Portalis Wine Shop & Wine Bar

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ballarddining

Joined 6 years ago

Great neighborhood spot. really nice selection of wines to taste onsite and available for purchase. the staff is friendly and helpful. the space itself is beautiful. i love to stop by for a glass of wine or snack frequently. it's a casual spot with no attiude.

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naomijansen

Joined 7 years ago

great place. after a memorable birthday dinner at volterra we were looking for a place to have an after dinner drink to top off a perfect eveniing. our server recommended portalis and it was a great suggestion. portalis is a beautiful, cozy place to enjoy wines by the glass or bottle. they have a large selection and were very welcoming. i wish i lived in ballard so i could hang out here often.

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sugarkol

Joined 7 years ago

Fun time, Yummy Wine!. What a cool bar! I happened upon this place with a few friends recently, and was pleasantly surprised by its cozy atmosphere and selection of wines. The glass list had many wines we weren't familiar with, but the server was friendly and very helpful. My friends ended up buying a case of wine for an upcoming party at a great case discount! The food menu is small, but interesting and delicious. We can't wait to visit again!

Doesn't Recommend

j_cutter

Joined 7 years ago

Not Worth The Hype. I had heard so many great things about Portalis, I just had to check it out for myself. When I got there, I even introduced myself to the owner, complimenting him on the cool space and telling him all the great things I had heard about him and Portalis. To my horror, he was pompous and ungrateful - and didn't even offer to help me choose a bottle of wine. He just walked away.

As I wondered through the wine selection, I noticed two things: 1. The selection is pretty darn good, considering the size of the place. But, 2. The prices are far higher than I have seen at other bottle shops. Seems to me that this guy thinks he is too cool for school and that his customers will pay a premium just to be in his presence. I will not return.

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goldcountryllama

Joined 8 years ago

a "cabernet-colored" gem. delightful spot: rotating monthly menu from wine regions of the world is unique and delicious. Nice selection of wines (many by the glass as well) and friendly staff. Great way to spend an evening any day of the week.

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garrenkatz

Joined 10 years ago

concept= A+ execution= A+. We went down to Portalis for a glass of wine and ended up calling friends and making it a 4 bottle evening. Very good dishes! The staff was engaging and fun. The back bar wine selection was well above average! I am saving the best part for last... on Wednesday nights they nix the corkage fee (which is normally $11, a fair price) and you can enjoy any wine in the house, at retail. I would guess they have over 200 to pick from. We had a ball and we will be back!

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jetplane19

Joined 11 years ago

Excellent space, service, selection. Recently shared a bottle and a cheese plate with 3 friends. The selection of food & drink was excellent. The one beer on tap was SO tastey (Stone IPA). Servers rotated to help us but never skipped a beat. The entire staff was very cool and friendly.

A nice bottle of red, 2 beers, and a large cheese plate was $56 + tip.

LOVE the roasted almonds to snack on. Nice change from the typical chex-mix.

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Ballard Avenue wine shop ideal for retail or relaxing.. The Scene
With a selection of wines that deftly spans the globe and several price ranges (from less than $10 to more than $250), Portalis has established itself as a prime retail destination. Exposed-brick walls, hardwood floors and vintage signs encourage visitors to linger at the bar. Friendly service makes the mood even cozier and keeps the place crowded on weekends with wine enthusiasts of all ages.

The Draw
Approximately 30 wines are available by the glass, along with full bottles of champagne and other sparkling wines. More surprising is the bar's strong list of mostly German and Belgian beer. French-press coffee is the highlight of the non-alcoholic offerings. A small, rotating menu of cheese plates, soup and sandwiches complements the lengthy drink list.

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ssalois

Joined 9 years ago

Portalis is pretty cool.... I don't think there is another place like this in Seattle; the wines by the glass are priced well and are not the usual suspects, and they have beer you never see at a bar (e.g., Hair of the Dog Adam & Doggie Claws, Vuuve, McChouffe) I also noticed the staff was very knowledgable about wine, but without an ounce of pretension. The retail side ranged from bargain whites to high-end Bordeaux (1990 Chateau Palmer!) It's a really cool concept that seems to be taking off; the place was packed a few weekends ago.