Michelin Guide-Recognized Restaurant from Barcelona to Expand to Portland’s Pearl District

Restaurante Can Font is a traditional Catalan restaurant located in an ornate villa in the countryside near Barcelona, Spain, and Eater has learned it is preparing to open a second location in The Pearl District of Portland in early 2017. Speaking with Eater, co-owner Vladimir Zaharchook-Williams says Can Font Portland will serve “traditional Catalan fine cuisine with locally sourced products in a modern Northwest atmosphere.” It will be located in the Cosmopolitan building at 1075 NW Northrup St. (see architectural renderings below) and hopes to open this January.

Along with Zaharchook-Williams, Can Font is owned by executive chef Joseph Vidal, who will serve as executive chef of the Portland kitchen. In Spain, Vidal’s Can Font is included in the 2016 Michelin guide. It does not currently have a Michelin star.

Can Font has been planning the restaurant since at least January 2015, and to help navigate the local restaurant scene, Can Font Portland has hired Jasper Shen — the chef formerly of Aviary and currently behind the forthcoming Chinese restaurant, XLB — as project manager.

Eater was first alerted to the news through several inquisitive reader tips. Can Font Portland is not ready to announce specific dishes, but the restaurant did give Eater the early renderings below: Portland-based design firm Baines Design is heading the project, and the images appear to feature a large dining room with a bar and smaller lounge area with a second bar. Large quantities of wine and a very fashionable waiter also appear to be on the horizon:

Can Font

• Can Font [Official Site]