ACRL 2015 Angie Beiriger Portland’s restaurants, breweries, and bars From food carts to fine dining, get ready to eat, drink, and be wowed s you begin to plan for ACRL 2015, make local distilleries are producing some of the Asure to budget time to find out why Port- best spirits around. land has earned a reputation as one of the Even the Portland airport will greet you best food cities in the country. With raves from with amazing food and drink. Restaurants like the likes of Bon Country Cat, Appétit, Forbes, Laurelwood Saveur, and The Brewery, and New York Times. Gustav’s Ger- Portland has man-American become a true Pub have es- culinary desti- tablished or are nation. Portland planning restau- is ground zero rants at PDX. for the seasonal, This article sustainable food includes an ar- movement, and ray of restau- restaurants thrive rants, bars, and on partnering di- coffee shops rectly with local organized by Lush farmland and seasonal produce drive the sustainable, farmers, growers, neighborhood. locavore restaurant movement in Portland. Photo credit: J. and ranchers. If you have a Bower, https://flic.kr/p/ddLVje. The surrounding chance, plan Willamette Valley offers some of the most some time to visit, shop, and play,1 along with vibrant vineyards in the country, producing checking out some of these establishments. Pinot Noirs that are prized around Portland and the nation. With more than 60 brewer- Convention Center ies, Portland’s selection of local craft beer The neighborhood around the Oregon Con- is unparalleled in the country. They don’t call us Beervana for nothing! In a town where your cocktail is as Angie Beiriger is digital assets librarian and liaison to Classics and Religion at Reed College LIbrary, email: thoughtfully composed as your dinner plate, [email protected] your bartender will show you why Portland’s © 2015 Angie Beiriger C&RL News February 2015 66 vention Center is surrounded by chains like list. The immensely popular tapas restaurant Starbucks, Chipotle, and Red Robin, but that Toro Bravo serves memorable small plates doesn’t mean there’s no great food nearby. of Spanish fare. If there’s a wait, pop upstairs For breakfast or lunch, Pine State Biscuits, for amazing cocktails at the intimate hideaway Gold Rush Coffee Shop, and Tiny’s Coffee Secret Society Lounge. are a quick bus The Lloyd/ trip or a 20-min- Broadway dis- ute walk north trict in NE Port- on Martin Lu- land is one ther King (MLK) of the closest Blvd. Directly neighborhoods across the street to the Conven- from the Con- tion Center and vention Center is accessible via is the hip sports a quick Max or bar Spirit of ’77, bus trip. Swing the closest place by Frank’s to grab a local Noodle House craft beer, watch to try their a game, or play amazing house- some Skee-ball. Lush Willamette Valley Vineyards. Photo credit: Harold Hol- made, hand- A few blocks lingsworth, https://flic.kr/p/8vbnJT. pulled noodles. away, Oregon’s version of fast food, Burger- The Blossoming Lotus serves some of the ville, offers a locally sourced, sustainable best upscale vegan food and cocktails in menu. More neighborhood offerings will be town. The 15th Avenue Hophouse features detailed on a map available at the conference. sampler trays of their extensive local craft About a mile directly north of the Conven- beer tap list. Milo’s City Cafe is a popular tion Center, accessible via a hearty walk or by destination for neighborhood locals. bus, is a cluster Board the of excellent res- Portland Street- taurants on or car at the Con- near MLK and vention Center Russell Streets. and venture Ox restaurant down MLK to features Port- a couple of land-inspired lovely culinary Argentine food neighborhoods. fresh from their About a mile indoor wood south is the fired grill. It’s up-and-coming very popular, Lower Burn- so grab a cock- side Area. Le Toro Bravo Spanish Tapas. Photo credit: Lydia Brooks, https:// tail at the adja- Pigeon is often flic.kr/p/bucW6B. cent Whey Bar, on critic’s “best while you wait for table. Queen of Sheba restaurant” lists and focuses on fine dining offers some of the best Ethiopian food in in a casual atmosphere. True to its name, the city, bring a group and share a platter. the Farm Cafe is one of Portland’s original Russell Street BBQ features huge plates farm-to-table restaurants offering a lovely of traditional southern fare and a great tap vegetarian selection and a fabulous wine February 2015 67 C&RL News list. For cheap eats, grab a slice and pint at Taqueria. Head over to Lovely’s Fifty-fifty the ever-popular and slightly grungy Sizzle for some of the city’s best wood-fired pizza. Pie. Or stay on the streetcar