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.
10/25/13 update: This has proven to be one of the most popular posts ever on Lost Oregon! I encourage you to read the comments – a bit jumbled – but some great memories there! Here’s one example (from Ross Pullen – he’s a goldmine for local food history):
Asparro’s on SE Grand was a fixture for years. I believe it had a Greek style menu, but I may be mistaken on that. (Union Avenue Social Club was the name given after he sold it)
HOLMAN’S at SE 28 TH and Burnside is still open and operating last I checked.
The “German restaurant on 82 ND and Burnside that Jim Darke mentioned was actually a Swiss place called THE MATTERHORN and operated until early 2000s when it was sold and they built a Walgreen’s.
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.
Lost Oregon 
Thanks for bringing back some great early food memories! I helped open Digger O’Dells and was a backwaiter/busser/host for a few years in college. I remember eating at Auberge right out of highschool-thought it pretty cool. Do you remember Couch Street Fish House? Second restaurant job after Sweet Tibbie Dunbar’s!Ah, the late 70s were great as Portland celebrated all things Horst Mager(remember when he used to guest chef on Chan 6/KOIN with Lois DeVore?) and Julia Child & James Beard used to dine at L’Omlette?Also Brasserie Montmarte when they first opened? Vat & Tonsure-Hamburger Mary’s in the old Fox Block? Henry Theilie’s on 23rd…and of course the original Roses when Mama Rose used to bake those cakes/pastries? I miss the Old Quality Pie-the BEST chocolate cream pie…ever!!Rimsky-KorsaCoffee House & Papa Haydns always dukeing it out for the best ambiance…and you need to go by the Alibi on Interstate! Rediscovered it down from my moms place on Alberta when I was home for a milestone birthday…a true slice of Americana Tiki Heaven!!Still exotic, still kitschy, still wonderfully intact!Thanks for a great trip down memory lane…Cheers,Tim
I moved to Portland in ’78 and worked at the River Queen for 2 years later worked at Horst’s Tivoli Garden & The Couch Street Fish House, in ’81 I worked saute at Digger Odell’s and was part of the second class at Horst’s culinary school…ahh, the memories
Digger’s was a blast from pre-opening cleaning with Mr. Burns and me scrubbing the tile threshholds of the kitchen and restrooms to the constant party scene in the bar! Great food and atmosphere. I’d usually work the lunch shift at Silver Garden (the observation domeliner) then walk up the street to Digger’s to backwait-wasn’t 21 yet to serve booze!
I also worked at Tivoli Garden as a waiter in 1980 and 1981. I was the only Asian waiter at that time. Do I know you and do you know what happen to Tivoli Garden and Horst now?
I had Belinda’s Restaurant at that time in Sellwood , getting ready to move downtown where Kell’s is now . I had a long talk with Horst Mager in his office at Tivoli . he was adamant that the commercial rents were killing business and tivoli had an 8 % lease…right off the top . He stayed open for a time and sold the restaurant ( w/th the high lease ) and cut his losses . It was a beautiful place ! Horst later put his energy into the Gustav’s concept ( after being a Portland restaurant pioneer since 1959 ) .
His daughter runs the company now and horst retired to Palm Springs is the info i have heard .
I miss ya Basner, we (gary & mary) lost ya after the Indian restaurant with the gorgeous owner.
I also worked on the river queen..and the Royce family Ran it
I also work at digger O’Dell’s for a short time..
Digger O Dell’s was a favorite for after work drinks in ’83! Great memories.
Larry Basner….where the hell are you? Lar, Gar & Mar going to H.M.C.I. I would love to touch bases with you. M. Edelman in Montana.
I worked at Sweet Tibbie and the Orange Grove at Lippmans. …started at the Double EE drive Inn on Division …remember Obies buffets…those huge roasts they carved. My husban Brian delivered pies from Quality Pies all over town. …very fond memories of Old Country Kitchen on Stark ……..Waddels after a Buckaroo hockey game. The Crab broiler tiny joint on Barbur. You would wait in line outside in the rain to get in. ..they moved and it all went down hill. Mazzis was a booming place on Macadam. Beef and brew…..so many great places. ..what was the bar near Portland State. …..something Turtle?
The Cheerful Tortoise…my friend’s mother was one of the owners….my friend and I used to go after school (Lincoln H.S.) back in ’79, but we were to young to drink!
I believe the Cheerful Tortoise is still open.
Chuck B
Sweet Tibbies was a great place. I used to go there a lot, I wish it was still in business.
Frank, who owned Mazzi’s, now has Touche’ at NW 15th & Glisan. -With all due respect for Frank, and the philosophies that he shared with Zareh; Zareh, the original owner of Touche’, will be forever missed for the person that he was.
that was and still is the cheerful tortious
I worked at Rians eating establishment for 8 years through college and beyond !!
I remember every Restaurant and bar you mentioned and more!!
As you know ,if you work nights in a popular restaurant/bar, you all collectively meet up after work.
Jakes the hindquarter, the meat market , Bills gold coin, ahh, memories:)
We were transferred in 1983 to Toledo, Ohio, ( culture shock, then South Bend , and Little Rock, now Louisville, Ky.
I am looking for a dear friend, John Hyatt, who managed Sweet Tibbie Dunbars until it closed, also briefly hosted at Rians,and Ruebens in Sylvan !!
Does anyone know where he is ??
I am coming back in July 2015, my best friend since college, Marit Meadows, Kelly, Brown, is going to go trolling with me 🙂
Former name Karen Miller , love to hear from you all !!
And I have perfected Rians Chicken Kiev and L’Omelets creme Brulee!!!
Hi Linda, Do you remember the first flower cart in downtown? I set up my cart every day in front of Lippmans & parked it in the janitors closet every night. Ha ha..what a fun trip! I was in lust with a stock boy who loaded the service elevator all day long across the street at Meier & Franks. Hee hee!! And I LOVED going to the public market for fresh produce, bread, and cheese! It was so european before we knew what that meant!!
Julie Schon
Cheerful Tortoise
Was it the crab bowl?
The Crab Bowl on Barbur Blvd. had seafood like I had never had before or since. Fish and Chips–amazing. Prawns, deep fried, delicious batter and the same with the langostino. (sp?). Buttery garlic rolls I remember still and a red dressing for salad that was exceptional. How I would love recipes for the batter and the salad dressing. I’ve never found a seafood place like they were. Not even at the beach. Thanks for the memory.
Does anyone know what happened to John Hyatt or where he is ,,??
I worked at Ryans eating establishment in the mid 60’s, also at Nordstrom, Lloyd center, John was a men’s buyer then, we became great friends, but lost contact when I WAS MARRIED AND transferred to another state.
I am coming ‘Home’ in August, would love to touch base with all the Jakes crowd, meatmarket, Hindquarter, we all met up after work and partied,memories, Ya !!!
The Cheerful Tortoise:)
Cheerful Tortoise
Cheerful Tortoise!
Hi Linda !!
I Used to live in Portland, worked at Ryans eating establishment and Nordstrom Lloyd Center, I dated a guy many years ago who was a manager at Sweet Tibbie Dunbars, John Hyatt, I have been married and transferred to 5 different states, since 1980, and am coming back, 23 August to 10 September, do youhave any idea what happened to John, where he is ?? Trying to touch base with as many old friends as possible this trip, as we are moving to Orlando in April !!! Thanks, Linda My name is Karen L Kane-Druckenmiller, klkdruck@gmail.com, used to go by the name Karen Miller (very short first marriage to high scho
ll boyfriend 🙂
I don’t mean to be picky but, actually, it was The Orange SLICE on the mezzanine at Lipmanns. Remember the Tiffany style stained glass “Orange Slice” sign (an orange slice, literally) Formerly, it was The Chocolate Lounge.
I don’t mean to be picky but, actually, it was The Orange SLICE on the mezzanine at Lipmanns. Remember the Tiffany style stained glass “Orange Slice” sign (an orange slice, literally) Formerly, it was The Chocolate Lounge. Also, it was The Crab BOWL on Barbur.
Hello Linda, Do you remember the flower cart in front of Lipman’s? I ran that cart back in the early 70’s and would love to know someone who remembers it!
The Cheerful Tortoise. Just today found out that it’s still open, but it looks from the online description and pics that it may be bigger than it used to be (?) Sure don’t remember all those TVs. Don’t know why I assumed it was gone — guess it’s because it was sooo long ago that I used to go there, and also that after a long hiatus from living in Oregon, I returned to find that so many of my old haunts are gone. Anyway, I have such fond memories of hanging out with fellow PSU students on the patio. They allowed smoking back then. One day we were being a bit overwhelmed by cigarette smoke from a neighboring table. We thought cigarettes were pretty gross and probably immoral. But weed was harmless and totally OK, so we decided to light one up. The waitstaff didn’t seem to mind — more amused than anything. Ah, 1975!
Hi Lindale !!
I love this page, although we have lived in 6 states,sinew Oregon, we were transferred in 1980, I worked from the beginning at Rians eating establishment until we left Oregon.
Every restaurant on this page is,a memory, you worked at Sweet Tibbies, was John Hyatt your manager ??
History there, and read that a John Wilson Hyatt died at the age of 50 in the 90’s, so, I’m eaten up with it.
Do you know where he is, no one from Rians has a clue,and like me have relocated.
My email is klkdruck@gmail.com
Thank you for any info you might have,
Karen
I worked as a waiter at Rian’s Eating Establishment off and on for 8 years, from 1977 to 1985. I loved that place so much. The food, atmosphere, the people I knew were all so special. The chicken and crab kiev was incredible. If it would have stayed, I might still be there. I have great memories from that time.
The Cheerful Tortoise still exists (or did in recent years, at least). They just tore down Ireland’s/ Sweet Tibbie Dunbar’s/Polo/ Credit Union on 12th & NE Irving by Benson HS.
Linda- You just gave me so many cool memories! I spent so many “wasted” nights at Quality Pies. Herfy’s out in southeast as well as the Lung Fung on 82nd. I worked at Bressler’s Ice Cream at Mall 205 after White Front left. Wow, I could go on and on, thanks again! Michele
I remember standing in line at the crab bowl on barbur blvd. After they moved, it was never the same. Does anybody remember The Old Irish Inn on Barbur Blvd. ? One night after the Wolfetones played in Portland, in the Civic Auditorium, they went to the Old Irish Inn and we got to visit with them,
Cheerful Tortoise
It was called the Cheerful Tortoise . I worked there as a waitress for a few months in 1976. It was not a cheerful place…not at all
Lydia’ by PSU?
Don Petrie was the cook…
Bud Clark behind the counter at Spatenhouse?
Yo Linda,,,,THE CHEERFUL TORTOISE…..up from SAM’S HOFBRAU…….possibly the same “Sam” who opened JAZZ DE OPUS….
The Cheerful Tortoise, where we never needed ID!
My father printed the menus for many of the restaurants shown and many that you mentioned. I’ve lived in portland my whole life and restaurants are central to my memories. John’s Meatmarket, The Beef and Brew, Captain’s Corner, Ryan’s and The Rusty Mill are some others that come to mind for great “old Portland’ flavor.
Hi Julie, I worked at a couple Ryan’s restaurants 1973 – 1977. John Ryan was a visionary with the lunch menu vs counter cafe that was standard pre-1972. I loved Ryan’s Breadbasket in Standard Plaza, The Fish and Ale House in Raleigh Hills, Sandwich Express in Morgan’s Alley and his signature restaurant also in Morgan’s Alley. Great memories of a wonderful time for dining in Portland. I think I might still have a menu somewhere!
Aww, the Rusty Mill was another hangout, they had a duo, who eventually got married, awesome, Janis Jolins, ‘ Mercedes benz’, Marty Robbins, ‘You gave me a mountain ‘, wonderful place, great memories !!!!!
Klkd
Do you know the location the Crab Bowl was at in the late 1969’s to early 1970’s. It was not AS Barbur. My sister and I remember eating at the Crab along a river.
For as long as my family went there, it was on Barbur Blvd. I came to Portland when I was 6 mon. old and I’m 65 so It’s been here quite awhile. Totally ruined when they moved it to the old Fantasy Video in Tigard. It was never the same. We had lots of seafood places on the river. River Queen, Salty’s, places out on the Columbia too. Nothing replaced the Crab Bowl. 🙂
Thank you! I loved the place! ☺ What are some of your fondest memories of the Crab Bowl? I remember walking the long gravel parking lot on Friday nights to get inside. I remember the souvenirs they had available. I remember the foid being excellent. Sis always got the steamed clams. I tried everything. Fond memories.
We never ate there. My dad always went up and got something to go for us. I think my mom never wanted to wait and it was always crowded. I always had the prawns, deep fried and incredible. The plain lettuce salad with the wonderful red french? salad dressing. Also. a warm garlic roll with a greasy top from the butter leaking out. Tartar sauce for the big prawns. We always had it on a Friday night. We much have eaten there in the winter/fall mostly because I remember our house being very warm and cozy and smelling like this wonderful shrimp. Yummmmm. I also remember the glass cases in the front but I can’t remember what was in them. 🙂
True story, the ONLY place that even came close to having good seafood in those days was the Pixie Kitchen in Lincoln City. We’d travel from Portland just to eat there in the 60’s and 70’s…even until they closed…
The Crab Bowl had a painting on the northeast wall that was framed by rope. Subject of the painting was a man rowing a boat with a large fish laid in the stern and a ship to which he was heading far away on the horizon. The painting was full of tension as storm clouds had gathered between his boat and the ship.
I was just a kid when we regularly visited Crab Bowl, but the painting has remained in my memory my whole life.
Mibe too. I used to try to duplicate that painting in charcoal sketches. Such fond memories.
I LOVE LOVE this site….Brings back the memories of growing up here in Portland in the 50’s 60’s and 70’s..even clear into the 80’s…such good food places and great memories of all of the places that are mentioned on this site.
We were “spoiled” because now the only sorta good restaurants in the area seem to be in the “trendy spendy” NW 23rd area. We often go to a few others in SE Portland, but nothing rivals the good restaurants of the “olden days”…Sure am curious what happened to Bobby and Julie Lee that owned Rickshaw Charlies *Chinese place…he was sent to prison for dealing drugs with Gary Harrington (Penny’s husband)…very early 80’s…Just curious because Julie was so pretty, excellent waitress, friendly…..hope they’re doing okay in life.
We always ate at Pixie Kitchen when we went to the beach. After I was married, my hub and I would drive down for the day, just to have dinner there. I loved their chicken. LOVED it!!! \a gentleman who had worked there at the same time as we were eating there, told me that they did nothing special except never change the frying oil. 🙂
Julie, so you remember Hilaire’s from the 1970’s? I’m trying to remember what they served back then, dress of the wait staff, decor, anything for a book I’m writing. My memories are vague, but I do remember Hilaires and The Encore bar with A fabulous chandelier. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I worked at Rian’s Eating Establisbment off and on for 8 years. (’77-’85). I loved that place. Great food, atmosphere, everything. Loved the Kiev. Have been in Seaside, drawing portraits now for 31 years, but I still miss Rian’s.
What were the different names and types of food at the old building on the NE corner of SE 39th and Holgate. It was the Hobbit for years, restaurant and lounge with great live jazz, but many other establishments tried and failed to make it before it was a Walgreens now.
Great memories! My mom worked at the Top of the Cosmo!
I remember being awed at the age of 6 by an almost campily dressed cocktail waitress at the Top Of The Cosmo.
Fred DiPaquale ran the Top of the Cosmo. He was a gluten and a strange dude.
I found my way here after discussing how Portland “used” to be, and in searching for some things found this thread. Dining out was SO much fun in those days (omg…sounding old now 😦 I was particularly fond of Morgan’s Alley of the late 60s. What a wonderful place it had. I dated Eddie Mays JR when his father had Tillie’s on the mezzanine in the back of the alley…such a wonderful place…the ambiance there was wonderful. So many good memories 😀 Thanks for letting me read 😀
Does anyone remember eating at Hilaire’s in the 1970’s? If you do, what is your fondest memory?
I used to work at Rimsky’s and they were always compared to The Pied Cow. Does anyone remember “The Carnival?”
Couch Street Fish House! I worked there for the Mother’s Day weekend in 1977 with Chef Gene and GM/Maitre ‘D Zeppo-very professional both.. I was being considered to be the Executive Chef for Horst Mager’s new Lake Oswego Mediterranean restaurant, The Odyssey.Of course, he had The Rhinelander, L’Omelette,and later Tivoli Garden too. These were days before Gustav’s Bierstube.It did not work out at The Odyssey and by August ’77, I had opened Belinda’s in Sellwood…….. best thing I ever did!
My wife and I loved going to Sweet Tibbie Dunbar’s. Wish it was still there,along with Digger O’Dells. They all have their time.
I fondly remember The Carnival. It was a favorite lunch treat spot. I always wondered why they put the valuable old circus posters where they would fade in the sun, but I enjoyed looking at them anyway. Alas, it is a parking lot now.
My mom used to take us up to the Carnival cafe in the late 50’s. Now an OHSU parking lot. The lilac park is still there. What was the name of the restaurant that overlooked the skating rink in Lloyd Center?
The restaurant of the Lloyd Center rink was Aladdin’s.
Yes, on the way up to the dental college above Dunaway park. I still remember the giant grill and the smell of burning hamburger, it was a lot of fun.
Ross Pullen I was the Executive Chef at Couch St. in 1984-85. The food scene was very vibrant then. I opened my own restaurant in Yamhill County wine country in 1987, Augustine’s Restaurant.
I used to work out at the then “Metro Y” and after, had a burger at “The Carnival.”
Remember “Hill Villa?” further up the hill?
The Carnival was a favorite restaurant of ours. Before Burger King, I think — the best grilled burgers right in front of you. A condiment bar with delicious pickles (I must be hungry tonight) 🙂 that we ate with the rich chocolate brownies. Loved that place.
Absolutely! Our good friend owned it and my son worked there while in high school and college.
I remember The Carnival. Loved their burgers, and the orange sherbet and buttermilk shake! I used to work out at the Columbia-Willamette Y and then head to The Carnival for my burger! Occasionally saw raccoons coming down the cliff behind the restaurant near closing time for the left-over tomatoes, lettuce, that the employees would set out for them. And being the proverbial middle-school teacher, I also remember scolding little kids who would stand at the ponds throwing rocks at the goldfish! Fond memories.
Digger O Dell’s was a favorite for after work drinks in ’83! Great memories.
My mom and dad went to the Carnival when they were dating in the 1950’s and took us there as kids. They had these cool high chairs made of wood in the shape of animals – like a giraffe and they had wheels on them. There was a fish pond in the back and I remember they had sprouts in their burger bar and I thought that was so cool. Best burgers ever.
I loved going to the Carnival… I have fond memories of that restaurant, and many others that have been mentioned….
Oh the corned beef sandwiches at Rose’s. And Jake’s seafood downtown!
Yummy! Is the Carnival where they had a carousel horse in the middle of the dining room? And I remember going either to M&F or Lipman’s at Christmas and seeing a toy train suspended, going around the top of the room. I was fascinated.
The train you refer to, was on the 10th floor of Meier & Frank, toy department.
I am pretty old but I rode that train a few times and when I grew up my son rode it before they took it out. What fun!!!
Yes, The Monorail. I ran it for a holiday season. get the kids in, roll the rail around the ceiling and then unload.. It was a cool toy. The loading ramp 15 feet in the air.
Best milkshakes and flame broiled burgers ever. Used to take our children there for a special treat as they had all those carousel figures as decor. Sorry I am so late in finding all these wonderful comments about Portlan’s restaurant history. Have lived here all my 85+ years and know them all and a few more like Jolly Joan’s on Broadway. Their ‘Summer Girl’ soda made with sherbet was a favorite after school treat.
Oh, yes! The Carnival was so much fun! We used to take our daughter there when she was little. She loved the highchairs that were like carnival animal rides, and all the little birdies playing in the pond outside. They had the best hot dogs ever (outside of Chicago). I think I remember three big fat “halves” grilled to perfection, and served on a big hamburger bun. Thanks for reminding me.
OMG Rimsky! I had so many good evenings there as a teen. Rimsky gave me hope that there was life beyond SE.
Of course, I remember the Carnival.They used to have the best hamburgers in town. They got bought out by a Korean family and it was downhill from there. Now, even the building has been torn down. I’m sure the medical staff from pill hill miss it dearly.
Every time I went upstairs to the men’s RR I’d catch the dummy in the tub in the corner of my eye and practically jump out of my skin. Never failed…..
Well this is on top on 4/24/14 so I’ll post here. I’m googling through Dining-In Portland from 1979, trying to figure out what’s left, and stumbled into this thread looking for L’Auberge. So many places gone, but surprisingly so many still here. I grew up in SW Washington, so am more familiar with what’s missing north of the border – The Holland, Bart’s, The Ark, Mary McCranks, The Totem – there’s so little left… In Portland the original Farrell’s of course, the spot where Thiele’s used to be…but Portland has done much better at replacing their MIA restaurants than up north in Tweakerland.
I miss Farrell’s dearly. Someone told me they moved downtown someplace. They must have changed their name ’cause I can’t find it under Farrell’s.
Does anyone remember a place called The Longhorn??? Restaurant with a dancehall…..played great music in the early 70’s…..sounded like the group Chicago! I can’t even remember where it was…..help!!
Reply
Long Horn was on Sandy Blvd next to the Sandy drive- in. Just about where 205 & Tri-Met transit station is
I still hate that Thiele’s was eliminated for the crummy commercial bldg that replaced it Great PDX landmark Loved going there for bkfst
My husband and his dad built and designed the interior of Digger O’Dell’s. It was a beautiful restaurant.
Loved Digger O’ Dell’s – thanks to your Dad! Many happy memories there
I was the opening chef for Digger O’Dell’s. It opened in the late spring or early summer of 1979, but I was put to work in January 1979 assisting the general contractor, Rob Burns. Rob was the nephew of Jack Burns whose company Burns Brothers owned the building and built Digger o”Dell’s. Rob was the opening general manager for Digger O’Dell’s but since the sum total of his restaurant experience had been waiting tables at the Spaghetti Factory and working at the Wilsonville Burns Brothers Truck Stop he got blown away by the volume and pace of Digger’s and quit within the first month after opening. After careful negotiations with the Burns Brothers management group I became the general manager and ran the restaurant until February 1980. After 50 years of working in and owning restaurants I still marvel at what a classy place Digger’s was and have to say that our original crew, front and back, was one of the best and most fun group I have ever worked with. I had started waiting tables at Sylvia’s Pizza and Spaghetti House out on Sandy just up from the Rhinelander, moved down to Sylvia’s Downtown formal Italian restaurant, then a few years later waited tables and tended bar at John’s Meat Market, became dining room manager at Sunriver Lodge, moved back to Portland to the Hindquarter in Lake Oswego as a waiter and bartender, opened The Medieval Inn in downtown Portland as bar manager and assistant manager also owned by Hindquarter, moved to The Market Place (hindquarter owned) out near Lewis and Clarke and finished that phase of my restaurant career at La Bonne Crepe at the Water Tower. While working evenings as dining room manager at La Bonne Crepe I also worked as a lunch at The Rusty Mill. I left Portland in 1975 for California and returned briefly 1n 1979 and opened Digger’s. When I first got back to Portland I was originally hired as a waiter at Belinda’s in Sellwood but gave that up before starting, for the Digger’s job. Probably more information than anyone wanted.
This is a reply to Steve Anderson who also replied re: Digger O’Dells. Can’t recall where it was I was working when this couple, Dewey as floor mngr. and (I think) Robin (as “chef”) came in with quite an attitude of arrogant takeover, and they soon departed and went to work over at Digger’s. They saw themselves as “troubleshootoers” , were very aloof and snotty, but didn’t really do much but revel in a sense of power. Wondering if you crossed paths with them over at Digger’s.
Reply to Dave Bosworth: When I took over as manager at Digger O’Dell’s I needed to hire a chef to take my place in the kitchen. Hank Hazen, a long time friend of mine and who at the time owned and operated The Crepe Faire, recommended Dewy as chef. I hired him but within 2 weeks it didn’t look like it was going to work out, he managed to alienate just about everyone in the kitchen, and I thought I might have to fire him. Instead he was offered a position at a newly opened restaurant, I don’t recall the name, but the executive chef there had supposedly been the chef at the White House for about 4 years. The guy turned out to be a fraud and when he was found out he was fired along with Dewy. We turned the kitchen over to 3 of the key players that had worked for me, one who was chef and the other 2 as sous chefs and the restaurant chugged along beautifully for the only year that I worked there. >
Interesting Steven. I worked at Crepe Faire for 8 years. First in Old Town and made the move with them to the new location that was in SW on 2nd also. Hank and Helen where very kind people. Helen was a great cook and full of energy. She probably still is both. I also remember her horrific bicycle accident and the struggles of her rehab afterwards. I do remember when Digger O’Dells was in the process of opening and of course the roller coaster ride struggles of operating a restaurant.
Ahhh, yesss, the White House Chef fraud. I crossed paths with, or actually in the wake of that one I think….Thinking it had to have been Bourbon Street, the Fred Baker/Shag Thomas venture (at Grand & Wiedler, previously North’s Chuckwagon, later McDonald’s site) that bled cash from the start. Did fair business for a while but nobody knew how to manage it and the guy I worked under was Milano Pavlovic, a Yugoslavian guy with a heart of gold. We worked dinner shift, Milano fully capable of cheffing a large kitchen but didn’t want any part of that there. We very soon demanded cash pay daily since no checks were ever cashable. Good soul and blues music. Ralph Black, Benny Wilson, Ron Steen, and others. Pretty sure that’s where I came to know of Dewey & Robin, and the White House fraud chef. Timeline is a little fuzzy, but yeah, something was up with Dewey like he was up to something shady, and very alienating yeah. Seems like I encountered the pair somewhere else as well but can’t recall.
Rimsky’s is still open and my friends dad was the baker at Roses in the late 70’s/80’s
She used to bring the cookies, giant cinnamon rolls and slices of cake to school.
The others I remember are JT Barringers, Harringtons Bar & Grill, Eli’s Hard Rock Cafe (formerly The Upstairs/Downstairs,
Jazz d’ Opus, Key Largo, Virginia Cafe and Cafe Vivo. I worked at Eli’s & met my husband at Harringtons. Once the VQ closes, I will have to be satisfied with Hubers as the last bastion of my youth! The Brasserie & Jakes just aren’t the same!
Gotta hit VQ before it closes . Remember R-E-S-P-E-C-T??
Yes, thank God Huber’s is still there although it won’t e the same without the charming Alex pouring my Spanish coffee!
Do you remember the cross streets for Harrington’s? I met my husband when he worked there, and I’m ordering him a “Coordinates” bracelet for his birthday – but wanted the coordinates of Harrington’s 🙂 for the life of me, I can’t remember the cross streets – or what the old Oregon Bank building became. Thank you if you know the answer!!
Gosh Mo- You hit most of my highpoints of my youth. Sergeant Prestons at the Virginia Café were the highlight of my week after a grueling week of standing over the deep fat fryer at “Captain Bluebeards” at the Yamhill Marketplace. (that sushi roll for $5 bucks tho yum even tho $5 took us all week to save.) Barringers, and Key Largo really hit home with me. How about Roxy Hearts? BTW I still dream of the Rose’s special extra thousand island on that dark rye.
I’m living in France currently, but spent three months in Portland over the summer. HOT! WHEW! Not what I expected the weather to be. Anyway, had to eat at the original Papa Haydns! Ate there several times. Just can not go to the one on NW 23RD, as I started going to the SE location when it opened, and cannot deviated from that path. Always been a SE girl! Went to Henry Theilie’s several times. Even got talked into ordering the spaghetti with friend chicken livers. Couldn’t believe how delicious it was. Last time there was right before it closed, and Mildred Schwaub and Ron Wyden were there as well, getting their last “fix” of Henry Theilie’s! Went on many dates at “Rimksey.” Loved to suggest the place to stuffy SW Portland guys. Always sent them upstairs to the bathroom. Even though I knew “he” would be there, the “man in the suit” always startled me! I wish I would have thought of going there while home this past summer. Saw on facebook that one of my former middle school students from the Milwaukie area has discovered it. There is hope for this new generation coming up!
Had to laugh about being a “SE. Portland girl”. Me, too! Do you remember Mama Maria’s on SE 21st off Powell? They had great pizza that they cut in squares – unusual for the time
Nancy K, Yes, I remember Mama Maria’s. Best pizza, always loaded with toppings. SE Powell and 21ST? Or near there!
Anna- Man in a suit? I always saw the lady in the dress in the tub at
Rimsky’s.
Yeah – the dummy in the tub always gave me a near heart attack.
Terry, you are living in France, currently? I am as well. Whereabouts are you? We live in the Pays de Loire region. I’d love to meet up with some Portlanders! There were sure some great restaurants in Portland. It was easy to be a “Bonne Vivante!” (Is that the feminine of “Bon Vivant?” LOL.
Well shoot, Anna
I was in Samois sur Seine (E of Fontainbleau on the main drag an hour So of Paris) for the 2001 Django Festival. Probably just missed you – by 20 yrs. Rose’s was terminated by the cynical schmuck’s who bought out Max Birnbaum about – 30? – years ago. The restaurant was still profitable and a huge favorite for PDXers, but they “just didn’t want to pay” for refurbishing a tired interior, and so closed a PDX landmark – along with the Bakery across from Fred’s on 20th. So long to the incredible Napoleons, prune rings, etc, etc.
That said, there are hundreds of new restaurants, bars & coffee shops on the East side.
I didn’t enjoy the snotty French waiters at every brasserie in every big city – who universally sniffed a disdainful “non” when asked if there was any food to be had. Finally gave up and dined at any Arab, Lebanese, Indian, Greek place – where the service was smiling, friendly & helpful.
Hi, I am a distant relative of Henry Thiele, the owner of the restaurant. The last name is spelled Thiele, not Theilie. 🌸
I lived in Portland from 1968 through 1971 attending both Reed and PSU off and on. I am from NYC. Portland was like a food dessert to me, but I have three cherished memories: (1) The pecan-cinnamon buns at Rose’s by Washington Park were and still are the best ever tasted on earth, (2) the Italian Deli on 39th and Powell was a sensory delight, and (3) the Spaghetti Factory downtown where you could get all you can eat spaghetti and garlic bread for $1.50 which I very appreciated on a student budget. Again–those pecan-cinnamon buns–never equaled anywhere.
The Spaghetti Factory moved down by the Willamette into a new building several years ago. Their browned butter mizithra sauce is what I go for. From what I’ve read they’re the largest US users of mizithra cheese.
Rose’s caramel pecan rolls are the best. When I’m in New York I’m partial to the Hens for sweets like Rose’s.
https://www.twolittleredhens.com
It was right after your stint here that the food revolution began in Portland and you may know some of the people who started it since you went to Reed. A large number of Reed professors quit en masse, I think it was 1972, and a few of them opened restaurants that truly initiated Portman’s boutique food scene. Reed professors started Le Auberge, Indigine, Genoa & Bread and Ink. It was a glorious beginning.
Used to go to the Mama Marias after folk dancing at Reed College folk dancing on tuesdays
That Italian deli you refer to was Pierri’s Delicatessen. Oh yeah! I found it in the early 80’s and would visit often for their pizza. Does anyone remember Bliss Bakery on SE 39th & Division? My family would buy birthday cakes from them. The frosting and cake fillings are still fresh in my memory. And, my high school job was waiting tables at Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlor at NE 16th and Weidler. I remember in 1976/77 when the Trail Blazers won NBA championship, on game nights, Farrell’s was jam-packed.
The Italian deli on Powell at 39tb was called Pieri’s, as I recall. I loved his pizza 🍕.
Pieri’s was one of my favorites growing up and as a young man. I ate there often. I loved the cheese they would sell to make your own pizza at home. That place always smelled wonderful when walking in from the parking lot.
Someone mentioned the Pied Cow. Does anyone remember Buttertoes, which was at that location before Pied Cow? Wonderful, decadent breakfast. And Sweet Basil’s, on SE Belmont, I think. My favorite place for years. Their quiche was so good. Austin’s, in Sellwood. Food, art, and the elderly artist, who was fascinating to talk to, all in one tiny place up the stairs. Old Wives’ Tales. Wonderful soup and salad bar. Chocolate Butter Crunch Pie. Kid’s playroom. Oh, Portland of my dreams, Portland of my memories, where did you go?
I’m “old” now, but when I was young (20’s), our favorite restaurant was The Kitchen Kettle across the street from Sayler’s steak house. Then Horst Mager arrived on the scene and the Rheinlander in it’s early days was to “die” for, but alas the last few years, the place was practically empty, the food next to awful…and now they’re going away for good. Victoria Station was a real favorite. Not sure where all of these good restaurants have gone or gave up. Suppose money and a variety of reason…Like the Pixie Kitchen in Lincoln City, the owners just got tired and retired.
We don’t get out much, but I sure miss the “old” days of all the great restaurants in Portland, down in Morgan’s Alley and Kon Tiki and the Rickshaw Charlies, was the best Chinese food ever… Fun to remember all those places and our fun times and the GREAT food…
The Pixie Kitchen had the best fried chicken I have ever had. I have searched for 50 years (turning 65 soon) and there has been none to compare. Years ago a gentleman online from Alaska emailed me and said he’d worked there and described how they made it. It involved old oil which made sense but …. I couldn’t duplicate it. Food changes so much during the years as tastes and trends change. Goldberg’s Deli in SW Portland had the best bagels I”ve ever had. Unfortunately they retired too and there was no one to carry on the recipe. Sad.
My favorite meal on the coast was fried scallops at the Pixie Kitchen. This has been replaced by fried calamari, at Jake’s in Portland and Georgie’s in Newport. And my own deep fried razor clams.
The Corbett Street Fish House has excellent deep fried seafood and that is the closest we’ve experienced for NON greasy deep fried seafood since Pixie Kitchen years ago.
Hi, Christine, I totally remember Buttertoes! My mother and I used to go there when I was a little girl for special lunches. All the sandwiches were named after children’s stories or characters: Thumbelina, The Country Mouse, The City Mouse, etc. My favorite was the Country Mouse, a turkey sandwich with lettuce and sprouts and tomatoes. My mom always got the City Mouse Sandwich (and eventually, so did I!) which was turkey with cranberry sauce and cream cheese. But hands down, our favorite thing from Buttertoes, was their Coffee Toffee Pie for dessert. We always made room for that, and then while devouring our slice, tried to see if we could figure out how to recreate it at home. We came close a few times, but that dessert was gold! My mother just recently mentioned that dessert again from Buttertoes. It was legendary! I remember after the Pied Cow took over the location, Buttertoes opened up a little gift shop on SE Hawthorne down west from The Bagdad. It was in a row of shops just past Bread & Ink cafe, I think next to a bookstore (I’m sure now long gone) called The Catbird Seat Bookstore. And yes, the Portland of our memories is gone…:(
Does anyone remember the name of the restaurant on Haydeb Island that served Shrimp and Crab Louies? It was located near the shopping center and the Safeway store.
Waddles?
I still wear my Waddles t shirt.
I loved Quality Pie shop. My favorite was the Walnut Cream pie.
Q Pie was the kinda place Tom Waits woulda hung out at. Very weird & raffish 2 a.m. bunch. Every strange guy in PDX….
I worked at Irelands restaurant off 5th ave I believe. Very small but they also owned the lesser cafeteria just around the corner. I worked in the basement washing dishes for both. Coffee in all the other establishments 10-15 cents a cup. Ireland was 25 cents. I left there and went to work delivering blue prints and other things for Swender Blue Print. on a bicycle along with my buddy. We both quit and joined the Air Force in 1954. I used to eat at a place that had all their food in small window type boxes along a long wall. I would peek in, pick what I wanted, turn the little knob and place my pick in my tray.. I believe these type of restaurants were called Automats. There were many old greasy spoon restaurants throughout the Portland area. Some of the best food. I wish to go back for a short time. I will be there in a month to visit family. homebrewer7@gmail.com . We live in Indiana now.
Two places for a trip to the past are Caro Amico and Roake’s.
https://www.caroamicoitaliancafe.com
http://www.roakesthehotdogfolks.com/menu/
My aunt Hazel get take out lunch plates from Ireland’s in the ’50’s
Do you, by any chance, remember the name of the restaurant in SW Portland called The Shadows. Closed now, but there was a place there before the Shadows owned by an Italian family, with one of the sons named Tony. They sold to The Shadows and opened another place of the same name on SE 13th and Bidwell in the 1977-78 ish. If anyone remembers the name of the Italian restaurant, please advise. Thank you.
Before joining the Air Force in 1954, I worked at Ireland’s restaurant. Very small and sufistacated. Cup of coffee was .25 and no free refills. They also owned the cafeteria just around the corner. I washed all the dishes in the basement for both. A food lift sent the dishes down. I also ate at a small place like the old laundromat restaurant where all your food were displayed behind small windows along the wall. You turned a knob which would open your salection.
Someone online said her Mom was a waitress in the ’50s and ’60s & went by the name Bubbles. Anyone have a clue where?
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Someone remembers Ireland’s. My friend and I would eat there in the late 60’s….yummy home-style cooking, cafeteria style. Also, does anyone remember aniother cafeteria, Griffins?
Upscale Ireland’s restaurant was not cafeteria style but the one just around the corner they also owned was. That was in 1954. A cigar store was on the corner between them. I washed dishes for both.. in the basement. Became very sick eating a real old pie for lunch. They fired me and after spending an hr in the office on a cot they sent me out by the sidewalk freight elevator still sick. Food poison.
