Bar alla Bomba

In a location that seems doomed I very much hope these guys stay forever! Great décor, friendly service, lovely italian style small plates, and great cocktails as well as Italian wines…
The boar sausage on crostini was excellent and my shrimp dish as well…

Bar alla Bomba. It was just that – A-​OK. I’d never heard of this place until I saw it on a deal site, so I figured I’d check it out. We got there around 7pm on a Tuesday night, and it was empty except for maybe one or two other tables.
My friends ordered the paninis, and I ordered 3 small plates for dinner (I wanted a panini but have qualms about ordering the same thing as someone else). They ended up bringing me my small plates almost one by one before the paninis arrived to the table. Talk about awkward.
The small plates were decent (flavor-​wise), but man, if I were paying full price for them, I’d be pretty upset about the portion sizes. I’m a small person, and usually 2 – 3 tapas would fill me right up! They tasted good, but do I feel like it was worth the full price? No. Would I go back if I had another certificate for a discounted meal? Probably not.
Portland has so many good food options that it’s hard to compete. I know the previous owner of the restaurant here tried pretty hard to make the space work, and it seemed like a better fit for the space than this. I enjoyed my time at Bar alla Bomba, but I don’t think I’ll be going back anytime soon.

This place just opened up right next door to Noble Rot. It’s got a little bit of an identify crisis going on — GREAT Italian menu and really gives you the feel like you’re back in Italy… but then you look around and are reminded you’re just in hipster Portland. Weird lighting, Simpsons drawings on the wall in the bathroom — some unidentifiable music happening in the background… really kills the Little Italy mood!
That being said, this place has a great (affordable!) wine list and makes great Italian cocktails. Their menu really brought me back to some of the menus I saw in Italy, but don’t expect to get dinner here. The biggest meal you’ll get is a panini, other than that they’re small $ 2-​$ 4 plates that are a bite or two.
I don’t know if this place will last simply because it doesn’t know what it’s doing. Is it a dinner place? Is it a wine bar? Tapas? Italian? Who knows — I hope they figure it out because this place has got a lot of potential! There is a TON of space so don’t worry about ever getting a table. This would be a great place to come if you’ve got a long wait at Noble Rot or Le Pigeon next door.
Our waiter was nice but a little TOO attentive… our food came out fast but not together, so one person got all her food before the rest of us did. He checked on us a million times and sort of stood in the back and watched us — I don’t blame him, he didn’t have many other customers, but definitely felt like the pacing was off.
Either way — Yay! I’m a fan. Just hope they can figure out what they’re doing!

Nice location close to NE (where I live) and downtown (where I work). Really good fancy cocktails that are a little out of my price range, but the beer selections are tasty, with (huge bonus for the gluten-​free) an on-​tap cider choice and generous pours, and the panini are really reasonable (one might even say cheap, in Portland, starting at $ 4 for a panini and chips) and VERY good! What I think really shines, though, is the appetizer selection; I do not speak Italian at all so I can’t remember the actual names but so far, my favorites are the beef in some kind of tasty brown sauce, the salt cod in a spicy tomato sauce on polenta (OMG! SO GOOD!) and the baby octopus in ink sauce. Even though I cried a little bit eating the last one because I think octopodes are cute.
At least it reinforced my belief that the cuter an animal is, the more delicious it is.

In Portland, you really have to stand out from the crowd to make it, just because there are so many good options here. Unfortunately, Bar Alla Bomba was pretty lacking in the food department. The menu on the website looked promising, especially because I like small-​plates type places, but it ended up being just mediocre. The portions were also smaller than they probably should have been for some of the dishes from $ 3 to $ 5. I wasn’t expecting huge amounts and am used to tapas and small-​plates style dining, but one crostini with some cheese and sausage for $ 5? C’mon.
Dish Specifics:
The polpetto con limone e burro montato alle erbe (octopus in whipped herb butter and lemon) sounded like a good idea but was completely overcooked and chewy. In fact, when my boyfriend took the first bite and I asked him how it was, it took him what felt like forever to respond, simply because he was chewing for so long. And it was served not in whipped butter but in a small bowl of a pool of melted, flavorless butter. Sometimes I’ll end up finishing an OK dish simply because I’m hungry or it’s not so terrible that I can’t eat the rest, but not this time. Similarly, the Teres maggiore con salsa piccante nero (tender beef shoulder in spicy black sauce) was overcooked and chewy, but at least the sauce was good.
Some of the crostini with various toppings like robiola cheese, prosciutto, sausage, lardo and mushrooms were tasty, but again, not quite worth the prices.
We had a feeling we would have an experience like this when we walked in and there were literally two customers in the entire place. It’s also clear to us now why we they have an ongoing coupon at MercPerks ($ 10 for $ 20) to try and get people in the door.
The bartender was nice and the cocktails were good. Nice atmosphere, too. Too bad the food just isn’t up to snuff.

