Sugar Hill Bar to Open This Summer in SE Portland

Image credit: Jackie’s

Sugar Hill, a new ’70s-inspired bar, will open this summer in SE Portland. The people behind Sugar Hill are the same ones behind Jackie’s (formerly Century) on SE Sandy Blvd and Two Wrongs on NW 13th Ave in the Pearl. Neither of these places have a reputation for “taking themselves too seriously,” and I expect Sugar Hill will carry on that tradition.

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Top 5 Posts on Bridgetown Bites, May 2022

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Better late than never with this review of May’s top posts on Bridgetown Bites; Salad Week took a lot of time and attention in late May/early June. It was a lot of fun! So here are the top posts for May 2022—as expected, restaurant news and info, including details on various openings, were popular items—Italian food, Latin American food, and pizza got a lot of interest. As always, thanks for reading.

5. Interesting Projects From República’s Team & Associates

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República, a restaurant that offers enjoyment and world-expanding flavors in delicious regional Mexican cooking, has garnered high praise from both food media (PoMo’s Restaurant of the Year 2021PDX Eater’s Best New Restaurant 2021, 2022 James Beard Award Semifinalist as Best New Restaurant) and eaters in Portland. They show us that there is much to experience from a country that is often thought of in the U.S. as simply the home of margaritas, burritos, tacos—and, if you’re getting fancy, tres leches cake (these are all delicious, but are a fraction of what Mexico has to offer as far as food goes). I personally think it’s very important and meaningful to highlight the regional tastes of our neighbor to the south, and I’m glad República is doing just that.

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Reader/Online Salad Picks + Salads We Want to Try

There are a whole bunch of salads recommended by Portlanders online—thanks especially to those who submitted their pics through the online form and for those who answered via Facebook. Here are some of their recommendations for salads + a mention of salads we haven’t tried, but want to. 

Reader Recommendations

Another great salad from New Seasons: Lemongrass Chicken

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Portland Salad Week – Salads We Like, Part Two

You’ve seen Part One of Salads We Like during Portland Salad Week—here’s Part Two!

Papaya Salad: Sivalai Thai

Photo credit: Yelp

What’s in it: Green papayas, carrots, tomatoes, peanuts, chili cooked in lime sauce.

We love a good ol’ papaya salad and this one definitely delivers. It’s high in flavor and texture and a little goes a long way. Sensitive palates may want to start slow, as the heat can quickly creep up on you. Those with more tolerance will find themselves reaching for seconds and thirds. –JR

4806 SE Stark Street, Portland. https://www.facebook.com/SivalaiThaiRestaurant/ 

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Where to Get a Big Salad in Portland

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A big salad from Garden Monsters—The Hercules with chicken

Over the years, I’ve heard people ask, “So where can I get a big salad in Portland?” If they are a New York transplant, they are probably thinking of those chopped salad and panini spots that were (are?) ubiquitous in Midtown Manhattan. Or the kind of “Big Salad” referred to in Seinfeld. But really—sometimes you just want a big salad, no matter where you come from. 

Here are some places where you can get the classic “Big Salad”—but instead of a bowl of “big lettuce, carrots, tomatoes like volleyballs,” a la Seinfeld, you can get a mix of diverse ingredients that will be delicious and satisfying—enough for a whole meal (sometimes two, if you play your lettuce cards right—Romaine stands up better overnight compared to mesclun greens).

Canteen

Photo credit: Yelp

Self-described at a “​​world famous organic juice and smoothie bar,” the food here I would say is nutrient dense, healthy, and fresh—the kind of place I like to go when I need to nourish myself. They offer two substantial salads at their SE Stark location: 

  • Walnut Taco Salad: mixed greens, carrot, red cabbage, avocado-curry sauce, walnut taco crumble, pico de gallo, cashew nacho spread, avocado, green onions.
  • Quinoa Confetti: quinoa, curried cashews, currants, apple, celery, mint, cilantro, lime, balsamic vinaigrette. (Add a bed of balsamic dressed greens for $2.)

I usually get a smoothie with my salad (The Orange One is a fave). I love eating here. Definitely put it on your list of tasty healthy crunchy food spots. 

2816 SE Stark Street, Portland. http://www.canteenpdx.com/

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