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 →
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.
Kerns · Portland · American
Noble Rot is the rare restaurant wine program that would hold up as a standalone wine bar — deep list, sharp staff, fair prices, and a view that makes the whole experience feel earned. Send your friends here. Send yourself here.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Northeast Portland · Portland · New American
OK Omens is doing something genuinely uncommon: running a focused, adventurous wine program in a neighborhood restaurant without making it feel precious or intimidating. If you're the kind of person who wants to drink something you've never heard of and trust that the staff knows why it's there, send yourself here immediately.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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
· Roswell · American Tavern
Marlow's Tavern Roswell is a reliable neighborhood stop with a wine list that covers the bases without taking any real swings. The 72-label count gives it the appearance of depth, but the selection reads as curated for minimum friction rather than maximum interest. If you're ordering wine here, lean toward the overlooked Old World picks and skip the Champagne upsell. It's a solid ✔️ — nothing more, nothing less.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Financial District · San Francisco · American Tavern
Wayfare Tavern's wine list is small, California-centric, and static — but it's priced fairly and punches above its weight in a couple of spots, especially if you wander into the dessert wine section. For a quick Financial District dinner where you want a decent glass without overthinking it, this list does its job. Don't come here for a deep cellar experience, but don't dismiss it either.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Frederick · American Tavern
The Urbana Lodge isn't trying to be a wine destination and it knows it — but the pricing is honest, the by-the-glass selection is genuinely broad, and the Boordy Riesling alone earns it a second look. Bring someone who wants a glass of something familiar and won't complain about the lack of a Côtes du Rhône.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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