Taylor Railwork’s Erik Van Kley IN at Accanto
He and partner Gabriela Ramos have also taken an ownership stake
by Alex Frane@FraniacDrinks Nov 10, 2017, 10:27am PST
Just weeks after shuttering their restaurant, Taylor Railworks, chef Erik Van Kley and his partner in business and life, Gabriela Ramos, are now part owners of Belmont’s Italian-influenced bistro, Accanto. Van Kley replaces executive chef Chris Frazier — now chef de cuisine beneath Matt Sigler at Renata — while Ramos will help run the front of the house and overhaul Accanto’s bar program.
Van Kley made his name as Gabriel Rucker’s right-hand man at Le Pigeon, before rocking seafood-forward menus of updated American classics at Taylor Railworks. According to Ramos, the two plan to gradually introduce new elements, starting with bringing in a half a pig a week.
“We’ll begin by making charcuterie and sausages to see where that gets us,” says Ramos.
Accanto will also launch throwback dinners in early 2018, inspired by the now-closed Genoa, one of Portland’s most historically important restaurants, often credited with introducing European-style food and fine dining to the city. Van Kley will work from binders of old Genoa menus that he unearthed in Accanto’s basement.
The Perfect Brunch For You - FANCY BRUNCHES
by Mercury Staff
Accanto | 2838 SE Belmont
Accanto is where you should go for brunch if you’re feeling extremely fancy. This is not the place if you want flapjacks and bloodies done okay—it’s where you go if you want to sip daintily from a tall flute of tart, fizzy Le Contesse prosecco instead of a mimosa; it’s where you go if you want chicory with your veggies and fritto misto for breakfast. Speaking of which: The fritto misto is a salty, crunchy delight. It’s the fanciest fried food ever and I could imagine sponging up a hangover with it. The salt is for rehydration! (I’m not a doctor.) Do you have a fancy date who likes fancy things? Do you want to feel sophisticated as you eat wonderful food while a Smog song plays in the background at just the right volume? Go here. MEGAN BURBANK Brunch hours: Sat & Sun 10 am-2 pm, $$$
The Best Brunches in Portland
By Thrillist Updated On 05/04/2017 at 05:01PM EST
Portland is rife with brunches. It’s as though some city legislation required every establishment that serves food to serve weekend brunch, even dive bars. And with so many to choose from, it can turn what should be a relaxing weekend activity into complete decision paralysis. So to alleviate that, we’ve rounded up the best brunches in the city -- although we can’t promise the lines will move quickly. Side note: Many are weekend-only, so if you’re looking for a midweek breakfast, check those out right here.
Accanto
Buckman
Genoa, one of Portland’s original prix-fixe dining experiences, is gone, but its offshoot, Accanto, lives on. The menu here is small and Italian-focused, including rigatoni carbonara and red beet ravioli, because why shouldn’t pasta be on a brunch menu? If you’re looking for something a little more traditional, though, Accanto delivers with biscuits and gravy, French toast, and even a standard two eggs with potatoes, toast, and bacon or sausage.
Alex Frane doesn’t always do brunch in Portland, but when he does, it’s usually to the place he was the night before. Follow his habits at @franiacdrinks.
Portland's 10 most underrated brunches
May 10, 2017
Congrats, you've found it. The hidden treasure. The golden hashbrowns at the end of the mimosa rainbow.
Last month, we set out to discover the undiscoverable -- 10 out-of-this world brunches in the heart of America’s most brunch-crazed town that somehow rarely seem to have a line. Could there really be dynamite dim sum without the DMV-style take-a-number system? Walk-in omelets worth getting out of bed for? No-wait breakfast tacos with a side of country music?
We started by asking readers for their favorites, compiled a list, then called or stopped by each restaurant -- more than 20 in all -- between 10 and 11 a.m. one recent Sunday, asking each about their wait times. Some promising picks, including The Woodsman Tavern, Grain & Gristle and Old Salt Marketplace, turned out to be full. One of the most frequently recommended spots, Verdigris, had a crowd spilling out onto Northeast Fremont Street and an hour-and-a-half wait. Go figure.
