Looking Forward: Excited About These Restaurant Openings in 2024

‘Tis the season for end-of-the-year lists. I haven’t done too many of them on the blog, but I thought this year I’d change things up. One of the topics I’ve seen talked about in food media is anticipated 2024 restaurant openings. I have a handful—and they’re not just limited to restaurants— that I’m eager to see become a reality, so I thought I’d share them here.

Tréla

Photo credit: Tréla

I’ve mentioned more than once that I have a hard time finding good Greek food here in Portland. Having lived in a Greek immigrant community with decades-long roots in this country meant the place was dripping with tavernas—but out here, not much. I first caught wind of Tréla close to a couple of years ago—and at one point thought it was a dead project, but this year their online presence woke up and it was clear they were on the way to opening their doors.

The guys behind this project, Napoleon Tzakis, Anthony Tzakis, Emmett Fraser, and Jordan Johnson will offer classics like octopus, spanakopita, tzatziki, whole fish, chops, and other standards. I’m pretty excited at the possibility of some great Greek food in NE Portland. Just exactly when they will open in 2024 is unclear, but I’ll keep an eye out for that detail.

Tréla Kitchen & Taverna
6000 NE Glisan Street, Portland
Instagram

Sandy Jug Tavern

Photo credit: Sandy Jug Tavern

For years it was a strip club, but that’s old news at this point. The Sandy Jug will re-open as a tavern, welcoming a wide range of patrons. Warren Boothby and Marcus Archambeault are the brains behind the project, and the place is looking pretty snazzy. I love the rose emblems on the circles at the top portion of the jug, and the new exterior paint job. Activity seems to have mellowed a bit outside, so I suspect they are working on rehabilitating the interior.

My hope is that it will open this winter.

Sandy Jug Tavern
7417 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland
Instagram

Sebastiano’s

While I am sad for Montavilla, I’m excited for Dan and Elise in their new adventures in Sellwood. 2024 will be a time of transition as they wind down in Montavilla (their last day of service will be on January 27) and work on their storefront in Sellwood. They also assure us, “we’ve found a phenomenal next tenant for 411 SE 81st Ave.” So that’s good to know.

On their Facebook page they talked a little about the process in Sellwood: “We’re making great progress on our Sellwood buildout! HVAC, flooring, paint, plumbing and electric work are all pretty much done. The look and feel of the dining room is really coming together, too. Warning: It’s gonna be kinda classy! We’re targeting to be done, licensed and open for business in February, assuming we aren’t at the bottom of too big a stack of papers at Multnomah County Health or the OLCC.”

Look for them in Sellwood in spring 2024.

Sebastiano’s
8235 SE 13th Avenue, Portland
sebastianospdx.com | Instagram | Facebook

Vivienne

Vivienne, the former restaurant popular for brunches in the Hollywood District, that turned itself into “Portland’s Culinary Bookstore,” will leave their Hollywood digs for a new space on NE Alberta Street. This is a big loss for Hollywood—which has a lot of empty storefronts right now—but a win for the Alberta Arts District.

They’ll be in Hollywood until the end of January, when they will transition north to their new spot.

Vivienne
2724 NE Alberta Street, Portland
viviennepdx.com | Instagram | Facebook