This article is wonderful. I have so many memories of the 70s in Portland! Digger O Dells, Couch Street Fish House, Brasserie Montmartre, Ryan’s Eating Establishing – I am trying to find out history of salty‘s on the Columbia as I remember going there with my mom and dad. I remember the bartenders, the cocktails and tying up our 23 foot Chris-Craft next to a BART & Caroline’s ‘58 foot Shane. I am going there tomorrow with friends for a birthday celebration and taking pictures of my dad with Bart and his family. Wish I could go back in time, wonderful memories 💕
In the early ’70’s the Chicken Kiev at Ryan’s Eating Establishment was wonderful.
I had dinner at Salty’s in approximately 1992-1993. I hope that helps.
Found an old menu from the Multnomah Hotel, featuring the Bart Woodyard Band. Googled Bart Woodyard and found an interesting article him.
Try that and if it Doesn’t work contact me and I will forward it to you.
Ron Spagle
Every so often I come across this wonderful thread on my iPhone and realize that I’d been to almost every one of these deceased restaurants. Shot ads for Horst Mager, Max at Roses and knew the owner of both Hillvilla and The Alibi because we shared a old line CPA. And those two I never visited in their prime. Only the later day versions.
What I always wonder is would we all think these storied eateries were as good as our memories seem to tell us or if we could just for a meal now return would we still still think that?
(I know in my photography career we’ve gone leaps and bounds beyond our long ago best images. Not historically, of course, but art and technology wise).
Thoughts? Prayers?
One of the great & cynical shames of PDX was the closing of Rose’s and the Bakery – both of which were still profitable at the time. Bakery: the prune rings and the napoleons were fabulous. The Alibi has turned into a sad karaoke bar with pathetic food.
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What was the Pub on 46 and Sandy great sandwiches anyone know. In the 70’s. On the corner.
Nah – not Pal’s. It was Stanich’s who started the burger with 29 layers that bore no resemblance to a classic (and far superior) burger with basic ingredients. It was the Jerry Springer of burgers…..
Stanich’s was on Fremont…Pals on Sandy…
Did I get the street wrong?
It was Pal’s Shanty. There was a large fire, (arson), in November of 2013. It closed at that location and several years later they opened a place on SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy, but it wasn’t the same.
Pals Shanty Tavern
The decent dinner menu at The Alibi was decimated to something truly pathetic and it degenerated into a lousy karaoke bar. Too bad. The “Tiki” decor is still great, tho.
Diggers and the Burns Bros, in a firmer funeral home, gee, what could go wrong? Shirt lived for several reasons
Great collection! Love the 1920s clipart dancers for the disco dancing club!
Guess you didn’t plan to include our ‘hangouts’ in high school like The Speck, Yaws and Tik Tok, but what about ‘Fast Eddies’, ‘Jolly Jones’, and best of all was the ‘Kitchen Kettle’ that had the best lebanease,greek food before that kind of food was ‘cool’.
Thanks for mentioning The Kitchen Kettle as that was our restaurant. I still have the origingal recipes and wonder if I served them again, would people remember.
I would love to have some of the recipes from the Kitchen Kettle. What fond memories they would bring.
My future wife and I had steaks at the Kitchen Kettle on the 4th of July, 1966. That did it! We got married and have never been sorry (well, most of the time.)
My father printed the menus for The Kitchen Kettle and it holds great memories for me.
To: Roberta Sabin of Kitchen Kettle
I would like to have some of recipes
If you don’t mind the grape rolls are great
Jacob Serrano
Roberta Sabin, I loved the Kitchen Kettle – my mom worked there for several years. Just a lovely place.
My mom was a waitress at the Kitchen Kettle and as kids my sisters and I would go with her sometimes during the day and sample some of the food. Would you believe some of the cooks were Chinese?? They could turn out the best grape leaf rolls and bulgur I have ever had.
Jolly Joan or maybe it was Jolly Joan’s
We used to go to yaws drive up and get their french fries with gravy !!
Sandy Blvd .
I LOVE Kitchen Kettle. Went there many times and especially my 21st birthday when pregnant with my son who will turn 53 next month!! Sure miss all of the good restaurants that people mention on this site. They were truly the “good ole’ days!”
i was a bus boy at The Kitchen Kettle in the 60’s, i had to take a bus from inner NE Portland it was a great resturant.
Jolly Joan’s, l believe, on SW Broadway between Washington and Alder..
Also had a bar in the back called the Lariet Lounge, Club Portland was upstairs and the Elite pool room in the basement.
In 1949 and 1950 my teenage friends and I loved going to Jolly jones, on SW Broadway. That had good food and was nice to young people. So was the Whistling Pig, on Broadway.
In the days when calories didn’t matter our favorite afternoon treat was Jolly Joan’s Hot Fudge Sundae and French Fries!
The only soup I ever had there was the hot & sour soup, could that have been it?
As dorky HS seniors from Vancouver my friend & I would finish our nights at The Way Out under the E end of the Hawth Br sitting at the counter at Jolly Joan’s until 2 thirty am drinkingcoffee and smoking. Great times.
That was, actually, Jolly Joan on SW Broadway. We spent the last half of our senior year in HS ( Hudson’s Bay in Vancouver) at the Way Out, Cafe Espresso and, until 2 a.m., sitting at the counter at JJ’s drinking black coffee and smoking cigarettes. Wonderful times……
I have a stack of old Portland restaurant guide books on the shelf. I love this theme for the weekend.
Anything on The Shadows in SW Portland in the 60’s-70’s? Or the Italian place that was there before The Shadows. Please advise. Thank you.
Wow, this is incredible. I’ve definitely wondered what the food scene looked like back in the day and your fine work now helps me see it.
Catherine, I can give you a first hand account. I was involved from 1979 on.
I, also may have some info on the Portland restaurant scene from 1970 to present..
I have been a real estate broker since then and been involved in selling over 700 restaurants since.
A few more: Hilaire’s (where I had my one solo dinner with my grandfather), Uncle Chen’s (longest menu, best Chinese ever), Lipman’s tearoom (where ladies always wore white gloves to lunch), Piccolo Mondo and Capt. Billy Bang’s in John’s Landing, Pasta Cucina in Yamhill Marketplace, Briggs & Crampton’s table for two, Wooden Spoons and Metro Café on Clinton…sigh. Then there are Harriet Fasenfest’s cafés: Bertie Lou and Harriet’s Eat Now Café.
Thanks for reminding me!
Piccolo Mondo’s! Wow, but a flashback to cocktails after turning 21! What about Earthquake Ethel’s for the earthquake, disco dancing and your first official adult beverage?Lipman’s Tea Room AND Meier & Frank’s Coffe Shop with my grandmother when I was 4/5…she always wore gloves with the hat and purse! And those elevator operator’s and their castanets clicking to alert other operators of which cars to use. It seemed pretty exotic to a little kid to ride the old Rose City busses downtown, step onto the bustling sidewalks, get a drink from the Benson bubblers and then walk into M&F’s from the 5th and Morrison entrance and look across at the huge store and see all the old deco lighting and signage that hadn’t changed since the 30s…man oh man but I ,iss that great old Department Store.Lost forever…
I loved the Meier and Frank Coffee Shop and the Lipman’s Tea Room. I used to go there with my mom and grandma. We always dressed up to go downtown;always wore white gloves. I still have my mom’s Lipman’s credit card.
What a wonderful list of remembrance’s…Lipmann and Wolfe’s had the best shake of the downtown lunch counters, even though it was officially a mezzanine. Jolly Jone’s serpentine counter was a joy for a squirmy kid who just got a couple of quarters from his mom (Violet) and bounced out of her candy store on Broadway and Alder. Barney Keep broadcasting from the Imperial Hotel in the window, WOW! The lunch counters at Fred Meyers and JJ Newbury had some of the best grilled cheese sandwich’s ever! I was the bar man at the Chocolate Moose for years, working for Tony on 2nd & Ankeny up until Ted and John bought it and opened Bebatis. Sadly both Ted and Tony have passed. I grew up with Steve Yaw and blasted my 327 El Camino from Yaws to the Speck, to downtown [the ‘GUT’] and back again…Tootsie rolls anyone? The Tik Tok was a cops hangout and Scotties across the street never did it for me. So here’s my list of what I miss from the hayday: the Mallory dining room, the Georgian Room (M & F’s), the buffet at Lido/Monte Carlo’s, the Benson businessman’s lunch, all of the restaurants in the original Morgan’s Alley, and the ‘OLD’ Pal’s Shanty on Sandy Boulevard, Hilaire’s! Porto Fino in Sellwood. I have to apologize though…the Carnival (I live close by) never really did have a very good patty…great condiments though…sorry.
Post Script (PS to you youngins): my mom moved out east and opened a Van Dynns candy store anchored with Roses!
What a great list! I only take execution with the Monte Carlo/Lido. Too boring for me. No idea why. The others seemed either institutionally “cool” like the Georgian Room or actually pretty good like the others.
But what do I know?
I don’t remember seeing any Roses or Van Duyns east of Gresham. But one thing that did transplant well is The Original Pancake House. There are several in the Chicago area complete with the iconic pancake flipper-man. Lots of immigrant restaurants around here copy OHP, offering Dutch apple and German pancakes. Several years ago the Chicago Tribune did an article on the lost German restaurants, commenting that OHP was one of the few places where you could still get the traditional pancakes.
Roses East and Van Dynn’s (my Mom’s store) were off 122nd aqnd Glisan.
That little strip mall in NE Portland where Rose’s was. I vaguely remember the Van Duyns but never went in. But that Roses….I took my little girls in there specifically to let them pig out on one of the pieces of tall chocolate cake. It was messy but in the end there was nothing left.
Yes, no weekend was complete until all-night dancing at Earthquake Es. There was another great spot across Beaverton where the servers did a disco bit every hour or something like that. Can’t remember what it was called…Chevy’s? Worked in luggage for a few years at Meier&Frank (they had an elevator attendant operating clear into the 80s in the back or the store I think), and waited tables along with serving/cooking the oyster bar at Rusty Pelican along the Willamette as well. Slabtown, Up the Down Staircase….great night venues How bout Vat and Tonsure?
Chevy’s opened in 1985. I was the GM there some years after selling Belinda’s. We did an amazing business, especially on Fri-Sat. The owner hired some lawyers and got out of the franchise agreement ( not the Mexican food chain ) with the people in Miss. They were successful and re-opened as Be Bop USA. He let me go after 6 months and I had promoted to all the folks I knew in PDX, and hired a kid and paid him 30 % less salary. I used to teach the dance routines to the servers and bartenders. FYI….we were the largest dispenser of Budweiser in the NW! More than the Kingdome.I think the $1.00 buffet drew a lot of people.
Love your comments–I had the same childhood! Wonder if you remember the ‘holes’ in the sidewalks for the freight to go from the trucks on the street to the basement of M&F…that both fascinated and frightened me !
Fred Meyer lunch counter!
Back when the Hollywood Fred Meyer was in it’s old building across from the Hollywood Theater, I was a wee tot riding in the shopping cart every Thursday while my mom was getting groceries for the week. (I believe the coupons that she clipped were in the Oregonian every Wednesday.) My favorite part of the trip every week was that she would let me get a hot dog “with butter on the bun” from the lunch counter. I have vague memories of it as I was so young, but they seem so vivid because she still tells the story to this day!
My mother used to shop at the bargain basement downstairs Meier and Franks and would get pinnaple sundays for not being a brat for a couple of hours and hen take trolley or bus home out first stopping in the south auditorium hood and stop at the drug store and get a real soda fountain root beer float.
Earthquake Ethel’s was sooooo Disco! We had such fun there.
I was the manager at Piccolo Mondo from 77 to 89
Loved that place
Is it still there?
It’s Probably been gone for 20 to 25 years. As far as I could remember, I believe Joe Kara was the last owner.
The Wooden Spoons was my Dad’s place. I grew up in there! Nice to see that someone remembers it fondly! Thanks!
My husband Tom worked for your dad at the Wooden Spoons circa 1977-78. What a great guy! He learned so much from him. I remember cream of zucchini soup was a fave. Great memories!
I was a good friend of Tim’s. He had The Wooden Spoons ( which I first heard about in Boise in the early 70’S ) and I had Belinda’s. We used to visit and have a coffee, it was just like I like, homey, comfortable and friendly with great food. Please tell him hello from Ross.
I haven’t read all comments stretching back years so perhaps these have been mentioned: Milton & Oscars, The Treasure Chest, Elephant & Castle (for fish and chips), The Montavilla Bakery for middle east specialties before they were popular. Then there was Saleen’s delicatessan for Scandinavian imports – herring, flatbread and even clogs! And what about the onion rings at The Ringside?
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I was neighbors with your dad / mom back in the 60’s 70’s. Tim and Jane?
We lived in an apartment in Milwaukie. Could you be his daughter? I live in Lake Tahoe but come to Portland.
Tell your dad jerry jones says hello. I was his produce guy and had many great nights in his place. lots of good food and wine!!!!
Hi! I’ve often wondered how Tim is doing. My name is Bob Johnson and I worked for Tim at Wooden Spoons in 1984. It was one of my most fondly remembered jobs. Please pass on my regards. 🙂
Hey there Bob! Tim and I used to trade stories and gossip about the biz and have a cup of coffee for a few moments at the ” Spoons “. We were both chefs at small Eastside places, Mine was Belinda’s and a little fancier but Tim put out some damn fine food. We were both big guys with big dreams.I have fond memories of those days.
I lived next door to Tim and Jane in Milwaukie. Was there the day his 2nd daughter was born. I had a telescope. The night before we were looking at Mars. It was particularly bright. They almost named her Mars, because it was so memorable to Jane.
Michael Monroe
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My (now ex) husband and I went there one time. SE 26TH and Clinton Street, if I remember correctly. Loved our meal.
I was Briggs and Cramptons’ first official employee. Spent my first day shucking oysters–over 100 of them! We would dine, alfresco in their small herb garden. That was before they hit the big time. Worked for them for ten or more years, part-time.
Did you not love Picolo Mondo’s? I used to have a fettucine with white sauce–not alfredo but close and incredible grated cheese. It was gone one day before I could ask for their recipe. So many great restaurants gone by the wayside. Poncho’s, Paco’s??? in Morgan’s Alley upstairs. Tostado with beef and a huge pile of lettuce on top. Like 3 in high and the size of a dinner plate. Salsa on the very top. I miss those tostados when I get hungry for Mexican food.
It was Paco’s on the mezzanine level of Morgan’s Alley. The original name was Tillie’s. The owner, Eddie Mays who also owned Prime Rib on Sandy had Tillie’s, named after his wife. I worked for Eddie Mays for over 10 years in several of his restaurants.
Paco’s. Thanks. Have not found a Mexican restaurant like that in the time since. We worked at US Bank in Installment loans and we’d walk over at lunch. We also loved going to a restaurant next door to the bank–the Heathman? Sky-high pieces of strawberry pie that were delicious. And the Fish Grotto. Long finger size pieces of delicious fish and garlic bread that had no comparison. Things were so simple and delicious then.
Piccolo Mondo was a great place.
I loved Piccolo Mondo.
Someone mentioned Yaws. We didn’t have a car, but when my oldest sister bought her new ’65 Cutlass we went there! Loved the Tootsie Roll cop and the burgers
What do you remember about Hilaire’s? And the Encore bar? I’m trying to describe it from memory. I remember it was open for late night dinner. And some of us were taken there after a show. But I’m having trouble remembering what was served, the decor, and how the wait staff dressed. I just remember being awed by the place.
CassandraParker, I couldn’t reply to your message about Hilaire’s …I worked there in 1970 and again in 1977…Gordon was the Maitr’d I worked the night shift but also lunch. It was awesome to see it change from a place to have lunch and then at 2pm everything changed to white tablecloths and candles. Also worked upstairs at what was called the Judge’s Chambers…interesting conversations went on up there. Prudi Harrison
Do you have the menu for Uncle Chen? Can you describe the soup my husband is trying to remember… it was a broth and served in a wooden bowl or cup?
Just an aside there is no place called johns landing it was origanally called Fulton with its own post office
John’s Landing is a neighborhood, a grouping of shops and restaurants and has its own website, offices and a facebook page.. Sometimes you have to go with what the people call something. I’ve known the shopping area as John’s Landing for at least 40 years.
Hi deb my mother and i used to deliver th newspapers to your family on Water st.
There is no Johns Landing neighborhood that area is all part of the Fulton area and had its own post office. It took on the JL personona because of a developer had money enough to get it designated as such. I run into your brother Michael at Safeway on Barbur blvd from time to time i went to Failing and Terwilliger and The Neighborhood House preschool and delivered the paper to the old Blue Heaven and Monte Carlo. Send me an email and we can catch up
Hi Dale,
Michael is my husband and he is the one who lived on water st. with his family. I know we’ve run into you from time to time. I guess you learn something every day. I do remember Fulton school and some other things named Fulton. It’s been 40 years ago, I worked down in the area off Corbett and we always went down to John’s Landing for lunch. I think it was to make it new and exciting but it was the same old neighborhood. Loved Piccolo Mondo and Gregory’s. And Honey Baked Ham. : )
Deb Mastrangelo
Hey Dale,
Could be Johns Lamding came about because of BP Johns’ furniture?
Just wondering
Ron S.
Yes, John Gray named it for the Johns industrial site owner when he developed the area with Storrs architectural firm.
Maybe but the johns landing condos were built on the burnt out jones lumber yard and because of speculation on the run down properties the real estate people marketed it as johns landing.
The historic Fulton district was separate from the Fulton park developement up on the heights
Fulton was down on the Flats next to all the industrial land and the open sewer they called the Willamette . It was its own community.
Do you remember the Chalet restaurant ?
Of course. Remember Johns Tavern, the Carolina Tavern and the Netcap Tavern.
I believe it was the developer John Gray…
I got the oregon hwy dept to take down the green signs on the i5 because they didn’t meet the trip visitation req. and no other neighborhood gets to have a green sign only for cities and places that meet trip numbers. And I don’t think John Gray was going to pay for the upkeep of the signs.
Yeah – and Jerry’s Gable at the top of 6th above PSU…………..
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! I have been trying for hours to remember the name of the 6th Avenue restaurant (before The Shadows), and the later, 1979+, on SE 13th and Bidwell, in Sellwood. Driving me crazy! Now I can sleep tonight. Jerry’s Gables had the best fried chicken with honey in the world. I went on a date to see Cleopatra when it opened in Portland in 1965, and was taken to the 6th Avenue place, then went to the new Jerry’s Gables in Sellwood when we moved into the neighborhood, miss it very much. Tony and Jerry cooked out of the smallest kitchen in the old house on 13th, and did it so well.
Was cooking at Wooden Horse in 79 and 80. Would go for pool and an after work beer at Billy Bang’s. Pat and Nick were the bartenders.
It was a really good period in life for me.
Dave, The Wooden Horse was my Mom’s place, Marie Holman. At that time I was in California cooking for Rueben’s Plankhouse. Before that though, I was a cook at the WH with Russell Angel the Chef, and also a friend Doug Wilett worked along side me during the luch rush hours.
’79 and ’80, was cooking at Wooden Horse in the Water Tower building in JL. This was quite a special time in life for me already, so my experiences in those places have always held strong meaning and sentiment to me. We’d go down the hall to Billy Bang’s for after work pool and beer. Nick and Pat behind the bar.
To Dave Bosworth. My mom owned the Wooden Horse Restaurant. I don’t recall you by name. Russell Angle was the Chef at the time. Doug Willett and I were the cooks on the kitchen line pumping out the burgers and the food.
Dave, my Mom owned Wooden Horse at JL. I was also a cook there with Russel Angle, Doug Willett and others. I am trying to place you, but I cannot ATM. Cheers!
Greg Downing, Hi,….I know it was March when I started there,…now I’m not sure if it was 1979 or 1980. ,…Yeh, Russ and Al worked the day shift mostly, and Steve worked the day shift on the line, (married Holly who worked at the bank across the street, I called him Sleve a couple times when he wore a chef’s coat that was too big for him and the sleeves hung way down onto his hands when they came unrolled, LOL)) and I remember hearing of Marie’s son Greg and at least during that window of time weren’t you holding down the fort at the Pancake Corner? That was the place Walter was running then, right? I think you may have come over to the Horse and worked some day shifts, or maybe bailed us out on some Sunday brunches during the time I was there? At any rate, I thought I remember meeting you in passing……On the swing shift I worked with another Greg (Bauch I think it was) and also a younger guy Bob Walloweek that was up from Texas are who I worked with in the kitchen mostly. And Sam who washed dishes and sang, man that guy would belt out some soulful tunes and use the acoustics of the dishroom and belt it out. On the floor Marilyn and Jeanie Oakes, Waneeta, Gabi, hostess Tami, …and dangit, others I can picture right now and frequently think of their names but can’t right now, I’ll have to ….Oh wait,..haha how could I forget… Priscilla. Kathy Putman (Put-Put), Suzette over at the bar,….anyway, like i mentioned in the first comment, it was kind of a special time I’ll always remember, after coming out of some dark times I had the benefit of working with such wonderful people,
Now, I see you also mentioned Doug Willet, I know there was a Doug, and Willet sounds right, that was there,.?..and also ended up working on the kitchen crew a couple years later at Brannigan’s in Beaverton same time as me? Or somewhere we ended up being at two different restaurant kitchens together.
I was up at the Creperie for awhile too.
I worked at the WH about 1976- 1979 then moved to CA. I later worked at the WH in 1983 for a bit. So I missed working with you I guess. I was at the pancake corner in the mid 70’s working for Walter Holman who was my Step Dad. Then to the WH with Russ Angel. I recall Sam the dishwasher. Priscilla was my stepsister, Walters daughter. Doug Willett worked at many places, but by that time I was in the Army and restaurants were no longer my employment.
Maries Creperie up one level at the landing. Never worked there but it was another of my Mom’s places. The Sunday Brunches were quite the operation. Especially Mothers day.
I remember “Top of the Cosmo” took my prom date up there to impress. She was neither impress with the resturant nor her date!
Does anyone have any pictures of Top of the Cosmo? What was the decoration on the roof?
An elongated oval with intermittently spaced red and white squares…why, I’ll never know.
Ooooh, baby! That ’70s hair really does it for me 😉
once upon a time there was a elegant resturant that had a piano bar huge chandelier and formal waiters of which i was one .We has a french menu, made everything from scratch, food was superb and the guests dressed in their finest.Larry Hiliare was the owener who also ran the “Hiliares coffee shop” on the Encores side street.Upstairs in the resturant was a room called the Judges chamber, that held private parties limited to 12.Mr Hiliares offices were downstairs, in a beautiful room full of copper item from cooking visits overseas.He wore always a bow tie and later after his passing his daughter held on for a while and later sold it.They were also known for their speical cheesecake made with cream, butter and cottage cheese amoung other items.Beef strogonoff with a grain rice,bulger wheat was a standout item.A time long a ago but what a grand place it was to work at, and the tips were great and the customers were the cream of Portland, but then a unsnob reality was in place. People came to relax and enjoy, the food and music and the special bar drinks. Sad to have seen it gone,as we need places that stand out and are that Special place to take that special someone.
Thank you for letting me ramble on.
Usually my reading comprehension is pretty good, but it’s failing me here;
do you recall the name of the place? Was it “Encores”? “Hiliare’s”?
It was the Encore Restaurant…
I believe it was Hilaire’s Encore. I was the broker for Mr Hilary and sold it to Uncle Che.
My memories of Hilaire’s are less of the dining, although I did dine there on occasion, but on the debacle of refusing service to—I believe—Hazel Scott because she was black. In those days, the black people stayed mostly on their side of town, true, but when an artist of Ms Scott’s stature came to town, that really caused a stir. I believe she sued.
But that wasn’t Mr. Hilaire’s only faux-pas in those days. Colonel Harlan Sanders offered him a franchise for the entire area and Hilaire brushed him off.
I worked there in the early 70’s and women were not allowed to sit at the bar alone.
I was fired from the Encore by Mr. Hilaire himself. My transgression? Well, Mr. Hilaire said I was putting to much salad dressing on the salad, there by hiding the delicate taste of the lettuce. I simply replied that the lettuce which had been bleached to remove the wilted brown edges (a common 1970s restaurant practice) could not possibly have any ” delicate” taste left.
I heard that somebody was fired – either a bar tender or a waiter – from The Encore because they dusted off the bottles above the bar … it ruined the look… True?? or an urban legend??
Thanks for the trip down memory lane, Ralph. I am Larry Hilaire’s granddaughter. Larry’s son, Kerry, was my dad. Hilaire’s Encore and Hilaire’s Coffee Shop were well known for a reason. The Encore had delicious food and was a classy place to go. The coffee shop was a popular meeting place. If the “round table” could only talk, what stories it could tell! I often wonder what happened to the chandelier when they tore the place down.
It was fun to read this thread. I didn’t know about Colonel Sanders offering him a franchise or that they denied service to the black woman. That was a bit before my time, I guess. Grandpa strove for excellence and beauty the best he could. He was a strong man with definite ideas and was bound to rub some people the wrong way. However, it was his strength and vision that made his business such a success!
I don’t know if you kept in touch with Karen. She died in 2003. Her daughter, Nesha, is somewhere in Arizona, I believe, and Karen’s son, Ian, lives in California.
Portland has sure changed since the old days and I can hardly even remember the Hilaire’s store front as I drive down Washington St. as they have torn down the old building. Thank you for your lovely tribute and for refreshing my memory!
Tamara,
I delivered your grandfather for years at Encore & Hilaires & Meatmarket…but, recently I had the opportunity to visit with his sister Martha in Hillsboro. We had the bakery ‘Pierre’s French’ and Ham, still alive and going well, is my mothers cousin.Always a pleasure to visit the old familiar sites with their memories. In my day made the reular rounds from Scotties, to Yaws, to Speck.
I loved Hilaire’s Coffee Shop and went there a lot with my grandmother who had a crush on Larry Hilaire. She called him “that Brute”… I guess that was a good thing back in the late 40’s and 50’s. When I was working downtown in the 70’s I went there almost every day for lunch with my friend Kent Morris. Aggie was the head hostess as I remember and Vi was one of the waitresses. I believe her name was Marlene – she was my very favorite waitress. When Kent and I walked in for lunch we always got her station and she would automatically order either fish and chips or a hamburger for us when the fish wasn’t as good as she thought it should be. I also spent many evenings having cocktails in the Encore Restaurant. Fantastic memories.
By the way, the large chandelier in Hilaire’s Coffee Shop was made by a lighting company in Portland called Baker Barkon Lighting Co. My father polished the brass and put it together and helped hang it. I too wonder what happened to it…
Thanks for sharing the memories, Don!
I just moved back to Portland and found this blog. I used to work at Hilaire’s Coffee Shop for a while in the 70s. Aggie was the hostess. I usually worked upstairs on the terrace running back and forth up and down the stairs all through my shift! I remember Vi also. She is probably the most incredible waitress I have ever met! I was looking for the restaurant location to see if I would recognize it and couldn’t remember exactly where it was but if the building has been torn down, that could explain it.
I used to have lunch at the coffee shop occasionally when I studied at the Museum Art School under Louis Bunce, whose mural decorates the Portland Airport. At least it did the last time I was there.
Nice food and atmosphere. I sure miss the good old days in Portland.
My father did the printer for Mr Hillare and THANK YOU for that lovely memory, I had forgot the bow tie.
Julie! You have mentioned that your father did the printing of menus for so many places in those
days. Did any of those materials get saved or are packed away? I have some ideas, if that is the
case. Let me know. RP
I was the broker that sold the restaurant to Uncle Chen..
I believe the restaurant was Hiliare’s and the bar was called the Encore..
I have such a vague memory of that place…I know it was a favorite of my parents and they always took us to swanky places. 🙂 Wish some of these places were still with us. What years was Hilaire’s open?
I’ve been searching for photos of the old Kon Tiki from the (then) Lloyd Center Sheratan Hotel. Most of the tiki statues ended up at the old Jasmine Tree, then to Thatch Tiki BAr.
Got any more??
We don’t have photos, but we do still have a shower door from the Sheraton. When it was being gutted and remodeled, people could go into certain areas and take out walls, bathrooms, pieces of same, and would be charged as we carried it out the doors. This was in 1980. We built our shower to fit the door. Still works. Cost us $40, the glass and stainless fittings.
When I was a callow youth at the beginning of WWII I worked at the 24 hour Jolly Joan on Broadway. Busy place and lots of fun. I remember Hilaire’s too, infamous for denying service to, I believe, Hazel Scott. But then they turned down Colonel Sanders offer to handle their Portland Kentucky Fried Chicken business. Larry said,”Why should I give that guy a nickel for every chicken I sell?”
Portland was a great place to grow up in the late ’30s and early ’40s. I worked at the Town Tavern too. Later, Chef Highet left there and opened The Original Pancake House out on Barbur Blvd. I worked as busby for half a day at The Hoyt Hotel, but walked out because the cook wouldn’t feed me my lunch. The war was on and a kid could go to work anyplace at any time because all the real men were out getting killed and maimed.
That beautiful library was my home away from home and of course, the Circle and the Rex were homes away from home as well.
Gee, I’m going to have to go back to Portland and revisit some of the good old spots. Trouble is, I think they’re all gone…
In the late 50’s I went to beauty school above the Jolly joan restaraunt, we went there everyday for lunch or coffee.
What was the name of the beauty school you went to above Jolly Joans? I went to one called Pacific School of Beauty on Park in that same area in 1963-64.
The Portland Club was above Jolly Joans and a great place for singles.
I found a picture of my mother from the 40′ wearing a uniform and hat. The name “Bart’s ” is embroidered on that uniform. Any memories of Bart’s ?
BART’S might be a reference to Bart’s Wharf on the east bank of the Willamette out Sellwood way. On another note, my mother had the Van Dynn’s candy store on S.W. Broadway and Alder. We used to enjoy Jolly Jones and its serpentine counter. My mother’s name was Violet Gramstad, and was next to Portland Cutlery and Packhouz jewelers.
Bart Woodard, had several places. W Burnside and 23. Then became Bart’s Gold Coin. Bart’s wharf, now Saltys. The one on Burnside featuredPaul Fisher chocolate rum cake. He had bakery concession at FM Stadiumstore. Great burgers.
Gold Coin was chineese. Had 24 birthday dinner there. Pricey. Good food. Cherries jubilie.
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Bart’s Wharf was on NE Marine Dr. It is now Salty’s I have an ashtray from there and I think a matchbook. I was only a kid when my parents took me there. I loved it, only because my name is Bart
If it’s the Bart’s on upper Burnside, yes. In the late 50’s I had on of my first upper end meal there, a lobster the size of my head.
Bart’s Wharf was where Salty’s is now on the Columbia River by the airport
Bart’s lived on under various owners in Longview from the 1950’s into the 2000’s.
http://m.tdn.com/lifestyles/bringing-back-bart-s/article_42422c58-9abc-11df-9fad-001cc4c002e0.html?mobile_touch=true
When I was growing up Bart’s was THE fancy restaurant in town.
Continuing with the story of the Longview Bart’s, the original chef was Henry Paul, who was better known for his restaurant Henri’s, which replaced Bart’s as THE place to eat. He ran it until he died in 2006, and it has closed.
http://tdn.com/announcements/obituaries/henry-paul/article_48ddd2d4-aed9-5fd8-b012-b23868b74927.html
His brother still runs a restaurant (Bob Paul’s) in Longview. For many years there was a bakery in Longview – Fran & Paul’s – which probably had a connection to Bart’s, but I can’t find any information.
Which Bart’s are you talking about ? Bart’s Wharf where Salty’s is located now,or Bart’s of Longview,Washington ?
The restaurant on the Willamette in Sellwood was The Anchorage. They had a great Friday night seafood buffet. Later it became Salty’s also. I don’t know if it is anything anymore.
Colloquially called “Wart’s Barf”
[…] your own mortality, but it makes life feel more real. It’s a road map into the past.” Here is a cool piece he wrote about Oregon’s lesser-known restaurant […]
My memories of Hilaire’s are less nostalgic. I remember when a famous piano artist—I believe Hazel Scott—came to town he refused to serve her in his restaurant. That was bad, but of course in that particular era, many businesses did not want black trade.
Worse (for Hilaire) was when Colonel Harlan Sanders offered him the Kentucky Fried Franchise for the area, he turned the Colonel down. “Why would I pay you a nickel for every chicken I sell?”
Of course The Speck saw things differently and left Hilaire’s in the dust.
Heartbreaking at best especially that today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2014 here in PDX (I visited his home and temple this time last year in Atlanta), but if you want a shocker try this out: My parents truly enjoyed the “Prime Rib” off 50th and Sandy Boulevard…it was originally the (honest to GOD!) the “COON CHICKEN INN”!
Yeah. You’re so correct. But now it’s back and the present ownership is getting the last laugh. Who in the thirties would have guessed?
Nice joint and jazz and rock in the bar side.
And Lil Black Sambos in Sw? They changed that name in a hurry.
You can access “Coon Chicken inn” online (they were in three cities). If you do not already know, the entrance was through the gap toothed mouth of a Black railroad porter billboard. FYI, we lived not too far from there on 57th and NE Broadway and the later “Prime Rib” was a destination for good food and special events. Possibly the best restaurant on the East side at the time.
We have an ashtray from the Coon Chicken Inn. My husband loved that place as a kid, and he always talks about its name in reference to today’s standards!
Wow, that is hard to hear.
Steve G, back to Van Duyn’s: for 10 years I had allergy shots on 10th & SW Washington. Mom & I waited for the bus on the block where your Mom’s Van Duyn’s was located . It was a special treat to get to go in and buy some chocolate . Elegant & very nice ladies that worked there. And, same block as “one” of the entrances to Morgan’s Alley when it came along. Thanks for bringing back a flood of great memories!
Proud to say I was thrown out of the Top of the Cosmo. Was there with a small gang of public school teachers and quadriplegics who had hooked up at happy hour somewhere else and decided to go dancing at the TOC. Some couple of tight a$$e$ complained to management that their romantic evening was being ruined by the presence of quads in power chairs dancing with frisky school teachers (mostly on their laps). They asked us to leave in order to spare the tender sensitivities of their complaining customers who didn’t want to share their evening with crips. One of the quads got the mic and made a crip power speech. Then we were hustled out the back door. Ah, the good old days!
Thanks for reminding me of Hillaire’s. I would never have gone in if I’d known about Hazel Scott. I didn’t know and did go in, and several times saw Herb Caen on his official stool at the bar.
What was the steak place in the train cars on the river side of Macadam? I had two friends who waited tables there. I remember Peter’s Habit, Frankensteins and several other music clubs on Second and Front that are long gone now.
Huber’s is still Huber’s, though, thankfully!
Oh, yeah, and what about the Chocolate Moose, and the tiny prime rib place on the other side of the freeway up toward Pill Hill?
I remember the Chocolate Moose but not exactly where it was. Near downtown. The walls and ceiling were painted black or maybe dark brown and there were flocks of artificial white doves suspended from the ceiling. This was the first place I’d ever heard jazz and didn’t know what to call it, so I referred to it as “moose music”. They’d bring out a plate of sliced fresh French bread and sharp cheddar cheese to eat with your wine or beer, and it was so good that I always wonder why that isn’t done elsewhere.
Chocolate Moose was on SW 2nd and Ankeny just off Burnside….I was the bar tender.
Prime rib place was Jerry’s Gable! Ate there many times with my family in the 60’s.
Jerry’s Gable(S)
The train car place was called Victoria Station.
Victoria’s Station on Macadam & of course a little farther south and just over the Sellwood Bridge was The Rafters. Miss them both!
I remember putting our baby daughter on a big blanket under the table at The Rafters so she wouldn’t bother people eating at the restaurant. She was an angel, and we had a lovely dinner entertaining Japanese guests.
Remember the Netcap Tavern on Macadam, east side and just north of Staff’s?
My hubby’s best friend and bf’s brother bought the Victoria Station train cars and on their own moved them to the brother’s property near the Hillsboro Airport where they built a spur and that is where they now reside.
Victoria Station…
Man, you must be ancient to remember those old joints.. Peters Habit, take out window was “Peter’s In & Out”. The Old Glory, And the bars on SW 3rd?
Man I am so old that I sold newspapers at Biltwell,BP Johns and Jones Lumber. What happened to the Barrel Inn?
I think they were like a franchise i used to see similar ones around last one i know of is the Cider Mill
On Capital hyw. at Virginia
Polish Princess was the name of the restaurant in the railroad cars in SEvportland near the Willamette River.
Polish Princess was in the Ben Franklin building downtown. Paul Anderson named it after his wife Glenda. Victoria Station was the one in the train cars on Macadam.
The ‘steak place’ in train cars on Macadam, was Victoria Station. I remember Nagel’s Big Apple on 82nd and Sandy, Reuben’s (off Skyline at Sylvan), Scottys at the intersection of Burnside,12th and Sandy, The Hobbit, and Jazz deOpus. Ahhh good times.
Ah, Jazz de Opus. Best service in town. Also the first time I ever had razor clams. I weep when I drive past that intersection now.
What intersection? I forget its exact location but I courted my wife there. We have been married almost 35 years.
Jazz De Opus & Opus too ….31 nw couch my first restaurant job….started as a basil picker for the seasonal pesto making and just stayed moving my way up dishwasher pantry cook jazz cook ect then moved to Key Largo as kitchen manager
I picked more than basil at Jazz de Opus…possibly the best and sexiest waitresses in town.
