Whiskey Barrel Lounge

We’ve been here several times recently. The food is excellent, and the atmosphere is perfect…. BUT They broke one of the most cardinal rules when it comes to dining at a restaurant. All the meals should arrive at or near the same time. We had to wait 8 minutes between the delivery of the first two meals and the second two meals at our table. Given the $49 Tenderloin price, a dinner party should not have to wait that long for half of their meals to be served while the first half gets cold. Oh and they completely forgot to ever make and serve our appetizers. We went again a few nights later, and our meals were good and we had no issues. However, the table next to us had “refrigerator-cold” french fries and the other person at that table had burnt toast. This time, the restaurant was mostly empty. Issues with timing and quality should not exist at a restaurant with this price point. And when they do have issues like this, management should step in and make things right. Mistakes happen, but how you handle them is key.

I’ve been to this whiskey bar more than ten times, and unfortunately, the service has been consistently disappointing. Whether I visit in the afternoon or evening, the experience is the same—slow service when it’s not busy and rushed service when it is. There’s no balance, and worse, it often feels like the staff is irritated by customers being there, as if we’re putting them out. I come from a family with experience in the hospitality industry, so I understand what good service looks like. I also know that I’m a kind and respectful customer—I don’t come in complaining or causing issues. But despite that, I’ve repeatedly noticed that the staff seems disengaged, impatient, and more focused on getting out the door than on creating a welcoming experience. That kind of energy is noticeable, and it’s not a good look. This place is close to where I live, so I’ve given it multiple chances, but at this point, I have to ask—what’s the incentive to keep coming back? I can go anywhere, and when I choose to spend my time and money at a place, I want to feel like it’s worth it. If the people working here don’t enjoy what they’re doing, it shows, and it directly impacts the customer experience. Hospitality is about more than just serving food and drinks; it’s about creating an atmosphere that makes people want to return. I hope management takes this into consideration because this bar has potential. But without a shift in attitude and service, it’s hard to justify choosing it over other places that prioritize the customer experience.

Such a wonderful little spot. Located below the Valley Public House. Happy hour is only 1 hour, but a great menu. Our server, Melanie, was fantastic. The food was terrific. We'll be back. Absolutely worth a stop.

My first visit to Whiskey Barrell Lounge was an excellent experience. My server, Sabina, met me at the host stand and walked me to my table. She asked if it was my first time, and when I indicated it was, she offered to make suggestions for my drink and meal. After a brief, friendly discussion she recommended the Tokyo Old-Fashioned for my drink, Deviled Eggs as an appetizer, and Steak Frites with a small side Ceasar salad. Everything was tasty and delicious! The food was made as ordered and brought out right on time. My compliments to the chef and bartender. I like that there was a small carafe of water at my table. I opted to get Creme Brule for dessert, another excellent recommendation by Sabina. This was a great experience. The manager, hostess, and owner all said hello to me while I was in the restaurant. This is a well run establishment, with a great atmosphere, and attentive, friendly staff. Highest recommendation to dine at Whiskey Barrell Lounge.

Delicious food and wonderful cocktails at Whiskey Barrel Lounge! The staff is exceptionally friendly and incredibly knowledgeable. The atmosphere is classy but laid back, especially on weekdays when it isn't packed. You can go in and feel sophisticated without getting dressed up or breaking the bank. If your family is in town, if you're going out for a date night, or if you just want to sit with friends and sip whiskey, there isn't a better place in Happy Valley! 5 stars all the way!

We enjoy the spacious atmosphere, that they take reservations and the well executed cocktails . Great drink program with gorgeous house cut ice. We’ve enjoyed the Waygu burger, steak salads and those wonderful pork devil eggs. Please bring them back as we don’t like the fishy ones. Super attentive GM . Takes good care of us.

My husband and I stopped in for a nice dinner after hiking about 15 miles earlier that day. We didn’t have reservations but they were able to seat us within 10 minutes or so. I’d definitely recommend reserving a table on a weekend. We tried a couple of drinks that were very tasty. Cesar salad was fresh and a small was big enough for us to split. The steaks were superb, as well as the sides. We both left quite pleased!

