Proof•Reader Whiskey + Craft + Kitchen, Restaurant & Bar

Sure! Here's your review in simpler English, same length: Better Than Most Hotel Restaurants! Hotel restaurants are usually just okay, but this one was really good. The service was friendly and the place felt nice. The corn chowder was thick and tasty, and the bread with it was very fresh - even though we came late in the day. The fries were super crispy outside and soft inside. The veggie dish was simple but fun and healthy. If you're nearby, it’s a good place to eat!

Decided to try my hotel's (Mariott Downtown Waterfront) in house restaurant Proof*Reader after a day of conferencing, and it did not disappoint. Everything was great! From the ambience (80's pop and rock) playing softly. The exceptional service by Frank, AND the food. Italian veggie soup with a rosemary bread. I could have stopped there BUT Fried brussel sprouts with what I believe were mini sweet potatos and roasted peppers and Chili sweet/spicy wings (not hot). Had plenty to take home. Topped off with the Bourbon Apple cake and ice cream for dessert.

Ducked in for a nightcap, Friday night, place was packed , our server was clearly not having a good evening, but to be fair, she had a lot on her plate. Great whiskey selection, good cocktails and nice vibe for a hotel bar, but pretty loud, almost clubby. OK in a pinch.

Seated with one other group present, waited 30 minutes for a skillet and croissant. Ignored by waiters until the food arrived. Skillet tasted good, but it was mostly a greasy pile of 5 different meats. And way too much, maybe 2lbs of food! Just less meat, and less kinds of meat, would've drastically improved the dish. Coffee was just passible, in a town overflowing with great coffee. The croissant had a hard crust as if it were reheated in an air frier. If you're in the hotel and have time, it's not the worst choice, but there's just so much better food and great service on every block downtown so you should go elsewhere. Minor gripe: It's a whiskey lounge but I saw no whiskey displayed... Just weird to not see a selection of whiskey when you walk into a whiskey louge.

Did both breakfast and dinner (appetizers) here in the Marriott off the lobby area as time-constrained during weekend trip. First, a complement to the excellent staff at this location, both friendly and super efficient throughout. Like they enjoy working here - hard to find. A solid 4.4 average for our meals at the PR, mostly good for this level of restaurant, tho the ribeye bites disappointed in both taste and presentation - increase the size if the steak bites so it's more distinct from the rest of the meal. Breakfast was excellent, definitely exceeding our expectations, see pics. Highly recommend this Marriott for a weekend stay. Don't miss the Press Release coffee shop on the other end of the lobby, seems well run and good coffee. The "M" club on 3 was a good alternative too, incl fruit, smaller buffet selection of course, multi-drink machine coffee.

Randomly found this place when the restaurant we wanted to go to was booked. I was very surprised that it was inside a hotel. The food was so good with great flavor combinations. And they made an excellent old fashioned and even a fancy mocktail! I would eat here again next time I see a show at the Keller center. And easy walk to the show.

Nice to have a full service restaurant on the property after a long day of travel and meetings. The staff service was 5 start kind and helpful. The concierge lounge had a common breakfast menu, and a nice touch on self serve coffee and flavored water drinks. Beds and rooms are modern and trendy, with amazing views of the river. The hallways and lobby are in need of a remodel. Doors, hallways, and lobby give the impression of an older 3 star property.

Fantastic selection of whiskey, and a great menu to boot. Both their breakfast and dinner menu have delicious options, served perfectly. For breakfast their 🥓 is 💯 perfect, and their house specialty burger with a bacon jam is great. Service is super friendly and the kitchen is fast. Ate there a few times while staying at the Marriott it is located in, and was not disappointed. Definitely recommend if you are staying at the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront, or a nearby hotel. The decor is classy... Kind of a modern rustic with nice art pieces and lighting.

Paula was the most amazing attentive waiter we have ever had! She was amazing and on top of everything!! Made great recommendations and know the menu! Me and my best friend were looking for late night dining. (Past 9pm) and settled on this place. Even this it's in a hotel which usually means sub par. But oh no!!! So worth it!!! Best ever! Great drinks. Great food. The Brussels sprouts rocked our world btw! 10.10 will be back so many times!!!!

Proof Reader is a cute taste of Portland from the comfort of your hotel. Dining area was a mix of mood lighting, books, and sports on every TV available. Food here was amazing. Anything marked as a signature dish is a must try. The elk sausage bolognese was amazing. Be aware that portion sizes are HUGE and sharing might be the only option LOL. Service was amazing. Everyone was very attentive and offered great suggestions. I would stay at this Marriott just to have another convenient dinner here.

