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The Liberty Glass
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
938 N Cook StPortland, OR 97227
Neighborhoods: North Portland, Boise, Mississippi
(503) 517-9931
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 2:30 am
Sat-Sun 10 am - 2 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
About This Business:
Diner by day, restaurant by night.
72 reviews for The Liberty Glass
Review Highlights
"I can't wait to go back and try the mac and cheese."
(in 22 reviews)
"How can one resist a great bar in a cute lil pink house."
(in 9 reviews)
"Date cake + homemade mac and cheese are fantastic."
(in 6 reviews)
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72 reviews in English
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Review from Jacqueline D.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
11/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
I really enjoyed Liberty Glass, the small space seemed adequate enough to enjoy a good dinner with friends, or even a more romantic one with someone special. I loved the feeling inside the moment I walked in.
Moreover, The cocktails are so fresh, are they scratch? I don't know, but I am sure they had some options to choose from that would qualify as a scratch prepared. The salad, soup, sand which, everything I had ordered was divine. Including the onion bread. Yum.
I would highly recommend trying this spot and enjoying a long leisure dinner. -
Review from Michael M.
Portland, OR
1/15/2012
Came here with my roommate for some brunch today and was blown away by the vibe. Certainly rustic, extremely homey. This little spot feels like the type of place you wanna spend some time in. If that's not enough, the owner behind the bar was totally willing to entertain our discussions concerning other local bars/restaurants and the story behind the Liberty Glass.
The coffee was provided by Courier, which is excellent. The food was simple and rustic. Baked eggs with bacon and cheese served with baked bread and a side salad. We also tried a half order of the biscuits and gravy. All of it hit the spot. Next time, if I'm hungover, I'm trying the hash. Portions of the baked eggs were great, not too heavy and the salad had a subtle dressing that was light and flavorful.
I'm determined to try dinner here, too. Lots of hearty options to choose from and the decor screams, "bring a date!". I'm surprised it wasn't more busy for brunch but maybe it being down the street from the heart of Mississippi puts it out of sight and out of mind for most eaters. Take a stroll down the hill and check it out! -
Review from Misty S.
Portland, OR
1/14/2012
Love, love the atmosphere here! So cozy, feels like you're eating inside someone's house. Which technically you are, as it's inside a beautiful old four square home. Loved the booths,red leather chairs and smoky mirrors upstairs.
The food was even better than expected! I am in love with the corn soufflee. The mac n cheese, potato pancakes, pickled beets and even the green salad were all exceptionally good. They make an excellent Manhattan. For dessert we had the housemade cinnamon chocolate, which was a little too cinnammon-ie (if that's a word).
We will definitely come back over and over to this special place! -
Review from Maryna P.
Portland, OR
1/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Went here on a Sunday morning for brunch with a few friends. Unlike other N Mississippi ave brunch spots nearby, this one had no line, and a few open tables. The place is cozy, and has a fantastic tub in the upstairs bathroom. Coffee was served in metal camping mugs and the entire place has a strange lodge-y feel. I really wanted it to be snowing outside, but instead, awkward hipsters walked in and knew the waitresses name. This is definitely the kind of place that has it's "regulars".
Baguette and Nutella for a starter, baked eggs with a choice of sauces, and greasy hashbrowns filled with spinach and other deliciousness are on the brunch menu. There aren't many choices, but the ones you have are pretty tasty. The portion of the baked eggs is just right, the hashbrowns however are a bit much, and a bit heavy, though still enjoyable. I suppose you need to be prepared for what you're in for.
Definitely a nice place to avoid the crowds and get a nice little brunch and enjoy a conversation that you can actually hear on a Sunday morning. -
Review from amii c.
12/25/2011
Close to home
Nice decor, perhaps a little antler-centric
Killer mac and cheese
Veg pot pie was not that impressive...
But the sides made up for it!
Christmas whiskey special was just ok
Too full for dessert after stuffing ourselves, so another visit is in order!
Located just south of the hipster-paradise North Mississippi, the location is convenient but slightly hidden so not busy -
Review from Ally G.
