Four Things I Learned This Week (May 17)

OG Phat is over. Back in March a Bridgetown Bites tipster directed me to this post on Guerrilla Development’s Instagram page about a project called “OG Phat” on NE Sandy Blvd and 68th. I reached out to Kevin at Guerrilla, who was happy to chat about it on the phone this week to clarify what’s up with the project. The bottom line: OG Phat is no longer in process. It was an adaptive reuse project by Mekha, the Vietnamese grocer Nam Phuong Market, and the old Yen Ha space, which was going to be a taproom.

Kevin bought the property during the pandemic and is probably going to sell it. He wishes it was a different reality, but it is what it is. I’m bummed because of the potential it held but am glad to know what’s up. For now, case closed. 6834-6838 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland

Pronto Gelato opens Memorial Day weekend. This is great news and I can’t want to check it out. The details: “We are opening our doors Saturday May 25 and will be open through Sunday 5/26 and Monday 5/27 from 3-9 PM each night! Come on over and stop by for some gelato, espresso, and fun! See you SOON” 4205 NE Alberta Street, Portland

Cornet Custard to open in their own space. Cornet Custard, which currently operates out of the Colibri Florist, will be moving to their own location. A tipster sent me a note about it, after having heard these details from Mika Paredes, one the owners of Cornet. A little research led me to the old Woodsman Tavern as a very possible location of this new location, as Naomi Pomeroy (the other Cornet owner) is mentioned in ORSOS docs for that corner of SE Division and 46th Avenue. I reached out to them earlier this week and hope to confirm this location sooner than later. Update 5/21/24: Turns out the new Cornet Custard location is going to be in the old Woodsman Market space next door (same address). Looks like they chose to speak with The Oregonian first (paywall) on the details. Additional tidbit: Pomeroy is opening a bistro in the old Woodsman Tavern. 4537 SE Division Street, Portland

New food cart pod coming to SE Hawthorne Blvd. The Hawthorne Street Food & Bar is coming to SE Hawthorne where 42nd Avenue meets it from the south. The buildings on it have been bulldozed and new electrical, plumbing, and gas permits have been filed. Along with 14 carts and seating, there will be a full bar. Projected opening: Summer 2024. 4225 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland


Stories you may have missed this week on Bridgetown Bites:

Are You the Next Assistant Market Manager for the Rocky Butte Farmers Market?
Lux Coffee Lounge Is Open in the Hazelwood Neighborhood
NA/AF-Focused Ever AFter Will Open in Portland

Updated May 21. 2024.

Four Things I Learned This Week (May 3)

CSA Demystified. Head to Vivienne on Monday, May 6 for a free, informal CSA-centric event from the PNWCSA called “CSA Demystified.” It’s all “about the benefits of Community Supported Agriculture as well as the learning curve. Sip on wine while we have a lively conversation and Q&A with local farmers and CSA veterans.” As someone who ran a CSA for a decade, I can tell that these types of events are really informative and fun. You can RSVP here. 2724 NE Alberta Street, Portland

The Sudra is closing. This one hits hard, as I love their food: The Sudra, serving up vegan Indian-inspired food, is, as they say, calling it quits. They explain on Instagram: “This winter was the worst we’ve had in years. We were hoping things would pick up with the nicer weather but unfortunately that hasn’t been the case. We’ll be around until the end of May so please come through to eat, drink, and say good bye.” Another reminder that if there’s a place you’ve been meaning to check out, do it. 28 NE 28th Avenue, Portland

Oh mah gaw, The Deck returns next week! I love this floating restaurant on the Columbia River, with its classic American and pub fare (favorites include the steak bites, bay shrimp salad, and cheese curds), good beer, plus soothing views on the water. They reopen on Wednesday, May 8 and then 11am to sunset, daily (until they close back up again in the fall). New this season: a dessert menu and Sunday brunch. It’s dog-friendly, too. 2901 NE Marine Drive, Portland

Portland Cider Co wins big. From their PR folks: “Portland Cider Company’s Original Gold Cider took home the top award at this year’s International Brewing and Cider Awards held in Manchester and London, United Kingdom. Original Gold, the company’s most-awarded cider, earned its 12th gold medal at this year’s competition, then received the best-in-class trophy at the awards ceremony. This is the first time in the competition’s 136-year history that a U.S. cidery has brought home this trophy.” Congrats, Portland Cider Co! 8925 SE Jannsen Road, Clackamas

Bonus: 503 Day. There’s been a campaign going on this year to make May 3, “503 Day” in Portland. Best snark about it comes from Reddit: “503 day is a holiday made up by phone companies to sell more area codes.” City Cast Portland is behind the push. I kind of like it. Throughout the City of Portland


Here are some of the stories you may have missed this week on Bridgetown Bites:

Benditos Latin Fusion Has Opened in the Old Blossoming Lotus Space
There Be Monsters Is Closing This Weekend
Tikka Taco Rito To Open in the Pearl This Summer
The Willamette Wine Spa Will Open in Irvington Later This Year

Four Things I Learned This Week (April 19)

Stumptown Coffee’s grand opening downtown is tomorrow. Stumptown is leaving the Ace Hotel and relocating around the corner at SW 11th and Washington. They are pulling out all the stops, starting with an 8am opening where the first 50 guests get a Stumptown swag bag and a free drink. Other fun stuff includes a donut pop-up from Heyday (10am to noon); DJ Lev spinning tunes starting at 10am; and a chocolate and coffee tasting from Woodblock Chocolate (2pm to 3pm). There will be a raffle, too. 1140 SW Washington Street, Suite 103, Portland

