Shine — Restaurant in Portland

Have been here twice since their opening and had a good experience each time, but tonight I could taste the results of their fine tuning! Was really impressed by the cocktails this time (tasted 3 and all were delicious)! I was cold when I arrived, and their version of a Hot Toddy really hit the spot! Made with their spiced pear Bourbon-soo smooth and just the right level of pear spiciness(which infused/flavored liquors so often miss.) Shared some tasty appetizers (pretzel and a hand pie), then had the Black Garlic Ceasar salad, which was really delish. Made with an herloom kale so purple it was almost black, with an extra kick from "prickly ash"(the helpful server translated that as schezuan pepper), and added richness from some kind of cured egg shavings. I added blackened chicken, which was nicely spiced and tender. I appreciate inventive and striking food, as long as it doesn't get lost in the concept. This was still very much a good Ceasar salad with all the basics, just a Ceasar plus! (Sidenote: I chose salad for an entree as an attempt at a healthier choice. While I'm sure the dark kale is some kind of "superfood", it was a HUGE, very rich meal-had to box half of it up. Portions are generous here!) Also-the space is very attractive and welcoming to small and large groups(and events)...there's a family/kid friendly area and grown-ups only area...something for everyone, in the space and on the menu. The owner and staff are friendly and down to earth (this is nice, considering Portland made it on the 50 rudest cities lists mainly due to the snobbery of its servers, bartenders, and baristas). I'll be back, and...

Shine Distillery is a nice find in a quaint up-and-coming neighborhood in North Portland. The atmosphere, though loud, was fun and trendy, and the waitstaff was friendly and knowledgeable of their products. This review is primarily about the brunch they serve on Saturday and Sunday. We have every intention of going back for lunch or dinner soon.

First, the cocktail I had was the best morning drink I’ve ever tasted. Called the Bumble Bourbon, it is made with Shine Bourbon Whiskey with a dash of honey, but it’s not too sweet and the squeeze of orange peel makes it fresh and delicious. I also tasted the Shine whiskey and vodka - both were very good.

As far as the food, we tried a shareable called Breakfast corn dogs. My husband and I were not impressed. The batter was too crunchy and overcooked. It’s a good idea, but this item needs a bit of work. My meal was the quiche of the day with tomatoes and spinach piled high with arugula. I liked this meal, and I felt the arugula added to the flavors of the quiche without being too over the top. My husband’s meal, steak and eggs, proved to be a little on the salty side. The steak was cooked very well and was very tender, and the verde salsa had a little spice. The crispy potatoes were extremely salty, and the eggs came over-hard instead of over-easy. To be fair, we weren’t sure if the cook was having a bad cooking day, was in a hurry, or if the recipes called for a lot of salt, but overall, there was something just off about the food. It wasn’t terrible; it...

Stumbled across this place while walking through the neighbourhood on a trip from Australia. Decided to have dinner and a few drinks. The food was absolutely amazing, probably one of the best steaks I've had and liquor was out of this world. The Jonny's old fashioned is worth a try if that kind of thing is up your alley. I lost count of how many I ordered because they were so good. We returned to Shine on the last night of our trip because it was the best food and atmosphere we experienced the whole time we were in Portland. While we were there this time, we were looking at all the beautifuly displayed distilling equipment and Jon noticed our curiosity. He came out and gave us a personal run down of the whole process. It was so lovely to talk to the owner, hear his story and have any and all of our questions about the process answered. It's rare to stumble across such a great establishment these days and would 100% recommend popping in if you are ever...