Portland, OR
1/20/2012
I don't know what kind of magic mojo this place has, I ALWAYS have a great time here. The food is southern comfort-y with vegan options, the drinks are generally fantastic, the bingo is a silly good time, and there's always a sense of exuberance in the air. The quirky old house is so old-school Portland. The food (meatloaf, pot pie, triscuit nachos!) is like a big comforting hug, expertly seasoned and perfectly delicious. My favorite drinks: the Whiskey Time or whatever, and the Pioneer one with cinnamon. Drinks are served in cobalt blue enameled camping mugs, which is amazing. I had the meatloaf last time, and I wanted badly to lick the plate. My eating buddy had the pot pie, and the corn souffle which was spectacular. I love the outdoor seating for warmer weather. Overall, it's my favorite Mississippi spot.
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Review from Nancy K.
Portland, OR
10/18/2011
Date cake! Date cake! Date cake!
Went for dinner a few nights ago with some friends that love this place. We shared some triscuit nachos which were pretty good. The vegan pot pie was great - pipin' hot and with a crispy crust that I could drown in vegetabley goodness. My hubby and friends said that their meals (meatloaf and meatball sandwich) were tasty too.
The highlight of the meal for me was dessert. Gawd, the date cake was awesome. We also got the creme brulee but I had my eye on that delicious cake. It was served warm with a toffee drizzle and whipped cream on top. The cake was moist with slightly crisp edges. Swoon!
Try the date cake - you won't be sorry! -
Review from Joshua M.
9/22/2011
We hung out here with a friend of ours for a couple of hours, mainly to chat and have a bite to eat. I've got to say the guy who waited on us was awkwardly odd. I won't deduct a star for it because he was at least efficient, but it definitely seemed like he was in another world. We happened to be there on a Thursday, so two of us had chili dogs, and the we also got the mac and cheese. Food was pretty good. My big complaint was that the people sitting on the porch were smoking and the windows were open, which meant we were essentially also sitting in the smoking section. Why they were allowed to smoke out there I'm not sure, they were definitely in close proximity to the entrance. I'm intolerant of any cigarette smoke, and I'm deducting a full star based on that alone.
The decor and clientele definitely had a hipster vibe to it, but it was definitely a bit more sophisticated than some of the places I've been to in Portland that attract a similar crowd. Hard to miss that pink house on Mississippi. I'd give it another shot, but I think they should definitely change the smoking on the front porch thing. -
Review from Erin E.
Portland, OR
11/29/2011
Yum! Great atmosphere, perfect for date night. I completely inhaled my Mac 'n Cheese, much to the chagrin of my thighs, and my biscuit was perfectly salty and delicious. My guy's only complaint about the Veggie Pot Pie was that there wasn't a high enough crust-to-filling ratio. I'll be back to try the Triscuit Nachos!
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Review from Stephanie K.
Manhattan, NY
9/12/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Liberty Glass, I love your unpretentious atmosphere and how you desire to fill my belly with good beer and amazing food.
You are a stone's throw away from my house, and the perfect companion for a low-key Sunday night. I love the old pink house you've made your home and how you serve up comfort food to make me feel like I'm right where I belong.
Your servers are fantastic as well, with the right mix of charm and attitude.
Musts: Mac and Cheese, Vegetarian Pot Pie, Dagwood
I've also heard that the meatloaf is insanely good. -
Review from M C.
Portland, OR
12/1/2011
The food is great. I often have the beets with vegan potato cakes but the best thing going, aside from Bingo, is the date cake. OMFG it is really good! Enough for me to think about it everyday since the day I first had it. It is slightly sweet, moist and has an amazing butterscotch sauce on top. I love cake and this town seems to lack in that dept. so this cake swiftly entered into the my top five category. I will go back again and I will be dreaming of delicious cake until I do so.
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Review from Danny O.
6/4/2011
I think I'm still full right now and its definitely the morning after. My friend and I decided to venture over to Mississippi for dinner on a Friday night. We were ravenously hungry when we discovered that of course, Mississippi is packed on a nice sunny Friday night. We held our heads down in hungry shame as we wandered past each restaurant with a line pouring out the front door when I suddenly recalled that Liberty Glass was tucked away just down the hill!
My friend asked me what that was, I replied "triscuit nachos" to which he replied "ZOMG LETS GO". We made our way down to the bright pink house with wacky x-mas lights dotting the outside, people enjoying mason jar drinks on the front porch, no line to be seen on the sidewalk. SCORE.
The interior is faux hunter in the woods with a dash Grandpa's house on the coast. The curtains lining the windows are a tacky shade of retro dark orange. The bar has candles lit with vintage clocks ticking between bottles of liquor flickering in the light. You'll also notice a couple animal parts of former living animals nailed to the wall. It somehow all ties together with candle lit tables and chill music chiming in. Its pure Portland tacky chic.
