Top Chef Masters Winner Chris Cosentino Announces Jackrabbit Restaurant Inside Hilton Portland

Eater has learned the new Portland restaurant by San Francisco chef Chris Cosentino will be named Jackrabbit, and it will be located in the Executive Tower of the Hilton downtown, at 545 SW Taylor St., in the space recently vacated by Porto Terra Tuscan Grill. The Executive Tower is undergoing a remodel, angling to become more of a “boutique lifestyle hotel concept,” and Jackrabbit will open in early spring 2017 when the remodel’s complete.

Cosentino made waves last month when he teased that he’s opening a restaurant in Portland. The celebrity chef owns Cockscomb in San Francisco and this spring announced he’s opening Acacia House, in St. Helena, in Napa Valley, California. He won Top Chef Masters season 4 and competed on The Next Iron Chef.

An email sent to Eater from Jackrabbit says the restaurant will “draw inspiration from Portland’s history” and highlight local sourcing with “an extensive raw bar, gin-centric cocktail program, house-cured meats, and large-format signature plates.” Cosentino is working with long-time business partner Oliver Wharton on the project.

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How will this town handle another hotel restaurant from a celebrity chef ? Cosentino’s love of offal certainly seems promising. Departure has developed beautifully under Top Chef finalist, Gregory Gourdet, and Doug Adams, Portland’s other Top Chef finalist, practically ruled the city when he helmed Imperial. A new restaurant by Adams, Bullard, is also slated to open in 2017 — his inside the forthcoming Woodlark Hotel.

• Hilton Portland [Official Site]
• Celebrity Chef Chris Cosentino Announces Portland Restaurant [EPDX]
• Major downtown hotel getting a refresh, new restaurant [PBJ]