Nice people, quick service, nice environment and convenient if you are staying at the hotel. The pictures in the elevator of the grilled salmon steak look nothing like the grilled salmon dish. You instead get a fillet with a huge piece of butter (like 1/4 cup) on top of it - presumably to improve the taste. Didn't taste very fresh or remarkable, but the vegetables were great. I also tried the smoked salmon patties hoping for something better. They were OK too. The texture was like ground salmon with no onion, celery, or anything like that. I was surprised as I've had way better salmon and in Atlanta. The picture of the salmon steak in the elevator should be removed because you won't find it at this restaurant.

What a lovely cozy spot! Came by after the ballet and sat in a dark booth surrounded by decorated bookshelves. I am in love with all the playful whiskey cocktails. I had a Paper Plane Out of PDX, which was herby and tangy and lovely, and a blackberry sidecar which was lighter and sweeter but not too much. I made a meal out of a happy hour cheese plate and an order of smoked salmon dip. The servers were attentive but not pushing or rushing. I would definitely stop in again after events nearby at Keller.

Not bad for a hotel bar (in the Marriott downtown, across from Tom McCall park). Good selection of whisky, decent wine and beer list, and a better than expected warm vibe, almost clubby. Service was rushed and abrupt, but it was a busy Friday night, so I get it. Parking can be tricky.

While staying on business I dipped into the restaurant & bar for a hurried dinner after arriving & sat at the bar. The bartender was an excellent host with great recommendations. It was busy, & servers weren't quick to take orders & forget water when requested, but friendly and the food came out quickly. The salmon was perfectly cooked a beautiful salad. Knowing little of the areas' whiskeys the bartender gave great recommendations for a flight.

Northwest salad, elk bolognese, and service from Erin all remain top notch! Always glad to make a stop here in Portland.

Amazing dinners!! Paula was so Sweet and helpful. We stayed 5 days at the hotel and she was so great to us. Amazing memory with our orders.

Order: Bacon Bourbon Old Fashion; Paper Plane Out of Box; NW Elk Bolognese; Cesar Salad Pros: The NW Elk Bolognese is SHO'Nuff Good ya hear me!!!! No seasoning needed. Damn this dish is good. It's hardy, flavorful, and delicious. Paper plane was decent. Service was great and I love this nook area we sat in. It made the ambiance quite enjoyable. Cons: the bacon old fashion tasted like straight liquor. I didn't get the bacon wash bourbon at all.

Proof Reader is a bar located in the Marriott Waterside hotel. It is a small bar with a few booths that have books on the shelves making it feel like a library which is cute. They have a HH 4-5pm which is interesting as a happy hour for 2 hour?! They do a whiskey tasting for $15.00 which sounds great but really is just ok, as you get 1/2 oz of 3 different types of Basil Hayden. I had a glass of the HH red while husband had a beer. What makes this place nice is the people working there. And the 20% of for using YELP.

Drinks were expensive and we gave up on eating here. There was a long wait so we found another place. Prices seemed really high.

Surprisingly good for a hotel restaurant. Loved the burger with onion jam!! And... the cocktails were first rate!

Went here for drinks and appetizers every night at the hotel lobby. First of all, the staff is amazing! From host to servers and the skilled bartenders, these are the true assets of the joint. Cocktail variety and extensive list of spirits was unbelievable! Old fashions were our drinks of choice! The bacon smoke version was a favorite. Although in hotel, please give this venue a chance! It will be worth it!

Attentive staff, good selection at the bar, and a tasty menu. Perhaps a touch overpriced, but not out of bounds for Portland.

The place has a good vibe. It is located just off the lobby at the Marriott. The staff was super nice and very helpful. The musical guest on this night was fantastic, Laura Ivancie. Very talented. If I had just enjoyed all of the above it would've been a great experience. However I ordered some food. I had a bbq chicken flatbread. Not good. I ended up scraping off the toppings. I couldn't eat it. Terrible flavor. I ate the bread but it took me a while.

Do you enjoy being ignored for 20 minutes before someone takes your order? How about overpriced, mediocre food? Then this is the place for you. We were sat, then had to go to the bar to order drinks after a long wait, which finally prompted them to take our food order. The food was fine, but somehow took another 20 minutes for a charcuterie board and some brussel sprouts. Even with all this, our instincts told us that we should tip the clearly understaffed waitresses. That was until the check dropped and we were double charged for the food. Do yourself a favor and head to the nearest 7 Eleven for a far better experience.

