Food News

This Week In Portland Food News: Kate's Ice Cream Opens, Phuket Cafe Arrives, and The Roxy Says Goodbye

March 18, 2022 Edition
March 18, 2022
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Just in time for spring, Kate's Ice Cream has opened its new scoop shop on Mississippi. (Kate's Ice Cream)
This week brings exciting developments from some of Portland's culinary heavy hitters, as Kate's Ice Cream launches a new scoop shop, the highly anticipated Phuket Cafe opens its doors, and Feast Portland announces its return. In sadder news, the iconic 24-hour diner The Roxy and the seasonal tasting menu spot Willow say goodbye for good. Read on for all of that and more updates from the local food scene. For more ideas, check out our food and drink guide.

NEW OPENINGS AND RETURNS

Batterfish Add to a List
You'll no longer have to make the trek to Happy Valley to get your hands on Batterfish's coveted fish and chips: Owner Jason Killalee has closed up his original cart Add to a List for the time being in order to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant in the former Char Latin Grill Add to a List space, with new menu items such as a fish and chips burrito, a burger, and a catfish sandwich.
Sunnyside
Pickup, dine-in

Caiman Cafe Add to a List
This Cuban-Mexican cafe recently opened downtown, serving baked goods, tortas, fresh mango and guava juice, and more.
Downtown
Pickup, delivery, dine-in

Kate's Ice Cream Add to a List
The vegan and gluten-free ice creamery celebrates the grand opening of its new Mississippi shop in the former Ruby Jewel Add to a List space today, scooping up signature flavors like salted peanut brittle, rosewater cardamom almond, and marionberry cobbler.
Boise
Pickup, delivery, dine-in

Lemon Leaf Thai Kitchen Add to a List
This family-owned Thai food cart recently opened in Tigard, with dishes such as fried calamari, coconut shrimp, crab fried rice, papaya salad, and stir fries.
Tigard
Pickup, delivery, dine-in

Phuket Cafe Add to a List
Chef and restaurateur Akkapong “Earl” Ninsom, the man behind Eem, Hat Yai, and Langbaan, and his business partner Eric Nelson open this highly anticipated restaurant for dinner inside the former Ataula Add to a List space today. The menu is just as innovative and fun as you'd expect, with steaks, pork chops, oysters, paella, ceviche, smoked trout, peanut brittle, cheese-stuffed roti, carrot coladas, cucumber relish Collins, Thai tea Irish coffees, ume plum old fashioneds, and more. Weekday lunch and weekend brunch are set to follow, along with a train-inspired structure for outdoor dining.
Nob Hill
Pickup, dine-in

FUTURE OPENINGS

Fracture Brewing Add to a List
Married couple Darren and Ny Provenzano soft-launched this new brewery's initial offerings on tap at Loyal Legion Beer Hall Add to a List last weekend. The brewery will open for tastings inside the former Burnside Brewing Co. Add to a List space in the next few weeks and is set to collaborate with international breweries like the Vietnam-based Heart of Darkness, where Darren got his start as a brewer.
Kerns

La Osita PDX Add to a List
The owners of this popular Mexican cart located inside Plaza 122 announced this week that they have closed on a brick-and-mortar property in Montavilla.
Montavilla

Pono Brew Labs Add to a List
The craft brewery Pono Brewing Add to a List , known for its fruity, South Pacific-inspired beers, plans to debut its first taproom and pub in the space that previously housed Columbia River Brewing and the original location of Laurelwood Public House & Brewery. The upcoming location will be family-friendly and open to all ages during the day, and will feature Pono's beers alongside a food menu inspired by Hawaiian, Filipino, and South Pacific cuisine and traditional pub grub.
Hollywood

CLOSURES

Fills PDX Add to a List
The Berliner-style donut destination has permanently closed its downtown location to focus on its Lake Oswego outpost Add to a List , but never fear: According to Eater Portland, Chefstable CEO Kurt Huffman says the business plans to open a new Portland location, likely by next year.
Downtown

Imperial Bottle Shop & Taproom Add to a List
The beer shop and taproom announced on Tuesday that its Alberta location will have its last day of business this Saturday. Owners Alex Kurnellas and Shawn Stackpoole wrote in a Facebook post, "With very mixed emotions, we have decided not to renew our lease at our Alberta location. Its last day open will be this Saturday, March 19th. After opening in 2017 and then a 2+ year-long battle with cancer, we really thought we would be able to get back on our feet in 2020. Little did we know that we were staring down a 2-year long global pandemic! To say the least, we are exhausted. We are looking forward to giving Imperial Bottle Shop & Taproom - Division and its customers the attention they deserve, taking some time for ourselves, and exploring other interests." They also noted on their website that they'll be offering plenty of discounts on remaining inventory on Saturday.
Alberta Arts District

