SOUTHEAST

Revolution Hall Gains an Anchor Restaurant

According to WWeek, former Alba Osteria chef and Italian cooking stalwart Kurt Spak will head up a new restaurant on the ground floor of Southeast Portland music venue Revolution Hall. Plans call for a restaurant big enough to feed a crowd, and a large patio. Menu details are still sketchy, but given that the former high school was James Beard’s alma mater, you might expect to find his famous onion and butter sandwich.

SOUTHWEST

Cellar 503 Opens a Tasting Room 

Cellar 503, the 2-year-old Oregon wine club, announced plans for a 1,000-square-foot tasting room at 4407 SW Corbett Ave, expected to open June 19. The kid-friendly spot will boast a covered porch, heated outdoor patio, and wines from all 18 of Oregon’s wine-growing regions. Tastings and events will be held every third Sunday of the month and by appointment.

Phat Cart Goes Brick-and-Mortar

After being damaged in a fire last year, beloved Portland State bento cart is ditching its mobile digs and opening a café less than a block away. Phat Cart Café will replace a former Mediterranean grill on SW College, adjacent to the 76 gas station. According to Rika Hammond, the new café will open sometime in June, with a grand opening slated for July. “We'll be co-branding with a local coffee shop serving drip and cold brew, breakfast, lunch and dinner, small grocery, housewares and more,” Hammond wrote in an email to Eat Beat. Phat Cart also maintains a second location in Hillsdale. 

NORTHEAST 

New Event Space, Tournant, Opens in Former Din Din Location

Jaret Foster and Mona Johnson (Foster’s Craft Cooking, Oyster Social) are putting down roots in Portland’s Bison Building, formerly home to Din Din. Tournant (French for "relief cook") has room for 45 seated or 65 standing and can be rented out for private events, pop-up dinners, culinary classes, and more. 

HOOD RIVER AND BEYOND

Broder Øst To Open in Hood River

After launching an outpost in Southwest Portland’s Nordia House, the growing Scandinavian brunch empire is heading east, all the way to Hood River. WWeek reports Broder will open its fourth location, Broder Øst, on May 1 in the first floor of the Hood River Hotel. Now you can get your fill of Scandinavian pastries and Norwegian meatballs before getting in a Gorge hike or vaulting onto your kite board. 

Dinner Lab Shuts Down Nationwide Operations 

Dinner Lab, the national pop-up platform, suddenly halted operations on Thursday, April 14, citing poor profits. Portland hosted a number of Dinner Lab events with big name chefs like Magnus Nilson (Fäaviken) and local food personalities like Darius Jones of Heritage Supperclub. The closure comes just five months after acquiring competitor, Dishcrawl, and 8 months after receiving $7 million in outside investments.