special, or maybe a flight of sake. I really like Saucebox, and I look forward to having it in the regular rotation. -
Review from Leo W.
Portland, OR
1/27/2012
Go for happy hour! They have a huge selection of unique cocktails that are delicious. It's a nice place with a good DJ and great service.
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Review from Juju M.
Portland, OR
I never tire of coming to Saucebox for a drink and some music.
They have a very fun and extensive drink menu, pretty decent happy hour, and a lovely dining area in the back.
I really like almost everyone who works there! The bartenders are always great, and when someone had been too sick to handle their liquor in the bathroom the bartender was so mortified he bought my friend and I a drink.
A couple of times I've struggled with the happy hour waitresses, who are a little ditsy and forgetful. But! harmless.
I was last there on Friday night. My friend and I put our drinks on the bar and our coats on the bar stools, and chatted while standing. We turned around and one of the wait staff had cleared our almost full drinks. When we asked her about it she got a little defensive, she was clearly not in the best mood. She explained that where we put our drinks was a clear away zone. Hmmm... why are there stools in front of it then? Its a counter. Where else are you supposed to put your drinks? Not to mention they were almost full, and if she put two and two together she might have realized what was going on. Oh well! The bartender apologized and made us fresh drinks. Still... rather strange. -
Review from Richard K.
Portland, OR
1/23/2012
I've been here twice. Food is amazing, drinks are OK, it' pretty on the inside.
They get 2 stars for 1 reason;
Each time I've been here I've watched the manager (lady) berate the servers within earshot of our table.
If anyone ever treated me like that I'd quit in a second.
Treat human beings like you want to be treated...I hate seeing staff choking down their stress because they work for a terrible manager.
Go for the food--standup for the server if you see this happen.
Maybe Bruce should consider yet another manager at Saucebox -
Review from Chris W.
Portland, OR
1/21/2012
Worst service bar in downtown I think. It takes a long time to get a drink or for a server to come check on you. It's all about customer service and if the bar is busy and your staff can't keep up then you need to hire more. Just not happy with them at all.
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Review from Lauren B.
1/13/2012
You haven't lived until you've been to Saucebox, my favorite restaurant of all time. Unbeatable cocktails (try the Kickboxer, Tropicalitan, and Thai Boyfriend) and a ton of specialty cocktails - the menu is like 8 pages long or something ridiculous. The Javanese Salmon is heaven in your mouth, and I don't know what they do to make their potstickers so damn tasty. It's pricey but if you have any regrets you're a fool. I moved to Seattle and my craving for Saucebox must be what zombies feel for brains. I need it!! Also fabulous trendy decor. A Portland treasure.
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Review from Stefanie N.
Omaha, NE
1/13/2012
Giving the place 5 stars exclusively for their HH! It's been several years since I've been here for dinner but recently stopped by for happy hour and wow am I impressed! Ordered their burger, brussel sprouts, beef salad and pad thai and it was all delicious! Great HH portions for great price!
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Review from Josh H.
Portland, OR
1/24/2012
My girlfriend and I had heard great things about this place and it was all true. The bar tenders are amazing and very knowledgeable. The drinks are made to perfection and the house infused alcohols are amazing. A major plus for me is that the bar tenders are open to specific request( im very particular with my old fashions). The ambiance is, plainly put, cool. The manager, Tia, keeps the environment very pleasant and is happy to have a word about local music and up coming events. This place is great, the food is good and the company is great, we will definitely continue to frequent the saucebox.
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Review from Huong T.
Portland, OR
1/16/2012
I only came here because a friend told me that it was "so good." I hate fusion Asian food to begin with and this place showed me again why I hate it. The pork buns were dry, the calamari was greasy, and the sushi...well I've had better. Our waiter was nice, but hostess looked stuck up and didn't seem like she wanted to work that day. The cocktails were good. The waiter was knowledgable about the cocktails and gave a good recommendation for a ginger cosmopolitan. The pricing was decent for the food they served.
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Review from Kimberly P.
Portland, OR
11/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love love loooove this place for happy hour!
The server was absolutely fantastic. He took such great care of us and seemed like a really nice and funny guy. Gave us some great recommendations on items that we weren't sure about or couldn't decide between. I was able to ask him about which items were gluten free or not and if he wasn't sure he checked with the kitchen.
