Great service, even better vibe, superb cocktails. We didn't eat here but I was swooned by the atmosphere, music, and all around chill factor.

All of the food here is SO GOOD. This time was a bit salty but seriously can't get enough of the nachos and the burger and the tempura mushrooms. Get it all!! So vibey and cozy inside too.

I am reviewing again because this place is top tier. We were searching for a place similar to this one with the vinyl records. Nothing comes close to expatriate. The drinks have such complex flavors and taste so good, and the cozy ambiance, good music, and good service. Have accepted this is my #1 bar!

This place lives up to its website description: "hip lounge serving global bar bites & swanky cocktails amid a black walnut bar & Asian touches". No one is allowed to not have a seat there so if it's full you will need to come back when there's enough seating for all of your party. I did feel like my drink had more ice than the iceberg the Titanic hit but the ambiance and amazing music selection made up for it.

It took me awhile, but I finally stepped inside. Diggin' it. We only ordered a few items as we waited for our dinner reservation across the street. The Sidewinder - the only rum cocktail on the menu - was potent and satisfying. I couldn't resist the simple James Beard signature sandwich, yum. Service was accommodating and friendly. Drink price points are higher than average, but gauging by the packed interior, nobody seems to care.

Vibe ~ awesome decor, music, cozee cool. Perfectly dimmed. If you sit at the bar unwind your mind watching your bartender craft your cocktail. They are delicious. Or chillax in one of the secluded spots. Food amazing for such a small intimate bar. Pomeroy! Late nite at its best.

Great atmosphere, small but concise menu, ample drink options, quick and attentive service. We ordered the tea leaf salad. I've never found this in the Northwest since first trying it in the Bay Area. 10/10 would recommend. Next we got the wonton nachos. It was ample in size to share, loaded with cheese, meat and some salsa. I would give these a 9/10 because I think the wontons made them pretty heavy, but very good none the less.

I don't have the words to do this place justice. But I will try again! I am a big cocktail fan and I greatly appreciate the many excellent cocktail bars throughout Portland. But Expatriate is, by far, my most favorite of them all. I love this place! They do everything, everything, with Excellence. Their drinks are complex, creative, extremely well-crafted, and unique. And I love the back-story that their menu provides for each drink. When I opened my mind to go beyond my traditional favorites, I discovered that I enjoy their entire menu of cocktails. And after I discovered that and their menu changed, I discovered I enjoyed their new menu just as much! Of the many, many things I appreciate about Expatriate, perhaps the most is how they take the risk and they challenge themselves to reinvent their cocktail menu every three months or so. That is striking! That is striving for excellence. They've actually challenged me to open my mind to new flavors and to try again flavors I used to shun. And when I did, I discovered I like them! It's not obvious but they also have an excellent selection of Amari that are utterly delightful, truly an adventure for the senses. What I also love about this place is the atmosphere. It is stunning. It is electric. It is an adventure. Nobody does candles like Expatriate. Nobody! The bar stools are the most comfortable of anywhere I've been. Most of all, the vibe is super chill, even on busy nights. This place is unashamedly low tech. There's no phone to distract and disturb the music. There's not even any digital POS devices to ruin the candlelight. Love that! The food is just as exceptional as the drinks. I've had it all. Again the creativity and level of excellence is amazing. You think you know Nachos? You ain't seen nothing 'till you've had Expatriate Nachos. Butter and Onion sandwich? Yes! Trust James! And The American Standard is utter decadence. Truly worthy of your Last Meal on Earth! And you cannot leave Portland without having the Hot & Sour Indian Spiced Fries. The flavors are amazing and perfectly balanced. Finally, there's the music. It's played on Vinyl. Proof that, sometimes, The Old Ways Are Best. And it's backed by a professional sound system. When asked if vinyl sounds better I found myself saying this: I FEEL IT MORE. So, yeah, it sounds better! They've exposed me to music I would have never discovered on my own. I swear it's worth coming here just for the music! And it changes throughout the night. The last hour and a half of the night is golden hour for me. Wish I had a Time Machine to take me back to the glory days of German Techno ;) The service is also top-notch. Even when they are slammed, they remain calm and attentive. They are knowledgeable of their drink and food menu and always able to answer questions and give great recommendations. I especially appreciate how, as they've come to know me, they look out for me. I just read the past reviews from the Expatriate website. See the link for "Old Newspapers". It was stunning to see that what those reviewers raved about ten years ago is still just as true today! (And I sure hope they can still do the No. 8 - I'll have to ask!) So that's why I say that my every trip to Expatriate is an adventure! Can't wait to go back!