Beer bar with a decent wine backup plan
Pearl District · Portland · American Tavern · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 16, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Henry's Tavern’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Henry's Tavern is, at its heart, a beer destination — that massive draft wall says everything about where the priorities are. The wine list exists, it's competent, and it won't embarrass you, but nobody's winning awards for curation here. Think of it as a solid bench player: won't start the game, but won't lose it either.
The list leans predictably Pacific Northwest-heavy with Duck Pond Cellars holding down the Oregon section and Chateau Ste Michelle pulling double duty for Washington — reliable producers, zero controversy. You'll also find a Portillo Malbec from Mendoza and a Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough rounding out the international representation, which at least shows someone glanced at a map beyond California. Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay is here, naturally, because it's contractually required to appear on every American casual dining list. There are no real surprises, no deep cuts, no small producers — just the hits your aunt already knows by name.
Nine by-the-glass options running $10–$17 cover the major bases: bubbles, white, red, done. The range is tight but functional — you're not getting stuck drinking tap water because there's nothing remotely appealing. Rotation appears nonexistent; this list looks like it was set and laminated sometime around the Obama administration.
Duck Pond Cellars Pinot Gris OR — $10–$17/glass
Oregon Pinot Gris in its home state, poured at a tavern price point — it's the most locally honest thing on this list and the right call with pretty much any food they serve here.
Portillo Malbec Mendoza ARG
Most people come here for a burger and a beer and never look past the Cabernet. The Portillo Malbec is a consistently overperforming bottle from Salentein's entry-level line — fruit-forward, easy-drinking, and a better match for a charred beef patty than anything else on this list.
Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay CA
KJ Vintner's Reserve is a $13 retail bottle you can find at every grocery store in America. At tavern markup it becomes a lesson in why you should just order a local beer instead.
Duck Pond Cellars Pinot Noir OR + Burger
Oregon Pinot Noir is lighter and more acidic than a Cab, which means it doesn't fight the beef — it actually makes the whole thing taste like you planned it. A small win in a loud room, but a win.
The Bottom Line
Henry's Tavern is a perfectly fine place to drink wine if wine is what you need and beer is what everyone else ordered. Don't come here expecting discovery — come here expecting to not be let down.
Northwest 23rd · Portland · Rustic French / Northwest French
St. Jack is the rare Portland restaurant where the wine list earns as much respect as the kitchen. The French-Oregon axis is well-executed, the staff knows what they're talking about, and the pot lyonnais format alone is worth the trip.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Portland · Mexico City–inspired tacos and small plates
Tope is a Wild Card in the best sense — a rooftop taqueria that's quietly assembled a natural and low-intervention wine list worth paying attention to. If you're eating here and only drinking mezcal cocktails, you're leaving half the story on the table.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Portland · Texan–Pacific Northwest, Wood-fired American
Bullard Tavern is the Wild Card badge in its purest form — a smoked-meat joint that snuck in a genuinely considered wine list without making a fuss about it. Send a friend here if they think good wine and good brisket can't coexist.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown/Waterfront · Portland · Seafood, Pacific Northwest
King Tide earns its Wild Card badge by hiding a genuinely curious, well-priced wine list inside what could easily have been a forgettable hotel seafood room. If you're eating oysters on the Willamette, you could do a lot worse than Domaine de l'Écu in your glass.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Concordia · Portland · New American
Dame is the rare neighborhood restaurant where the wine list is genuinely worth the trip on its own. Send your friends here — just tell them to skip the safe picks and trust the list.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Buckman · Portland · Russian/Eastern European
Kachka is the best argument in Portland for drinking wines you've never heard of — the list is adventurous, the staff backs it up, and the food was built for exactly these bottles. Send every curious wine drinker you know.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Worcester · American Tavern
The Duck isn't a wine destination, but it's doing more with its Italian regional focus than most taverns in Worcester County bother to attempt. Come for the half roasted duck and let the list surprise you — just don't show up expecting a deep cellar.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Uptown/Hyatt Pinon Pointe · Sedona · American Tavern
Spoke & Wheel is a perfectly decent tavern to grab a drink after a hike, but the wine list is strictly functional — low effort, low excitement, low stakes. If wine matters to your evening, Sedona has better options.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hollywood District · Woodinville · American Tavern
Hollywood Tavern isn't a destination wine stop, but it's a damn solid place to drink well between winery visits. The Washington-focused list is honest, the value is real, and the Gorman and Latta pours alone justify the stop.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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