The drinks are always amazing! I of course got their Kickboxer, one of my all time faves there. You can't beat that combination of sweet and spicy. I also tried out the Shiso Lovely, which was very tasty as well.
For food it's hard to go wrong. My group bought a plethora of items to share and left there absolutely stuffed. -
Review from Ken W.
Aliso Viejo, CA
11/4/2011
Let's see. We did go late in the day and they were out of most specials and my drink was at best forgettable.
The decor is cool and the vibe is cool and wait staff are good but it was not the awesome libations locale as promised.
Very cool music - I am guessing it's a place u go to be seen and to look cool. I was on vacation and had just gotten to the Benson and walked over in flip flops and shorts so maybe I didn't look cool enough to be someone special.
The food looked nice but tasted sad. Kinda seared tuna with fried onions. Nice look - but weak on the taste.
Sorry guys,...but u were the only bummer in Portland. Everywhere else was fantastic. -
Review from S J.
Portland, OR
Updated - 10/13/2011
Amazing-
Had a great table in the dining room looking out at the busy street. Love the calm feeling inside while watching the world beyond.
We each had one of their new mocktails- yum! I love that they have tasty and fun drinks if you don't feel like drinking alcohol.
LOVE the sweet potato spring rolls- we had to fight over the last one! The Korean ribs were awesome and super tender.
Definitely worth eating in the dining room this time instead of HH, but we have always been into the happy hour.2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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7/9/2011
so good!
We finally went in for a sit-down dinner in the dining room. Loved all the options and… Read more »
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Review from Tessa M.
WOODLAND HLS, CA
10/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
EVERYTHING GOOD. EAT IT ALL.
This is the only place my husband and I HAD to order dessert twice, in the same sitting. I know that's kinda gross, but I don't care. It was a temptation we didn't care to resist. -
Review from Olivia T.
Updated - 8/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Look who's bringing the sexy back...
Pork Udon Noodle is back on the Saucebox's Happy Hour menu. Portion is smaller than it used to be (they used to serve a whole bowl of it). It will take 4 bites before you will finish this meal, so make sure you order something else with it.
The taste is oh so delicious. The soft boiled egg on top is perfect in so many ways. I'm so thrilled this place bounced back on my HH list. I'm rekindling my relationship with Saucebox for sure. Hopefully this time will last for a while :-).2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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2/21/2011
New chef..new items on happy hour menu...
Portions are smaller and the Miyako burger is not the same… Read more »
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Review from Jenni L.
Updated - 8/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've been here several times this past year for dates, dinner with friends, and drinks with the girls, and each time my experience had been nothing short of fantastic.
Usually when I come to eat I share a table full of the small plates with whomever I'm with. I've tried a good portion of the small plates menu as well as most of the sushi. The Vietnamese salad rolls are a must every time I go; the peanut sauce makes them extra spectacular. The sushi is also good, although I've noticed pretty much every time I go that they aren't wrapped as tightly as they should be and fall apart easily.
The waitstaff is superb. One of the last times I went, the waiter went out of his way to look up a particular cocktail recipe that they offered last fall to have the bartender make after I vaguely described it to him. I like my St. Germaine. Alot.
To top it all off Saucebox is gorgeous and just plain sexy. It's like the restaurant equivalent of George Clooney.
Go now, and tell George I said hello.Listed in: Drink till he's cute.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/6/2011
I recently went here with a friend and had a really good experience. The food was really good. We… Read more »
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Review from Danni D.
8/22/2011 3 Check-ins Here
***Happy Hour Review Only***
I am the first to admit that Saucebox lost me a long time ago because I could not handle the copious amounts of salt in everything that I ordered. But I am a glutton for punishment. And alcohol. So I went back the other night ready to give it second chance. After all, I cannot even keep up with the chef turnover, so who knows who was at the helm when I was last there downing salt licks.
Best. Decision. Ever.
I mainly stuck with the $5 "cocktail of the day," which most other places would be alcohol + mixer + shut-up-what-do-you-want-for-$5? Not the case here at all. I enjoyed a house infused watermelon vodka lemonade concoction which was tart, sweet, and most important element of all, boozy. It was refreshing. And, in an effort to drive the point home, it was $5.
