Pink Rose Happy Hour

Update: Pink Rose has closed

There have been a couple times as I was walking down NW Lovejoy that I’ve heard lovely music instead of the rumble of cars and the streetcar. Then upon getting closer to NW 13th I am distracted from my errands by the live musicians I  hear playing outside The Pink Rose on their outdoor patio that also has a waterfall and a fireplace.

Although tempted to stop and have a drink, interrupting my errands, it was only when musician friend Brian McGinty was playing one late September afternoon last year that I finally I got to experience their happy hour (4-7 PM weekdays, and happy hour ALL DAY on Tuesdays).

Being able to sit outside with a cocktail and listen to live music without being boxed inside is a wonderful treat.

It was great, and since then I have been back other times for the tail end of happy hour on Thursdays when they have had live music (check the Pink Rose Facebook page for such events to see who is playing).

They have one standout happy hour item that is worth visiting again and again. And that’s the happy hour $6 pork cheese fries I had that includes Carlton Farms smoked pork, Tillamook cheddar, scallions, Sriracha aioli.

Smaller bites might be the Chorizo Stuffed Mushrooms with Painted Hills beef house chorizo and Manchego cheese ($5) or the Bacon wrapped Dates with Medjool stuffed dates, toasted almonds, Rogue blue cheese ($4).

They also have a few interesting cocktails to choose from on their cocktail menu, like here when I had the cocktail Lady Lovejoy with Medoyeff vodka, fresh pressed strawberry and champagne float.

Another favorite is the Patio Punch Mason Jar– because it is a quart sized mason jar that you can call whether it is filled with Sangria or Blueberry Basil, Citrus Sage punches with your choice of vodka, gin, tequila, rum, bourbon well or call. I’m not sure if these photos effectively communicate the scale of a jar you have to hold with two hands.

Besides Happy Hour, Pink Rose’s other main claim to fame is the $14 bottomless mimosas at their brunch, which they do not hold back on at all and serve Saturday and Sunday 9 AM – 3 PM.

Fortunately, you don’t have to go to brunch to enjoy their Fried Chicken and Waffle with Draper Valley Chicken that is buttermilk battered and fried, served on a malted waffle with bourbon syrup. The chicken and waffle entree is both on their regular weekday menu as well as at brunch, so you don’t have to wait until the weekend.

As an extra perk, they hold a Best Instagram contest weekly on Sunday! You have to post your photo on Instagram and tag them with #pinkrosepdx & follow @pinkrosepdx. They select a photo entrant weekly to win a $30 gift card… which you can clearly consider using towards a happy hour pork cheese fries or a mason jar or bottomless mimosa.

My favorite excuse though is still for those fries and a drink al fresco while supporting local musicians.