New lunch service at Sunday Sauce. It started Wednesday, May 6, and on the lunch menu you’ll find hot heroes, cold subs, salads, sides, and desserts. They use bread from Dos Hermanos Bakery, and you can get your subs in a half or a whole configuration.
Nice to see their eggplant parm turned into a sandwich, and this sure sounds good, the “Fresh Mutz”: fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil, arugula, prosciutto, balsamic glaze, extra virgin olive oil, and pesto spread on house focaccia. Lunch is available at Sunday Sauce on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11am to 2pm. 902 N Killingsworth Street, Portland
The Sedgwick closes today. This popular Vancouver restaurant holds its final day of service today. The Columbian reports that while the Main Street Promise project is causing some havoc, a significant rent raise was devastating. Add on rising food, fertilizer, and fuel costs and co-owner Melissa McCusker said it made even more sense to close. They will be missed. 801 Washington Street, Vancouver
Ink & Drink has opened in Gresham. Danica King has opened a coffee shop behind her husband’s tattoo studio. They make classic espresso drinks, specials with tattoo-related names (e.g., Tramp Stamp, Mom Heart), smoothies, steamers, breakfast sandwiches, waffle rolls, and more. 788 N Main Avenue, Gresham
Stark Street Station has new owners and a new name. When I was over at Bellwether the other day, I popped into the Stark Street Cafe, only to learn the cafe has new owners and a new name: Taborhood Cafe. I also learned that there’s a wholesale bakery in the basement. Motor and Lee Ann Moyer are the new owners and they live there in the neighborhood. They’re pretty excited to be involved with the community on this level. 6049 SE Stark Street, Portland
The old Black Water space will become Billy Ray’s. A Bridgetown Bites tipster wrote to us, “Black Water is going to be Billy Ray’s. The owners Paula & Mark Hylland also own The Mule Bar and Mousetrap Tavern.” The Mule Bar is, of course, the bar that opened up in the old Stanich’s in 2024. The Hyllands also ran The GOAT Bar, but that closed earlier this year at their space on NE Sandy Blvd and moved into The Mule Bar. 835 NE Broadway, Portland
And speaking of The G.O.A.T. Bar—Sandy and 52nd redevelopment? Back in January, a reader wrote, “I heard some crazy news tonight.” I’ll paraphrase the rest: The rumor is that a handful of adjacent properties along NE 52nd Avenue and Sandy Blvd were sold; everything will be torn down and the whole site redeveloped. One of these properties is home to the Rose City Food Park, as well as where the G.O.A.T. Bar was.
There was an EA (Early Assistance) set up in June 2024 for this: Street Vacation of NE 52nd Ave north of NE Sandy Blvd (permit status: Closed). This street is in the middle of the properties that would be redeveloped. In May 2026, another EA was set up with this description:
“A new 4 to 5-story, 200,000+ square-foot mixed-use building that would create 150+ apartments above 100+ structured parking spaces with commercial uses fronting Sandy Boulevard. Apartment types would be primarily 1-bedroom and larger units organized around an elevated courtyard amenity facing Sandy. The project would use available bonuses for inclusionary housing to realize the proposed 2.61:1 FAR and bonus height up to 55 ft.” Here is a screenshot of the footprint of the possible redevelopment.
I have contacted a relevant person at the City of Portland for more information and to help understand what is going on. Back in January (when I reached out to the city for help understanding the street vacation of NE 52nd Ave) and feedback on the rumor from the tipster, I was told, “Early Assistance meetings are … an avenue for customers to get assistance on how to move forward with their proposal. Often, customers that have EAs don’t move forward with the proposal.” I’ll keep an eye on it. 5137 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland
The Lao Food Cart has closed permanently. This is because Nong, who operated the cart by PSU, was detained by ICE. He was there for four years. Now, he’s at the Tacoma ICE Detention Center. Nong came to this country legally as a refugee, and along with his family they’ve been here for nearly 40 years, legally. I’ll write that a third time: LEGALLY. ICE taking him was a travesty.
