First Tastes Archives - Bridgetown Bites

October 22, 2024December 7, 2024

First Tastes: Parallel, a Wine Bar in NE Portland

Parallel Salad at Parallel Wine Bar in Portland Oregon. — The titular Parallel Salad.

The other day I was invited to hang out at Parallel, a wine bar over on NE Sandy, and try a few things. Here are my impressions, along with a few observations and some helpful information about the place. Note: This meal was comped but opinions are my own.

July 23, 2024July 25, 2024

First Tastes: Northport (Review)

The exterior of Northport, a restaurant in North Portland.

The other day—actually, it was on my birthday—I stopped in at Northport in the Kenton neighborhood in North Portland. I was eager to check it out, as I’d been following the progress of the restaurant for many months. An early July media tasting had to be postponed, so I caught up with them a couple weeks later, for a nice solo lunch.

Note: This meal was comped but opinions are my own.

February 9, 2022April 21, 2025

First Tastes: Futura Coffee Roasters

The counter at Future Coffee Roasters in the Montavilla neighborhood in Portland, Oregon.

Last week I stopped by Futura Coffee Roasters, a new cafe that opened in the old Fillmore Coffee shop location on NE Glisan in Montavilla. It’s a beautiful space with a full range of coffee drinks, plus a small food menu, pastries and bagels. Bottom line: it’s a great addition to the neighborhood.

January 3, 2022January 5, 2022

First Tastes: Pumpkin Spiced Bread at Tabor Tavern

A truly excellent dessert at Tabor Tavern.

On New Year’s Eve, my household has established a tradition of eating at Tabor Tavern, a gastropub on E Burnside in the North Tabor neighborhood. It’s an extension of our previous tradition of eating at one of our favorite gastropubs in Queens, Sweet Afton. After a meal at Tabor Tavern that featured one of their excellent burgers and fries with an addictive malt vinegar aioli, we got this dessert, Pumpkin Spiced Bread, which is one of the best things I ate in 2021.

December 20, 2021December 20, 2021

First Tastes: French Onion Meatball Sub at Frog & Snail

The French Onion Meatball Sub at Frog & Snail

I don’t remember exactly when I noticed this sandwich on Frog & Snail’s Instagram, but I was instantly intrigued by it: French onion soup in sandwich form. What a great idea! And I finally got a chance to taste this French Onion Meatball Sub last week.