I was made the assistant manager at The Jazz De Opus when the owner, Sam Pishue sold to Charlie Quinn of Charley’s Fish House;s in Seattle/Bellvue. Charilie pulled out the fire pit, The GM left and I became that person. Guests were lamenting the loss of the live Jazz format (10 years past) nearly every night. I brought the Jazz back to the Opus with some carefully placed phone calls and a few press releases. The format survived for 6 or 8 years afterward. The “Jazz” had the biggest plates of fresh made pasta in town with the messiest mesquite broiler on the planet (that thing was a beast). .Mesquite broiled steaks, chops and the freshest seafood in HUGE portions with that pasta. HEAVEN. The basement received a semi truck load of New Mexico mesquite every year. Hiring some street folks (endless supply), we’d unload that truck in a cloud of toxic coal dust in an afternoon, and then feed the guys. We had the greatest collection of autographs in our foyer from folks that came to town. Quite the array. Entertainers, politicians: you name it. I wish I had been there in the early days before Sam took out the wall and created the” Opus Too.” The original “Jazz” was a small tavern that hosted some pretty big names in Jazz (too many to mention here). Their autographed publicity glossies lined the entryway to the bar, behind those giant, heavy custom made doors. Sam owned that building and had some rather remarkable custom work done throughout. Charlie (I think it’s Charlie) Franklin did the stained glass work. He is the same person that has done the stained glass work for Jake’s Famous Crawfish and throughout the McCormick and Schmick’s franchise. Another story entirely……
I worked at the original Jazz de Opus in the mid to late 70s. It was a fabulous place and very intimate jazz concerts. One of my most cherished memories. Being a waitress there was a fabulous job.
I have a friend who is looking for any memorabilia from Scotty’s, even photos. Any suggestions?
Me Too. 8 worked at Scotty’s in the early 1960’s going through high school. The 49’er – burger (19 cents), fries 11 cents, shake 19 cents. Lots of stories. Bruno Brinati ran it. The gang included Vern, Sarge, Connie, the mole, the professor … It was a drive-in but also had a kind of lunch room or grille. many memories
Victoria Station must have been a chain, because there was one just like that in the Denver area.
I believe Victoria Station was started by some Berkeley students or some such. Yes, it was a chain, but evidently it’s long gone now. Dead Victoria Station carcasses still clutter the countryside, at least in the west. One in Roseville CA is now called The Station and i’m not sure it’s open.
We used to dine at the one on Macadam and also in San Francisco.
You are right, they were in S.F. Honolulu, and several west coast cities.
Victoria’s Station was a National chain as I recall. I remember Nagel’s Big Apple in Parkrose (circa 1958). Owner was O B Nagel and his brother, who worked there was named Faber. The specialized in Rabbit , it was a real hopping place. The Dugout on Burniside was the first time I ever had Pizza. Owners were Al Maida and Rick Schulman. I also remember Jazz Banjoist Monte Ballou playing in restaurants all over Portland.
I believe that Nagel’s Big Apple was on Sandy Blvd at Columbia/99th st. They were noted for fried rabbit. Scottie’s served hamburger, fries, and milk shake for 49c.
I sat in and played drums at Nagel’s Big Apple on my Monday nights off from Elmo’s just up Sandy Blvd. and it later became the Longhorn owned then by George Machan and Joe Robbinson. I had worked for George and Joe when they earlier had the Harmony Inn out 82nd Ave when I joined up with Edell and the Thunderbirds. Both Elmo’s and the Longhorn was a home for the Thunderbirds band also when not on the road. The food at these places perhaps wasn’t as great as other places but did fill the body. What great memories come from playing music in the 60’s. Edell Anglin has passed but Rueben Huber (bass) Jim Butcher and Al “Gator” Zion (sax) and I are very thankful to still be wobbling along and thankful to make it through the 60’s. Dick Burns,LaS Vegas
This is pretty low-brow, but when I was a kid we used to peddle Journals for a nickel and often used our profits at Ethel’s Cafe on Burnside. It was a dump I guess, where they broke open loaves of bread and placed them on the counter. We’d get a bowl of beans and all the bread we could eat, then go home for dinner, and then later, we’d go back to Burnside, get reborn and saved after which we were fed coffee and stale donuts. Seems to me we still had room for a candy bar or two as well. Being cheapskates we never paid to ride the streetcars. We just hopped on the platform at the rear door and never once got caught. Ahh…those carefree halcyon days and nights in Old Portland. A great place to grow up.
We entered the Paramount through the glass doors up in back and when the usherette disappeared for a minute, we’d shoot up into the balcony. Bad to the bone.
Great story! Thanks for sharing….
Sounds familiar, along with the back doors, we also went down through the boiler room, out the men’s room.. Also up the outside fire escape and yank on the doors, til one popped open..The Broadway was a little more adventuresome,
Had to pull up the sidewalk delivery door, go through the basement, up the stairs and into the movies.
I worked at the top of the cosmo while in high school 1969 and 1970. What a fun place to have worked especially on News Years Eve what a blast. I miss that and the Dug Out Lounge both were wonderful places to be. Wish they were still there.
I worked at the Hoyt Hotel until they closed and have a couple of pieces of memorbelia that I would like to sell. Any suggestions as to someone who would be interested??
Whaat ever happened to Berg’s Chalet in NW. Food was wonderful. The Old Towne Crier, The Fireside, Hilaire’s. The Chcolate Lounge at Meier & Frank and the tea rooms at both Lipmans & Meier Franks. Yaws(Grant)Scotty’s(Benson Boys);Tik Tok for overflow on Saturday nights. Kon Tiki, Trader Vic;s,The Owl Drugstore for nickle lemon Cokes. Coffee Flake ice cream at M&F, plus summer and winter girl. Does anyone else remember the other restaurant on the lower level of M&F? The best deli in town was at M&F. I used to buy some wonderful imported cheeses there.
The Basket Grocery. The Virginia Cafe. The Original Coney Island on SW Washington between 10-12th.
Portland had lots of great places in those days.
Chin’s Kitchen used to deliver even up to NE 16&Skidmore.
Jone’s Donuts on NE. Union Avenue.
The Chocolate Lounge was on the mezzanine at Lipman Wolf… I don’t remember the name of the restaurant on the lower level at M&F… The restaurant on the 10th floor was the best along with the dinning room “The Georgian Room”. I do remember the deli and agree that it was fantastic. Do you remember the Farmer’s Market downtown where Yamhill Marketplace was built? There was the Honolulu Market also. The Star Bakery made some of the most delicious rye bread with caraway seeds. The Long Horn Meat Market across the street from Pioneer Courthouse was wonderful as well. Perkin’s Pub in the basement of Lipman Wolf was a fun place. What became of the bull statue that stood outside the Pub? It was the bull that was on top of the Perkin’s Hotel a couple of blocks down the street from Lipman Wolf… Who remembers “Senora Tillies” at the end of Morgan’s Alley?? It is now (and has been for years) Hunan Restaurant.
Obviously the Georgian Room would have been too rich for a poor kid’s blood, so I guess I never made it to the tenth floor. But somewhere up there I used to listen to records and look down on the traffic far below. I could see into the future. I could see cars coming from several directions and knew what they were going to face before they did. I lovingly remember the Yamhill Market. We’d buy peanut butter in Chinese takeout cartons from barrels; stuff like that. And they were accused — some of them — of selling “slunk” veal during the war. Skipping the restaurants for a moment, how about the Circle Theater, the Captiol with its second rate stage shows and the Rex before it became the Round Up. I bet to this day they never did get the smell out of the men’s room. I worked for short periods at Yaw’s, the Tik-Tok, The Towne Tavern when Chef Hyatt ran the kitchen. (This was before he opened the Original Pancake House. I worked at Manning’s on Broadway and The Broiler…hey, I was a job-hopping kid, and in wartime every place in town desperately needed warm bodies to buss tables. I worked at Jolly Joan. The owner used to let us go party at his spread and ride his horse. Union Station, that was a happening place 24/7. See, you shouldn’t have got me started. And who remembers the buttermilk, all you could drink for a nickel?
Marguerites’ that would put you in the bag so fast you couldn’t “No Mas”!
I worked at the little snack bar on the upper level basement at the downtown Meier & Frank. We served hot dogs, milkshakes, sodas and coffee. The snack bar was a special project of Mr. Meier’s, and he would stroll by frequently to check it out and make sure everything was as it should be. When I was there we only had soft ice cream, but I do remember as a child having a Summer Girl there, which was made with hard ice cream.
I also worked in the 10th floor coffee shop at the downtown store as a waitress and cook, and I learned how to make Summer and Winter Girls, Black and White Sundaes and all the other delicious treats they were known for. A lot of very interesting characters ate there regularly.
The “fancy” restaurant on the 10th floor was the Georgian Room, and we girls all hoped to be promoted to working there someday, but we all left for various opportunities of employment elsewhere.
I don’t remember that the sit-down restaurant on the upper level basement of the downtown Meier & Frank had an actual name. We just called it the basement coffee shop. But I could be mistaken about the name as it was so long ago.
Writing this post made me smile about how M & F tried to disguise and class up their basement floors by calling them the “upper level” and “lower level.”
What memories about M&F!I still see my grandmother wearing her hat and gloves and taking me by the hand we would descend the 6th and Alder back stairs to the Upper Level where we’d walk to the deli and she’d order pastrami, cheese and always a few extra exotics to take home. Then we’d take the escalator don to the Lower Level where she’d look through bins of shoes for that special pair! those two floors, coupled with the chicken-wire glass doored elevators with operators and the vacuum tubes from the huge cash registers were pure magic and fantasy to a three years old!! We’d top off the whole day with a root beer float at the lunch counter on the 10th floor…man oh man what awesome memories of the end of an era in Downtown Portland(1963).
I have such fond memories of enjoying Summer Girls with my sister and grandmother at both Lipman’s and Meier & Frank so many years ago! Is there any way you could share the recipe? I have been searching for such a long time! Thank you for the memories and any help!
MEIER & FRANK SUMMER GIRL
Small scoop of vanilla ice cream smeared in the bottom of a footed milkshake glass
A couple of big splashes of orange syrup
A couple of big splashes of Grenadine syrup
Another small scoop of vanilla
Fill with soda water and stir up a bit with an iced tea spoon
Slab of strawberry ice cream balanced on the rim of the glass
Slab of orange sherbet balanced on top of the vanilla
MEIER & FRANK WINTER GIRL
Small scoop of chocolate ice cream smeared in the bottom of a footed milkshake glass
About four big splashes of chocolate syrup
A small scoop of vanilla ice cream
Fill with soda water and stir up a bit
Slab of chocolate ice cream balanced on the rim of the glass
Slab of vanilla balanced on top of the chocolate
The Winter Girl was just a basic chocolate soda with the addition of the slabs, but the Summer Girl was M & F’s original recipe and I don’t think available elsewhere, although I do seem to recall that eventually Lipman’s Chocolate Lounge offered them as well. They were delish, and as much fun to make as they were to enjoy. Even more fun to get them to the customer without dumping the scoops!
Speaking of which, I was at the Oregon City Antique Fair last weekend and saw one of the shovels used to make the slabs. I didn’t buy it, but I probably should have just for old time’s sake.
I am going to share the recipes with Albertina’s Kitchen, the restaurant at Albertina Kerr on N. E. 22nd & Glisan in The Old Kerr Nursery historic building. They frequently serve heritage dishes.
I used to go to the coffee shop to chat up one of their charming girls….I was one of her 1000 clowns.
I have an old menu from Berg’s Chalet! My grandma was a cook there, before I was born in 1950 or just after. Photos in menu show a large beautiful Tudor-style house, at 741 SW St. Clair (just south of W. Burnside). Owner Mrs. A.H. Berg. Menu photos show the previous living room converted to big dining room, and three bedrooms converted to a generous-size reception/dining room.
My grandma was widowed before WWII, so she and my mom sold their Wisconsin farm and came to Portland to work in the Kaiser shipyard. After the War, my grandma cooked at various places.
In the mid-50s she cooked at “Al Call’s,” a diner in Multnomah (I remember being interested in the jukebox-machinery in the basement), later bought by Edelmans then later became a somewhat trendy cafe with Mayor Bud Clark having a memorable conversation there.
Amazing that Berg’s Chalet is being talked about. I remember going there with my parents for special dinners, birthdays, etc. I don’t remember much about the inside, but I remember the outside and the location. And I remember they have floating candles on each table. It was something like a bowl of water with a wick floating. After my parents passed away and cleaning out the house, I found the package they bought there. Floating wicks but no instructions. It’s too bad that so many of the original self-owned restaurants are gone. The chain restaurant food taste the same, nothing unique, nothing special.
First Chinese food I ever had was when my aunts, living in Laurelhurst, would order from Chin’s kitchen on broadway.n I was about 10 or 13, and would only eat the fried shrimp. I couldn’t be bribed to eat egg foo yung or chow mein.
Where was The Fireside? Was that the place where they cooked right in the open fireplace?
Hey, what was that burger joint on Sandy Blvd. where a model train would deliver your lunch at the counter? Johnny
What ever happened to The Broiler on 102/Glisan best Steaks, Burgers & Halibut Fish & Chips?
2 guys owned it for a long time. I was the broker who sold it to Korean couple, later it became and still is Boss Hawgs.
On
In high school i worked at the bohemian for george o’niel. Kerry Hilaire and i would ride together on the bus to work. Kerry was a hard worker, a class act and a natural playing piano jazz. I worked in the bakery (the best), at the ione plaza, the downtowm and uptown. George was a character who loved his help. Say, what was the name of the first 19 cent burger joint on 52nd and foster? There is a Subway there now.
Hi, I live at the Vue apartments (Ione Plaza) and I’m trying to find history about this building and having a hard time. Are there any pictures of the Bohemian?
I have a menu from the ione plaza cafe and old rental flyers. I love the ione plaza so much its a great building. I have never lived there myself i would love to someday
allyinportland@yahoo.com
I found an old (30s,40s?)matchbook from The Bohemian, the address listed is 910 SW Washington St. I’m guess 30s or 40s because the place looks very arts deco…
The Bohemian Buffet was located at 323 1/2 Washington St in Portland in 1913-15 and at 384 Washington St from 1921-33+ . It was probably at one or another address 1916-20 but I don’t have directories for those years. Memorabilia in the form of aluminum merchant tokens exist with the 323 1/2 address shown. The owner of this place was Isaac Neuberger.
I worked at the Bohemian in the late 40’s at that time the owner was Mr. O’neil and a partner probably the former owners wife, they opened a second restaurant up in the avenues that is now a Botique lunch and Deli, I know because I was there 2 years ago on a nostaglia trip, and the manager was kind enough to let me roam inside the kitchen.
Franklin R.
Vetter’s.
Just surfing and saw your post on the Bohemian Restaurant. Was in Portland last year and visited the Old New in the uptown section,
if i’m not mistaken, l’auberge was on vaughn, current home of meriweathers.
You’re correct Geoff
Like many people, when I was young I laughed at old folks because they so often repeat themselves and tell the same stories over and over.
Caramba, now I are one myself.
I apologize.
http://www.cmalbrecht.com
Can anyone tell me more about Manning’s on Broadway? When did it open? The decor? Any specialties? Vague memories of my aunt taking me there for lunch when I stayed with her downtown in the mid-60s.
Late to the game but hey! Mannings was up near the Multomah County Library. It was known for its coffee. When I was there in the 1970’s it was nothing special, just a buffet with a lot of seating. The coffee actually was great though! The waitresses wore a brown and cream- colored uniform, and a little kerchief pinned in their hair.
Good memories of Top of the Cosmo, Bush Garden, Trader Vics, Jazz de Opus and Hillvilla on Terwilliger. Had our prom at the River Queen.
Thanks for the Jazz de Opus reference! Couldn’t recall the name but loved going there for backgammon and White Russians!!lol…pre Lubowski days. Had a Sigma Tau Omega frat dinner/installation @ River Queen-back when the grain mill was still working and the pigeons would cover the Broadway Bridge.
Possibly the sexiest lady servers in town! Especially Terri!
While in High School, me and two of my “very best friends in the whole world” decided to go down and have dinner on the River Queen. After we were seated, given the menus and checked out the prices, we all looked at one another and tried to figure out how to make an inconspicuous exit. We opted (out of sheer embarrassment) to order 2 bowls of clam chowder, 3 spoons and 3 cokes.
looking for information on Ione Plaza
I’d be interested in that as well. I worked in a beauty shop at the Ione back in the late 60’s.
this is mike my father told me that he owned a cafe in the 1960’s it’s name was haney’s cafe on or about i-205 and division if anyone remembers it or knows a site with picks of it i would be most greatful …….again thanks mike
The fine dining place in Milwaukie was Chalet l’Abbe, run by the Aebi family. I waitressed there for a short time and had my wedding dinner there as well.
http://tinyurl.com/7a7srns
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=53552907
Thanks for posting that link to Chalet I’Abbe!
Chalet l’Abbe was owned by my grandparents, Ernest & Jewell Aebi. Ernest was a Chef from Switzerland who worked at the Waldorf-Astoria in NYC before moving out west to start his own business. In Portland, he leased and ran several restaurants including L’Abbe in the Roosevelt Hotel, and did catering for private functions as well as running the OLCC cafeteria in Milwaukie. My Dad, Fred, and his brothers Ernie and Ken, were raised in the Chalet which was the family home until they left for college at which point it became Chalet L’Abbe the fine dining restaurant. My cousins and I were toddlers running around the Chalet before service while my Mom, Uncle, Grandma and Aunt all prepped mise-en-place……it is now called Amadeus Manor
Chateau l’ Abbe was a fine old world place that Portland should be proud to remember. If my memory serves me, many from the Aebi family enjoyed dining at Belinda’s often, which I find was a privilege.
Hi Ross,
Thanks for your kind words about Chalet l’Abbe….I often meet people who had dinner there for Prom or Graduation, or even their wedding reception, and they have warm memories of the place.
I will ask my dad and his brothers if they remember Belinda’s…..
Swell, Eric and thanks,
As i remember our regular diner named Aebi, I do not remember the first name, was with Davis Wright Tremaine law firm.
I remember back in the 70s my mother telling me Fred Aebi’s family owned Chalet l’Abbe. She worked with Fred as officer manager.
Hi Vicki….Fred was my father. Your mother may have worked with my Dad in downtown during the 70’s in the First Interstate (now Wells Fargo) or Georgia-Pacific (now the Standard Insurance) Building?
Yes. In what was the Georgia-Pacific Building. She (Verna Taylor) worked for Gearin Landis & Aebi from the mid- late-60s until she retired in approx. 1981. She was office manager/secretary. I worked there too for a short time as a file clerk in 1973 and then as a temp in about 1978 until I found a permanent spot with another firm. I see you used the past tense when talking about your dad–is he deceased?
I remember the Chalet L’Abbe-was only there once with my familly in the late 50’s ? My oldest brother (then about 16 or 17) wanted to take the whole family out to eat as he had his 1st “big paycheck” and wanted to pay back Dad for all the times he took us out for dinner. Unfortunatly,my brother did not have enough money to pay for all 8 of us,so super dad ended up paying for the majority of the bill. My brother was mortified but our father just winked at him and said he’d be more than happy to “get the tip.”
My grandfather, George Sidney Newton, was a chef at L’Abbe in the Roosevelt Hotel. I have his recipe for L’Abbe dressing, a Louis type salad dressing that I still make today. I believe I ate there once when I was quite young, maybe 1953–54? Do you have any information about the restaurant I could include in my grandfather’s story?
My (ex) husband, John Bosin, and I were friends with your uncle Ken. In fact, they worked together in the mid west in the 70s…Ken in Chicago, we were in Minneapolis. Do you remember the filming of the movie, Rollerball, with Raquel Welch at your restaurant? My hubby was an extra on the set and totally loved it!
I am visiting Portland this week and just drove by all the old spots in Milwaukie.
Hi Susan,
Yes, I do remember the filming of “Kansas City Bomber” although I think I was about 7 years old! There is a dinner scene in the movie shot at Chalet l’Abbe with my Uncle Ken and Grandma Jewell serving Raquel Welch and a co-star. That was quite the exciting time for the family. Glad you got to town to visit all your old spots!
Travel safe….Eric
I went to the Chalet L’Abbe when I was in high school and I remember being astounded. Absolutely the last word in class. We had lunch and flaming Crepe Suzettes for dessert. Mind: blown!
Somewhere in Portland, near a very old Montgomery Ward building (a warehouse?) there was a restaurant that cooked some of their food in a open fireplace. Planked salmon was one of those meals.
Does anyone else remember this place, and what the name was?
It was called the “Woodstove” at 2601 NW Vaughn
Does anyone have their biscuit recipe? They called them “angel biscuits,” if I remember correctly, and they were so soft, light and delicious.
I have a bunch of recipes I got from the Woodstove, as Michael Vidor, the founder, was my father-in-law.
I believe the recipe for the biscuits, the salad dressing, and many others are included.
I would love to have the biscuit recipe. Would you have time to send it to cbessw@aol.com?
Thanks so much,
Carioca
Several vestiges…Le Auberge, 2601 Vaughn, to name two…John Miller was the BBQ and grill master there when not down at Cousins.
I’m remembering the old Little King Sandwich shop downtown maybe on 3rd or 4th? near the old Greyhound depot. And another restaurant called Flemings, down by the old Blue Mouse theater. I used to come up from Roseburg as a 13-15 y/o to see a doctor and as a kid, being perpetually low on funds, figured both of these places gave pretty good value and good food..and I could find them easily. One waitress remembered me and often ‘forgot’ where she left my ticket when she figured my financial. The Little King prevailed on Sandy for 10 years after the downtown location closed, and I probably would not be impressed today, but they were the BEST sandwich at the time.
There used to be a Little King on Sandy too. That was before Subway and such came along.
Little King on4th between Stark and Washington. There was one onSandyBlvd.
Re:Little King Sandwich shop.They also had one up somewhere around what used to be the Galleria. Not in it, but in those blocks. And another by PSU–but several blocks south in that group of apartments with the mounds covered in grass. On the backside in the shopping area, they had yet another one. Best sandwiches ever. I’ve had lots of subs here in town but none to compare. There was also a Gregory’s in John’s Landing next to Honey Baked Ham. Frozen vanilla yogurt, very large sub sandwiches with bread that had cornmeal on the bottom….lots of good stuff. I guess they just went out of business. I heard the rents got too high…it’s a shame all these old places are gone. It’s impossible to replace them.
#4 sandwich miss that place.used to eat lunch there 3 times a week
Best Tina sandwich in town.
Meier Frank had small snack bar on lower level, egg salad sandwiches beyond compare.
Upper level,had deli and grocery department.
My mother worked at the store from 1924-1942. Got lots of stories.
Sent from my iPad
>
Isn’t it interesting what people remember? I had the #11 at Little King. It had cappacola (sp?)
on it.
I remember a restaurant that was in a couple of railroad cars; a passenger and bar car, in the close-in southeast industrial district. It was probably on the river side of Water Ave. I lived in Portland in the late sixties and again in the eighties, so it existed in one or both of those eras. It was a small, well designed place, perfect for a martini or manhattan on a rainy night. Can anyone help me with any details? Thanks!
Seems to me that was the Victoria Station, a chain started by some college guys from Berkeley. Evidently the chain is defunct but you still see the Victoria Station setups here and there. We have one here near Sacramento. The restaurant has undergone many changes of décor and ownership and nothing has been successful.
We dined at Victoria Station in Portland around 1990 I believe.
Sam’s Hofbrau is another landmark. I understand the Portland Sam’s is gone as are most of the others. We still have the original in Sacramento (under different ownership), and recently a customer there told me there is a Sam’s Hofbrau in LA but said our local spot is better. Great place for a sandwich and glass of beer.
Carl
Victoria Station was on SW macadam and Nebraska Street.
You are recalling the “Silver Garden’ .It’s a vacant lot now with a chain link fence around it.
They referred some big lumber buyers to my restaurant from Vegas…S.G. were full up on
a Thursday night. I took the table under protest from my Head Waiter,”I’ve got a hunch, Bob”.
We were pretty booked up also. They came, ate veal and shrimp and bought a bottle of
1947 Ch. Lafite Rothschild ($350.00)…finished that and asked for another! Only I had to
suggest a 1955 Ch. La Tour ($300.00). I had a great wine list, but short on really old multiples of First Growths. The year..I think it was 1979 or 1980. I kept the ticket; it’s somewhere in my things. Ross Pullen Owner/Chef Belinda’s Restaurant 8324 SE 17 TH in Sellwoood.
Those were the days!
Ross, it was at Belindas in Sellwood that I first ate sweetbreads. Yum. I worked with John Gregory and went there with he and his wife Margie. I think they were friends of yours.
After a few minutes I’ve recalled why Belinda’s rings a bell to me. – After being part of the original opening kitchen crew at Key Largo (with “chef” Annie, a fantastic woman) it was a few months in, when Tom Nash hired chef Fernando Divina who later – if I’m not mistaken – went to work at Belinda’s. At Key Largo, Fernando gave me my first contact with classic French inasmuch as it applied to the existing menus. Sauces, reductions, all that. was a good teacher and fun guy.
Fernando did not work for me at Belinda’s in Sellwood. He was ,however, the exective chef at Salty Pickeral’s on the river by the Sellwood bridge…one of the Jerry Kingen restaurant empire that included the Red Robin chain and many others. Fernando just closed his restaurant ,The Terrace in Lake Oswego, some months back. You can contact him on Linkedin.
He has written a definitive Native American cookbook that is a great read.
Yes, the Silver Garden. So beautiful. I did a photo shoot there so have lots of photos of the inside.One of my most popular prints from that was called ‘the last train to Portland’. Richard Avedon even liked it and asked where the train car was.
Hello Maureen! If you were an owner of Silver Garden, you may wan to contact Heather Arnt Anderson. She is a food historian, writer and lecturer. She has written a great book about Portland’s food scene recently. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Portland-A-Food-Biography/1453775821545162
Ross Pullen
Ross, I just loved going to Belinda’s. My favorite restaurant. I loved the escargot, sweetbreads, the apricot glazed duckling, and you would always save the end pieces of the bread for us. Thank you so much for the most amazing dining experience. I moved away but it was always a very special memory.
How very nice of you to bring back the good old memories of those days at Belinda’s in Sellwood. I am glad Belinda’s was your favorite.. I remember saving the ends of Helen Bernhard Bakery bread too. Just old fashioned hospitality and good service to one’s customers in action. There is a humorous story about how I developed the Roast Duckling with Apricots dish. Plus i think I was the very first in Portland to offer veal sweetbreads on a permanent menu. I can remember many who said they would never eat a gland like that yet they were won over. The solution ( which is often forgotten by today’s chefs ) is to prepare the food simply with just a few fresh ingredients. I was doing the farm to table in 1978 !
I think it was the Polish Something
What a trip down Memory Lane! One of the first places I went to downtown was Barney Bagel & Suzy Creamcheese, at the Galeria…
I’ve been trying to remember the names to a couple places: 1) sit-down restaurant at Lloyd Center, probably late 1960s–I seem to recall high-back red booths. I was thinking part of the name may have had something to do with Hippopautamus. 2) SW Broadway and Taylor, where Columbia Sportswear is now, used to have several restaurants under one roof in the 1980s (deli, Greek, pizza, etc.). Ring any bells? Thanks!
At Lloyd Center it was Mr. C’s Hippopotamus, and there was Manning’s Cafeteria (with a sit-down area next to the skating rink), The Aladdin (above the rink), the Pancake Corner, Goldbergs, and Woolworth’s and Newberry’s counters.
I cooked at Mr. C’s in the ’60s. He was a tough taskmaster, but I enjoyed working there and I liked to go to Manning’s occasionally for a bite and a “hottle” of coffee. The Pancake House as well. Everything changes. The Portland of my callow youth is gone. The big market downtown with peanut butter in barrels, “slunk veal” from WWII, the giant old streetcars and trying to bicycle around over wet tracks and streets. The Journal used to offer premiums for taking subscriptions. I got to ride in an “giant” DC3 and another time we went to Timberline for a day of skiing. They offered free classes for future cartoonists as well. Can you believe Swan Island was once our in-town airport?
I went to an estate sale several years ago, and it was a house owned by one of the previous owners of Manning’s, I got a cool depression green glass silverware holder, and a bunch of long iced tea spoons with Manning’s engraved on them, and a bitchin’ cool chrome blender.
I lived near Division, and on Fridays I’d walk to Millie and Howard’s garage for James Beard Brownies, roasted chicken, and other gourmet take out food they sold from Friday noon until end of Saturday out of their garage window, if the food lasted that long. It was brilliant. Millie later turned it into a small restaurant, and finally an East Indian restaurant i’m sure someone knows the name of. Ross?
Oh my gosh, so happy to have found this thread !!!
I worked at Rians eating establishment in the mid 70’s, in Morgans alley !!
I remember almost every restaurant mentioned, does anyone remember “Bills Gold Coin”, on burnside ??
My room mate and best friends Father was Bud Meadows, we used to go there after work and have the caezar salad, awesome 🙂
I was friend’s with Horst mager, Don Berchtold who once owned Johns meat Market, of course, remember Roses, I can’t believe they closed !!
Trader Vics was my favorite, loved henry Fords on Barber Blvd, Jakes, Kon tiki was my first date with my husband 🙂
We left Portland in 1981, transferred to, Little Rock for 8 years, now in Louisville, Ky, 2 more years and heading to a warm climate.
But, so miss Portland, and all the great people, still best friends with Marit ( Meadows), but would love to hear more about the good old days 🙂
Top of the Cosmo, anyone remember the Pantry ??
And the hippopotomas in Lloyd center, I worked at Nordstroms there, loved their french fries with vinegar 🙂
Hello to everyone, thank you so much for sharing your memories,
Karen L. Kane Miller Druckenmiller ( really 🙂
Have to hang on to Kane, 30 years of being called “Drunkenmiller “, argggh 🙂
I was always at Rian’s in Morgan’s Alley and actually dated several of the gals that worked there, namely Genevieve Beuker. Bill’s Gold Coin was a hoot and Bud meadow’s could (and did) drink just about anyone under the table. And Henry Ford’s with the required wait in the lounge with its flecked red wall paper made for wonderful anticipation of the upcoming family style feast. Dined there many times. One of my favorite restaurants in Louisville is Jack Fry’s out on Bardstown Road…..
Susi- The restaurant you are referring to on Division St was Indigine. Howard and Millie were Reed professors that left after a big kerfuffle with a bunch of others (including Judy (?) “Grey” Wolfe who started Bread and Ink. I believe the exodus also spawned Genoa and L’Auberge.) I ate at Indigine a couple of times for dinner (1976 +/-) but every Sunday for brunch. There was a year-long waiting list to eat there. Friday and Saturday, two seatings each night. How many courses? Four or five? You would file in and find your seat, which was a chair folded and leaning against the wall. Once you sat down the was it. If somebody needed to pee during dinner it was a big deal. Each diner received a souffle. This was amazing since the 5 x 7 kitchen had an electric residential range. A group of friends (8 AM brunchers – Donald, Jesse, Chris, Janet, Jimmy and Frida) and I cleaned and painted that kitchen as a gift to Howard and Millie. What a mess!
When their landlord died I bought the property and tore down the garage. It had been a lunch counter back in the day and Millie talked of the woman/cook/owner who passed out over the stove and burned her breasts. Howard and Milly loaned me $40,000 to build them a new restauarant, which I leased back to the. I think it was 1982. I restored the abandoned Victorian behind the restaurant – still “Indigine” and lived there for years.
Howard left and later married Grey Wolfe. He died a few years back. Last I heard, Millie was still around. I’d love to see her. I wonder if she still drives that Volkswagen square-back…
I think it was called Metro on Broadway.
RE: (2)I believe you’re thinking of “The Metro” on Broadway. Kind of like the Galleria food court. And then a tiny bit later, or in conjunction with, the old Yamhill Marketplace. I used to “study” there”!
The location of “The Metro” is now Columbia Sportswear location on SW Broadway; it was cavernous in the day.
#2) yes, Called Metro on Broadway. est c.1984 it contained one of Portlands first coffee bars “Ears to You” They were the first to serve Starbucks Coffee in Portland. Peter used to drive up to Seattle once a week for beans.
>Then there was “SAVIOS” the italian place. Calzones, Pasta, Pizza by the Slice
>FRENCH ROSE was the creperie
>DOWNTOWN DELI were the Greeks that also served sandwiches etc
>There was a wine bar in the back corner
>and finally the GELATO bar as you come in the door.
you walked downwards into a Pink and Grey wonderland. Ordered, got a number and took a seat.
Hippopotamus was burger place at Lloyd Center. Really good. The Aladdianin Meier Frank. Mannings. Goldbergs for corned beef onthe, chocolate eclaire. Marrows Nut House-Milk shakes.
I think the place on SW Broadway and Taylor was called Metro. I loved that place.
Does anyone remember Best Ever Doughnuts on SW Macadam Ave and Nevada? It went under in 1971. It was my dads place-great doughnuts and amazing caramel pecan rolls.
Went there in the ’50’s stole all we could carry. Did he have the ’36 Blue Cord?
I think this is the place my dad stopped at once a week on his way home. He’s gone so I can’t ask him but he brought home the most delicious donuts. Mostly puffy glazed ones. 🙂
Belonged to the Furgusons and was the original Fulton post office.
Best Ever Doughnuts was owned by my dad Scott Fergerson. The address was 7035 SW Macadam Avenue, on the corner of Macadam and Nevada. The building still stands, currently it’s a coin collecting shop and a pot shop. Art Factors was there for decades.
Before the donut shop it was my Great-grandparents store called Coopers Market.
Mrs furguson used to got to Trinity Pres. didnt know she had a daughter.
daleedwardsherbourneatmacdotcom
Not the same family! My mom went to First Baptist on 11th and Taylor.
Thats so funny 2 succesive owners with same sounding name. Florence was such a sweetie.
Wasn’t there a guy named Rollie, drove an old cord one of the owners?
Across the street from Huntington Rubber. Great Donuts. Had Mrs Ferguson as a Sunday School Teacher at Trinity. And Ron probably took the Donuts.
We arrived in droves; usually 3 or 4, donuts smelled so good, we would load up a big container and pull, tug, and push it across the Sellwood Bridge to the park…..Met lots of girls there, including my wife of almost 50 years… Told her my folks owned a donut shop..
Yes, right across the street from Huntington Rubber Mill! I used to wait on the workers from there.
I bet the Mrs Fergerson you mentioned was my dads first wife Florence. Very tall and slender?
Mr C’s, also had an Elephant Ears spot
I’m not sure how to add to this site, but I worked at Clementine’s Restaurant across from the downtown Portland Hilton on Broadway(owned by Paul and Janet Goodell) where they had the best spinach soufflé and sweet pickles, Buttertoes Restaurant on 32nd and Belmont, a whimsical fairyland of a restaurant set in a Victorian house, and La Casa De Rios Mexican Restaurant on Hawthorne. Oh, and I also worked at Ryan’s Fish and Ale on Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy. Used to love the pizzas at De Nicola’s and the crab louies at Pal Shanty’s on Sandy Blvd. I could still work, but none of these new ‘snobberies’ want to hire a female server over the age of 35. Sad.
Hard to finish a sandwhich at Pals Shanty.
Metro on Broadway
Might it have been Goldberg’s? Best Reubens ever! It was right across from Payless and Newberry’s and down from Toyland.
Goldbergs was a yummy deli! We bought pickled herring in sour cream about this time every year.
Sounds like Mr C’s Hippopotamus restaurant… owned by Joe Cantonese, who I believe lives in the Tigard area
Loved the Burger loaded with Blue Cheese at Mr. C’s!
Ellen, I think you were referring to The Metro. It was very popular in the late 80’s & early 90’s!
Hi,
Piknik Deli was in the basement of Morgan’s Alley. A Turk maned Ali was the owner.. a couple of the employees were John Plew and Russ Teising, who have owned several restaurants including Grand Central Bowl, The Thirsty Lion, and many more.. also in Arizona and other southwest states.
Ron S.
the train car on the East side wasn’t Victoria Station that was on Macadam. It was a silver dome car called Silver arrow or Silver something. Lloyd center had the Hungry Hippopotamus, and a really great restaurant called The Aladdin above the Ice rink. My mom would take me there for lunch when she shopped M+F’s Friday Surprise sales. If we went to the downtown store it was The Georgian room for Portland’s best French Onion soup. No memory’s of Portland would be complete without The Pantry on Broadway, Bart’s Wharf on the Columbia, The Anchorage in Sellwood with its all you can eat Friday night seafood buffet, later called Salty s.
My eighth grade graduation dinner was at the Top of the Cosmo, it was the first time my dad let me have frogs legs. Wilf’s at the train station was always a great place and of course the Barbary Coast restaurant at the Hoyt Hotel, does anyone remember Gracie Hansen and the men’s bathroom tours so people could see the huge seashell urinals?
another great place is Tad’s Chicken & Dumpling out on the Sandy river, its still a great place.
Way to go, rrochat! You identified the rail car restaurant/bar in the close-in southeast industrial area. Almost. It was Silver (something). In the 70s (I think), I loved having a manhattan in the domed bar car on a rainy night, looking toward downtown. Another place with a good view was the Agate Bar at the Top of the Cosmo. In the no-alcohol age (for me), I was a soda-jerk in Lipman Wolfe’s Chocolate Lounge for a couple of high school summers in the late 50s. Made Tiger Tigers, Idiot’s Delights, Hot Fudge Sundaes, served lots of apple pie ala mode. And downtown in that era, I remember Jolly Joan’s, Pig and Pancake, Hilaire’s, and Orange Julius in the downtown farmers’ market. All good memories, all. Thanks!
