Portland Hunt + Alpine Club

http://huntandalpineclub.com/

This was our second trip to the Portland Hunt and Alpine Club.  Both times were on the first Sunday of the month  which is Tiki Sunday at the Club.  They play tropical music. The music is more Hawaii 5-0 than Bob Marley.  Resident mixologist, John Myers serves up the drinks.  Tiki Sunday features 4 different drinks, each for $9:

• Corn + Oil - blackstrap run and falernum
• Viking Fogcutter - brand, rum, gin, orgeat, and citrus
• Yellow Bird. - rum, line and Galliano
• Montego Bay - rums, citrus, honey, allspice and bitters

If these drinks sound good, its because they are.  We recommend the Montego Bay.  As you would suspect, the drink menu is terrific.  Its why you go to the Club.  Wine and Beer selecting is limited.  But, last time we were there they did have Bissell Brother's Substance and Rising Tides Daymark.  The beer selection does change, always with good options. 

Food selection is simple but good.  We have tried the snacks but not the meals.  We have sampled the popcorn and the house pretzels.  Both options were addicting and satisfying.  The atmosphere has that clean and neat Scandinavian feel.  The location is on Market street with floor to ceiling windows looking out onto Post Office Park. 

Service was disappointing.  Not great but not bad.

In a coconut shell, we like the Portland Hunt and Alpine Club and we'll go back for the drinks.

  The bar

 

 

 The Montego Bay

 

Our ratings scale
Atmosphere: 3
Staff: 3
Drinks: 4
Mount Gay rum: Yes
Food: 3
Parking: 3

Central Provisions

http://www.central-provisions.com
Central Provisions was our last stop of the day and a good way to end it. Now there's an upstairs, accessible from Fore Street. This is more of the restaurant with a long sleek bar and tables. And, a downstairs accessible from Wharf Street. The downstairs is more of a bar. We chose the bar...
The downstairs bar smelled new. Like the polyurethane was still wet. Of course the bar wasn't wet but the business has been opened for just a month so it did, literally, smell new.
The staff were warm and friendly. You could tell they like working there because they kept everything spotless. We had already eaten so we just had the bar nuts and an order of croquettes. Honestly, we love the tapas-style menus. They have several tempting menu items like Smoked Carrots. I keep thinking about what they will be like. I must go back... And the Brussels Sprouts with horseradish, pine nuts and pecorino. Good selection of draft beer and wine selection. Cider is also available on tap. In summary, great location, menu and staff. Sounds like a home run.

The downstairs bar

My view of the bar

Our ratings scale
Atmosphere: 4
Staff:  5
Drinks: 4
Mount Gay rum: Yes
Food: 5
Parking: 3