In Portland, Oregon, The American Local restaurant opens January 15 (tomorrow), and I just returned from a surprising meal there. A venture by couple Jenny Nickolaus (host) and Chris Whaley (chef), The
American Local will set up shop at 30th Avenue and SE Division, which
Food & Wine Magazine named "one of the 10 Best Foodie Streets in
America" in May 2013, and the concept is 100% American izakaya.
Traditionally, an izakaya is a Japanese drinking establishment, and with the drinks come a fun menu of miniature dishes ideal for eating while drinking. The prominence of izakaya-style restaurants in
Portland has been on a steady rise, and famously, Andy Ricker's Whiskey Soda Lounge is designed as a Thai version of an izakaya. If you want to know what it's all about, begin there.
The American Local, interestingly, makes izakaya American. The dishes are made with local ingredients for the most part; they are reminiscent, at times, of diner food; and saké is on tap (yes, ON TAP). Here's a run down of what I tried:
Kennebec Fries/Gravy/Cheese Curd/Foie Gras ($10): This dish will probably cause the most stir among diners. An even more decadent version of Poutine, the dish is finished by shaving foie gras on top. The fries are made in house, of course—lending a Portland ethos—but do we really need foie gras Poutine? If you're a fan of Poutine, which I am not, then the answer has to be yes: This dish has the meatiness of fresh cooked giblets, giving Poutine a kick in the... ah, giblets.
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| Poutine with Foie Gras |
Bacon Beignet/House Made Espellete Pepper/Honey ($5): Bacon flavored donuts par excellence! Why mess around with Voodoo Donut's Maple Bacon Bar when you can have it all integrated: the bacon, the sweetness, the dough? These tasty guys are just fun, and I thought they paired very well the "Spicy fermented turnip," i.e. turnip kimchi ($3).
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| Bacon Beignet |
Crispy Grit Cake/Salmon Tartar/Sour Cream ($4): This dish is going to be The American Local's signature dish, in my opinion. It's light and beautiful. The grit cake has just enough of a hint of the flavor of Fritos to keep it interesting, and the tartar is obviously made using quality salmon, elevating the dish. I split mine: Don't make the same mistake.
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| Grit Cake w/ Salmon Tartat |
Brussels/Pickled Jalapeno/Blood Orange/Miso ($6): This dish was the first to show the chinks in The American Local's armor. Firstly, I loved the dish when all of the flavors were present; however, the miso and blood orange were mixed in inconsistently, and some bites lacked flavor. Since I ate it before the restaurant had even technically opened, I look forward to trying it again.
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| Brussels Sprouts |
Cumin Roasted Carrot/Avocado/Yogurt/Cilantro/Sunflower Seeds ($7): This complex dish places rustic carrots with harshly chopped tops and stringy bottoms still intact atop a silky yogurt. The cumin and avocado puts it over the top. This is one damn interesting vegetable dish, which certainly isn't common.
Pork Belly Skewer/Sriracha/Maple ($3) and Butternut Squash Skewer/Pistachio Pesto ($3): If you like pork belly, this is a smoky, spicy version that shouldn't be missed. It melts in your mouth, and the grilled edges add a chewy texture. The Butternut Squash Skewer, on the other hand, was also smoky and the pistachio pesto added some flavor, but overall, I found it bland.
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| Pork Belly Skewer and Butternut Squash Skewer |
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Poached Chicken/Noodle/Rich Chicken Broth/Egg ($12): Chef Whaley says of this dish, "We're all from somewhere—whether you grew up in Minnesota or your folks emigrated from Thailand—but wherever we are from, we all have a version of chicken noodle soup." His version has a principally ramen-esque broth and presentation, but also present was the salty, white-meat American chicken soup flavor that we all know and love. Unfortunately, I'm beginning to think that I don't like authentic ramen. I've made my own using David Chang's Momofuku recipe, and it tasted a lot like Chef
Whaley's: Sadly, it's not to my preference. Additionally, the noodles were pretty tough, and the dish was difficult to share.
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| Chicken Noodle |
The Takeaway: The American Local is an exciting restaurant in a neighborhood full of exciting restaurants. I think it will stand out though. As you might have noticed, the prices are low and the servings, especially in terms of the the vegetable dishes, are large. Having saké as well as two wines on tap lends a fun atmosphere—as does the simple and astute decision to offer an American-style izakaya. Portland and pub food have had a long and beautiful relationship: Maybe it's time to embrace the next level.
