Stumptown Vegans

Times Visited: 2

Sckavone’s is another hip neighborhood joint in SE Portland that I’d love to see up their vegan options.
That being said, I really like being there. The restaurant is styled after the Sckavone family’s original soda shop in the 1930s, which was opened a couple blocks away on SE Division St. There are clean wood paneled booths, a row of middle tables with spacious isles, and the open bar has an old-fashioned meets modern-hipster look to it that reminds this reviewer of Vita Café.

It’s a restaurant that you walk inside, sit down, open the menu, and hope for enticing vegan options. New neighborhood dining in SE Portland should bring something vegan to the table, right? Truthfully, Sckavone’s doesn’t offer many vegan options, and what they do have is fairly forgettable - so why am I am even going to this place?

If I don’t recommend the food itself, what does it take to bring me back?

In this case, the appeal of Sckavone lies in it’s location and atmosphere. There’s a comfortable, open feel, local history and abundance of board games that make it a welcome addition to SE Division and 41st, an area formerly home to Food Fight!

Breakfast wise, tofu is free to sub into any scramble. However, for a vegan to enjoy said scrambles, cheese must be omitted. I don’t know about you, but it bothers me that while cheese was included in the cost, vegans aren’t exactly offered extra spices or vegetables when they leave it out. Back to the real world, my eyes automatically omit it when I’m reading my options, and hope I won’t be charged more if I daresay want to add garlic to liven things up.

On my first visit there was a close call of tofu shortage, but fortunately it was available. Two scrambles stand out in vegan-adaptivity against the rest: the Mediterranean and the Veggie. The names certainly aren’t going for any creative recognition, so I wasn’t too excited about the food. It’s substantial, but nothing memorable enough to bring me back. The tofu is was firm and cubed, which I am a fan of, but it wasn’t quite cooked. There was no browning. The vegetables fare a better, and the fun addition of avocado to the Veggie Scramble and olives to the Mediterranean bring something extra to your plate.

However, pushing the ‘forgettable’ card are the hashbrowns and the cute but non-vegan scones. Ask to substitute vegan-friendly dry toast for the scones and reach for the table-side jam. It was briefly forgotten that I subbed tator tots for hash browns on one visit, and I received two for the price of one. The hash browns themselves lack flavor, but the plate full of crispy tator tots was the best food I’ve eaten there , which doesn’t say that much - but I do like tots and you’ve read the rest.

They also bring another hummus plate to the world for $7. During happy hour, which is all day on Sunday, there is a discounted $3 plate of hummus, olives and pita bread.

Let’s move on past the food because I do give this place credit besides the location, atmosphere and decent tator tots?. No, these are not things to entice a cross-town visit, but Sckavone’s has a wall of board games and excellent cocktails. They also have discounts for bike-riders once a week. If you live in the area and have non-vegan friends, go hang out and eat some tots. Breakfast wise, Genie’s offers similar options with tofu and drinks, yet their fresh, versatile ingredients, cooked tofu cubes and excellent roasted potatoes make them my preferred SE Division St. stop (and their house smoked-tomatoes = love).

That being said, spending summer evenings at Sckavone’s with a Southern Cooler drink or an old fashioned vanilla cola and a game of Clue is pretty tempting. Enough said.

Mediterranean Scramble plate:

Veggie Scramble plate:

Sorry for the less than great photos this time around!

Rating: 2.75 out of 5

Address: 4100 SE Division St. Portland, OR 97202
Hours: Mon-Thu 10 am-12am, Fri 10am-1am, Sat 8am-1am, Sun 8am-12am

Time Visited: 2

Often referred to as Van Hanh’s NE sibling, 1. because I am sure I’d slaughter the name if I said it out loud and, 2. because the menu is similar.

If Nhut Quang was being judged only on atmosphere they would be in trouble. This little restaurant is connected to a gas station on NE Fremont and NE 82nd, between Honey Suckles and Pussycats, if you know your East side gentlemen’s clubs. The first time we visited we missed it because it didn’t seem like a likely location. Even once we entered it still didn’t seem like a likely location. Being the only people it felt very lonely. The walls are each different shades of green and blue without any other decoration besides a lone clock - ticking. If there was any other noise than the kitchen, like some music, the clock wouldn’t be a problem. The tick-tok of each movement reminded us of our mortality. After the second visit we decided it’s too uncomfortable to go back, but we would order our food to-go.

