From the latest press release –
Our new bar, KASK, opens at the end of June! KASK is a modern saloon serving handcrafted cocktails, unique spirits, microbrews & small production wines.
Adjacent to Grüner in downtown Portland, Kask focuses on artisanal products from North America complimenting the alpine inspired cuisine featured next door.
Kask’s offerings reflect our belief in time honored culinary traditions, the importance of quality ingredients, regionally based products & a sense of the place where they’re made.
The bar program features American craft distillers, brewers and winemakers.We’ll offer a small menu of house cocktails such as the Gunsmoke with Rittenhouse Rye, Gran Classico, Combier Rouge, bitters and burnt orange developed by Tommy Klus and Drew Putterman.
The beers are provided by folks like Alex Ganum at Upright Brewing who is working on unique and special draughts from his brewery in the Left Bank Building. The small wine list focuses on winemakers like John Paul at Cameron who believe in stewardship of the land and food friendly wines with balance and character.
Our food menu will focus on artisan made cured meats from Oregon & the midwest, locally produced terrines and pâtés by our friends at Chop and Olympic Provisions, creamery made cheeses from Ancient Heritage & local breads along with house-made condiments & pickles.
Inspired by craftsmen like Wharton Esherick & George Nakishima, Kask’s interior design celebrates the handmade and organic. Pacific Northwest salvaged wood and a local carpenter’s hand come together creating a warm and welcoming space to while away an evening.
We look forward to serving our guests Monday through Saturday evenings and invite you to come by and see us sometime soon…
Justin says
To whom it may concern-
Last evening i was quite excited to visit your establishment, as i work in the immediate neighborhood and am always happy to contribute to the neighborhood economy. While I was pleased with the overall decor, appearance and offerings on hand, I have to state that i was most disappointed with the service. While for the most par the bar staff did go out of their way to warmly greet and server our needs, one member of the staff did quite the opposite.
As a back story to the incident in question, it was with great excitement that I read a recent preview on Portland monthly online describing the bar, and the drinks on offer, I noted that a hand made ice cube was part of each drink. While this in and of itself is of little consequence, I did take note as it is a touch of class and service in the context of hand made cocktails.
In the immediate context of the incident in question, while at your establishment, i noted i did not receive a hand formed ice cube, this in and of itself is of very little consequence as the cocktail was delightful irregardless. However, while having a jest with my colleague about the bar, the prices, the general atmosphere, and the service I stated, mind you in jest, and more importantly in private, “and where is my god damn hand made ice cube”. Keeping in mind this was a private conversation, in jest between myself and another client of yours. One of your bar staff went out of his way to move to our end of the bar, interrupt our conversation and state ” We do not serve god damn anything here” and that as a matter of fact, I (that being myself) was having a rough evening, because there was “no pleasing me” . As a statement of fact I had no interaction with this particular bar tender throughout my short, and further shortened and further shortened visit by your rude staff member, and had in fact ordered, with what i perceive to be great politeness, my drink (which did not disappoint) from another member of your staff. When questioned by my colleague as to the nature of this rather instantaneous and personal attack the bar tender in question replied that he had “overheard comments all night”. As to imply, or in my opinion clearly state, that the conversation of myself and my colleagues in appraising the merits of your establishment were clearly taken personally and with little regard to privacy, by your own staff.
In the one to one half hour i was in your establishment i found the service and product to be acceptable if not above average, with the exception of this particular interaction. However , it is with great disappointment i left not as excited to return as I had been to arrive, but sorely disappointed and feeling personally attacked. It is with that tone of disappointment that i must state that without an improvement in the noted service tone that I will be unable to share a positive review of your establishment to my friends and colleagues, and it is a sad statement of fact that those present with me at the time were equally if not more disappointed by this particular interaction with one of your staff members.
Best regards- and best of luck-
polloelastico says
This is the best comment I’ve ever read.
pastamaven says
Hand made ice cube? WTF?
pdxyogi says
Writing style mimicking turn-of-the-century formality. And I don’t mean 21st century… :P
Susana says
Get a life! So the bartender offended you – ok, enough said. Don’t take it out on everything and everyone else around you!
From the tone of your comment, you like hearing yourself talk.
Jean says
1. irregardless is not a word.
2. After reading your post I’d bet money you and your friend were in fact making “comments all night”
3. If you want to sound smart don’t use run on sentences.
4. I’m with Susana, get a life. The only thing this post did was make me feel sorry for you.
LadyBronco says
1. Anyone who uses “words” like irregardless does not deserve a handmade ice cube.
2. I HAVE been on the receiving end of said handmade ice cube (in a spectacularly delicious cocktail) and it was sooooo worth any bad attitude I received (I received none!)
3. I enjoyed the most SUBLIME gentile salami/foccacia experience of my lifetime at this bar. And the Vortex IPA is one of the best I’ve EVER tasted!!
4. Service, interior space, and music were super enjoyable. I think I found my new favorite place, on downtown’s west end at least.
Wolverine says
Wow, Justin, you sound like a twit and someone I do not want to be around, especially in a bar. After reading your very loooong comment, it is apparent you think your shit doesn’t stink. If it doesn’t that’s one for the science books.
onetart says
steve? that you? if so, stick to reviewing mcdonalds, would ya’?
Joisey says
I like turtles.
sidemeat says
the ice cubes are animal shapes?
sidemeat says
the heck.
A banal, innocuous, comment from sidemeat
takes three days
to clear the moderators.
Makes me seem slower on the uptake than i am.
i think.
maybe.
Dana Ward says
The interior crafted by Dylan Chace is fantastic.
Andrea says
But seriously, how do you “hand-make” an ice cube? Do you hold a cupped handful of water in the walk-in until it freezes?
CO says
you chisel it from a block of ice…with your hands. VIOLA! hand made ice cubes(or spheres or dodecahedrons or……)
polloelastico says
By that definition if I smash a Jolly Rancher into pieces with a ball-peen hammer it’s “hand made” candy.
CO says
well then anything made by anyone, anywhere, ever, is nothing. seriously, are you now going to mock Michelangelo for his “hand made” David? Before we get all hipster-hatin’ on hand carved ice, go try and make a perfect sphere from a square chunk of ice. go ahead, I’ll wait here for ya…..
and plz, you know damn well I am not trying to equate Michelangelo with an ice cube.
polloelastico says
But you’re clearly equating the opposite, which is equally ridiculous.
Good Food For Me says
I think you should head to Beaker & Flask and ask for one there – pretty cool!
SuperDog Pdx says
We all need one of this at home:
http://www.thecoolist.com/the-macallan-ice-ball-machine/