The place is friendly and open concept. The waitress was able to make good selections even for me who doesn't drink alcohol! My friends enjoyed the drinks as well as the food

Really loved this restaurant. The seating was so comfortable and I like the dim lighting. The service was awesome. The cocktails were on point and the seared albacore deviled eggs.. WOW!!!! The rosemary fries were probably the best fries I've ever tasted.. cannot wait to go back when I'm in Oregon:)

This is become one of my favorite bars to have a nice drink. Located downstairs, this place has great ambience, a warm feel, and a beautiful bar. The service here has always been impecable. Most importantly, they make great drinks and dessert. I've never had dinner here, but it's my future. Whether you're looking for an Old Fashioned, a Martini, or anything in between. This is a great place to go on a cold and rainy evening.

met a friend for night out.. first despite an almost empty restaurant told that they were booked for evening but could squeeze us in. initially waiter and service ok until essentially told us we needed to leave if we're not ordering more food/drinks. after purchasing another round of drink told that we would need to vacate table for another party.. absolutely terrible service for the cost of the food/beverages. fast food places treat people better. not likely to return despite being so close to home

The definition of a special restaurant, been coming here for just over a year now and I've never once been disappointed with the food or drinks. Service has always been great as well although they definitely do get busy on the weekends. Truly exceptional in every way.

Don't be afraid of the Tokyo old fashion! Never heard of anything like and glad I took the leap and tried it. Make reservations, great ambiance. Hidden gem in Happy Valley.

Good ambiance, good service, good food. They need to add more entree options and increase their food selection.

A lil pretentious with the "did you make a reservation" statement at 4pm. Being in happy valley it threw me off but ok this area has be popping lately so I'll look past that snottiness. Bartender was nice and made up for the first impressions. Drinks were great! Wagu burger was 3 stars and pasta vegana was OK... I thought it was a pistachios cream but tasted very Spinach like which is not a big deal but I expected pistachio. I'd come back for drinks go somewhere else for eats.

We've been going to the Whiskey Barrel for three years and have had a wonderful experience every time accept for tonight. It was disappointing. Sabrina never checked on us to see if we wanted another drink or to see how things were going it was my husband's birthday and nothing for him. The drinks were not good and the food was just ok. We agreed that we will not order those drinks or food choices ever again. We have never had Sabrina before and we were not impressed.

I visited the Whiskey Barrel Lounge for the first time last Friday during Happy Hour. Happy hour starts from 3-5 PM, but there is a limited food menu. While, cocktails are a $1 off. The atmosphere completely changes as you walk into the lounge with a "vintage meets modern" vibe. It feels like a secret cocktail bar located underneath the Public Valley House. The cocktails range from $10-$13. I ordered the "Mango on Vacation," which was very sweet with taijin on the rim and straw. I recommend this for anyone with a sweet tooth, looking to get tipsy. Similarly, the hibiscus mojito was also very refreshing with a sweet tart after-taste. 45 roses, a bourbon cocktail, is perfect for anyone who loves ginger. The ginger candy was delicious and spicy. The happy hour rosemary fries ($4) were disappointing. I felt like they weren't fresh, nor had a rosemary fragrance. The happy hour burger ($14) looked flat and sad. I would definitely come back to check out more of their cocktails and whiskey flights.

We had my dad's birthday party/dinner here and it was great! We were downstairs in the lounge in the private party room. Donna, who handles the catering, was on top of her game. We were planning it from out of town and she made the whole experience smooth and easy. The food was very good along with the yummy drinks. Specifically, the salmon was cooked to perfection and the 47 Roses cocktail were both incredible! Myles was our bartender for the night and did a great job! Would definitely recommend!

We decided to try this place on a whim tonight and my goodness was it delicious! Not normally a spot we would try but it was a great time. We came in and had a bunch of appetizers drinks and entrees. The place was dim but beautiful and felt elegant without being pretentious. Our waitress was phenomenal, super attentive and helpful. We had the Tokyo old fashion, Diablo verde and side pony for drinks. They were unique and delicious. We had the charcuterie board and arancini for appetizers. The fruit compote on the charcuterie board was fantastic - unique pickle of brussel sprouts as well. The arancini was good - very cheesy, though I felt like it could've had some more salt. The burger was delightful. Very juicy and had a great onion jam of sorts with a delicious aioli. The fries were good, some a bit saltier than others. My boyfriend had the crab cacio e pepe and said it was fantastic. Tons of crab and the perfect amount of pepper. Overall a great place to try out. For 4 of us it came to $187 however that included 3 appetizers, 6 drinks and 4 entrees. Well worth it in our opinion. Will definitely try it again.

