Bar Loon

"The second effort from Bellwether Bar co-owner Ansel Vickery offers thoughtfully executed bistro-style dishes by chef Jimmy Askren. Warm lighting and dried flower arrangements provide a romantic ambience for diners to share plates like the tuna nicoise, which delivers the right amount of brine from pickled green beans and caper aioli, further anchored by fried potatoes and a jammy egg. At Bar Loon, cocktails are meant to take a backseat to the wine list that offers a mix of pours from Oregon and Europe, but the corn daiquiri is a must-order." - Eater Staff

"This romantic bar from the team behind similarly charming spot Bellwether puts bright touches on well-known classics. The sherry cobbler, made with a house sherry blend and strawberry syrup, is a must-order. Demure, cutesy drinkers will gravitate towards the menu’s little cocktails, petite-but-strong glasses of Vespers or dirty gin martinis. Bar Loon’s cocktails are best paired with produce-heavy dishes like grilled broccoli with cherry agrodolce and farm greens dressed with herb vinaigrette and fiore sardo." - Rebecca Roland, Janey Wong, Eater Staff

"Bar Loon, a new bar and restaurant from LBC, just had a liquor license approved at 3326 SE Belmont Street, the same address as Sweet Hereafter. This is not to be confused with Division Street’s Loon, which closed in 2016. Liam Duffy, owner of the Lightning Bar Collective, confirmed that he is a small-percentage owner of Bar Loon but won’t be behind the bar’s menu or drinks. Duffy says that will be Ansel Vickery, also a member of the collective and well-respected for his time running Bellwether Bar. Vickery says the opening is projected for the first week of June. “It was a beautiful space that lived a long and beautiful life,” Vickery says. “We’re just going to change it to assert a new identity and love it in our own way.” No major construction will take place, just touch-ups here and there. Rather than a dark tavern, there’ll be dried flowers and bright light in Bar Loon, more like a wine-focused brasserie rather than a saloon. Tiny snacky, European-style food will be the highlight, and that includes vegan options. Not everything will be plant-based; for instance, Vickery is excited to bring in a bistro burger, a thin patty on a brioche bun. General management and the chef from Bellwether Bar, Angie Ross and Jimmy Askren, will consult on the opening." - Paolo Bicchieri