Small Bites: Sip & Forage, Bistecca, and More in Portland

Sip & Forage grand opens on Saturday. This is a relatively new food cart pod on SW 5th Avenue between SW Hall and College, and the former location of a Wells Fargo Bank. They soft opened August 24 but are doing their grand opening celebration tomorrow from 4pm to 8pm. They have an Airstream cocktail bar and food carts, and will do a raffle, offer drink specials, and food samples. 1900 SW 5th Avenue, Portland

ICYMI: OK Omens is closing. Owner Monique Siu is retiring: “It is with a heavy yet grateful heart that I share the news of our upcoming closure. After 25 years of great food, wine, and incredible memories, I am officially wrapping up this chapter and heading into retirement!” Their final day of service will be Saturday, October 17. You can read more of her farewell message on Instagram. 1758 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland

Portland is the best city in the U.S. for vegans and vegetarians. According to Wallethub, that is. Their methodology:

“To determine the best and cheapest places for a plant-based diet, WalletHub compared the 100 largest U.S. cities across 17 key indicators of vegan- and vegetarian-friendliness. We examined each city based on metrics such as the cost of groceries for vegetarians, the share of restaurants serving meatless options, and the number of salad shops per capita.”

Honestly, this is no surprise to us that Portland is boss for vegans and vegetarians. You can read more here. Multiple locations

Farewell, Oakshire. They posted last Friday about their plans to close. For me, it was a gut punch. “We’ve faced years of rising costs, increasing competition, the financial damage of COVID, and changes in how people gather to eat and drink. We worked hard to adapt, but we can’t continue operating Oakshire as a whole.”

They closed Oakshire Commons in Springfield last Sunday, and the Beer Hall on NE 42nd Avenue this past Wednesday. They plan to still do their 20th Anniversary party on Saturday, October 3, which will also serve as their going-away party. Very sorry to see them go. 5013 NE 42nd Avenue, Portland

Shorebird Bakery is staying put. In the wake of the Oakshire Brewing news, and after some readers reached out with questions, I wrote Jesse Schumann of Shorebird Bakery to see what their status would be. Their bakery is in the NE Portland beer hall building. “The closure of Oakshire Brewing as a business shouldn’t affect our lease (as I understand it),” he wrote. That’s great news! 5013 NE 42nd Avenue, Portland

$5 mini golf + Migration. Alan from Cascadia Putting Club told me about their upcoming event open to the public (typically they stick to corporate and private events): “On Friday, October 9, we’re partnering with Migration Brewing for a public mini golf pop-up at their PacWest Center patio in downtown Portland.” This will take place on the third floor, but that patio has rooftop-coded views.

They will have nine holes set up and you can put-put for a five spot while enjoying Migration’s award-winning beer. The event goes from 5pm to 9pm. More info can be found on their Luma event page. 1211 SW 5th Avenue, Portland

Face Plant is vexed by the I-5 closure. KGW reported that Face Plant “said they’re losing over 1,200 customers and nearly $3,000 each week during the I-5 closure.” This translates to, of course, less money coming in but that also means less money to pay employees, so they are also taking a hit. The vegan fast food restaurant is on Swan Island, and the exit to get there is closed. This reel will tell you more. 3110 N Going Street, Portland

Mr. Chip x Sure Shot today. This is likely going to be epic. At Sure Shot today, there will be Grippo’s BBQ Chip burgers, Grippo’s BBQ seasoned chicken nuggets, and Calbee Honey Butter Rice Chipspie treats. If you haven’t had the pleasure of encountering the flavor world of Grippo’s chips, you are in for a treat. Keith—Mr. Chip himself—will be manning the Mobile Chip Unit “slinging chips” from 4pm to 7pm (but you can get the special menu throughout the day). Bitchin! 5011 NE 42nd Avenue, Portland

Sorbu is back. They have returned after time away, and this week also marked six years of Sorbu. “We cannot wait to see your faces, feed you things, and resume our regularly scheduled culinary nonsense. Thank you for all the love, support, kind words, patience, and encouragement over these past months. You have been deeply missed and judging by the messages, perhaps we’ve been missed a little as well. That truly makes me cry.”

