Since Oregon banned onsite consumption at restaurants and bars, dining in Portland has changed completely. The local outbreak of COVID-19 has created a more tenuous safety net for restaurants, as employees fight to stay healthy and make a living. Birthday dinners don’t happen in cozy dining rooms or boisterous beer halls; getting Friday night takeout involves masks and gloves. Grabbing a drink is a thing of the past, unless that drink is still sealed to open alone at home. Things as simple as grocery shopping have become complicated, with limits on customers and long grocery delivery wait lists.
Trying to find a meal can be challenging, with unreliable delivery apps, countless restaurant closures, and details changing day-to-day. Here, readers can find an array of grocery shopping guides, takeout lists, and fun merch to buy as the Portland restaurant market traverses this new terrain.