There used to be a diner in an old train car west of Powell near the Fred Meyer headquarters and warehouse. It’s probably gone now.
Just a bit of info further -a train or dome car by Fred Meyer is not in my memory; however the
Victoria Station was on Macadam adjacent to the rail lines and the river. My friend Don Wudtke’s
firm, Wudtke Watson Davis of San Francisco were the design/arch. firm for all 60 locations
around the globe. There was a restaurant in two Stainless Steel Dome cars in the SE warehouse
district (2 blocks from todays Produce Row Cafe called “Silver Garden” .It closed in the mid to
late eighties and is now a storage yard.
I remember an older friend telling me that the Jolly Roger had a diner car on 39th and Powell. They later moved to the building that was next to the Astro station on the N.E. corner of 39th & Powell. Then when the new construction started, they moved to S.E. 12th between Hawthorne and Belmont, and they were still there when I drove by a few days ago.
Carioca
There was an old diner car, it was on Holgate and I believe SE 20th
Ron
It was called the Brooklyn Diner, greasy spoon meat and potato place.
I use to eat early and late dinners in the early 70’s when I worked swing shift nearby.
Larry,
As you may know, the building was “uncovered” a few years ago when they widened Holgate Street for mass transit… The Oregonian did a pretty good spread on it.
In college during the ’60’s it was a frequent haunt late at night.. Was it open 24 hours?
Best that I recall i think it was open 24/7. I ate there after swing shift and never remember them closing. My wife grew up just around the corner and remembers going there with her Dad. The rail yards were pretty busy back then so I’m sure many from the yards ate there.
I forgot to add Henry Ford’s out off Barbur blvd with its flocked wall paper. L’Auberge was first on Burnside then relocated to Vaughn, they had the very best poached lemon cheesecake.
I wish Henry Ford’s was still there too. The family had a valuable piece of property and sold it for development of some type. The son has a sandwich place in Old Town on NW 5 th or 6 th-Ford’s also, I believe. L’ Auberege burned down (across from The Ringside)…and was
moved to where Meriwether’s @ 2610 NW Vaughan is today. (Between it was 2601 Vaughan Restaurant-great brunch.).
You’re right Ross, best little French bistro of the time…the twin sisters (now owners of Papa Hydyns) waitressed there!
And the fire (loved that restaurant) was, if I recall correctly, stupidly caused by a jealous bf of a rental tenant…
As for Papas you’re freaking me out. They’ve been around since like 1978. When was this fire? The timeline seems off to me…
Ross, wasn’t Cafe des Amis in the space after L’Auberge moved and then burned down? How about Le Cuisinier in the Crystal Ballroom block. And the place in the Uptown shopping center that is now a real estate office?
Abe,
L’Auberge moved to 2601 Vaughan where Merriweather’s is now. Cafe Des Amis was owned by Dennis ( don’t recall his last name ) of L’Auberge. He later moved it to NW 19 TH (?) where L’ Escargot was located, where Jackie had been the chef.Le Cusinier was located at W. Burnside and SW 13 TH, a stone’s throw from Jake’s Crawfish.This is all pretty crazy…… the memories.The small elite restaurants of today in PDX seem so foreign to me. The chefs use 12 ingredients when 3 would be great. Oh well, an old man’s opinions and $6. bucks will get you a cup of coffee at “Smallbucks”!
i’m on a roll now, does anyone remember the HUGE menu at Henry Thelle’s? And nearby the wonderful Uptown Broiler? You could eat at either place then go to the Uptown Baskin Robbins for a scoop? Goldberg’s, and of course the Pancake Corner both at Loyd center. The Canlis at the top of the HIlton Hotel? I can’t believe no one has mentioned the Carousel restaurant at the foot of Pill Hill. I like that some people liked Jazz D’Opus (with all its low down seating) but I always loved going to the later addition Opus Too for incredible steak.There was a really tiny and wonderful restaurant off of McLaughlin blvd out past Milwaukie in the basement of a house, call Four Season’s. it really was the forerunner of fresh local gourmet menus in the Portland area.
Gosh…
I have felt we lack places that are enjoyable to go to, everything now is mostly corporate and trendy not necessarily good; sort of “oh this week we all have to make our food tall, or oh we have to put peppers in everything” unfortunately as consumers we are looking for everyone to do the same thing as well.
Okay, am native. Carasoul, Bergs Chalet, Boheimn, Jolly Jones, Chocolate Lounge, M&F Tea Room, separate site for men only. Gene and Joe’s, now tebo’s-went in Nov. Burgers still great. Hi lairs, The Fireside. The Old Towne Crier. Matterhorn owned by Walt Elmer and another man. After the Elmers died the original rest.closed. Anybody remember coffee flake ice cream at MeierFrank? Summer Girl and WinterGirl. Salt stick, Little Boy blue at Boheimn. Birthday cakes came from there. Custard snails fromAlberta Bakery. Henry Thiele, german pancake. Roses whentjeyactuallyhad good food. Daves Deli? Yaws of course. mandarian is gone along with Hing family. Chins solfofPagaoda building.
Coon Chicken Inn, date place for my folks. TikTok,Scottys. Church’s zfried chicken. The Skyline Drive In, stopped for ice cream cones coming home from hillsboro. We always met somebody mither knew while inline at Republic. Mother worked at Meieranf Frank 1924-1942. Jolly Jones? Sylvia’s-first pizza ever had came from there. Shakers did free small for birthdays43years ago. Farrell’s Ice Cream free birthday sundae.
Salt sticks at the Bohemian restaurant downtown–the best thing ever! My 80-year-old grandmother would take me there for lunch, then we’d go to the Saturday matinee at the Blue Mouse. (I saw the original “The Fly” there when I was probably 7-8 years old. Scared me to death! What was she thinking?)
YES! Finally someone mentioned Dave’s Delicatessen! I loved that place! Dave and his wife Shirley took good care of me there. One of the first places in Portland to openly and proudly hire (in 1970s terms) M/F/H. I was making the chicken soup that Shirley taught me how to make today and thought I’d look the place up, and wow what a site! Daves, though…matzoh ball soup, gefilte fish, noodle kugel, potato knishes, all made on site fresh every day, the animated counterman who served you running up and down the line, the Dr. Browns Cel-Ray soda…oh it was heaven!
Re: Fish Grotto,Davey Jones Locker, Van’s Drive-in out on Sandy Blvd.All gone.
Hey Steve Gramstad! Heidi and I founded Papa Haydn in ’78, and were just recently bought out by her sister Evelyn and her husband. For the record, they’re not twins (2 years apart, actually) and they never waitresses there😉
Wonderful to have come across this site!
Reuben’s 5 on Jefferson. Best Reuben in town. Don Petrie.
Beg to differ, Lydia’s when they were downtown, just north of Chocolate Moose, it was on 11th I believe…remember Art in his cart sipping beer tell he got wasted…
Say hi to heidi i went to cleveland.
Did her parents have a bakery on hawthorne
Cleveland! Go tribe! class of 71 here
68
Jeffrey – THANK YOU for bringing up Reuben’s 5! I recently found this site and, about half-way thru the postings, finally found someone who remembered this great little tavern up on SW Jefferson. Great messy Reubens washed down with a bottle of Henry’s Dark! In the late ’70’s, a friend of mine and I were trudging home to NW from DT thru a late evening snowstorm. We decided a Reuben’s 5 sandwich would sustain us for the rest of the trip. We were the only customers, but there was no pressure to finish and leave. Watching the snow whirl outside while warm, full, and happy inside (and having many Henry’s as fortification against the elements), it is remains, vividly, a great memory this many years later. Thx!
My husband and I loved the reuben sandwiches at Reuben’s 5. We would have them with a cream soda. I lost my first wedding band there. Took it off so I wouldn’t get the hard, shaved off soap in it. That was a month after we were married in 1969. 2019 was our 50th anniversary. Great memories of the downtown restaurants.
Loved the reubens5 reuben. He later had an Italian place on 3rd. in Newport
I am very excited to be able to read this thread. My Grandfather was the great and late Larry Hilaire, I am the Son of Larry’s Daughter Karen (Hilaire) Nickolas. One of the things that saddened me very much was that my Grandfather (Papa) as I knew him was involved in declining to serve a black person. He in fact had a sign in the window that they only served white industry which thankfully changed in time. It’s a sad and unfortunate fact of the times. I would how ever like to speak of is his impact in the restaurant industry not only in the Portland area but on the National level. Larry to date I believe is the only President of the National Restaurant Assoc to hail from the great state of Oregon. There is a great headline from the Oregonian that read “President Hilaire to meet President Eisenhower”.
No matter what level of stature he had he always was mindful of his local arena and was respected for that and away from the restaurants he was an award winning green thumb rosarian and president of the portland rose society in 1954. One of the things mentioned above was a meeting that was held between my Papa and the Col Sanders, there was intact a meeting of powerhouses per say as at that time my Papa was a force to be reckoned with as Col Sanders sought him out. Col Sanders approached my Papa to indeed have a stake in the Fried Chicken Biz. The meeting happened at my Papa and Nana’s home in SE PDX where my Papa argued that “People eat fried chicken on sunday” well we all know what came of KFC and the Col. lol
I would love to hear from more people about Larry.
great memories. My memory is that your grandpa said: “Why should I pay Sanders a quarter for every chicken I sell?” But he did all right without Colonel Sanders anyway. 😀
What a great story! My grandmother, Lorraine ‘Rainie’ Callicrate, used to take me to downtown Portland on the old Rose City Transit busses in the early 60s. She raved about Hilaire’s and used to always brag to her lady friends when she had the good fortune to ‘dine’ at your granfather’s restaurant!! I never had that opportunity but always heard my folks and their friends go on and on about the great food! Hope more Portlanders get to share thier positive stories about your grandfather and his legacy!!Tim Callicrate
I’m really getting old, so I make more boo-boos than I used to. Actually, I got it wrong about 25 cents for a chicken. The line went: “Why should I pay that guy a nickel for every chicken I sell? The part about him saying people mostly ate chicken dinners on Sunday sounds right on.
Hello Ian, I was born a year after your Uncle Kerry. Know knew your Mom and your grandparents. I’ve been in that house on Crystal Springs. Many memories of eating in Hilaire’s and attending the annual Wild Game Dinners that had a huge array of meats. Starting with Rocky Mountain Oysters. And always a lot of liquor was available. Those are sweet and bitter sweet recollections you posted. My parents, and your grandparents, were raised with some terribly narrow prejudices. Say hello to your Mom. Tell her I’m still in regular touch with Bill Griffith. …
John thank you for your response, my Mom unfortunately passed away in 2003 after a five year battle with breast cancer and if you knew my Mom Karen she did not only in style but she fought it with my Papa’s bull headed determination.
I am so appreciative of all these responses.
Ìn all fairness to your Papa, he was probably right in that most people probably thought of chicken as a dine-out Sunday dinner.
In those days things were decidedly different on racial issues. While Portland didn’t officially have segregation, it was there. Black people mostly stayed in their part of town. They had hotels like The Dunbar, which were for black trade. In town, nearly the only black people you saw were working. Some restaurants did have signs, White Only, not always because the owners were prejudiced, but because too many white people objected to dining alongside black people. Mostly this was ignorance born of not knowing or understanding. I paid good money to see Steppin Fetchit on the stage. Mantan Moreland would have been welcome in our house any day of the week. Our national hero was Joe Louis and Louie Armstrong…what can I say? Yet nobody wanted black neighbors.
Being blessed (!?) by being poor, we lived in an ethnically mixed neighborhood. Our next door neighbor was a black couple. As a six-year old I used to visit Mrs. Ellison (I think that was her name) and she gave me pencils and things and told me stories. Under her bed she had her grandfather’s civil war uniform. Yes, he fought in the war. I’m not sure which side he fought on, but he was a soldier in the war between the states.
Later I delivered Journals and most of my customers on my route were black, so overall, I was always used to intermingling with black people and never had cause to wonder about race distinctions. Once my mother told me that she was on the bus. A black man got on and sat by a white woman who immediately gave him a dirty look and moved.
When the war started, things changed. Black people could learn to build ships as well as the next guy and soon our buses were full of black people coming and going to the shipyards.
And after all, we all got along.
Keep your good memories of Portland and everyone. It was a great place to grow up. Sadly, my Portland no longer exists except in my memory banks.
what ever do you mean that Portland wasn’t officially segregated? Oregon was the only state to join the Union with a clause in its constitution that forbid Black or other “colored people” from even staying overnight. The closed accomdation laws were not overturned until 1953 and mixed race marriages were against the law until 1951. Real estate was “redlined” and in some neighborhoods, still is, and recent inspections have proved that, unfortunately, such discrimination still exists.
I knew Portland had problems with race, but I didn’t realize it was that bad.Thanks for the update. As a kid we often accept the status quo. I just took it for granted that black people shined shoes, carried luggage at the Portland Hotel. When visitors stayed at the Dunbar Hotel I took it for granted it because they liked to be with their own kind. We were poor enough to live right on the edge of what was mostly a black neighborhood as I remember it. I delivered Journals and most of my subscribers were black. I loved Step’nfetcit and Mantan Moreland. I used to play with black kids and never really thought about it. Like many, I didn’t wake up and start thinking about the inequities until the sixties. I had no idea that black headliners in Vegas had to stay in black hotels on the other side of town. That was a real eye-opener.
Thanks again for your notice. Carl
I remember playing golf at Glendoveer Golf Course in Portland, about 1952-55, and blacks were not allowed to play there. I remember being in the “Pro Shop” once when a couple of black men came in carrying golf clubs. They were told they couldn’t play because “too many of the golfers would object. Hayden Newton was the Pro there – a nice guy despite the foregoing.
Cmalbrecht, you seem to go back the farthest on this thread. I am looking for some firsthand memories from the 1930’s to 40’s for a project I’m researching. Especially after school work, berry picking in the summer and which streetcar lines were still running. Also were the new Irish immigrants concentrated in a particular neighborhood at this time? If you would be willing to help me I can be contacted at
kppetersen@gmail.com. thanks.
I was a small child in the 1960’s, and my father, Eugene Bosworth, a pastel artist, showed his paintings in (at least) The Encore. I remember going along as the folks would transport the paintings, or change them, and were friendly with Mr. Hilaire.
Dad also displayed at Obie’s and Perry Boy’s Smorgy, both out on the Eastside.
Perry Boy’s Smorgy.weren’t they a restaurant company out of San Francisco?
Enjoyed this so much. Retired now….Steve Yaw took advantage of everyone including his employees….Many people are still suffering from his actions….He should have gone to prison, instead, he went to Washington to sell boats….He should have stayed there…
There was a little diner on the corner of SW 9th and Stark, it was called Irv’s. They made the best cheeseburgers ever. It was right next door to my father’s print shop and I spent many afternoons sipping their wonderful chocolate malts and doing my homework.
Julie – are you related to the Caputo’s that owned the Shell gas station at 12th and Hawthorne. What a great bunch guys – Jimmie Caputo and his sons. Went there as a kid while my dad had his oil changed. Later I bought gas there. I delivered the Journal Newspaper to them.
Does anyone remember what Stark Street Pizza was called before?
red baron if I remember.used to go there all the time
Or was it Pizza Baron?
they played good softball out of that joint also
Speaking of pizza, does anyone remember the name of one of the first pizza parlors to hit Portland in the early 1960s – it was located on SE Woodstock around SE 60th? in what later became a Shakey’s.
Pietros? Or was Pietros after Shakeys?
You might be thinking of Hokies Pizza. Best combination Pizza I ever had. And speaking restaurants that no one has mentioned – remember Ferrels Ice Cream Parlor? Rember the Portland Zoo Ice Bowl for the large birthday parties. In grade school my friend Forrest and I would sneak off the school grounds to a little hamburger stand on about 30th and Division. Best shrimp burger in the world. Can’t remember the name of it. Also remember the Skyline Burger at NW Cornell and Skyline road. Worked at a gas station across the street and ate there constantly. Gas station is gone now. And remember the drug store soda fountains. Our neighborhood Rexall drug store was Headly’s on 22nd & Hawthorne. Eddie was behind the counter. Great egg salad sandwhich.
It was Shakey’s and actually in the late 50’s as I recall. The street reference you have is correct.
Some great pizza places in PDX back in the day. Old Town Pizza and The Pizza Quarry (anex of The Jazz Quarry) were a couple of my favorites.
Back in the mid 60’s, I worked as a busboy at the Top Of The Cosmo. Yes, these were the days when the ‘head’ chef would smoke in the kitchen, and occasionally drop cigarette ashes in (and on) the meal, but what the heck, who knew? It was ‘Easter Eve’, and the ladies that came in were all decked out in their formal attire, and were looking very sharp. As I served the coffee, with CREAM, after the meal, the last item to be placed on the table was the CREAM. The CREAM container slid across the tray, hit the edge, flipped up and over, and right down the cleavage of the dress of a very well dressed, happyy diner. Well, you guessed correctly. That was my last night as a busboy – but it was fun while it lasted.
Geof, That happened to me while bussing at Trader Vic,s, I was serving coffee and the last cup slid over and spilled all over this guy who was wearing a white suit and dinner jacket, how embarrassing. Of course the manager offered to have it dry cleaned and actually I got to keep my job.
Does anyone know what the Hobbit restaurant became after it sold?
Not sure what it became shortly thereafter ( searching the address in Portland yrly. business directory should reveal ) , but the building was torn down and it’s a Walgreens now .
39th & Holgate. Some name to do with a Rooster or Chicken. “Wooden Chicken”?
Wooden chicken was before the Hobbit.Became DJ,s. Dart place, then Pizza and Pasta Factory where jazz returned. Mel Brown often played in both incarnations.
That’s unfortunately correct. It is a Walgrens. I remember running into one of the owners back in the late ’90s. He was working at an AM-PM on 181st and Halsey. He said the restraunt/bar business was killing him.
I remember my wife an I would go there on open mike Sundays and listen to some really good jazz. We ran into ‘Sweet Baby James” , and mel Brown at a community function a year or so ago. It was great talking about the Hobbit. There was even a suggestion of a Hobbit Reunion.
Remember jeannie hoffman she played there aand other dives.
Does anyone remember the name of a great hamburger joint on NE Broadway between Lloyd Center and the Memorial Coliseum. In about the late ’60’s /early ’70’s? It had a very distinctive sign with olives for eyeballs.
Was that burger joint called Lidio’s?
Whizburger. Corner of Grand Ave. and NE Briadway.
Starbucks now I believe.
That was a Whiz Burger! We had on in Milwaukie too. They hung on until the bitter end. memorialized in paint by a MilHi student, that portrait of a burger joint sign hung in my English teacher’s classroom for 15 years. The sign was two olives, for eyeballs, looking down at a cheeseburger, with a pair of cartoonish lips about to bite into it. That painting still haunts my dreams.
Does anyone remember The Shadows (about 22nd just off Burnside), Club Elmo (or Elmo’s Club) in Parkrose on about Sandy and 85th, Holman’s on 28th and Burnside ? Asparro’s on Grand Avenue These would have all been in the 1955-65 era
Asparro’s,…? that was The Union Ave.Social Club, right? curious that it WAS on Grand, yes….(..or Mr. Asparro later added that title onto the name of his place, maybe?) I was a busboy at Asparro’s UASC for a few months in, like 1973 or so.
(Cannot find how to edit these),….anyway, I recall now it was owned by Lee Hamblin and there was some huge monstrous espresso machine, fishnet clad waitresses, and yeah, the smell of big money was thiiiick in the air.
These are responses to many of your comments. This web page does not separate them clearly:
**Asparro’s on SE Grand was a fixture for years. I believe it had a Greek style menu, but I may be mistaken on that.(Union Avenue Social Club was the name given after he sold it)** HOLMAN’S at SE 28 TH and Burnside is still open and operating last I checked. The “German restaurant on 82 ND and Burnside that Jim Darke mentioned was actually a Swiss place called **THE MATTERHORN and operated until early 2000’S when it was sold and they built a Walgreen’s.
Thanks Ross! I’m taking your comment and posting it to the top!
Much appreciated, John.
I knew John Asparro in the 1963-67 era. At that time, The restaurant was just called Asparro’s, not the Union Avenue Social Club. It was on Grand Avenue. And yes, I was in Holman’s on 28th a few times during that same era
What about Aldo’s Restaurant downtown? I was a line cook there in 1980-1981 then went on to be a chef in New Orleans and am now writing my food memoir. Looking for info! It featured Northern Italian cuisine and was the last Last Call at the bar in town. I also worked at the Marketplace restaurant in Tigard in the seventies…
Don’t forget the cool downtown gay bars: the Family Zoo and the Embers.
Marisa
http://www.steppingintothewater.wordpress.com
The Embers still exists, over on the NW side of Broadway. It’s a far cry from the original which was next to the Virginia Cafe on Park Avenue.
I totally agree! What a precious insight for those who attended and also went around the corner to the “Red Door’! True cabaret….great food and beverage offerings, great ambiance. Where else has anyone…and I mean anyone, anywhere, witnessed such a successful blend of straight, gay, macho, metro, Nam combat veterans, slink, etc.?
I proposed to my wife in Aldo’s! We would always order, our plates would come, she would look at mine and say “can we trade,? yours looks better” and we traded – guess that’s why all is well after 33 years. My mother was a cocktail waitress at the Shadows in the 50s where she met my stepfather. My sister and I worked at The Woodstove (though she worked at many other restaurants as we.l)
I haven’t seen The Ringside mentioned – best onion rings or The Lovejoy Tavern – great burgers; then there was the original Nicks Coney Island…
…Jr’s Cell, Dahl and Pennes’, The Kachina, Hamburger Mary’s…
Does anyone out there remember The Coon Chicken Inn on Sandy Blvd. ? It had an outrageous and racist facade. That locatioon later became Mr. Jones and then the Prime Rib at various times.
Remember any of these? Amato’s Supper Club on Broadway (I was too young to go in, but there was a DJ who broadcast from a widow on the corner on Friday nights, so you could see him as you cruised by). Then there was the Wee College Inn, near Portland State. Great soup or sandwiches on a poor student’s budget. And what about the Whistling Pig in West Slope, on Canyon Blvd. They had huge roasts, hams and turkeys that they sliced to order for sandwiches. The Crab Bowl on Barbur? Red Rooster (Wilson High Hangout in the 50’s) on Barbur? Blue Heaven on Barbur, in an old car dealership building next to the (still there and still good) Caro Amico?
I’m desperate to get a photo of what I remember from the 1980s it was the Crab Bowl I think. There was a neon sign of a crab and the claws would move back and forth?
I’m desperate to get a photo of the Crab Bowl from the 1980s. I think they had a neon sign of a crab and the claws moved back and forth?
My parents got engaged at the Whistling Pig in March 1957. They both worked at Meier and Frank. Dad sold shoes and Mom worked in the handkerchief department. I would love any information about the Whistling Pig. I have searched the internet and come up with nothing!
Blue Heaven gone.
I saw some “Coon Chicken Inn” plates and cups for sale in a antique store in San Francisco for about $500.00 each!
Two books show reference to the “COON CHINKEN INN” (formerly the Prime Rib on 50th and Sandy) and they are “the House that Chicken Built” and “Sundown Towns”….hopes this helps out…the Prime Rib was my parents fav!
I knew a waiter named Val, that worked at The Prime Rib on Sandy in 1975 or 76. He described it as “a pit stop for vindictive old ladies”.
In reply to Marks comment about knowing the waiter Val in teh mid-70’s, I worked there with Val for several years. We were very good friends. Did you and I perhaps meet one time through Val?
Bart
dogwoodkidlets@comcast.net
Does anyone remember Rene Varin. He owned the Prime Rib on Sandy for awhile ?
First, I believe it was Coon CHICKEN Inn, not Coon CHINKEN Inn. In reference to Rene Varin, I seem to remember him from Parkrose School in the mid-50’s era.
I remember Val. I worked as a bus girl for a short time and he was a waiter there. So funny.
Some that I remember–I moved here in 1976- – were Pettygrove House in NW, The Woodstove on NW Vaughn, Indigine in SE on Division and Le Bonne Crepiere in John’s Landing. Another was Crepe Faire on NW 3rd down the block from Jazz de Opus. It was in a very 60’s Hippie looking building that was sort of a mini-mall. Also the Mediaeval Inn which was long on atmosphere with serving wenches and outrageous portions in SW on 2nd near Burnside. In it’s next life, it became a cool dancing club but the name excapes me. Also Pot Siticker and Sizzling Rice near Old Town pizza which I thought served the best pizza in Portland at the time. Wasn’t there one called the Duchess of Burnside? It was upstairs on E Burnside around 22nd and I think there is still a restaurant up there. Delevans was in the old fire station on NW Glissan, a very fancy supper club.
After The Medieval Inn….wasn’t it Louie’s LaBamba? (Or was there something there BEFORE LaBamba?) I remember being first exposed to the later incarnations of The Holy Modal Rounders there: i.e. The Rounders, The Clamtones, LesClams.
Also, at John’s Landing, are you referring to the “Crepiere” up on the 2nd floor down at the west end of the building? Marie Holman, of the Wooden Horse dwnstrs., owned it later (Marie’s Creperie) Learned my hand at making quiches and applying general creativity into the day’s special quiche.
Judith, thanks for this list. Loved Pettygrove House, Crepe Faire, Pot Sticker and Delevans! I think Delevan was one of the owners of The Excelsior Cafe in Eugene??
Del Pearl’s wife Stephanie was Executive Chef at the Excelsior and ran it for many years, revised it and was its heart and soul. Del was financial partner. He and Tony came to Portland and opened Delevans where I waitressed for a short time. Del was in an unfortunate situation in Columbia for a few years, so by the time I got hired he was gone and the place was less than well managed with Del gone.
Loved Crepe Faire, Jazz de Opus. I worked at Chuck’s Steak House on Front, Poor Richard’s on Sandy, and Salty’s.
Sure would like a Speck burger or a Yaw’s burger even a burger from Tic Toc would do, maybe a smoked oyster pizza from Chico’s or the lunch special with their great cole slaw from Waddle’s today. Miss going to Nick’s Coney Island and hearing Frank Nudo say to Wing Commander “order up”. Spot 79 also had a great little luncheon steak special and the Pink feather was a favorite for broasted chicken or even fish and chips from Robin’s with extra tartar sauce would be great.
Mannings at Lloyd Center had the best burgers for a sit-down cafeteria restaurant. Something very unique…also Burger Chef by PSU–my father would bring me one when I was sick. LOL! An incentive to get well, I guess. I’ve never found any other burgers in Portland that tasted like those two places. Weird how the smallest thing can completely change the same food item.
Ate my first mushroom on a pizza at Chico’s–really liked that place (with its adult and teen sections).
I worked at Crepe Faire for 8 years. Working in both locations. Hank and Helen were very good employers.
I used to know the owners of Chuck’s but can’t believe I can’t remember their names. They were a couple. Maria was her name?
The owners of Chuck’s were Don Low & Maria Hazilla. I found that info in my copy of A Bartender’s Guide to Drinking Out in Portland by Frank Peters. It also includes the Pub Crawl Rating Card!
This is a great thread. Really takes you down memory lane. I moved to Portland at the beginning of 1979 and managed a place called Eriksen’s Restaurant out on Barbur. The place was popular with specialties such as the Swedish meatballs and Swedish pancakes. I remember driving by the Crab Bowl and there was constantly a line out front. If we could only go back in time, even if it were for just a day. It would be cool to see some of these places again.
The first night in Portland, late 1976. Having come from Chef’s job in Boise and we were looking for an apt., we stayed at the motel next to Eriksen’s. The food was wonderful. It was the first time to have Swedish Pot[ato Sausage.
I remember Eriksen’s Restaurant — Worked there right along side of you Mike. It was a great place. Not sure why you fired me tho
Uhmm,..Mike? We’re waiting….
LOL
I was just looking that place up and saw this thread. Wow. I worked there for a short time back in ’91-’92, just before joining the military. The food was soooo good.
My Aunt was Agnes Ericksen Duhrkoop who owned Ericksens…a lovely lady (at least from what I knew) I at with her at a hotel downtown once and she was shocked by the “color” of the plate which I assume was actually the color of the food. She sent it back. My favorite was the British Burger which seemed a mile high.
I am looking for mazzis cheesecake recipe do you have it?
I loved Mazzi’s. When I had a day off from my restaurant in Sellwood, Belinda’s, we would drive over the bridge to Macadam Av. and have some old fashioned Italian. Their bread was home made too. The cheesecake recipe? I’m sure if you begged the family at their original place in Eugene, you might be successful.mazzis.com
What was Millie and Howard’s take out garage on Se Division, the sold James Beard Brownies. Later Millie turned it into an East Insian Restaurant.
Indigine! It was a wonderful place. She was inventive and the food was excellent.
Ross Pullen
Old school Northwest Italian food….the only place that still comes to mind is Pasquale’s out in Newberg. So many of them gone, the vast plates of pasta and cheap chianti replaced by gourmet versions. Cara d’Amico type places. Are there any left in Portland?
Frank, the owner of Mazzi’s, now has Touche’; in the old firehouse on NW Glisan, between 14th & 15th.
Anyone remember “Ireland’s” or the Creamery. There was a cafeteria near S.W. 4th owned by two brothers….some great comfort food.
My mother worked at Irelands during high school and continued to eat there after graduating from business college and then took me there as a child in the early 60s
Called the Buttermilk Corner.. one brother owned The Red Coach Inn. One brother was Bob, can’t remember the other
I’m wondering if anyone here could comment on how far back Dairy Queen had been serving Portland? I know DQ’s Milwaukie (11094 SE Main St., closed circa 2000) and Oregon City (613 J. Q. Adams St., still exists) units date back to about 1950 and were initially both run by relatives of the same Segrin family.
But what I want help on is: when did the first few DQs show up in the greater Portland area, and which locations?
Some elder statesmen DQ stores:
5934 SE Duke St.
17405 SE Division St.
5605 SE Division St.
1610 SE Tolman St.
I was just at the one in Oregon City this week. There was also one in Milwaukie for many years, but now it is a Teriyaki place. There just aren’t enough DQ’s around!
Janis…your questions about Dairy Queen. Very busy one on SW Farmington in Beaverton,by the high school.
Ah, yes, I know that Beaverton DQ all too well. I worked in Hillsboro for many years and that DQ was frequently on my route home.
There were DQ’s on N.E. 82nd Tillamook St. – N.E. 54th Sandy Blvd. – N.E. 36th Broadway
I am still in mourning about the closing of the Milwaukie DQ!
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I went to the DQ multiple times in the late 70’s in Oregon City.
Does anyone remember machesemo mouse? I have been looking for the “boss sauce” recipe for years, with no luck. Just thought I would ask here also.
Dennis5150. Good news, Dennis. There are some people from the old Macheesmo Mouse organization working on bringing it back at the present time.. First location (if it is all finalayzed)
will be in Beaverton. I cannot devulge any more details, but you may be able to buy the famous “Boss Sauce” once again.
Ross Pullen
Ross,
Machismo Mouse!!! YES. Downtown, I have been working on replicating their Boss Sauce, have come close. My standard dish was the brown rice and black beans with cheese melted over it, just the right amount by the way, and Boss Sauce, a dark tangy amazing compliment to the rice and beans. I loved everything about MM, their decor, they were ahead of their time with healthy Southwestern or South of the Border food. And YES I think they will thrive if revived.
Ross, that is good news for sure! I hope they succeed, and bring them back.
Over a year has passed since Ross Pullen’s post and finally I read a few days ago that Macheesmo Mouse is opening again soon. Watch the news! : )
I have the “Boss Sauce” recipe.
Do you still want it?
Did you say you had the Boss Sauce Recipe? If so, yes, I’ve been trying to replicate it.
Tom, I would love the Boss sauce recipe. Are could you send it to my email, s1conk@gorge.net? That would be wonderful. My beans and rice just haven’t been the same without it.
Tom, I too would love to have the Boss sauce recipe. I would greatly appreciate you sending it to me – midline@comcast.net. That would be wonderful. My quesadillas will be that much better for it!!
Tom, I too would appreciate the recipe for “Boss Sauce”. Please e- mail to smrufner@yahoo.com.
Thank you!
I would love the Boss Sauce recipe! Thank you. Yum! rae120@hotmail.com.
Hi Tom, would love the recipe, my daughter loved it. Thanks
Victoria’s Nephew was not the first place that served espresso drinks in town. There had been coffee houses in the 1950s in long gone parts of downtown, and I remember Old Town Pizza selling cappuccinos in the early 70s, followed by the Coffee Ritz in the Galleria.
VN had the most fabulous cling peach and turkey sandwich. I have tried to replicate it at home but it is just not the same.
I once parallel parked a cargo van next to the Galleria so I could get ‘a really good cup’ at Coffee Ritz!
I am looking for information and photos and menus for some real old timers…..Piluso’s Theater Restaurant and the Rome Cafe. Piluso’s was located 8845 SW 30th in Portland and Rome Cafe was in a building on what is now Terry Shrunk Plaza in front of City Hall.
Thanks!
I’m looking for information on Piluso’s Theater Restaurant as well. My mother went there on a date once in about 1958 or 1959. She stated they ate dinner, danced and then the dance floor pulled away and they watch water ballet. I couldn’t believe it! How wonderful.
http://www.donflora.com/Little_Italy_Portland/slideshow_history_19.html
Great, someone else remembers Piluso’s! Every time I bring up this restaurant with dance floor / swimming pool no one has ever heard of it! I was there in ’59 after a winter formal dance at our high school. It was very impressive with two or three tiers of seating around the dance floor, and of course surprising to see the floor magically turn into a pool with water ballet! Didn’t remember that Piluso’s was on SW 30th, always thought it was located on Barbur Blvd. Does anyone remember the Pantry on NE Broadway? Great chicken bisque soup! Creamed spinach was served with dinners—–if you didn’t it, the waitress would pull out the cap gun out of her holster and shoot you!
anyone remember the name of the restaurant in Sylvan Hills next to Big Red’s location, now John Scott Realty occupies the space
It was Bob’s Donuts. When Lloyd Center remodeled–I think in the 1980’s–Bob’s went out of business. Their donuts were so delicious. They tasted like they had lemon in them, but the Bob’s staff swore they did not. I was sorry when they quit, but my waistline wasn’t!
I bet the Bob’s donuts had nutmeg in them, could be confused for lemon.
There were two restaurants there, both owned by the same company: Reuben’s, which was fancy and had a full bar, and Coco’s, which was more on the order of a Denny’s or Carrow’s. Reuben’s had these cool ctapestry-upholstered chairs with very high backs. One felt like royalty. They also had what I think was an original Toulouse-Lautrec poster.
I believe it was called “Ryan’s”. There were rumors that all sorts of crazy things that happened there. Urban legends, perhaps?
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Coco’s was in the John L. Scott building.
I worked for Coco’s in Salem,Oregon.Federal Way,Olympia,Redmond,Bellvue and Lake Forest Park all in Washington.I think the only two left are in Bellvue and Redmond,Wa.
Judy Hooff, I remember The Pantry! Dad took us to lunch there to meet our stepmom. Great chicken bisque soup.
I worked at the silver garden restaurant 880-82, it was at s.e. 2nd and ash. It operated from 79 to 83 or 84. it was an excellent first restaurant job.
followed that up with a stint at Belinda’s, fine times! Hey Ross!
Dean! How cool to connect. You know, I loved the Silver Garden. Every time I’m in that neighborhood(a colleague of mine has an office close by)and I drive by the empty lot where it was……I wish it were still there. It would probably be a big hit if it came back!
Read some of the old days on my blog ;yolksonus.com Ross
I was one of the owners of the Silver Garden at the corner of SE 2nd and Ash. In 1979 The Oregonian named it the “Best Restaurant” in Oregon and gave it the top rating for wine list and view. The art deco interior worked well with the overall appearance of the dome-liner. Unfortunately the managing partner fumbled the ball and it began sliding downhill until it was leased to people who re-opened as The Warsaw Express. When the stuff finally hit the fan, although I wasn’t involved in managing the restaurant or its business, I was left holding the bag when one partner declared bankruptcy and the other left town and disappeared. Sad. It was a fun initial couple of years.
Norm.
I loved those two stainless steel cars. Once a friend and I decided to buy a Continental Mk II over lunch. (Still have the car and the friend). Took a wife to be many evenings to the lounge car. And my train fan buddies and I still lament it’s passing as recently as just last week.
Darnitall!
These are treasures and there should be a night of stories about stuffing our faces in Portland past. We ate well, we relished the experiences and food was not then for shock value, but it had its own attitude.
My dad worked at the Silver Garden for a time. He would bring me down there sometimes to visit everyone. I was 13 I think. His name (and mine,) is Sam Hayden. Do you remember him?
I replied o a post that I did a fashion photo shoot inside the Silver Garden in 1980ish. Will have to post those somewhere.
Hi Norm, Gordon Pike, “O” yes the good old days!
Does anyone remember the name of a donut shop in Lloyd Center in the early 1960’s? I think it was next to Morrow’s Nut House. Sort of a cafeteria style donut shop. I’m not sure if they served anything else; I think maybe they were only serving donuts.
My mom worked in an insurance company on the floor above Morrow’s. I was at Lloyd Center alot, but don’t remember a doughnut shop next to Morrow’s. I do remember the wonderful Mannings next to the skating rink that served cafeteria style and had the most wonderful banana cream cake. There was, also, Goldberg’s, a deli-cafeteria- style restaurant at the opposite end of the Morrow’s”wing”. I had my first and best reuben sandwich there.
