Portland food news and views
Portland! It’s where I live, work, and play. It’s where the food news happens (at least most of it). This category is one of the real constants on Bridgetown Bites and is probably a part of almost every post on this blog.
While I was hanging out in Woodstock last weekend to watch the World Cup England-Norway semifinal match at The Heist, I walked around the neighborhood and came across a new restaurant going in: Sushi Dash. It’s in the old Subway sandwich shop by the Safeway. Here’s what we know.
Continue reading “Sushi Dash Will Open in Portland’s Woodstock Neighborhood”
A new Vietnamese restaurant will open in what was the McCormick & Schmick’s Harborside restaurant space for many years. It’s called Cay Bar & Grill, and they’ll offer “authentic Vietnamese cuisine with a modern bar experience.” I reached out to owner Khoa Tran the other day and here is what I learned.
Continue reading “Cay Bar & Grill Will Open in the Old McCormick & Schmick’s Harborside in Portland”
For a while now, I’ve wanted to find a way to share updates on past stories we’ve published on Bridgetown Bites in some kind of regular, orderly way. Social media seems clunky for this, as it moves so fast, hence this new—and experimental—updates column. This month it’s called July 2026 Story Updates. Perhaps a little boring, but it’s straight and to the point.
They plan is to publish mid-month, once a month. Please let us know if you find this kind of thing helpful.
Continue reading “July 2026 Story Updates: Food Carts, Deli, Bars, and More”
Last October, The Richmond Bar closed after 13 years in business. In January of this year, it appeared that something called “Irene’s” was moving in. Time passed. Then last month I had a chance to chat with Dan Casto, the owner of The Richmond Club, which is the real name of the new bar opening in what was The Richmond Bar space. Here’s what we talked about.
Continue reading “The Richmond Club Succeeds The Richmond Bar in Portland”
Last week I got an email from Michael Shea, co-owner (with his wife, Wendi) about the fact that Rum Club is turning 15 years old this month. With all the recent talk of “barmageddon” and witnessing so many places closing, it’s impressive to see Rum Club have staying power. We chatted on the phone about the bar, it’s vibe, their thoughtful cocktail program, the lingering effects of COVID, and the waning interest in standing at bars, among other things. Here’s part of our conversation.
Continue reading “Rum Club Celebrates 15 Years in Portland”