The Gotham Tavern has once again opened under new management. I stopped by the opening party last night, drawn to experience firsthand the newest incarnation of this near-infamous dining destination which has at times promised so much, yet delivered so little; raised so many expectations, dashed so many hopes.

…Ok, there were free drinks. Let’s not split hairs.

I’d never set foot in the space before, but our server informed us that nothing has changed since the previous incarnation (except the menu). It’s a nice enough spot, with lots of pretty wood everything, including a room partition that the same friendly server accurately described as looking like a game of Jenga. It’s virtually impossible to make any projections about how a kitchen is going to do based on their opening-night performance. All I can say is that the food last night, though not particularly innovative, was quite good across the board. Seared ahi, crab cakes, great shredded beef/iceberg wraps, riblets, calamari—the type of food you’ll find in any number of restaurants in town, but all very well-excecuted (the ribs were particularly good). I can’t find the piece of paper on which I wrote down the chef’s last name (did I mention that there were free…? Sigh.)—but his first name was Barry and he was very nice.

On a side note, I declined an invitation to have a quickie in one of the “pods,” the isolated round booths that, when the Gotham was in the clutches of the Hebberoys, I think were reserved for VIPs (I was not that drunk, and after all, I have the reputation of the paper to think of), but I will henceforth be referring to them as “repopulation pods.”

Gotham Tavern, 2240 N Interstate, 517-9911; 11 am-10 pm Mon-Thurs, 11 am-1 am Fri-Sat, closed Sundays

UPDATE: I found the press release on Food Dude’s site and am reposting it after the jump.

Portland’s Gotham Tavern Celebrates Grand Re-Opening Under New Ownership

Chef-owner Barry Powelson revives historic Gotham Tavern with new menu featuring eclectic American fare, live music, happy hour

Portland, OR—August 10, 2007— The new owner of Portland’s Gotham Tavern announces its Grand Re-Opening today. Local restaurateur Barry Powelson purchased the Gotham Tavern on North Interstate Avenue in March 2007, and has crafted a new menu for the restaurant, added a happy hour and outdoor seating, and incorporated live music to the venue’s repertoire.

The Gotham Tavern’s new menu features low-key American eclectic fare, including Mom’s Meatloaf Sandwich, Maryland-Style Dungeness Crab Cakes, the Gotham Burger and a variety of vegetarian dishes, including several salads, a Portabella Sandwich and Creamy Risotto. A full bar offers an extensive beverage menu, signature cocktails, and a great selection of wines and domestic and imported beers.

"We’re all very excited about moving forward with the Gotham Tavern’s legacy in Portland. It’s such a beautiful space and it’s an ideal location," said Chef-Owner Barry Powelson. "We hope that people will see the new Gotham Tavern as their neighborhood pub, their local watering hole, or the place to go before Blazer games and events at the Rose Quarter. It’s about serving great food and drinks, and giving people a comfortable venue with a laid-back attitude."

The restaurant is located at 2240 North Interstate, on the Interstate Max Line. Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday, 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.; and Saturday, 4:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. A Happy Hour food menu is available weekdays from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. to close. The Gotham Tavern is closed on Sunday. Guests can dine-in or make reservations by calling 503-517-9911. The Gotham Tavern is available for special events, meetings and private parties.

About Gotham Tavern
The Gotham Tavern was acquired in March 2007 by Portland restaurateur Barry Powelson with a desire to bring eclectic American fare and a variety of beverages to the unique Gotham Tavern space. With the addition of weekly live music and outdoor seating, Powelson aims to marry great food, music and beverages with a neighborhood pub-type atmosphere. The original Gotham Bldg. Tavern opened in 2005 to rave reviews and national acclaim as part of the ripe restaurant empire. For more information, visit www.GothamTavern.com.