Parallel Restaurant & Wine Bar — Restaurant in Portland

The best kept secret in Portland!

Sommelier-and-chef team Stacey and Joey Gibson bring superlative food and wine together at this elegant refuge on Sandy Blvd. Located in a warm inviting space Parallel offers a tight, stunning menu expertly paired with fine wines from Stacey's extensive, curated selection. The menu concept is, in the owners' words "wine-first", but the food and drink at this bistro both stand on their own merits.

Especially highly recommended is the blind tasting, which playfully challenges guests to identify the region, type and year of a rotating selection of mystery wines. Winners get a photo posted on the wall behind the bar. (Spoiler alert! Everyone gets a participation trophy here)

The menu is Italian in character with a distinct Southern flair — perfect hush puppies paired with fish roe and creme fresh — and optional wine pairings from across Oregon and the world. The entire menu is worth trying, but standouts include the Mushroom Raviolo al Uovo in a porcini broth, the Parallel salad (a sophisticated and upgraded Caesar) and the Pork Meatballs served with marinara and creamy polenta.

Those interested in wine should sit at the beautifully appointed bar where sommelier Stacey will help customers select from a menu of more than 80 bottles and 10 offerings by the glass, plus cider, sherries, beer, cocktails and zero proof options. The previously mentioned blind tasting is particularly fun. The atmosphere is thoroughly fun, lively and playful. Snobbery is nowhere to be found.

The staff is courteous, attentive and knowledgeable. The space itself is carefully and fashionably appointed, comfortable, and has a handsome bar, dining area, and couches and small tables for those who want to pop in for a quick glass at the beginning or end of the night. Visit once and you'll be sorely tempted to...

Parallel is in the old Gravy spot in Sandy, but you’d never know it. The interior is beautifully remodeled, transporting you away from the busy exterior to a well designed and curated wine bar.

The menu is small and focused, delicious from top to bottom. We had olives and almond, two gorgeous salads (one salad wasakin to a Caesar but better and one salad came with watermelon and pork belly, a rich summer taste bud explosion).

Each small plate has a named wine pairing, which is really what makes Parallel pop. The wine menu compliments the food menu perfectly - both menus from the minds of expert partners with years of experience in the industry.

As a side note, I came in expecting to have two glasses of wine. But the cocktail menu was so appealing that I tried the Bambi Old Fashioned. It read as different and fun compared to a typical old fashioned and it delivered.

On top of the excellent food, service was excellent. In Portland, you can typically expect that food to be good but you never know with service. Our server Anna brought a thoughtful hospitality that reflects some of the best experiences we’ve had on that side of restaurants.

We’ll be back. Knowing Parallel has only been open a month means it’ll only get better from here. And they’re already starting on a...

The atmosphere is elegant and inviting, with a relaxed seating area where you can enjoy a glass of wine on the couch or take a seat at the beautiful wood bar.

The wine list and menu are both thoughtful, with good surprises, and clearly created with a deep understanding and passion for wine and food. Each dish is perfectly paired on the menu, and during happy hour, the ½-off bottle list makes exploring it even more enjoyable.

We started with olives and sherry, next housemade crackers served with beautifully paired cheeses and hand-made preserves. We loved the little gem salad that was like a light Caesar but with all the flavor, and the meatballs with polena— every bite was so incredibly good!. For dessert, the cream-filled donut was pure delight, with a savory touch of cheese sprinkled on top.

It’s a wonderful spot for couples or friends, yet it was nice to see a family enjoying dinner there too. The owners are friendly and welcoming, which made the experience even better.

If I lived closer, this would absolutely be my...