So yes, you can plan ahead with a brunch spot that takes reservations, or take your chances at one of Portland’s best new brunch spots, hoping they haven’t been discovered yet – hint: Tusk has, big time. But for those who like to wing it, here are 10 great restaurants that had tables available during Portland’s brunch prime time. We call them Portland’s 10 most underrated brunches.
Photos by Stephanie Yao Long | The Oregonian/OregonLive
Accanto
You might know this casual Italian restaurant as the surviving sibling of Portland’s legendary Genoa, or heard about its mini renaissance under chef Chris Frazier, but did you know about their Saturday-Sunday brunch? Apparently not, since we were one of three parties there on a recent weekend, despite the presence of a house-made, poached-egg-topped breakfast pappardelle and a thick stacked scrambled egg sandwich with bitter greens and Calabrian chile aioli. Ah well, more ricotta doughnuts and sweet-tart lemon curd for us.
21 Portland restaurants that take reservations for brunch
April 22, 2017
It’s safe to assume that if you’re planning to do weekend brunch, you’re going to be waiting in line. But it doesn’t need to be that time-consuming if you don't want it to.
Here are 21 portland brunch restaurants that all take reservations. So reserve your spot and sleep in this weekend. You've earned it.
Over 50 Portland restaurants to donate portion of weekend profits to ACLU in support of immigrants
February 17, 2017
After Thursday's nationwide Day Without Immigrants protest, Portland restaurant owners and chefs are joining together this weekend for a campaign they are calling "Immigrants Welcome."
The idea was the brainchild of Andy Ricker, owner of Pok Pok, who told KGW, "There's a bit of an atmosphere of intolerance and potentially worse than that right now."
"We just wanted to do something," Ricker added. "These are folks I've worked with my whole life in the industry and will continue to do so forever."
So Ricker sent out an email and now, a growing number of chefs and restaurant owners in Portland are pledging to donate part of their weekend proceeds, for many around 10 percent, to the American Civil Liberties Union.
Accanto Wins 2017 Experts' Choice Award and Best of Portland
April 22, 2017
We are delighted to inform you that Accanto has received our 2017 Experts’ Choice Award.
https://www.tripexpert.com/portland-or/restaurants/accanto
Accanto is among the recipients of the 2017 Experts' Choice Award from TripExpert. The Award reflects the views of journalists and professional travel writers and is bestowed on only the best restaurants around the world.
With accolades from sources like Zagat, Gayot and Not For Tourists, Accanto is one of the highest rated restaurants in Portland on TripExpert.com. TripExpert's unique rating approach takes into account expert reviews in travel guides, magazines, newspapers and other respected sources.
As one of the top restaurants in Portland, Accanto has also received TripExpert's Best of Portland award. Travelers can be confident that it is an outstanding choice for dining out in Portland.
32 of Portland Dining Month's Best Deals
More than 120 restaurants are vying for your attention for March's Portland Dining Month 2017. But with every restaurant delivering the same special—three courses for $29—which will you eat at? Use the curated map below to help you find the best Portland Dining Month deals to fit your style.
Firstly, the map gives preference to high-end restaurants in which the $29 price tag is an extreme bargain. Secondly, it gives preference to new and noteworthy spots worth taking for a test drive. Lastly, it features those restaurants that have proven to supply good deals in the past, which is to say they do not simply cut down on portion sizes but develop smart, tasty, and plentiful plates just for you.
Without further ado, here is where to eat for Portland Dining Month 2017. And as with all Eater maps, note the map points are not ranked: They're organized geographically.
#29 Accanto
Accanto has risen to new heights beneath executive chef Chris Frazier, who took over summer 2016, and for PDM, each course comes with two options, including two of those exceptional house-made pastas.
