A return to outdoor dining

Governor Kate Brown announced in a press conference today that restaurants and bars throughout the state will be allowed to resume outdoor dining service, with some counties being allowed to return to indoor dining. This is a significant change from the freeze previously announced on November 13, which paused both indoor and outdoor dining across the state for at least two weeks statewide and at least four weeks in Multnomah County. In counties that fall into the “extreme risk” category for virus spread—currently including Multnomah—service will be limited to 50 guests dining outdoors at a time and must end by 11 p.m. 

Fire at Reo’s Ribs

Early in the morning of Monday, November 23, barbecue restaurant Reo’s Ribs was destroyed by a fire, KOIN reports. This is the second fire the Hollywood District restaurant has suffered; the restaurant also burned down in mid-2017 and reopened at its current location on NE Sandy in late 2018. That fire in 2017 was determined to be accidental, though owner Reo Varnado—who’s also Snoop Dogg’s uncle—did not believe it was an accident, having received race-based threats prior to the fire. After attempting to reach Reo’s Ribs for comment on November 25, Portland Monthly received a voicemail message stating that the restaurant would be closed until further notice due to a garbage fire that spread to the restaurant. 

Langbaan’s new noodle menu

One of Portland’s most famous Thai restaurants, Langbaan, is now open for takeout and delivery with a brand-new menu centered on Thai drinking snacks and noodle soups. Snack on fried fermented short ribs, grilled cuttlefish, tamarind-glazed beef meatballs, and puffed rice with caramelized tamarind and herbs. Noodle soup options include halibut and featherback dumpling soup with Dungeness crab, boat noodles with meatballs, oxtail, and oxtail broth, and guay jab muu, rolled rice noodles with pork coppa, heart, liver, and a soft-boiled egg. Order online here. 

Canard lasagna

Canard, sister restaurant to Le Pigeon famous for its steam burgers and Duck Stack pancakes and one of PoMo critic Karen Brooks's favorite restaurants of 2018, is transforming into a lasagna shop starting December 2. Starting this Saturday, November 28, guests will be able to preorder take-and-bake lasagnas online that feed four to six each (or fewer, with leftovers!), plus other take-and-bake items like seven-layer smoked salmon dip. There’ll also be a selection of wine bottles suitable for the holiday season.