Flattop & Salamander

A New Brunch Spot Is Topping Chicken and Waffles With Chile-Lime Honey in Southeast Portland | Eater Portland

"Opened by Bar Mingo alums Samantha Castle and chef Todd Brown after an earlier 2018 attempt stalled over permits and a pandemic delay, Flattop & Salamander — named for two kitchen appliances — took over the former Grace Cafe space on January 12; I saw they gave it a cozy makeover, installed a new flattop, and now serve brunch from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily at 1401 SE Morrison Street. The menu leans on genre standards with twists: chicken and waffles come with maple-and-bacon butter or hot chile honey; corned beef hash uses house-made corned beef and poblano peppers; house-made biscuits are smothered in gravy with frizzled onions; and a standout is the Honduran baleadas — flour tortillas folded with beans, crema, queso duro, and scrambled eggs. Many kitchen touches are house-made (jams, honeys), and the bar features house-made Bloody Mary mixes including a verde version with tomatillos, cilantro, and lime; many cocktails incorporate coffee or coffee liqueurs (Spanish coffee, espresso martinis), and there are Prosecco-finished spritzes and mimosas with fresh-squeezed juice, plus smoothies, hot chocolate, juices, and coffee. The indoor dining room is warm and cozy, with warmer wall colors, a specials chalkboard, and rotating local art every three months." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden