Last weekend I had a deliciously meaty variation on sliced summer tomatoes. They were served with bonito flakes (and tasted even better with a steak we ordered). I was getting a last meal at Lazy Susan, which was closing for good the day I ate there. It brought up the diner’s version of “Is it better to have loved and lost?” (Of course! At least for food.)
But don’t fret. There are plenty of places opening too. Earl Ninson, the beloved Portland restaurateur behind Lazy Susan as well as Eem, Langbaan, and Hat Yai, is expected to open his next venture soon: Yaowarat, a take on the food of Bangkok's Chinatown. (I wonder if it’s bound for Lazy Susan’s Montavilla location.)
And here are a couple of other openings that have grabbed my attention in recent weeks:
- The Houston Blacklight. That’s a bar from the same team behind the Indonesian restaurant Gado Gado. They’re getting some love for their interesting food, but also their drinks, including a slushie called a “Thot Experiment.”
- Cousins Maine Lobster. It’s a Los Angeles chain that expanded after having its moment of fame on “Shark Tank.” They’ve got a truck that moves across the metro area; consult the schedule. And if my experience was any indication, prepare for a line. Let me know how it is. I couldn’t spare the wait.
If I could conjure a Portland restaurant back into existence, I’d probably pick Old Salt. I loved the smoked chicken there. What now-shuttered bars or restaurants do you miss most?
