If you're hungry for the latest openings, closings, and gossip in the Portland restaurant scene... well, pull up a seat and tuck in your napkin.
Olympia Oyster Bar (4214 N Mississippi)—known for its industrial seafood—closed its doors this past Tuesday, Dec 16, and is currently looking for a spot with a larger kitchen, writes Eater.
Meanwhile, according to the O, Poison's Rainbow (344 NE 28th), the bar run by Modest Mouse's Isaac Brock, mysteriously shut down Thursday, December 12.
Blackbird Pizza (6214 N Interstate) is also no more, but according to Eater will keep its Hawthorne shop open.
GAHHHHH! MORE FRIED CHICKEN! Yet another fried chicken restaurant is opening in Portland, according to the O, and this time it's Oprah's fave: Ezell's Famous Chicken from Seattle. What is this, like the 20th fried chicken joint to open in the last year? Hope your intestines can handle it!
A new all-vegan food court is opening up (possibly as soon as mid-to-late January) in the Cully neighborhood, where you can expect "soft serve, ramen and Southern-inspired comfort food," according to the WW.
As the Mercury reported, Grand Central Bakery's production facilities (which includes bakers and dishwashers that work at Portland's NW York Street bread production facility) have officially unionized.
In a landslide victory, Grand Central Bakery is officially unionized! ✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾 🎊🎉
— Grand Central Bakers Union (@GCB_Union) December 13, 2019
The Oregonian is still trying to make "Dumpling Week" a thing.
In what was clearly the weirdest Portland food news story of the week: "‘The Rock’ buys a scoop of Portland ice cream; Dwayne Johnson takes a stake in Salt & Straw."
And our Andrea Damewood has her list of the BEST PORTLAND BITES OF 2019—you know, just in case you're feeling peckish.
Check out all the food and drink events you can handle in the Mercury's Food & Drink calendar. Got a food or drink tip? Drop it off at food@portlandmercury.com.
