Indoor Eating When the Weather is Wet - Fall 2013 Update!

September 29, 2013

Indoor Eating When the Weather is Wet - Fall 2013 Update!

Photo - taken by Lizzy Caston, Banksy, New Orleans, 2009

OK kids, looks and feels all gloomy, wet and doomy out there. Sadly, the consistently warm days of summer 2013 are OVER. While many food cart pods (especially the ones on the Eastside) now have covered seating with heaters and other fine amenities (booze even!) or are attached to bars where you can down a drink and eat with abandon, the downtown carts are often a different story.

And Portland's Food Carts take a big hit once the weather turns nasty. Some lose over 50% of their business during the winter months. So, if you love the carts and small businesses like we do, do try to support them even when it's blistery and bad out. And if you do eat your food in an office lobby or other food court area, consider supporting the food vendors located there too on occasion too, or at least buy a beverage or dessert from them. Share the small business love, man.

Here's a few indoor or covered places to eat downtown that we know about:

image from City of Portland. www.portlandonline.gov
image from City of Portland. www.portlandonline.gov

 
  • (*New for 2013!*) Ecotrust Building (Jean Vollum Natural Capital Center) on NW 10th and Irving. Not sure why this one slipped our food cart brains for um, about 5 years, but whoops there it is. A beautiful space with a couple of tables on the first floor atrium near Patagonia. If the Portland sun does decide to make a rare appearance, there's also a swank outdoor patio upstairs with a seating and a fireplace.
  • (updated 9/30/13) SW 5th and Oak – the US Bank Tower – sometimes called Big Pink – has indoor public seating on the first and second floor mezzanine area. This area has tables and chairs and is pretty comfortable. Currently the Mezzanine is closed for remodeling, but there are a few places to sit ground floor level near Burnside St.
  • The Ace Hotel on SW Stark and 10th Ave. has both lounge seating downstairs and what we call “the study hall” upstairs, with a cozy long sofa nook, a wingback reading chair, and little stools around a big table. A great place to work and eat in a quiet place.
  • SW 4th and College, PSU Engineering Building– across the street from the 4th Avenue and Hall cart pod. Inside, in the basement, are plenty of tables and chairs. There's also several other places just a couple of blocks away on the PSU campus – Smith Center, the main student center on SW Broadway has a ton of tables and other seating on the first and second floor, with a nice view of the Park Blocks.
  • Pioneer Place Mall on SW 6th Ave. – yep, the mall. There's plenty of bench and table seating spread about, but especially on the basement level. This is another one of those sweet deal real estate deals by the City - although privately owned it has a 30 year tax abatement, so don't feel guilty using it for your own brown bag or takeway lunch. If you pay Portland taxes, you helped build and keep the mall running. Although it's nice to support the other vendors there too - consider buying dessert, part of your meal, or a beverage from the food court. Bon Apetit!
  • ODS Health Building on SW 2nd Ave. and Morrison, next to Nordstrom's Rack has about four small tables and a few chairs in their lobby.
  • City of Portland Building and City Hall on SW 5th. You'll need to check-in with security, but there's seating on the main floor of the City Building, and seating in the basement of City Hall. You might even find yourself sharing your curry alongside members of City Council and the Mayor.
  • The Multnomah County Library on SW 10th Ave. (with a caveat). The rules for this one are a little squishy, so proceed at your own risk, respect the librarians, and do be mindful of other patrons. I've enjoyed a sandwich and soda in the main reading room with no problems. The rules state, “(NO) Consuming food or drink that creates a nuisance because of odor, garbage or spills. Non-alcoholic beverages in closed containers and small amounts of snack foods are allowed. No food or drink of any kind are allowed inside the John Wilson collections at Central Library.”
  • Federal Courthouse on SW 3rd Ave. and Taylor – there is a public lunchroom on the 10th floor. You do need to get past security. Leave the titanium fork and spoon at home.
  • Director's Park at SW Park and Yamhill has a large covered area. While the tables and chairs are reserved for patrons of Elephant's deli, the long bench on the side of the park is open for anyone to use.
Know of anymore indoor seating downtown or close that's apropos for food cart meals? Leave a comment below, cause we'd love to know! Happy food carting - The Food Carts Portland Team

 
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