411 SW Third Ave
Portland, OR 97204
(503) 228-5686
www.hubers.com
I almost don’t want to blog about Huber’s restaurant in downtown Portland because it is SO good and I would hate to to add to the already extensive wait for their fantastic happy hours! Hubers is without a doubt, my favorite happy hour spot in all of Portland. Their happy hour is so kick-ass good that it may even be my favorite dining spot in ALL of Portland for that reason alone. How do I even start to explain with a cool place this is?
I was invited out with a large group (10+) of people to celebrate one of our friend’s birthdays. We’re used to hanging out at different highly rated restaurants every weekend or so, but when I found out it was Hubers, my initial reaction was, “What? The turkey place?” And turkey place it is! But it is oh! so much more!! Hubers is the oldest restaurant in Portland, and the history of the place adds to the wonderful Old Tyme charm of it. Check out their website, it has a fascinating history section that follows the life of a young Chinese stowaway in the 1800’s whose exuberance and charm helped create the Hubers we know and love today.
Take a good look at your surroundings when you go to Hubers. You enter through a narrow hallway simply framed with black and white pictures of Old Portland and enter a darkly lit, mahagony threshold. With the arched high ceilings, and glossy furniture, it’s almost like stepping back into a 40’s style train station. Happy hour starts promptly at 9:30, but already, there is a buzz in the room as the room begins to fill. By 9:45, the place is packed with gorgeous women dressed in sophisticated afterwork wear, and equally suave men sending orders of Huber’s famous flaming Spanish Coffees to impress them. Thankfully, you will not find Portland’s younger clubbing crowd here. Sequins, flash, and skin have no place in such a tastefully sexy place like Hubers.
Since my last visit, I have gone back two times, but I have since wised up. We get there at a quarter to 9:30, grab a table, and order their famous Spanish Coffees prepared tableside by gentlemen bartenders garbed in traditional ware complete with armbands. These guys go way out in preparing these drinks so be prepared for serious fire and pizazz.
In the 3 times that I’ve had happy hour at Hubers, I have tried everything (yes, seriously) on their extensive happy hour menu at least once. Prices are insane, ranging from just $1.99-$3.99 for the best happy hour fare to be found in Portland. Behold their spinich dip: a mountain of tri-colored tortilla chips with a generous side of creamy spinich and artichoke dip.
One theme that is prevalent throughout the entire menu is that many of the dishes has some turkey element to it. It’s a good thing! Afterall, they are serious for their turkeys, so when they do turkey, they do it well. Such was the case with their deep fried turkey wings. Two meltingly tender turkey wings served atop a bed of greens. It was so good! The 2nd time I came here, they were sold out of these things. Please make sure you try this if you come here too!
Lastly, let me share with you, the BEST dish of mussels you will ever have. I was so surprised when they brought over a giant plate to my table–this is happy hour mind you–but with a flourish, they set this dish down and from then on, it was mine. The covered plate kept the dish piping hot from kitchen to table, and the mussels were melt-in-your mouth tender. It was cooked in a garlicky white wine broth with just a touch of butter. It is served with a dish of clarified butter and lemons, but you must taste the purity of the dish. It is utterly sublime! I could drink it up with a spoon! Unfortunately, my dining companion looked aghast at the idea, so I settled for dunking pieces of bread from a turkey sandwich into it. Oh man, it is good.
I would highly highly highly recommend giving Huber’s happy hour a try if you are ever in Portland. The service is unbelievable and the staff is charming. On every occasion, the present owner of Hubers, a gentlemanly Chinese man impeccably dressed in a fitting pin-striped suit and mustache, was there to shake hands with patrons and thank everyone for being there. Now how’s that for nostalgia?