Check out the menu here. Man, that lovage plum lemonade sounds incredible. Nice to see the 5 & 5 returns. Great sounding salad, too. Find them Friday from 4pm to 7pm, Saturday noon to 7pm, and Sunday noon to 4pm. 5011-B NE 42nd Avenue, Portland

Better Half has soft opened. Their first day open was yesterday, but they are opening today and tomorrow from 9am to 5pm. They are really looking forward to seeing you at their new space in the former Food Front location. 2375 NW Thurman Street, Portland

Astral x Rhinestone for Gremio Chafa [bad social club]. On Tuesday, October 6, chefs John Boisse and Lauren Breneman bring Astral’s progressive, Oregon-sourced take on Mexican cuisine into Rhinestone’s kitchen alongside Chef Graham Chaney. Dinner is from 5pm to 9pm (until sold out).

Then, from 9pm to 1am there will be a late-night party at Rhinestone. dj backyardmango spins Mexican cumbia and Latin funk. Guest bartenders from NYC and Guadalajara will join the party. Pours come from Banhez mezcal, Libélula tequila, and Pisco Control; late-night food runs all night.

For both of these elements of the night, there’s no RSVP and no cover. 21+ after 8pm. 2100 SE Clinton Street, Portland

Barmageddon—it’s a positive, in this case. The above event at Rhinestone is part of Barmageddon, a project from the Portland Bar Coalition. This is a city-wide celebration of Portland’s bars and restaurants. From Sunday, October 4 to Wednesday, October 7 there are a ton of events—day events, night events, and check out the heat map.

“We have over 40 bars and restaurants offering happy hour deals, food specials, bike rides, and pop-ups with bars from CDMX to NYC.” Amazing. Multiple locations

New seasonal flavors at Kate’s. They’ve got more great flavors for October, and they include:

• Twix. Chewy caramel and crunchy shortbread topped with chocolate and stirred into their rich chocolate ice cream.
• Butterscotch Toffee Crunch. Housemade caramelized toffee bits coated in chocolate in their butterscotch ice cream base.
• Horchata Churro. Cinnamon horchata ice cream with crunchy bits of cinnamon sugar coated shortbread. This flavor is coconut-free.

Caramel Apple Pie Sundaes are also here for October: “Warm, gooey apple pie filling, housemade pie crust under a scoop of your choosing, and topped with vegan caramel sauce.” 3713 N Mississippi Avenue and 1430 NW 23rd Avenue, Portland

Function will close next month. The final day of service for their Portland taprooms is Monday, November 16; they’ve been around for nine years here. But for you folks in Idaho, they’ll have two locations there, and are also creating a presence in Milwaukee, WI. Final party details TK. 2006 NE Alberta Street and 919 NW 23rd Avenue, Portland

Poulet Vous at Bar Nouveau on their one-year anniversary. Happening Monday, October 5 from 6pm to 9pm, Poulet Vous is the name of Bar Nouveau‘s birthday party. There will be chicken nuggets and dipping sauces, some sides, bubbles, ABBA, and friends. Sounds like a great time! No reservations needed. 7425 N Leavitt Avenue, Portland

Tastemaker sandwich collab: Sebastiano’s + Alanna of Shifting Tides. This month, Sebastiano’s is partnering with Alanna Kieffer, who founded Shifting Tides on the Oregon Coast. She describes herself as, “a passionate Oregon Coast tidepool tour guide, foraging guide, and lifelong advocate for the Pacific Northwest’s incredible coastal ecosystems.” Here’s what the sando is all about:

“In line with Alanna’s focus on ocean health and sustainability, we’re spotlighting local catch Oregon Bay Shrimp, a Monterey Bay Aquarium “Best Choice” for sustainability. For this special, we’re filling our warm, buttery brioche rolls with an Oregon Bay Shrimp salad (celery, red onion, mayo, parsley, and our Calabrian Chili Hot Sauce) and topping them with a Sicilian-inspired Furikake of toasted, ground fennel seed, sesame seed, and dried seaweed. We’re calling it the Shifting Tides Shrimp Roll ($16 with Paprika Chips), and $2 from each sandwich will be donated to OSU’s Big Fish Lab to support shark research.”

