[Welcome to Snap Judgment, a regular Blogtown feature developed by my predecessor, Patrick Alan Coleman. The idea, still, is to drop by places both old and new for a one-dish fly-by, to develop an opinion based on that singular experience. Often, I’ll return a few months down the line for a Last Supper column. Sometimes I won’t.]
Remember when magazines were paying all those celebrities millions of dollars for first photos of their babies? (Do we still do that?) We, as a public, had an insatiable hunger to see what came of two really beautiful people having sex with each other. That’s kind of how I’ve been waiting for the new offspring of Ben Meyer (formerly of Ned Ludd) and Upright Brewing. I’m pleased to say that Grain & Gristle is, like, Suri-Cruise cute (and way more affordable than Angelina Jolie’s babies).
Located next door to Podnahs (future home of Pok Pok Noi) at 14th & Prescott, Grain & Gristle would probably fall under the category of Gastropub (if the last New Yorker food issue hadn’t made me feel insecure about using that term). The space has kind of a chic cabin-in-the-forest feel—unfinished beams, lanterns hung from the ceiling, a giant, knotty, wood bar (EaterPDX has pictures). The menu seems pretty geared toward carnivores—there are some promising vegetarian appetizers, but not much dinner fare.
The beer list is excellent. I tried both Upright offerings (the Whipper Snapper #6—a tart, barrel-aged sour—and the #7, a saison), but they had a solid selection of guest taps as well (thrilled at the recent upspike of Heater Allen on draft).
I’m kind of floored that the Moules Frites is only $9. The individual mussels were on the small side, but the portion was generous. They top it with thin, crisp french fries and a rich, garlicky aioli. But an even better deal was their “two-fer,” a meal-for-two that will rotate daily. Last night we had an enormous chicken pot pie, salad, and two beers…all for $20. The only hiccup was that my pot pie came out cold. I was with a big group, and two others had the same order—there’s were piping hot and delicious, so I’m fine writing this off to first-week kinks to be worked out (plus our server brought us a replacement and took it off our bill—super accommodating and sweet). If they can keep putting out this quality of food at these prices, expect this place to be very, very popular.
I’m definitely looking forward to returning, and I imagine the burger and braised pork shoulder will lure me back soon.
I went with a small group for my birthday last week. We had a great time, all agreed the food was very good and the prices were great for what you got. The beer list had some good stuff on it, and I was excited to get to try the upright special herbs they had on tap, which was fantastic.
Good place, I’ll be back.
From EaterPDX:
“…worst restaurant name in PDX.”
it’s rare that I see a business with a name so bad I look forward to seeing them close, but there are a few. How long until we see a cheese market named Mold or a tavern named Yeast Infection?
See? My plan for a restaurant called “Grease & Weasel” isn’t so far-fetched after all!
Worst name?
Don’t know if that distracts from or hurts my latest “Pube and Discharge” culinary venture.
Excited to try this place. Having another version of my favorite (Ned Ludd) can only be a good thing.
I also have to say that a logo featuring fighting cocks could lead some to think it’s an establishment with a two-twink minimum.
Haven’t been here yet, so I can’t speak to the food or the beer selections, but I kinda have to agree in regards to the name. While I might not put it past Michael Hebb, any one of the rest of us could fairly be labeled a fucktard for putting the word “gristle” in the name of a restaurant… That said, it sounds like they’re getting everything else more or less dialed in, so I look forward to checkin’ the place out.
Two-twink minimum!