Team behind Portland’s Dolly Olive opens Mediterranean bar in neighboring space

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — A Downtown Portland restaurant known for its Italian fare is introducing a Mediterranean bar in the neighboring space.

Sesame Collective — the culinary group behind Bless Your Heart Burgers, Shalom Y’all and other successful Portland eateries — opens its only drink-focused spot Bar Dolly on Wednesday.

The new business is located on 1215 SW Alder St., mere steps away from the group’s restaurant Dolly Olive . The space previously held Icarus, another bar helmed by the same team.

Sesame Collective Co-owner and Chief People Officer Laura Amans told KOIN 6 News the venture initially aimed to be a nightlife destination. But after operating Icarus from October 2023 to March 2024, the restaurant group decided the bar should complement the restaurant next door.

“We also wanted to expand the opportunity for guests to get food similar to or the same as Dolly Olive’s, so just offering more seating, offering a more casual place for folks to come and dine and get delicious drinks,” Amans said.

Dolly Olive’s Italian dishes range from bucatini pasta pomodoro to Sicilian eggplant parmigiana. Although the restaurant’s companion bar will not offer the entire menu, a portion of dishes and new snacks including a burger, charcuterie plate and burrata of the day will be available.

The bar will offer a full spritz menu, as well as 10 different wines. Many of them have been shipped from the Mediterranean region, but visitors can also expect locally-made beverages such as a chardonnay made in the Willamette Valley or a Tempranillo from Washington.

Customers are welcome to order wine by the glass, but there’s a 30% discount in store for those who buy a full bottle to take home.

Kasey Mills, co-owner and executive chef of the Sesame Collective, said the group has invited wine enthusiasts into Bar Dolly to guide guests through their options.

“I think there’s a lot of enthusiasm for the wine program here and I think it’s gonna be a mainstay for us for sure,” Mills added.

The bar will start with similar hours to its neighboring restaurant, which runs from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday — and until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

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