Small Bites: Kismet in Vancouver, Boriken, Raclette, and More

Kismet in Vancouver is open. They opened to the public yesterday, December 11. Operated by Eric Gallanter and Kim Sinclair, they offer a three-course prix fixe menu with things like crab cakes, risotto, gravlax, scallops, duck breast, and beef tenderloin (see photos of their menu on Google). 909 Main Street, Vancouver

RIP Ted Papas. I saw that Ted Papas of Greek Cusina restaurant has died. He arrived in the U.S. from Kakouri when he was 18, which makes that about 1966, not long after the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 was passed. In the words of the big W, it “removed de facto discrimination against Southern and Eastern Europeans.”

From the obituary: “Ted ultimately made his home in Portland, Oregon, where he purchased a small sandwich deli and transformed it into the beloved Greek Cusina – an iconic restaurant that brought joy, community, and Greek culture to Portland for nearly 40 years.” Immigrants make America great.

Borikén Restaurant has closed. There’s a bit Puerto Rican-shaped hole in Beaverton, now that Boriken has closed. They made the announcement on social media; here is the announcement on their website:

“It is with heavy hearts and profound sadness that we announce it’s time to say goodbye. Since opening our doors in 2014, Borikén has been so much more than a restaurant—it has been a second home. Together, we have built a community filled with laughter, stories, and unforgettable moments. Thank you for allowing us to share the flavors and traditions of Puerto Rico with you. Your support, love, and loyalty have meant the world to our family.” 12800 SW Canyon Road, Beaverton

Aztec Willie’s is dead. Aztec on Broadway brings new life. Back in September, after 31 years in the business, Aztec Willie’s closed. Now it looks like the place is coming back to life with new ownership, according a liquor license application. Hasan Artharee, the new owner, will likely keep a similar menu. The place has 150 seats and they will have music and dancing. Stay tuned. 1501 NE Broadway, Portland

Il Corso will open in NW Portland. And it looks like, according a liquor license application (full on-premises), it is at the same address as Fancy Baby, and the LLC behind is owned by William Oben, who runs Fancy Baby. So, my guess is that they are all related and taking place in the same location. We haven’t had much luck connecting to Oben, but will update you if we hear anything in that direction. 1204 NW Glisan Street, Portland

French-tastic Patisserie pops-up in Beaverton. Head to Share Tea Beaverton tomorrow, Saturday, December 13 from 12:30pm to 3:30pm to get yourself some gluten-free French pastries. She’ll be offering holiday treats like Bûche de Noël, a matcha and chestnut mont-blanc, her family’s Christmas sablés recipe, and more.

She will also take holiday pre-orders—which you can make via her Hotplate page—with a deadline of Friday, December 19. Pick-up on Tuesday, December 23. 2725 SW Cedar Hills Blvd, Beaverton

12 Days of BOGO and deals. Over at Tea Loft they are starting up their 12 days of holiday specials. You can check them out here, and you can order them in-store and online, use code “BOGO” for online and kiosk orders. Today they start with BOGO Brown Sugar Boba. 4214 N Mississippi Avenue, Portland

Vancouver, WA roundup of eats and drinks. Over on The Manual, writer Mark Stock put together a collection of spots to eat and drink in Vancouver—though I’d argue with his editor about including Pal’s, which is def Portland. Loved seeing Dediko on the list, which is a truly great Georgian restaurant, and so close to Portland. Check it out. Multiple locations

Tamale Brunch is tomorrow. On Saturday, December 13 from noon to 4pm, enjoy a special tamale-focused brunch from Astral at the Landmass Tasting Room. There will be tamales, pozole, cornbread, Mayacoba beans, and wine. No RSVPs needed—first come, first served. 4727 NE Fremont Street, Portland

Chicken and Guns will close. They’ve been at it for 19 years, and “a change is needed.” Dustin Knox will close up shop at Cartopia, and it sounds like they’ll be focusing their work on Smokehouse Chicken and Guns in Gales Creek, with the possibility of a return to Portland in the future:

“I plan to bring the same level of creativity, inspiration and care and party to Gales Creek in Western Washington County, with my country destination Smokehouse Chicken and Guns. Of course, I do hope to bring my vision back as a brick and mortar in Portland, maybe with a little more space! Cartopia has been the perfect beginning, but it’s time.”

