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Market and Restaurant Combos

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As we know, Portland real estate can be expensive, so what better way to capitalize on your space than with a market and restaurant combo? These are wonderful places where you can enjoy a lovely meal in or grab some wonderful provisions to take home or both! Here is our list of best Portland Market and Restaurant Combos.

Coquine

6839 SE Belmont St

Cafe & Market Open Daily 9:30-2:30, Dinner Weds-Sat 5-10

Daytime casual café and market, Nighttime prix fixe New American dinner.

Flying Fish Company

3004 E Burnside St

Open 10-8 All Days except Tuesday

Fresh market with a focus on sustainable seafood and more.

Laurelhurst Market

3155 E Burnside St

Market Open Daily 10-10, Lunch 11-3, Dinner 5-10

Steakhouse and butcher shop with house-cured meats and unusual cuts.

Montelupo Italian Market

344 NE 28th Ave

Market Open Daily 8-8:30, Café 8-3, Dinner 5-8:30

Italian restaurant and market featuring deli, handmade pastas, and wine.

Petite Provence

4834 SE Division St * 3240 NE Sandy Blvd * 1824 NE Alberta

Division Mon-Fri 8-3, Sat & Sun 8-4 * Sandy Daily 8-3 * Alberta Tues-Sat 8-8, Sun & Mon 8-4

French Boulangerie and Patisserie featuring café, baked goods, brunch and lunch.

Portland Fish Market

4404 SE Woodstock Blvd

Open Daily 10-7, Fish & Chips Window 11:30-6:30

Fresh local seafood, specialty goods, and wine, plus a fish and chips window.

Ripe Cooperative

5425 NE 30th Ave

Weds-Sat 12-10, Sunday 12-5

Café and marketplace featuring fresh seafood, house made pastas, focaccia, and more.

Which of these market and restaurant combos are you most excited to check out? Let us know in the comments! And if we missed your personal favorite, be sure to reach out so we can check them out next!

Brasa Haya

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Hot Spot of the week this week is lovely Spanish restaurant Brasa Haya! Located in the old Beech Street Parlor space, Brasa Haya does it’s own playful take on tapas and pintxos and they do it well.

You can’t talk about Brasa Haya, of course, without mentioning the setting. It is located in an old 1906 foursquare home off of MLK, meaning that all of the dining areas are really converted rooms of the old house. They (or rather Beech Street before them) have added a beautiful wooden bar to the main level family room, but otherwise it generally feels like you could be headed to a dinner party at a friends home. Plus the wallpaper game here is top-notch.

The drinks list is understandably Spanish-driven, with a large selection of Spanish wines, a proper sherry list, and the ubiquitous Spanish coffee. Yet, we found quite a few fun surprises sprinkled throughout, like the Tensho Embassy (my cocktail of choice of the eve) which involved tequila, yellow chartreuse, and roasted miso. Once we finished cocktails, we ordered a lovely bottle of Cava to pair with the remainder of the courses.

The thing that I love most about tapas is that it is all built to share. I always want to try everything on the menu, and tapas restaurants are the only ones that let me even get close. That said, the portions here were not tiny and still quite filling, so try not to go too overboard, even when everything sounds too delicious.

We ended up trying the salt cod croquettes and the charred onion relish with ricotta on toast to start. Both were super tasty. Next, we had some of the roasted brussels sprouts with romesco (my favorite sauce in the world). Finally, we shared the salsify gratin with black trumpet mushrooms and preserved lemon. This one was so good but also so filling that we decided to skip the larger portions and head straight for dessert!

Dessert was a real treat. We went with the servers recommendation and had, what was more or less a wonderfully upscale and handmade version of a Dilly Bar. Pairing that with a Spanish coffee to round out the meal was definitely a genius move.

I cannot wait to head back to Brasa Haya and try the rest of the menu! Next time, I’m bringing a larger group so that we truly can order absolutely everything. Have you been to Brasa Haya yet? What was your fave? Let us know in the comments!

Cinemas

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It’s Oscar Night and you know what that means…it’s time for a list of Portland’s Best Cinemas! Whether you are looking for the latest releases or experimental arthouse films, our list has got you covered for all of your cinephile needs.

Academy Theater

7818 SE Stark St

Historic theater in Montavilla neighborhood.

Bagdad Theater

3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd

McMenamins theater and brewpub in the heart of Hawthorne.

Cinema 21

616 NW 21st Ave

Independent art house movie theater showing a mixture of independent, foreign, and classic films.

Clinton Street Theater

2522 SE Clinton St

Historic theater with a focus on experimental and arthouse films, plus a weekly midnight showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Empirical Theater at OMSI

1945 SE Water Ave

This theater at the science museum features documentaries, film fests, and IMAX blockbusters.