We were seated promptly after stepping in the front door and given menus to browse. The food here is very very down home hearty. Think things like fried chicken with mashed spuds and a biscuit. I myself eyed the pecan buttermilk chicken with a wedge salad and a biscuit(in fact its what I did end up ordering). My buddy was intrigued by the appetizers. They feature tuna and anchovies stuffed eggs or other interesting items like home made onion bread with butter.
The food was presented to us with a little bit of a wait. I only saw one guy working in the back so it could had been because of that. It didn't matter really because the windows were open so that a nice little breeze could come in. We people watched while sipping our drinks. The wait was inconsequential because the food came and our jaws dropped. SAVORY. TASTY. YUM! My pecan chicken had crusted bits of pecans on top with a delicious batter that was pan seared. My friends fried chicken special looked straight out of a southern dream.
I ordered a side of beets because I'm fancy like that, and I adore beets done right. They arrived slightly sweet, a little sour, and appropriately bitter like a good pickled beet should be. After we took a moment to devour our plates we asked for our bill. 2 entrees, 2 pabsts,1 gingerale, and a side was only 35 bucks altogether. For what we received this was an amazing deal. I can't wait to come back and sample the "Over The Rainbow" mac n cheese or the weekly special chili dogs. I know it sounds like just your standard rib stickin fare, but not so with Liberty Glass. Atmosphere, food, service, and overall experience is a Portland A+!
(psst hey vegan lovers, they do have a lovely vegan dagwood sandwich on the menu which sounded awesome so do not fear you can eat here too) -
Review from Kevin M.
7/25/2011
The reviewers below struggle with the fact that this place may be discovered by people like me.
I can tell you that it hasn't yet and that's one of the reasons I like it. It's very Portland. It's simple good food and drinks served on the front porch of a rickety old home near a part of Mississippi without stores selling cute stuffed monsters or $8 jars of pasta sauce.
At 6:30 on a Sunday we sat down on the shady front porch and ordered a couple of variations on a Whiskey sour. Inside there were a couple of guitar techs from the Misfits (not really, but they were a little more punk than Portlandia). Service was friendly, but not fast -- more along the lines of what you'd expect on a lazy Sunday afternoon on the porch.
Jennifer had the Macaroni and cheese. I had the Pecan encrusted chicken.
The mac came sliced from a large loaf and then pan fried with more cheese drizzled over the top and served with a mixed green salad and a tasty peppery cheese biscuit.
The chicken had a thick, very rich dark brown crust. It was easily one of the juiciest most flavorful breast's I've eaten. Normally I'm not a fan of breast meat, but this was done right. On the size was a wedge salad with a generous crumble of bacon and a biscuit. -
Review from Joy K.
Portland, OR
7/14/2011
I almost don't want to write a review because this place is too perfect to attempt to describe in words. Perhaps I am over exaggerating, but Liberty Glass felt exactly like the phrase "home away from home." And this home was home sweet home, indeed.
I would give you a detailed description of what my experience was, but I feel like you just need to go for yourself. Digging too deep or analyzing the experience runs the risk of damaging the great simplicity of it.
It's one of those places that just feels right no matter what mood, circumstance, or company you're with.
There are some of you that may not get it - but if you like hidden places, food that tastes like it was cooked by your talented and humble family friend, understated, honest, unpretentious yet has reasons to boast - then give Liberty Glass a looksies. -
Review from January M.
Portland, OR
9/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
Are you there, Yelp? It's me, January.
I know we haven't always been close. There was that time I got drunk, reviewed pot holes and then deleted my account. But you're the forgive and forget sort, aren't you? So would it be okay to ask you for one small favor?
Please, don't **** this place up, Yelp. Do not let one of the few businesses on Mississippi that give a shit about the people who live within walking distance to get invaded by Hype Killers, "Meh" Sayers and the Chronically Underwhelmed. People who drive across town, roll eyes, go home and shit their insecurities all over the internet.
I took my effing in-laws here. Why? Because I'm a 3 star wife and a 2 star conversationalist, so 5 star mac n' cheese helps me round up. The kitchey shit on the wall gives us all something to talk about. While the inspired and generously poured drinks give me a reason to care.Listed in: I Hate Myself
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Review from Michelle H.
