Long before Portland became Foodgasm Central, home of artisan food worship and countless breathless articles written by the national media, there was the 1970s. Mustaches, feathered hair, smoking, orange decor, and wood paneling ruled the day.
In honor of Memorial Day, here’s a salute to the groundbreakers who gave their all to help set the stage for the modern day Portland dining experience.
[Click imagery for large portions.]
Enjoy your order of the Man Platter, sir.
Disco dancing and backgammon?! Slabtown still rocks.
The Kon-Tiki was around much later than I had thought.
Digger O’Dell’s on SE Grand offered an oyster bar, freshly baked cornbread and accepted Carte Blanche credit cards.
L’Auberge on Burnside had its menu “delivered verbally by your waiter or waitress.” As opposed to being verbally abused.
Victoria’s Nephew [now Mother's Bistro] was, according to them, the only place in town to offer a cappuccino [1979]. That guy in the middle – totally jotting down mental notes for his Yelp review.
They also offered sidewalk seating “whenever weather permits.”
Some things never change.