heading south to Grab a seat at the huge patio for great food, Taylor and walk fantastic beers, a few blocks to and excellent the Water Avenue people watching restaurants, bars, at Stormbreak- and coffee shops. er Brewing. Pop Enjoy Italian- over to nearby inspired dishes Williams Avenue at Clarklewis, for fresh and in- one of Portland’s novative cuisine most established at Lincoln restau- locavore estab- rant. Bike aficio- lishments. The nados will love very popular the organic beers Boke Bowl offers and multitude of steaming bowls vintage frames at of the tastiest Hopworks Bike ramen in town. Bar. Made from Peruse the vast scratch and in- selection of sea- fused with spe- sonal sandwich- Handmade ramen noodles at Boke Bowl. Photo credit: David cialty ingredients, es at Bunk Bar Burn, https://flic.kr/p/cXkXRJ. the ice cream while you sample at What’s the the great tap list. Order a carefully crafted Scoop will be a perfect end to your day. latte at Water Avenue Coffee and make sure you grab some freshly micro-roasted beans to Alberta Arts District take home as a souvenir. Cross Grand Avenue On this expansive street, you could spend all to grab a cheap day wandering and tasty taco at in and out of Robo Taco. fantastic restau- rants. Special- Mississippi ized food carts, and Williams Thai restau- Avenues rants, and Mexi- Accessible via can taco joints the bus or a cab abound on Al- ride, Mississippi berta, and it is Avenue District a great street and the nearby for breakfast Williams Ave- and brunch op- nue are worth tions. The street Bikes and organic beer rule at Hopworks Bike Bar. Photo credit: a trip for their is a must-visit Will Vanlue, https://flic.kr/p/9TktpE. diverse culinary for vegans and offerings. Mississippi has a pretty high density vegetarians. You can get killer vegan food, of bars, restaurants, and food carts. Fresh, beers, and cocktails at The Bye and Bye seasonal ingredients are the hallmark of the vegan bar, indulge your inner comfort food immensely popular taco joint ¿Por Qué No? addict with veggie diner food at Vita Cafe, C&RL News February 2015 68 and experience exceptionally elegant plates pie. The food cart pod at SE 28th and Divi- at the vegetarian oasis Natural Selection. sion has become a huge hit, check out the Locals and critics rave at the upscale, excep- ramen at Hapa PDX. tionally creative plates at Aviary Restaurant. On lower Division, Apex and Beer- Townshend’s monger’s are Teahouse of- located across fers stellar tea the street from selection and each other kombucha on and boast the tap, and Ran- most exten- dom Order sive and best Coffeehouse beer lists in the has a devoted city. Neither following for serves food its homemade so grab some- pie and tasty thing from the cocktails. neighborhood joints Double Apex offers a huge outdoor patio and an extensive beer list. Dragon (Mod- SE Portland Photo credit: Scott Beale, https://flic.kr/p/dUZCKz. Division, ern Vietnam- Hawthorne, and Belmont ese) or Taqueria Los Gorditos. (Outside Accessible from buses downtown or a cab food is encouraged!) Find out why vegans ride from the Convention Center, three close- and carnivores alike rave over the beet tartare in SE streets offer great options to dine like at the upscale Portobello Vegan Trattoria. locals. Division Street has recently emerged Hawthorne Street is a busy neighborhood as a premier foodie destination. Restaurants with several established restaurants. Castag- like Pok Pok, na is beloved for Ava Gene’s, and its NW-inspired, the Woodsman elegant meals. Tavern have re- Lardo demon- ceived national strates how a recognition and sandwich food a dedicated fol- cart can evolve lowing. Plenty into a success- of cheaper and ful restaurant— quicker options try the Banh Mi! are available Transplanted without the res- Brooklynites ervation or lines. love the pizza at Try Bollywood Apizza Scholls, Theater for fresh Communal tables and open space of Clyde Common. Photo and Europhiles and original In- credit: VJ Beauchamp, https://flic.kr/p/31ukty. enjoy the mus- dian street food, sels, frites, and Nuestra Cocina for fresh, authentic Mexican, Belgian beers at Bazi Bierbrasserie. or Pizza Maria for you-know-what. With flavors like Stumptown Coffee and Burnside Belmont Street Bourbon, Salt and Straw ice cream has Belmont is a bit more residential than the become a Portland institution, and Lauretta other SE strips but has some great places to Jean’s is a local favorite for their awesome eat and drink. Accanto and Nostrana offer February 2015 69 C&RL News fresh, Italian-inspired dining, but locals also might steal the show. Luc Lac serves up enjoy paleo-friendly Dick’s Kitchen.