Portland, OR
10/25/2010
Converted kitschy house? Check.
Water served from those blue tin cups that remind me of camping? Check.
Comfort food on the menu? Check.
Hipster haven without choking me in pretension? Check.
Decent hot toddys? Check.
This place is small. It can get busy and loud on a Tuesday night. The food smelled good.
Yup. -
Review from Caitlin B.
Portland, OR
4/11/2011
Blah bad service this blah needs more servers blah expensive blah that - LG is awesome, and if you don't agree then maybe you're - well I don't really know. Maybe you take personally the fact that such a small place gets so super packed can't really afford to staff (see previous, small space) more people to wipe your mouth for you and send you out the door quickly.
There are six (yes six) tables downstairs and five (yes five) upstairs. Having more than two people wait these tables in ludicrous, but you'd only know that if you ever worked in a restaurant.
If you feel like you're waiting too long for something, maybe you should look inside a little more closely: you might be boring, and/or your dates might be boring or you might not know how to relax and have a good time without getting wasted.
I love Liberty Glass and all that it stands for: friendly, sincere (they're not cheesy actors you get some places!) staff that melds into walls of time and are going down in my history forEVER.
And also the soups are always bomb. -
Review from Noelle W.
Portland, OR
1/1/2011
My first night going to the Liberty Glass was this last New Years Eve, and also my birthday. It was really packed, but the lady working there was super nice to my group and really helped us feel okay about taking up space in their cozy little room of people enjoying themselves immensely.
The drink menu is really great, my boyfriend ordered a Pear Ginger Kombucha Vodka cocktail that was really tasty. Seeing as I had a sore throat I stuck to their delicious Hot Toddy's.
I highly recommend trying this place out for their food or drinks (the menu is friendly to most dietary restrictions), and their cozy atmosphere. -
Review from Graham B.
11/24/2010
Catching up with an old friend after work last week, he parked in front of what seemed to be someone's house. With a bar in it. It was freezing outside and the front door was exactly the type that you can feel a little draft around, like one on an old cabin that needs to be firmly closed behind you as you shake off the chill.
Decor is rustic and inviting. Tables are cozy/cramped and your elbows rub on everyone else. But no one is nosy or loud and it was perfect for a chat and a couple of drinks from their nicely varied taps and a hot toddy.
It seemed to be in a less than bustling part of town, although that might have been the rain. But it wouldn't work on the main drag. It's the kind of place I'd want to amble in to after hitchhiking through the country. If I did that sort of thing. -
Review from Megan S.
Portland, OR
2/20/2011
I met a group here to celebrate a friend's birthday. The first thing I noticed was that it was OPPRESSIVELY hot inside. The group had already been there for about an hour when I got there, and still hadn't received the few snacks they ordered. Honestly, how long could it POSSIBLY take to make Triscuit nachos? (p.s. why does anyone serve Triscuit nachos in a town so full of amazing food... my first thought when they finally DID arrive was "this is something I would have come home drunk in college and thrown together, except it probably would've been better.")
Their table was full so my boyfriend and I went to the bar to grab a drink -- BIG NO-NO apparently. After being ignored for nearly five minutes, finally someone behind the bar said, "you know, you can just have a seat at a table and someone will come out and serve you."
It took nearly 20 minutes to get the cocktails we ordered, then when we were ready to leave we asked for our check, the waiter said "I can just tell you... it's $6 and $7" and then IMMEDIATELY walked away, despite the fact that my boyfriend had his card out and ready to hand to the guy. We waited for another 15 minutes and he never came back for it, so finally he just threw down a $20 bill. That's over 50% tip for the worst service we've ever received, just so we could get the hell out of there. No thank you. -
Review from Scott P.
Portland, OR
7/20/2011
One of the best places to have a good conversation even when it is crowded. The enviroment and decor are great. I feel Agent Dale cooper out of Twin Peaks would like this place. This place does not usually carry good beer or a large variety of bad beer for that matter, but the cocktails are above average. I do love this place and it is worth it to go.
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Review from Joanna Y.
7/30/2010
I think we can start off by addressing the most intriguing aspect of this bar.
They serve beer in big old canning jars.
I don't know the measurment, but I want to say it's a quart? I don't care. They got me at that. I don't care that it's in a weird corner of a far away neighborhood. I actually like that about it. I'll make the trip back. The old house has great simple decor, including hipster antlers and a closet that was turned into a booth for an intimate drinking session (or date?). They even utilize the upstairs!
