El Cubo de Cuba, Brooklyn House, Twist Certified Open

[Avila/EPDX]

1) SE Hawthorne: Downtown food cart El Cubo de Cuba has made it official at its brick-and-mortar restaurant, which takes over a former fast-food taco location on SE Hawthorne. Owners Emily Roskam and Milko Vigil Escalera shuttered their cart earlier this year to build out a restaurant with sprawling back patio, full bar, and food menu featuring Cuban "plates" in addition to familiar sandwiches and sides. Roasted mojo pork and guava-mojo baked chicken are holdovers from El Cuba's cart days, as are fried plantains (tostones and maduros). Escalera rounds out the menu with yuca fries, ropa vieja, and a vegan-friendly plate with avocado salad and beans. More information at the spot's official Facebook page. [EaterWire]

2) Brooklyn: The switcheroo is complete at SE's onetime Berlin Inn, which has re-opened as the Brooklyn House. The Oregonian brings first word that the "European-style comfort food" restaurant debuted last month with a menu of salads, small plates (grilled leeks with herb oil and pesto), Tabla-made fresh pasta, and entrees (like a herb-crusted lamb with risotto). Hours of operation: 4p.m. to 10p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. More information here. [OregonLive]

3) NW/Alphabet District: Southwest's Twist Frozen Yogurt debuts its second Portland-area location inside NW 23rd Avenue's new Savier Street Flats (the building that will soon also house additional locations of Pacific Pie Co. and St. Jack). Officially called Twist Frozen Yogurt & Coffee Bar, the spot offers Ristretto Roasters coffee, vegan pastries from Petunia's, and regular pastries from Pearl Bakery, in addition to 12 flavors of YoCream frozen yogurt. The opening flavor lineup features salted caramel corn, pistachio, cookies n' cream, and "luscious lemon," among others.
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