I have been talking about this meal nonstop since I left. As another reviewer said, just order the Elk Pasta. You won't regret it. I also asked for a side of veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, and asparagus) and the restaurant easily made it happen. The pomegranate cocktail was also a hit. I'll be back and bring friends!

Went last Saturday morning for breakfast and had the most amazing breakfast skillet. The vegetables were fresh and everything was delicious.

The decor was just perfect for a book nerd like me with books shelves lining the wall by the booths. The server was very friendly and welcomed us. Kids have to be out by 10:00 pm, so plan accordingly. The salmon chowder was the best thing on their menu. Impossible meat can be substituted in the burger which comes with flavorful, crispy fries. The dinner is not extensive, but everything we had was delicious. Whiskey lovers will love the drink menu.

Great food, fast service, great price Lodi Cab. For a hotel restaurant, the food was great and allowed for modifications.

Didn't stay to eat. Attempted to order to go, but didn't bother as wait staff was incredibly rude.

Service was surprisingly bad. Server tried to discourage us from entering in the first place. Subsequent service was slow. Scotch pour was a farce. Zero checking in on us. Super slow check. Place was practically empty, too. I shan't be returning.

We stayed at this hotel for 2 nights. Very limited dining options. This was the main squeeze. And an unattractive menu. So we always dined outside. But on the last night, after a great night on the town, we came back to the hotel for dessert. Impressive.

We wanted to eat somewhere within walking distance to the Keller and we are so glad we found this place. Erin, our waiter, took great care of us. We ordered the potato leek soup that came with two slices of rosemary bread and butter, the Proof Reader signature salad with grilled chicken added (don't sleep on this salad), and the high proof burger. Everything was delicious and served at a nice pace. One small suggestion would be to serve the bread warm with the soup to help the butter spread better. Otherwise, everything else was perfect and this will be our go-to spot before shows at the Keller.

He came in here for a couple drinks and some appetizers before a show at the Keller auditorium. It's a very cozy place and very open. We sat at the bar and they had the football game on and a full display of whiskey bottles. We started off with a couple bloody Mary's. They were OK, but did not make the Wow this is a great bloody Mary scale. The bartender recommended the prime rib bites. So we ordered those along with some soft pretzels. The prime rib bites we're on the dry side. They also came with onions and mushrooms which were disappointing. Luckily there was some cool people sitting at the bar next to us and we had some good conversation. I ordered a tasty IPA and really enjoyed that. The bartender was nice but a little bit slow. But I come back again? Maybe.It's a great location to come for a drink before a show at the Keller auditorium.

This place is good! I ordered a salad with salmon on top and the amount of dressing was good and the salmon wasn't overcooked. I wish they carried coke products instead of Pepsi though (yuck!). Service was nice and the ambiance was that of a hotel bar. Something in the decor or table set up felt lacking but we enjoyed the food.

Our dinner was delicious but I was disappointed to receive this poached egg with my avocado toast. When we brought it to the serve he just apologized and didn't offer any remedy

Stopping by Portland for a night and decided to get a cocktail after a busy day. It was good, but very overpriced for what I received. I wouldn't mind coming here again, but I won't be recommending it.

It has a been a few years since I've been here but the elk bolognese on paparadelle is so flavorful and consistent. The Brussels sprouts were not as good as I had remembered and I had would not choose them again. The Bacon wrapped dates are delicious. I recommend Warm apple cake with vanilla Tillamook ice cream. Get the spiced old fashioned with the apple cake.

Fantastic food and a great team! Cool vibe coming in from the riverside, to have a bite and a drink at the bar. The restaurant team are always attentive and provide top service!

This place is located inside the Marriot Downtown Waterfront Portland. It is a very small restaurant with a huge whiskey list. I love a good 20 plus year old single malt (thanks to a buddy for turning me on to that) but for $94 for a 2 oz pour I think I will pass and stick to the one at Costco. The food itself was quite good. I tried the Salmon entree with brussel sprouts which I was pleasantly surprised by the taste and quality for the price. The beef ribeye bites appetizer was outstanding for the price. Even though the space was small I am impressed by the food even though service was so-so. If I am in the neighborhood I will try some of the other dishes on the menu.

We are so happy they are back! While seating is still limited and they get very backed up it was worth the wait! We had a handful of items Brussels, Roasted Hazelnuts, Portland Shrooms on the Ribeye, Beet Salad, bacon wrapped dates. All were amazing

Proof Reader is located inside the Marriott. It's not bad for a hotel bar/restaurant if you are staying there, but ambiance-wise it isn't remarkable enough to go out of your way to come here. We made a pit stop for a snack before returning to our room. My mom and sister were a fan of the Brussels Sprouts, which were a hefty portion. They are fried with chickpeas but I thought that they turned out too soft and gritty. We all mostly enjoyed the Seared Scallops, served atop a whiskey onion jam and a beet reduction. I felt that the texture was a little off. My favorite item was the Cast Iron Baked Cheese Rolls. Don't miss out on these. They were fluffy and full of cheese. I think we even got a cheese pull. Service was a bit spotty. There was some confusion with our server in the beginning and then it took a while to get our check. They are a whiskey bar so if you're a connoisseur, you should enjoy yourself here. They have entrees and desserts along with the shareables, and are open late which is a plus since many places in the city close at 9 or 10pm.

Step 1) Order yourself a cocktail of your liking (Old Fashioned) Step 2) Act like you are looking at the menu, knowing you will order the Elk Bolognese Step 3) Have great conversation with your guest Step 4) Say "What the hell, this could feed 4. BTW. If you have not had Elk...it has zero gamey taste, trust me on this one

Great bar, nice ambiance. Forgot it was a Marriott and the food is meh. Burger is a preformed piece of Costco garbage. Reminder to self ... never eat at big chain hotel restaurants.

Food was fine but the whiskey!!! Type o in the menu made me second guess our decision to stay but PROOF is totally in the whiskey.

My friend and I met up here before the ballet over the weekend for a couple drinks. There were about 15 customers total, so not super busy, but for some reason it was incredibly difficult for me to get a drink. My friend arrived a few minutes before me, so when I got there they served him his 1st drink. They said they'd be right back to take my order, but after 30 minutes they hadn't returned. I flagged down someone who was still walking as they took our order (my 1st, friend's 2nd drink). 15 minutes later, they brought just my friend's drink. After another 10 minutes of waiting, I walked to the bar to ask if I could get my drink and they told me I need to wait for my server. Another 10-15 minutes later (and 5 minutes before we needed to leave) my drink was finally brought to me, along with my friend's 3rd. The drink was actually fantastic, a pomegranate ginger martini, which cost $20 after tip. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to sip on it and ended up downing it like a shot. I'm guessing this is just a staff shortage issue, but it was a little bizarre.

Drinks were great but the menu had some typos. Pretty embarrassing for proof readers... *New Zealand *Impossible *Bulliet *Single

Drink responsibly ... at Proof Reader (in the Portland Downtown Waterfront Marriott) ... because you've got responsibilities ... like the responsibility to hang out and drink with some co-workers for office gossip and team-building. I also found Proof Reader to be a responsible place to practice my response ability when the bartender asks if I want another round. It turns out, there are lots of ways I'm able to respond ... and all of them are in the affirmative because my liver is like Tyrion Lannister: it drinks and knows things ... like I should get another "Signature Old-Fashioned" cocktail with Burnside Bourbon or an even better Proof Reader specialty called "When Harry Met Jerry" made with Random Dry Gin. Of cource, I don't need cocktails to have a sustainable conversation with a co-worker, but, they're like shoes for running ... I don't need them, but they sure as hell help. So, get me another drink barkeep. Ya, there's some tempting food items on the menu at Proof Reader, too. Things like Seared Scallops, Duck Leg Confit, Brussels Sprouts, Cilantro-Garlic Wings, and a Sausage Flatbread all helped soak up the alcohol and allow us to get another round. My new work friends were like you should drink less ... to which I replied, "Ok, I'll try. Bartender, your finest bottle of Less ..." After awhile, I told myself I should call it a night at Proof Reader, but why would I listen to a drunk who talks to himself? Besides, I'm drinking responsibly and don't have a drinking problem. It turns out, I'm pretty good at it ... thanks to the friendly Proof Reader bartenders and cocktails.