Montesacro Pinseria Add to a List
This Roman-style pizza and Italian flatbread restaurant has closed its Pearl District location. According to Eater Portland, owner Gianluca Legrottaglie says the business is relocating and that more details are forthcoming.
Pearl District

The Roxy Add to a List
Oof: This iconic Portland institution, a longtime all-ages hub for Portland's LGBTQ+ community, will close permanently on Sunday after 28 years of business. Owner Suzanne Hale, known as "the Lovely Suzanne," wrote in a Facebook announcement, "It's been quite a journey over the past 27 years, and I couldn't have gotten through it without you. We've just been losing money since the pandemic, and the eviction by the City of Portland didn't help. Staffing is hard enough these days, (for everyone) but with the building rehab looming, it's nearly impossible. I'm grateful for the years we had, and I love those who are working to the bitter end." Go pay your respects if you can this weekend.
Downtown

Willow Add to a List
This cozy, intimate spot known for its seasonal tasting menus has closed permanently. Owners John Pickett and Doug Weiler cite burnout from trying to run the business during the pandemic as the primary reason for the closure. If you're looking to say goodbye, the restaurant will hold a farewell party on April 24.
Hosford-Abernethy

OTHER FOOD NEWS

James Beard finalists announced
Following the list of James Beard Awards semi-finalists Add to a List that were announced in February, the James Beard Foundation has revealed the list of finalists that have made it to the next round. Akkapong “Earl” Ninsom is nominated for Outstanding Restaurateur, and Carlo Lamagna of Magna Kusina Add to a List and Thomas Pisha-Duffly of Oma's Hideaway Add to a List are both up for Best Chef: Northwest.

Feast returns this fall
After being canceled in 2020 due to COVID and continuing in a modified event-series format in 2021, the nationally acclaimed festival Feast Portland Add to a List is making a triumphant return to its roots for 2022. The festival will take place from September 16-18 and will host events across the Willamette Valley in addition to Portland.

POP-UPS AND EVENTS

Spring Into Action Bake Sale Add to a List
Grab some delicious treats at this bake sale benefitting the nonprofit For Goodness Cakes, which provides birthday and graduation cakes for houseless, foster, and underserved youth across the Portland-metro area. Participants include event organizer Alchemy Desserts, Luna Contreras (Chelo, For Esmé), Jen's Pastries PDX, Bee's Custom Cakes, and many more.
Montelupo Market, Sunday, 10 am-12 pm

St. Joseph's Market Add to a List
Snag traditional Sicilian treats from Sebastiano's and Pizza Thief, garden-ready plants from Colibri, heirloom Italian seeds from Culinary Breeding Network, and more at this market.
Wellspent Market, Sunday, 12 pm-4 pm

Portland Mercury's Highball Week Add to a List
Participating bars and restaurants all over town will shake and stir up exclusive six-dollar specialty cocktails all week long for this event presented by Jim Beam and the Portland Mercury.
Various locations, through Sunday

Portland's St. Patrick's IPA Fest Add to a List
Get hoppy with a dozen tasters from a range of IPAs offered by the Pine Street Taproom.
The Pine Street Taproom, through Sunday

Fieldwork Brewing PDX Residency Add to a List
The Berkeley-based brewery Fieldwork will take up residence in Function all month long with a rotating list of fresh beers and cans to go.
Function, through March 27

SPECIALS

Berlu Bakery Add to a List
The acclaimed Vietnamese bakery is bringing back chả trứng (a traditional Vietnamese pork loaf made with egg, wood ear mushroom, and aromatics). Their version is made with Lan-Roc Heritage pork and mixed with black pepper, garlic, shallot, fish sauce, vermicelli noodles, wood ear mushroom, and egg whites, then steamed and served with broken rice, herbs, cucumber, and nước chấm.
Buckman
Pickup, dine-in 

Mama Đút Add to a List
Thuy Pham's vegan spot has introduced their take on Vietnamese xiu mai: meatless jicama meatballs served with a sweet umami tomato sauce and white rice.
Buckman
Pickup, dine-in

Rally Pizza Add to a List
As it does each year, the Vancouver pizzeria is celebrating Persian New Year with a variety of Persian and spring-inspired specials, including a mezze platter, turmeric fried fish and rice, ghormeh sabzi (herb and lamb stew), baklava sundaes, and Maysara sparkling pinot noir rosé.
Vancouver
Pickup, delivery, dine-in

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