Hollywood Theatre

4122 NE Sandy Blvd

Historic theatre showcasing a mix of new and classic films, plus ongoing film series’ such as B Movie Bingo and Kung Fu Theater.

Living Room Theater

341 SW 10th Ave

Theater that’s 21+ in evenings offers indie films, recliners, & food & wine delivered to seats.

St John’s Twin Cinema and Pub

8704 N Lombard St

Casual first-run cinema that serves pizza and beer.

Which of these Portland Cinemas is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!

Montelupo

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Hot Spot of the week is very cool Italian Market and
Restaurant, Montelupo! This great NE spot has a very neat business plan and something for every one of your needs. In the mornings, they have coffee and pastries, at night they have dine-in (and heated patio) delicious dinner, and throughout the day they have an excellent grab ‘n go market with wine and wonderful pantry goods. Recently, we took advantage of the heated dining tent and sampled a whole bunch of Montelupo’s dinner service and it was delish!

To start, of course, we tried a cocktail. I opted for the Daisy Chain, a bright and citrusy gin concoction that was too good not to down in about 3 minutes. To follow we ordered a bottle of prosecco, which was pleasantly crisp and complemented the rich food very well.

We wanted to try so many things on the menu that even after a lengthy ‘paring-down’ debate, we still definitely over-ordered. We were not sad about that however, as we got to have Montelupo lunch the next day! To start we went with the Dos Hermanos pull-apart bread, which is a must have in order to mop up sauces as well as eat plain with EVOO. We also got the burrata, which was delicious and fresh, served with olive, tomato aioli, and greens. We also had the arancini, stuffes with rice, bay shrimp, and cheese. Finally, we tried the roasted and carrot with sunchokes (a new favorite) accompanied by tahini and gremolata. The starters were all wonderful and also quite filling.

Even though we were practically stuffed at this point, you can’t go to an Italian restaurant and not try the pasta! We went for the pappardelle, prepared with braised pork ragu and a broccollini-basil pesto for one. For our second choice we tried the fusilli with wild mushrooms, parsnips and cream. The pastas were both well-prepared and the ingredients did not overwhelm with flavor, instead letting the noodles shine.

Too full to even think about dessert, we grabbed an extra bottle of bubbles to go from the market inside and headed home to sip and plan out our next visit. Want to check out Montelupo Italian Market? You can head right over Here.

Do you know a Hot Spot that we should checkout next? Let us know in the comments below!

Sandwich Shops

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Portland excels in many types of cuisine, from fine dining to food carts, but did you know we also have some really phenomenal sandwich shops? Whether you are grabbing a mid-day work meal or packing up a picnic to take to the woods (or coast or mountains) here are some of Portland’s best sandwich shops.

Bodega PDX

6231 SE Foster Rd, Portland, OR 97206

Open Mon-Sat 10am- 11pm, Sunday 9:30am-10pm

Check them out Here.

Devil’s Dill

1711 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214

Open Sat-Tues 12pm-11pm, Weds-Fri 12pm-1am

Take a look at those sandos Here.

EastSide Deli

4626 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97215

4823 N Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203

Open Every Day 11am-6pm

Tasty Menu Here.

Lardo

1212 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214

1205 SW Washington St, Portland, OR 97205

4025 Mercantile Dr, Lake Oswego, OR 97035

Portland Locations Open Every Day 11am-10pm

Lake Oswego Every Day 11am-9pm

Check em all out Here.

Tails and Trotters

525 NE 24th Ave, Portland, OR 97232

Open Tues-Fri 10am-5pm, Saturday 10am-4pm

Get some Deliciousness Here.

Taste Tickler

1704 NE 14th Ave, Portland, OR 97212

Open Daily 11am-7pm.

See Some Great Sammies Here.

Which of these awesome sandwich shops will be your next stop? Let us know in the comments below! Is there a Portland’s Best List you really want to see? Let us know and we’ll make it happen!

Bellwether

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Hot Spot of the Week this week is the fantastic new Southeast spot Bellwether! We finally got a chance to check out this much-talked-about watering hole. I would say we were quite delighted with what we found!

As soon as I walked in the door, I felt transported. The dark wood, coffered ceilings, deep booths, and low light reminded me of a time and place of the past. The tasteful decor and sultry jazz added to the whole picture. It’s cozy, classic, and definitely a place you will want to bring someone special for a date night soon.