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OMG. I remember those donuts – complete heaven.Yes, only donuts and coffee. Mom and I always stopped there after she shopped at Zukor’s right around the corner.
I may have missed someone mentioning this place because the thread is so magnificent but….does anyone remember The Hoyt Hotel (down by the train station). It had Roman columns…and there was a 3D-like metal picture on the wall that lit up. When I was little, I always had to check out the bathrooms – the Hoyt’s was cool 😉
Off that topic: if anyone has (or knows how to find) an old menu from Barney Bagel & Suzy Creamcheese, let me know!!
Taking this a slightly different direction, Euphoria and the Earth Taverns. Seafood Mama, The Odds, Bill Rancher… What was the underground bar/dance place in downtown early 80’s. Perhaps around Morrison and Park?
I believe you are referring to The Last Hurrah. My sister in law worked there, (and her soon to be husband). My now wife and I would close up Zoe’s Tavern in Multnomah and make it down for the music and a few drinks. One memorable evening as they were trying to close, a good friend of ours who was way passed floor o’clock struggled up onto the stage, snatched up the microphone and delivered a flawless if a bit bit boozy version of The Story of Dolomite. I’m sorry if your not familiar with it. Far too shocking for this site. Anyway, instead of throwing him out they let him rant on for twenty minutes or so with the crowd roaring and he got a standing ovation!
Another group from that era that I loved dancing to: Upepo! Ah, yes, The Last Hurrah! I remember dancing to many great groups there.
I left Portland a month after St Helens erupted and have been back only once since.
All these eateries sure bring back some wonderful memories.
Dave mentioned the Last Hurrah. I was the soundman for the Burnside Bombers and we played there many times. And also at Saks Front Ave on Yamhill and the river!
Damn I miss the PNW
Bill Price
Hey Bill, ya know ya don’t need no passport to come home to Portland! (at least not yet). I bet we passed each other a dozen times on the streets. I don,t remember whether or not I mentioned this but I also worked at Sweet Tibbie Dunbars for a while. That was a great time and I miss all the characters I worked with. Nobody can hold a candle to retaraunt people for crazy! Bills right, The Last H. was great and so was Saks. Anybody play pool and eat cashews at Frankenstiens?
I have the record version of dolimite and the last hurrah might have been the headless horseman at one time.
underground clubs,dance places ect…lets see if I can remember…clockwork joes what is now a parking lot, 13th precinct, the long goodbye, lus labamba, metropolis that is now dantes…underage the blue kangaroo …I know there are more….I can name off more of the party houses of the 80’s…lets see euphoria ,the earth, in NW pdx…café oasis this is now the lampoc, nw service center, the cellar…….satyracon, the blue gallery, …im sure if I thought I could name more
Was is the Last harrah. across from miere & frank on Alder?
Yes, the Last Hurrah was great. with Seafood Mama, Rindy Ross, Salmon Dave, Nu Shooz, Flash Cadillac, etc. Great times!
Also a shout-out to David Orange, who was a cook at Euphoria, then started the Riverway Inn. He lived next to me for a few years, down in John’s Landing, then across the street for a few more.
The Last Hurrah was originally called Harrah’s West. However, Harrah the gambling company sued, so Andy Harrah (the owner and one of my best friends while at U of Oregon) changed the name to The Last Hurrah. It was in the basement of the building just across the street from the Meier & Franks loading docks. Huge bar. Three of my brothers worked there in the summers while in college (thanks Andy and Sue!).
I worked at Delavan’s at 14th and Glisan. Great food. Strange little closet the staff went in and out of.
When it was built, it was jaw dropping cool. Great atmosphere. Customers were served fantastic baguettes, the wait staff tossed into a 500º oven to serve hot. It is something else now, same upstairs/downstairs dining-bar configuration I believe.
Macheesmo Mouse is coming back. A former executive will be getting funding together in the next few months for a great location on the west side. There will be Boss Sauce and much more. New and old customers will be very happy with the improved version! Check Facebook and Twitter for updates this summer!
I still have my Macheesmo Mouse sweatshirt!!!
What happened to Tiger?
David……Tiger Warren died with his 3 sons when the 40’S era float plane he was piloting crashed in the late afternoon on this date, April 25 TH ,in 1999. He is credited with founding Macheesmo Mouse but in fact purchased it early on from Michael Vidor, who also had founded Genoa. It is now closed after many successful and famous years.I was enjoying similar successes, at least locally, at my restaurant Belinda’s about the same time. The Mouse’s former exec has been attempting to bring it back now for a few years. Not sure if he will succeed. He and I did not agree on the approach. He wanted to resurrect it exactly as it was. In all of my years observing, working and being associated with the food service business I have seen that one must stay the same while constantly changing. The customers today were not even alive during the restaurant’s heyday. New standards, new menu items and new ideas of what would pass as good for recipes will always prevail when a person attempts bringing back any former successful venture.The most important issue is that today’s customer are much more knowledgeable about all things food and dining-whether it be fast, casual or a fine dining style.
Ross, I agree re: Macheezmo Mouse. The design was great, the black beans with brown rice topped with Boss Sauce and cheese amazing, and maybe that dish would stand up, but when MM was hot, “health food” was as well. Now, without ramped up spices, pickled twists, there would be no novelty, and back then MM was all about novelty. But it just might not get on today’s enlightened radar with all the varied concepts Mexican and healthy/local. There just might be we oldies sitting around wondering what all the fuss was about, or ranting on about how superior MM is through our sentimental taste buds.
I remember a little deli in Morgans Alley called (I think) Piknik In the mid 70’s. They had the best sandwich with pepperoni and cream cheese.
Kevin, yes that was Piknik deli, my father, Ali, owned it and I worked there as a child. I miss the fantastic sandwiches and salads my dad made. The pepperoni cream cheese sandwich is still a specialty in our house as is the mad turk sandwich.
The Mad Turk Sandwich! Yeaaaah rawk! I loved that place!
Tamer, I would love to have the recipe for your father’s meatloaf that he served as a sandwich only on Fridays as I recall. The best meatloaf I’ve ever had in my life!
How about The Shadows? I never made it there, but heard raves about it. It was a small, very small, one story dark brown building at the intersection of 6th ave. where you get onto 405 heading north. A block from the running track by the big athletic club. I believe a couple ran it.
I seem to remember The Shadows as a cocktail lounge on about 20th just off Sandy Blvd in the 1965-68 era
I had a blast from the past Saturday night. The banana cream cake from the Bohemian Bakery at Kienows was my all time favorite treat. When Kienows went away, so did the Bohemian Bakery.
I went to Ja Civas on SE Hawthorne @47th for their ” after hours” cafe. Apparently its only on Saturdays any more. Which is a shame. Everyone at my table loved their deserts. But myself the most..they had the Bohemian Bakery Banana Cream Cake and its as good as I remember. Were there any other treats from Bohemian Bakery anyone misses? I will check and see if they are on the desert menu ..or you can check for yourself!
My daughters loved the strawberry cream loaf.. I should check and see…
you forgot to mention the “munchies” of the 70’s.
The store that took over Kienows on 33rd and Broadway (QVS?) still has that Bohemian Banana Cream Cake, or something close to it.
I would love to purchase a Bohemian menu. My grandfather was Isaac Neuberger, who
originally owned the Bohemian. Thank you.
I would love to see the menu if you find a copy. My 80-year-old grandmother used to bring me downtown on the bus when I was probably six or seven. We would see a movie at the Blue Mouse and then eat at the Bohemian. I remember loving the “salt sticks” (is that what they were called?), with caraway seeds and kosher salt on the outside–served warm with butter. More than fifty years later I can still taste them! Miss those days.
anyone remember a place called the Silk and Satin? Bills Gold Coin? would love to know more.
I remember Bill’s Gold Coin. It was a Chinese restaurant on the West side of Portland, I believe. I seem to recall it in the 1965-68 era
I believe the Gold Coin was located on West Burnside just east of 21st Ave., on the south side of the street, it later became a Red Robin, and is currently a mexican restaurant.
Brother you don’t know the half of it! In the day this was quite the hang out for denizens of the “Hill”, fight promoters, wrestlers and boxers (my Dad included), and yes high end prostitutes! Jerry Kingen ruined it with his attempt at “franchisism” with the Red Robin, something Andy Weiderhorn is currently attempting with “Fog Burger” in Cali. The Gold Coin has a special car coral where one could have valet service wash and detail your ride. I’d hop between there and the Peterson’s place until I was ready for cab! absolutely great “speak”!
Yes, Silk ‘n Satin was owned by Eddie May’s, the same guy who owned The Prime Rib on Sandy Blvd, and Davey’s Locker on Broadway. If memory serves me right, The Silk ‘n Satin was destroyed by a mysterious explosion. Maybe a gas explosion ? I was too young to go there, but I remember my parents saying how glamorous it was.
I remember Sweet Tibbies from my HS prom. I also remember Valentino’s. My girlfriend and I spent our babysitting money at the “cool” restaurant in 1975. How about The Copper Kettle. Another cool restaurant we went to back in the day 🙂
Valentino’s! Wow. My wife and I were scraping by when we first got married.Whenever we got a little extra to treat ourselves we went to Valentino’s. Bring on the memories!!!
does anyone have any Portland Bakery information? looking specifically for dessert information…Best Cakes, Pies, Pastry…
Does anybody remember a tattoo
shop which had 2 pool tables in the back 2 or 3 doors down from the hotel on the corner, don’t remember the name of the hotel?
owners name was Maxie? it was in the 50’s?
I’m wondering if anyone remembers a restaurant in the Portland area called The Hillville or some such? I believe it was a restaurant in the 60’s and perhaps earlier.There is some talk in the family that this was a favorite of wrestler, Gorgeous George. Any information would be helpful.
There was also another restaurant called Nighthawk BBQ. Does anyone remember that one?
There still is a Nighthawk, at Interstate and Rosa Parks.. been around forever. Is this the one you are thinking of? its not a barbeque place but things change..
It was Hillvilla on S.W. Terwilliger. The Chart House is there now. There is still a Nite Hawk Restaurant on N. Interstate @ Rosa Parks Way (Rosa Parks used to be Portland Blvd.). http://pdxhistory.com/html/hillvilla.html
Regarding the Hillvilla,this may be of interest to Leah.
http://www.pdxhistory.com/html/hillvilla.html
THat may have been the Hill Villa on the West side.
There was a restaurant on Terwilliger Blvd.,which was named “Hillvilla” and was owned by Palaski.(sp).
http://www.pdxhistory.com/html/hillvilla.html
Hillvilla has been around forever, now it’s The Chart House
Palaski’s Hillvilla was famous for his pies…….especially pumpkin pie.I have had the recipe for Eddie Palaski’s spice recipe and for years used it in pies, cheesecake and baked custard. Maybe some folks would appreciate it to try for themselves,Gordon. If they make their annual Thanksgiving pumpkin pies with ti I predict it will become a mainstay of their favorite recipes.
http://baking.food.com/recipe/portlands-hillvilla-restaurant-pumpkin-pie-217414>
Hillvilla is now the Chart House on Terwilliger.
What about Pieri’s delicatessen that used to be on 39th & Powell next to Meek’s Powell Pharmacy? Amazing old school deli that served incredible pizzas? They always had salamis and such hanging from the ceiling. I vaguely remember the building….torn down for a mini mall. Also Mama Maria’s on about 20th and Powell, just north of Powell. They moved. Never the same…Best crispy crust, diamond cut pizza ever.
The little unique spot on Division that you mention was Millie’s East Indian restaurant named INDIGINE. She was a true pioneer, even more so than my place in Sellwood, Belinda’s.
It was tiny, served truly adventuresome menus for the time,and she would not compromise. Kind of like the temperature of today’s small neighborhood ventures we all enjoy. Only open on the weekends,as I remember. Amazing food for the 70’S and in on the ground floor the growth of the food scene in Portland.
Spot on Ross…I lived close by…incredible venue!
Howard died just a while back. He left Millie and married Grey Wolfe of Bread abd Ink. I believe that Portland’s boutique restaurant scene was spawned when Reed imploded and the exodus included the founders of Genoa, Indigine, Bread and Ink and L’Auberge. (Is Bill McLaughlin still around).
I have been meaning to look up Millie. She and Howard borrowed $40,000 from a friend and loaned it to me to build and lease them their new restaurant. I believe she still lives nearby. Wonderful memeories.
My husband and I went to Pieri’s all the time. They had the best gnocchi and tortellinis in their freezer section–incredible. I was never able to figure out what was on the pizza that made it so delicious–something in the base mixture. Cheese?? and ??? Amazing.
Don’t know of the shop you speak to but Sam Spangler’s Pizza en Regalia 70’s and 80’s Saturday market cart then subsequent brick and mortar 9th Ave put NY style pizza on the Ptown map. Where is Sam and his pie today?
and DAVE’s deli! Acting the part of the “in your face, outta here if ya give us any lip” New York style deli.
pieri’s deli how I miss that place.pizza,sandwich’s.you could buy there pizza sauce,cheese’s.was just trying to remember what cheeses was in there pizza cheese.miss mama maria’s too.
Mama Maria’s was a great old school find and a quintessential “red & white” Italian eatery. What I remember the most was the Sicilian (flat) pizza that was cut on the bias (trapezoid) for bite size pieces…and damn delicious as well!
My dad bought the old Mannings Cafeteria on tenth and Morrison across from Lipmans, named it Barry Alan’s Cafeteria and then the Copper Vine for a short while after remodeling from a fire. Coffee was 20 cents a cup and when he increased it to 25 cents, boy did people complain! When my dad bought it in the early 70s he didn’t know Lipman’s Dept. store across the street would soon be closing and when it did it really hurt his business. Barney Bagle and Suzy Cream Cheese was one of the new type places in the Galleria . . . Also, those were the years of the transit mall being constructed downtown and that really hurt businesses beyond Sixth Avenue, too. He always worked hard to put out quality products and said that the health inspector told him his was the only restaurant in town that didn’t have cockroaches! Our dear dad died unexpectedly a few months ago, he was a wonderful man who worked at Lindy’s in NYC and Scandia in LA, among other places.
As a boy I had frequent trips to Portland to see doctors. When I was old enough to take the Greyhound alone..around age 11, i recall, I traveled solo. Mannings was my touch bases spot, not just for the food, but the waitress and the cook took note of a young boy traveling alone and just wanted to make sure I was ok. In subsequent visits, they often ‘piled it on’ when I ordered lunch, knowing my 4 hour bus trip home would be better on a full stomach. Your folks, perhaps?
Hi Joe, about the Mannings Cafeteria it depends on what years you went there … I think our Dad bought it around 1970, and it closed around 1977. It was a pretty grand restaurant for a cafeteria! That’s how they were back then, I guess. So much elegant décor for inexpensive (but good) food!
Cheers, Susan Brown
Sorry, I’m wrong, the department store wasn’t Lipman’s, it was Rhode’s.
I bought a set of cocktail glasses (8) which are black and gold at Rhode’s dept. store at the age of 21. The year was 1969 and still have them today…..a little warn but still in tack and wish I had a dollar for every drink made in them.
Just got a shiver down my back! I DO remember that neon sign from The Crab Bowl out on Barbur…I could see it “blinking” at night from my bedroom window as a kid…of course, it also depended on what time of year it was…the leaves on the trees ya know! I grew up on SW Hume St…and what I remember most was all the noise from the construction of the Baldock (spelling?), I-5 freeway south, Salem freeway…call it what you want, but it seemed that the noise went on forever!
How about the Humdinger…best burgers in town…on Barbur, near the Three Star, up from the Original Pancake House…
Looks like I have to return to this site one of these days when I have the time and really take a look-see…I was actually looking for a date when the Sheraton (at the Lloyd Center) changed into the Red Lion Lloyd Center, which is now the DoubleTree…The Sheraton was built to coinside with the opening of both, the Lloyd Center and the coliseum, but it later changed to the Red Lion and then into the DoubleTree in 1995…I just can’t remember the year. Anyone got any guesses?
Like I said…I’m gonna have to come back…got a lot of memories to share and catch up on…GREAT SITE! Thanks!
…coincide…not coinside…sorry…Ms. Hardy, second grade teacher, wouldn’t be happy with that!
Does any one recall the name of the German restaurant near 82nd and Burnside in the 80s and 90s?
THE MATTERHORN!
The Matterhorn.
Something that went unmentioned through this whole thread, and whose ad/promo is the very first one at the top of this page, is The Wooden Horse. Admittedly, not one of the vintage spots in old downtown or Portland proper, but my time cooking at “the Horse” was pretty special to me. What great people to work with! Billy Bang’s down the hall a nice after-work spot.
Walter owned the Pancake Corner at Lloyd’s, and Marie had the Horse as well as Marie’s Creperie at John’s Landing. Valentino’s was yet another of the Holmans’ places.
Wow….what a blast from the past!! I lived in the PDX area most of my life; worked as a bartender at Slabtown and The Wooden Horse Eating Establishment. Have lived over in Central Oregon for a few years now; didn’t realize so many of my past faves were gone. Walt Holman (Walter’s son) was with Portland City Grill as a manager; I believe he is now an area manager for the chain that bought them out.
The very first Oregon restaurant I experienced was Dan and Louie’s Oyster Bar. Still around, it has lived through so many changes in Portland and culture in general. At 9 in 1959, my mother brought my brother and me out to Oregon to visit Aunt Lois. She and her husband Jay Swender owned Swender’s Blueprint Company across the street from Dan and Louie’s. The first thing I remember landing at the airport having come from Fort Morgan, Colorado, (80 miles northeast of Denver) was that I could smell the ocean from Portland. The first place Aunt Lois took us was to Dan and Louie’s where I could get oysters. In Ft. Morgan, all fish on the menu was breaded shrimp. When in 1980, I moved to Portland, I went to Dan and Louie’s and asked the oldest waitress I could find if she knew of Lois Swender. “Oh, yes.” “She had lunch here every day.” That’s what I love about a good place to eat. You go back, you get to know the staff, you make friends and you love, love, love your food.
Does anyone remember Abernethy’s (now Higgins) and Ainsworth’s? How about Bogart’s Joint? I’d love to hear any stories around those restaurants. My father, Jim Bailey, was one of the original owners of those restaurants and he recently passed away. I am seeking out memories you might have.
One of Ainsworth’s Executive Chefs was Peter Monsantofils about 1979-80.. Today Peter is managing partner of Management Recruiters of Portland. He was a chef who worked at my restaurant, Belinda’s in Sellwood, for a time when we were experimenting with serving Sunday brunch.
Thanks Ross. I appreciate the note.
Monsantofils is one of those very talented Pacific Islanders! He was chef at the Town Club just prior to Fernando Divina’s partnership there with James Beard Devotee Richard Nelson. Among Divina’s first gigs in P-Town, he passed the baton to Phil Meehan of L’Omelette where Divina, Billy Hahn, Marcel Lahsene, Susan Sumida Boulot, Rene Von Broekhuizen, and Dan Brophy all got their chops while David Adelsheim quaffed grand vins with the likes of the great Gary “Pic” Anderson at your service. Not to mention the magical Billy Oskay !
I remember going to Bogart’s in the Galleria when I was in high school in the late 1980s. It was the first restaurant I went to with just friends, no parents. I think that a sandwich was about $3.00 or so and I can still remember the sourdough bread. Good memories. Sorry that your father passed away, but his old restaurant (don’t know if he owned the Galleria location) brings back a lot of fond memories for me.
Hi Chris,I remember you as a little boy! I worked at Abernethy”s for many years. I am Linda Bailey.Not related to you, but we had lots of fun explaining that.My husband built the lower room that used to be the little store. Your Dad treated me very well. We worked hard. Made good money.My husband went to school with your mom, I met Robin * have seen her recently.She told me your dad had passed. we will miss him. Love to hear from you.
I was just about ready to close and I saw this. I am Linda Bailey that worked with your dad for many years at Abernethy’s. My husband built the side room in 1982. In fact you were a little boy and your dad said you had a big crush on me! I remember you following me around. You were a cutie! Jim treated me very well & I enjoyed working with him. Do ou remember me? I saw your dad at my work and we always talked. Then I didn’t see him and Robin came in and told me he passed. I’m so sorry for your loss.Would love to hear from you and share. Linda
Hi Chris! I worked at abernathys for many yrs. I remember you as a cute little boy that followed me round alot. I really liked Jim and we had a great time working together. My husband is the one who built the new room, where the store used to be. I would love to hear from you. Linda Baileylindadkj@gmail.com
Chris – I bet this probably won’t reach you after all of this time, but I worked for your Dad at Abernethy’s in the last 70’s and early 80’s. He had a great reputation in the business. The place was packed every weekday and the bar was hopping at night. I also remember Deborah – don’t know her last name – but she married a chef guy who worked there named Brad. Deborah managed the staff and helped run the place.
Hey – Fernadno Divina was the guy that was the chef owner for Fiddleheads, the Oregonian’s Restaurant of the Year 1997 and Gourmet’s Top Tables 1998. He was the Culinary Captain for the Pacific NW Culinary Team after he was on a whirlwind tour of some fo the first hot food competitions around the globe and stateside when cameras were present but not nationally aired. You remember Elka Gilmore from LA and San Francisco, or Roland Henin – Thomas Keller’s mentor? Divina beat both of them at hot food competitions in Oregon, Washington, California, and South Carolina – guy can cook. His cookbook was featured at the National Book Festival and was Gourmand’s Best Cooking History Book in the World Honorable Mention, the James Beard Foundation KitchenAid Award for Excellence winner and the IACP had his book in the running with Schwarz’s seminal Jewish treatise for Best Cook Book of the Year. Not bad for a P-Town boy! He says he only at Ross Pullen’s deviled bones while sipping hand-crafted libations from Bob Parson’s Father’s Place and Belindas in SOBY – South of Bybee. Eat well. Remember those that helped set the standard for P-town to thrive.
Still trying to find out if Sweet Tibbie Dunbar’s is still around?
No. Gone since 1990. Was the Polo Room for awhile afterwards. Point West Credit Union occupies the space now.
Sorry – Polo CLUB.
NO, it closed many years ago, sadly…..they auctioned off all the antiques at one time after they closed it up. It’s been gone for at least 15 years I’d guess….
Building is, Tibby,s been gone probably 30 years
I really miss Sweet Tibbie Dunbar’s Restaurant! I worked there as a hostess for my 2nd job in 1977. I loved their tiny breakfast muffins in a basket and all the great rooms you could eat in. Also, the only place I’ve ever been that had a “cloak room”. Fancy! Another hostess working there (wish I remembered her name) told me that Consolidated Freightways was hiring. I was able to get a job there that paid well and met my husband there, as well! Wish I could thank her!!
No-one has mentioned the Turquoise Room or known better as just the “T Room”. Had the great after hours crowd. Well let’s not mention all!
Used to go there after bowling upstairs
Does anyone have info on Isaac Neuberger’s Bohemian Restaurant?
I worked at the Bohemian in the late 40’s
In the last 50s my grandmother used to take me to the Bohemian for lunch and then to the Blue Mouse for a movie. I remember salt sticks (with caraway seed) at the Bohemian. Loved them!
Does anyone remember a seafood restaurant on Sandy Blvd….kind on out near the airport I think. I was quite popular years ago….gone now and I can’t remember the name of it. I’m surprised that nobody mentioned the best Rose’s on 23rd. Their strawberry whipped cream rolled cake was to die for.
You don’t mean Salty’s on the Columbia River, just east of 33rd Drive, do you?
I believe that seafood place was Steamers, at the corner of 82nd and Sandy Blvd.
Pal’s Shanty?
Hal’s Shanty, remember it well!
That was Steamer’s, corner of 82nd & Sandy Blvd.
It was popular….not I !
No, the one I still trying to remember was a seafood restaurant on Sandy Blvd….not too far from 82nd Ave. It might have been on Burnside but I really think it was on Sandy.
You’re correct, it was Steamers
SteamersJust east of 82nd north side of Sandy
Currently a Indian buffet
Chucks Steakhouse on Front Ave for drinks jazz and backgammon! A bunch of the Trailblazers Hollins, Lucas, and other players were regulars there.
I have a question. Paul Delay and I use to go to a little place on Killingsworth for chilli. The absolute best! I can’t remember the name of the place.. Can anyone help?
I believe that would have been Babe’s D-luxe Chili Parlor
Did anyone mention Yaws or the TikTok? Or Sylvia’s on NE Sandy Blvd.? Loved the dinner theater. My husband and I were friends with Sylvia. For a brief time in the early ’70’s she had an upscale restaurant downtown near Dan & Louie’s. We went there for our engagement dinner and Sylvia surprised us by taking care of the bill.
What a lovely trip down memory lane.
Fernando,
So fun to relive “the good ol’ days” with your remembrances shared here with us .You mentioned great people that touched my life at Belinda’s too. David Adelsheim-he left L’Omlette to realize his future wine empire and worked a day or two as a fill in waiter at Belinda’s in ’78; Marcel Lahsene and i worked mother’s Day at Couch Street Fish House in ’77 when Gene was the chef: Richard Nelson,noted Oregon foodie and writer was once a month diner at belinda’s; and Susie Sumida,a young pastry chef of 19, came to work at belinda’s after a stint at Horst Mager’s empire. Thanks for the memories.
Some may want to attend FoodWorx on Feb.4.http://foodworxconference.com/>
Went to the new Yaws but now it has come and gone again.
Sent from my iPhone
Went to new Yaw’s also when it first opened. It was good but very slow. Does anyone remember what was up at Sylvan before Big Red’s?
Big Red’s was built new
Because Steve Yam is/was an asshole! I grew up with the insufferable bastard.
My brother leased the southeast corner of Sylvia’s for years and when his lease ended she expanded it into her cabaret theater. “Good” family ‘red-n-white’, excellent service, great representative of the neighborhood! I grew up with Steve Yaw….kinda difficult to appreciate his particular skill set, if you catch my meaning.
The “Third Generation” skill set. Hahahaha.
Not sure we understand….
Yes,Sylvia had a restaurant called “Ankeny 231”. I don’t believe she owned/operated it very long.
In the late 1950’s my mother and I delivered eggs to Sylvia for her restaurant, nice person.
Sue Fischer, Sylvia’s on Sandy was my FAVORITE for pizza. My mom [Connie McCready, former mayor of Portland] knew her. I remember having dinner there with my Mom and sisters, and Sylvia was pouring water. After my Dad died my sisters and I were there after a day of clearing out the house, This would have been about 2008 or so. We were waited on by Sylvia’s daughter and we asked about our favorite pizza, bacon and tomato. She said they’d taken it off the menu and it had been one of her favorites but wasn’t being ordered. She said it was a traditional pizza from the region of Italy where her grandmother was from. I’ve been trying to find the recipe and trying to duplicate it. Do you know the family’s last name?
Would love to have the recipe for the dipping sauce that was served with the Fish&Chips at the Crab Bowl in 1950.
Darlene,
Also the french (?) salad dressing? It was to die for. Their garlic rolls were amazing too. My family went there for takeout once a month. The Fish & Chips were just incredible. It was never the same when moved down toward Tigard.
Out of place deb, but here’s your Roake’s sauce https://m.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=579519132102469&story_fbid=580482525339463
Ground up tamales and cheese. So different from Michigan Coney sauce which is just ordinary chili dog topping.
thhq,
thanks for sending this recipe. I will try it. It was kind of you to look it up for me. : )
does anyone remember an italian restaurant around mall 205 that had pizza that the topping were covered with slices of cheese & cut in squares instead of slices? i think the name started with V…… it was awesome pizza! in 1980’s
Could it have been Vesuvios?
Yes-it was Vittorio’s and I worked there for a couple of years. We covered all the toppings on the pizza with cheese and did indeed cut the pizza in squares. They had really good lasagna, mostacelli, and garlic cheese bread too. Also served biscotti for dessert. I think it was a Greek restaurant called “The Kitchen Kettle” before it became Vittorios. It’s now a mexican place called Acapulco.
I did not see mention of the Blue Heaven Restaurant on Barbur Blvd. My father would bring home a steak in one cardboard container, and spaghetti in the other cardboard container. That sauce was unique: meaty, dark, not sweet, not full of veggies, but delicious! We would have this “midnight snack” that he picked up on his way home from working at McKales Service Station. Recipe for the spaghetti sauce?? I can’t find anything like it…
Also: does anyone remember VeeMak Sub Shop? I think they were near Little King near the Library. I remember the best pastrami sandwich I have ever had. The owners were two guys with strong New York accents?!
I think one of the owner’s first names was “Yul”. I loved the tuna subs. I would stop in the morning after work and chat for a while, eat half of my sub and take the other half home. I seldom got home before I had eaten the second half of my sub. It was the best breakfast ever!!!!!
Blue heaven used to be on one of my paper routes
You must have taken over that route from Barry Hornstein..
I think the Sherbournes’ had a monopoly on paper routes in SW..Picked up the papers on Virginia and Taylor’s Ferry, went from the boat houses at Staffs up to the south side of Terwulliger, had it during the winter and froze my ass off.
Ron
Vaughn Street Ballpark ,Eddie Basinski, Rocky Benevento, The right firld bleachers and Sunday baseball with the Beavers and Seattle Rainers’s. Ya gotta love it. And Dad could cut hair almost as good as he could toss the bull.
If you remember Vaughn Street and Slabtown, a must is Slabtown and Vaughn Street by. Donald R Nelson
So many interesting memories, very fun. Now can anyone answer this? Was there ever a Restaurant named Bob’s in Portland that was related to Bob’s Big Boy Hamburger (Home of the Big Boy) from California? Would have been sometime between 1975 and 1985.
Anyone know the name of a Caribbean restaurant in SE Portland in the 90s? They offered jerk chicken, goat stew, and I think they had alligator for an appetizer. Their walls were lined with bottles of seemingly every possible variety of hot sauce.
May have been on Milwaukie Ave just south of Bybee
Courted my wife at The Organ Grinder. Wow! What a place! Anyone else remember it?
I remember the Organ Grinder well. I was a kid then, but I remember that it felt very vertical inside – like an atrium, with a lot of balconies with seating and tables on several floors, but always a view to the main floor (kind of like the Galleria in the 1980s). I remember playing whack-a-mole and it was a big deal when they’d show a silent movie and the organist would play.
Ahh, the Organ Grinder was quite a treat in its day! Jonas Nordwall was just a pup then playing to silent movies on that organ. He built it as well, and today plays organ for First United Meth. Church on Jefferson. After the Organ Grinder closed (too bad their pizza got so messed up at the end) it’s ‘cousin’ twin remained in Vancouver WA, but I can’t remember the name.
Does anyone know the name of the restaurant that previously occupied (1970’s) the space where Tom’s restaurant and bar is – corner of SE 39th & Division?
Don’t remember an earlier restaurant, but do remember when that space was a wonderful bakery in the 50s-60s–Bliss Bakery?
Reading the entry for Belinda’s in the 1979 Dining – In Portland guidebook: “Chardonnay currently being in such short supply….” The good old days. I have some nice tenderloins which I’ll make Genoa’s Filletta alla Cacciatore with. Some things don’t go out of style. Ever.
What a treat to see these comments after 35 years! Yes, Chardonnays were hard to get. More than that ( I found out later ) was when they were released, the distributors would allot me only a certain amount. I’d want a case and they would offer 4 bottles. Later, I found out that was because I was the ” new kid on the block”. The established places got whatever they wanted….Ringside, The Benson, Hilton Hotel, Salishan etc. Consequently I said, ” Don’t tell me, just ship them. Half bottles too. I ended up with one of the largest American Chardonnay lists in the USA,,over 58 separate vintages. It turned out to be a good move on my part especially for the wine lovers who liked good food too.
Reading all these comments really take me back several decades. I have fond memories of being on leave from the Navy and staying in the Cornelius Hotel and cutting across the street for an evening at the Portland Club. The place would really rock!!!!!! Also, I had the pleasure of many wonderful dinners at Chalet L’ Abbe.It was my first introduction to good French wine. Does any one remember Harris Wine Cellars. Are there any KWT’s out there? Another fond place to visit was the Elephant Delicatessen. I purchased my first Sauterne there. It was three bottles of 1964 Chateau d’ Yquem for $16.00 a bottle. That was in 1967…….Where have all the years gone.
Yes, I am a KWT and have a few friends who are.. we went through together, although I stuck through all the classes; most just took the basics. What a great experience!
BTW, missing from thjis list: Marco Polo Garden (and then Shangri La in Beaverton… what drama in that story!) Also, Chef DuVault’s Dinner House. What a character!
I am wanting to know the address of a mexican food restaurant called Mexico City late ’70’s and early ’80’s in southeast Portland-Milwaukie area
The only two Mexican restaurant’s that come to mind in the area you mentioned were the (third) Original Taco House on McGloughlin Boulevard (now gone and good riddance), and the original vestige of what is now the La Carreta (the cart) just southeast of 99E and Holgate. FYI, yet another forgettable venue….
So Don, the memory plays tricks on us. When i came to Portland in ’77 and was opening Belinda’s in Sellwood, some friends took us to ” the best Mexican restaurant in Portland “. It was out on SE 82 nd almost to Johnson Creek Rd. Coming from California, and San Antonio, I was not very impressed. I don’t remember the name. I know that we did not get to experience authentic Mexican food for many years, until the Mexican family places started opening in the late 80’S in Hillsboro, Woodburn, and other outlying towns. We are very lucky now to have many choices all over the area.
Are you thinking of “Tortilla Flats”? I remember our High School Spanish class going there for lunch to experience “authentic” Mexican food. I didn’t think it was all that great either, but it was the first time I ever had shredded beef tacos. It did have a great reputation back in the 70’s.
I just couldn’t pull that name out of my brain for the life of me. ” Authentic “…..yeah! What a bunch of hooey. We waited many years ( and had meals at many a Mex-Wanna-Be Place ) until finally some folks came north and brought their food with them to Hillsboro, Woodburn and eventually to Portland. I remember ( is it still there? ) we had great meals at a little place that specialized in seafood from the Pacific side of Mexico.Was it La Michoacan? it was in a strip mall with Albertson’s, east of downtown. Not sure of the name.
Could it have been a seedy little stucco place called Mexican Village? It was absolutely villainous inside, but they had excellent food and the cheapest drinks in Portland. It would have been right next to a small stucco ‘no tell motel’ of the same design.
NO MENTION OF JERRY’S GABLE UP TOWN PORTLAND IN THE 60’S?
Norm, the Slovich family were friends of mine, with both brother’s now passed. Their original eatery was not uptown, which was considered anything west of 18th. The original Gerry’s Gable’s was at the base of Broadway Drive just off SW 5th to the south of Portland State. After many years in that location, Tony and Gerry moved to house in Sellwood on SE 13th and Lambert and continued with their famous “Epicurean Feast”. The place closed as Gerry’s health deteriorated.
A pioneer in Portland dining scene. Gerry’s Gables definitely deserves remembering for those who came after or did not have the pleasure of a meal there.
I remember the huge plates on which they served their spaghetti. Such a fun place.
Yes! Loved going there in ’68/9. Great place. Great prime rib
What fun “strolling” down memory lane… Hate to say that I remember the majority of the restaurants. Dates me, huh?
Hoping someone can help me. I’ve been searching for years for Chef Chen’s Chiang Sia Chicken recipe because we moved away from Portland. It’s one of our benchmark dishes to this day. Unbelievably, we haven’t found any dish on the entire West Coast that tastes comparable, even in SF Chinatown!
Would love any help finding that recipe for personal consumption ONLY, of course.
I got married in the Riverwood Inn in Southeast. I don’t think I have ever been back – is it still open? I waited tables and bussed at Victoria Station, the Rusty Pelican, and was one of the opening waiters at Aldo’s downtown. Loved the River Queen and the model ships in HillVilla. I remember 2001 A Space Odyssey being played on the organ at the Organ Grinder. Had my share of several Portland Zoos at Farrell’s and gained a pound a visit at Roses. As a teen I had lunch with my grandfather at the Semaphore at SE. 20th and Holgate. A true working man’s cafe. I earned enough with my summer jobs to go out to dinner once a week with a girl I met in college – Ringside, Piccolo Mondo, every one of Horst Mager’s restaurants including the Little Blarney Castle up on Sandy, I believe, L’Auberge, Pendy’s on Barbur (huge salads) and the Crab Bowl. I am soooo hungry now!
ROSE CITY FLYER, anyone? I lived in Portland 1980-82, and going out to Rose City Flyer is all over my journals. Can’t find any reference online. Does anyone know where it was and when it closed?
Cannot remember when it closed but it was on Morrison street across what is I believe now the terminus for the Light Rail. Glad it is not completely lost in history. Hope you liked the food. Most likely I cooked what you ate.
Thank you for this information on Rose City Flyer! I no longer live in Portland — Morrison around what street?
Andy, Ron Spagle, City Realty, how you doing?
Contact me..
Hi Martha, I was the real estate broker that sold the business to Kim and Donna who changed the name to the Rose City Flyer.
Contact me and I will give you more info..
Dear Ron, Thanks so much for writing about Rose City Flyer. Can you tell me where it was located? Do you know when it closed? Any other information — description, menu, pics — would be great. But mostly I’m curious to recall where it was and how long it lasted. According to my old diaries, my friends and I went there frequently when I lived in Portland 1980-1982. With appreciation–
It was on the NE corner of SW Morrison and 11th across the street from the old PC&S Tavern, now an Indian restaurant.
