Bar Mingo

This is a great place to eat and drink in Portland! Eric is amazing! He is full of knowledge, funny, kind, and a lovely human being! We had the crepes (Eric’s recommendation), the chop salad, the cheese plate, and a pasta dish… EVERYTHING was delicious! The bread and olive oil were also great. This bar has a great vibe, great team, and amazing food!!! Please go! You won’t be disappointed!

JAM and I came into Bar Mingo on a whim last Friday night before heading to a concert. I love Caffe Mingo next door, and had only ever visited the bar side to grab a cocktail while waiting for a table there. I have heard good things about the menu at the Bar, so we decided to check it out.
The host was very nice, and was able to accommodate us immediately with a nice little table for two. The server was also cordial, and I think he liked us just because my husband ordered the barrel-​aged negroni. I can’t drink right now, but the bartender whipped me up a nice orange-​soda water mix, not sweet and on the tart side, exactly what I’d asked for.
As far as the food goes, the bread and olive are the same as what they serve over at the Caffe. The olive oil is amazing. I ordered the salad with walnuts and blue cheese, which was a generous portion and delicious. The nuts had a bit of a spice, unexpected but a very nice flavor. JAM’s gnocci al sugo was good, he had no complaints. I ordered the tagliatelle with sausage and chard. It was delicious, and while I thought the serving size appeared small my eyes proved far bigger than my stomach.
Next time we’ll come with either more people, or more of an appetite. I hear the lamb meatballs are a must try!

They offer a great happy hour every evening, including the weekends with a bunch of appetizers that are between 5 $-10 $ as well as wine and cocktails from $ 7 to $ 10. The tapas are yummy, the service is descent. The ambiance is casual.

Without a doubt my favorite restaurant that I’ve tried since living in Portland for a few months now! Bar Mingo was one of the first restaurants my boyfriend and I ever went to while apartment hunting in the Alphabet District. We came here on a warm summer night and sat at one of the two-​person tables in their outside seating area.
I ordered the Pappardelle with braised rabbit and holy cow was I amazed! I love trying new, out of the ordinary dishes, and since I had never eaten rabbit before, I thought this would be the perfect time to try it! The pasta is all homemade. I like my pasta a little on the al dente side, and this was cooked exactly how I like it. The sauce was creamy and flavorful, and the rabbit was cooked exquisitely. No good thing I say can do this dish justice — it was perfect and I would recommend to everybody! My boyfriend ordered the Cioppino which was a large enough portion so I could steal some to try — absolutely amazing! Some places I’ve been to skimp out on the seafood in this stew, but Bar Mingo really loaded it up.
Our second time around, we sat inside. The ambience makes for a great experience — they have live music some nights, and the lighting and mood is pretty trendy, making for a fun night out. This night, I ordered the red sangria (fantastic), and the Cioppino. The waiter also brought our group the liver pâté appetizer on the house to try! It was really tasty — not sure if I would order it on my own, but I’m glad I got to try yet another new, unique dish.
So, if you’re looking for a great atmosphere and even better food, Bar Mingo is definitely the place to be. You will not be disappointed!

This place was so cute! A nice little lounge area followed by some intimate tables and a small bar. We tried some delicious wines and had a cheese plate. But, it was what happened after we left that made me come back to actually write a review! (as much as I use Unilocal I fail to review a lot). I ended up leaving my credit card there after paying the bill and soon after flew home to San Diego, CA. The next day I realized my card was missing. I called, they had it, and offered to send it back to me! I could have just canceled my card, sure, but this was actually a lot more convenient for me and I so appreciate their customer service! Next time I’m in Portland I’ll definitely be back!

Abusive bartender by a woman named Sam. Asked me if I was an asshole FIVE TIMES. I left needless to say and no I did not take up for myself not bother to fix her enormously out of line and borderline civil disobedient disturbance. She never stopped however as I walked back to my car as she was telling the story, smoking outside the door to another person. She asked me to step over with a smile as though she might have apologized but she just let me have it three more times… very negligent, dangerous and scary person and someone who’d I’d never allow to represent my business. She distorted everything and especially herself… by the health risk of her person, if say she’d be better off in a Hells Angel Bar with a bat and and shotgun… GEEZ

I went here with my boyfriend for a «date»! :) I have a very good friend who speaks highly of this place. I had a Manhattan and happy hour food… insalata with blue cheese and calamari. With the bread it was more than enough. My boyfriend had the same insalata and the lamb balls. We both were very content! We split a dessert, which was quite wonderful as well. The Chocolate pots de crème… which was delicious!!! I’d definitely go back. We went on Tuesday night at like 4:30pm and surprised to find it not crowded… it was delightful. Decent service and fast too!

Good, but not as good as Café Mingo. The chef tends to err on the salty side.