Also at Sebastiano’s this month: coconut custard bombolini! 8235 SE 13th Avenue, #7, Portland

Good news: Parkrose Local Grocery surpassed its fundraising goal. This was the campaign with Historic Parkrose. The goal was $30,000; it’s over $32,000 as of the writing of this blurb. “We are grateful to everyone who donated, shared the campaign, supported Don, and helped demonstrate how important this project is to the Parkrose community.” Online

Vancouver’s Main Street reconstruction project has finished ahead of schedule. It has been very disruptive but the wait for normalcy to return is over. What surprised me was that the city said the project was “33 years in the making” and involved “a $26 million investment.” They also say that it, “improves safety, fosters community, and supports economic development along lower Main Street.”

They are going to celebrate with a party with the City and Vancouver’s Downtown Association on Wednesday, October 7 from 5pm to 8pm, “hosted on the Kiggins Block of Main Street at 1011 Main Street.” It would surprise me if there was no food or drink. I may show up; perhaps I’ll see you there! Downtown Vancouver

Mad Greek Deli Rock Creek will close. Their final day of serving up gyros, souvlaki, and their Mad Greek Sandwich will be Saturday, November 28. “Our building has been sold, and the increased economic pressure with no relief in sight has made it impossible to continue. We’ve been pushing hard for a long time, but it’s time to call it with grace.” Their East Burnside location will remain open. 18515 NW West Union Road, Portland

Hoptoberfresh 2026. StormBreaker Brewing is celebrating “fresh hop beers, Oktoberfest-style brews, and good times with the StormBreaker community” this weekend in St. Johns. Look for Greman food and beer samples, too. Friday, October 2 to Sunday, October 4. 8409 N Lombard Street, Portland

Or, head to Prost! this weekend for their Oktoberfest. From Friday to Sunday, October 2 to 4, they will have lots of German beer, they’ll tap a keg, there will be live music, and food specials. 4237 N Mississippi Avenue, Portland

You can also check out Rosenstadt Brewing for Oktoberfest this weekend. This will also be their 11th anniversary and first anniversary for their NE Portland taproom. On Saturday, October 3 from 2pm to 7pm you can enjoy their beer, they’ll tap a keg at 2pm, and there will be games, prizes, a DJ, and all sorts of fun. 2117 N Oregon Street, Suite 703, Portland

Bistecca is closing. Unlike with OK Omens earlier in this roundup, this closing feels more forced by circumstances beyond Bistecca’s control. “It is with a heavy heart that I announce the permanent closure of Bistecca. The restaurant industry is relentless, and the financial landscape has only grown more difficult. Ultimately, the crushing weight of tariffs and gas prices became too challenging. We were in discussions with another group to pass the torch, but those plans ultimately fell through.” Their final night of service is Saturday, October 17. Very sorry to see them go. 2145 NW Raleigh Street, Portland

Sunset Food Park has opened. This is a 3-cart “boutique” (this is a new-to-me term for pods) food cart pod in the Lloyd District. Tombing Sushi is the first cart on site and they are looking for two more. It’s a cute little spot, built on what was basically a large, shallow depression in the dirt by the Burger King and that intersection of fast food Mexican spots. Today it’s paved, has a fence around it, with water, electrical, and sewage hookups. 645 NE Halsey Street, Portland