Not impressed one bit by Bar alla Bomba. I was very excited after reading a few blurbs about this new bar and the concept sounded really original, man was I disappointed.
My husband and I sat at the bar top upon entering, it was somewhat busy in the dining room but not full; the bartender said she just got a big round of drinks in and it would be just a minute. We said no problem, take your time. Literally almost 20 minutes later, as we were grabbing our coats to walk out did we get asked if we’d like something to drink. Being that we were starving, I obviously knew what I wanted to order (since I stared at their menu for 20 minutes), we decided to stay.
They «specialize» in cicchetti which were described as, and I’m sure they are in Italy, delicious little sandwiches of sorts with ingredients like goat cheese, prosciutto, eggplant, salt cod and tons of other delicious treats. I’m a sucker for anything with goat cheese and prosciutto so we ordered a couple of these sammiches to share.
Blegh. I was so sad to find out that they were beyond mediocre. It just seemed to me like it was a «lazy» version of what was described. Nothing seemed fresh at all, almost like the sandwich was made and then left to sit out for a couple hours. It was also very bland and lacking in seasoning or flavor of any kind. I will say that the salted cod was pretty good.
All in all, maybe they didn’t have their sh** together yet since they’re still sort of new. Either way, in this town I feel like you have to do something REALLY good because someone else will and can. That includes customer service.

Giving it 4 stars because at the time I went, it was too late to taste the menu… however, I will say, that after living in Italy for 13 months, the menu at this place seems the most authentic and consistent to real, modern day Italy. I’m excited to get back there soon… Although, I do wish there would have been some good beats on… it was rather quiet and awkward.
*Check-​in with your Unilocal app and get $ 2 off your glass of wine… totally didn’t know this until I sat down and played around on my phone.

small menu-​but the prices are good; and they are successful with what they are doing!
we had arugula salad– fresh and dressed correctly; whipped salt cod– yum; the cheese charcuterie plate; and the wild boar sausage panini– excellent!!!
cocktails were very interesting– we are both big amaro fans and found lots of good choices.
nice atmosphere– great addition to Portland

Had a nice happy hour here with coworkers recently. The food is cheap and tasty, the drinks are… expensive. The ambiance and interior aren’t very Italian, so that’s a little jarring. I had the tomato, mozzarella and basil panini, which was very good. My friend’s shrimp and eggplant dish looked great too. The drink special was whisky with lemon juice and ginger beer. Let’s just say, three of them were enough to change my personality and make me thrilled to stay out the rest of the night. Service was spotty, our server was nice, but didn’t ever bring me a check, I finally just left cash on the table.

I was so excited to hear about a new Venetian bar in town and tried it tonight for the first time. I just returned from a trip to Italy about a month ago and have been searching all over town to find the wonderful drinks that I enjoyed there. It has been difficult to find an authentic tasting sprtiz, negroni, bellini, etc. This place pulls it off with many incredible drinks made with Campari, Aperol, and many other ingredients that aren’t typically found in the states (even at Italian places). These drinks are hugely popular in Italy, so I was amazed that it’s so hard to find here. This place serves incredible, authentic drinks; even grappa!!!
The food is also incredibly delicious and and made with authentic ingredients. I highly recommend the charcuterie board! It’s the best I’ve had in town. The panini’s are excellent, especially for the price (around $ 4). You can eat very cheaply, but the drinks are a bit more expensive. They’re worth it though if you appreciate quality and aren’t just looking to get sloshed for nothing (that’s what dive bars are for). If you like real Italian drinks and incredible food, you’ll love this place. Don’t come here expecting pasta and pizza, there are a lot of other places in Portland for that. Great Italian sandwiches, small plates, incredible drinks, and wine list. Very attentive and friendly service. The ambiance is very nice and I really enjoyed the massive television showing Italian movies which only added to the authentic feel of the place. Perfect for the European at heart!

