Portland food news and views
News and reviews of restaurants in Portland, Oregon.
Some of the most written about places on this blog include:
Portland Mercado [Latin American]
Ben & Esther’s [Jewish/Vegan]
Sizzle Pie [Pizza]
Bee’s Cakes [Cakes and Baked Goods]
Salt & Straw [Ice Cream]
Nepali Kitchen [Nepalese]
Vivienne[Bakery, Wine Bar, Bookstore]
Kachka [Russian]
Chin’s Kitchen [Dongbei Chinese]
Arrowood [New American]
Earlier this week a Bridgetown Bites tipster emailed me news that Ole Frijole, located on the northwest corner of Killingsworth and NE 42nd Ave, has closed. They wrote, “My neighbor mentioned that she just read a sweet message to customers posted on their door saying that they closed and the property has been sold.” Looks like the closure was one month ago on May 4.
Continue reading “Ole Frijole Has Closed”
“Meg, you’re really pushing it!” I say to myself about the delayed posting—almost to June—of the blog’s monthly top 5 posts roundup. Truth be told, traffic was affected a lot after the March 2024 adjustment in Google’s “Helpful Content Update,” and … well … it’s been a real bummer. So, it means devoting some time to re-strategize. Still, over 9,300 unique visitors made it here and generated just under 12,000 page views for the month.
I appreciate your reading, sharing, and enjoying the content here on Bridgetown Bites—many, many thanks. You can also follow us on Instagram and Facebook, as well as X/twitter, and aforementioned re-strategizing will affect the social channels, too. Now, onto the top posts from April (plus some updates).
5. Get Ready for Fallow’s Restaurant, From the People Behind Bastion
The folks behind Bastion, a restaurant in Sellwood that shows you that food can be both healthy and delicious, are opening up a new restaurant, Fallow’s, just up the street in the old Relish Gastropub space. They will offer dinner service (Bastion closes at 4pm the days they are open). As a fan of Bastion, I’m pretty excited about this.
Update: They have launched a Kickstarter and it has a whole bunch of new information in it about the restaurant.
Continue reading “Top 5 Posts on Bridgetown Bites, April 2024”Help Fresh Love feed anyone. This week I learned about Fresh Love‘s project to help people access good food. They keep a gift card that can be used to pay for meals: “When someone comes in who cannot pay, no questions asked, we use this gift card to cover the cost of the bill.” Staff refills the card but you can, too—meaning, you can add to the card as part of your bill when you purchase something at Fresh Love. I think it’s a wonderful thing to do, and so simple. “Thanks so much for your help and let’s keep paying it forward!” 7434 NE Fremont Street, Portland
Adult ice cream social planned at Cafe Rowan. They announced on Instagram their plans to do an “adult ice cream social” in a couple of weeks. Saturday evenings 7pm to 11pm (more or less). “5 ridiculous sundaes, 5 ridiculous cocktails, 5 ridiculous glasses of wine… its gonna be a ridiculously fun time.” 4437 SE Cesar Chavez Blvd, Portland
Jacqueline is rumored to be moving. A Bridgetown Bites tipster sent me this inside tip: “Jacqueline will be moving into the former La Moule/Bakers place at 25th and Clinton, probably around the September timeframe.” I reached out to Jacqueline early this week for more info; I will share anything that I learn from them. You may remember that La Moule closed last July and Baker’s, a “bar with fun food,” took over that space in November 2023, then closed in early 2024. 2500 SE Clinton Street, Portland
Toki will shutter on Sunday, May 26. Right after Sunday brunch service Toki, a downtown Portland restaurant from the Cho family (Han Oak, Jeju), will close. They announced it on Instagram. And while it’s goodbye Toki, they will continue to hone their work at their other restaurants—both in experimenting with new dishes/concepts and returning to things the work for them: “As a collective team at HAN OAK and JEJU we’ll try some new ideas, bring classics back like the KOREAN FRIED CHICKEN with ‘essence of instant ramen’, the CRUNCHWRAP SUPREME, the HANOKONOMIYAKI, and the BAO! We’ll do our best to keep growing, intentionally.” 580 SW 12th Avenue, Portland
Bonus: As you’ve probably heard, Red Lobster filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week. I was listening to an NPR story about it and the best thing that came out of the entire piece, IMO, is that Red Lobster put together a playlist of AI-generated music called “Cheddar Bay-I.” I love a good pun (and I love those Cheddar Bay Biscuits, ngl). My first experience with Red Lobster was years ago in Beaumont TX, where when I said I didn’t know what a hush puppy was, they gave me a half dozen on the house, “so you can say you’ve had them.” In the Portland metro area, there are Red Lobsters in Gresham, Tigard, and Vancouver, WA; there does not seem to be any Red Lobsters in Portland proper.
Stories you may have missed this week on Bridgetown Bites:
Zaiqa To Open in Old Bambuza Space
Bobacat Teahouse Will Open in Irvington
Good News: PSU’s Library Food Carts Will Remain Open
Zaiqa, a restaurant specializing in Indian and Pakistani cuisine, is set to open in the South Waterfront area, according to filed paperwork with the City of Portland. They will take over the space that Vietnamese restaurant Bambuza held for 16 years.
Continue reading “Zaiqa To Open in Old Bambuza Space in Portland”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