Thanks so much, Ron–that’s exactly what I wanted to know. I appreciate you!
What about the devils’ triangle; Jake’s, Pretty Boy Floyd’s which later became Cassidy’s, and across from Jake’s, the former Desert Room… can’t recall the name, but I will!!!!
Ron
Sent from my iPad
Yen Ching on SW Morrison had the best Chinese food ever. I still miss the black pineapple pork and Singapore noodles.
Yen Ching……ah, the memories. When I moved to Portland to open Belinda’s in ’77 I read a review by Matt Kramer ( now an internationally famous wine journalist ) and he loved Yen Ching. Belinda and I went there practically every Sun. for many years. I estimate that we ate there 400 plus times! The chef was Awa, from North Vietnam and had a Chinese mother and Viet father. He was a master of the wok. They had a complete Korean menu ( not in English ) for the many Koreans who booked the banquet room for many family etc. get together s There i had was my first taste of kim chee. When our dear friend jack Hemingway ( father was Ernest ) cme to town we took him there. he remarked it was one of the best Szechuan-type menus he had tried the whole USA. He traveled constantly so we were impressed. The owners were from Hong Kong, the lease was up for renewal at a very high price, Awa bought it and moved to NW Broadway and Glisan, next to the passport place. He and his wife ran it for a few years, then one day it was empty. I believe they moved to Hawaii to be with his grown children. It is still empty…..has been 7 or 8 years now
I was first a bus boy then a line server at Perry Boy’s Smorgy. I cannot attest to it being at chain restaurant but Mr. Perry was a strong financial supporter of Warner-pacific. Worked my ass off for minimum wage I all I remember.
Yen Ching had awesome decor, too! The Chinese Food by way of a Lumberjack motif was fantastic!.
Not a mention so far of going up the long, dark stairway at 2 or 3 a.m. to Hung Far Low. Can’t say the food was great – but loved that place. Great early morning ambiance & wonderful dark, seedy bar
They had a lobster fried rice dish at Hung Far Lows’ that was excellent. My dad used to take dates there back in the…geeze, late 1930’s I think it must have been. I went there when I lived up on 5th and Hall during the late 1970’s. Nothing like walking up those scary, funky stairs late at night for some chow mein.
of all the restaurants mentioned, no one has mentioned what was probably one of the greatest around and that was NENDELS on canyon blvd. it was owned by Bob Harrington who ran the kitchen and his wife at the time, NORMA, that ran the front.
the bar was ran out of the kitchen, and there wasn’t anything on the menu that wasn’t outstanding. They also had one of the early sunday brunches.
I worked at Nendels ’64 and ’65. Bob and Norma were absolutely the best to work for. Lots of good memories!!
I just ran across this! Bob and Norma were my Grandparents. I had a lot of fun times in that place!
I may have missed them, but I haven’t noticed anything about The Timber Topper, Poor Richards, Jim Dandys, Vans Hand Out (Flying Saucer Burgers) or some of the other 50’s-60’s places. At least Jim Dandys is still out in Parkrose. And wasn’t there a place in the S.E. Area called the Coachman, or something along that line, kind of a colonial American setting?
Yes, Phil. The old time places…..amazing that any still are in business. I was not in PDX for them, but when i came in ’77 to open Belinda’s in Sellwood, some friends took us to Ye Olde Town Crier on SE Holgate. I miss it’s old fashioned American charm. The place is empty I believe, wish someone would opena customer friendly place there……a little less cool and hipsterish.
Ross,
Thanks for that “whiff of smoke in the elevator shafts of my memory”, as Jean Shepherd would say. We were newly weds in 64 and purchased a booklet with discounts at restaurants around town. I remembered Jerry’s Gables, The Timber Topper and Poor Richards, but had forgotten the name of Ye Olde Town Crier.
Phil
Just had lunch today at Jim Dandy’s on Sandy Blvd.,and it was as good as always.
Anyone remember “The Rafters” under the sellwood bridge??? .:)
Good Prime Rib.
Wasn’t there a separate room (with another name) in the Rafters (downstairs maybe?) that served Prime Rib & Yorkshire Pudding?
I think your right, too far back for old minds!
I remember going there just one time with my mother and one of her older friends. We were really looking forward to the prime rib dinner, had just been seated and were ready to order, and then Mom’s friend had a medical issue. Fortunately it didn’t turn out to be serious, but we missed dinner that night.
I remember The Rafters and the little English Mens’ club-themed sub restaurant they had there. IIRC that little sub-restaurant ended up being a discreet gay bar and meeting place. Both places had fantastic steaks!
no one has mentioned bacchus a small wine bar resturant right across from key largo in the early 80s there was 2 tables inside maybe 4 tables only service was on the weekends and did special meals good food too I was friends of a cook there
Actually a reply to Robert Volz re: Jazz de Opus and Opus 2. Sam Pishue was the owner and come to Belinda’s for his birthday dinner every year. I think it was in January. We would save the ends of french bread and steam it for him. He would always come with his lovely girlfriend. I think Sam lives in Palm Springs now.
Yes, Bacchus, and same era: Veritable Quandary. I think it was mostly a dessert place..? The place whose name I can’t recall was upstairs in Old Town, 2nd & Couch? First time I had espresso milkshake. Amazing. Bouncing off walls for a couple hours after one of those.
La Patisserie
La Patisserie?
I attempted due diligence in reading this entire thread, but don’t know if I saw these mentioned: Yankee Pot Roast, The Hickory Stick, Pigeon-Toed Orange Peel, (of course) Poncho’s, (man I loved that place) and a new addition, Leo’s Non-Smoking Cafe.
What a fantastic discussion!
I remember what I think is Poncho’s down in the Morgan’s Alley downtown? Is that the place? It had tostadas 12 in. in diameter and lettuce piled 3 inches high. On top of that, the best salsa I’ve ever had. Was it the Imperial Hotel restaurant that was next to US Bank downtown? It maybe is still there. Best strawberry pie, fresh every season.
I had a neighbor that made the chips there and he used to bring some home and give some when they were still warm.
I’ve never had such good chips or salsa since then. : )
Morgan’s Alley had one of the Ryan’s Bread Baskets sandwich shops. It was wonderful. And there was Huenan’s Chinese restaurant, they had the best twice cooked pork and sauted green beans, long before this style of food was available elsewhere in Portland.
The Imperial Hotel restaurant was called the Kings Coffee House and yes the pastry chef made the BEST pies. It was almost as if the strawberries or peaches weren’t cooked. Topping was fresh whipped cream and you had to order the day before since he made them fresh every morning at 4:00am.
Ponchos on Sandy Blvd at about 35th… best Chilli Rellenos…had another store in SW near Wilson School
Do you think those were the same as the one in Morgan’s Alley? I was at the one in Hillsdale and it didn’t seem the same. Of course, much time had passed and things change as fast as owners.
I still really miss the Ponchos on Sandy. Had gone their since the ’70s. The chile cheese poncho (I think that was the name) was my favorite dish and I still think about it. Nothing was really authentic, but it was sure good with all of that cheese and goo. And those pitchers of frothy margaritas were great! The owner retired in the late ’80s or early ’90s and her daughter took it over. Tried to make it a “healthy” Mexican food place and that killed it.
I’m so glad someone mentioned Poncho’s on Sandy! Growing up in the 70’s in the neighborhood, that was one of my family’s favorite restaurants. I remember that my parents had figured out how to feed our family of five there for ten bucks! We all ordered the same thing: beef enchilada with meat inside and out for $2 apiece. Crazy. Then, when I turned 16, I got my first real job there, working as a dishwasher.
The chips were so good. There was a huge machine in the back that they used to make them. People would sometimes come in just to pick up bags of freshly made chips.
Most of the waitresses there were ancient and had worked there for decades. And remember the decor? All those bullfighting posters and other Mexican memorabilia… I believe that in the early days they used to close the restaurant every year around Christmas and take all the employees to Mexico. Could that be right?
Such warm memories in that place. I can’t believe the unsavory history that building has had since Poncho’s left. Sounds like it might have a better future now that Chopsticks II is moving in there.
Thanks for the walk down memory lane!
Here’s the old logo!
Obie Snow (Obie’s All you can eat buffets) bought and owned the Hickory Stick for a short time in the mid 60’s. I as a teen delivered salads there made from his “Mother” restaurant out on 82 and Division.
In the 70’s the Hickory Stick Restaurants were owned by Lynn Lewis. There were 3 stores; on Washington between 9th and 10th, and 2nd Stark, sold both to Mr Cho. The store 1st & Market store l sold to Jack and Kathy Halter, who earlier I sold Barney Bagel & Susy Creamcheese in the Galleria to.
Obies on mcgloughlin was my parents place to go for sunday dinner great food for a great price. Some times they would drive to the one in kenton for something to do now the dancing bare.
If anyone finds out the recipe for that Poncho’s Tostada – the 9A – o man, I know a whole lot of people who would be happy!
Yes indeed, a whole lot of people including me.
Is this the Poncho’s that was down in Morgan’s Alley close to US Bank on Broadway? It was by Charles F Berg if I remember right. There was a Mexican restaurant close to where I worked—US Bank–40+ years ago. (yikes!) : ) They had the best tostada I’ve yet to have again in Portland. The key, to me, was the enormous pile of shredded lettuce. Then there was ground beef, shredded cheese, that’s all I can remember…except that they had a salsa they brought with chips before every entree. And it tasted amazing on the pile of shredded lettuce. Oh my gosh!!! I’m 64 and still remember it. LOL! And salt. The lettuce needed good dose of salt.
That was my husband’s favorite. He’d load it up with their hot sauce until his bald head was sweating. We went there all the time, and then one day we drove into their lot and it was out of business. We were both devastated. I haven’t had a margarita to compare since then. If anyone knows their margarita recipe, I would love to have it.
Excellent post. Anything on Tiny’s Cafe down in Kenton? I have an old keychain bottle opener from there. My Grandmother and Uncle worked there in the 60’s and early 70’s. Corner of Denver and Kilpatrick. Phone number was WE2987. 8131 N. Denver
Tiny’s Café phone number was TWinoaks 2987.
I have not read all the post, but did anyone mention Jerry’s Gables on Broadway up by 6th ave.? Great steaks. I miss the old Beef & Brew restaurants and the Stuart Anderson steak houses. Of course the high school hang outs, Tic-Tok, Yaws, & specks. What about the HI Hat on Barbur Blvd. Great Chinese food especially the peking Duck. NW Ptld used to have a couple of my old favorites too, like Henry Thiele’s, Roses, and another Chinese restaurant called the Bamboo. I also loved Chelet L’abbe in Milwaukie. Sombody mentioned Nendel’s on Canyon. They too were great. Rico’s Pizza parlor on BHH was one of my favorites too. It is still a pizza house but nothing like the good ole days. I used to work at The Original Pancake House. Still make pancakes their way, yum.. Another place on Barbur was Henry Fords. Always a good bet. I took my prom date to what today is “The Chart House on Terwilliger. Can’t remember the name of it back then. All bring back good memories.
You’re talking about the ‘Hill Villa’ as it was called back in the days that NO date was complete without “parking” on (then) isolated Terwilliger and looking over the city.
Hmmmmm; before it was the Chart House, was it Hilares??
A group of us went to The Carnival every month for about 25 years until it closed. It had the best hamburgers in town and you could put everything on them yourself. My daughter loved the giraffe high chairs when she was small. I still miss it!
NO; it was Hillvilla!!
Hillvilla!! In the 50s & 60s. Then I moved away and lost track.
Hillavilla
Friends and I used to eat at a sandwich shop downtown called something like “Vee-Mac’s” in the late 70’s. It was where I first introduced to hot meatball sandwiches…..so much better than the chain sandwich shops. I think they had two locations. Also, remember Mom bringing home bages and lox from Three Lions Bakery.
Does anyone remember the little Pizza place across Powell from Cleveland HS?
Are you talking about Denicola’s? It’s still there. My parents go there all the time.
It was Pieri’s now BC’s and card roomhis dad owned the deli on 39th and Powell
They had the best gnocchi and tortellini to take home. And the pizza- never have I had pizza like that. I wish I knew how he made it. It was unbelievable.
One of my earliest memories of dinning in Portland was Bart’s “Wharf?” on West Burnside.
Also in the 7o’s when I had my deli in Lake Oswego, Pike’s Vintage Shop, my main haunt was The Hindquarter Restaurant
To those of you that follow this interesting collection of Portland’s food bits and pieces, if you never visited Pike’s Vintage Shop in Lake Oswego, it is your loss. Tucked away on a quiet business street, almost hidden, once anyone went there they would surely pass on the word to others. Not for just the great selection of wines from all over, but delicious sandwiches and homemade soups as well.
I grew up in Portland. When my mother went to work for Ralph Nollgren in the late 50’s as hostess @ “Nollgren’s All you can eat for .99 cents” on 82nd just north of division I would on Sunday be the kid scooping ice cream for the 1000 plus guests. Obie Snow bought the place and mom became the manager for several years and I worked there til HS graduation (1966).
Places I miss include Denny Mays Prime Rib, The Speck, Yaws, Nicks Coney Island, Robins drive inn on 82nd just south of division, Couch Street Fish House, Jazz de’ Opis and Opis Too, Pals Shanty, Roakes, Mai Wai, Longhorn bar and dance club and a ton more. Moved to Reno several years ago and miss some of the days gone by.
Good read, Roake’s has become an institution that is recognized for having the best hot dogs in Portland. Today’s customers are second, third and fourth generation from those very first customers from the late 1930’s. It is amazing the number of families that have made Roake’s a family tradition.
http://www.roakesthehotdogfolks.com/about-us/
Have you ever seen the Roake’s recipe for hot dogs anywhere? I found one on the web and it had beef tamales crumbled in it, mustard, and several other things. I was a little iffy about the tamales. They are pretty far from us. I know you need a “snap” hot dog. But the topping I’ve never been able to figure out. Anyone have any luck making it?
Back in the 70s Lewis Brothers made dogs for Roakes. We also bought from Lewis for Pike’s Vintage Shop. They always sold me dogs they said are Roakes but “No” and to this day Roakes contracts out to get their secret dogs made.
You’d think some cook could analyze the secret sauce. We got some hot dogs similar to the foot long snap dogs at a butcher shop on SW Locust in Tigard. I think that’s where it was. They were good but you really needed the sauce. : )
I thought Roake’s coney sauce WAS coney sauce until I visited Michigan. The real thing is a runny meat chili. What I consider a chili dog topping. Roake’s is unique and better. If I were to make it from scratch I’d make runny grits and season them up with salt and pepper.
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Jeff…..I remember Augustine’s. It was originally opened by Rod Augustine, I believe, who is in the financial/insurance biz in Beaverton at the present time. My few days at Couch Street, before I was to be the Exec. Chef at The Odyssey in Lake Oswego, were good ones. I liked the open kitchen layout. especially the built-in bain marie, which Mager did at L’Omelette on SW Alder where I did a stint too as Exec. Chef/GM.. I loved the class and old school style of the place. I stole their best waiter Roger ( not sure of his last name ) in ’82 when I opened Belinda’s on 2 ND in downtown, where Kell’s is now. I was a customer many times at Couch Street, but I believe I was not there in 84-85. By that time I was busy as GM at Be Bop USA in Beaverton. It’s interesting to remember. i have been approached to write a book about top restaurants that have closed in Portland. We will see where that goes.If it is so the research will be a gas.
Oh the sandwiches were awesome! Thanks for that memory. 🙂
Ha, our family use to call it “wart’s barf”…but think it had okay food, though?
Anybody happen to know the name of or history regarding the Real Estate office at the corner of Portland Blvd and Interstate Avenue?
Back in the mid-60’s there was a restaurant under the West end of the Burnside Bridge, was destroyed by a bomb, probably a Portland underworld hit, I heard. Anybody have information on it?
This was the ” Silk & Satin ” restaurant/bar. The almost permanent entertainment was Georgie Hormel, of the meat packing family, playing piano . It had an elegant Gay 90’s decor of flocked wallpaper, gas lamps, etc. As far as known it’s ” mysterious explosion ” was never solved . I believe, but not sure, that this was Wilf’s first venture before moving to the Union STation location.
Nah – it was Wilf’s. Lots of “Mafia” stories about it.
Hi, was just wanting to check with you on that one. Was it actually Wolf’s at the train depot? By the Broadway bridge? I was just wondering if Wild had opened his place yet, and if he wasn’t still with Red Lion in the ’60’s?
The restaurant you are speaking of was called Silk & Satin, owned by Eddie Mays, the same Eddie Mays that owned the Prime Rib, Sandy Blvd.
Have loved this conversation. My mil designed and opened/managed the little bar at Ericksen’s on SW Barbur. It was very small. : ) My sil worked at Nendel’s and many other establishments…all good food. There was a deli in Tigard in the late 70’s…Old Oak Tree…something like that? They had sandwiches made from a special bread cut 1 inch thick, filled with 2-3 inches of meat and lettuce/tomato/mayo. They were spectacular because of the bread. It was called Russian Samovar? the owner told us. Sold in grocery stores for awhile cut like regular bread size. I have searched and searched for a recipe and have never found one. He went out of business after awhile. His name was Bob. So interesting what we all remember so many years later.
I have spent my life in SW Portland. We had a bakery in Hillsdale on Capitol Hwy that was called Sab Ikeda, then Hillsdale Pastry Shop. Could have had one other name?? They served a White German Chocolate Cake that my brother was crazy about. Ever since they closed I’ve kept my eyes open for a recipe. Also, in the summer, they made fresh strawberry and peach pie. Oh my gosh. Incredible. It had a whipped cream layer, a very delicate white cake layer, a sliced fruit layer and had glazed fruit on top with more whipped cream. I wish I could find a recipe for those pies as well. If you know of this bakery, please let me know. : ) Thank you.
There was a sandwich shop that sold grinders @ 63 & Foster.I started eating there in the mid 50s. Later in the early 70s one of the workers bought it and I would take my wife there. I cannot remember the name but their grinders were to die for. Any ideas what the name was? It was about a block from Macs Raidator.
I met my ex wife at the old Ireland’s restaurant on 6th & Washington in 1959. We got marr4ied in 1960, pretty good marriage until she ran off with the busboy in 1972. She had to wear a green uniform with shamrocks on it. Their hot crab sandwich was out of this world. My Dad took me to the Home Run Café on Hawthorne for a piece of pie back in the 40’s They served great pies.
A piece of original stationary for The Home Plate at 49th & Hawthorne has surfaced and may help identify the man in the OHS file photo of the restaurant. His first name may be Earl, and the “No Cow No Bull” was copyrighted by an E.W. Smith (possibly Earl?). It dates to 1933. The building has now been replaced and appears to have finished its’ long life under the name Sewickeley’s Home Plate or Sewickeley’s Addition. The design on the letterhead can also be seen on the building front in the OHS photo. Anyone know more about this place? Any china turning up?
I absolutely love this posting as my boyfriend and I grew up in old Lake Oswego in the sixties and seventies. We now live in Tualatin farm country. We remember these places. What about Sambo’s on State street, the first place I ate here as a kid. Does anyone remember Don Elton’s? They had the best broasted chicken sandwich, and I have tried for years to find the recipe. Also, why were our KFC restaurants called “the Speck?”
KFC was originally franchised, with the secret breading shipped out to the restaurants from Kentucky in small barrels. The Speck had the Portland franchise. My memories are of The Totem in Hazel Dell. The chicken was available for takeout but we always had it as a sit-down dinner, on china plates. Everything on the plate other than the chicken was local, but it was the chicken that everyone came for. If you word search this thread you’ll learn a lot more about The Speck.
I visited the Colonel’s original restaurant in southern Kentucky a few years ago. One of the old breading barrels was on display. The ingredient label listed MSG…which must have been why it tasted so good…
As a kid in the 50’s we would go to the “Speck” drive-in on 43rd and Foster/Powell, the Speck burger was the best and a real treat was to have a chocolate shake with fries to go with it. Remember going on a double date there at 16 while driving the folks White Elephant (60 mercury 4 door and butt ugly) had trouble getting the tank squarely parked in the drive up and feeling like a bozo. Married the young lady a few years later as it turned out.
Mike Evans
Hoping i don’t come across as rude but the Speck was at 52nd and Powell/ Foster
I used to go to Speck when I lived on 52nd and Insley. Gravy and french fries was our standard order. It seemed that it was located where Powell changed to a V and went straight and Foster angled to the right if you were heading away from town. (Am geographically challenged so…???my info may be suspect : )
my grandma worked there making the coleslaw.it was the speck using kfc recipes.if I remember right a mr. hanks owned it and when he sold it it turned into a kfc,
Absolutely correct…the ‘white’ gravy and fries (later curly fries were offered), were to die for. I also had the Jones for their Po’Boy!
The Don Elton in Oswego was very unique. Upstairs in a brick building which is no longer there. The Don Elton sandwich was Delicious. I wish I could remember what was in it. Crab meat and a sauce I think.
Tatiana, do you remember a Chinese restaurant near Wizers? I think it was called Chows. They had the best and biggest and freshest egg rolls ever, although a bit greasy.
I wish I could help you! I worked as a dishwasher there in my first job (other than paperboy, but the closest I got to food prep was peeling potatoes. The cooks at the Don Elton were very cool people in my 15-year-old’s eyes. Unfortunately I only recall one full name– John Hurst (or Hearst). I’ll bet he would know.
Oh, there was also the Organ Grinder pizza place with huge pipe organ. I think it was on 82nd?
Jonas Nordwall Organist and now organist at FUMC…he built that organ, and I remember many a film put to that organ music 🙂
The sauce was easy but it made me eat 15 or 20 burgers at a time…………..WOW!
Whiz Burger’s(secret) Sauce
Best Foods/Hellman’s mayomaise
Dill pickle juice
French’s yellow mustard
It only contained these three ingredients.
To make put a measure of mayo in a bowl. Add mustard to color. add a small amount of dill
pickle juice. adjust mustard and dill pickle juice to taste. That is how they did it then
and the only way I know. That’s it.
I just ran across this site while looking for info on John’s Meat Market…one of my husband’s and my favorite restaurants back in the day. We grew up in McMinnville so came into the big city occiasionally and then moved here in 1968. I have to say we have eaten at the majority of restaurants listed and miss many of them. Great memories. Thanks to all who have contributed. Not sure if anyone mentioned Stanich’s on Fremont. It was the best before they remodeled and was just hole in the wall.
I was a waiter/seafood grille server at ‘Rusty Pelican’ (lost relic on the Willamette), and later a sommelier at the London Grille at the Benson. Though the Pelican has been LONG gone, I still can’t believe that the London G. has left…… Westin took it over and closed it down. Not necessary.
I worked at the Benson under Chef Bauser. You may remember me. I was probably a night line cook at the time when you became sommelier. Where you the one that trained Mike McKnight?
What a sad day for the Historic Landmark when they closed the Grill. It had been the London Grill since the 20’s. By the way it is West Coast Hotels that own and operate the Benson Hotel since the mid 80’s. Westin was the managing company when Coast purchased the property.
I worked there off and on for over 25 years and was the Exec Chef 2006-2008.
Scott Kushner
Both you guys are spot on, and the London Grill was “THE” restaurant for fine dinning in town. We grew up in downtown, my mother’s van Dynn’s was next to Portland Cutlery just south of the Benson on Alder & Broadway. To this day I will tell anybody about the business man’s buffet just off the bar. Unbelievable quality and selection.
Actually Scott, Mike trained me. So many great personalities working together at the London Grill those days, but can only remember the busser ‘Tracy’ (he could moonwalk like nobody’s business), and ‘Shake’ the personable waiter that tableside grilled the best pepper steak in the area.
Sunday brunch,lamb chops and the ‘Wong waiter’
Any info on the Three Star on Barbour Blvd > … original owners were Vic and Ockey Harris B – then Nate Zusman, of downtowns’ notorious nightclub The Desert Room. Was the 3 Star a club or a chinese resturant – or both or not ? Some confusion on my part. I know that PDX TV personality Stu Martin booked acts at the 3Star sometimes, and that PDX singer Don Lewis recorded a live album there. I’m researching Nate Zusman for a writing project and would appreciate any thoughts, memories, pix or input. Thanx!
Tagging on since I can’t find where to start a new thread. My parents went to the 3 Star on Barbur frequently. (in the fifties) and also the Turquoise Room, lower level. There was a great deli in Hillsdale called Haffner’s Delicatessen. Oh my gosh, the most heavenly pastrami sandwiches this side of NYC. Just amazing. Sadly he closed too. I did hear he went into catering only. But he was a lovely man and cooked like a dream. The other thing I remember from my high school days is a Farmer’s Market a few blocks from Meier & Frank. They had the greatest fruit in the fall–crisp green newton pippin that hard to find these days. And lots of sweet little ladies with their shopping carts stocking up for the week. : )
Farmers Market onfourthbstreet. Stopped and picked up chickens there. Went home and singed it, pulled pin feathers. Mother did this often.
We shopped at Meier Frank. My prom dress came from Bergs, a dollar cheaper.
Ate at Red Coach on Yamhill between fifth and fourth.
Lip man Tea Room,
Monte Cristo, no powdered sugar in those days. Fruit cup. Pink champagne sherbert. We split sandwich.
I loved the Red Coach. Best french fries. Very thin. Also up and around the corner, maybe on 2nd or 3rd–Elephant & Castle. Loved their fish and chips. : )
Loved E&C fish and chips. Darts. Downtown had lots of neat places. Owl Drugstore, treat Lemon coke 5cents before taking trolley home. Also Oregon did not have laws against children in bars. Grandpa walked me to Wooden Shoe, he had one beer, I had nickel coke. Before I was school age.
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So nice to remember all these old places.
The Red Coach was on Morrison. I worked in the Corbett building 430 Morrison and the Red Coach was on the same block.
I too, Deb, have a time following threads here, but speaking of sandwiches, the Stormin’ Norman at Produce Row was on a buttered, toasted roll with gobs of melted cheese over sautéed’ vegetables, onions, red bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, best sandwich I’ve ever had in its class.
Makes me hungry just reading your description. : )
In my humble opinion, they’re signature sandwich.
My favorite sandwhich from there. Wish the brothers would have taken that sanwhich with them.
Who was the short guy used to work there?
Stormin’ Norman was a triple cheese…I duplicated that and make it at home to this day…
when yaws,tic tok and thes speck was around there was a drive-in on n.e 82nd.can’t remember the name kings,xxx ?anyway they had carhops and good burgers
XXX on Sandy Blvd. it is a diner now. Burgers and rootbeer. Nmini mugs for little kids. A bit pricy and my dad did not like to eat in car.messy, Mother always said burgers did not become popular until war time. Mother ate lots of barbecue sandwiches. Plus she went dancing at Lotus Island. Virginia Cafe-hamnwuthradian sauce, fried crab legs. Folks date night dinner out. Plus they made double crusted pineapple pie. Strong drinks. No happy hour. Just free snacks on Friday
nights at some bars.
Christma Eve free prime rib sandwiches with drinks in lobby at Benson Hotel in 1969. Four hot buttered rums before us girls from the office sent home. At least we ate good.
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Rutherford’s Triple X, later A & M root beer.
What about the
Little Brown Jug on sandy and the Mt. Hood Cafe on division.
I wouldn’t let my parents drive past the whiz burger on powell as a kid and it became the hang-out for Cleveland high school
Drive-in named “Robins” a block south of Division on 82nd had great burgers and my girlfriend and I really liked their fish and chips. The tartar sauce was the best I’ve ever had to this day, we started going there in the mid 60’s. My mother was the manager at Obie’s restaurant a few blocks north of there for several years and I also worked for Obie going through HS.
Rutherford’s XXX ??
That sounds familiar. Thinkitbwill was the one on Sandy about fifty something. My family was stuck on Yaws. I lived waffle and green river. Custard and chess pies were favorites. Too bad the kids ruined i. Original Coney Island in SW Washington between 11&12.
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I was wrong on the Rutherford’s XXX comment. I do remember the Drive-In at 82nd and Division but I don’t remember the name being Robin’s.
Kings drive in, mom used to take us there in her 65 Valiant convertible. Vivid memories of warm summer nights and the car hops. Located on 82nd near Sandy blvd, now a McDonalds, across from the Original Taco House. Great fry sauce and burgers.
Sorry Andrew but Kings was way south of McDonalds and they both were open at the same time. Kings was down 82nd between Wasco and Holliday next to Pappys. I hung out at both places 1968-70. I can’t remember what year they closed but it was there in the 80’s.
Sorry Andrew but Kings was way south of there. It was between Wasco and Holliday on 82nd. Next to Pappys. I hung out at both of them while in high school 1965-69.
Thank you all for the great memories. Fantastic restaurants being named. Read every post. Wanted to mention there was a Little King in the Hollywood District in the 1970’s in strip mall next to where Baskin-Robbins is now. Went there for lunch during H.S. at Grant. Also no one here mentioned Boc’s Burgers…(on NE 39th) one of my favorites. I always enjoyed the burger on the long french loaf that had dill pickles…not sure what kind of sauce they used but I really miss it.
There was something so different about Little King’s sandwiches when you tasted them that I’ve not found since that time. They looked like a normal sub sandwich. The bread? Shredded lettuce was good. I know they had all the combos pre-made and they’d just whip them out of the frig and your sandwich would be ready. I always had a number 12. Memories are such a fascinating thing. I can remember the darnedest things but sometimes I can’t remember last week. LOL!!
Thank you all for the great memories. Fantastic restaurants being named. Read every post. Wanted to mention there was a Little King in the Hollywood District in the 1970’s in strip mall next to where Baskin-Robbins is now. Went there for lunch during H.S. at Grant. Also no one here mentioned Boc’s Burgers…(on NE 37th) one of my favorites. I always enjoyed the burger on the long french loaf that had dill pickles…not sure what kind of sauce they used but I really miss it.
Which Dawn?
I frequented the LIttle King’s down at Portland Center? on SW 4th Ave. Also one downtown on about 11th or 12th that was close to where I worked. I have to say I’ve never had a sandwich like that again in Portland. I wish I knew how they made them.
Little King was the BEST! I was dating a new guy when I was 19 years old and I recall ordering the one with a bunch of Italian meats; Prosciutto, genoa salami, dry salami, coppa, ham and provolone….I think. Sometimes we’d go twice in a day! That was the first time I’d gained weight without getting taller!
I think a lot of the greatness was in the bread. Does anyone know who provided it?
I think the sub you describe was a #12 OR 13. That was my favorite too. It could definitely be the bread which was excellent!!!! Such good memories.
I went to the Museum Art School in the early 70s and the Safeway behind the museum school offered a delicious herb bread that was my first experience with what I later came to recognize as a Croissant dough. They just called the buttery, layered loaf, Herb Bread. So good!
I also went to Pieri’s Italian Deli on Powell (?) for the salami and black olive pizza. I think the tiny, dirty pizza oven with all the burned bits piled up on the bottom made the unique taste we all remember; that slight smokiness and the Pepperoncini juice they drizzled on top was just a match made in heaven! After they moved and probably upgraded to a new oven, it was never as good. Didn’t it they cut the round pizza into squares instead of triangles?
Hi! Love this blog! I was born in ’69, grew up near Grant, but remember going to several of these places and hearing stories about some of the others.
Does anyone remember Jade West? My grandfather, Norm Swanson, would take me there often. He also took me to Poor Richards, Yale, the Matterhorn, Henry Theiles, Sweet Tibby Dunbar, The Carnival.
My great-aunts would take me to both the downtown and Lloyd Center Meier and Frank for white glove lunches and the Cinnamon Bear Breakfast at Lippmann. Also, The Broiler off 102/Glisan.
Dairy Queen… My family would go to Lincoln City a lot and the DQ in Newberg was a mandatory stop for tater tots and floats.
As I grew up I loved Jazz d’ Opus and Parchman Farm.
It was Ireland’s before Sweet tubby Dunbar. Jade West maybe once. Poor Richards only if Country Kitchen was too busy. Original Elmers first thing .i wanted when got off the plane for mother in law funeral. Buckwheats were favorite. Dad worked on Mr.Elmers car. Wallace Buick. Alberta Bakery for custard filled danish(snails). Lemon cupcakes. Helen Berhard for cheese rolls. No longer very good. Wedding cake from Boheiem Bakery. Salt sticks were severed. Littl Boy Blue, fish, mashed potatoes and jello was child’s plate. It was great. Lip mans had a coffee shop on mezazine. Tea room did Monte Cristo-No Powdered Sugar. I always tell them to leave off. Yaws, waffle abd green river. Getting hungry. Lido but never MinteCristo. Grant class ’61 Marcia
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Marcia, The salt sticks were from the Bohemian Bakery, right? I thought there was one in NW Portland that we went to in or near the Fred Meyer? Never have seen the salt sticks since but I loved them! : )
At the time you referring to, jade West had the largest menu in town featuring four Chinese regions.
I was also born in ’69 and grew up near Grant. Ain’t this blog a blast?
I seem to remember there being a DQ on Broadway about where the Fred Meyer is now. Is that right? That was the one that I would always pester my dad to stop at on the way home from, well, just about anywhere. For me it was usually just a dipped cone. But if I had been really good, I would sometimes talk my way into a banana split. Yum!
Of course, for special occasions, we would venture down to Farrell’s and really live it up!
I absolutely love having my memories of Portland reawakened through this stream. I am still waiting for someone to share the broasted chicken sandwich recipe from Don Elton’s in Lake Oswego. That yummy dish has lingered in my mind for decades!
Has anyone mentioned my favorites, The Buttermilk Corner, Dave ‘s Deli (old location), & the great Italian restaurant next door to the Monte Carlo?
Was the restaurant next to Monte Carlo called Lido? If so, my hub and I went there many times. We’d get minestrone soup to take home. They sold it by the quart. They had the best gnocchi you could ever want. Along with toasty french bread. A sad loss when they left the business.
Both restaurants and the produce warehouse all burned down….the entire block. The lot became the home to the Belmont Goats.
Steve, thanks for the info on Lido. I vaguely remember a large fire over in that area years ago but didn’t realize all that was lost. There are several Italian restaurants in town but none have that old school taste like my husband’s grandmother made. Delicious.
Best ravioli I have ever eaten. The Lido sure beat the frozen Costco ravioli! I miss that place.
Janis-the Lido and the Monte Carlo were conjoined and unfortunately all was lost in a huge fire….including the produce business that shared their covered parking. That vacant two block lot became home to the BELMONT GOATS for about four years.
Eddie May’s Prime Rib has been mentioned a few times on here, along with Tillie’s, his Mexican restaurant at Morgan’s Alley named after his wife. I’m wondering if there might be someone on here that worked for him at any of his places? I worked at the Prime Rib West in Beaverton, then Prime Rib East on Sandy. My brother worked at several of his places, Inn at Spanish Head, Hood River Inn, Davies Locker on Broadway, his motel / restaurant on East Burnside, and the commissary, the main kitchen on SE Powell where they made all the salad dressings, BBQ sauces, his laundry and bakery. His Gourmet salad dressing was the best. A Blue Cheese base with horseradish added. I have his entire book of recipes. I was the carver at Beaverton, Sandy Blvd and Salem. And making the Yorkshire Pudding by the hundreds every night. The fresh Strawberry Pie was killer. Oh, and the parmesan garlic cocktail rye that came prior to every meal.
When my folks date it was coon chicken inn, prior to 1939. I only remember as Prime Rib in 1970. Forgot all about Davies Locker, guess we did not go there. Loved d Nendels, Henry Fords, Johns Meat Market. Last winter went out to Tebo’s. – the old Gene and Joe’s on McLoighlin Blvd. burger still great. Pies wonderful.
Meier Frank Chocolate Lounge. Had to wait till I went to work before got a summer girl. Wish somebody knew recipe for their coffee flake ice cream. Best stuff in town.
Timber Topper had a wine pairing menu, did not like wine but food was very good.
Miss the really good places we had. Hate paying restaurant prices at food carts with no service. Want to have nice places and reason to get dressed up to go out for dinner.
Been here almost 72years. Mother worked M&F 1922-1942. Got so many stories from her.
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I loved that Blue Cheese Dressing and tried to approximate it, but since it was years later when living in California, I’m not sure my memory served me well. Can you share that recipe? I hope my employees from the 3 cafes I had in California over the last 25 years will recall our days with fondness. Food Service employees are a breed unto themselves! I’m retired now and back in Portland and I’m thrilled to find this site!
Hi Susan. I will start searching my files for the Gourmet Salad dressings. I remember the base was Mayo, butter milk, blue cheese, horseradish, red wine vinegar, and many spices. We made it in a container, about the size of a large 32 gallon garbage can. That amount would last about 4-5 days. And, that was per each restaurant location.
Oh my gosh, I never really thought I’d get a recipe for that dressing, no matter what the size of the batch! How wonderful!
Bart…you mentioned you had an entire book of recipes from Eddie Mays….what is the name of it…Prime Rib & Davies(Davy’s) Locker were my 2 favorites…and I collect cookbooks…Thanks
Hello Jan. I worked for Eddie Mays for many years, starting at Prime Rib West in Beaverton, then Prime Rib East on Sandy Blvd, Prime Rib Salem, and more. My brother helped open Hood River Inn, Spanish Head Inn and others. He also worked in the main kitchen on SE Powell, a few blocks east of Cleveland High School. That is where they made all of the pies, salad dressings and others items that were common at many of the restaurants. The cookbook I referred to isn’t really a cookbook per se, it’s more like a 3-ring binder with typed and hand written recipes and notes. In those days, the menu was very small. Prime Rib, 3 steaks, salmon and lobster. And of course the creamed spinach, Yorkshire pudding and the famous Gourmet Salad dressing. (That dressing was a Blue Cheese base with Horseradish and many spices. I will dig it out, amongst my many cookbooks. BTW, I started out as a dishwasher, then eventually ending up as the head carver. Besides carving the Prime Rib table-side, I taught many others the art of carving a Prime Rib, to the ounce….without using a scale.
