Located in St. Johns, ?Leisure entices customers with food and games
By Maureen Inouye Features Reporter
Dark lighting, loud laughter, smoke, crowded dance floors: these are the characteristics we associate with clubs.
Leisure Public House, a new restaurant and bar at 8002 N. Lombard St., does not have any of these traits. Leisure is a little more upscale, and, for the 21 and over crowd, this new venue could be a good alternative to the rowdier evenings spent in places like the Twilight Room.
"It's really nice, really different from the other bars on Lombard - classy," senior Jacob Hagen said.
Leisure opens at 4 p.m. on weekdays and 12 p.m. on weekends. Closing time is officially midnight, but the Public House often stays open until about 1 a.m.
When you walk into Leisure, the first thing you'll notice is the large bar and great lighting, produced by little tea lights scattered throughout the one large room.
Leisure serves a variety of menu options. The main staples of the menu are paninis and salad. The food can be bland and the menu is small, so if you visit Leisure perhaps plan to have a drink and appetizer, and then eat your meal elsewhere.
Leisure's service is quite good. The bartender/owner will probably introduce himself and make small talk in an agreeable manner before letting you get on with your own conversations. This is a great place for meetings or first dates where conversation is the focus.
"It has a really good environment. The bartenders are friendly," senior A.J. Buchele said.
The patrons are usually an older, quieter set interested in a drink after work or after dinner. If you go to Leisure, be prepared for quieter conversations over mellow wine rather than shouting matches over inexpensive beers.
"I liked the lots of different kinds of people - really friendly and talkative," Buchele said.
The furniture is especially eclectic with a church pew under the window and antique-looking tables sandwiching matching leather couches. The dark browns contrast nicely with the light blue walls. But the crowning touch is the fresh flowers in glass vases.
The outdoor patio, behind the main building, is the best part of the facility. Besides a ping pong table, there is also a bocce ball court. And inside, there are board games such as Boggle and Scrabble to tempt patrons as they sit at the small tables.
Despite the relaxing atmosphere and beautiful furniture, Leisure is not really for college students who are looking to party. For those who are 21, the wine and beer selection is limited. The wines and their prices are comparable to other bars, but the beers are mostly microbrews costing about $3.75 a pint. There is no DJ, dancing or hard alcohol because the owner has yet to acquire a liquor license.
So here are the ups and downs of visiting Leisure:
On the positive side, the Public House's location is very convenient and less than 10 minutes from campus. The atmosphere is friendly, relaxing and perfect for playing games - either indoor board games or outdoor ping-pong or bocce ball. The wines and beers are good, though a little obscure. The service is extremely welcoming, and, unlike many similar venues in Portland, there is no smell of smoke in the building.
"I would definitely recommend it to my friends," Buchele said.
On the other hand, there are several downsides to visiting Leisure. If you go, you are not likely to meet any UP students. In fact, you probably will not meet any college students at all. Also, there is no DJ or dance floor, as Leisure seems to embrace a more laid-back environment. It is not a great spot for mingling because the majority of tables are small and intimate.
"It depends on what you're going for," Hagen said of his choice to visit Leisure.
So although Leisure will not replace your favorite bar or club, it might be a nice place to have a drink with friends and relax or to take a date before dinner. And that makes it an asset to North Portland.