Their HH "snacks" are divided up among $1, $2, $3, $4 and $5 menus. Basically, you simply need to decide if you are kind of a cheap skate, or a complete and unabashed cheap skate, and the menu will guide you from there. I ventured into mid-range menu land and ordered the crispy Brussels sprouts in dashi broth. They were so damned good that I skipped the broth spoon entirely and picked up the bowl to drink the broth. What you were there that night? So yeah, that cave woman slurping broth straight out of the bowl was me.
I enjoyed other items that night as well, and best of all, none of them was over-salted. All were perfectly fine HH options - the green papaya salad complete with prehistoric shrimp (heads still attached), the grapefruit salad with black sesame seeds, and the Szechuan noodles. I don't know if I would shell out for the dinner menu prices, but they are excellent happy hour fare.
I will absolutely come back to Saucebox for their HH menu. I will be the one slurping the Brussels sprouts broth directly out of the bowl. What of it? -
Review from Danielle F.
Seattle, WA
9/15/2011
All I can say is wow I wish I would have made it here sooner.
Saucebox has a GREAT happy hour! There were probably 20 different things to choose from. The bartender helped me narrow down my options. I went with crispy brussel sprouts, green papaya salad and udon noodles with pork and a soft egg.
I think my favorite was the crispy brussel sprouts served with a soft egg with a broth in the bottom. It was 3 bucks and honestly one of the best things I've eaten recently.
The green papaya salad was also really good. It had 3 huge prawns on it and the dressing was yummy! To bad it has fish sauce in it I wanted to tell my vegetarian friend to get it ( sans prawns).
The udon with pork and a soft egg was my least favorite. The noodles were by no means udon, looked more like yakisoba noodles. The pork itself wasn't to tasty either ( just bland). The egg with the noodles and the sauce all went well together though.
I was debating between 4 and 5 stars (wasn't thrilled with the udon and felt like it was a bit misleading based on the noodle served) but the happy hour is awesome and the food is so reasonable based on my trip I had to give it a 5. -
Review from Lauren L.
9/20/2011
If Saucebox were in New York, I'd have to get a job there to support my addiction as on a 7-day stay in Portland, we ate and drank (and drank) here 3 times. This is now my favorite bar on the planet. THE PLANET.
Every damn drink I had was better than the last, strong as hell, and sometimes even served in a tiki glass. And every bartender and server we had was hilarious and attentive.
But next to the food stands my new obsession: their sweet potato spring rolls. Normally I hate spring rolls, and I usually avoid anything fried, but these gems, they are something else. I don't know how they make them, but these things haunt my dreams now. But everything was that awesome, including the sushi and the summer rolls. While we never ate a full dinner there, next time I'm in PDX, the second I get off that plane I'm rolling into Saucebox with my luggage in tow. -
Review from Bryon P.
Montclair, NJ
12/22/2011
Chef special sushi meal was excellent, drinks not so much. Bartender couldn't make an Absolut Chocolate martini, Brazen version had to be replaced due to not having ingredients.
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Review from Abbie H.
9/18/2011
I like the Saucebox! Have been here a couple of times and really like the atmosphere. Music is loud but it fits with the environment. I like the pineapple full of booze, both because it looks really cool and tastes really good!
Both times I have been there I have been served fast and the servers were super friendly. I want to go back and try the happy hour food. -
Review from Lachlan M.
10/21/2011
Sean is amazing!
My lady and i came down to Portland from Vancouver BC for our anniversary. After a nice dinner at Little Bird we went to Saucebox on the recommendation of our concierge at the ACE. We came for a nightcap and ended up closing down the bar; the reason being Sean. Our moustachioed bartender took as great care of his drinks as he did us. Plying us with hooch and stories, we were enthralled.
many thanks
B+L -
Review from Jennifer Z.
Portland, OR
7/20/2011
One of the best restaurants in Portland.
I've been there in groups, with friends, and for romantic dinners. All were superb.
Excellent, excellent food. Only thing I haven't tried yet is the sushi, but I'm not ever thinking "sushi" before going to Saucebox. Even if I was, everything else on the menu looks too good and would distract me.