Thanks for the “memories” & recipe base…
Im a great blue/roquefort cheese salad dressing lover and would Love to try this variation please and thank you. Maybe this is the start of a lost oregon restaurant recipes online book dedicated to portland and surrounds restaurants.
Bart, if you are still following this thread both my (92 y/o) mother and I worked for Eddie May’s at the Prime Rib West and several other spots back in the day. Frank Leonetti was a true chef who made magic with those ribs every day of his life. I got to scrape the salted remains of the ribs out of the pans daily and have never had better food than that.
Who is your mom ? I started working there (Prime Rib West) in May 1968, and stayed until the closing night. That was about 1972. Then I went to Prime Rib East, along with Millie Lamb. Frank Leonetti retired. Do you remember Evelyn, the French waitress, Lila, the hostess, waiters Bob Girard, or Dean Olsen, What about Brian and George Green who worked in the kitchen ? Ann, (Annie), one of the bartenders, and Bev, another bartender.
All right you guys and gals…anybody ever go dancing (and listening) at the “Up-the-Down-Staircase” next to Geneva’s on Union? Oops sorry, it’s ML K now. Eat BBQ in a “gentrified” area at North Williams and Cook? The original Doris’s, the Cleo-Lillian Social Club. Further up on Alberta was Bosses (Boss Pit) BBQ. Doubt if those from the suburbs roamed this area (especially at night), but the best friggin BBQ in town. Fifty-point toss up: The Texan, Cotton Club, Players…okay, how about the name of the pit at 33rd off Alberta?
Steve, I believe Up the Down Staircase was downtown Portland on SW 4th? or somewhere just NE of old M&F.
OK Mr Smarty Pants – what was the name of the dangerous bar just North up the street from the Ebony Inn on Union Ave? Haha…………
Does anyone remember the name of the restaurant up by the park blocks where the cook used to sing opera on occasion during the middle of dinner?
Vat&Teicher ?
Vat & Tonsure…
Ummm right you are…it wasn’t a barber shop – my bad…
The Vat & Tonsure ( a tonsure is the shaved bald spot on the top of the head of certain monks ) was owned by Mike. He held court at the bar every evening with a beer or glass of wine in hand. Sometimes he was generally jovial but could also be irascible and off-putting. Eventually it took a toll on him ( he was not that old) and on his death bed he married his partner in the place, Rosemary. A good cook from French Canada I believe. She made the same menu for many years without any change : Cornish game hen, lamb chops, beef stew…..the rest i do not recall. She would cook her stew in an enormous hand-hammered tin lined, copper sauce pot from a famous 200 yr. old kitchen store in Paris. Every summer the two of them would take 6 weeks off and go to Austria and Paris. ( Mike was from Austria) On one of their trips I had them buy 2 of the copper pots…..one smaller. Several copper casseroles, and small 24 oz. sauce pans to use in an expansion of Belinda’s Restaurant that we had in Sellwood. I still have most of the copper as the project never happened as I planned I think it was on SW Park south of Nordstom’s and next to Hamburger Mary’s…..which was a pretty good eating spot itself..A PDX franchise of a national chain it opened in the 70’S and closed in 2001. reopened in 2011 for a brief 2 year run before closing again. The same thing happened to the Vat&Tonsure. I heard that the rent was raised too high for their new location that was just 1/2 block away on SW Taylor…….a Pastini Pastaria is open there today. NOTE* It is curious that I am able to remember most of the goings-on in the restaurants of old.
The V&T was the first place I ever had old school espresso in the stovetop aluminum pot! I was a sophomore at Univ of Portland and went with a frat brother from Sigma Tau Omega. Pretty damn exotic in 1981…lol. It was behind the Fox theatre,next to Hamburger Marys. Funky high ceilinged place. Ran into Bud Clark during his mayoral time. That block was one of the last to survive from my childhood. Used to go up the street to Virginia Cafe for the burgers,fries and 2x daily happy hours!! Ah,the good old days
Ross-I must have dinned and drank wine over a hundred times at Vat & tonsure, in both locations. Often the small plates and a bottle of vino would be my evenings repast, but, oh those Cornish hens….I miss the venue Rosemary, and of course Mike.
That restaurant was truly a key component to the downtown scene and was the closest thing to a true bistro in Portland’s unique history.
Ross, I was a local unit manager for a GoodYear Tire commercial in the ’80s. The Director was Tibor Hersch a well known commercial Director from New York. I was to arrange lunch one day so I chose Vat and Tonsure because Rosemary made an amazing Hungarian Goulash, Tiibor’s favorite dish. I was warned it had better be the real thing by the production manager for Hersch’s company. Tibor LOVED the Goulash and as much, the atmosphere.
PS> one administrative thing, would it be possible to reverse these posts so the latest was at the top? Would be convenient and scrolling down would be like digging into the history of the blogs. Just a thought.
I wonder how many people know the final Story of the V&T……..?
I remember the Vat & Tonsure on SW Park. Quiet little kinda artsy, or “intelligent” (?) feeling place but not pretentious. Don’t know the story on the demise though.
The tenants of that block – V & T, Hamburger Mary’s, et al – were evicted so the Fox Tower movie complex could be built. The owners of the V & T (which, at that time, had the most sophisticated wine “cellar” in PDX) didn’t find another place for, maybe, 20 years. He died and she, a Canadian, had never gotten US citizenship – and they’d never married, until shortly before his death – finally opened the V & T in a new downtown location. The INS then decided to deport her, and that was the end of a Portland institution.
Never ate at Steamers. As for Yaws the nut does not fall from the tree. Tried it, terrible. No waffle and green river. Benson had free prime rib sandwich in lobby on Christmas Eve 1969,when you bought a drink. Four hott buttered rums, four sandwiches. Us girls had a good time. Lived Bart’s on NW burnside. Great burgers. Paul Fishers chocolate rum cake. Also this was served at Hill Villa. He had bakery at NW Fred Meyer store. Mither made his boxes when he was at Meier Frank. Drank Scorpions at KonTiki. Does anyone remember Bergs Chalet, Town Crier, Hilaires, Mannings?
Hi Marcia,
My dad bought the Mannings on tenth and Morrison when I was a little girl, around 1970 or so, and ran it for several years as a cafeteria under the name Barry Alan’s. He used a lot of the Mannings recipes and staff also. 99 cent breakfasts, and fresh carved turkey, ham, and roast beef every day. He didn’t know when he bought it that Rhodes Dept. store across the street, bread and butter customers for lunch, was slated to close soon and become Galleria. There was also the Mannings in Lloyd Center, downstairs by the ice rink.
Cheers, Susan
Susan, Do you remember how your father made the hamburgers? My friends and I loved them and I admit even now I remember their taste. It was not your usual run of the mill hamburger. Loved Mannings.
Hi Deb,
I’m glad you liked the hamburgers, did you go to the 10th and Morrison Mannings when it was Barry Alan’s too? I don’t know about the exact hamburger recipe, but my Dad definitely believed in toasting buttered hamburger and hot dog buns on the grill, and liked to top burgers with grilled onions too. We’re from Boston, and Dad often talked about how the hamburger with lettuce, tomato, pickles, mayonnaise, thousand island dressing, etc., was called a “California burger” back east. We preferred the simple Boston style, toasted bun, onions, maybe cheese or ketchup, that’s it.
Cheers, Susan
Hi Susan, I don’t remember onions but that doesn’t mean there weren’t any. : ) We may have been in the one downtown, too. Heaven knows we’d travel all over for one of those Mannings burgers. : ) The toasted bun made a huge difference to us and it did have shredded lettuce, I’m thinking. But again, a long time ago. They’d set them out ready to go by the grill and I just wanted to load up my plate with all of them. LOL. Really cool to chat with you here about something from so long ago for me. Yet parts of that memory, taste, where to pick up the burgers…those memories are still crystal clear. Their true beauty was in their simplicity.
To this day I hate a plain bun. Always must be toasted. Light mayo. No such thing as cheese burgers in 1950. 72 tomorrow.
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Does anyone remember the wonderful, but short lived, Paisley’s? It was in the building which now houses Paley’s, I believe. I have the 1987 Easter Brunch menu in front of me now. Absolutely amazing.
Champagne, OJ, Gruyere/chive bagels, Montrachet & cream Cheese with smoked salmon……Souffle of roast lamb Italian plum tomatoes & fresh marjoram cold marinated asparagus & red pepper brown rice pancakes with port-sautéed mushrooms….babas au rhum
fresh fruit coffee
AND $25 PER COUPLE RESERVATIONS ONLY
does
I did not until your post. I worked downtown Portland for many years and my lunch favs were Irelands in the Commonwealth Bldg., The Hickery Stick in the Pittlock Block and Daves Deli. Wish I had Daves recipe for the cabbage soup. I also remember Ponchos (sp) on Sandy Blvd. The very best Mexican.
Such fun to remember all these past places.
My ex wife worked at Ireland’s from 1957 to 1972
Mr. Ireland had such “interesting” combinations, meat loaf sand with cucumbers, carmel lemon pie etc.
I surely must have chatted with your x. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ireland worked cleaning tables. Two very short people. Amazing I can still remember at my age.
My ex’s name was Karen. Betty was the hostess and Cliff cooked there for years. One thing I remember was the hot crab sandwich. DELICIOUS!
Does anyone remember the tiny wine bar on NW First or Second just off Burnside, run by an old guy named Joe who had lived in France for many years? I think it closed in the late 1980’s.
Basshus Wine bar. And Joe was quite a character. He mainly opened it to be ‘On Stage’. I do not think making money had anything to do with it.
Never went but saw oi. Called Baccus for God of wine.
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It was called Bacchus, named after the roman wine god. I was 18, not old enough to go in there but was able to pull it off because they didn’t expect an 18 year old to go to a serious wine bar Maybe the French owner didn’t care that much about age since in France, if you can see over the bar….
Does anybody remember Rutherford’s XXX at 62nd and Sandy Blvd? I would ride my bike from Rose City Park grade school to have lunch there in the 1950’s
Yes. Rare treat. We always went to Yaws. Little mugs for little kids. Tick Tock where Sandy and Burnside crossed.
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Always wondered what happened to Bobby Lee and Julie that had Rickashaw Charlie’s in Old Town. Best Chinese food EVER!! He got sent to the “big house” for dealing drugs with Mayor
Penny Harrington’s husband, Gary.
Ooph, Penny was Chief of Police, NOT mayor
I don’t get out much, but I think the restaurants from the ’70 and ’80 eras were VERY good. We had so much fun at Victoria Station sitting in the box car and nearly drunk before we got our
dinner. All of Horst’s 6? restaurants were just excellent…then all the other mentioned too.Like the Kitchen kettle for Armenian food, Sayler’s steak house across the street is still good. FOr
whatever reason, people get tired of the 24/7 demands of the restaurant trade, so enjoy them
while you can! Yeah, I think the Same guy Owned Earth Quake Ethels and the Organ Orinder?
Not sure, but I had heard that. There will never be another Earth Quake Ethels, had to be ONE
of a kind!!
My dad and I were going through old photos when he found these two which prompted me to search Google and I found this thread. http://m.imgur.com/a/27WpM
He says this is Bob Marks standing outside and the other photo is I believe of Ross at crew chow? I remember coming to a crew chow when I was around 7 or 8 years old. I have a memory of being envious of the Blazers cup Ross was drinking from. My dad’s name is Gordon and was from Australia.
Awesome pic – thanks for posting, Tim!
To J Chilson I really enjoy being a part of your great website,lostoregon.org,, about past Oregon restaurants. Of course, Belinda’s played a big part in that past for a short 7 years. When the photos of Bob marks, my head waiter, standing outside the restaurant………plus the photo of me and the staff at our daily ‘crew chow’ get-together really brought back the memories. I did not have any crew chow photos. Now that I an a ‘Vintage Chef’ I wanted to share what I am doing now. The link and video will explain: http://igg.me/at/Chef-Ross
Thanks, Ross Pullen
Hello Tim!
You do not know how much these candid photos mean to me and Belinda. We didn’t all have a camera handy in those days and many really fun and exciting events……plus the ordinary ones too, are lost forever. I am soon to launch in a week or so : ‘A Vintage Chef’s Next Food Adventure’ on Indiegogo ( yolksonus.com ). There you can find the next chapter of the Belinda’s saga……which was never really gone from the horizon.
Thank you again so much. Ross Pullen….. ross@rosspullen.com
rosspullen.com> ‘Stories and Glories in Word and Rhyme’
I can’t find an address or picture of belindas in sellwood. im pretty sure i ate there.
Hi Tim,
I did not mention on my first reply to Lost Oregon that I remember your Dad Gordon. Wasn’t he a waiter for us at Belinda’s for a time? We always had an open door policy for friends and family at crew chow,4:30 daily,-especially on birthdays where I liked to have a cake and candles to celebrate the day. Thanks again for the memory. Ross :Pullen
Yes he was a waiter. He also worked at pier 101 for a while. Glad you enjoyed the photos. I’m an old friend of Bob’s daughter Neena so I shared them with her as well on facebook and he got to see them.
I love the memories.Our employees who worked at Belinda’s over the years were always ‘family’. Thanks again.
Steve Gramstad here Ross- Do you remember that (theme) restaurant down around SW 2nd (Ash maybe) where the waitresses dressed as Medieval trollops and roasted foods were brought on platters, and the tossing of bones was encouraged? Was it the Medieval Inn?
Steve…Tim again. It was the Medieval Inn. Had a frat dinner there in college-University of Portland Sigma Tau Omega. What an over the top place! Singing bawdy songs and throwing bones in the fireplace. Heaven for a college Sophomore guy in 1980! Hahaaa
Steve……you mean The Medieval Inn? The two women,owners of the Bijou Cafe in the next block which is still there, used to come to Belinda’s in Sellwood for dinner on Tuesday evenings. I think they lived in the area. http://bijoucafepdx.com/
Bonnie and Cathy. They actually were my first employers. Washing dishes on weekends. Miserable and low paid but I got free food (Ernie’s potatoes were my favorite). The worst part was being sexually harassed by some of the pervy old waiters. Mostly just grab ass and suggestive comments but at 14 years old I hadn’t really learned how to handle that stuff. They also stiffed the kitchen staff regularly. I’m sure my sarcastic comments upon being handed 1 dollar for my efforts didn’t help. First and last restaurant job I ever had. At least it was memorable.
Hi Tim, I was working the kitchen at Wilf’s at Union Station in late 80’s and there was a new maitre’d (sp?) Gordon for a spell, Aussie accent. I was working on a special authentic Italian Night menu at the time. Ask him if he was at Wilf’s then, probably 1987-88?
Hey Dave. That sounds like my dad but he and my step mom Kathy moved to LA in the early 80s. I also don’t recall him working at Wilf’s but that doesn’t mean he didn’t. I owe him a phone call so I will check in with him and see what he says.
I asked earlier on this site, but I don’t see my posting. Does anyone KNOW what happened to Bobby and Julie Lee that owned Rickashaw Charlie’s Chinese restaurant in Old Town? He was sent to prison for dealing drugs with Gary Harrington, Penny Harrington’s husband.
I remember the Silk Hat Chinese restaurant on “Union Ave” now MLK JR. Blvd….. Could get a carton of Pork Fried Rice for 1.50!
I think REAL Chinese food was just the best in all of Portland during the l950’s. I’d sure like to know what happened to Bobby and Julie Lee, though. They owned Rickshaw Charlies in Old Town and were just the nicest people, but unfortunately, he got mixed up in drug dealing.
Maybe someone out there knows where they are now.
After the drug bust the reader board read “Pepsi and R.C. Here, no coke”
Ha Ha….Julie was really pretty and so nice…an excellent waitress. I hated to see all of that fall apart because of Bobby’s drug scandal. Rickshaws had the BEST Chinese food ever….
Actually, after reading my post the sign read “Pepsi & RC , No coke here”
I used to date a waitress from there,Sandy, The last time i saw him he was smoking a cigarette in front of a halfway house in north Portland years ago
Anyone remember “Manning’s Cafe”, there was one in downtown Portland and one at the Lloyd Center……….. It was set up cafereria style.
Absolutely I remember! My mom worked at Gordon’s Fireplace Shoppe in Lloyd Center for 26 years until he moved and ate at Mannings at least 3x a week. I’d stop by after school from Benson High in the early 70s and Mannings had THE BEST CUSTARD EVER!!lol…loved their food. So homey…and sitting by the Ice Rink was extra special. I distinctly remember having a celebratory dinner with my mom and grandmother upon 8th grade graduation and getting a Seiko wristwatch. In 1974 it was a huge deal. I sure miss Mannings and the gals in hairnets that were dolls!!!
Tim-My mother Violet Gramstad managed the van Dynns at Lloyd Center, and we lunched many times at Manning’s.
Hey Steve. I’m sure your mom knew my mom as after Mannings mom would stop by either Van Duyn’s or Morrows! She would always get soft center chocolates,ususlly 2 or 3,and really enjoy as her dessert. Seems I didn’t stray far either as Van Duyn soft centered chocolates were THE BEST!. What great memories!
Best thing about NENDELS was the fried chicken. As it happens “The Mark”, which is the restaurant in the Shilo (old Nendels) has brought back the original fried chicken, using original Nendel’s cast iron pans. It’s made to order so expect about 30 minutes wait.
I worked downtown for 30+ years and believe visited all the mentioned places. My favorites for lunch were The Hickory Stick in the Pittock Block, Irelands in the Commonwealth Bldg. and Daves Deli had the best cabbage soup anywhere. Wish I had the recipe.
Crepe Faire, both locations. The first one in Old Town and was in a space with Blume, a coffee.stash tea shop and a antique store in the far back. The far back was also a women’s clothing store.
The second Crepe Faire in the Hazleton building. More up scale and included a Bistro. Scotty made the Bistro shine and beamed me up many of times.
I worked at both locations for a total of eight years. Hank and Helen were awesome owners and treated everyone like family. Wish they would have never opened 333. It was hard on them on sure. Tough business.
Those Crepe Faire recipes are still ingrained in my head and I could recite them to this day. Spinach and Mushroom Gateau with Mornay sauce, Chicken with Veloute sauce, Janie’s Country White Bread, Poached Scallops.
and…my hards still can handle making the Crepes themselves in old school cast iron pans wth NO handle guards. Which I’m sure would be considered a labor offense these days.
That is the recipe I Loved!!! Spinach and mushroom gateau with the normative sauce!!!!
Don and Maria were the owners of Chucks
Crepe Faire. Both Locations. Spinach and Mushroom Gateau with Mornay Sauce was the choice of many of vegetarian. Poached Chicken with Veloute sauce, Crab Crepes with so much crab that you could not even make that dish today unless you lived in the S.W Hills or became a crabber.
When the Restaurant moved the Bistro was fun and festive. Often holding many of interesting folks. Cousin Ernie. Wow! Scotty made great drinks.
I worked for Hank and Helen at both locations for a total of eight years. Great employers and they treated everyone like family.
Recipes are still in my head and my hands can still handle the cast iron crepe pans with no use of sissy pads-handle pads. Now crank out 300 crepes tonite before you punch out Mitchell. I’ll match anyone to this day to a crepe off.
What happened to Clinkerdagger, Bickerstaffs and Petts?
Clinkerdagger’s became defunct in the early 80’s. It was a regional, small full service restaurant chain based in Spokane, WA., I believe. Started in the 70’S it was one of the dozens of themed and costumed places in the USA.. In Beaverton the space became Hall Street Bar and Grill. I have not researched the other Portland-area locations.
There was a steakhouse on 122nd and division and the name escapes me. Anyone?
We were transfered from Portland in 1980, but I still come ‘ Home ‘ often, I worked at Ryans eating establishment in Morgans Alley for 9 years !!! I love reading all the news and remember almost everyplace mentioned. My room mate loved Yaws french fies with gravy !!! We both loved Bills gold coins Caesar salads after a night at Jakes or the Meatmarket. Does anyone know what happened to Sweet Tibbie Dunbars, and the manager, John Hyatt ?? He was a close friend, I’d love to reach out. BTW,from Portland, Toledo, Ohio, major culture shock, then on to South Bed and then Little Rock, now Louisville, for 1 more year,!!! Lol Karen
Okay, so this is not about the restaurants just listed, but someone….please..anyone??? I am wanting the recipe for the broasted chicken sandwich that was a specialty at Don Elton’s in Lake Oswego in the 70s and 80s. tatiana
On 122nd and Division there was Obie’s which later became North’s Chuckwagon. On 122nd and Halsey there was a steakhouse, The Refectory, which was wildly popular in its day, It finally closed a few years ago.
Sadly, The Refectory was replaced by a Dollar Tree a couple of yrs ago.
So many of our favorite eating places here in East County out of business. The Holland, Chinese Garden, The Speck (chicken), Sylvia’s nr the Hollywood District. The Original Taco House is still on 82nd and we go for our Mexican Food fix many time/yr.
The Refectory location is now a Dollar Tree. So many East County favorites out of business.
The Chinese Garden, The Speck, Sylvia’s, The Holland, The Broiler, and more. Still here The Original Taco House and Country Kitchen.
The Flame?
My wife grew up in Portland, I in Gresham, in the 50’s and 60’s. We were married in 1975, We lived in SE Portland before moving to Gresham, but there was a favorite Mexican restaurant we used to go to. We remember it as being on Swan Island, though perhaps it was North Portland before getting to Swan Island? We used to have a “burrito muy grande” and a tequila sunrise. But though we remember what we ate and drank, for the life of us, we can’t remember the name of that restaurant! It was popular in the mid to late 70’s, not sure how long it lasted beyond then, but having looked through all the restaurant names in Portland today we’re pretty sure it no longer exists. Anybody know what it might have been called?
Was it Chile Pepper? (I did an internet search and someone had asked the same question and rec’d a reply.) Wasn’t there a shopping center “Ports O’Call” with a few different restaurants?
Crews from Elder Demolition of Portland will spend about four weeks tearing down the former Ports O’Call building and another four weeks excavating the foundation to set the stage for construction of the new $150 million headquarters of Daimler Trucks North America on Swan Island.
Great memories! Thr Chile Pepper and Jamokes Landing. They were connected by back stairways. I worked there very briefly as a busser. The Ports O Call Village was ahead of its time. Great waterfront setting but never took off. Too bad as North Portland could use more riverfront dining.
The problem was the same as real estate: location, location, location
Too bad, for they were great eateries.
These posts are great! For what it’s worth, here’s a few of my blurry 60’s/70’s food memories
NW PDX / Uptown Shopping Center –
Foothill Broiler (excellent build your own burgers)
The Dandelion Pub (next door to the broiler)
The original Elephant’s Deli (owned by John Hudspeth)
John’s Meat Market (the steak soup!)
Rose’s (never really as good as people seem to remember, but Portland deli options were, and still are, limited)
SW Portland –
The Berry Farm (huge, buffet-style family joint) on Canyon Rd or Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy, can’t remember)
Farrel’s Ice Cream Parlor (The Portland Zoo Mega Sundae- woo hoo!)
Reuben’s (Worked there as a busboy briefly)
Nendel’s Chicken (my first experience with a finger bowl, ha!)
Fyer Tuck’s Chicken (it used to be good-especially the jo-jo potatoes)
Eastside:
Yaws (hamburger with “spanish” sauce, the chopped salad (basically coleslaw), and Green Rivers!
Downtown:
Old Town Pizza – My very first Cappuccino!
Valentino’s – My very first Frittata!
Pot-sticker and Sizzling Rice ( a refreshing alternative to the Republic Cafe and Tuck Lung)
Ryan’s in Morgan’s Alley (I liked the chicken salad sandwich, and the clam chowder)
Lake Oswego:
L’Odeon (Decent French Cuisine, briefly) I think I had a prom dinner there.
Fryer Tuck’s Chicken is still on SW Capitol Hwy. But their prices are outrageous. Last I looked it was around 8.00 for two pieces and some spuds. It’s good but not that good. New owners. Usually happens.
Oh, you remember it well! Don’t forget Multnomah Leather clogs—-many of us had them custom-made before heading off into Old Town to eat at Pot Sticker and Sizzling Rice, or Old Town Pizza. I quit eating at Old Town Pizza when I was picking up a “to go” order, and watched the pizza maker run her fingers multipe times through the long, greasy hair of the other pizza maker, then dip her hands into the grated mozzarella cheese! I worked at Daisy Kingdom Fabric Store, and another sure bet (though modest) was Johnny’s Greek Delicatessen, for $2.00 sandwiches that were huge and delicious.
I could not resist responding to your mention of Multnomah Clogs. I remember picking out the color suede I wanted made, and they really kept our feet dry. I lived there in the early 70s to early 80s and recently returned from a trip there. Was delighted that Hubers was still there for a great pre Thanksgiving meal, which was their daily signature. We stayed at the Benson and was sad to see that brunch was no longer there on Sunday’s. I remember when it was just $10 and Roses used to be great, huge slices of cakes and does anyone remember Jazz de Opus in Old Town that had a wonderful shrimp and melted cheese sandwich? Sad to see places like Brasserie Montmartre gone, Vat and Tonsure as well. And of course Belinda’s Apricot Glazed Duckling. I didn’t make it to Skyline Burgers which I was hoping for, but I did see Rock Creek Tavern which is still so charming.
I wore my Multnomah Clogs for many years. I lived in Portland in the early 80s, and remember Jazz de Opus well, along with Sachs Front Avenue, Henry Thiele’s, Hamburger Mary’s, Delevan’s, Quality Pie, Old Wives Tales, and Rimsky Korsacoffee (is RK still there?). When I visited a couple of years ago, I was glad to find Goose Hollow Inn, Stepping Stone Café, Accuardi’s Old Town Pizza, Jake’s, Bijou (same location, expanded and remodeled), and Huber’s.
Hubers!! James Louie’s Grandfather was the chef waaaay back in the early days and he knew my Grandfather Doiinic Leo Callicrate when Cally took the Multnomah Athletic Club’s and Columbia’s (University of Portland) football teams there for lunch back in 1909-1918! Met James when I was at UofP from 1979-1983. What a GREAT place and still true to its origins. Jazz de Opus for backgammon, Hamburger Mary’s for a delicious burger in the funkiest spot in town, Quality Pie for late night cram sessions and people watching, Accuardi’s for the whole NEW Old Town experience as the Naito’s were reclaiming the area, Jake’s for incredible seafood…I worked at Couch St. Fish House at its height. Remember Fingers? Right up from Key Largo. Another fun place. Old Town was THE spot in the late 70s and 80s. Also opened Tuxedo Charlies. then Silver Garden and Digger O’Dells across Burnside Bridge. So bummed I missed out on the Multnomah Clogs. Went several times but they were always closed. My mom bought her clogs there in the early 40s when she was at Jefferson High School…what a great time to be in Portland. I was a 1960 Emmanuel Hospital Baby and grew up on Alberta next to the new I5 ditch!lol….Portland’s a little to hipster for me now….
http://www.multnomahleather.com
All this talk about Multnomah Leather Clogs…you can still buy them on-line or from the Nob Hill shoe repair on 21st.
But not for men. For us there are only the Gluv Mocs, which get tattered but last forever.
Re: Multnomah Leather Shop and the clogs. Yep, I still wear mine; I have 2 pair. They must be close to 30 years old now.
The Berry Farm was on Canyon Rd. Now that property is a car dealership.
Bleachers Sports Bar & Grill in Cedar Mill on Saltzman Rd has new owners and serves Friar Tuck Chicken and the spuds. I think the new owners are related to the original Friar Tuck family, perhaps the next generation.
Also in Morgan’s Alley was Tillie’s, the Mexican Restaurant.
I think Prime Rib on Sandy was my favorite place to go for the thick cuts of Prime Rib.
So entertaining to recall these eateries long lying dormant in deep places of the mind. Does anyone remember the coffee houses in the late 50’s, early 60’s, or places like The Pink Bucket? Fun times.
The Pink Bucket was a tavern owned by Tony Accardi. This was in about 1963-67
Near Foster Road.
Pietro’s Pizza deserves its own thread. It started in Longview, which is where I remember it from the 60’s. It quickly expanded into Oregon. It’s been through lots of owners, grew at one time to as many as 80 pizza parlors, moved to Bothell, went bankrupt. Now it’s back to being a small chain of 4 restaurants headquartered in Milwaukie.
Oddly the store in Longview is still there, but now is known as Pie@Trios. Their Canadian bacon and pineapple pizza, known as a Hula Loola in Pietro-ese, goes by the name Hawaiian Hula. Pietro’s trademark was abundant mozzarella cheese, which would stretch a foot off the pizza slice when you bit it. Very messy but good.
Hi. Actually the Pietro’s Pizza in Milwaukie has been there since the early 70’s! I went there with friends all through high school! A great salad bar and our favorite pizza: Barmaid’s Special (pepperoni, ground beef, and fresh mushrooms). Sadly they made it into a noisy family entertainment center sometime in the 90’s and the pizza is NOT the same.
I’m originally from Longview and ate at the original Pietro’s often during lunch break from high school. There has never been another pizza as good as they made it; the Portland chains never were able to duplicate it to perfection. Pie@trio’s is very good, also, I believe run by relatives of the original Pietro’s.
I found this blog in search of someone who may remember how John’s Meat Market made their terrific nachos back in the 80’s. I would love to make them so good myself! My boyfriend used to take me there (now my husband of 30 years!) and I have never found any as good anywhere. As others on the blog, I also miss Sweet Tibbie Dunbar’s; I used to work as a hostess part-time (along with a full-time job) to make ends meet before I was hired at Consolidated Freightways. The food was great!
Someone mentioned Slab Town/disco; In the 80’s it was country dance and we had the most fun hanging out there doing the country swing!
Hey had the first topless shoeshine girls in town
Bonnie is RIGHT, Pietro’s was and still is the BEST pizza ever. I first met Mr. Pietro in 1961 while working for NW Nat’l Gas in Eugene Oregon when he came to get the gas hooked up for the Pietro’s on the Willamette River. I think Campbell’s Soup company took them over sometime late 70’s??? not sure, then two men, that worked at the Milwaukie Pietro’s as teens, got the original recipe for the sauce and bought out the remaining 3 or 4 Pietro’s..so for a real TREAT, we will drive into Milwaukie to get that good old Pizza from days of yore!!!
Golly, now I just have to go to Pietros in Milwaukie tomorrow for lunch!
I worked at ‘Enry Beazelys Fish n Chips in Hollywood in the 70s. It was across the street from Yaw’s. Mr. Beazely was a gem. I worked there all through high school.
My parents loved Poor Richard’s for their Two Fer Tuesdays?
My first date was at Old Town Pizza and the first time I ever ate real Chinese Food was at Hunan’s in Morgan’s Alley.
When I was a kid my Nana took me to Henry Thiele’s in NW Portland. So fancy.
Hangover burgers at Stanich’s Ten til One.
So many memories.
Was ‘Enry Beazley’s a chain? I remember going to one on 39th and Powell. I would eat there 3 times a week. I’ve never had such good fish & chips. This was about 40 years ago. I can’t believe it. 🙂
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I found this link searching for info about Milton & Oscars. It was on Union street just north of Killingsworth.
It had really good steaks but what was memorable about the place to me was the baked potatoes. It was the only place I ever ate that people would order the baked potatoes to go. At a meal you would concentrate more on the baked potato then the steak! If anyone knows of any other restaurant who makes the potatoes the way Milton & Oscars did please let me know.
What made those baked potatoes special is they were “Twice Baked”!!!!!
I remember having them every Friday night when I was a teenager……… 🙂
My family and I have been trying to figure out what the recipe might be for the M&O twice-baked potatoes. Any ideas. joan
My family and I have been trying to figure out what the recipe might be for the M&O twice-baked potatoes. Any ideas. joan
My mother Becky worked at Digger O’dells as a bartender for years. I loved going there and eating oysters and calamari as a teen, wish it was still around!
All the comments flanagans on 82 and Powell where Carl’s and best bagett are now. Wiz burger with the big teeth eating a hamburger in Tigard. Kings table eastport. Steakburger 82 Colgate and finally one of the best know icons…Yaws Top Notch restraunt in Hollywood where I worked in the 70s
Loved the Flanagan Burger! What made it so good? Maybe it was the red paper wrap that held in the first waft of burger or the shredded lettuce and some sort of relish sauce, as I recall.
While not a restaurant, the Sauter’s Market was directly across the street and we’d go every Saturday to order 1 ½” thick Porterhouse steaks from their butcher. I still remember my dad telling the butcher to set the saw blade just a little bigger…we loved those huge Saturday night steaks!
We continue to go to Sayler’s Country Kitchen, but wish the meal still came with the little glass of tomato juice that kept the kids busy “doctoring” it up!
Flanagan’s! We ate there every Sunday on our way home from church downtown. When did it close? I’m also trying to remember the decor of Manning’s on 10th and Morrison where my aunt took me when I was a little girl in the 60’s. Can anyone describe? Thanks for all the great posts and stories. I’m a Portland native and lived there up through my PSU days. I’ve now lived in Boston for years but PDX is still home.
There were so very many favorites…Trader Vic’s @ The Benson…best Chicken Sesame..always wanted the recipe & have tried duplicating…Tic Tock…Jolly Joans…Quality Pies…BBQ Pit on SE 82nd across from the Drive In….Hillvilla…the best Rum Cake from a bakery in Hillsdale…Ireland’s by Benson High…Dan & Louis Oyster Bar…Eating lunch at Woolworth’s or Newberry’s lunch counter in the late 50s and 60s…
[…] Portland’s restaurant heritage | LOST OREGON – I had Belinda’s Restaurant at that time in Sellwood , getting ready to move downtown where Kell’s is now . I had a long talk with Horst Mager in his office at … […]
I wonder if anyone remembers “Hagen’s Donuts” at 2250 Sandy..My wife and I started it in 1960 and sold it in 1966. It was across Sandy from KATU TV. I loved my time there and often wonder about all the old customers and friends we made there.
Greetings, Ross Pullen!
Heidi and I were bought out in 2012 by her sister Evelyn and her husband. Retirement rocks! That year was our best year ever (after 37 years!) and still going strong.
Hope you’re well. Still married to Belinda?
I’ll never forget your interpretation of “Prawns Provençal” at the original location. So simple, perfectly executed.
I was looking for the Pancake Corner using Google, Walter my Step Father owned that in Lloyd Center. The Wooden Horse ( I have a review in 1973 framed on my wall) and Valentinos were owned and operated by my mom Marie Holman. I worked at all 3 places. Jonathan’s seafood on Sylvan was also my Mom’s restaurant, including Grand Ma’s Table in Beaverton. Holmans in SE was also one of Walters places.
Wasn’t Jonathan’s on SW Barbur and Terwilliger Blvd? I believe there’s a Starbucks now…(actually, you can say that about most corners)
I remember a whizburger being there
Cooked at “The Horse” and upstairs at Marie’s Creperie in 1980 – 81. Would love to hear if you knew or remember ANY of those who were working there around that time. I think I remember vaguely you coming in on occasion to the John’s Landing building back then?
do you have any information on the Castle restaurant in Oregon City?
What kind of information? The Castle was a popular hangout for years. People use to drive all the way from Portland for the entertainment. My in-laws use to go there in the 40s. Last time I went there was mid 80s. Been closed for years -Place settings were still on the tables- Owners (heirs) waited for top dollar.
The castle started out as a speakeasy prohibition days. At least that is what I was told. I do know they had gambling upstairs. Probably illegal . Great food. They had a wheel that you spun, like in a casino;hit the right spot and you got a free meal.
All I know is that if you were told the wait time at the Castle was an hour, you just drove over to Roake’s Coney Island shack on McLoughlin and were happy with those dogs. I’m still happy with their dogs! Tebo’s, a couple of blocks away, still has a pretty good basic burger bar. Love their tartar sauce on my french fries!
Oh, what a great Thanksgiving day read! I’m so lucky to have enjoyed eating or drinking at many of these places around Portland in the last 40 years. The one place that I can’t stop thinking about was open for just few years (I think) and located on the side of the mall across the street from the Newberry’s. I believe it was called Yankee Pot Roast…….it had better-than-greasy spoon homecooked food. Not upscale, but nice. I seem to remember that it had a wide variety of sides that were done well.
I’d love to know more about who opened it and why it closed. Thanks!
I was the broker that sold the Yankee Pot Roast business and property to an Asian couple,
They had both pot roast and Asian food. The last several years it’s been a strip club called Casa Diablo
This was the property on NW St. Helens Rd. Forgot about the one downtown believe it was on Morrison between 5th and 6th just east of Fred Meyers.
There was a Yankee Pot Roast downtown, are owner as St Helens Road,
Owners name was Bob, nice guy
Hi! I remember Yankee Pot Roast too! It was so cozy with delicious comfort food. Loved the biscuits with honey butter. I worked nearby and our office crew would often go there for lunch.
I’m OBIE’S daughter Peggy, and when I pass by 122nd and Division and 82nd and Division I remember the wonderful years of eating there and also working there, starting in 1960! Great food, hard work, fun times. Anybody out there still remember??
