A stained-glass vaulted ceiling is a fine reason to look up before deciding what to order. At Huber’s, the old restaurant and bar room carries an ornate, distinctly old-world character, with historic photographs and reminders of Portland’s past giving diners plenty to study between courses.
The place can be easy to pass from the street, which only adds a little drama to the arrival. Inside, an entrance may bring you first into a newer bar and open-kitchen area before the older restaurant-bar space opens up beyond it.
Huber’s is built for a long lunch, an early dinner, a nightcap, or a full evening that starts with gravy and ends in flames. The meal is grounded in classic comfort food, but the room, drinks and desserts keep it from becoming a routine plate-and-fork stop.
Turkey in Several Useful Forms
Turkey is the heart of the menu, and Huber’s gives it more than one job to do. There is a traditional turkey dinner with stuffing, mashed potatoes and vegetables, the familiar arrangement many people hope for when they want a proper old-fashioned meal.
The open-face hot turkey sandwich goes in a more lunch-friendly direction, with substantial pieces of roasted turkey and gravy. It is the sort of order that calls for a fork from the start, and it makes a persuasive case for treating a weekday lunch with a little seriousness.
The Half and Half brings turkey and ham together, with mashed potatoes and gravy alongside. Another turkey sandwich combines turkey, cream cheese and cranberry, taking a Thanksgiving-like set of flavors and turning it into something easy to pick up.
Portions tend toward generous, and the turkey itself is known for being tender, flavorful and pleasingly familiar. No need for a complicated concept when roasted turkey, gravy and mashed potatoes are doing their work.
More Than a Turkey House
A mixed table will find plenty beyond the bird. Beef stroganoff, chicken piccata, steak and fresh salmon offer classic restaurant-dinner territory, while crab ravioli and the Montreal Gorgonzola filet take a richer route.
The salmon has been paired with Oregon Chardonnay in the dining room, an especially fitting local note alongside the larger wine list. Oregon wines, including Pinot Noir, have a natural place here, though a Champagne split can make an ordinary dinner feel rather less ordinary.
Start simply with house-made bread, noted for its soft texture, or go for fried calamari. The clam chowder is another substantial opener, especially on a day when a hot bowl of soup sounds better than an elaborate appetizer.
Fries deserve a small mention, too. Their crisp exterior and hot, fluffy center make them more than an afterthought beside a sandwich or a bar order.
Spanish Coffee With a Little Fire
Spanish Coffee is the drink most closely tied to the Huber’s visit. It brings a cocktail-show element to the table: the preparation includes lighting the drink on fire, turning an after-dinner order into a small bit of theater.
The showy presentation suits the room’s historic personality. A warm, sweet coffee drink can be an easy finale after turkey and gravy, but it also gives a group something to pause over before moving on to dessert.
Spanish Coffee is available hot or iced. For anyone who prefers a colder drink but still likes the idea of an evening coffee cocktail, that is a useful option.
A Bar for Browsing the Back Bar
The beverage list reaches well beyond its signature coffee. Cocktails, local wines, Champagne, beers and a broad collection of liqueurs give the bar enough range for a straightforward Old Fashioned, an Oregon wine with dinner, or something slightly more obscure.
Cherry Heering is among the less-common bottles that have appeared behind the bar, a nice detail for people who enjoy looking past the usual vodka-and-gin lineup. The selection has the breadth of a long-established downtown bar rather than a narrow specialty-drink menu.
The bar area is livelier and louder than the dining room. It suits a drink-first stop and the Spanish Coffee spectacle, while the dining room and its booths are better positioned for an unhurried conversation.
Leave Room for Dessert
The dessert list gives the meal a few possible endings: crème brûlée, tiramisu, limoncello tiramisu, chocolate mousse and house-made pumpkin pie have all been on offer. A table can easily divide the decision between a coffee drink and a fork dessert—or sensibly have both.
The crème brûlée brings the classic contrast of a thin crisp sugar crust over a creamy vanilla center. It is a quiet, familiar finish after a meal that has already supplied enough ceremony.
Limoncello tiramisu goes brighter, with a frothy lemon layer and a pronounced citrus flavor. It is a useful counterpoint to gravy-rich turkey plates and heavier steak or ravioli orders.
The Room Changes the Pace
Huber’s works differently depending on where you settle in. An intimate booth in the dining room can make the experience feel more private, with stained glass overhead and historical displays nearby to reward a little looking around.
The bar has more motion and more noise, making it a natural setting for cocktails and a casual stop before or after dinner. The two moods let the same address serve a solo lunch, a close dinner, a family meal or evening drinks.
The restaurant has accommodated families, including young children, without making the room feel exclusively family-oriented. On some visits, live violin music has added another layer to the old Portland atmosphere.
A Few Details Before You Go
Huber’s has indoor booths and bar seating, and the restaurant dining area has been described as wheelchair accessible. Reservations have not always been necessary for dinner, though that can change with the day and time.
Paid street parking and paid lots are options nearby, but parking can take a little patience. The restaurant’s somewhat tucked-away street presence is another reason to keep an eye out as you approach.
Lunch, late lunch, early dinner and evening drinks all fit the rhythm here. For a quieter meal, the dining room is the calmer choice; for a cocktail and a little more bustle, take a seat closer to the bar.