Thanks for bringing back some great early food memories! I helped open Digger O’Dells and was a backwaiter/busser/host for a few years in college. The “German restaurant on 82 ND and Burnside that Jim Darke mentioned was actually a Swiss place called THE MATTERHORN and operated until early 2000s when it was sold and they built a Walgreen’s. HOLMAN’S at SE 28 TH and Burnside is still open and operating last I checked. (Union Avenue Social Club was the name given after he sold it) I believe it had a Greek style menu, but I may be mistaken on that. In honor of Memorial Day, here’s a salute to the groundbreakers who gave their all to help set the stage for the modern day Portland dining experience.ġ0/25/13 update: This has proven to be one of the most popular posts ever on Lost Oregon! I encourage you to read the comments – a bit jumbled – but some great memories there! Here’s one example (from Ross Pullen – he’s a goldmine for local food history):Īsparro’s on SE Grand was a fixture for years. Mustaches, feathered hair, smoking, orange decor, and wood paneling ruled the day. Long before Portland became Foodgasm Central, home of artisan food worship and countless breathless articles written by the national media, there was the 1970s.