They truly have the best panini in Portland. And they are super affordable! The boar sausage they have there is absolutely addicting. It’s in both the cicchetti and panini; it’s my personal favorite on the menu. Also, they have one of the cheapest cheese plates I’ve seen in Portland. And if you have a fetish for cheese this is the place to go! The arugula salad is another stand out dish. I could go on and on about the food here but I think you get the point.
Moving on. The alcohol. They have great beer on tap and an impressive cocktail list.
Great service and a nice atmosphere. Also, the night we went there for dinner our server sang a beautiful Italian song for the whole room, which was a pleasant surprise! Apparently it happens every weekend and it was a very nice perk to our night out.
5 stars because there is nothing but good things to say about my experience here. I’m definitely coming back soon!

Had a late lunch here today. I had the fresh mozzarella, tomato, and basil panini that was the BEST panini I’ve ever eaten. The bread was perfect, not too thick, just the right amount of chewiness, and a delicious crunch on the outside. The side salad was simple, but the fresh greens and the house vinaigrette was perfect with my grilled sandwich. All of the food was priced at a level that made ordering a few things off the menu possible. My friend and I are excited to go back and order a bunch of the (the Italian word for tapas).
The drinks were tasty and the bartender/​owner was interesting and fun to chat with since it wasn’t very busy when we were there. I imagine that will change once the word gets out about this little gem.
Get down there before they’re «discovered» so you can still get a table.

I went to Bar alla Bomba a few nights ago and was roundly impressed. The space itself is warm and inviting and didn’t get too loud when the bar was full of people. I like being able to talk easily to the people around me, so this is a big plus. The wine and beer list was impressive. Cocktails were balanced and delicious and all of my table mates were happy with their selections. On to the best part: the food! I wasn’t sure what to expect when I ordered. I got the pork tenderloin with arugula and the shrimp with eggplant to nibble while sipping my drink. Neither looked exciting when they arrived — don’t expect art on a plate — but the flavor blew me away. I also got a panini that was one of the best I’ve had in this town, bar none. I will be coming back again often, both for the atmosphere and the amazing food.

Cicchetti pronounced (chi-​KEH-​tee) is kinda like the Italian Brother of the more familiar Spanish Tapas. It is localized to Venice, Italy so it’s more of a Venetian phenomenon. Bar alla bomba is a new spot that has taken this form of tapas and presented it to our beloved Portland, OR.
Great Beer Tap Selections: Fort George Cavatica Stout, Ninkasi Total Domination IPA, Hales «El Jefe» Wisen, Amnesia Porter, PBR, Birra Moretti Red.
Rossini or Bellini — Peach or Strawberry Purée with Prosecco
A great Selection of Italian aperitifs /​digestifs — Herbal Liquors, Grappa, ect. With some local Selections as well. Wonderful cocktails, most of which include the Italian Specialty Liquors.
This is tapas so the portions are individual or several bites. Depending on how big your mouth is. You’ll want order 3 – 5 items Prices range from $ 2 – 5.
There are also Several panini Sandwiches to check out as well.
The Teres maggiore con salsa piccante nero (tender beef shoulder with spicy black sauce) was cooked perfectly, very tender with wonderful flavors.
Also the panini I had was amazing.
Salsiccia di cinghiale con peperone rosso e formaggio di capra (wild boar sausage with red pepper, goat cheese) Had a bit of game flavor to it in a good way. It was balanced with the goat cheese and quite outstanding.
There were a few items that I spyed at other tables that I will have try the next time I come back.
Check it out
Grab a few drinks have a few bites. Nice place to bring a date.
Also They are open for Lunch which is a nice option in the area for their sandwiches.
Highly Recommended!