We’ve ordered just a sampling of the vast menu - Bird’s Nest Noodles, Pho, summer rolls, steamed bun, potato rolls, tofu dishes, and a combo. The sign boasts all vegan so we went for it all. All the food reminded me of the SE 82nd Asian market, Fubonn, from the mass amount of fake meats to the noodles and the sauces. It didn’t seem fresh or unique, but straight from a plastic wrapped package or bottle.

The Pho had a gritty broth as if a vegetable bullion has just been dissolved in boiling water. Then a round package of noodles was placed in, followed by some vegetables, fake meat, served with some fresh herbs. A similar recipe followed the other dishes. This isn’t to say the dishes weren’t good, they just weren’t fresh like the dishes at Pho Green Papaya or Bay Leaf ’s quality.

The dishes were good in a cheap Vietnamese restaurant way, which is perfect because that’s what Nhut Quang is - Vietnamese and cheap. The steamed buns were good, as were the salad rolls. Unfortunately, there’s not much to say about them. It’s the kind of food I used to eat when I’d drop by a Vietnamese friend’s house unexpected and she’d cook up something quickly.

This isn’t to say that I wouldn’t go back, it’s just located father from my house than I’d prefer to go for Vietnamese food. I could list off other places I’d recommend, but if Nhut Quang was in my neighborhood, I’d visit more often. If Nhut Quang is in your neighborhood, or you’re a big fan of Fubbon or Van Hanh - check this place out and help me fill in the gaps as to why I don’t have much to say about the food.

Pho:

Bird’s Nest:

Summer Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce:

Steamed Potato Bun:

Potato Rolls:

Fried Tofu:

Broccoli Combo:

Rating: 2.5 out of 5
Location: 3438 NE 82nd Ave. Portland, OR 97213
Hours: Mon-Tue and Thus-Sat 9am-9pm, Closed Wednesday, Sun 10am-9pm

Times Visited:3

This reviewer is head over heels for a pizza from a purple food cart that’s not even technically on the menu. Crusts can truly make or break a pie, or simply do nothing for an already mediocre dining experience. My bar may not be that high for Hammy’s potential late night delivery, but when I read about Sicilian artisan crusts from a SW food cart on Portland Food Carts, the intrigue grew.

Al forno ferruzza is a Sicilian food cart that opened earlier this winter in the PSU area corner of SW 4^th and SW College. Amongst a few other food carts in a parking lot, this is the only one that entices me.   It’s the type of place you have a warm feeling about while you’re discussing vegan options.  There is care and culinary passion in the discussion of your upcoming meal- this cart is out to satisfy. Both of the proprietors take orders and already have my vegan requirements down pat. They’ve even asked me if yeast was vegan!

The menu is small and is made up of pizza, calzones, pasta specials, paninis and bread. While there is actually no vegan pizza on the menu (yet!), simply ask and you’re in for a treat. Pizzas are cooked in a matter of mere minutes, but I would recommend calling ahead if you’re in a rush as there is only one chef. Personal pizzas are $6, with housemade garlic infused olive oil, roasted red peppers, marinated olives, garlic and local basil and rosemary grown by the cart’s proprietors. With spring and summer upon us, there’s hope for the toppings list to expand. Pies are cut into 4 slices, which may not seem like a lot, but I’ve had an extra slice leftover on each visit. It’s a meal that you find yourself enjoying each bite of - a bit of olive, rosemary, and crust; roasted red pepper, basil, repeat. Whole pies are also available at $14.

The crust is truly best freaking pizza crust I have ever had in town. I can’t get over that’s from a food cart by PSU in Portland! I grasp for words to describe it -rustic, light, chewy, thin yet substantial, with perfect bite: it’s everything I was always looking for at once. This is not an experience that calls for fake cheeze or hot sauce - order a side of the housemade tomato sauce to dip your slices into. It’s simple, sweet and made with high quality San Marzano tomatoes.

There have been vegan friendly pasta specials, so be sure to specify no cheese on top if you seen something similar. The cart itself closes for lunch around 2pm when the dough runs out and the lunch hour crowd fizzles. Towards 4pm, they sell handcrafted loaves of Sicilian bread, only one of which is vegan.