The end is near for Cloud Pine Tea + Culture. I love this little tea house and dim sum spot in Milwaukie’s downtown, and am sorry to see it set to close. Sunday, June 23 will be its last day of service. “We have always set out to be a 3-year project,” they explain. So head on over there for some great food and tea! 10835 SE Main Street, Milwaukie

Snappy’s westside? Snappy’s, the beloved sandwich shop in SE PDX, looks like it’s going to open in NW Portland where the Little Big Burger was, according to documents filed with the city. Many thanks to the tipster who sent this, along with their musing, “I love their Italian sub, and having a location within walking distance would be excellent.” I bet there are a bunch of you who feel similarly. 930 NW 23rd Avenue, Portland

Hollywood Water Avenue Coffee location: FOR LEASE. It might sound like I’m beating a dead horse with this one, but I drove by this week and saw several “FOR LEASE” signs plastered on the exterior of the building. As “Detective Homer Simpson” said, “And that’s the end of that chapter.” Here’s hoping something good arrives there sooner than later. 4615 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland

Four Things I Learned This Week (April 12)

Pho Gabo’s owner will sue the city of Portland. Back in February, Eddie Dong was forced to close Pho Gabo because of complaints that his restaurant violated city code related to odors. Now he’s planning on suing the city. His claim is that he suffered “reputational harm, fear, humiliation, embarrassment, emotional distress, and loss of his community that he built as a Vietnamese restaurant in the Portland community.” His claim also alleges he suffered “economic and noneconomic damages related to the City’s subjective, selective and disproportionate enforcement of city codes.” 7330 NE Fremont Street, Portland

Helen Bernhard Bakery is 100 years old this year. Big congrats to this bakery staple in Irvington, offering cakes, pastries, breads, donuts, and more for a century. It was started by someone actually named Helen Bernhard, a woman of German descent and a minister’s wife. I first had their peanut butter banana cake for a birthday party year ago, and loved it! You can also get King Cakes there during Mardi Gras season. I especially like their almond rings. 1717 NE Broadway #1775, Portland

The Montavilla Food Co-op can now legally package their own food. The Co-op sent out news this week: “We completed our inspection and got fully licensed to repackage shelf stable foods under the Montavilla Food Co-op label!” They will be renting space at Quiche Me If You for their repackaging work. Their long-term goal is to open a grocery store but have been acting like a buying club in the meantime. Read about them, here, and join if you like. 411 SE 81st Avenue Portland

Pronto Gelato is coming to Cully. Brought to you by Andrea Spella (Spella Coffee) and George Kaden (Campana), they joined together in 2023 and started production in early 2024, after buying a gelato business in Eugene from its owner, who was retiring. They are still working things out at the Cully location but you can try their gelato now at Campana and Spella Cafe. Other locations are in the plans, too. According to Gary the Foodie, “The Alberta location will be both a gelateria and caffe.” That means affogati, too. 4205 NE Alberta Street, Portland

Four Things I Learned This Week (April 5)

Maybe there is life for Water Avenue Coffee Hollywood after all. Over the past couple of months, I’ve seen some trucks visiting the site of a potential Water Avenue Coffee in the Hollywood District, located in the old Joule/Wholesome Blends space. And their permit situation woke up this year—the most recent one was set up in February 2023 and was “Approved to Issue” in January 2024. What’s on it? “New Tenant — Converting a restaurant to a coffee shop.” Among other more mundane things (drains, grease interceptor, grab bars in the WC). I’ll continue to keep an eye on it. 4615 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland

PDX Sliders to open on N Williams. Looks like they’ll be taking over the Shine Distillery space in North Portland. Look for them to be open every day, 11am to 11pm, except Sundays when they close at 10pm. I know their website indicates a new NW Portland location but I think they will be a good fit in that hip section of North Portland. I tried to get more info this week but their email and contact form both pooped out on me. So it goes. 4232 N Williams Avenue, Portland

April is Filipino Food Month. All month long, you are encouraged to try some Filipino food, which you can find in Portland, Gresham, and Beaverton. In the words of the organizers, “To celebrate, we’re hosting Portland’s first-ever Filipino food tour called ‘Sobrang Sarap,’ which means ‘very delicious’ in Tagalog. Also: “April was designated Filipino Food Month to appreciate and preserve Filipino culinary heritage, as well as the farmers and fishermen who make it all possible.” For more information and to check out the participants, head to the Sobran Sarap website. Various

Chaat Wallah reopens today. Lately, every time I stop in at Junior’s Roasted Coffee, I look over at the Chaat Wallah cart and wonder when they will return. Well, I no longer have to wonder: they’re back open today! Starting at 4:30pm you can get some of their delicious food from an updated menu—one item that looks really tempting is the Butter Chicken Sandwich, made with Mary’s Chicken thighs (covered in a GF dredge), chilli oil-tossed arugula, Makhani sauce, and pickled onions. You can get it on a Dos Hermanos potato bun or a New Cascadia GF bun. A cold beer from Upright Brewing would go nicely with that sandwich. 7157 NE Prescott Street, Portland