Wildwood Chocolate has a new Woodland bar connection. This is in conjunction with the upcoming “Wildwood” film, which is set in Portland. You can find the chocolate bars here, plus I learned that Wildwood Chocolate named themselves after the Wildwood Trail that runs the length of Forest Park. Also, you can visit Wildwood Chocolate at the upcoming PDX Craft Chocolate Festival. Online

“Where to Eat in Portland, Ore., Right Now.” This is an updated list from the NY Times, which calls Portland, “The dining capital of the Pacific Northwest.” Additions in this update include OK Chicken & Khao Soi and The Paper Bridge. See the list here (gift link). Multiple locations

The Portland Greek Festival starts today. This is a big festival celebrating Greek culture in Portland though dance, crafts, food, and more. It’s today to Sunday, October 2 to 4, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral. The festival website has more info. 3131 NE Glisan Street, Portland

Patufet opens this weekend. Offering “wine + vermouth + treats,” and “inspired by Barcelona’s Vermut bars,” they are opening in the former Foreland Beer space on SE Belmont. Opening weekend stats today: friends and family tonight, industry and Belmont neighbors Saturday, and they fully open to the public on Sunday from noon to 9pm. 2511 SE Belmont Street, Portland

And, guess who’s coming with them? Secret Sauna, that’s who! They had been looking for a new space for their wood-fired sauna. I think they thought Montavilla might remain in play, but in the end they found their way west into the eastern edge of the Buckman neighborhood with Patufet. Latest opening details are still vague (“early October”) but a set date should be available soon. 2511 SE Belmont Street, Portland

“Tavern Tuesdays” at the Crust Collective. Ruse Brewing Crust Collective (PDX location) launched “Tavern Tuesdays” in late September, offering tavern pies along with their Detroit-style pizza. I get semi-regular questions from readers about where to find Midwestern-style tavern pies in this town, so I’m happy to relay this info. “We cannot wait for you to try these pies as we have been working on them for sometime now and studied the style in Chicago with help of our new friend, John!” 1505 NW 21st Avenue, Portland

La Fresa in Troutdale has opened. This Mexican bistro has had a location in Happy Valley and now are in Troudale in the old Troutini space. They have a small brunch menu, drinks, happy hour, and a nice looking dinner menu. I’m intrigued by this Mini Trompo ($38) option: “Mini version of the classic Mexican ‘Trompo de Pastor’ served at your table, accompanied by tortillas, salsas, lime, cilantro, and onion.” 101 W Historic Columbia River Hwy, Troutdale

Fresh Love has a new seasonal salad. You know I love to talk about salad, so here we go. This is their Fall Crisp Apple and Fennel Salad: Cosmic Crisp apples, shaved fennel, local greens from The Urban Acre , celery, Parmesan cheese, toasty sunflower seeds, and a sherry vinaigrette. Sounds like fall to me. 7434 NE Fremont Street, Portland

Cafe Rowan expands beyond brunch. Brunch is staying, but dinner arrives Friday, November 6; dinner service will run Wednesdays to Saturdays from 5pm to 9pm. Their dinner “will feature a seasonal à la carte offering, with plans to eventually introduce a tasting menu.”

They’ve also done a rebrand and it looks like they are slimming down to simply. “Rowan”—“Our new logo is inspired by the handwriting of Chef Spencer’s late grandmother. She was not only a WW2 veteran, a Red Cross volunteer, and a Braille transcriber for local schools — but most importantly, she was the person who inspired Spencer to become a chef twenty years ago.” 4437 SE Cesar E Chavez Blvd, Portland

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Stories you may have missed this week on Bridgetown Bites:

Second Annual Portland Craft Chocolate Festival Is This Weekend
Good Taste BBQ, 18 NW 4th Avenue in Portland?
The Great Portland Grape Stomp: Portland Wine Company Celebrates 20 Years
Two Brothers: 20 Years of Classic Balkan Food in Portland