The interior featured a 50-seat, 65-foot-long curved marble and wood-lined bar,[2][3] as well as a domed stained glass ceiling.[4]
History
Jake Carey and John Janulis opened the bar in April 2014,[5] with Justin Diaz overseeing the bar operation and Erik Paulsen as chef.[2] Russell Van der Genugten became executive chef in March 2015.[6]
In 2019, a man was removed from the bar for wearing a shirt with the text "Anti-Fascist"; Jackknife's parent company Lightning Bar Collective (Bye and Bye, Sweet Hereafter, Victoria Bar) said the policy against clothing promoting hate groups was "misinterpreted" by a contracted security guard.[7]
Eater included Jackknife in a list of the "most beautiful restaurants" in the U.S.[9] Samantha Bakall said the bar has a "relaxed vibe that heats up as the night goes on".[10] In his 2019 list of "Best Bars for Single Mingling in Portland", Pete Cottell of Thrillist described Jackknife as a "moderately fancy hotel bar ... that's known for eclectic DJ nights, tasty cocktails, and an overall vibe that celebs like Bruno Mars or Pharrell would probably dig."[11]