As a kid we’d go to Obie’s AllYouCanEat – my dad, Gene Bosworth, hung his pastel paintings on the walls in Obie’s.
I worked there as a bus boy sometime in the early 60’s. I thought it was such a great job, all these people leaving money on the table for me as I went to pick up the dishes and wipe the table. My pockets were bulging with change. It wasn’t long until all the waitresses cornered me and asked if I’d seen any money on the tables. They were even more upset when they had to divide up the change equally amongst themselves.
Accidentally found this website, what a treat !!
Grew up in Beaverton ,( BHS ’53) and we teens went to Dairyland in downtown Beaverton. Our burger joint was then called the Speck at Cornell & Skyline. They got into a lawsuit with the Colonel and had to change to Skyline. Also we liked the China Lantern and Whistlin Pig (all you can eat). And Nendels for special occasions. I dated one of the owners daughters.
Moved to Portland in 1955 to make my fortune and had my first mixed drink (Moscow Mule) at Hung Far Low. On to the Prima Donna on SW 4th for the best pizza I have ever had.
Thanks to you all above for the trip down eatery lane.
Wow! I remember all of the places you mention. I went to Sunset (SHS). Mom & Dad would take us kids to China Lantern, Nendels and The Berry Farm on Canyon Rd; and Fryer Tuck on Cedar Hills Blvd. Can’t forget the Showboat, or Eddie Mays Prime Rib on Canyon Rd.
Does anyone remember the ingredients (or receipt) in John’s Meat Market restaurant mid 1970’s (NW 22nd & Burnside Portland) skillet steak?
Hi Martha, I cleaned out a lot of old files several years ago
However, I would still have the date Kim and Donna bought it. They currently live in Silverton, where many years ago I sold them a restaurant called the Silver Grill.
When they bought it (Rose City Flyer)It was called The Diamond Head Restaurant and was owned by Ying Yee and his wife. I think the name came about because Kim’s father worked for the railroad..
I then sold it to Andrew Wheeler..
If you want to send me a phone number, I can give you what other info I may have on it.. the building is still owned by the goritson family
Ron Spagle
City Realty Company
The diner was 19th or 20th and Holgate – It was called the Brooklyn Diner- I use to eat dinner there in the early 70’s when I was working swing shift. Good old meat and potato kind of place.
Just east of 17th and just West of the overpass on Holgate, near the Brooklyn railyard.
What a great discovery this site has been! So many restaurants from the past. In the 1950’s my mom worked at the Bohemian Pastry, part of the Bohemian Restaurant at SW 10th and Morrison. Dating back to its founding by the Neuberger family in approximately 1916, the restaurant was a popular upscale dining room and lounge until the late 60’s. The main entrance was split level, up to the dining room and down to the Pastry Shop, renown for their cheesecake and salty bread sticks. As a child, mom would take me to lunch at the Bohemian and order oxtail soup.
Other memories include Scottie burgers, Yaws, Monte Carlo, Dairyland (I grew up in Beaverton), Rose’s, Tic Tok, Pal’s Shanty, China Lantern, The Hi Hat, The Crab Bowl on Barbur and so many more laced throughout this blog.
Thanks for the memory lane stroll…
Read the entire thread, and not only am I exhausted, I’m hungry! Always bittersweet to lose favorite places. Maybe some of these names will jog a memory tastebud or two:
Heavy Number Taco Company, when NW PDX was the slightly-suspect hippie part of town.
Goody’s Deli, a short-lived, possibly kosher, delicatessen, I believe on Canyon Road.
Burger Island, on Columbia Blvd., where you hoped all those trucks had good brakes.
Calico Cat on Sandy, for, ahem, naked lunch.
Casa de Rios on Hawthorne, for late night burritos smothered in red sauce.
Romanos Deli, in that small indoor pseudo food court on 4th near Yamhill (not the farmers mkt.)
Baisen, a Japanese tatami room teppan yakki on Barbur next to Caro Amicos.
Blums, a weird East Coast transplant downtown with too-precious decor and desserts.
Herfy’s, home of the Create-A-Burger, all over but notably in Jackson Tower downtown.
Double Happiness, industrial Chinese in industrial NW.
Danny Woo’s, a cavernous Cantonese joint, I think on SW Scholls Ferry.
Bonnie’s Burgers (19cents?) on NW 18th (?), finally at Astro Gas on 21st.
Maletis’ Market in Old Town, for quick satisfying deli sandwiches.
Estrellita’s, for underage pitchers of Blitz and chips, across form Clinton St. Theater.
Some places I would urge people to visit lest they slip away:
Jim Dandy on Sandy, still excellent, and displaying some menus from dearly departed kin.
Chinese Village and Canton Grill on 82nd, where the new-money Jade District is flourishing.
Lovejoy Market on NW 23rd, where you can still, if the newest owners are in the mood, get sandwiches.
Pattie’s Home Plate in downtown St. Johns, for a classic lunchcounter burger amid the clutter.
Pietro’s Pizza in Milwaukie, which will absolutely take you back, even if you’ve never been there before.
Tebow’s on McGloughlin, tasty and charmingly anachronistic.
Wishing Well, also downtown St. Johns, for Mar Far chicken, invented in Medford, Oregon.
The Nite Hawk, on N Interstate and Rosa Parks (see how change ain’t all bad?). Cowpoke sandwich.
Republic Cafe and House of Louie, SW 4th in Chinatown, last of the Ancient Ones.
The Pink Feather on SE Division, where time stands still deliciously.
Chicken Little on 72nd and NE Glisan, broasted chicken, gizzards too, worth the wait.
Thanks for indulging me. Now I’m off to make my version of Poncho’s gloppy red/pink sauce, the ‘glue’ that held those fantastic kinda-mexican meals together, and made scooping up all the fallen stuff on the plate with those fantastic oily chips so delicious. Maybe tomorrow I’ll make a Jerry’s Gables ‘au jus’ cheeseburger! If only Sinister Cinema was on, or Creature Feature, after Portland Wrestling! Will post recipes if interested.
Always, always interested in recipes….one in particular from Trader Vic’s…Sesame Chicken….
Jan Jacklin, I may have something on the Trader Vic’s sesame chicken. Worked there in early 80’s. The cooks were all non English speaking but Chef William Chang may still be around PDX. When TV closed I was the Sous in the Benson / London Grill and was assigned to the task of cleaning it out. There were many recipes and menus pilled up of which I ended up with some. I will look through to see if it’s there.
If you do get it from Scott Kushner, please share it!
I would so love the recipe…I have made as close a version to how I remember Trader Vic’s Sesame Chicken…Would love him to post the recipe…
Think they moved to Chicago.
Before moving to Hawthorne Blvd., it was on SW Washington (maybe Morrison) and displaced by 405. I believe the name was the Bullpen, it was Just above Cassidy’s, which was Previousy Pretty Boy Floyds.
Lovejoy Market on NW 23rd! Lived in Portland in the early 80s and remember it well. Went back for a visit in 2014, and it was still there. Along with Stepping Stone Cafe on 23rd and Quimby.
The recipe for your version Poncho’s sauce that held those fantastic kinda-Mexican meals together would be so appreciated. I’ve been doing research for quite a while looking for the recipe for the sauce and the Tostada Salad (No. 9 on the menu). If I’d known better, I’d have gotten a job washing dishes at Poncho’s just to observe the food being prepared.
So agree about how good the tostada at Poncho’s was. I hope too, that someone has the instructions. And the salsa–to die for. The thing about all these restaurants fading away is that their recipes go with them. Too bad they don’t have to turn their recipes in to an archive accessible to the public. Some were sooooo good!!!
I am visiting your comment three years later because I have been trying to remember the name of Double Happiness in the NW industrial district for MONTHS. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! My family used to eat there when I was kid and I only knew it was in that neighborhood because I associate it with the Montgomery Wards/Park sign.
We used to live fairly close to Goodies Deli. They were the only place that made a Reuben sandwich with hot cabbage leaves rather than sauerkraut.. One day I picked up our order and when I opened it up I began to laugh because it looked as if he had put the scraps from the brisket into my sack. I returned and he realized the order was for me (a regular) and not someone off the street. He tried to tell me that that was the way New Yorker’s enjoyed their Reubens. I realized very quickly that he held to two standards and never returned. Killed me because I still can taste his Reuben!
Hi, so glad to see you write about the Wishing Well…also I worked at Poncho’s for a very long time. As a waitress on the East side and managed the bar on the West side…good memories, miss the food although I have recreated most of it.
We loved to go to Poncho’s Eastside, have a pitcher of margaritas the order the butterflied shrimp by the piece. We also loved the meat dip. What great memories!
Has anyone ever found a recipe for Poncho’s red sauce? This was my favorite restaurant as a kid. I felt so happy getting that beef enchilda and meat dip. Those wonderful homemade chips were so good.
Poncho’s……My wife’s favorite place for many years. We had many wonderful margaritas over the years at the Westside location. Watched Andre grow up. If anyone wants to share the recreated recipes, Linda would love it.
Ed
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
Poncho’s…….my wife’s favorite place. wonderful food; enjoyed many great margaritas over the years at the west side location. Watched Andre grow up. if anyone has any of the original, or recreated recipes, Linda would love to have them. Ed
I would love to know if you have a recipe for the meat dip. It was to die for!! Thanks in advance!
I STILL want to know if anyone out there knows what happened to Bobby and Julie Lee that had Rickshaw Charlies in Old Town (best Chinese food EVER) but he was busted with Gary Harrington (Penny’s husband) for dealing drugs. Got 20 years but that was over 20 years ago now. Just curious, someone must know there where abouts or what happened to them?
He was about 56 then and a heavy smoker so i doubt he is still around but Julie was a pip hope shes still kicking around.
I concur with someone here that Lydia’s on SW11th had the best ruebens and french fries they were on my paper route half a block down from my fathers barber shop.
That was me Dale, think in the early 60′ they $1.50 and a beer was .50,
Had many a haircut from your dad, Jerry, at his house on Corbett and at our house. My mom used to start winding the alarm clock so he would stop gabbing and finish. Good barber, enthusiastic coach, and real nice guy..
Does anyone remember the names of the 3 resturants at Ports of Call on Swan Island?
One was Shinanigan’s and another had an English name and did great prime rib with Yorkshire pudding. I’m not sure what the third one was.
I think one was a branch of Who’s Song & Larry. Then they moved over to Vancouver?
Was one of them Shenanigan’s?
I think one of the restaurants at Ports O’ Call was Shenanigan’s, which later moved to the Lloyd Center area but didn’t last long.
One restaurant at Ports O Call was Jamokes Landing. I bussed there briefly. It was connected to another restaurant via a kind of tunnel. The other place was considered more fine dining…looooong time ago. Was a cool place but too ahead of its time.
Okay…did some sleuthing on Ports O Call. Jamokes Landing,Chili Pepper and Sir Winstons!lol…found it through a Google search regarding the Rose Festival Boat Parade in 1975.
Correction re Ports O Call. It was River Carnival 1975!
Shenanigans, Sir Winston and a third restaurant that’s at the tip of my mind.
I have glanced through most of the thread and maybe someone mentioned this restaurant, but if not…Jazz de Opus and Opus Two deserve more than a mention. Also La Patisserie right upstairs.
Ah, I’m glad the Carnival gets a mention, my favorite eatery in the Portland area. FYI, I live in Thailand and the Carnival was the first stop when my sister picked me up at PDX on the way to her place. Sad day when it shut down.
Does anyone remember the soup that was served at Uncle Chens in a wooden bowl or cup? My husband swears it was the best soup on the planet and he has been to Asia frequently.
My ex wife was a waitress at Ireland’s resturant. I remember the names of some of the employees. Cliff, Dorothy & Aggie This was back in 1957-60
Man, you are old 🤒 that’s a good thing
I know it was mentioned somewhere in this thread, but I had some great times when I was in High School (LaSalle) in the late 80’s, going to a place called the Hobbit on SE 39th. Thara Memory and Mel Brown would play there, and while we weren’t old enough to go in the bar if you just sat in the restaurant you could hear the music so well. My friends and I were all musicians, playing jazz at that time. I’m still in music, and live just down the street from where that place used to be. Sigh
And Jeanny Hoffman and David Freezin
Oops that was when it was on 52nd and woodstock
Does anyone remember Robin’s Burgers Drive-in at 82nd and Division in the mid 60″. My grandfather owned it and I’m trying to find some old photo’s. I loved going there when I was a kid.
Mark, your grandfather owned Robin’s?? Those were the only burgers I had as a kid! One reason was we lived a few blocks away & did not own a car. I tell everyone now that the reason I like Burgerville is that their burgers remind me of Robin’s! Unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures. Best of luck!
Wow, all the names of places I remember so well, but here’s a few from later…Anyone remember Clinkerdagger, Bickerstaff & Petts in Beaverton, where Halls Street is now? Pewter goblets and silverware almost too heavy to lift, but the food and atmosphere were incredible. Another Beaverton blast…Earthquake Ethels. Disco balls, “Root Beer Floats” and cheap food…dancing until you dropped. Memories!
Glad I stumbled onto this sight.
Does anyone remember a diner in s.w.Portland back in 1973 that served the best clam strips.A PSU student hangout on Sunday morning to cure that hangover.Pendy’s ??
. The (possibly) oldest known in-house china pattern for Meier & Franks has now been identified from a demi-saucer. [A club sugar sold in the past was labeled as a shaving mug, preventing proper identification until now.] The green M-over-F crest among fruit was applied to Maddock’s Lamberton China with the “M-L China” backstamp and supplied by Praele, Hegele & Co. Agents. The stamp would date c.1896-1910/11 era.
A vegetable bowl with an AC monogram appears to be the early Arlington Club service, but the id is not positive yet (letters differ from known styles, but the A correctly has horns). Also supplied locally. Any known info. or inside contact would help here.
Last, a service plate with Encore in gold script (slightly like current Las Vegas hotel, but made much earlier). Dates from 1980’s….too late for Portland?
Anyone know of a Stork Club ever existing in Portland? Yes, just like New York. Found on same type matchbook but with Portland address…site seems to be park land now. (Founder was a known bootlegger and sometime associate of mobsters.)
Stork club may have been owned by Big Jim Elkins
Call me “Slow to Respond”, but thanks much Ron. Seems as though no one ever knew of or documented the existence of this Stork Club being related to New York. Then again, underworld figures didn’t like to talk too much about their operations. Might end up nappin’ with the fishes.
My memories of Portland are: Clubs, the Last Hurrah, Zach’s, Up the Down Staircase and The Black Angus and Earthquake Ethel’s in Beaverton (Remember when Quarterflash played the clubs?). Places I’ve worked, Clementine’s on S.W. Broadway, across from the Hilton Hotel, Zen Japanese Restaurant under the Roosevelt Hotel, La Casa De Rios on Hawthorne, Rian’s Fish and Ale in Beaverton and ButterToes on 32nd and Belmont. Pal’s Shanty on Sandy Blvd. had the best crab Louies, and Farrell’s icecream parlor was a fun place to get your icecream on. Anyone remember the first Art Quake on S.W. Broadway? Maybe I’m more of an ex-hippy than a lot of these posters, but Portland used to be such a cool place to hang out. I shouldn’t leave out Eve’s buffet over the Fred Myers on S.W. Morrison and Fredrick & Nelson’s Department store café on the mezzanine, both were great places to eat on a budget. Oh, my sister worked at Peter’s Inn…and she hated it!!
WOW, all the place I loved too. I’m old now, but sure relish the memories of fun times at all of the places you mentioned…what 40 years ago now? Gee, time flies
So much fun to read about the places of the past, and how many I remember! The chicken kiev at Rian’s and the Crab Bowl on Barbur, along with many others that have been mentioned. I was born in 1953 and remember as a grade schooler my dad picking up our to-go order or fish and chips in the wax paper sacks at least once a week. The smells!!! Question – does anyone remember the Piknik Deli (I believe that was the name) in the building that now houses Target downtown? I worked downtown from 1974-1977 and that was my favorite place for picking up my lunchtime sandwich (they didn’t have seating.) They put oil and vinegar, along with spices, on the subs and oh my……DELICIOUS!!! I was addicted!!!
Piknik was in Morgans Alley, when it was larger and then that part was walled off from what now remains of Morgans Alley. The Galleria was across from Morgans Alley and that is where Target is now. I loved the pepperoni and cream cheese sandwich at Piknik.
WOW! What a wonderful site if you ever worked at, or loved a pass restaurant in Portland. But, hey, does anyone have a copy of the Portland Catalog? Remember? Filled with all the great places, plus their menu’s. Some amazing time ever warp photos!
That’s my mother in the photos on the flyer for the Sheraton hotel Lloyd Center. The dress she is wearing, in the first photo was a red dress. It was a perk from the shoot. She loved that dress. My mother ran the Cinderella Modeling Agency of Portland. In the 70’s she was the on the front line of the “feminine movement” ( the belief women can be gorgeous and strong not having to turn into a man for respect)
So cool to see that.
my email: portland@mahankaur.com
My parents took me to dinner at the Top of The Cosmo for my eighth grade graduation dinner. Had frogs legs. Our neighbor cTony Sagnella’s jazz group played at the Cosmo’s Dugout Lounge weekly.
I’m really late to this party, but so glad I found it! I worked at Horst Mager’s L’Omelette in 1977 and tended bar for a short time at Up the Down Staircase. Back then a lot of restaurant workers around town used to go to Pier 101 after work, where Bob Cassidy tended bar. Bob left to open Cassidy’s on SW Washington (still open). I think another bartender from there left to open Jo Bar (also still open). I remember going to Embers to dance, Euphoria (SE 2nd and Ankeny) for great concerts, and the Fish Grotto for last call. I still miss Father’s, which was the most stylish restaurant from back then, L’Auberge (remember Sunday night movies?), and Zefiro’s. Time sure flies….
How about The Pantry on NÉ Broadway? I know that the restaurant changed a lot over the years and now it is a Chinese place. When I worked there in the mid 80’s it went through a series of suspicious fires that I think were some kind of insurance scam, but don’t quote me on that!
I remember going to work one day and there was a notice on the door saying that it was closed due to fire, which surprised me as I had left after closing the night before. The owner essentially laid off the whole staff save for about 5 or 6 people who basically did most or all of the work to get it back up again. And we did EVERYTHING……..including refinishing the tables and chairs to painting to even tarring the roof. This was all under the table of course.
I was surprised that the owner even picked me as I doubted he even knew who I was and I was no Bob Vila by any measure. It was hard and dirty work for sure but at least I had a job when it was over. He was an odd man considering he was the owner. He would drop by every once in awhile, give employees a $20 bill and head straight to the bar. Don’t think he once came back into the kitchen as far as I can remember.
I love your articles that you post and my sister and my friends all remember these restaurants! I look forward to reading them all. Thank you so much for sharing❤️
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In that picture of L’Auberge, is that MarySue seated there? 1980’s downtown restaurant/bar folks may know…? Took on the management of the short-lived “The Price is Right” on S.W.Broadway, where everything was served smothering an ultra-jumbo baked potato!
I loved Poncho’s too (probably one reason I had heart bypass surgery some years back). #14 was a favorite. After two margaritas my wife would imitate Bud Clark, the mayor. Anyone know what happened to Andre, the manager at the Hillsdale location?
I was searching for any Poncho’s recipes today (meat dip!), and found an obituary for Andre (Edmunds). He died in his sleep in Oct. 2013, at only 52 years old. It made me so sad!!
I worked at the Wooden Horse Eating Establishment at Johns Landing, Russell Angel was the Chef, also at Valentino’s. Marie’s Crapery was on the 2nd floor IIRC at JL. I also worked at the Pancake Corner at Lloyd Center. Jonathan’s Seafood in the West Hills. Never worked at Grand Ma’s table in Beaverton or Holman’s, but all of these restaurants were owned by my Mother and Step Dad. Walter E Holman and Marie Downing Holman. Nice pictures, I have the Oregon Journal “Diners Choice” review from August 20th 1974 framed and on a wall.
Anyone remember the Hillvilla or Henry Thiele, now THAT is memories of a long bygone era in Portland. New Cathay is gone as well. The only one around that I can think of from my childhood 60 years ago is the Canton Grill which is right across from where New Cathay was from the 50s to the 80s. Oh and I see Saylers Old Country Kitchen is still going after 73 years! WOW what memories. Food is such a part of life that you never forget some of the memories you created at restaurants when you were younger. Anyone remember Yaw’s or Meier & Frank’s Alladin Restaurant above the ice rink at Lloyd Center? Original Hotcake House opened in 1935 and it is still there after 85 years! The oldest of all and still open is Huber’s in downtown Portland opened in 1879, that’s 141 years! Dan and Louis Oyster Bar opened in 1907 and is still serving after 113 years. Jake’s Famous Crawfish opened in 1892 and is also still open after 128 years.
Yaws Top Notch off of Sandy Blvd! Yep, Dad took us there all the time for a roast beef and mashed potato with gravy sandwich. I remember Aladdin’s.I used to play Ice Hockey at the rink and at the Memorial Colosseum downtown and a rink in Beaverton.
I remember ALL of those places too, The Rheinlander opened in 62-63? and a month to get a reservation. I remember the Kitchen Kettle across the street from Sayler Steak house, it was “Armenian”? food and it was THE best…..Eddie’s Prime Rib was my Dad’s favorite….yes, we loved all of those places and in the 70’s we had Victoria Station and all the places near John’s Landing that were so good…I don’t get out much now…but those good places are all history..like Ryan’s in Morgan’s Alley….such good food and different times….
I remember Thiele’s as the first place I ever had a German pancake. Glittery and bright inside….
For some time I thought that Jake’s was where they filmed the interiors for My Own Private Idaho. Found out later it was Hubers. I think the exterior was Jakes though.
Sill wearing my Waddles T-Shirt with the duckie. Picked up a Roakes shirt last summer to go with it.
I hope the old places survive the covid pandemic. I live in California now and try always visit some of the old restaurants along with new ones when I visit Portland.
I worked at Hillvilla in the 70’s. The menu was Grilled Steak or Salmon with a baker and a salad. All one price. And the home made cheesecake was to die for as well as the other pastries. The owner Pulaski was a great guy. Bar none the way he treated his staff and the feral cats living in the woods. Now it is called the Chart house and has a menu that is more like fast food.
Yes! I remember going to Alladin Restaurant with girlfriends in the 80’s before a Diana Ross concert at the Memorial Collesium. I had my first Kir Royale and was served by a white-gloved waiter!
just found this hoping to find the spelling of Nandelle’s which I think was on Barbur. Anyone remember it?
That’s where I had my first German pancake, the apple variety. I was in high school and visiting from Seattle. I think the others at the table were all Portlanders and probably suggested it to me to see my face when I saw it. They were rewarded by my scream when I saw it. It covered a large dinner plate.
In the late 50s a group of frat boys at the UW bragged they had driven to Yaws one night for a hamburger.
You may be thinking of Nendels Inn which was on Canyon Road and is now a Shilo Inn. As for the German pancake, you might be thinking of The Original Pancake House, which is still there and is on Barbur Blvd.
I think you’re referring to The Old Pancake House on Barbur Blvd where they are known for their German Apple Pancakes the size of a dinner plate!
I’m trying to recall the name of a small French restaurant at 1925 SE Hawthorne Blvd. I took my sons there back in the late 80’s or early to mid- 90’s. It was not there very long as I remember, but it was great food and very chic.
I wish I could help. Because I passed that exact location hundreds of times in that era coming and going from Studio 3 at 1316 SE 12th.
But have exactly zero recall of a French restaurant in that block. Darn.
Trying to reply to this :
“I’m trying to recall the name of a small French restaurant at 1925 SE Hawthorne Blvd. I took my sons there back in the late 80’s or early to mid- 90’s. It was not there very long as I remember, but it was great food and very chic.”
Michele W. writes: Le Canele, opened in 1992 by friends.
Well, not really a reply, but…………………. is there anyone else left on the planet who used to go down to “Honest Johnson’s” (The working man’s friend – spelled out in pennies above the counter) for a giant breakfast of bacon, eggs & pancakes – for about $2.75. Just East of Union Ave on Columbia Blvd. Oh, for the Good ol’ Days…………………..
WIGWAM had a 99 cent breakfast special. 2 eggs, 2 slices of bacon, hash browns your choice of toast. Dad took us there every weekend.
Sandy – It sounds like you might be thinking of The Original Pancake House on Barbur Boulevard. They are famous for their German Pancakes & Dutch Babies. There was Nendel’s Inn on Canyon Road, but I don’t recall them serving breakfasts like you mentioned. My grandmother was a cook at the Tik-Tok from 1947 until they closed and razed the place (I think in 1970) when she retired. Shortly after that, Page Yaw asked her to come out of retirement and work at Yaw’s Top Notch in Hollywood, and she did so until about 1979 when she “really” retired at age 76. Oh how I loved their hamburgers, french fries with gravy, and a cup of custard!
This has been fun to read! I remember many of these places growing up in SE Portland and then working in NW Portland in the early 80’s.
I’m looking for recipes from the Harris Wine Cellar lunchroom that was on the corner of NW 23rd & Thurman in the 80’s. Such great simple food! (I do know the history of the building and owners, so don’t need that.) Searching the internet I found a recipe for their Shrimp Salad Sandwich, which was great. But now I’m curious about their Ham Sandwich, their Egg Salad Sandwich, and any of their soups? Also their PEANUT BUTTER PIE recipes would be wonderful to have as well! My office colleagues and I ate there at least once or twice a week from 1980 to 1985 when i moved away (I’m back now!). THANKS
I have read through the whole board and have shared many wonderful memories, however, there was a casual lunch place on NW Yeon Ave. in the 80’s, owned by a young man named Scott. I think the last name started sith Mc___. He served GREAT soups and beer bread. Anyone remember that?
Anyone remember the incredible Reubens at Lydia’s in the late 60’s? Or Clyde Besaw’s on 23rd & Thurman in 1970….. He was a true character. Two huge gas ranges/ovens – one with a big turkey, the other with a huge ham, from which he would make great sandwiches. And big pots of soup simmering on the rangetops…. NW 23rd was pretty rough back then. He’d cash everyone’s unempl & SS checks.
And The White Eagle on N Russell, run by Crazy Tony? Cocaine Central in the 1970’s. He threw us out one night. He threw lots of people out with little provocation. He was an asshole. Wild nights there.
My friends and I worked at an office on NW Yeon in early 80’s and would go to Besaw’s for lunch or after work gathering. I remember the sandwiches and soups. Years later my husband and I bought a condo across the street and would walk over for breakfast at Besaw’s. Then we were there for one last nightcap before they closed permanently and the building was torn down a few years ago. Sad.
My family has been looking for the recipe for Milton & Oscar’s baked potato?
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Does anyone remember a bar in 1981 that was located at the old heidis village in Boring?
Does anyone remember the name of a bar from 1981 that was located in Boring at the former heidi’s village ?
I’ve lived in Portland all my life… and have many wonderful ( and some wild and wilely) memories of many of the places. I’ve read about half of the comments..But thought I’d share some of my own memories and favorite dining spots
When I worked downtown I’d have lunch at Hamburger Mary”s and contemplate the odd and wonderful items they used as decorations.lol
My roommate and I often went to dinner at Roxy Hearts (the first one) they had wonderful food wouldn”t serve a steak knife because they raise their own cattle and would just bring you a different steak. I loved the Art Deco and the mirrored tables with candle we always got whatever we were drinking ( not old enough yet_) in large stemware glasses because It made us feel older and more sophisticated .
Another fav back then was The Midevel Inn (3rd of 4th and Ash) You were served huge platters of ribs…Roast
beasts… whole chickens. along with roasted vegtables. they didn”t serve you silverware only a knife. The place itself looks like an old castle and the resturant was downstairs under large drapes and tapestries.
you had serving wenches and squires. they also had stroling minstrels and magicians.they encouraged you to throw the bones over your shoulder when done!
Henry Thelies has the biggest German pancakes ever!
My mom was a waitress / bartender at New Cathay for years… we three girls could often be seen sitting in a booth with our Shirly Temples and playing with all the little plastic animals and little umbrellas in our hair eventually a sword fight or two would break out over who got the most marichino cherries!
The Rose Parade always ended at 14th and Taylor and right there on the corner was the teenyest bar call The Neon Ceiling where at that time of year it was not unusual to see a ballerina being chased around the pool table (which there was barely room for)by a gorilla and several keystone cops! Sailor in white loved that place! That was back when you could up and order a few from Dial-A-Sailor
Gals liked to meet them there so that when they got hungry later they could suggest dining at the Mallory Hotel a block up!
I was always a fan of following the weekly drink specials downtown .. The Family Zoo Had Wenesday night cheap beer $1 for a small pitcher $$2.50 for a large and free bbq’d burgers on Sundays afterwhich we went up to CC Slaughter”s for 50 cent schnapps! It was very drunk out. Good times!!
I forgot to mention The Hoyt Hotel…Occasionally I would accompany my god father there for a business lunch with his partners. Don’t remember much about the food but I do remember the huge window front they had built to display the steam train train engine! The producers of Pettycoat Junction used that engine in the opening of the tv show. best of all. in the lobby of The Hoyt Hotel was a huge winged backed chair which sat next to a large guillded cage which was the home of a fabulous black Mina bird. Had quite a large vocabulary!
Does anyone have the recipe for the Meier & Frank Chocolate Chip Cookies they used to make?
Does anyone remember a place that was in Old Town Portland called “Old Town Strutters Hall” They had Dixieland Jazz there, and my mother was the singer in the 1970’s.
I’m in my mid-60s now, and with the hindsight of time and experience, it occurs to me that in earlier times Portland was the beneficiary of a rich restaurant heritage. This is especially true considering that Portland was/is only a modest-sized “large” city. But, goodness, the city had some terrific eateries!
The long-gone dining establishments discussed here have sparked a flood of nostalgia for me, and also have jogged my memory for a few places I didn’t see mentioned. These include:
The Four Seasons, in business from about 1965 to 1969, at NE 111th and Sandy. They moved to Milwaukie and 1969 and opened a larger, gourmet-dining place with the same name that they operated until the early 90s. A cozy, intimate space with an old-world feel to it.
Zeb’s Café on SE Division. A small space with lunch-counter swivel chairs. It was near Tom’s Café on 39th, which opened in 1974 and is still operating.
Blarney Castle on NE Sandy. It had a mediaeval décor, and served good pan-fried oysters.
Thorps’s, at the east end of the Burnside Bridge. It opened in the Roaring 20s, and was still going in 1982, the last time I dined there.
Nikki’s, on SE Union or Grand. A standard-issue diner run by a Greek family. Might still be in operation?
The Flame-Broiler, on Broadway, downtown. Also run by a Greek family. Great food, but closed after a fire of suspicious origin gutted it.
The Imperial Hotel dining room and coffee counter. They were famous for their pies, but the hot dishes were very good, too.
Virginia Café, with its nifty wooden booths, near Broadway.
Stewart Anderson’s Cattle Company in Gresham had great steaks served in those incredibly cozy “cocoon” booths.
Sylvia’s, NE 51st & Sandy, a stone’s-throw from the infamous Coon Chicken Inn. Sylvia’s claim to fame, aside from great pasta and pizzas, was bringing “dinner theater” to Portland. I recall seeing Red Skelton dining there about 1979, while his chauffeur-driven limo waited for him on the street.
Red’s, in downtown near the Georgia-Pacific Building. They had great char-broiled burgers, fries and shakes, and served a terrific bowl of chili. I always wondered what went on in the “private dining room” located above the restaurant.
Manning’s has been mentioned. I never visited the store on Broadway, but I do remember that in the 70s they had locations at Lloyd Center, and two in downtown: one near the old Blue Mouse Theater, and another on SE 12th, across from the Central Library.
Farrell’s has been mentioned, too, but does anybody else recall their original location on W. Burnside, where the Freddie’s store now stands? My cousin worked there in about 1961-1963, and I recall my mother taking us there for lunch.
The Buttermilk Corner, with several locations downtown. Don’t recall much about it other than that it was a small, hole-in-the-wall type place.
The Three Bells (?), on SE McLoughlin in Eastmoreland. Great flame-broiled burgers and ice cream.
Girtle’s on SE Union or Grand. Took my wife there on one of our first dates.
Captain John’s, on SE 12th, near the Central Library. A hidden little “nook” that was a real gem, with great seafood selections.
Biff’s on SE Glisan near 130th. A terrific old-fashioned seafood establishment, now occupied by a mediocre Chinese dive.
The International House of Pancakes (IHOP) near the Broadway theater district. The seating was a bit cramped, but the food was terrific.
The Hollywood Burger Bar on Sandy.
The Tillamook Ice Creamery on SE Halsey.
There was a great little diner that specialized in grilled-cheese sandwiches, located on 102nd and Halsey, whose name I can’t recall.
There was also a ramshackle little donut shack on SE McLoughlin, nestled against the berm beneath the Portland Traction Co. overpass. Don’t recall its name, but they had super-good donuts. This was in the late 50s and very early 60s.
Condon’s in Milwaukie and Oregon City had good hamburgers and fries, but specialized in ice cream and sundaes. This was before Baskin-Robbins and the other multi-flavor establishments came in.
What a fantastic comment – it’s almost its own post! Thanks for posting. John – Lost Oregon
John…thank you for hosting a terrific thread. It was a hoot to read other Portlanders discuss eateries that I recall from my youth, and some of which I had nearly forgotten until reading about them here. You are doing a splendid public service!
Does anyone remember the buffet inside the Newberry’s at Lloyd Center? It was at the east entrance near the door(s). For years I thought I had imagined the whole thing but one day I found an old postcard or photo online that showed it. This was in addition to the two other lunch counters…….or maybe the other lunch counter opened up when the buffet closed. Not sure.
It was sad when they closed the last counter there some 20 years ago as a lot of seniors met up there for cheap breakfasts and socializing. You don’t see a lot of older people around the mall any more. Or should I say that you don’t see much of anyone at the mall anymore.
Oh, yes! I remember the $.99 buffet! Our grandparents used to take us there. The Fred Meyers ( Walnut Park) on Interstate had Eve’s Buffet that was the same bargain
What a trip down memory lane! I started at the Polish Princess in ’76ish, moved on to L’omlette Anybody else have to wear those little French maid uniforms? I rode the bus to work with a big long trench coat over me! Then off to Couch street Fish House and Tuxedos. Horst Mager’s cousin Klaus was the manager at Steamers where I did my next stint as a disco bartender. We had to audition in the danskin outfits. Then to M&S when oak St opened in “79. moved to Jakes in ’82 or “83 maybe. Stayed with Jakes until 1998. Those were the days!
What about Captain Billy Bangs in John’s Landing. The best Turkey sandwich ever. Turkey, cream cheese, gruyere, cranberry sauce and lettuce. I still have one the day after Thanksgiving every year!
I was cooking for Paul Anderson’s La Bonne Crepe when he and Joe Kara opened the Princess, named after his wife Glenda.
My wife (then girlfriend) Heidi was a server at Billy Bang’s working for the Geklers after leaving the Dandelion Pub.
I cooked for Horst @ L’omelette as my last stop before Heidi and I opened Papa Haydn East in ‘78.
What a long, strange trip it’s been!
So many fond memories of many of the places mentioned in these comments. I was hoping someone in this forum might have the recipe for the hearty beef stew from Poor Richard’s. It was always my go to soup when I wasn’t feeling well and I have tried without any success at all of recreating it. Sometimes when I close my eyes, I can still remember the taste and smell along with the yummy garlic toast they served. I haven’t read through all the comments but will add a few of my favorites I didn’t see mentioned thus far, most around the Hollywood District since I grew up near there. Yaw’s, The Hollywood Burger Bar, and when I was a kid there was a restaurant by the Hollywood theater that my dad took me to for breakfast, Kilarney’s I think was the name. I remember the pancakes were huge and they used to always put extra whipped cream on my hot chocolate for me.
I remember going to a restaurant in Portland the evening of the day President Kennedy was killed in Dallas — Friday, Nov. 22, 1963. I believe the restaurant was Ireland’s. As usual, the place was busy that night, but the mood was somber. We had to stand in line for a table for awhile, and I seem to remember that we could see a TV news broadcast that was giving updates on the unbelievable story. That whole weekend was filled with news from Dallas and Washington. Then on Monday morning we realized that we had to go back to work and carry on with life. In those days we also liked going to the Manning’s Cafeteria downtown. My husband had grown up with Horn & Hardart in Philadelphia, so he was delighted to find a decent cafeteria in Portland. For about two years we had a small apartment in Lake Oswego. Fortunately for us it was located near a delightful L’Abbe restaurant. I could go on, but the point is we really enjoyed the greater Portland area in the early 60s, including foreign movies at the Aladdin Theater.
`Canlis Charcoal Broiler on top of the Hilton, Medieval Inn across from Dan and Louis. Hindquarter in LO, Country Bills, Dang those places were good…
Hi I worked at the Ramada Inn and Rueben’s in 1972. Is there any one that worked in either place then? I am looking for Nazie who convinced me to move to San Diego!
Anyone have any pictures of the FRYER TUCK’S on Sandy Blvd.?
The letters were on the roof, about 6 feet tall. Back in the 70s my friend climbed up on the roof and switched the F, and the T
Really wish I had gotten pictures of that!🤣🤣🤣
Lived here all my life or within 10 miles—thanks for the memories.
John’s Meatmarket’78-‘81 waiter/asst mgr.
Don Berchtold was the owner and Mark Gardner was Mgr. We just had a 45th reunion summer of 2023! Ringside overflow, Blazer busses, regular hangout for steel execs. Even was a piano bar.