The cocktail list takes a more modern bent, combining interesting amaros and liqueurs with classic drink profiles for a fun twist. I started my evening with the No. 5, a smoky and strong blend of tequila, mezcal, Carpano Antica, and Cynar. This drink has the vibe of a Manhattan, but with the complex interplay of smoky agave and herbal notes it hits a whole other level. I followed that up with the No. 10. Gin, Camparo Bianco, Absinthe, Chartreuse, and Soda combined to make a bright and refreshing sipper. Again, the addition of the anise and herbals adds those extra layers that take it beyond the classic gin and soda.

Another aspect I appreciated greatly about Bellwether is the lovely simplicity of the wine list. It is short but well-curated, with simple labels telling you what to expect. You can feel safe in your choices of ‘Good Bubbles’ or ‘Bold Red’. Or you can get a little experimental with ‘Orange Wine for the Brave’. Either way, it removes the guesswork of whether to order this or that wine based on what you are looking for.

The visit wouldn’t have been complete without ordering a few snacks. The food menu at Bellwether is minimal but also will fulfill most needs. I grabbed a starter of the meat plate, which had salami, spicy coppa, and pork rilletes, with a variety of pickled veg and crackers on the side. The meats were Olympia Provisions (so you know they are spot on) and I really loved the pickled kohlrabi addition. For my main I went with the pan seared chicken thighs which were served with an Israeli couscous and wild mushrooms. The chicken was super juicy and tender and the couscous was bright and lemony with perfect earthiness from the mushrooms. 10/10 would eat again!

Bellwether certainly lives up to the hype they have been getting and I’m excited to head back and try all of the rest of their offerings! Check out their menu and plan your visit Here.

Where should we check out for our next Hot Spot? Let us know in the comments!

Wild Thing

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This week’s Hot Spot is brand new plant-based build-a-bowl restaurant Wild Thing! This delicious Alberta outpost is brought to us by alum from two of our PDX faves, Arden and Tusk. We could not be more excited to have a new grab-n-go option that is not only healthy, but also a nice alternative to the typical rice and bean joints.

Wild Thing’s concept is pretty simple, but done in an elevated way. You start with options for the base, tri-color quinoa, brown rice, or mixed greens, or even a combo. Then you have many options of fun vegetable toppings to choose from. One of my favorite things about Wild Thing is that they made the flavors really diverse – sumac, turmeric, urfa chili – but also made sure that you can easily mix and match and have all of the flavors complement each other.

On our recent visit I went with smoky paprika cauliflower, sumac cabbage, lemony brussel sprouts, roasted delicata squash, and sesame broccoli. Then you get to add some crunch and I definitely went crispy garlic. The sauces are wonderful as well, with options like hazelnut romesco or tahini miso. Again, all of the flavors meld so well! If you want to bulk your bowl up a smidge you can also do add-ons, of which I highly recommend the lentil tempeh ‘chicken’ salad. I am generally not a big fan of tempeh, and this scoop was a game-changer!

Wild Thing also has their own branded cans of wine, a light chilled red and a crisp white, plus kombucha, cold brew, and other tasty options. Open Weds- Sat 11-7 with a happy hour from 3-5. Check them out next time you are looking for a delicious and hearty bowl in NE Portland! Visit virtually Here.

Where should we check out for our next Hot Spot? Let us know in the comments!

Game Shops

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Fall is just around the corner and what is cozier than gathering around the table with friends and family for a board game night? The hobby of board gaming has been around for ages, but has had an even bigger resurgence in the last decade. Luckily, Portland has some amazing game shops where you can buy, rent, or play different board games and find your new favorites! Here are our favorite Portland area game shops.

Cloud Cap Games

1226 SE Lexington St, Portland, OR 97202

Open Daily 11 am- 7pm

Check them out Here

Guardian Games

345 SE Taylor St, Portland, OR 97214

Monday-Saturday 10 am- 10 pm

Sunday 12 pm- 7 pm

Check them out Here.

The Portland Game Store

 922 N Killingsworth St, Portland, OR 97217

Sunday, Monday, Thursday 11 am- 7 pm

Tuesday, Wednesday 11 am- 9 pm

Friday, Saturday 11 am – 10 pm

Check them out Here.

Rainy Day Games

18105 SW Tualatin Valley Hwy, Aloha, OR 97003

Monday-Friday 11 am- 8 pm

Saturday 10 am – 7 pm

Sunday 12 pm – 6 pm

Check them out Here.

Red Castle Games

7160 SE Foster Rd, Portland, OR 97206

Daily 11 am – 8 pm

Check them out Here.

Make sure to stop by one or all of these great game shops the next time you want to pick something up for family night, a fun gift, or just to stop in and make some new friends at the table! Did we miss your favorite Portland area game shop? Let us know in the comments! And for other great spots to shop in Portland, check out our other lists Here.