2838 SE Belmont St
Portland, OR 97214
(503) 235-4900
25 Best Italian Restaurants in Portland
February 23, 2017 by VacationIdea Staff
Portland is known for being a foodie's paradise and its selection of Italian restaurants certainly doesn't disappoint. The focus is on fresh, local, and sustainable, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t get your fill of traditional Italian flavor.
Portland restaurants serve everything from wood-fired pizzas to creamy risotto and families will be delighted to find affordable kid's menus in many of the eateries. Whether you're craving the taste of Tuscany, the flavors of Sicily, or simply some good old-fashioned Italian-American comfort food, you are sure to find something that will hit the spot.
Let’s Meet at Accanto for Dinner, Shall We?
June 30, 2016/in News /by Tamara Belgard
(Portland, OR) — Accanto,the hip and stylish neighborhood Italian restaurant in Southeast Portland, is all about fresh, seasonal Italian food, wine and cocktails. Simple yet sophisticated, with the warmth and welcome of a true neighborhood corner café, now Accanto has announced their new Executive Chef, Chris Frazier. Frazier’s diverse and distinguished background is bringing a new level of creativity to the kitchen, where his authentic, approachable, and grounded style shines.
Over the last decade, Frazier has been a lead member of several of the most celebrated Italian kitchens in both New York and San Francisco, including 3 years as Chef de Cuisine at DellAnima and L’Artusi in New York, and a similar turn opening Locanda in San Francisco. Rounding out his background are turns at Del Posto (one Michelin Star), Bouchon Bakery, managing the hearth at Saison (two Michelin Stars), and a stint as Chef De Partie of Momofuku Ko (two Michelin Stars). He returned to his hometown and took the helm at Accanto in May 2016, reimagining the entire menu and infusing the restaurant with fresh energy and perspective. In his free time, Frazier enjoys taking things apart and putting them back together, especially old scooters.
Accanto’s new menu demonstrates Frazier’s extensive knowledge of classic Italian cooking techniques, from perfectly simple Roman-style pastas to house-made charcuterie, and exceptional entrées that showcase the best ingredients of the season. Highlights from Chef Chris’ menu at Accanto include:
• CRUDO di CAPESANTE – Scallop carpaccio, crème frâiche, lovage and cured egg yolk
• ROASTED BEETS – House made ricotta, radicchio, rhubarb, cocoa nibs, bee pollen, licorice and saba
• PEACHES – Seared with chorizo, basil
• BUCATINI alla’MATRICIANA – House guanciale, rosemary and pecorino
• CAVATELLI con PECORA – Braised lamb neck and rib, mint, ricotta and english peas
• CAPELLINI con ARAGOSTA PICCANTE – Lobster knuckle and claw, garlic, anchovy, calabrian chili, dandelion greens, shaved lobster roe, bread crumb
• POLLO al DIAVOLO – Roasted summer squash, arugula and honey agrodolce
• GRASS FED OREGON BISON – Top sirloin steak with seared cherries, slow roasted cipollinis and shallots, smoked gorgonzola
Accanto is open for dinner daily (Sunday-Thursday 5:30-9:30pm and Friday-Saturday 5:30-10:30pm) and open for Brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 10am-2pm.
Chris Frazier IN as Executive Chef of Accanto
He has more Michelin-star experience than the Michelin Man
by Mattie John Bamman@ravenoustravelr Jun 29, 2016, 9:04am PDT
Located at 2838 SE Belmont, Accanto has served traditional and seasonal Italian dishes since opening in 2009, and last month, Chris Frazier took the position of executive chef. "My roots are in Oregon," Frazier tells Eater, "and after spending the last 11 years in New York and San Francisco, I found I was missing family and the Northwest and was ready to come back to Portland, buy a house, and finally settle down."
