UPDATED at the bottom
It’s the Alberta Street Gold Rush
“The Local Beet” on 24th, which is owned by the same people from the Cup and Saucer. It’s in a little “Quonset Hut” building, and was supposed to be a non-smoking bar, but has turned into a full-blown restaurant.
Another place on 12th and Alberta has an OLCC sign in the window.
Zilla Sake on NE 18th, which we’ve written about before, has the largest selection of Sake in Portland. They’ve been open for business for a few weeks now.
And finally, the NE 30th and Alberta corner space that is being built out by Giorgio’s. They are under construction now but I haven’t heard anything about menu, who the chef will be, etc. I do know Giorgio has pissed off a lot of locals with the way he evicted the 2 tenants and how unfriendly he’s been with some other neighborhood restaurants.
The Beast and the Beauty
It’s been confirmed, Naomi Pommeroy’s new French inspired bistro, Beast, is going to open on NE Killingsworth and 30th in a month or so. Concept is mix and match menu items to make a complete meal. The space next door to Yakuza restaurant, is painted in bright blue and red French colors from the outside. I haven’t heard if “Family Supper” will be part of it or not, however it looks like a cozy and intimate space that would be perfect for it.
Willkommen to Sausageland
Got my June issue of Gourmet Magazine in the mail, and Otto’s Sausage Kitchen (http://www.ottossausagekitchen.com/), located on SE Woodstock has a nice two page spread. If you haven’t been to Otto’s, it’s definitely worth the trek out to outer SE and has been rated by Epicurious.com as having one of the top ten hot dogs in the country. These guys really care about taking the time and use quality ingredients to make things properly, and usually have at least 25 different types of sausage available either grilled to eat there or as uncooked to go, including lesser known types hard to come by in Portland.
Sketches of Spain in NW Portland?
We’ve heard rumors that there are two more Spanish restaurants opening this summer. One spot I’ve been watching for months, is at the corner of NW 9th and Couch. The OLCC permit in the window reads “Mercado Ltd“? Mercardo of course, being the Spanish word for market. Some people are saying it will be Italian, but I’m wondering.
L’Astra on Maternity Leave
As seen on the door at L’asta restaurant:
Closed due to childbirth
It’s one of those only in Portland moments. Congrats to the parents.
Portland writer/NPR guy David Welch has a piece on NPR tomorrow (Saturday) morning.
It’s about a New York City cab driver named Dave Freedenberg. He calls himself Famous Fat Dave and gives eating tours of New York. If you are interested in hearing them race around New York eating a lot of great food, tune in to weekend addition this Saturday.
There is a new Latin/South American/Southwestern/Asian Fusion bastard opening soon downtown: From an advertisement looking for employees, “Coming Soon!! Bastante in downtown portland – an exciting project in the fox tower featuring nuevo latino cuisine and a ceviche bar”. Hmm.
Speaking of Latin, Isabel’s Cantina will be opening on NW 10th in the Pearl District. “Isabel Cruz is the owner of five restaurants along the West Coast, extending from Coffee Cup in La Jolla and Isabel’s Cantina and Seaside Cantina in San Diego, California, to Dragonfly in Ashland and Isabel in Portland, Oregon. Isabel, who grew up in Los Angeles, now lives in San Diego with her husband and two sons”. Hmm.
Even more quick tidbits: the Daily Cafe has opened a branch in the South Waterfront near the Tram station, if you are down in that area it’s inside the new OHSU “wellness center”. A new Ben & Jerry’s is opening in the Pearl. Finally, a Food TV Canada program called “Opening Soon” does episode on Portland’s Mama Mia/Lisa Schroeder. You can see info on it here.
FD, the “Opening Soon” spot on Mama Mia came out last year and is entertaining. I don’t know how much of the drama portrayed was real or just staged for the show. Either way, Lisa comes off very well, as does the restaurant. Usually they stick to Canadian spots, so it was fun to have one of our eateries featured.
I went on a Famous Fat Dave tour in NYC last summer and I would highly recommend it! Dave is very knowlegeable about food and NY history and he is a lot of fun.
The Daily Cafe has been open in the OHSU Health and Healing center for several months. Monday-Friday to date, Saturdays this, or next, week.
RE:Otto’s
Jane & Michael Stern, who write the Gourmet road food column, also featured Otto’s on a recent segment of OPB (radio) “The Splendid Table” (weekly on Sunday 6pm). I think the segment was a re-run however from years past.
Not a kwanza hut… (or a Kwanzaa hut…) a Quonset hut
To all the new commenter’s, welcome! To vj, I hang my head in embarrassment. I thought maybe I could say I was talking about a South African bank, but didn’t think you all would buy it. ;)
and my taste buds were all set for some kwanza…
Geez Food Dude, first you go back in time with the Daily Cafe at the Tram and then confuse an African holiday celebration for a metal building developed by the Army.
I am worried about you…
(For the record everyone…those were my mistakes. Lesson learned – do not drink and blog.)
I have a brief report and a request regarding the new Daily Cafe @ S. Waterfront.
