Winter 2016 brings some of the most anticipated restaurant openings of the entire year, from the reopening of 113-year-old Besaw's, to one of the most anticipated openings in the nation, Pine Street Market. You'll find familiar faces that didn't make their projected openings from the fall list of most anticipated restaurant openings, with lots of new restaurants to get your stomach a-growlin', too.
The Situation: From the team behind the creative Spanish tapas and paellas restaurant Ataula come two new concepts: 180 will be a small churros and drinking chocolate bar, and located adjacent, Chesa will focus on paellas cooked in a charcoal oven and never-before-seen small plates.
Projected Opening: 180 aims for end of January; Chesa soon after
The Situation: From the guys behind Hale Pele and Coco Donuts, Americano is revving up to serve coffee, cocktails, and a full menu of "bitter circus" cuisine designed by chef Chris Debarr, inside the Burnside 26 apartment building.
Situation: Dating to 1903, Besaw's is one of the city's oldest and most beloved restaurants, and when it reopens, owner Flug won't just serve up Besaw's signature dishes but dishes created by chef Dustin Clark, who ran the iconic, now closed Wildwood Restaurant. The Solo Club will be a separate, adjacent space.
Projected Opening: Besaw's will open January 21; the Solo Club will likely open in February
Situation: Coming from the team behind The Picnic House, Barlow, and High Noon, ChkChk will be a quick, casual, counter-service restaurant that's all about two signature sandwiches: a guilty-pleasure fried chicken sandwich and a vegetarian version made with chickpeas—both made with quality ingredients.
Players: John Janulis, Liam Duffy, Ben Hufford, Ian David, Clyde Wooten, Jacob Carey
Situation: With bleacher seating and huge television screens that disappear into the ceiling when the game's over, Century is billing itself as the sports bar that isn't a sports bar. For instance, it will have a huge rooftop deck and will double as a wedding venue. What else would you expect from the crew that brought you Jackknife, the Sweet Hereafter, and the Bye and Bye?
Projected Opening: Potentially the weekend of the Super Bowl (February 6-7)
Situation: Hat Yai will be a spin-off restaurant from PaaDee and its famous hidden restaurant Langbaan. According to PoMo, Hat Yai will feature Southern Thai dishes, such as fried chicken. The 38-seat space will offer a la carte menus and counter service, and Ninsom is bringing in chefs with serious cooking experience, both from Portland and the Thai city of Hat Yai.
Players: Mike Thelin, Jean-Pierre Veillet, Rob Brewster, David Davies
Situation: The Downtown food hall featuring Feast co-founder Mike Thelin as culinary curator is shaping up. Housed in a 1886 building, the food hall will be home to Marukin, the Japanese ramen franchise; John Gorham's Pollo Bravo chicken rotisserie; and Common Law by Patrick McKee (Paley's Place). Additionally, you'll find new restaurant concepts by no less than Salt & Straw, Barista, The Country Cat, Olympia Provisions, and Trifecta bakery.
Projected Opening: Mid-February (for some tenants)
Players: Kevin de Garmo, Kaie Wellman, Bruce Silverman, Lyf Gildersleeve
The Situation: The Pastaworks-envisioned marketplace will sell flowers, local meats, local seafood, local produce, European groceries, and baked goods by Little T Baker. For onsite dining, you can order from The Flying Fish Company's oyster bar; Pastaworks's Arrosto, a wood-fired, Italian-style rotisserie; or the menu at Pastaworks. Onsite seating will include outdoor and indoor options.
Situation: The new restaurant from Ox's Greg Denton and Gabrielle Quiñónez Denton is shaping up to serve bold small plates in the space formerly home to Gruner.
Projected Opening: Last week, ChefStable's Kurt Huffman let it drop that SuperBite aims to open come March.
Location: The former Fenrir space above Cellar Door Coffee Roasters, at 2005 SE 11th Ave.
Players: Doug Weiler and John Pickett
Situation: Chefs Weiler (Glyph) and Pickett (Biwa, Ración) have found a home for their "Cascadian Cuisine." When it opens, Willow will focus on creative uses for local Northwest ingredients.
—— Small-plates restaurant Fenrir continues to work on reopening in a larger space, but no location has been announced.
——Taking over Jamison's former abode in the Pearl, the casual The Hairy Lobster promises pastries from former Per Se and Madera pastry chef Melissa Root and eclectic small plates from chef David Root.
——Since leaving its Pastaworks space on SE Hawthorne, Nodoguro is seeking a home, while taking up temporary residence at Ataula and 511 NE 24th.
—— The beloved downtown vegan food cart Sonny Bowl will soon open as Rabbits Cafe inside the U.S. Bancorp Tower this winter.
—— Spielman Bagels is working to open at 2314 NW Lovejoy by the end of January, and it is also relocating its Division store to a larger space.
——A collaboration between The Slants bassist Simon Tam and Either/Or's Ro Tam, Tam will be a seasonal, won ton noodle soup pop-up restaurant in Sellwood, according to Portland Monthly.