Bad Service. Rude dismissive bartender (thank you Emily).
Happy Hour time to check out Bar Mingo, gets good reviews, people like the food and atmosphere, Unilocal reviews seem good. So we stopped in to check it out. It was not busy or bustling during the time we were there, we sat up at the bar. Emily the bartender was not impressed. Nor did she acknowledge us at first. We smiled, she stared. Then came over and handed us menus and stalked off to whisper to her friend and stare. I asked what was on tap, she rattled off the offerings as she walked by, I could not hear her nor understand her. It wasn’t until another couple sat up at the bar (I am assuming regulars around my parents age) as she floated over with a smile and nicely pronounced all that was on special and what was on tap and what their red and white wines were that I was able to make a decision when she came back to take out order.
We ordered the Calamari (which was good, the smaller bits were a tiny bit rubbery, but the rest was nice and flavorful) and a couple beers from the tap… the whole time being stared at by Emily the «bartender» and her side kick.
Being new to Portland, having relocated here for work this was the first time we have been greeted with such angst and awkwardness here in this city. It totally tainted the experience of Bar Mingo– will not be going back. I feel this city has many other options with friendlier people and equally if not better tasting food. Thank you Emily– Try being more friendly and less judgmental while at work.

Visiting from Seattle, we walked the Alphabet District to find a nice place for dinner. We settled on Bar Mingo because Prosciutto and Melon are one of my most favorite appetizers to eat (it was the special appetizer of the day).
My friend and I decided to order a few things to share. After the prosciutto, we had the Crespelle Crepes (crepes, shiitake mushrooms, shallots, marscarpone, parmesan), which were super delicious. The savory crepes were perfectly crispy on the outside and warm and soft on the inside. The arugula with balsamic was a great accompaniment. The Papardelle with braised rabbit and parmesan was amazing. Pasta is made fresh in house. We also ordered some Lamb Meatballs and finished off with the special dessert of the day, Olive Oil Cake with raspberries and whipped cream — super moist and delicious.
The timing of the dishes was spot on and the server was friendly and helpful. We felt that we had made a great choice.

Tried to get in on a Friday night and was told that the wait was over an hour. We decided to make reservations for Saturday and just come back. We arrived a few minutes early for our reservation and were shown to the waiting area. We were informed that our table was finishing up and would be ready shortly. After waiting a little bit the hostess came by and told us that our table was paying and would be done any minute. This reassurance happened multiple times. Finally 45 minutes after our reservation time we decided that it wasn’t worth the wait. There were 2 tables that we were told had been there for hours and were just sitting and talking /​having a cocktail. There were open spots at the bar, entry seating area, and 2 top tables that these folks could politely be asked to sit at. Instead the staff rather have them take up a 4 top with just chit chat after already paying.
The best part is when we asked to speak to a manager we were informed that there was no manager on duty in the whole restaurant.
This seems like a very poorly run establishment — take caution when making plans to eat here — they may not honor them and you will be looking for other options!

Went there with an old customer and friend. Martini’s were great, so great we had two each. Then fresh oysters, followed by a delightful salad and a pasta seafood dish that was superb. Wine selection was excellent.
Place was SRO and the noise level very high. But it was one fine time!

I stopped in recently for a glass of wine, but was definitely tempted by the appetizer special, lists of desserts, and yeah… small plates menu in general. If you don’t want to wait to have the full Café Mingo experience, Bar Mingo should do the trick. Great wine list with knowledgeable and friendly staff like Eugene (friendly, attentive and smooth — knows how to check in on a lady who looks like she’s having a less than stellar date)!
Pros:
* Tables, bars, lounge area (not overly crowded)
* Good service
* Good menu/​specials
* Extensive wine list
Cons:
* Street parking only
* Lounge area seating isn’t that inviting

My husband and I have actually never made it over to Caffe Mingo, because we love Bar Mingo so much. The atmosphere is stylish but not pretentious, they always have great music playing, the menu staples are delicious, and they always have fantastic specials. I really enjoy unique wines and spirits, so if you’re like me, Gino is the man you want to see. He can recommend great wine pairings for your meal, or suggest something new if you feel like going out on a limb. Whether it’s just for a cocktail and a snack, a date or a meal with friends/​family, this is a highly recommended place to go.

Went in for happy hour and sat at the bar. Even then the service was painfully slow and not really all that pleasant. We had a couple of cocktails, and each round took about 15 minutes to get. I tried the tequila sidro, but I had to order a shot on the side to add to my drink so I could taste some liquor in it. There was a bar back standing there seemingly helping the bartender, but he didn’t seem to add anything in terms of speed or efficiency as far as I could tell.
We also shared a couple of snacks none of which were remarkable. The salad was just ok, the clams were alright but nothing spectacular, and I didn’t particularly think much of the lamb meatballs. That being said, if you make meatballs yourself at home you probably do them much better than most restaurants anyway.
Overall, Meh. I’ve experienced better… which equals two stars.

