Carpaccio Trattoria, Hokusei Sushi Now Open

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Images of Carpaccio Trattoria courtesy Avila/EPDX

NORTHEAST—Former "chef to the stars" Francesco Solda, a recent Portland transplant, debuted his Italian restaurant Carpaccio Trattoria last week in NE MLK's former Belly space. Solda, an alum of Southern California Italian spots La Gondola and l Fornaio, offers a dinner menu of four pastas, five varieties of risotto, and four proteins (like salmon with creamed potatoes and local asparagus; and scallops with celery root and pesto). An extended happy hour (from 4-8pm at the bar) highlights simple bites like chicken marsala, a simple spaghetti, and clams in a prosecco, lemon, and garlic sauce; weekend brunch features a half-dozen egg dishes and pasta entrees. Hours of operation: Sunday-Thursday, 4-10pm; Friday and Sat, 4-11pm (closed Tuesdays). Brunch is available on Saturday and Sunday, 10am-2pm. [EaterWire]
SE BELMONT—Also debuting last week: The SE Belmont building that also hosts Slappy Cakes welcomed Hokusei Sushi, a 47-seat spot featuring sushi by Tokyo native Kaoru Ishii (an alum of Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills). Unsurprisingly, Ishii offers a lengthy nigiri and sashimi list (with omakase menus offered at $15, $25, and $50 price points), with a handful of cooked entrees like a roasted Kurobuta pork shoulder with squash puree and bok choy. Hours of operation: Monday-Thursday, 4-10pm; Friday-Sunday, 4-11pm. Closed Tuesdays. [EaterWire]