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.
A reader emailed me with the news that Portland’s excellent Balkan restaurant, Two Brothers Rakia Bar + Grill, is for sale. Color me surprised—I had no idea this was in the works until then. This could be a blow to the diversity—and deliciousness—of the Portland food scene. But the reason why they are selling is understandable.
Continue reading “Two Brothers Balkan Restaurant Is For Sale in Portland”“The best Yucatán restaurant in Portland.” I love following Sam Smith‘s eating adventures on Instagram, and in particular his love for what I call “Mexican comfort food.” He knows were the great ones are, as well as key spots for seriously tasty Vietnamese food in this city. He recently ate at El Rinconcito Yucateco on SE Flavel and deemed it the best he’s had as far as Yucatecan cuisine in Portland. I trust his recommendations; check it out. 8202 SE Flavel Street, Portland
Ben & Esther’s on The V Word. Ben & Esther’s Vegan Jewish Deli is featured on an episode of The V Word, “an ongoing docuseries about plant-based chefs who are redefining their cultural cuisines and breaking through the stigmas that surround modern day veganism.” See them on WaterBear Network on Thursday, September 26, 2024. Here’s a preview.
Eating all the Phở in Portland. A Reddit user posted that he’s trying each of the 54 spots serving Phở in Portland; he’s made it to 28 so far. And he’s ranking them. Check out his introductory Reddit post, plus his Github page with photos.
APEX Bar is closing for real. Back in July, I posted about APEX Bar losing their lease and looking for a new space, but the results of that search hasn’t panned out. So, they are closing up shop. On Instagram they posted that they “need your help to lighten our cellar as we pack up and plan our next move.” Last day of business is Saturday, August 31. “Come by for a beer, grab some bottles, and share your ideas for our next home. Cheers to 14+ years and 3,319 unique beers!” 1216 SE Division Street, Portland
Bonus: Updates. A number of businesses I’ve written about here are opening/reopening in the next week or so, so I thought I’d update you on them here. Desi PDX is open at the Upright Beer Station. Moully’s opens their doors this evening at 6pm, and they’ll also be there tomorrow, too, pouring wine and enjoying your company. Caseus Diem opens tomorrow (Saturday) and will offer a 10% off grand opening discount. And the Wooden Chicken Pub (soft) reopens on August 29 with a big bash on Monday, September 9.
Stories you may have missed this week on Bridgetown Bites:
Another Fire: 42nd Ave Fish & Chips
Malpractice, a Cocktail Popup, Will Open a Brick & Mortar
Harder Day Coffee Co. Acquires Water Avenue Coffee, Opens in Spin Fremont
King Harvest Hummus Is Moving on From SE Morrison
As for festivals this weekend, there are several in the area:
Viking Beer Fest. Friday and Saturday, August 23 and 24, 2024, 3pm to 10pm (Nordic Northwest Members entrance: 2pm), Nordic Northwest Campus, 8800 Southwest Oleson Road, Portland
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/viking-beer-fest-2024-tickets-899550659237
Marianas Festival. Saturday, August 24, 2024, 10am to 7pm, Blue Lake Regional Park, 21224 NE Blue Lake Road, Fairview, OR
https://www.marianasfestival.com/
Ukrainian Festival. Saturday and Sunday, August 24 and 25, 2024, 11am to 7pm, Westmoreland Park, 7530 SE 22nd Avenue, Portland
https://ukrainianday.org/
Middle Eastern Festival. Sunday, August 25, 2024, noon to 6pm, St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, 2101 NE 162nd Avenue, Portland
https://www.stgeorgepdx.org
It’s the end of an era: King Harvest Hummus is moving out of their space on SE Morrison. They’ve occupied that location since 1986, complete with a drive-thru window that they opened in 2009. Their final day in the Buckman neighborhood is Friday, August 30.
Continue reading “Portland’s King Harvest Hummus Is Moving on From SE Morrison”
I can’t remember a year when there were so many fires in Portland relating to food businesses. Sadly, yesterday afternoon there was a fire—an external fire—at the 42nd Ave Fish & Chips restaurant. Nobody was hurt, thankfully, but it’s a tragedy just the same.
Continue reading “Another Fire: 42nd Ave Fish & Chips in NE Portland”
Another month, another list of top 5 posts on Bridgetown Bites. It was another good month as far as traffic goes, with over 16,000 unique visitors generating close to 21,000 page views. Attention was on an interesting mix of things in July—openings, closings; new and old-ish posts; plus supermarkets.
As always, thanks so much for visiting, reading, and sharing articles and content from the site—appreciation for our tipsters, too!
5. Sweet & Salty PDX Opening in SE Portland
A new snack shop is coming to Portland’s Central Eastside district of the Buckman neighborhood in SE Portland: Sweet & Salty PDX. Their soft opening in pop-up form will take place tomorrow, Friday July 26. As their name indicates, they will be offering sweet and salty things to snack on, as well as a few more substantial items. Note: New hours are Tuesday to Thursday 10am to 6pm and Friday to Saturday 10am to 8pm. Their Instagram has more photos of the treats.
Continue reading “Top 5 Posts on Bridgetown Bites, July 2024”