Portland food news and views
I recently learned that cocktail lounge Moloko in North Portland is celebrating 20 years in business this month—a notable milestone. They’ll recognize these 20 years at their space on North Mississippi Avenue with an anniversary party on the evening of Sunday, August 9, 2026.
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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.
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Bridgetown Bites is Nine. Happy birthday to Bridgetown Bites! Today is this blog’s 9th birthday. We’ve been reporting on the Portland food and drink scene since 2017—with an increased effort starting about two and a half years ago. But this whole time we’ve worked hard to showcase the range of eating and drinking options in Portland and the metro area, with an emphasis on independently owned businesses—restaurants, bakeries, convenience stores, CSAs and farmers markets, cafes, bars, food carts, and more.
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Grits N’ Gravy has closed. (Not to be confused with Gravy on N Mississippi.) This was a breakfast spot downtown next door to Souvlaki Queen. At first they thought they could do one more breakfast but they “have been given no leeway.” In their words, “Times have gotten hard and business has been declining since last August. We held on for as long as we could but we can’t keep going.”
Continue reading “Small Bites: Grits N’ Gravy, Farag’s, Sure Shot, and More”
Portland’s James Beard Awards winners in 2026—not one, but two! No … three! On Monday night we learned who won the 2026 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards. Portland was represented by two of these awards—one for Scotch Lodge for Outstanding Bar and one for Ryan Roadhouse at Nodoguro for Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA).
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