At Accanto, he's overhauled the menu, and some dishes step away from tradition. "I'll be blending everything I know about classic pastas and Italian regional food with the creative, 'no rules' approach of places like Saison and Momofuku Ko," says Frazier. "I've been really lucky to have a wide range of experiences over the years, but this is the first time that I can really synthesize it all and create something that's completely mine."
New dishes at Accanto include Capellini con Aragosta Piccante with shaved lobster roe and dandelion greens and, as a sidedish, peaches seared and topped with chorizo and basil. On the brunch front, Chef Chris recently featured home fries with braised kale, pork belly ragu, two poached eggs, and Calabrian hollandaise.
And speaking of Momofuku, the two-Michelin-star NYC restaurant by celebrity chef David Chang, Frazier's resume has more kick than a Calabrian chili. He managed the hearth at San Francisco's Saison (three Michelin stars, and at one point, the most expensive restaurant in California), and when it comes to Italian, he's cooked at New York's Del Posto, Dell'Anima, and L'Artusi and San Francisco's Locanda. To see what he's making at Accanto, visit the restaurant for dinner any night of the week, or for brunch weekends.
Portland restaurant power rankings: Where to eat right now
By Michael Russell | The Oregonian/OregonLive
Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on September 30, 2016 at 11:01 AM, updated October 26, 2016 at 4:42 PM
In the sports world, a power ranking is an attempt to order teams from best to worst using recent wins, major awards and the writer's own subjective rating.
Our Portland restaurant power rankings look to accomplish something similar. Here, we'll use all the data at our disposal -- news, word-of-mouth reviews, critical takes (including our own), various awards (both local and national) and our own experiences -- to determine which Portland restaurant you need to eat at next.
By design, this ranking highlights Portland's best new restaurants, including destination pop-ups Han Oak and Mae and line-worthy counter-service spots like Hat Yai and Poke Mon. But we'll also take a step back to highlight older restaurants that are doing something interesting -- see Accanto's new direction under chef Chris Frazier -- or that deserve a spotlight for their sustained excellence.
If our own visits don't match up to a restaurants hype, expect them to fall lower or off future lists. To see Portland's best places to eat, period, check out our ranked guide to Portland's 101 best restaurants.
9 AccantoAt six years old, the stylish Accanto (2838 S.E. Belmont St.) already feels like a neighborhood institution. But there's something new and exciting going on. Chef Chris Frazier (New York's Del Posto) took over this spring, adding a handful of new dishes, including the bucatini alla'matriciana, which deserves a place in Portland's pasta pantheon.
PORTLAND'S BEST BAR-ONLY BITES
Portland Monthly, July 31, 2013
"We’ve come a long way since the days when bar-only menus were limited to burgers and beer. Pubs and restaurants alike have elevated their offerings, so say hello to the new, improved counterparts to craft cocktails and small batch spirits. Whether your drinking PBR or a paloma, you'll enjoy top-shelf bar food at one of these seven Portland spots."
UNDERCOVER ENTRÉES HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT
- The Oregonian
"Like a lot of casual offshoots of upscale restaurants, Accanto -- side dish to Genoa -- has emphasized ambience, pasta and cash flow. The corner cafe has become a popular neighborhood hangout, with salami shuffled across tortellini, an array of Italian and Northwest wines by the glass, and a doubly inked atmosphere where squid meets tattoos."
PRESENTING 20 SPOTS WITH PDX'S FAVORITE HAPPY HOURS
- PDX.Eater.com
"Accanto's happy hour lasts for just one hour during weekdays, but it offers hearty portions of pasta at a deep discount (like a wedge of lasagna for $6). Drafts go for $3.50 and are best paired with $3 deviled eggs. Says one reader, "for quality interesting food Accanto is fabulous.""
DO GOODING DEAL FEED: ACCANTO
- PDX.Eater.com
"All day tomorrow (Wednesday, May 8), 18 Portland-area restaurants will pledge a portion of proceeds to the Raphael House, a local agency dedicated to ending domestic violence."
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