Either/Or (restaurant)

Coordinates: 45°33′7.8″N 122°40′1″W / 45.552167°N 122.66694°W / 45.552167; -122.66694
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Either/Or
Exterior of the location in Portland, Oregon's Boise's neighborhood, February 2021
Map
Restaurant information
Street address4003 North Williams Avenue
CityPortland
StateOregon
CountryUnited States
Coordinates45°33′7.8″N 122°40′1″W / 45.552167°N 122.66694°W / 45.552167; -122.66694
Websiteeitherorpdx.com

Either/Or (sometimes Either/Or Cafe) is a restaurant in Portland, Oregon.[1][2][3] The business operates on North Williams Avenue in the Boise neighborhood; the original location, in southeast Portland's Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood, closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Description[edit]

Exterior of the Boise location, 2021

Either/Or is a restaurant on North Williams Avenue in Portland's Boise neighborhood. Previously, Either/Or's original location operated in southeast Portland's Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood.[4] The business's name refers to Elliott Smith's 1997 studio album of the same name.[5][6] Either/Or is queer-owned, has a large LGBT clientelle, and is "designed for all marginalized populations to feel at home", according to Jack Rushall of Willamette Week.[7] The restaurant has been described as a "queer space".[8]

The business has operated as a coffee shop during the day and a cocktail bar at night. The "Chinese-influenced" menu has included breakfast sandwiches,[9] noodle bowls with sausage or tofu, as well as vegan "fried chicken" sandwiches.[10] The drink menu has included Aperol spritzes, mimosas,[11] coffee soda,[12] and cocktails which include coffee.[13] The Salty Russian is reminiscent of a White Russian.[14]

Either/Or has also served chai lattes,[15][16] and has used Heart Coffee Roasters.[17][18] The restaurant has also made caramel, orgeat (almond/orange), and vanilla syrups in-house.[19]

History[edit]

Ro Tam is an owner.[20][21] The original location in Sellwood-Moreland closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.[22] The Sellwood-Moreland location also operated as a tea bar, and Tam is also the owner of Tanglewood Beverage Company.[23]

In 2023, Eater Portland editor Brooke Jackson-Glidden received the James Beard Foundation's Jonathan Gold Local Voice Award in part for her essay about Either/Or.[8][24]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (2022-06-30). "When I Feel Unmoored by Life, I Always Find My Way Back to Either/Or". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2023-01-31. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  2. ^ "Either/Or Is a Coffee Shop, Brunch Spot and Cocktail Bar All in One". Willamette Week. 2018-07-10. Archived from the original on 2021-04-17. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  3. ^ Damewood, Andrea. "Either/Or Is A Very Good Bar/Restaurant/Coffee Shop". Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on 2022-07-11. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  4. ^ "Portland's Best Indie Coffee Shops". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2023-06-09. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  5. ^ Greenwald, David (2016-06-07). "5 Portland restaurants named after music favorites". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2021-10-26. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  6. ^ "There's an Elliott Smith-Themed Bar in Los Angeles Now". Willamette Week. 2017-04-21. Archived from the original on 2017-12-27. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  7. ^ "So You're Queer, But You Don't Drink? Here's Where to Meet People in Portland". Willamette Week. 2017-09-08. Archived from the original on 2019-03-30. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  8. ^ a b "Portland Cooked Up More James Beard Awards than Any Other City". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2023-07-25. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  9. ^ Frane, Alex (2019-02-27). "17 Spots to Grab Amazing Breakfast Sandwiches". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-10-21. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  10. ^ Fodor's Inside Portland. Fodor's Travel. 2020-04-07. ISBN 978-1-64097-251-3. Archived from the original on 2023-09-17. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  11. ^ Williams, Nathan (2023-06-16). "15 Delicious Destinations on North Williams Avenue in Portland". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2023-06-22. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  12. ^ "Sparkle Party: Where to Get Bubbly Coffee Drinks in Portland". Willamette Week. 2015-11-11. Archived from the original on 2019-05-10. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  13. ^ "The Hybrid Coffee Shop–Wine Bar Is My Favorite Place to Drink Right Now". Bon Appétit. 2019-02-05. Archived from the original on 2023-03-24. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  14. ^ Frane, Alex (2021-06-17). "12 Fantastic Coffee Cocktails to Knock Back in Portland". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2023-08-11. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  15. ^ Townsend, Nick (2021-01-28). "11 Places to Find Charming Chai Lattes in Portland". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-10-29. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  16. ^ "Portland's 10 Best Chais". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  17. ^ Rogers, Levi (2015-02-24). "Sip Coffee at These 13 Charming Cafes in Portland and Beyond". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2023-08-23. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  18. ^ Russell, Michael (2015-11-23). "Where Portland's restaurant critic goes for coffee". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2021-12-07. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  19. ^ "Seven must-try winter lattes made with local syrups". The Oregonian. 2013-12-11. Archived from the original on 2023-09-17. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  20. ^ Smith, Molly J. (2021-03-16). "One Year In: How We Survived". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2023-03-18. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  21. ^ "Welcome to the Brave New World of Cannabis and Caffeine Pairings". Willamette Week. 2016-11-09. Archived from the original on 2023-02-06. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  22. ^ Wong, Janey (2021-01-20). "Portland's Restaurant, Bar, and Food Cart Closures". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  23. ^ Bamman, Mattie John (2016-02-08). "Punk Rock Frontman Opens Sellwood Wonton Noodle Soup Shop, Interior Revealed". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2023-03-22. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  24. ^ Wong, Janey (2023-04-26). "Here Are the 2023 James Beard Media Award Nominees From Portland". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2023-06-09. Retrieved 2023-09-17.

External links[edit]