Portland food news and views
Restaurant, bar, cafe, and food truck closings are the subject some of the most read Portland food news on Bridgetown Bites.
In the words of the band that shares the same name, “I’m here without you, baby, but you’re still on my lonely mind”: the 3 Doors Down Cafe has closed. Active since the 1990s, this is another instance of “old Portland” leaving—and yet another restaurant closure in these strange economic times.
Continue reading “3 Doors Down Cafe Has Closed in Portland”Trails End bar is open. There’s a new bar that has opened up in the old Cavern space on SE Hawthorne. I actually lost track of them at one point because apparently Instagram and Meta shut down their original Instagram page; I discovered their new one today. It’s brought to you by the folks behind The Standard and the Bottle Rocket Burgers food cart. Their soft opening was last night. 21+ only. 4601 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland
Goodbye Jim & Patty’s. We wrote about their fundraiser in September, and they raised close to $41,000 but ultimately closed it down. “In light of what’s going on in Appalachia, we want to withdraw. Our concerns are nothing compared to what those folks are going through.” On a personal note, I have had family affected by the floods, and Helene’s disastrous effects really are astonishing and heartbreaking.
One piece of good news from Jim & Patty’s is that they are putting together a cookbook. When I was there today enjoying my last Pig Newton, I wondered to myself, “Could I figure out how to make one of these?” Maybe I won’t have to, maybe it will be in the cookbook…
Head to their NE Fremont location on Sunday for a party: “We’ll be in a celebrating mood on Sunday and we’d love to share the day with you. Grant Law is going to provide some live acoustic music, and we’re not sure what else is going to happen…” They will close their doors at the end of business on Monday, November 11. 4951 NE Fremont Street, Portland
Frybread Fest is Saturday. Celebrate Native American Heritage Month at Frybread Fest, which will feature … free frybread from Javelina (while supplies last). There will also be Native American vendors, storytelling and drumming, and cultural tables. Saturday, November 9, 11am to 5pm at Director Park. 815 SW Park Avenue, Portland
Sebastiano’s at Wellspent Market. Stop by Wellspent Market this Saturday from 10am to 1pm to bask in the tastiness fof Sebastiano’s in a pop-up event. Pick up your Big Sweet Woofer pastry box (order here), sample their new Calabrian Chili Marmellata, savory crostatas, and other sweets as available. Caffe Apertivo will feature non-alcoholic drinks from Puff Coffee and Wilderton Spirits. It’s gonna be great! 3402 SE Division Street, Portland
Stories you may have missed this week on Bridgetown Bites:
Chop Chop Food Pod Is Open
Top 5 Posts on Bridgetown Bites, October 2024
Broadway Pizza Shoppe Will Open on NE 15th Avenue
The East Side Dining Guide Is Here
And our Thanksgiving guide keeps getting updated throughout the month.
In what feels a little like a shock to the Portland’s restaurant system, three restaurants/bars have announced closings in the last week: Bar Asha, Zula, and XO Bar. Honestly, I cover closings throughout the year but this seems like a lot.
Continue reading “Three Closures: Bar Asha, Zula, XO Bar in Portland”
Over on Instagram, Cereus PDX has announced they are closing after about two and a half years in business at Prescott Village (NE Prescott Street and 15th Avenue). During that time they have offered a menu of tasty South American food and drinks, gracious hospitality, and good times. I wrote about their opening back in 2022 and enjoyed the food when I dined there. We see goodbyes and restaurant closings happen in Portland fairly regularly—unfortunately—but this goodbye message included some critical thoughts from Bradley Thomas Stevens, one of the owners of Cereus.
Continue reading “Cereus PDX Is Closing”Burger Stevens has closed. Hailed at one point as one of Portland’s best burgers, Burger Stevens closed this week (Sunday, September 29). There are a variety of rumors floating around about the closure, from the amount of time employees were warned before the closing, to a new tenant for that cart/location, but that’s what they are: rumors. What is real is that the cart is closed. You can find Don Salamone and Kate Laurents (they ran Burger Stevens) in Beaverton these days as they oversee Don’s Favorite Foods, a prix-fixe restaurant offering an Italian- and French-influenced menu. 4237 N Mississippi Avenue, Portland
Rocky Butte Farmers Market fall and winter markets! I was very happy to read about the RBFM’s monthly markets happening this fall and winter. There will be three of them: October 26, November 23, and December 14. The October market will be in the Glenhaven Park parking lot, others TBD. Read more on their Instagram account. 7900 NE Siskiyou Street, Portland
Cassata at Pinolo. When I lived in Astoria, Queens, I used to get cassata cake at one of the old Sicilian bakeries in my neighborhood, and it would usually show up around Easter. But right now in Portland, you can find it in gelato form at Pinolo Gelato! Their version sounds delicious: “We combine ricotta, almond, and candied citrus zest to make a floral and zesty gelato with a delicate nutty flavor and a velvety texture.” Note: I saw that Papa Haydn is offering a cassata cake right now and, with all due respect … that’s not cassata. Now THIS is a gorgeous cassata. 3707 SE Division Street, Portland
A brewery and food hall are coming to the Hollywood District. A reader pointed out this news to me and I am very excited to see something open up in that old Pono Brewing/Columbia River Brewing/Laurelwood Brewing space. The people behind it are the same ones behind Zoiglhaus Brewing, Chad Rennaker and Alan Taylor. The O describes it as an “as-yet unnamed brewery and food hall in the Hollywood District.”
There’s also this: “He said the new food hall will incorporate the main restaurant space and potentially nearby retail places as they become available.” Construction is being delayed by the permit process but they are apparently doing some “exploratory demolition” where they open up walls to see what’s up in there.
A side note: this past spring I spied an Early Assistance permit that made it sound like a big new building was going to be considered at that location: “Request Street Vacation of alley between two parcels. Construct new 5-story mixed-use building on north parcel. Interior alterations at existing building.” The more recent permit (status: under review) from September goes like this: “Interior alteration of existing two-story building with basement by the owner. Includes demo of interior walls on first and second floor to create food pods on first floor and lounge for office employee at second floor. Partial change of occupancy from B and M to a on first floor. No work on basement.” 1728 NE 40th Avenue, Portland
Stories you may have missed this week on Bridgetown Bites:
The 2024 Portland Fermentation Festival Is Almost Here
Top 5 Posts on Bridgetown Bites, September 2024
Pleasure Mountain To Offer Indian Cocktails and More in NE Portland
Fancy Baby Will Bring “The Craziest Champagne List” to NW Portland
Bonus: This week I started keeping a list of restaurant openings and closings (including bars, food carts, and cafes) that I’ve covered here on Bridgetown Bites. It will be interesting to review the list at the end of the year.
Also, both the Portland Greek Festival and Portland Argentinian Festival are this weekend!