The Whiskey Barrel Lounge and I are in a complicated relationship. It's close to home and the cocktails are hard to beat, so I always find myself coming back for more. The service from the hosts/hostesses usually falls flat. More often than not, they seem irritated to be working. The bartenders, on the other hand, are lively and seem to truly enjoy their jobs. Special shout out to Eddy, he makes one heck of a cocktail and is always very friendly. You can tell he takes pride in his job. For these reasons, I don't really recommend this as a dinner spot. If you're looking to grab a drink with friends, you can't go wrong snagging a seat at the bar. The drinks are on the pricier side, but they're truly unique and delicious. The atmosphere is lovely with dim lighting and classy décor. It feels like a true speakeasy. If you want to do dinner, they have a small but upscale menu with great apps. If you're like me and want to skip the drama and stick to drinks, you can hang out at the bar or meander upstairs to explore Ranch Pizza and Tamale Boy as food options.

I don't usually expect a lot when dining out in Happy Valley, but I was pleasantly surprised pulling into the strip mall and descending stairs into a lovely atmosphere. You might ask, why three stars? Pushy wait staff trying to turn over our table on what was a moderately busy evening but we weren't camping either. Their planning for reservations was not that great. Why seat three folks at a 6 top and then rush them after an hour? The cocktails were lovely and we had several, along with starters and entrees. A polite conversation with patrons about a time limit would be better than removing water and other items so we "get the hint" while still finishing a cocktail would be more appropriate. It's nice they take reservations and the ambiance was as romantic as you can get that far into Happy Valley. I might try again because everyone has an off night.

We were out on a Friday night and spent over an hour looking for somewhere to eat that wasn't crowded. We napped to see a sports bar but it was full up. Then noticed people going into another building next door so we went in and found ourselves heading down some stairs to an open dark restaurant with a really cool bar and several empty tables and chairs. We were taken to our table and the menu looked really enticing. We ordered a bee and a cocktail and two meals which we really enjoyed. The ambiance was dark, cozy and had a bit of swank. Will definitely be going back.

Our server was absolutely wonderful, very interactive, thoughtful in their suggestions, and knew the menu well. The environment is cozy, warm, and nicely lit. If you're coming for a drink or to catch up with friends, this is a spot to come settle down and enjoy. We came here with another couple to celebrate our guys birthdays and were more than prepared to drop some cash. The drinks and environment were wonderful. The food was pretty disappointing comparing prices to quality and portions. The guys went surprisingly lame and had the burger and cleared the plates. I had the Osso Buco and the plate just had an odd smell to it like something wasn't right. It's a dish I've ordered many times at other places and there was a complete lack of fresh to it. The portion of grits was very minimal, it was a plate of meat with a side puddle of grits. There was a jalapeño corn chowder.....now THAT was a surprise! The chowder was sweet, spicy and fun flavor combo. Dessert are a DO here. We have the tiramisu and crème brûlée. The tiramisu was light, creamy and heavy on the booze! The crème brûlée was nothing exciting, BUT the lemon rosemary cookies were a genuine surprise. The cookies were crisp enough but still soft, the lemon was bright and the rosemary was subtle.

I love everything about this place and how it's run. I went there for the first time, and everything was perfect . The food, the drinks and the service were absolutely fantastic. I don't remember the waitress's name but the girl that looks half Asian displayed one of the best customer service experiences I've ever had .

The ambiance is relaxing, so chill and the decor takes you back with their retro feel. My go to is always the Fried Seafood (Misto Fritto) it's always cooked to perfection. We tried their special, the Summer Gnudi and it was so light and delicious. The cocktails...Side Piece and Silk Robe were so light and perfect for the summer. Their whiskey selection is always on point and stocked with all the high end favorites.

Beautiful space, amazing food and wonderful service. We love coming here! John Smith paints with all the color of the winds

Atmosphere is great. Seated quickly. Had seasonal bruschetta that was excellent. Nice cocktail menu. The rest of it was meh. Salads were pedestrian and bland. Entrees where bland (coq au vin and ziti). Apple crisp for dessert was unremarkable. Ordered coffee for dessert. Had a cup before dessert arrived and were told the pot was out when we asked for a second cup. Like, maybe just brew another pot for 50 cents? Not impressed and will not be back.

If you're looking for a unique dinning experience, this is the place. The decor is very " speak easy" the bar is stunning. We started with the bacon wrapped dates. A"10" for dinner we had the shrimp scampi and Mac & cheese. Very good. We will be back with friends highly recommend.

