A few weeks ago, my girlfriend and I went to the Rose Garden to watch Portland beat Toronto. After the game, riding high on Portland's win, but not wanting to try any of the overcrowded bars around the Rose Garden, we stopped by the Nite Hawk on our way back to her place in North Portland.

The bartender greeted us warmly. He saw the jersey I wore and asked about the game. It was cool; like greeting an old friend.

The tap list was solid. 2 domestics and 10 micros, mostly northwest favorites like the Black Butte Porter and Dead Guy Ale.

After a couple of beers, we decided on cocktails as a nightcap. Despite being busy (especially for a Monday night), the bartender took the time to ask us what liked in a drink and make some suggestions. For my girl, he made some kind of fruity martini, while I had a sazerac variation made with fresh lemon juice that was very good. And cheap! I would expect to pay 10 or 11 dollars for a similar cocktail in the city, but here it was only $7 despite the premium bourbon (Maker's Mark) used! The beers, too, were cheaper than almost anywhere else I have been. Only $3.50 for northwest microbrews.

What really got me was the way the bartender presented the check. He looked us in the eye, introduced himself, and said, "come back anytime." We will, and I want to give a shout out to Andy for the great service!

With cheap, strong drinks, a solid beer selection, great service, and a cool, local, not-quite-divey atmosphere, the Nite Hawk is a great place to have a beer or a cocktail. I can't speak to the food, but I plan on finding out about an omelette, hashbrowns, and a Bloody Mary some hungover morning.