While I’ve enjoyed cheeseless and sauceless creations, some may be wary of calling it pizza and think of foccacia. Either way, it’s tops and puts the vegan foccacia slices at Hot Lips to shame. It’s a reminder of just how magnificent fresh bread can taste!

There are sadder aspects of this review: there is only one vegan meal item, no vegan desserts, calzones (which the dough would be perfect for!), pesto and the location itself. There’s little seating in the area, so take your pizza on a stroll to the park blocks or waterfront. PSU students and local workers are in luck, the the downtown lunch crowd does have a walk or bus ride to make it here. Everyone else with a love for pizza has to find a weekday lunch hour free for visiting.

It’s a 15 minute walk from my office in central downtown, but as you can tell, I think it’s well worth the treat.

Vegan Personal Pizza

Exterior

Rating: 4 out of 5 (yes, even with the one pizza! it would increase if they had more options)
Address: Corner of SW 4th and SW College, parking lot
Open: “lunch time”
Phone: 315-523-3407

Times Visited: 2

Noodles follows the new wave of fast-food corporate chains - cheap, fast, “fresh”, “healthy”, and semi-local. I assumed my vegan options would be minimal, but even Burgerville has vegan options, so I stopped by The Pearl location to see what Noodles is all about.

I wasn’t too far off. It’s a fast-food joint with “healthy” menu options, even 3 vegan options, and tofu! The restaurant has much of a new style chain feel to it as well -mixed seating - booths, tables, and bar. Bright colors in strategic locations draw you in and direct you, all while boasting about the company. The menu reminded me I was in a fast-food joint, but the signs reassuring me of their fresh ingredients, so it was clear that they are part of this “healthy fast food” trend sweeping the nation, like Chipotle and Baja Fresh.

The menu contains different noodle dishes from a few corners of the world - Asian, Mediterranean, and American. These include noodle dishes, soups, and salads. There’s also the option to choose your own protein, add sides, beverages, and desserts. For vegans there are three vegan noodle dishes - Japanese Pan Noodles, Bangkok Curry, and Indonesian Peanut Saute. Add tofu to any of these dishes and you have a fast, solid, decently priced, and tasty meal.

Bangkok Coconut would be a better name for the Bangkok Curry dish since it is light on the curry flavor. It is strong on the coconut and delicious enough to order again. The noodles are coated in the sweet coconut curry sauce while both the noodles and vegetables are sprinkled with an extra bit of chili powder mix. An extra $1.75 for the tofu would have been a nice touch but it wasn’t necessary for a $5.30 dish. This was a good price for a lunch or dinner. The meal was able to fill me up as I cleaned my plate. For a meal in The Pearl, that’s a steal!

The Indonesian Peanut Saute had a chili pepper next to it on the menu, though I didn’t believe it would be too spicy. However, it was on the brink of too spicy for this wussy Stumptown Vegan. I sprung for the tofu with this dish and I was glad I did because I had leftovers! Rice Noodles, broccoli, carrots, cabbage, and lots of peanutty goodness! There seemed to be more vegetables in this portion than the Bangkok Curry, which I enjoyed. The tofu seemed pre-cooked, then pan fried for to heat. The texture was firm and there was enough peanut sauce to fully coat the tofu. The menu does provide the option to add extra vegetables to the dish for 75 cents more, for those with a hollow leg.

The way you order is very fast-food-like: order at the bar and pay first. No need to bus your own table here, but customers are not allowed to tip. I was told this was to pass along the value of dining to the customer.

Since Noodles is so close to Blossoming Lotus it’s hard to say I’d go back soon. But, if I was low on funds I’d head back the next time I’m in the area since they have varying sizes of meals: small, medium and large, for varying prices. Take an omni for a casaul lunch or dinner. Oh, and if you have other allergies, ask to see the allergy matrix they have available - it’s very helpful! If you want a similar style of meal with more options and larger portions hit up a New Season’s wok bar.

Bangkok Curry:

Indonesian Peanut Saute:

Rating: 2.5 out of 5
Locations:

100 NW 10th Ave.
Portland, OR 97209

1445 N.E. Weidler Street
Portland, OR 97232

4655 SW Griffith Dr
Beaverton, OR 97005

12190 SE 82nd Ave
Clackamas, OR 97086

7216 NE Cornell Road
Hillsboro, OR 97124