I can only imagine the in Portland if a restaurant is typically viewed as average it won’t survive, because of all the above average competition.
Bar Mingo is that competition in spades. Firstly it’s next door to its sibling Restaurant Mingo. But the drunken brother Bar Mingo still walks upright and produces excellent fare.
Firstly the staff is wonderful, sassy (I’ve never used that word) and attractive. All three are pluses, but bottom line she was a vetted professional.
I had simple fare tonight of parsnip soup and steamed mussels. The soup was excellent, flavorful and silky smooth. The mussels well also five star. Not a tainted or turned on in the batch. The broth was lite, buttery and flavorful.
I wonder if since there are so many excellent restaurants in Portland, if complementing them is meaningless.

Fair disclaimer: I ate here for dinner, which is probably like using an ax to cut down a tree. It works, but ideally you’d have a chainsaw.
Who knows what the hell that means, but I guess my point is that a lot of people love this place for happy hour and tapas — and it probably makes more sense to eat at «Caffe Mingo» for dinner. That atmosphere is great and very Portlandia in a good way.
That being said, I was still fairly disappointed in Bar Mingo. I found everything I ordered to be very hit or miss. The avocado salad was incredibly pedestrian. As much as my blue-​collar grandfather is rolling in his grave to see me write a sentence like that, it’s true.
Then again, my gnocchi main course was absolutely delicious.
The real downer for me was that their drink menu was really small and incredibly I ordered two drinks that I hated. Flat out hated. Their take on a margaritas and martinis left me wishing I had stuck with Diet Pepsi. And that’s saying something.
Seriously. I can’t think of a place where I ordered a house cocktail and hated it. And for it to happen twice at Bar Mingo? For what you pay — and coming from a place called Bar Mingo — this should have been impossible.
Maybe I was just unlucky, but I’m not in a rush to go back here.

MMMMMmmmmm… those lamb meatballs though.
Great place to eat and have some beverages. Nice HH menu too. Definitely try the meatballs.
My group ordered a few apps, (cold meat plate, cheese plate and the lamb meatballs). Once we devoured those, we went on to the main course… dinner. I chose the lasagna because I saw pictures of it beforehand and I really needed it in my life. Someone ordered the gnocchi and then a pasta special was ordered by another member of our group. We all tried bites of each others food and all of it was tasty. Fresh pasta, fresh ingredients. The wine menu and ambiance… just another reason to dine here.

One thing is for certain at Bar Mingo: anything you order will be delicious!
JP and I were invited here this past Saturday to join two friends for dinner. We noticed that Bar Mingo’s sister establishment next door, Caffe Mingo, was closed for a special event. Our experience was a little interesting because one of our friends has had extensive business dealings with Bar Mingo, and was very familiar with the staff.
Dinner was also interesting because this was the first time I have been exposed to the concept of corkage fees. Our friends brought many, many bottles of wine with them to the restaurant, and this is perfectly legal. You just have to pay the restaurant $ 20, per bottle, to uncork and serve your wine. Seems an expensive way to drink.
Being the defiant one, I passed on the vino and ordered a martini. I was disappointed that there was only one gin drink on Bar Mingo’s cocktail menu, and it contained rosemary syrup. The concept of rosemary syrup (or rosemary anything) makes me want to head for the hills. By the way, the liquor pours for my martini were, frankly, chintzy.
So now let me ooh and ahh about the food. Each dish was fantastic. The Lamb Osso Bucco with Polenta came with a generous serving of meat and the tasty polenta was ultra creamy. The Lamb meatballs (with tomato sauce, mint and oregano) were seasoned wonderfully. I especially liked the Manila clams, served out of the shell and with pancetta. I had no idea that a clam could contain that much meat! We also much enjoyed the Mussels served in a fabulous white wine broth with shallots. The pappardelle (rabbit ragu with parmesan cheese) was outstanding.
JP and I split the gelato affogato for desert. The affogato is served with a shot of espresso and topped with whipped cream — a very rich, cold and tasty dessert. To accompany our dessert, we ordered grappa. This crystal clear grappa, powerfully strong as a good grappa should be, possessed a memorable bright fresh flavor. As a complimentary dessert from the house, we received the Chocolate Pot De Crème, a dark chocolate mousse topped with whipped cream. Very good!
I do have to mention service. Our server may have been laid-​back casual because she knew our friends, but her service was so-​so: minimal and slow. In fact, dinner stretched out to three hours, though the silver lining on the cloud is that allowed us to spend more time with our friends. But all things considered, a great dinner!

I actually wanted to have a pint somewhere else, but the place wasn’t open yet. Just one quick drink. Walked by Mingo and hadn’t been there in a long while.
It was a great choice. Sunday around 5pm, with a couple glasses of wine and a meat plate. The meat place was very generous and had some salami, proscuitto, and assorted others that I can’t spell. it was quite big for a $ 6 happy hour offering.
They also provide some bread, too with olive oil.
Bartender gave great service. Lots of couples near me having dinner. A great upscale, but relaxed setting and a very approachable happy hour menu.