Great atmosphere and great people serving. They are personal and professional. Like Joran, he can bring some fun into the evening, too.

We have been day one customers at WBL. The food, drinks, and atmosphere are all amazing! To top it off the service is some of the best around Happy Valley. The staff remembers you and is engaging and friendly. The mix up the menu often always giving us new choices. However I tend to get the Steak options most of the time. Great date night spot! I would make reservations on the weekends, it can fill up fast.

What a find in Happy Valley! Went with some friends on double date night mid-week and were absolutely delighted. A phenomenal cocktail menu with equally delicious food in a really nice environment with superb attentive unobtrusive service. A new favorite spot and really nice local independent establishment. We will no doubt be back many times. Go!

This will be our last visit. I've tried to make it work with this local bar and restaurant, but several things contribute to the fact that I won't ever return. The manager continues to chastise customers that come in to sit at the bar. Even if there are seats open, they turn people away unless you have a reservation. And, if someone happens to sneak by the desk as they spot an open seat at the bar, the manager can be heard, expressing his outrage. Secondly, the food. It's just not that good. My last meal will be my last meal. Some incoordination back in the kitchen produced a plate with risotto, and a few chunks of asparagus mixed in; it was hard to tell. Most of the plate was bare. A few flustered minutes later, our waitress appeared, claiming plate was brought out too soon and that they still needed to add a piece of salmon. I thought I was going blind. Finally, Salmon, asparagus, and risotto appeared on the plate. The salmon was decent tasting, for the price, just lacking amount, the risotto tasted like it was out of a box; uninteresting and definitely not restaurant quality. The asparagus was just well lacking. Maybe two sprigs were laid on the plate in small pieces. It was hard to tell how little was there. This meal was almost $40. I didn't feel it should've been more than $16.

One of my favorite places to go, and I love that they take reservations. It's busy for a reason - the drinks are good, the staff is friendly, and the food is incredible. Haven't tried anything I didn't like (& that's saying something, I'm a picky eater who has eaten here through two pregnancies now!). It's a perfect spot to hang with friends or for a date night. My husband and I love sitting by the fire in the winter or outside in the summer. Great local spot to support! Try the creme brûlée and the 47 roses!

Such a cute and cozy spot! Our server Melanie was so sweet and attentive! As a matter of fact, all the staff were! Various food options and drinks were awesome! Will definitely return!

Whiskey barrel lounge is a great place to get simple, well prepared dishes. The steak frites and salads are always prepared perfectly. Don't miss the deviled eggs appetizer. The cocktails are excellent. One of the best manhattans I've ever had. The whiskey selection is expansive, and the service is always perfect. Highly recommend.

Very decent drinks, food, ambience and service for Happy Valley. One of our go-to date night spots.

Good ambiance and good food. Service is above average than other places in this area. Menu and beverage selection are also great.

Awesome place to go to in Happy Valley, the n side is gorgeous, menu is on the shorter side but offers options for people with food intolerances and certain diets. The drinks are beautiful to say the least, and the owner usually walks around to greet everyone and thank them for coming. A great date night or special occasion spot, but honestly if I lived in the area I'd be there a few nights a week!

We had a date night dinner here. The space is a pleasant surprise for Happy Valley. It feels like an old speakeasy. The menu is limited and could use some appetizers. I had the Coq au Vin and my husband had the Bacon Macaroni and Cheese. We had the fries with aioli for an appetizer. The food and cocktails were very good. The service was slow and not overly attentive though, especially since there weren't many customers when we arrived. We enjoyed our dinner but weren't "wowed", especially for the price and serving sizes. We'll probably stick with our tried and true favorites even though we have to drive further into Portland.

I absolutely love this place. The food is great, the drinks are great and priced fair. AJ the bartender is fun to talk with and answered all my whiskey questions and had great recommendations. Will be back for sure!!

Last night I'd ordered a meal that I had the first time I've visited here roughly two weeks ago. When fries came with frites instead of what I'd received before, I asked if they didn't serve that anymore. The waitress said the frites always came with fries, to which I said no, and described what I had the first time. She refused to believe me and said she'd ask her manager. Then a woman came over and identified herself as the OWNER. She also told me very rudely that they never had served what I described and argued with me that it must have been somewhere else. Seriously? Why would I make something like this up? I pointed to the table, told her when and where this was, my wife backed me up, and my neighbor that was with us also told her about me recommending this place for it's food and service (not so much the service anymore). The "owner" continued to argue with me, was completely disrespectful, antagonistic, and honestly a complete B. I have never been treated this way at any business and NEVER will return, nor will my wife and the couple we took there for what was going to be a pleasant evening. I was only trying to find out what the dish was that I had before to order it again, not insinuate/accuse them of something like both of them made it out to be. Restaurants are hard make a profit on, especially when their owner(?) drives them away. Good riddance. I would doubt these reviews from the disdainful service we received last night as the first night was great. Now I simply don't care. With her attitude, that place can go out of business tomorrow and I'd probably toast its passing.

