Inside Ox's Adjacent Whey Bar, Opening Tomorrow

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[Avila, 8/10/12]

Greg and Gabrielle Quiñonez Denton's busy Argentine grill Ox now has a cocktail-focused spillover space. The Whey Bar, featuring a 10-seat communal table and six stools at the bar, will debut Tuesday in the garage space adjacent to Ox, offering a five-item small-plate menu and an expanded cocktail menu by bar manager Jamal Hassan. Named for the Spanish slang translating to "dumb ox," the Whey Bar — which takes over a space originally designated for a private dining room — also adds six outdoor tables to the Ox lineup, although menu items will be limited to the bar space only: think jarred/potted items like goat rillettes, ricotta with chimichurri, housemade corn nuts, and fresh veggies like half-tomatoes with basil.

Meanwhile, though the bar menu keeps its focus on South American spirits, Whey will offer "a whole new experience" compared to the restaurant, Hassan says. In addition to some of Ox's familiar favorites and barrel-aged Fernet on tap, Hassan will offer a few whey-based cocktails — like experimental versions of gin fizzes and Pisco sours. "[Whey is] somewhere between cream and egg whites, with an acidic tang." The Whey Bar's hours of operation: 6p.m. to close, Tuesday through Sunday.
· Ox [Official site]
· All Previous Ox Coverage [Eater PDX]