With my office so close, I have visited for lunch on three occasions in the last month or so since realizing it was open. There are a good number of sandwich and salad choices and somewhat more elaborate preparations as well.
All the food has been competent or better. Since there are a lot of medical types about, servings tend toward the light side, both in size and flavor. For example, if you actually wish to taste something other than the greens in your salad, consider asking for extra dressing. But the food is creative, well prepared and generally better than the unrelenting mediocrity blighting the Johns Landing area.
One orders at the counter, gets a letter, and the food is brought to the table a few minutes later. Not bad. And for now, with no competition in the immediate area, they are drawing a good crowd.
So, here’s my request. I almost always receive good service at the many places I visit. I have written about it at this very website–cheerfulness and courtesy normally begets the same. At the new Daily, however,the main counterperson is a largeish female, and each time I have ordered from her, I have been treated like I am causing grave inconvenience. She looks past me, not at me and seems genuinely put out by any questions. There was pencil tapping once and I thought I caught an eyeroll when she thought I had looked away.
So, I am asking if one or more of you might be willing to go try the place, see if you get the same treatment and report. It’s just so odd. She is probably 40ish, Caucasian, brown hair, tall and. . .er, husky. She seems vaguely familiar, possibly from another food service establishment around town.
Thank you.
–mcz
The liquor license sign in the window at NW 9th and Couch says “Mercato,” not “Mercado.” That is, Italian (not Spanish.) I noticed it as I was walking by last night.
According to the Oregon Business Registry website, the registered agent for Mercato, Ltd. is Borlovan Codrin, with an address on SW Corbett.
–mcz
Bastante is owned by NW Hayden Corp. Opening in the Fox Tower late summer. I understand they will have a ceviche bar on the first floor, more dining and a full bar upstairs, and are making significant changes to the interior.
Is that in the old Harrison spot?
You note that locals are annoyed with Giorgio for evictions. This could be interpreted that Giorgio is doing something unfair, unkind or unethical without the facts stated as to why the changes were made. That would be unfair, unkind, and unethical to Giorgio. So what are the details on this?
Copy that, Mczlaw.
We have a 7-11 in progress…..
Suspect is largeish caucasian female, dark hair, approx 40 years old.
Less that fully deferential counter service in progress.
Suspect may be armed with attitude.
Driving while Rosie…..
My taser is set to deep fat fry,
I’m going in…..
mcz, a couple of months ago I grabbed a cup of coffee at the SW Daily Cafe. I suspect the same person whom you mentioned took my order and my money, in a manner that made me never want to return. “Grave inconvenience” — that’s spot on.
A Latin/South American/Southwestern/Asian Fusion bastard called “Bastante” (translation from Spanish: “Enough”).
I couldn’t have said it better myself. Bastante, already!
It’s been 4 hours. I hope he made it out alive. Maybe someone should dial 9-1-1. . .
–mcz
oh sidemeat, that’s some funny.
ha ha! you guys are special. i wonder why that 40 something woman is so cranky? she should be happy to have so many medical-type customers.
Alberta Restaurant Dead Pool, anyone?
The Thai Place
Tour de Crepe (unfortunately)
and Zilla Sake reminds me of that Jellyfish place that went down, but I haven’t been.
I heard that Mercato will be an Italian spot.
http://www.pearlinsider.com/2007/05/mio_mercato.php
Any idea where on 10th Isabel’s Cantina will be? That one is news to me – and I live on 10th :)
reflexblue: Alberta Restaurant Dead Pool, anyone? The Thai Place. okay, that’s funny. you have to be more specific. i think there are 4 thai places in about 3 blocks. which one are you picking on?
Pearl Insider: Isabel’s is supposed to be going into that standalone building next to the square with the preservation column (same building that has imelda’s shoes and other shops in it, but the building on the corner with roll-up windows/garage doors). i think it’s 10th and flanders. supposedly she has successful ventures in california, but who knows how you open a small family-run place in another city unless you have a really big family to help out.
Biabub, I walked past that building today and noticed the construction. Wondered what was going in there. I always thought it would end up a restaurant. Thanks for filling us in!
biabub: forget the thai places, i think this anglo place tops the list. i mean, i’m not a spelling nazi but come on!
Breakfast cook
Reply to: job-344870313@craigslist.org
Date: 2007-06-04, 2:40PM PDT
I ahve a very nice high end breakfast and lunch restaurant on alberta.I am looking for a line cook. I need some one who is inovative, crative and has a respect for the ingertants and a care for the customers. some one who thrives on working with good product and amazing customer with the qulity of there work. Must understand what it means to have the line preped and ready be claen and neat. What I can offer I have lots of good experance in 5 star resorts and restarants have been taught alot and have a lot to teach and learn as the chef. I will pay the best that the skills and bissnes level will alow. You must have at least 5 years experice
that would be francis restaurant, the breakfast place. would not call it high end by any means and owner had some less than positive things to say about his new neighborhood and neighbors if I recall from WW.
He wants someone with 5 years experience for a breakfast cook? Good luck!
oh! i thought he meant you need rice that’s five years past the expiration date
well their ewe have it. brakefest is now hi-end on alberta…’bout time.