Their final day of service at Cartopia will be Sunday, December 28, with a celebration to usher them off to their next phase. You can read more here about the changes. 1207 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland

Noche Buena fundraiser at SUNRICE. Available on December 18 to 20, 5pm to 9pm only, this meal will arrive to help raise funds—$1 from each special sold—for PIRC to help the continue their work with those directly affected by ICE raids. Also, “If you feel so inclined we are also accepting direct donations via Venmo. Please notate ‘DONATION’ in the description.” Here’s the menu. 4090 N Williams Avenue, Portland

New Chef de Cuisine at Alma. Mo Morales is Alma’s new Chef de Cuisine. “From sous chef to CDC, Mo has grown with us since our Balkan Night pop-ups, bringing talent, grit, and plenty of good vibes to the kitchen. We can’t wait for this next chapter.” 5237 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland

ICYMI: Holiday flavors at Mikiko Mochi Donuts. She’s put together some classic tastes for December: peppermint bark, eggnog, gingerbread, and sticky toffee pear. Multiple locations

Fat Milo’s adjusts their hours. They’ve decided to pull back on their hours and will close at 3pm each day (they are open 7-days a week). That said, they will be hosting dinner on the second Thursday of each month. 1315 NE Fremont Street, Portland

Raclette night returns to Urban German Wursthaus. Stop by on Friday, December 19 from 4pm to 8pm for some hot (literally) raclette. “Delicious Raclette off the wheel with pickles, ham & salad. Get your plate of the best Alpine cheese and pair it with our new wine collaborator Wautoma Springs, a NW winery with a stand out selection of wine.” They’ll also have special pricing on all bottles and cases. 6635 N Baltimore Avenue, Portland

Sorbu is taking a break. They’ll be open through Saturday, December 13, then they are taking an extended break until March 2026. There are many reasons to close for a while, and one of them has to do with money. “Costs have been challenging, winter weather isn’t ideal for food trucks, and after five years of pouring my heart into this project, I’m realizing I need to take a real pause. So I’m listening to myself and honoring that.” He may do a pop-up here and there, and also will be around for your catering needs. 5011-B NE 42nd Avenue, Portland

Lombardo’s will be closed for a winter break, too. Bob Verderame, the guy who runs Lombardo’s Pizzeria (they do New Jersey-style pies), is going in for hip replacement surgery on Wednesday, December 17. He’ll need time to recover, so they are going to close the pizzeria for the holidays. He’s not sure when he’ll reopen, but he will keep people updated on his Instagram. Good luck, Bob! Hope it all goes well. 5210 N Lombard Street, Portland

The Dusted Cup has grand opened. This is another mushroom cafe, with the claim of being “home to Portland’s first mushroom lattes.” Looks like they soft opened in late October/early November, just a few weeks before Los Hongos did; their grand opening was December 6. They offer “functional mushroom drinks and nourishing plant-based meals.” No menu on the website but their Instagram shows some of what they offer. 727 SW Naito Pkwy, Portland

Ichiban Japanese Restaurant has closed. Over on Reddit someone took a photo of a sign posted on the door of Ichiban Japanese Restaurant. I’ll include the whole note because it’s very heartfelt.

Dear Friends and Valued Guests,
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the sale of our restaurant. After many unforgettable years of serving and sharing moments with you, we will be transferring ownership on 12/2/2025. This decision was not made lightly. Our time here has been filled with laughter, stories, celebrations, and countless meals shared with people who became far more than customers—you became part of our extended family. We are deeply grateful and thankful from the bottom of our hearts for every visit, every conversation, and every bit of support you’ve shown us over the years (especially during covid).

Your kindness and friendship have meant more to us than we can express. While we say goodbye to this chapter, the memories will always remain, We are humbled and honored to have served this community, and we will carry these experiences with us forever.
Thank you for allowing us to be part of your lives.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Mr & Mrs Lee

13599 NW Cornell Road, Portland

Holiday Bake Sale at Ava Gene’s. This is a chance to pre-order breads, pastries, and cookies from Ava Gene’s and Good Dough. Order here via Tock, and pick up on Sunday, December 21 from 11am to 2pm at their Division Dining Room (used to be Cicoria). Also: they will have a limited number of items for sale for walk-ups. 3377 SE Division Street, Portland

Cioccolata Calda at Pinolo Gelato. They recently added this to the menu: “An Italian dark hot chocolate with whipped cream. It’s rich and comforting for the colder Winter months. Make it an affogato with a scoop of your favorite gelato on top.” Plus, they have a new manager, Gemma Fanelli, who was previously at Pizza Thief.

Holiday Market in Milwaukie. On Saturday, December 13, head to the Holiday Market at Good Measure in Milwaukie for a cider tasting from Bauman’s, local artists, and Polaroid photos with Santa. Noon to 3pm. 10999 SE Main Street, Milwaukie

Hanukkah is almost here. Remember, Hanukkah starts Sunday night, December 14. We’ve updated our 2025 Hanukkah roundup since we first published it—check it out. Multiple locations

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Stories you may have missed this week on Bridgetown Bites:

Christmas, Solstice, and More Light in Portland 2025
Taste of Sichuan Has Re-Opened in Beaverton
Rotisserie Chickens: Another Stumptown Savings Taste Test in Portland
The Back Patio Is Open in Portland

Updated December 12, 2025, as Le Fragole’s move is not happening just yet.