The man behind Woodstock's popular brunch cafe Toast and its Yolk food cart spinoff opens the doors to his lunch and dinner restaurant today. Donald Kotler's Bird + Bear brings a new casual eatery, complete with a sunny patio, to a neighborhood that could use a few more dining options.
Running the kitchen is chef Lawrence Gable (The Country Cat and Ava Genes), who has loaded the menu with family friendly dishes like arancini, calzones, salads, and chicken or eggplant parmesan served with polenta. But hearty hot and cold sandwiches make up the core of the menu, including meatball subs and burgers, plus more chef-y options like duck with a strawberry-rhubarb spread.
To drink, the small bar offers eight wines by the glass or bottle, three local beers on draft (plus a few in cans that can be taken home by the six-pack), and eight cocktails including a house margarita
Bird + Bear: 2801 SE Holgate Blvd., Portland, 503-954-2801. Hours: Sunday, and Wednesday through Thursday 11:30am - 9 pm; Fri - Sat 11:30am - 10 pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