His support system posted this: “His legal team has asked us to gather letters of support from people who know him…friends, customers, coworkers, and anyone whose life he’s touched. These letters can make a real difference in helping support his case.” More information on how to do this effectively can be found here. There’s also a GoFundMe for Nong if/when he is forced to return to Laos. 979 SW Harrison Street, Portland and Online
All Your Heart Coffee opens a second location in downtown Portland. With origins in the South Waterfront, AYH Coffee’s grand opening at their newest location is tomorrow, Saturday, May 11 from 7am to 3pm. They’ll have free drip coffee to start, as well as new drink specials. This location, which used to be a Coava, is just a half block away from Madrina Cocina Mexicana, too.
They wrote, “Opening a second location wouldn’t have been possible without the South Waterfront neighborhood showing up for us and allowing us to grow into a new one. We’re incredibly grateful for that support, as well as for our wonderful team, who have been with us from the very beginning, and everyone who contributed to bringing this new location to life.” 1171 SW Jefferson Street
Rain or Shine Coffee House has temporarily closed. There’s a sandwich board sign outside that says, “Big changes are brewing. Sorry we’re closed. Reopening May 11.” I’ve read that there are new owners; Reddit has opinions. 5941 SE Division Street, Portland
The Pisha-Dufflys spend a C-Note at the farmers market. Michael Zusman, a WW photog, and Mariah and Thomas Pisha-Duffly spent time at the PSU Farmers Market to spend a hundred bucks “on market goodies for a hypothetical picnic.” And why?
“The idea originated with a WW editor who wanted to see what James Beard Award finalists would buy at the market with $100 in hand.” Thomas Pisha-Duffly is a James Beard Awards finalist this year. Read more at Willamette Week. 1803 SW Park Avenue, Portland
Top 5 donut shops, determined. Comedian Brandon Lyons started visiting donut shops around the Portland metro area at the start of the year to determine the best donuts around. His top five list starts with Annie’s Donuts in Roseway at number 5; his list also includes donut shops in Lake Oswego and Tigard, along with Portland. Delicious Donuts got the top spot. Here’s his top five summary. Multiple locations
Alpenrausch will close. I always enjoyed my meals and time spent there. They wrote, “This space has lived many lives with us—from OP Wurst, to the much-loved COVID relief patio of Olympia Provisions Public House, and finally Alpenrausch, named one of the Best New Restaurants in America, with our beloved Alpenhütte just beside it.” The final day of service for Alpenrausch is Saturday, May 30 (regular hours). The Alpenhütte closing party is Sunday May 31 from noon to 8pm. 3384 SE Division Street, Portland
Food & Wine likes Face Plant. They put them on their recent list, “The Top 6 New Burger Spots in the US to Visit.” Read more here about this plant-based burger joint, which when we wrote about them in 2024 of their arrival they wanted to “take down McDonald’s.” 3110 N Going Street, Portland
More on burgers. May is National Burger Month (NB: It’s also National Salad Month) and Shake Shack has some deals. And that’s in the form of free burgers. “Every week for the entire month, we’re featuring one of our best sellers.” Use code FREEBURGER—here’s the schedule:
- Until May 10, ShackBurger
- May 11 to May 17, SmokeShack
- May 18 to May 24, Bacon Cheeseburger
- May 25 to May 31, ShackBurger
Online and multiple locations
Mezze & Martinis event is coming in June. On Thursday, June 4 from 6pm to 9pm head to Venue 13 for Mezze & Mareinis, “for a night filled with music, food & ‘tini tastings.” The evening benefits the Maurice Lucas Foundation, which helps youth with free academic and athletic programs.
There will be vendor tastings, a full bar, music, and a spread of mezze plates from places like Metropolitan Tavern, Taylor St Tavern, Chez Jose, and Brix Tavern—all part of the Urban Restaurant Group. Tickets are $39.19 (includes a $4.19 fee), which you can buy here. 1355 NW Everett Street, Suite 120, Portland
New chef and menu at Bellpine. Newly-appointed Chef de Cuisine Jocelyn Chacón, offers a “new menu that reimagines Pacific Northwest cuisine through the lens of her Mexican heritage.” Prior to this, Chacón has worked with Marriott International, Four Seasons, and Proper Hotels, and has cooked in kitchens with Mexican and Texan influences, as well as Italian, Mediterranean, and Asian cuisines.
