Change in Peter’s Bar & Grill ownership. This past week, the Facebook page for Peter’s Bar & Grill posted a goodbye message: “After a little over 11 years, today was our last day as the owners of Peter’s Bar & Grill. We feel so fortunate to have had this experience. We are so grateful to everyone who welcomed us into this community …. Because of all of you, we’re excited for what Peter’s will be in the future.” It was signed by Tim, Tara, Alex, Piper, & Casey.
I’ve reached out to learn more. My hope is that they do not end up closing. 5701 NE Fremont Street, Portland
Will Oregon State Lottery money fund the James Beard Public Market? Over on The Oregonian, they report that the state could possibly earmark $10 million of Oregon Lottery bond proceeds to help fund the James Beard Public Market. This would be through House Bill 3377. The most recent action was a public hearing this past Wednesday morning. More info on The O.
Happy Birthday, Pip’s! Pip’s, home to the famous smol donuts, is 12-years old today and they are celebrating this anniversary with six limited edition doughnut flavors, “all starting with the letter P.” They will be available for the next week and are:
- Passionfruit
- Pineapple Sesame Ginger
- Pancake
- Peanut Butter Chocolate
- Prickly Pear Cactus
- Pistachio Cream
- Note: Regular flavors will not be available during this special week.
Also, you have a chance to win free doughnuts for a year: “To celebrate this week of love, tag someone that you love and tell them why you love, appreciate or admire them. They will give away punch cards that are worth a dozen free doughnuts every month for a year, to random winners.” 4759 NE Fremont Street, Portland
It’s also Oregon’s birthday today, plus pears. That’s right, Oregon is 166 years old today, having joined the union as the 33rd state in 1859. And did you know that the state fruit of Oregon is the pear? I only recently became aware of it; I thought it was the marionberry, ngl, but no worries: marionberry pie is the official Oregon state pie. (And who knew there was even an official state pie?)
Anyway, one way to celebrate pears is to head to Sugarpine Drive-In. All month-long, they have a limited-edition menu showcasing pears:
- Bulgogi Cheesesteak: Bosc pear-marinated and stir-fried ribeye, Korean rice cake, mozzarella, Anjou pear and fennel kimchi, perilla leaf, sesame and scallion on a soft hoagie roll. Option to add Mama Lil’s peppers.
- Waffle Grilled Cheese: Waffle grilled cheese with Red Anjou and Bartlett chutney, drunken goat cheese and toasted pine nuts.
- Pear Mont Blanc: Vanilla bean soft serve with pear financier, spiced pinot noir-compressed Anjou pear, chestnut and pear purée, powdered sugar and glass-candied pear chip.
- Oatmeal, Pear & Walnut Crisp Cookie: Thumbprint oatmeal cookie with Anjou pear butter and toasted cinnamon walnut streusel.
- Chai & Anjou Pear Shrub Soda: Old-fashioned soda made from a base of acidulated fruit syrup incorporating Anjou pear reduction, Smith Teamaker Chai and cider vinegar.
- Wine specials: 2022 Teutonic Pear Blossom Vineyard Gewürztraminer and NV Pierce Wines Hedgerow Riesling.
Fun fact: The Pacific Northwest has become one of the world’s largest pear growing regions, with 700 growers in Oregon and Washington producing 88% of all pears grown in the U.S. 1208 E Historic Columbia River Hwy, Troutdale
Bob’s Red Mill closures. Two beloved parts of the Bob’s Red Mill campus have closed. First, the cafe closed down last week on February 9. And originally the messaging was the “store will remain open until Feb. 17 but turns out they sold out of product on February 12, so the store has officially shuttered by now.
CEO Trey Winthrop said this about the closures: “People can see that not everything is equal when it comes to profitability. People are disappointed, but they know it’s not our core business.” The factory will continue to operate. End of an era. 5000 SE International Way, Milwaukie
Sizzle Pie’s East Burnside location will close. Yep, the Central Eastside location is, essentially, dunzo—last day is February 23. The Portland Business Journal reports possible reasons: “the closing comes after workers at the store unionized, but the business’s owners told the Oregonian that it was due to a dispute with their landlord.” Sizzle Pie, weighed in on social media, with an understandable pushback by many Portlanders.
As a reminder, Sizzle Pie is owned by SoHi (formerly Sortis Holdings, a private equity firm). In general, private equity firms are not really into unions. 624 E Burnside Street, Portland
Wyrd Meadery will release a new mead: Ratatoskr. This Portland meadery announced their newest flavor of mead, made with local Oregon hazelnuts and Madagascar vanilla beans. It has “warm buttery flavors paired with the sweet, creamy, floral undertones” on the back end, from the vanilla. They are releasing this small batch (only 200 bottles were produced) this Saturday, February 15. Stop on by if you can! 4515 SE 41st Avenue, Portland
Don’t sleep on the schmear. A reader wrote me to tell me about Willams Coffee House, FKA Cyclemaster Coffee Co (and originally located on N Lombard), and had great things to say, so I wanted to pass it on here. Here is their note:
“Williams Coffee House opened recently at Williams and Monroe in a somewhat cursed space, the longest recent tenant of which (I think) was Game Knight, a board game bar. I believe they (the coffeeshop folk) used to be Cyclemaster Coffee, down the street from their current location. Good coffee, bagels and bfast burritos. They have a good (seriously good) pimento cheese-esque smoked salmon bagel spread.” 3037 N Williams Avenue, Portland
Stories you may have missed this week on Bridgetown Bites:
Update on the Trung Nguyên Legend Cafe in Portland
Eat Unsweetened Chocolate in Portland
Panther Club, a New Bar, Is Open in Portland
Black Water Will Bring Food, Drink, Music to NE Sandy Blvd in Portland
Also, remember the tail end of Dumpling Week is this weekend. And Happy Valentine’s Day!
Updated February 15, 2025.
Meg Cotner
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I’m a regular at Peter’s and they are not closing. The bar has been sold, and, as far as I know, will continue to operate as usual.
Glad to hear it, Marc. I was just over there for lunch today and the food was as good as ever. Hope it continues in that direction. I wanted to ask our waitperson about the sale/new owners but she was pretty busy, so I opted not to. Hope the new owners will say hello at some point. Love Peter’s!