Little Bitter Bar

Finally a place that has non-alcoholic cocktails that don't taste like fruit punch! The food and beverages were excellent and the staff were friendly and knowledgeable. Atmosphere was nice, it was just a little quiet at 5pm.

Went in over the weekend. Lovely decor which could make for a great vibe. Was a little quiet and surprisingly the service was really slow and not very helpful navigating around their various bitters on the menu. Food was nice (we only had starters) but small and the calamari hardly had any actual calamari in it. A half handful of very small pieces. We went elsewhere for the mains due to service and value. I really hope this place can sort itself out because the concept and venue are great but it will have to do everything right to entice people to this part of town when there is so much to offer in Portland. It could really benefit from upbeat and friendly servers, and a good playlist so its not so quiet (giving hotel lobby vibes). Also not a fan if 20% gratuity fee + employee health and wellness fee upfront on top of not-cheap prices.

The food and drinks were delicious! We shared the gnocchi, focaccia bread and a salad and each got a drink and spent $90 after gratituty and additional fees. The atmosphere was cute and quiet. Service was a little slow but the staff was cordial. My reason for 4 stars over 5 was the required 20% service charge on all tables no matter the size (there were 2 of us) and 3% health and wellness fee. I have no problem tipping 20% but making it required is off putting. We asked what the health and wellness fee was and the server let us know it pays for employees health insurance…. Why is the employer not responsible for this and asking the guest to explicitly pay this? It feels tacky, especially for a restaurant with higher price points.

Met with a friend for after work drinks here and I was so incredibly surprised how good the drinks/food were, atmosphere, and the attention of the staff. I’m N/A and the mock spritzer I had was so great, my friend had the Negroni and she said it was incredible. The food was also so good, 10/10 recommend the stuffed pasta, so bomb. Only downside is that parking is a little shitty, so give yourself time to park, but I would say it’s absolutely worth it if you are looking for like an upscale Italian eatery to shake it up a bit. A little on the expensive side, but I would say it’s justified as the ingredients were fresh and very well thought out. But, I don’t think it was that expensive (comparatively), I had an appetizer, an N/A drink, and left 20% gratuity and it was all about $64, so I think pretty reasonable.

The braised lamb gnocci was delicious, but the portion size was quite small for the price. We must’ve got ~10 pieces of pasta and 1-2 bites of meat. I was not a fan of the frutti di mare. Sauce was slightly bitter and there was very little flavor otherwise. I’m happy to tip, but not a fan of places that charge a 20% gratuity fee + employee health and wellness fee upfront.

Yesterday was our first stop into the Little Bitter Bar since we've been in Portland. The first thing I noticed was the atmosphere: very modern, chic, and inviting. The service was impeccable; I felt well tended, and the drinks and food were lovely! My husband and I ordered the arancini, which is a dish I hadn't had in so long! This didn't disappoint at all. It had crispy fried breading on the outside, and the *perfect* gooey, cheesy, lightly riced inside. The flavors of the arancini and arrabiatta sauce worked together in harmony. All in all, an enjoyable experience!

The drinks were fantastic. If you like Italian oriented drinks and nibbles, this is the spot for top quality at a reasonable price. The burrata was delicious, and the pairing with focaccia is a match made in heaven. The pizzas are a great value for how tasty they are. That Novum Martini is absolutely the highlight of the night. Definitely a special treat.

Gin was so sweet and generous, made delicious drinks and made sure my friend and I were doing good the whole time including giving us water unprompted which was needed:) Highly recommend!!

Little Bitter Bar had a nice craft cocktail menu but the drinks themselves were below my expectations. I asked the bartender if he would recommend a different liquor in a cocktail I was interested in because I am not a fan of gin, he basically told me the cocktail won't be good without gin which I found a little odd. The espresso martini is also SO small considering the $15 price. The atmosphere was a 10/10, quiet, chatty, and very Portland. I probably won't be back but I do recommend trying it out especially if you are staying in Grand Stark Hotel.

Cute bar, delicious food! We came for a drink then found out about happy hour! Got two glasses of wine, the margherita pizza, and beef carpaccio from happy hour and then the spaghetti pomodoro and fritto misto from the regular menu. My sister's favorite is the pizza and mine is the pasta! The patio was nice with shade on a hot day. Next time we will have to try some cocktails!

About two blocks each way from the restaurant is big time sketch, so seriously consider not parking and take a ride share. Beautiful bar and overall decor and inviting seating. However, the patio definitely needs some attention. The Compulsory Daiquiri was refreshingly delicious albeit small. The cold by design Scallop Crudo was light and satisfying. I was mixed on the Arancini: excellent crisp, but bland. And I rather have more small portions than two giant ones. The bartenders were cool. For the price points it seems out of place in this part of town. ** They partake in the crappy money grab trend of charging a "health and wellness" fee. This is wrong on many levels. Spare me the "we're all in this together" rhetoric, especially from a high-end venue. Probably one and done.

Such an exceptional bar; I've now been here twice. First off, I just love the beautiful space and ambiance. It is a little slice of Italy within the bar, and they'll serve you if you'd prefer to sit in the cool, sleek lobby with your friends. It's a classy joint for classy peoples! And, what a gift - the playlist is both perfectly curated and not blasting your ears off; my girlfriends and I were noting that this is a rare bar where you can actually talk and hear each other, no shouting needed. Bring your date here. Great service - staff are always attentive. Drinks and food, I can speak less too since I'm just a wine girl. I do appreciate that they have a big list of non-alcoholic and low-alcohol options; last time I did one of the lovely spritzes. They were able to accommodate my friend's wacky request for a spicy margarita (not on the menu!), which she loved. Food is very tasty; we split a pizza and salad and were happy. It's upscale so imagine thin Italian pizza, no gut bombs in sight. Parking - I got lucky and didn't have to search too long for a spot. There is a valet available, since this is a hotel bar. The only downside is that yes, the surroundings are a bit rough. Ladies, might want to walk with someone to your car. Patio - can't speak to this at all; both times I've been I assume it's closed or maybe just not something one wants to be on due to construction of a new building happening about five feet away (which is also making parking a little harder than it needs to be at the moment). Not a noise problem during bar hours, at least.

Absolutely loved this place. It was perfect for our group of 8 celebrating a birthday. They were so attentive and brought something special for the birthday girl. The food was unexpectedly awesome. I loved the cod fritter, tuna crudo and tagliatelle bolognese. The cocktails were equally good. Very balanced and creative. We would love to come back soon!

Love the cocktails and Italian snacks, but I personally prefer to eat the Grand Amari pastas while dining here. They are the best! Amazing service, chill space easy for groups large or small.

I love this place! The selection of spritzes reminds me of traveling in Europe and the pizza is fantastic. Happy hour specials are reasonably priced, which is perfect for a happy hour with friends on a budget. When we went it was quiet and perfect for a catch up. Highly recommend!

Newly opened, but certainly not lacking in expertise and unmatchable hospitality from the team at Little Bitter. Went for drinks with a friend last week, and left with a new top cocktail spot where I can't wait to take all my summer flings. Mortadella pizza had incredible flavor, bartenders were professional, knowledgeable, and (dare I say) easy on the eyes. With all due respect to the owners and associates of Grand Amari and Little Bitter Bar, mind-bending, semi-orgasmic experience all around. I feel refreshed and reborn

Service and drinks were great! Would have given 5 stars but this piece of art really didn't fit the vibe