Kick back in Portland's own Tribeca - Neighborhood Discovery - restaurants, bars, coffee shops - Brief Article - Directory

Sunset, Feb, 2003 by Bonnie Henderson

OKAY, IT'S NOT TRIBECA YET, BUT CALL IT TRIBEFRE. The industrial triangle at the east end of the Fremont Bridge in north Portland between I-405 and I-5 is coming alive. Here are some highlights. Start with Mint (closed Sun; 816 N. Russell St.; 503/284-5518), a magnet for Portland fine foodies since its opening about two years ago.

Lively and smart, it hits just the right note with artfully prepared Caribbean- and Latin American--inspired dishes and inventive cocktails; reservations are a must. Half a block away, the ubiquitous McMenamin brothers have revived the White Eagle (836 N. Russell; www.mcmenamins.com or 503/282-6810), a workingman's bar when it opened in 1905 and a rock 'n' roll landmark in the '70s. It's back with live music, pub fire, and shared-bath guest rooms upstairs starting at $30 a night. Follow the new MAX light-rail tracks (set to go into operation in fall 2004) to the Gotham Bldg Coffee Shop (closed Sat-Sun; 2240 N. Interstate Ave.; 503/493-2646). Sure, the coffee's strong and good and th e scones flaky, but it's Gotham's updates of old-fashioned breakfast and lunch standards that are drawing notice.