Small Bites: Greg Higgins Will Retire, the Elk, Forbidden Fruit, and More

Greg Higgins will retire from creating dishes like these at Higgins.
A few dishes from HIggins: risotto, chicory salad, and Vegan Kabocha croquettes. Photo credit: Higgins.

Greg Higgins will retire. He sent an email out with the announcement: “So, it is with a full and grateful heart that I share my own important milestone with you: I’m planning to retire.” He is looking to sell the restaurant, for “the right steward for Higgins, someone who understands what this place means to our guests and employees, and will carry it forward into its next chapter here in Portland.” He wants the restaurant to continue to thrive.

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Division Street Dairy Queen Appeal: In Favor of the Applicant

This is the kind of DQ we will very well see now that the Dairy Queen appeal is complete.
A mockup of the new Dairy Queen that has moved closer to being built on SE Division Street. Image credit: Dairy Queen.

Just last week I was wondering about the results of the February 25, 2026 appeal regarding the Division Street Dairy Queen and its drive-thru. On Friday afternoon, a reader sent me the decision made by the Hearings Officer—and it was in favor of the Applicant, Mohan Grewal. In the words of Hearings Officer Marisha Childs, “The Appellant did not prevail in this appeal.”

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Small Bites: Hearth & Vine Opened, Nyamazo, Spotlight Brewing, and More

Hearth & Vine opened yesterday and you can get this burger and fries there.
Burger and fries at Hearth & Vine. Photo credit: Aubrie LeGault

Hearth & Vine opened yesterday. We covered this restaurant last year when it was shrouded in mystery. I can’t deny that doing the research at the time was a lot of fun, uncovering details incrementally. There are a couple of publications that got the first bite of info right before Hearth & Vine opened, but here’s a condensed version of the press release we received yesterday, with tidbits we think you’d like to know.

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