It’s starting to actually feel like fall outside, with temperatures finally dropping below 65. All the better to catch some lingering patio moments or cozy into a warm, welcoming restaurant. October has seen the return of two old favorites, as well as the arrival of one of the city’s cutest wine bars. There’s also only a few more weekends to grab a pizza from farmers market pop-up Chonghi before its owners head back to Hawaii. Read on for the roundup of recent restaurant developments.
Say Hello To:
The Return of Better Half
Better Half built a strong following when it opened on NE Fremont Street in 2020, providing an impressive menu of sandwiches and sides with vegan and gluten-free options. Despite opening at the beginning of the pandemic, the sandwich shop persevered for five years before its lease ended last November, and it was forced to close while owners Alan Osborn and Kelly Haarsager scouted a new location. Less than a year later, Better Half has reopened in the space formerly home to Food Front Cooperative Grocery at NW 23rd and Thurman. Starting at 9 am daily (save Mondays, when the shop is closed), the menu includes breakfast sandwiches on housemade English muffins with both egg and vegan egg varieties, hot and cold sandwiches split between meat and meat-free, and housemade chips, pickles, fries, and cookies.
The Return of Grits N’ Gravy
Fans of the hearty, Southern-inspired bruch fare at Grits N’ Gravy got some bad news last June when the restaurant—which took over the former Little Bird spot downtown in late 2021—closed with little warning. Luckily, the disappointment was short-lived; Jesús Alejandro Chipres, a longtime employee of Grits N’ Gravy, took over management and reopened the brunch restaurant on October 10. According to an interview with Bridgetown Bites, Chipres began as a dishwasher at the café before working his way up to serving. He won’t be shaking up the menu much, and will keep Southern staples like shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, and chicken-fried steak.
Patufet
The little renovated home on the corner of SE 25th and Belmont has been many things over the years, including cafés the Rocking Frog and Lucky Cup, as well as a tap room for ForeLand Beer. As of Thursday, October 8, it’s home to Patufet, a charmingly cozy cafe and bar focusing on Spanish wines, vermouth, and baked goods. Owners Madeline Kenney and Chris Perry moved from the Bay Area to Portland earlier this year to open their dream bar and retail shop, one inspired by the relaxed drinking culture of Barcelona. Wines, spritzes, and coffee drinks pair with a menu of light noshes and baked goods. Snacks and pastries are likely to change week-to-week, but fixtures include a meat and cheese plate, a Galician almond tart, and maritozzi, an Italian sweet bun similar to brioche. Here it comes as a sweet dish with whipped cream, or a savory one with anchovy and butter. With a full espresso machine, the team hasn’t ruled out opening earlier as a coffee shop, but for right now they’re focused on the romantic, European-inspired evenings.
Bar Sprezzatura
We reported on the much-anticipated Venetian bar-bistro from famed Michelin-starred chef Michael Mina back in August—and now the opening date is upon us. Bar Sprezzatura opens this Friday, October 16 in the Heathman Hotel, with Justin Ramirez, formerly of Coquine, as executive chef. Bearing the same name as its counterpart in San Francisco, it’ll serve a menu of Venetian bar snacks called cicchetti, plus handmade pasta, local meat and seafood, and pizzette, along with plenty of spritzes and wine to drink.
Say Goodbye To:
Karam Restaurant and Bar
Portland’s Lebanese food scene is fairly scant. While the ones we do have like Hoda’s, Ya Hala’s, and Nicholas, are excellent, they’re fairly far between, which makes the loss of Karam that much sadder. The restaurant was the latest in a long line from the Karam family, who opened their first Portland restaurant back in 1987. Karam Restaurant & Bar opened downtown in 2018, a spacious Middle Eastern restaurant with staples like mezza platters and kabobs, as well as American tavern food like burgers, wings, and nachos. But on October 2, the restaurant announced via Instagram post that it would be closing permanently, effective that day; it didn’t cite a reason. Luckily, its more casual deli and catering site in Beaverton will remain open.
Chonghi Pizza
A staple at the Portland State University and Montavilla farmers markets, Chonghi Pizza was part of a recent, local wave of East and Southeast–Asian inspired pizza shops. Co-owner and pizzaiolo Dillon Ikeda even staged at Beaverton’s Hapa Pizza before taking over its place at the Beaverton Farmers Market with his own concept. Described as “sort of Neapolitan,” it also draws inspiration from Ikeda’s home state of Hawaii and the food he enjoyed there. You can find pepperoni pizzas, margheritas, and the namesake pie made with gochujang cream sauce, sausage (or crumbled tofu), provolone, and soy vinaigrette. But, sadly for Portlanders, Ikeda and his wife and co-owner are moving back to Hawaii this fall. While they hope to one day return, the final days of Chonghi (for now) will be October 31 at Portland State and November 1 at Montavilla.
Look Forward To:
Katy Jane’s
For more than a decade, Coquine has helped define Portland’s fine dining world. Co-founder and chef Katy Millard earned national attention and seven James Beard Award nominations for her approach to Pacific Northwest cooking, infusing it with a signature touch she developed staging at Michelin-star restaurants around France. And now she’s ready to move on—in a way. In late 2024, the adjacent Coquine Market transformed into a winter pop-up called Katy Jane’s Oyster Bar, pairing seafood and other small plates with ice-cold martinis and crisp wines. In 2025, it became a permanent companion to Coquine. Now, the Oregonian reports that Millard is transforming the entire operation into Katy’s Janes, starting by knocking down the wall between the spaces. The new business is a move away from the more formal format at Coquine and towards more casual, but still thoughtful, dining. The famous roast chicken will remain, though a bit more simplified, and diners can expect pastas, soups, and other à la carte items, including a seafood tower. Obviously, the legendary smoked almond chocolate cookie won’t go anywhere. The restaurants will be closed in late October and early November while repairs are underway, and should re-open in November.
Dinner at Gabby’s Next Door
Since 2022, Gabbiano’s has been one of the city’s hottest spots for Italian American eats, famed for its chicken parmesan and fried mozzarella“shots” full of marinara. Last year, the team took over the adjacent dining room (formerly the legendary Beast) as the appropriately-named Gabby’s Next Door. Since then, it’s operated as a lunchtime spot, serving sandwiches, salads, focaccia pizzas, and sides. But starting Friday, October 23 and then running Thursdays through Sundays, Gabby’s will be open for evening dining with its own menu. It’s not intended to compete with Gabbiano’s bombastic offerings—instead, co-owner David Sigal sees it as a potential waiting room for Gabbiano’s, where diners can grab a pre-dinner cocktail and snacks, or simply a place for quick and lowkey dinners. It’s also an opportunity for the Gabbiano’s kitchen team to play around with new dishes. The menu will rotate often, but look for items like shrimp fra diavolo, baked manicotti, grilled brassicas with romesco, Italian sausages, and libations including spritzes, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks. Additionally, the team will continue to host its monthly Supper Club, where chefs Liz Serrone and Keith Bidwell prepare seasonal, five-course Italian dinners.