THE NINES – Departure Restaurant + Lounge

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1. 

   dirkdavidson / January 22, 2012

   Departure is located at the top floor of the Nines Hotel in downtown Portland right next to Pioneer Square. The Nines has a very small lounge area and the elevators are to the left of the check in area. Once you get to the top floor (15th floor) you may feel like you have stepped into year 2050 with the futuristic interior design. Departure is one of the nicest (hotel) bars in Portland, come dressed to impress otherwise you will feel very out of place. While they don’t enforce a dress code it’s almost an unspoken rule that you need to be looking good. Most of the men wear suits and the women are all in dresses and skirts. The average age when we were there was likely close to 28 or 30 and most people were very polite and friendly. There were some people celebrating a birthday and a bachelorette party going on. The atmosphere in Departure is classy and modern with very modern decor and ambient lighting. The music is certainly present but you can carry on a conversation without the need for yelling. The food is mostly Asian fusion with Sushi, Dim Sum, Kushiyaki, and salads all ranging in price from 6 dollars to 30 for their Ishiyaki Steak. The food here really is an art form and the taste matches the beauty. If you are looking for somewhere to get some cheap drinks, look elsewhere as Departures drinks start at 6 dollars for a beer on tap, and the average cocktail is about 9 dollars each. Departure claims to have the largest variety of Sake in Portland and after looking at the menu I learned there was far more variety in sake than I had imagined. The entire bar is non-smoking including the outdoor patio area which keeps the environment much more pleasant for the majority but for smokers going down 15 stories in the ever elusive elevator. The bar seating area is at the center of Departure and has a huge variety of drinks available to you and the bartenders or mixologists can do a wide variety of bar tricks and make it a very fun environment. The interior design in Departure is very futuristic and if you have too many drinks you might actually think you are in a spaceship. The views from the patio during the day are really breathtaking sunset there is nothing short of romantic. It is no secret that Departure is much better during the summer as the patio is too cold and rainy to hang out on during most of the year. Our server Tim was great he kept us entertained and our water glasses were always full. I have heard from friends of mine that they have had less than ideal service but my experience has always been great. If you are looking for more reasonable deals on their drinks they offer happy hour from 4 to 6 from the bar and happy hour priced food from 10 to close Tuesday through Thursday and 11 to close Friday and Saturday. Overall I would highly recommend Departure to anyone willing to get suited up and spend a little and looking to have a great experience.

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