I'm very hard to please with cocktails, and their cocktails are pretty good. (Compared to other P-town restaurants.)
White tablecloths, low lighting and candles at night, love the decor.
The vibe is cool and you could go more dressy or casual--I've seen both there, and it all works.
Service is good. We've had a couple arrogant and/or trying-too-hard male waiters, but nothing that annoyed me enough to not go back. -
Review from Ben M.
Seattle, WA
11/13/2011
Amazing ribs, terrible service. The meat dishes at suacebox are fantastic highlighted by the ribs where the meat litterally falls off the bone. However, the waitstaff is out to lunch. Order five drinks on your first order because that is your last chance for a beverage that night. My Singha could have been flown in from that Thailand night and made it to the table faster. And like a pu pu platter that comes a hour later, the management is also lukewarm and overall disappointing.
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Review from Calvin Y.
5/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
SAUCED!
With 40+ signature cocktails filling 4 pages, Saucebox's name is beyond fitting. Their drinks boast unique and creative combinations and many house-made infused vodkas.
I recommend the Cucumber Caprioska -- ginger infused vodka with cucumber, lemon-lime, and ginger-brew. The drink is very crisp and clean. Expect to drop between $7-9 per cocktail.
We ordered the PuPu Platter, an assortment of their signature appetizers,
which included interesting hor'dourves such as the tapioca dumplings, tender ribs, sweet potato spring, rolls, and pork/mushroom dumplings, I didn't feel it was worth $22.
If you're coming to Saucebox, I recommend just sticking to a liquid dinner of fruity cocktails.Listed in: Stumped in Stumptown?: A Guide…
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Review from Amanda E.
10/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
This cafe has a fabulous cocktail menu and a phenomenal happy hour! The happy hour scene is generally a good vibe, as the bar gets packed with young professionals getting off work. The bar can be hit or miss on the weekends, depending on whether the it is empty or full. There is occasionally a DJ on weekend nights that plays great music.
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Review from Maggie Y.
Lake Oswego, OR
11/15/2011 Seated via OpenTable
They have a gluten free menu which is always a plus and shows a place really cares about their customer's needs. The tapioca dumplings are yummy, sake flight was very good, spring rolls are good can't mess those up, service in general is excellent. Although their house vodka they do their housemade infused vodka is wheat based, which is a no no for gluten free folks. It would've been nice if the bartender or staff knew that instead of me getting glutinized.
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Review from Alex P.
Corte Madera, CA
9/9/2011
It was a hopping place for a thursday night with a live DJ. The drinks were very creative and different with their ingredients. I enjoyed the selection but expect to pay $12-$15 a drink.
The food, however, we're pricey and did not live up to its reviews. We ordered the "puu puu" sampler and was disappointed. The ribs were super salty and everything else was kinda bland.
Waitress stuck us in a corner spot and left us alone. We had to flag down someone for water a couple of times. This place was the only place in Portland that I found a little pretentious.Comment from Karen M. of Saucebox Cafe & Bar 9/19/2011
Alex: I apologize if your meal at Saucebox was… More » -
Review from Melissa V.
Portland, OR
5/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I went on a Saturday night, outside of happy hour, and sat at the bar.
Friendly bartenders, on-point service.
While the food was good, it was way overpriced for the quality and portion size. I spent $40 in this place for an appetizer, entree, and a beer, and wasn't even all that full when I left.
Guess I should have taken the advice of others and stuck with happy hour. -
Review from C K.
Bethesda, MD
9/5/2011
My friend and I came here for dinner while we were in town as it was not too far from our hotel. We had just missed the happy hour but decided to go ahead and order a bunch of appetizers. We ordered the puu Platter which has an assortment of their signature appetizers: tapioca dumplings, tender "korean" ribs, sweet potato spring rolls, yasai roll, sarong. We also ordered the vietnamese salad rolls and the green papaya salad. the vietnamese salad rolls were not very good- a bit dry and the dipping sauce was not very flavorful. the green papaya salad however was fantastic! it was very fresh and crispy and the prawns were deliciously seasoned. the pupu platter was a nice assortment but my favorites were the ribs (they didn't taste like korean ribs but were delicious and fell right off the bone) and the sweet potato spring rolls.
we were meeting friends for drinks at another place so i can't comment on their drinks. the area around the bar was quite loud but the dining area is open and had a good noise level. our waiter was attentive and the service was good. i would definitely go back if i'm ever in town again. -
Review from Kristen V.
