Small Bites: Paradox Cafe, Field Day, Rhinestone, and More

A plate of food at Paradox Cafe - there's kale and pesto, a ground meat substitute and what I believe to be a waffle, pancake, or fries. — Farewell, Paradox Cafe. Photo credit: Paradox Cafe.

Paradox Cafe has closed. After over 30 years in business, Paradox Cafe and its plant-based menu has closed at their longtime spot on SE Belmont and 34th Avenue. They posted on both their website and social media:

“Like so many other food service businesses, we can no long sustain operations and have served the final plate. So many contributing factors, that have been intensifying since COVID, have made this a necessary decision….” You can read more here. Very sorry to see them go. 3439 SE Belmont Street, Portland

Celebrate National Farmers Market Week at the Rocky Butte Farmers Market tomorrow. From 9am to 1pm (normal market hours) the RBFM will be recognizing this important week, now in its 26th year. Highlights include:

Live music by popular local singer-songwriter Brenna Larsen from 10am to noon.
Community drawing activity to help design the new market truck mural.
“Market Bingo” with prizes.
A chance to meet your district councilors.

Should be a good time! NE Siskiyou Street and NE 80th Avenue Portland

10% off groceries Sunday. Head to Fresh Love to save: “Stock up on your faves (including that Cultured Kindness cheese!) during our 10% off grocery day this Sunday, August 10. It’s the perfect time to fill your basket with local goodies and summer essentials.” 7434 NE Fremont Street, Portland

Porchettiamo is heading to Nostrana this month. To celebrate 20 years of serving delicious food to the public, Nostrana is honoring the porchetta (the first meal they ever served at Nostrana) at Porchettiamo, “an open-air celebration inspired by Italy’s beloved roast and Portland’s vibrant food scene.” Tickets start at $98.

They’ve invited local chefs to serve their own porchetta vision (pork provided by Carlton Farms): Cathy Whims & Bryan Donaldson, Nostrana; Greg & Gabi Denton, Ox; Bonnie & Israel Morales, Kachka; Carlo Lamagna, Magna Kusina; Peter Cho, Jeju & Han Oak; Darby Aldaco & Gemma Fanelli, Pizza Thief. More info and tickets can be purchased via Tock. 1401 SE Morrison Street, Suite 105 Portland

Field Day opens today. A new book and bottle shop (apparently, it’s the only one of its kind in Portland) called Field Day will open this weekend in Roseway, with the grand opening celebration on Friday August 8 through Sunday August 10, 10am to 8pm each day. From their Instagram: “Come through, grab something from the fridge, and tell us all about your favorite books! Bring some friends and play a board game! Vibe with us whilst we celebrate the fruits of a year’s worth of work! Field Day is finally here, baybee!!” They are located in what I believe used to be part of Nam Phuong Market. 6836 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland

Leikam Brewing celebrates 11 years. They are celebrating on Saturday, August 9 at their brewery on East Burnside, with special beer releases, merch, a DIY cat toy making station, as well as comedy night (get your tickets here), and cat costume and drawing contests. Also know that when you buy a pint of Puck Pils, named after their resident brewery cat Puck’s Pils, $1 goes to the Pixie Project. Here’s more information. 5812 E Burnside Street, Portland

Eater celebrates 20 years by laying off some employees. The Vox Media Union posted a statement on Instagram. Apparently there is a “major restructuring” happening that led to the 15 terminations at Eater. Additional sources indicate Vox wants reallocate resources to the Eater app. There is concern that the company will take the path of generative AI for writing stories (Note: At Bridgetown Bites, we do not use generative AI to write stories).

As far as the Portland Eater team, I do not know if they have been affected by these layoffs. Sure, they are a competitor but I do not want to see people lose their jobs who did nothing wrong. Wishing the laid-off folks at Eater the best.

Tea Loft soft opens today. A new tea shop offering boba tea, ceremonial-grade matcha, coffee, and fruit smashes on N Mississippi Avenue soft opens today. The boast fast Wi-Fi and a positive vibe, as well as the assertion that they are “the best boba shop on Mississippi Ave.” And today you can get BOGO boba and matcha drinks! They’ll be open from noon to 7pm today. 4214 N Mississippi Avenue, Portland

Los Roast is taking orders now. It’s roasting season and Los Roast is “bringing that New Mexico fire back for Labor Day Weekend.” Head to their website to reserve your roasted chiles, whether you get a peck, half bushel, or a bushel, from mild to spicy chiles. Pick-up days are Friday, August 29, 1pm to 5pm; Saturday, August 30 and Sunday, August 31, 10am to 4pm. They’ll be distributing again at the Eastside Railway. “Smell it yet? You will.”

The Chopped Cheese PDX cart will close at the end of August. Their cart and business concept are for sale. They said, “The current state of the economic climate has financially extinguished our dream. But like all of us, the best be can do is move forward to the next chapter.” Sorry that this is the outcome for them. 2810 NE Glisan Street, Portland

Rhinestone now has is own space. After doing a number of pop-ups (here’s their food and drink style), they now have a home of their own. Looks like this location was formerly the home to the Houston Blacklight, which closed last November 2024. Their timeline? “We’re gonna open soon!” 2100 SE Clinton Street, Portland

Bennett’s Best Bites is open. We wrote about this casual eatery earlier this year, and Matt Bennett, the owner, called me to tell me they have been open for about a month there on Sandy Blv. Their Instagram has some updated photos. Stop by, check it out! 1926 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland

Chin’s Bar is having an opening BBQ this Sunday. This new bar from the Chin’s Kitchen folks are hosting a party, serving burgers, hotdogs, dumplings, and their special North Eastern Chinese meat skewers. 4pm to 9pm on Sunday, possibly on the bar’s front patio. 1627 NE 42nd Avenue, Portland

Tsuki is open. This new Japanese-owned bingsu and tayaki spot is now open on SE Hawthorne. Check out their menu. This used to be home to the Nucleus gallery. 1445 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland

Another location for Mikiko Mochi Donuts. They’ll be opening a new location in Bethany Village. Apparently it’s small (smol?): “It seems like a great fit, and we have a really fun design planned for this adorable lil space. We shall call it Mikiko Jr.” They hope to open by Wednesday, August 27. 15320 NW Central Drive, Portland

Stories you may have missed this week on Bridgetown Bites:

Top 5 Posts on Bridgetown Bites, July 2025
A PDX Food Pod Update in Portland
Social Kitchen Will Open in Vancouver, Washington
After Ours Officially Opens Today in Portland