Bullard Tavern is located in downtown Portland, Oregon and serves lunch and dinner. The menu features Pacific Northwest ingredients with a Texas twist.
Whenever I walk into Bullard Tavern, I have the urge to plant myself in the little lobby "library," order a glass of wine and oysters on the half shell, and never leave. It's like a cozy cool nook that's great for people watching if you're waiting for your dinner partner to show up.
But alas, eventually my dinner partner does show up, and we follow the host into the main dining room.
Looking for a place to eat and drink in Portland, Oregon? Be sure to read the full Urban Bliss Life Portland Restaurant Guide!
Restaurant Vibe
Bullard is a swaggering, masculine modern tavern anchoring the Woodlark Tavern in downtown Portland, Oregon. It's inviting and casual, with dark wood tables, leather seating, and minimal accents.
The main dining room is one open space that's sectioned into the bar area, tables by the front windows, and semi-booth tables alongside the wall opposite of the bar.
In the back is the partially open kitchen, where Chef de Cuisine John Baxter currently runs the back of the house.
What to drink at Bullard
Bullard recently opened for lunch and the day drinking menu alone is cause for celebration.
On a recent visit, I ordered the Chenin Blanc and Alain ordered the Road Soda. My Chenin Blanc was delightful: subdued, crisp, and would have paired nicely with the oysters had we ordered them (next time I am totally ordering the oysters!).
But that Road Soda. Oh dear friends, ORDER THE ROAD SODA. Crisp and slightly citrusy, hint of sweetness but not too sweet as many a brunch cocktail can be.
If you're feeling a bit frisky and daring, order the Pickleback Pair Ups. Being a NW gal, I had never heard of Picklebacks. According to our server (who was AMAZING!!), they are a thing in Texas and Louisiana.
You get a shot of Mezcal, Bourbon, and Aquavit. Each comes with a housemade pickleback chaser. I was intrigued and had to try it.
This is a fun brunch or lunch drink experience that I think is great if you're enjoying a meal with good friends. The three housemade pickle juices really paired well with the booze.
The Food at Bullard
While you should definitely order the Oysters on the Half Shell (market price), don't overlook the starter plate of Smoked Beets ($8). Lightly smoked and served on goat cheese guacamole and walnuts, this is a great starter dish to share.
For something a little different on the Brunch Plate section of the day menu, try the Fried Chicken Breakfast Tacos ($16). Crispy and nicely seasoned fried chicken tenders huddle up with soft scrambled eggs, pickles, pepper jelly, and guacamole in tortillas.
The Bullard Burger ($24) from the Lunch Plate section is pretty darn incredible. It's a half pound of Painted Hills Beef, aged white cheddar cheese, and pretty much the tastiest jalapeño aioli I've ever had. Served between a housemade sesame bun and fries.
Don't forget dessert!
I was happy with our most recent meal. Then I ordered dessert. And I was through the roof happier than happy! The Apple Cake Donuts ($4) are coated with a delicious apple cider glaze, and are fried to perfection. Perfect with a cup of coffee to wrap up your meal.
Restaurant FAQs
As with most Portland restaurants, dress at Bullard is anywhere from jeans and sweaters to business casual. During brunch/lunch hours, there are more business people because of the downtown location, so business casual attire is perfectly suitable. If you want to dress up for a special occasion, that would work here, too.
We found the Bullard menu items to be priced on par with most similar type of restaurants in the area. Drinks are around $10 to $14. Brunch and lunch main menu items are between $10 and $28. Dinner main course items range from around $13 to $52.
Reservations are recommended, but not required.
For a full updated list of current dining requirements, please visit the Bullard website.
Bullard Tavern
813 SW Alder Street
Portland, Oregon
503-222-1670
HOURS:
LUNCH + BRUNCH: Wednesday - Sunday 10am - 3pm
DINNER: Every Night 5pm - 10pm
HAPPY HOUR: Monday - Tuesday 5pm - 6pm
Wednesday - Sunday 3pm - 6pm
For reservations, visit the Bullard restaurant website
Before visiting, be sure to visit the Bullard Covid-19 page for their current policies.
More Portland, Oregon Restaurants
Looking for a place to eat and drink in Portland, Oregon? Be sure to read the full Urban Bliss Life Portland Restaurant Guide!
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