Voodoo Martini, at 507 East 1st Street, Newberg
No secret that Newberg has been growing and changing quite a bit over the last few years.
Newberg now has a brand new wine bar! Okay, a new wine bar in Newberg might not be breaking news---after all it's smack dab in the Willamette Wine Country, virtually its front door---but it is news when the wine bar is also a martini bar.
The great wall of wine in Voodoo
Open barely thee weeks, Voodoo is already beginning to attract some loyal clientele. Apparently Newberg is ready for some cocktail culture along with all that wine.
Mind you, this isn't exactly a frou-frou kind of place. There's an admirably long stretch of well-stocked bar with lots of old-time saloon seating along the bar, and a clearly lighted back bar showing all the wares. There's also an impressive wall of wines for the people of that persuasion. This is, after all, still wine country.
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Owner Alex Arthur is usually there behind the bar, engaging with the customers to make them feel welcome, but maintaining that bartender sense of not intruding too much, while keeping a quiet eye on everything.
Friendly and unpretentious, in a particularly Oregonian way, Alex even chuckles a bit when someone mentions "mixology". "No mixologists here, guys," he says with a little smile. "I'm a bartender. I make good drinks."
And shortly one of those drinks appears. When asked for a La Paloma, he quickly whips up some el Jimador Blanco Tequila, grapefruit juice, and a bit of soda in a tall glass. It's clean and refreshing and just the thing; that's why it's one of Mexico's favorite tequila drinks. And wouldn't you know, Alex has a quick story about when he was down in Mexico this one time...
Although the focus is more on the martinis and cocktails and wine at Voodoo, they serve up some simple but delicious food too, with some interesting flatbreads on the list, smoked salmon nachos and panini. But the standout is Alex's suggestion of the Pulled Pork Sandwich, served with a side of black beans, rice and onions. It was like being in one of the Cuban barrios of Southern Florida! A great lunch or casual meal at a great price, and worth a trip all by itself. You can never have enough good Cubano food. And as soon as Alex can find the right Cuban bread, he says, there'll be a Cuban Sandwich on his menu.
The martini list is interesting, with some creative ideas, but none so far out there as to be grotesque. 
When asked what the best drink on the specials list would be, Alex doesn't hesitate to answer: "The St. Charles." The St. Charles is certainly intriguing; borrowed with permission from their friends over at the Acadia Bistro in Portland, it's a blend of house-infused black pepper and rosemary vodka, grapefruit juice and simple syrup in a martini glass, a sugared rim, and showered with a hefty dollop of fresh cracked black pepper.
So if you're looking for a wine bar...or a martini bar...or good food...or just an old-fashioned bar to lean up against while you talk to some interesting people on a lazy day in Newberg, Voodoo Martini and Wine Bar might be your thing.
Comments
Went in to try out this Voodoo place. Took five minutes before I had to ask for a beer that they did not have anymore of (take it of the display shelf), then the guy gets and sends a text before helping me with a beer. Not a way to have your name spread around. Hope they work on the service and get a Martini menu!
Sorry to hear that, J.
When I was there the owner/tender was affable, easy going, but attentive to his customers. And they definitely had a Martini Menu out---because I took one home with me, and it has several martinis (and other specialty drinks) on it.
The place is brand new, so let's hope it's just working out the kinks. Like you, I hate poor service and management in a bar, and Newberg doesn't have that many joints.
Wait! J. Local. Can I call you J-Lo? :^)
First time there was for May Art Walk First Friday. We had a fairly large party so got there early. Could not have had better service!! EXCELLENT martini menu!! and if you dont see somethng you want, they will make whatever you ask, to the point that they will look up a recipe if they are not familiar or follow your directions. the place was absolutely packed and still, the service remained excellent the entire evening. Bout time Newberg got a "hot spot"! Hope they stay around a while!
Hey, Voodoo Fan: thanks for the update. Sounds like Voodoo is jumping! I thought it had the potential to be a good "spot", and looks like that may happen. And you're right...Newberg needs a good place like that. HH
Voodoo Martini~loved it! I certainly did not feel like I was in Newberg. The food was amazing! The martinis were heavenly! Oh yes, I am picky about both food and martinis. I saw the comment about service~so maybe they fixed it before we got there. I will go back again.
Alex and Cal!!! Get on Facebook guys!! I love your bar!!
geat place 2 have a good...time...service outstanding....very friendly owner..........KOBE4PREZ!!!!!!
VERY COOL PLACE AND THE OWNERS AND TERNDER C& M ARE THE BOMB. ALL LOCAL WINES THAT YOU CAN POSSIBLY CHOOSE FROM AND GREAT FOODS LIKE THERE PIZZA. LOVE IT VERY COZY COVE
VERY COOL PLACE AND THE OWNERS AND TERNDER C& M ARE THE BOMB. ALL LOCAL WINES THAT YOU CAN POSSIBLY CHOOSE FROM AND GREAT FOODS LIKE THERE PIZZA. LOVE IT VERY COZY COVE
I went to Voodoo for the first time last month and I was more than happy with the service, food and drinks. It's so nice to have a martini bar in the town that I live in! The pizza is amazing, and I normally don't care for flat bread pizza. I'm definitely going back soon.
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