Los Angeles, CA
11/3/2011
I came across this place while researching mixology bars inPortland. Their happy hour specials were great but their drinks were even better. The Bardender's special drink of the day was my favorite. Our service and quality of drinks were so great, I wish we could have stayed here longer.
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Review from brie p.
7/8/2011 Seated via OpenTable
I made it here for valentines day this year.
The drinks were great and everything we had off the happy hour menu was...ok.
We also split an entree of pork butt cheeks which was a WOW.
However, we just kept looking out side....at baileys taproom wishing we were over there. -
Review from kelly s.
Portland, OR
7/14/2011
I can't believe I never bothered to review Saucebox, I have some catching up to do. I started by realizing I'd neglected to ever write about Bluehour and Clarklewis, and then realized I've never expressed how awesome ALL of the Carey family establishments are.
Saucebox defies many odds, as I feel the chances of a caucasian doing a good job at fusion are slim to none. My only complaint would mirror some other reviewer's observations that some of the portions and recipies have changed, I have never loved their attempts at sushi, but the chicken, the cocktails, and the happy hour still constitute a 4 star rating in my book.
Looks like they may have to stop resting on their laurels, but I don't expect they will crash soon either. Here's to the rise of the Phoenix saucebox. -
Review from Wayne E.
Seattle, WA
5/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
I usually am suspect of hotel concierge recommendations, as they tend to lean on the conservative side. However, the level of enthusiasm for a must do dining experience convinced me to take a shot.
Saucebox is a great find. The energy of the restaurant is the first thing I noticed...and the decor lends itself to being able to check out the energy from all angles; cool mirrors, lighting, and furnishings are just as hip as the clientele drawn to the place.
We sat in the bar area so we could take in the video DJ....the small plates approach let us try a great array of dishes, each which impressed as much as the other. I was particularly impressed with the Pork Belly....and the bar does crank out very interesting and delicious cocktails.
If you like high energy establishments who can delight, Saucebox should be something you would enjoy. -
Review from Steve N.
Broomall, PA
7/25/2011
De-licious.
This snazzy spot allowed for outdoor seating, cafe/lounge and your typical dark dimmed dating environment. Totally loved the random art pieces which included a huge glass display of their alcohols. Staff was lovely.
Ordered the mai tai, roasted brussel sprouts and chicken curry.
I had been in transit for 9 hrs with just a bagel for breakfast so this mai tai was perfect. Insta-buzz haha. The brussel sprouts was suggested by my server, Selina. Much enjoyed it although I should've been patient... Burnt my tongue a bit. The sprouts came in a broth that was reminiscent of miso soup and was accompanied by a poached egg. For such a simple idea it yielded an explosive flavor.
The chicken curry had such a great presentation. Despite being immersed in the curry, all of the textures varied and were delightful. -
Review from Jim S.
5/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
I don't know what the hell was up with traffic today, but it was enough to cause me to get right back off of the highway and into downtown. A quick glance at Yelp mobile, and I headed to Saucebox.
At 6:30 on a Wednesday night there wasn't much going on in the lounge and there was plenty of seating available. Contrary to other reviews I found the service prompt, helpful and gracious.
Per my servers suggestion after describing what I had in mind he suggested the Jade Scorpion Martini. This is a Thai chili infused vodka, with fresh Basil and a bit of ginger beer. The cocktail lived up to it's name as it certainly had a sting but all the elements combine to make this a great drink.
For snacks I ordered the Papaya salad, and the pork egg rolls. Both apps were average in proportion with the salad getting the nod for the best combo of flavors. Warning, this salad has some heat also. The egg rolls were non descript.
Take a peek in to the dining room even if your not there for dinner. Very nice space. All on all for 15.00 this is a solid choice in a neighborhood of very stiff competition. If you like the Asian fusion, this is your place.
Do it Baby!
