Portland's Screen Door dishes up Southern comfort classics like crispy fried chicken over sweet potato waffles in a cozy, lively spot with a welcoming vibe.
"Yes, people still line up on Burnside for Screen Door’s local take on Southern food, served in a stylishly rustic space, bolstered by an enclosed patio. But with online reservations—and a new location in the Pearl District—getting a prime Saturday morning table is easier. Tourists and locals alike are queuing up for the autumnal cinnamon-spiced sweet potato waffles topped with as many pieces of peppery, perfectly crispy fried chicken as you’d like and served with deep amber maple syrup, plus lowcountry classics like shrimp in a smoky tomato sauce on creamy, cheddar grits. The boozy bananas foster french toast is also a calling card—all that’s missing is the tableside flambée." - Krista Garcia
"Screen Door will offer its Thanksgiving menu all day on November 28, starting at 11 a.m. Look forward to the classic turkey dinner, plus fried chicken, a red wine-braised pork shank, apple fritter hushpuppies, and more. Dessert options include a Creole pecan pie and a sweet potato cheesecake. Reservations are available through OpenTable." - Rebecca Roland, Eater Staff
"Yes, people still line up on Burnside for Screen Door’s local take on Southern food, served in a stylishly rustic space, bolstered by an enclosed patio. But with online reservations—and a new location in the Pearl District—getting a prime Saturday morning table is easier. Tourists and locals alike are queuing up for the autumnal cinnamon-spiced sweet potato waffles topped with as many pieces of peppery, perfectly crispy fried chicken as you’d like and served with deep amber maple syrup, plus lowcountry classics like shrimp in a smoky tomato sauce on creamy, cheddar grits. The boozy bananas foster french toast is also a calling card—all that’s missing is the tableside flambée." - krista garcia
"Screen Door may now be treated as a running joke for its infamously long lines, but there’s a reason it became as popular as it did: the sweet potato waffle with a towering stack of fried chicken drizzled with syrup. But the breakfast dish is far from the only reason to visit, thanks to options like chicken and dumplings, shrimp and grits, and praline bacon. Plus, lines have dramatically shrunk, now that it takes reservations and operates a second location in the Pearl District." - Eater Staff
"Southern cuisine heavyweight Screen Door’s original east side location is known for having lines down the block for bananas foster french toast and sweet potato waffles weekend brunch, but diners can get in with relative ease on weekdays. At dinner, the boneless buttermilk fried chicken is the main attraction: enormous chicken breasts and thighs with a shatteringly-crisp, black pepper-heavy crust served alongside mashed potatoes with tasso ham gravy and the option of either collard greens or coleslaw. The banoffee pie, a chilled caramel and banana cream number with pecan shortbread crust, is a great way to end a meal at any time of day." - Thom Hilton