Hello! I'm here to leave a review, which I don't do often, but after seeing a particular review about a place I have frequented for over 17 years, (was Champions sports bar before, but same place) I felt compelled to respond in Terry, and the rest of the staff. Terry has bartended there for over 35 years, and the other servers for 27, 25, and 18 respectfully. I sit at the bar 98% of the time, if there's a spot open, otherwise I will sit at a table till a spot opens up. The service has been phenomenal, since day one. I want to say the food is amazing, but the service is even better, which is saying something believe me! Though when I seen a post by Regan P.......I had to jump in. I was that "friend" sitting at the bar that night, and when Terry cut her off she threw a fit, calling us both old fu**s, fu*k you!! All sorts of lovely explicits, though this was only after she had offered to come up to my room for a couple paychecks, I laughed It off and then she began getting verbally abusive with me, that is when she asked for another wine, and Terry cut her off, telling her she was 86'd. She has come in several times since then, with different wigs, and outfits, only to get caught and kicked out by security, I believe Terry informs the floor staff of her presence so they will not serve her, so she can be escorted out. Try Proof Reader, you won't be disappointed!! I suggest going Sunday through Wednesday, because on the other 3 days, you will get very poor service from the other bartenders, (why I gave a 4 star and not 5) if you find yourself there on one of the other 3 days, you will want to sit at the tables, and receive exceptional service from Paula and or Erin (Frank is amazing as well but is off these days) Cheers!!!

It was quiet on a Monday night. Good happy hour specials. The bbq was tender and had great flavor. Good drink specials Service was friendly and quick. Overall a great experience that didn't take that long. I love this area of Portland.

Visiting Portland and the weather outside is frightful so I'm lucky the restaurant inside my hotel is delightful. It's super comfy, especially sitting in a small booth with books on a shelf. TVs to watch football. Background music. Nice wait staff. Full bar. Couldn't ask for much more in ambiance. Happy Hour menu is extensive and reasonably priced. Probably more pricey for Portland but doesn't feel so bad coming from expensive Cali where I spent $62 for lunch at Disneyland for 2 people and had the worst salad of my life (threw it away after 3 bites). Got the perfect Ribe Eye bites that were crispy yet tender just like I like it. Portland shrooms were a bit much but ate and liked a little. No onions. The wings had a nice sweet sauce and cooked perfect. Dessert was their bread pudding and a drip coffee. Good stuff. With it being cold and rainy and still here 5 more days for work I'll probably be here several more times.

This is my "go to" hotel bar whenever I'm in Portland. The Marriott, where this restaurant is located, overlooks the Willamette River and it's where I always stay. The best part of Proof Reader is Terry, who works the bar. He's friendly and never forgets who you are or what you drink! The food is fabulous whether you're doing dinner or lunch. I recommend any of the salmon dishes. Portlanders really know how to do salmon!

Delicious burgers and very fun vibe! Welcoming environment and awesome servers! We are still enjoying the evening with happy memories!

We were staying at the Marriot the week of July 4th. We got back late one night so all the neighboring restaurants were already closed so we decided to be lazy and eat here. We got the cheese rolls, wings, chicken tortilla soup and burger. Everything was definitely over priced but that was to be expected. The cheese rolls and wings were by far the best two items. The soup was too thick and the burger was just ok, though it is massive. Ok place to eat when you're in a pinch and need something without walking.

Cozy little hotel bar with an insane whiskey selection. Naturally, I ordered a vodka cocktail: the stop the presses. A delightfully savory drink made with Irish cream and Kashmiri tea from Townsends. It comes served with a biscotti cookie, which was the perfect crispiness! For their specialty drink, which the husband ordered, they establishment donates $1 to a local shelter. Pretty cool.

Customer service is adequate. Menu is extensive but friendly. Atmosphere is typical hotel

Does your bar offer you exquisite rich Corinthian leather? No?! Why ever not? This bar does, and it is exquisite. There's this box, and the bartender sets it in front of you, attaches a rubber hose, and what looks to be a mini sump pump... It takes a few moments to hook everything up and you're wondering what the hell? I just wanted a cocktail. Next some finely ground wood chips are placed in the top of the sump pump looking contraption and your chilled glass with beautiful figs is placed inside the box. Whoa!!! It's not a sump pump it's a miniature smoker... puzzled look disappears and curiosity quickly takes its place. The blow torch lights the wood chips and the smoke is pulled into the box. The rye, and boozy goodness are combined in a shaker and your skimmed filled glass is removed from its box and the liquor poured over. This is a wonderful drink, my newest bestest drink. Manhattan, Sazerac move on over. RCL is stealing the show in this house!!! I will be back!

Ok. Had the rib eye bites, nothing memorable. Looks like they've raised prices from previous posts. Would recommend either porter xport or Mortons if you're in the neighborhood