The service, the drinks, the food.... All of it was top notch. We managed to get a reservation for the first week of them being open. What a great place for dinner and drinks. The ambiance allows you to come in and feel as if you are having a private dining experience with your group. The quiet jazz in the background just made it even better. From check in to leaving, we were made to feel as if we were the most important people in the lounge. This was how everyone was treated. It was such a great experience.

The. salmon. I get it regularly. Comes with a risotto that will revive your spirit. Small, well done, freshly made menu. Great staff we enjoyed talking with. Great wine list and cocktails. A jewel in Happy Valley

We are there for the first time tonight. We had salads, I had the crab pasta and my husband had the fried chicken sandwich. We both enjoyed our meals. The atmosphere was great, it's just we need in Clackamas! Great service too! Will definitely come again and bring friends.

Love this place! Great service, food, drinks and vibes! And the patio is super cute when the weather is nice!

I've been coming to WBL since it opened. It had its growing pains at first, like most new places, but has been nothing short of magnificent the last 20 months since their new manager came on board. The burger is the best in town and the whiskey selection is expansive and well priced. Definitely plan ahead on weekends and make a reservation as this place fills up. It is one of the few gems we have in Happy Valley. With the weather warming up the patio is just opening up and is a great place to have one of their awesome drinks.

Excellent~ been there 2 times in the last week. Great to have a nice, but comfortable place to go for Happy Hour. Cocktails, food & service was amazing.

All around amazing; food, staff and ambiance. Some menu items rotate seasonally (or perhaps weekly), everything I've tried is delicious. The owners are very sweet and always have a minute to chat. So happy to have this gem close by home.

We've been to the whiskey barrel lounge multiple times. They have a great happy hour, great staff and also make great mocktails if you ask! They are a surprise but always hit. The absolute best French fries and spicy margs! Highly recommend.

Great drinks and food. Loved the environment. Staff was very knowledgeable of menu and had great suggestions.

Wow, absolutely gorgeous dining room and bar. Service was great, drinks exceptional and dinner was a delight

We tried to celebrate our wedding anniversary here tonight but were made to feel like *$#@ because we didn't have a reservation. After being seated, we asked about the dinner hours. The response by the host was so condescending that we walked out. Highly disappointing.

Yes yes yes! Great drinks and happy hour menu here. The service is fantastic and the ambiance is worth the trip. I would definitely return.

We went for our first date night in over a year, and we had been looking forward to it for some time. It did not disappoint! From the start we were treated very warmly and cordially. Our server was energetic and offered suggestions when asked, and checked in with us often enough to make sure we were good but not too often to spoil the vibe. The food was what you would expect for the level of establishment, and with regularly rotating ingredients we could go back in a week or two and try something new. Given the COVID restrictions the venue was very well spaced out, and the staggered table times meant we did not have to wait in a line. Everything was done very well indeed. We spoke with the owner a few times as she was walking around to make sure all of their customers were 100% happy. She even removed a drink from my bill after she found out I did not like it, I had bought it to try - I was more than willing to pay for my experiment - but she would not have any of it. I even found a new coffee that has replaced my morning brew. All in all, it was awesome. We will of course be back. Thank you.

Cute little spot, incredible drinks. The bartender was charming, helpful and extremely knowledgeable! Additionally- love that this business walks the walk & doesn't support liquor brands with a history of homophobia. Will be back soon!

I love it when I can go to a whiskey bar, and the staff is knowledgeable and caring. With so many amazing whiskeys to choose from, it's nice to know the staff here isn't just on auto pilot. They will go out of their way to recommend a quality spirit. Bravo! I wish I could give you 10 stars for one of the best Manhattans I've ever had.

I am so EXCITED to have a wonderful place like this in Happy Valley! The atmosphere has a speakeasy feeling, all the furniture and decor is nice. The service was great, we were greeted by the owners. I had the American Rose drink which was very good. The food could use a little more seasoning.