The Hottest New Restaurants and Food Carts in Portland, February 2025
"Honoring the late Naomi Pomeroy’s vision, the rest of the L’Échelle team — Submarine Hospitality co-founder Luke Dirks, executive chef Matt Mayer, and wine director Michael Garofola — opened L’Échelle in pop-up form in August (its permanent restaurant space is not yet complete). Despite the restaurant’s star power, dining here is refreshingly casual. Dinner, served Thursdays through Saturdays, is walk-in only. At the host stand slash bar, a chalkboard menu lists bistro plates like country rabbit and hazelnut pate, bib lettuce salad with dijon vinaigrette, and duck confit with braised beans. Once seated at communal tables in the garden, diners clink glasses of French wine while dad rock filters through the flowering trees." - Paolo Bicchieri