The outdoor patio has a few tables and a great fireplace. I haven't tried any food, but I've been twice now for drinks and it's a great place for that. -
Review from Ethan B.
Portland, OR
7/17/2011
We had a great time at Liberty Glass!
Good food, good happy hour beer deals, and good friends. Good service too!
On a Saturday at 6:00 pm there was plenty of seating, music a little louder than I would have chosen but a date cake that was to die for.
One complaint is that they could have had a more diverse beer selection. Also, at $6 the day's drink special seemed over priced (a Dark And Stormy--normally a favorite at my house).
Despite some minor bumps I'm sure we'll be back :) -
Review from Amanda M.
Chicago, IL
9/13/2010
Perfect quiet place to take your grams her first night on the west coast. Which is exactly what I did! It was peaceful, there was a 3 legged dog roaming around, we both had really excellent meals and the triscuit nachos. I am also happy to say that they have happy hour from 5-7 and some tasty beers on tap.
I can't wait to go back and try the mac and cheese. -
Review from JW D.
Portland, OR
12/15/2009
Misleadingly named and stuck in an isolated corner of nofeest, this place is an amalgam of WTF and FTW. It looks like some hipster's idea of a redneck house, a la Roadside Ashitshun. It's dark and cramped inside. They serve water in those weird tin cups that are blue speckled with white and the food on plates made out of the same stuff. WTF?
They have Triscuit nachos. FTW! They cost $8, WTF?
See what I mean?
The menu is excruciatingly limited, IIRC there are three entrees, might have been four. One of them is mac n cheese which several of my dining companions raved about but this night the steak made a clean sweep of the table. And it was a pretty damn good steak.
They had an interesting drink special, it must have been good because I can't remember what it was. *hic*
Our server was friendly and accommodating for the 5 top that straggled in over the course of a half hour or so I was a part of. That can be irritating even if the place is mostly empty like it was that night.
Still, the location is weird and the menu too small and overpriced. But, it was a really good steak. And Triscuit nachos. Mmmmm. :-) -
Review from Daniel R.
Tempe, AZ
4/14/2009
This is a very cute place to have a relaxing, inexpensive dinner. The location is a bit odd, on a kind of dead-end half industrial, half residential street, but that isn't a negative necessarily. The old house style is wonderfully candlelit as the sun goes down and becomes more and more charming.
The bar is limited but what they do have is very well thought out and delicious. I had a Stone Smoked porter and an IPA (name forgotten) which came in a can for $3... ohh the novelty!
The menu is limited to a fault, might get tired of the place after 3 visits. It is possible to fall for one of their dishes as well, never to order anything else. I had the Mac and Cheese, baked and tasty, and we split the Onion bread to start. That bread was great and $3, all of their appetizers are cheap.
Affordable, quaint and with a lovely staff; Liberty Glass is a great example of Portland's rough charm and sensible, developed tastes. -
Review from Janessa P.
Portland, OR
Updated - 11/17/2008
Yep, some love never fades.
I come here every Monday for BINGO. It starts at 8pm, it's 2 bucks per card, and you can win cash prizes. CASH PRIZES. Such a nice way to spend a Monday evening.
I drink their wine (they've got a bottle of white for $17.00. hells yeah.) and eat their triscuit nachos. Every single time.
Come for the nachos, stay for the atmosphere. Or vice verca. Just come, and say hello to Otis, the 3-legged dog on your way in.Listed in: Best of 2008, Happy Hour, wine
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/22/2008
You know how sometimes you go out, you like where you go, you think, "hey, this place is alright."… Read more »
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Review from ash. a.
Portland, OR
7/10/2009
"I go out walkin' after midnight..... out in the moonlight...."
As soon as I heard Miss Patsy blaring through the restaurant, I knew I had found my new home away from home.
The Liberty Glass is tucked away in an adorable house near the Mississippi village. Its picturesque location lends itself to a Tennessee backwoods feel, and you can just close your eyes and almost imagine an old man sitting on the porch carving wood n' spitting tobacco (I'm not stereotyping... I'm from Alabama... I've lived it).
The great thing about Liberty Glass is that you can sip on a deliciously fresh made cocktail from their creative menu while sitting in a rocking chair on the porch. Or, you can enjoy a southern inspired meal in the dining hall adorned with deer antlers and rich victorian wood trim.
The menu is creative and pretty much pescatarian. The Mac and Cheese is amazing and the beet salad is soaked in apples and cinnamon for a few days before hitting your plate with potato cakes! Yum!
Come here for blackout bingo on Mondays! Open late for dinner and a great low key meetup! -
Review from Scott G.
San Francisco, CA
3/18/2009
Beyond all the happenings on Mississippi, down the hill and to the right, is a magical bar that appears to be an old home. The inside is dark, cozy, sick, whatever you want to call it. The beer is flowing, the conversations are brewing; I'm having a great time, that is, until someone accidentally steps on the a three legged dog that had been roaming the small room looking for a friend.
I hear a deafening howl then continue drinking/talking. -
Review from Adrienne I.
Portland, OR
4/6/2011
I like the atmosphere. Food is good but a bit overpriced. Over the Rainbow Mac n Cheese is tasty!
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Review from Amanda W.
Portland, OR
12/8/2009
Triscuit nachos, ahoy!
I'm tempted to end the review there, but I suspect the phrase "triscuit nachos" might not be enough for some people out there (aka philistines). Well, then! The Liberty Glass is a charming spot for a bite and a drink; it's in a cozy old house, dimly lit and with sweet little decorations. The interior lends itself to intimate chats -- if you really want a heart-to-heart (and a hip-to-hip), go for the hidden nook upstairs. There's also a bathtub in the upstairs restroom, in case you and your date really hit it off.
I like the atmosphere here so much that I'm willing to forgive a certain amount of inconsistency in the service. Usually, things go swimmingly, but occasionally the staff strikes out. On my last visit, our drinks were pretty weak and the waitress was stone-faced. Also, those triscuit nachos? NOT SUITABLE FOR SHARING. They're $8 for a single layer, which is sorta ridiculous. (After two whiskeys it becomes less ridiculous.) But what can you do? It's whiskey and nachos with all your friends in a lovely house, so quit complaining.
On a better note, the drinks are a pretty good deal. Aside from the occasional light pour, I've had nice experiences. Most drinks are in the $5-6 range, and beers are $4, with the option of getting a smaller glass for $2.50 (nice for when you want just a little of something heavy, like a porter). Of course, when drinks are only $5, I'd better get two, right? And you know what sounds great after two drinks? $8 cracker nachos. Maybe those drinks aren't a such good deal, after all.
Also worth mentioning: a 3-legged dog lives here. If that doesn't get you in the door, there's not much I can do for you. -
Review from Amy F.
Portland, OR
3/26/2009
Liberty Glass, I love you. My friends all love you. However bad things get, always remember that you are loved.
I've been here a few times now, and have had consistently great experiences. I don't know what the hell they're doing to that mac and cheese -- it's so creamy, so velvety, so dense and rich and unctuous -- but they should guard their secret closely lest all the other mac and cheese places in town attempt to steal their mojo. Even better, the salad that comes with it is perfectly dressed -- it could be maybe slightly sharper, but I'm picky about my greens and I consistently wolf their salad down.
Last night I also splurged and tried the onion bread. Reactions were mixed among our group, almost all of whom tried it -- I personally thought it was fantastic and considered ordering a second portion to take home for breakfast this morning. Others turned their noses up at it. To be fair, it's not exactly what you'd expect -- this is a quick bread rather than a yeast bread, so its texture is soft and rich and cake-like. It's also faintly sweet and slathered in butter. So whether it works for you will be subject to your personal taste, but I thought it was awesome. If I lived closer to Liberty Glass, I expect I'd be stopping in for lunch just to order the onion bread and their fantastic tomato soup.
The cocktails are a mixed bag for me -- their menu of house cocktails is heavily whiskey-based, which pretty much leaves me out of it. But when I do have one there, it's well-made, so I know it's more a question of taste than skill. And I think the brother/sister pair that run the place are awesome.
PS: If you've got a big group, as we did last night, ask for the upstairs room. And if someone gets obnoxious, you can relegate them to the weird little closet-cum-dining cubby to the side. It looked as though someone should be hearing confessions in there. -
Review from Kate B.