The menu is organized around the concept of “Sea, Land, Soil, and Fire, “each a distinct expression of Chacón’s coastal-meets-heritage approach.” The press released mentioned a selection of dishes, but the Elk Chorizo Verde Masa Dumplings with foraged mushrooms and salsa macha stands out to me, as well as the Salmon Apple Aguachile with green apple aguachile, corn ceniza, apple kimchi, and Fresno chile. Check the out on the 20th floor at the Ritz-Carlton, Portland. 900 SW Washington Street, Portland
The Uncanny will close. They announced their closing and that Saturday will be their final day of service at this place that was considered by Esquire magazine in 2024 to be one of America’s best bars. They are grateful to the people who spent time at the bar: patrons, staff, regulars, friends, the curious. “Over the last three years, this dark little bar became a home for so many of us, and we are devastated to say goodbye to it, and to you … We have a lot to be proud of, and hope that the Uncanny can live on in other iterations down the road.” They added this:
“This industry is incredibly difficult, and like so many independent bars and restaurants in Portland right now, we reached a point we could no longer overcome. But even in the heartbreak, we are so proud of what this place became and the community that formed around it.” Truly unfortunate news for the Portland bar scene. 3560 N Mississippi Avenue, Portland
Ring Ding Ding opens tonight. They recently described themselves: “Portland’s newest queer-friendly neighborhood bar celebrates the playful chaos of nightlife: where everyone is a little extra, a little mischievous, and nobody is exactly what they seem.” Their first guest chef is Jahquari Greene of Madman Popup. I know him for his Trini food but I’ve learned he also make Panamanian cuisine. He’ll be making doubles, mango chow, Jamaican beef patties, and more, starting at 4:30pm today. 2601 SE Clinton Street, Portland
Parkrose Coffee Shop celebrates one year on Saturday. They’ll be celebrating from 10am to 2pm with birthday cake, face painting, bubbles, arts and crafts, and Pearl the Pony! Stop by at what quickly has become a Parkrose institution. 4826 NE 105th Avenue, Portland
Ochā Tea and Coffee will close their cafe. Apparently this was always part of the plan, and it sounds like this is not a hard end. They said when they took over the cafe last year, “we knew this space would grow into something more” and “This isn’t goodbye, just the start of something new.” I look forward to seeing what is next for them. Note: an exact closing date has not been decided at the writing of this roundup. 8733 SE Division Street, Suite 110, Portland
Is EEM buying a mall? You be the judge. Unkonwn location
Update: Inssa PDX will open late May. Looks like permits clogged the process a bit. 914 NE Broadway, Portland
Beaux Berry is back. They’ve been in soft opening mode, with today and the weekend open from 4:30pm to 8pm (8:30pm on Sunday). They will expand their hours on Tuesday, May 12. Hours will be 12:30pm to 8:30pm then. 3707 NE Fremont Street, Portland
Honey Latte Cafe and Up Up Books. A tipster emailed me to tell me they’d seen a sign up on a building in that curious little cul de sac on NE Halsey by the Hollywood Fred Meyer. Catscratch (Co-op Vegan) Bakery is over there, along with Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop (which offers some plant-based options). I stopped by last week and saw a whole bunch of signs announcing their arrival! This space used to be home to Creative Culture. Coffee and books is a classic combination. 1452 NE 28th Avenue, Portland
Stories this week on Bridgetown Bites that you may have missed:
Top 5 Posts on Bridgetown Bites, April 2026
Get To Know Stone Soup and Their Café in Montavilla
Departure: New Chef, New Menu, and Great Eats in Portland [Photos]
A Delicious Deep Dive Into FIKA Desserts in Portland
Meg Cotner
