According to chef Jun Robles, Southeast Hawthorne's BridgePort Ale House will shut its doors permanently on Saturday, December 15th after sixteen years in business. 

Earlier this year, in response to falling revenue, BridgePort gave Robles free reign to transform the brewpub menu into a playground of Asian-inspired comfort food with big flavors and a lot of wit, drawing rave reviews from regulars and destination diners alike. Dishes like Momofuku-inspired steamed buns with bulgogi beef and kimchee or pork belly and cucumber and the rice bowls with char siu pork and sesame carrots topped with a fried egg were a welcome departure from the burgers and wings at most beer joints. 

Despite the success of Robles' creative and playful fare (influenced by his local upbringing and culinary stints at Portland's Nostrana and Le Pigeon), the pub never recovered from the financial hit of the last several years. BridgePort's Brew Pub at 1313 NW Marshall Street will be unaffected by the closure. 

No word yet on Robles' next step or a future occupant for the prime Hawthorne spot, but stay tuned to Eat Beat for more information as it rolls in.