Portland, OR
10/9/2009
I went to the Liberty Glass for my birthday on a recent Monday night and decided to make it my official new favorite bar/restaurant. Why:
1. Genuinely super-nice and unpretentious staff, who I think were the owners.
2. Abundant delicious cocktails. (I am a fan of the "Strange and Wonderful" section of the menu.)
3. Best cheese plate in Portland. Seriously. Best! Tomato jam, gorgonzola ball, something with mustard seeds in it, some other tasty cheese I can't remember, sliced apples, toasted delicious bread, olives, and salami for nine dollars? Yes!
4. Bingo on Monday nights...!
5. Cozy environment perfect for chilly fall evenings.
6. Perfect music, like they read my mind and came up with a perfect soundtrack for my evening.
7. Tripod dog named Otis (or something equally cute-sounding)
I want to live there. -
Review from Thilo W.
9/6/2009
Popped in the other night for a quick dinner due to the good reviews on Yelp and were glad that we did.
Coming from the West side, and looking like the dude I used to make fun of as a youngster (khaki pants, polo shirt, with the fam...) I ventured to this hip spot off of Mississippi. From the three-legged dog on the front porch that "talks" to you to the window held open with an empty gin bottle, this place had laid-back written all over it.
Our server was friendly and accommodating and took our drink orders efficiently. The interior is old house with deer antlers on the walls...very comfortable and cool. I also love the semi-industrial location.
The food was all very good, we had the avocado bruschetta (cumin-flavored avocado with tomatoes on crispy bread), the mac and cheese (cooked like lasagna in squares and very dense and rich with a good crust), the mufaletta sandwich (not a huge portion, but very tasty and with bread that is a perfect combo of crisp/soft), and the beet salad with potato pancakes (great combo and well prepared pancakes). The green salad side with my sandwich was also excellent -- simple dressing, but very well done.
Overall we really liked this place, even though it makes me feel like an old square! -
Review from Turner M.
Portland, OR
3/22/2009
The best mac n cheese in North Portland, if not the entire city. Ditto for the meatball sub. And their stuffed pear.
Amazing atmosphere and service.
The perfect place to bring a date (not that I have - anyone interested?).
If you haven't been, you're missing out. -
Review from Colin P.
Portland, OR
12/9/2009
For me, the atmosphere at Liberty Glass is the main draw. Drinks are reasonably priced, food selection is pretty solid.
There are some tasty veggie selections (see Triscuit nachos, below), but the vegan options are slim fyi. It's a great location for you and a friend to share some drinks and chat without having to deal with disruptive distractions like loud music or crappy service. I feel like playing a game of cribbage when I'm at the Liberty Glass. Depending on your thoughts about cribbage, that may be a good or a bad thing.
Probably not ideal for groups of more than three given the limited seating and amplified voice levels that seem to accompany larger groups.
I'll second the single-layer triscuit nacho comment below, the price should be cut in half or the portion doubled. -
Review from Adam R.
Portland, OR
6/15/2009
Tons of fun at this place. Great mixed drinks and fantastic food. Date cake + homemade mac and cheese are fantastic. Atmosphere is terrific and the owners (a brother and sister) are very friendly.
This is the type of place that makes Portland the great city that it is.
I will be back for the Tuesday "all night chili dogs" nights. -
Review from Jack P.
Portland, OR
7/3/2010
friendly staff. REALLY good mixed drinks. Prices are on the higher end of average for food - average for drinks.
The food can be exceptionally good, depending on what you order. Triscuit nachos, Dagwood sandwich, Meatloaf are all amazing.
Nice mellow but social atmosphere. You can read, get some work done, but also go with friends. Nice fireplace on the patio.
It sticks out of the bunch as a very nice place to have in the neighborhood. -
Review from Halle W.
Portland, OR
5/11/2011
Best ambiance of any bar in this town. Usually really good drinks. Most of the food is pretty good and the meatball wedge is great. Service can be a little spotty. It seems like the management doesn't realize they need more servers as they are a popular bar.
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Review from Justine S.
Portland, OR
8/13/2010
Liberty Glass is probably my favorite Portland hangout--whether starting or ending an evening, the atmosphere is always just what I'm looking for. The drinks are good and well-priced. And while I don't order food too often, what I have had has been really good, esp. the Triscuit Nachos and Date Cake. OMG, the Date Cake.... how I dream about it. My boyfriend has made late-night treks to obtain this heavenly delicacy for me, I love it so.
The sibling owners are awesome, always super friendly, as is the rest of the staff. Liberty Glass is truly a gem.
