Bridgetown is a nickname for Portland because of all the bridges that span the Willamette River – 12 in all (of those, one is dedicated to rail and one prohibits private cars and trucks).
Sugar Hill, a new ’70s-inspired bar, will open this summer in SE Portland. The people behind Sugar Hill are the same ones behind Jackie’s (formerly Century) on SE Sandy Blvd and Two Wrongs on NW 13th Ave in the Pearl. Neither of these places have a reputation for “taking themselves too seriously,” and I expect Sugar Hill will carry on that tradition.
Better late than never with this review of May’s top posts on Bridgetown Bites; Salad Week took a lot of time and attention in late May/early June. It was a lot of fun! So here are the top posts for May 2022—as expected, restaurant news and info, including details on various openings, were popular items—Italian food, Latin American food, and pizza got a lot of interest. As always, thanks for reading.
República, a restaurant that offers enjoyment and world-expanding flavors in delicious regional Mexican cooking, has garnered high praise from both food media (PoMo’s Restaurant of the Year 2021, PDX Eater’s Best New Restaurant 2021, 2022 James Beard Award Semifinalist as Best New Restaurant) and eaters in Portland. They show us that there is much to experience from a country that is often thought of in the U.S. as simply the home of margaritas, burritos, tacos—and, if you’re getting fancy, tres leches cake (these are all delicious, but are a fraction of what Mexico has to offer as far as food goes). I personally think it’s very important and meaningful to highlight the regional tastes of our neighbor to the south, and I’m glad República is doing just that.
There are a whole bunch of salads recommended by Portlanders online—thanks especially to those who submitted their pics through the online form and for those who answered via Facebook. Here are some of their recommendations for salads + a mention of salads we haven’t tried, but want to.
Reader Recommendations
Another great salad from New Seasons: Lemongrass Chicken
You’ve seen Part One of Salads We Like during Portland Salad Week—here’s Part Two!
Papaya Salad: Sivalai Thai
Photo credit: Yelp
What’s in it: Green papayas, carrots, tomatoes, peanuts, chili cooked in lime sauce.
We love a good ol’ papaya salad and this one definitely delivers. It’s high in flavor and texture and a little goes a long way. Sensitive palates may want to start slow, as the heat can quickly creep up on you. Those with more tolerance will find themselves reaching for seconds and thirds. –JR
A big salad from Garden Monsters—The Hercules with chicken
Over the years, I’ve heard people ask, “So where can I get a big salad in Portland?” If they are a New York transplant, they are probably thinking of those chopped salad and panini spots that were (are?) ubiquitous in Midtown Manhattan. Or the kind of “Big Salad” referred to by Elaine in Seinfeld. But really—sometimes you just want a big salad, no matter where you come from.
Here are some places where you can get the classic “Big Salad”—but instead of a bowl of “big lettuce, carrots, tomatoes like volleyballs,” a la Seinfeld, you can get a mix of diverse ingredients that will be delicious and satisfying—enough for a whole meal (sometimes two, if you play your lettuce cards right—romaine stands up better overnight compared to mesclun greens).
Note: We’ve updated this roundup of where to find a big salad in Portland for 2026’s Portland Salad Week.