The Former Altabira Space on the Top Floor of Hotel Eastlund Has a New Occupant: Metropolitan Tavern

Practically a year and a fifty percent soon after the pandemic wiped out David Machado’s full cafe portfolio, such as rooftop restaurant Altabira, the finest patio view on the eastside last but not least has a new tenant.

Metropolitan Tavern quietly opened on the sixth ground of Resort Eastlund in mid-August. In point, the launch was so stealthy, you would not have even recognized the Northeast Grand Avenue house was occupied all over again until you ended up an overnight visitor, or transpired to seem up and catch sight of an open up umbrella or two on the deck.

“The friends at the hotel are instructed by the entrance desk that the cafe is open,” Todd Neelands, the Metropolitan’s typical supervisor, tells WW. “It’s not truly Portlanders who know it’s open.”

The City Cafe Group, which operates preferred westside eateries like decade-previous Brix Tavern, Bartini and Swine, introduced Metropolitan’s opening only late previous 7 days in an e-mail to its subscribers.

Neelands states Urban Cafe Team president Mark Byrum experienced been eyeing the vacant web site for some time now. The desirable perch was formerly home to Altabira, the most beer-targeted company in regional restaurateur David Machado’s selection.

Altabira shut in May 2020, along with the relaxation of his dining establishments: Nel Centro, Tanner Creek Tavern, Pullman Wine Bar & Service provider, and Citizen Baker, the previous of which was on the ground ground of Resort Eastlund. Machado’s was the very first substantial cafe team to fold because of the extended first lockdown and ability limits that accompanied COVID-19 pandemic safeguards.

The restaurant, for now, appears to be mainly the same—the rectangular bar with 16 faucets occupies the middle of the room, surrounded by 4-prime hardwood tables and prolonged banquettes. The great windows however stretch from the floor to the ceiling, giving stellar sights of the Oregon Conference Center’s spires, downtown large-rises and the West Hills.

“We need to have far more revenue to appear in just before we make any significant inside décor variations,” describes Neelands.

Metropolitan’s entrees will shift with the season. The existing lineup from executive cooks Aaron Franco and Cliff Denney consists of a lemony ricotta gnocchi studded with cherry tomatoes and blackened salmon drizzled in jalapeño salsa and served on a bed of basmati rice, and an 8-ounce filet mignon partnered with white cheddar mashed potatoes. The menu also functions a handful of artisan pizzas and shareables, like dips, sliders, oysters and deviled eggs.

Rooftop selfies are back—even if chillier temperatures send out photographers darting back inside right after a couple of minutes.

Neelands states they hope to preserve the patio open up through the winter for those people who nevertheless choose outdoors dining, while the pandemic presses on. Arrive following summer time, the Metropolitan programs to embellish with new deck furnishings. They essentially now have it, but the furniture they requested arrived far too late this year to make the swap worthwhile.

Metropolitan is open up 4-11 pm day-to-day, and is the cafe group’s 19th enterprise in the Portland metro location and Eugene, a listing which also consists of bars, party venues, and 3 catering corporations. Three new operations—86′d, Carlita’s Rooftop, and Gordon Tavern—are set to land in Eugene later this yr.

Linked: David Machado Closed All Five of His Dining places Simply because of the Virus, Ending His Occupation In the Restaurant Market. But He’s Not Bitter.