Evoe

Evoe’s unassuming charm seems out of place on bustling Hawthorne Boulevard. Stepping into Evoe is a fresh respite from a busy day. Next door to Pastaworks, this restaurant serves up deceptively simple dishes with locally sourced ingredients. Perfect as a lunch spot or for an early dinner, Evoe is a warm and welcoming stop for visitors or Portland residents.

The restaurant describes itself as an enlightened snack bar which draws its name “from the invocation to Bacchus in Virgil’s Aeneid, ‘Evoe! O Bacchus.’” While other restaurants along Hawthorne have their own style, Evoe is our recommendation for lunch when visiting the neighborhood. The relaxing dining experience is perfect before catching a movie at the Bagdad Theater or browsing through the books at Powell’s.

When walking in, you can almost feel the soothing atmosphere bathe over you. For parties of two, sit up front at the bar. Here you will get the best view of the food and be able to chat with the staff cooking your meal. The cooks are very friendly and may even ask you about your travels. Feel free to enquire about their cooking techniques or ingredients. You will probably come away with a little extra knowledge for your next home-cooked meal.

Evoe specializes in “slow food.” This culinary movement emphasizes a move away from fast food. With a focus on locally sourced ingredients and carefully prepared dishes, you can taste their passion in every bite. With many local farms in the nearby Willamette Valley, visitors will soon understand why Portland is so rich in culinary talent.

A good recommendation is to share a salad and order two of their sandwiches. They also have wonderful soups, tarts, and other small dishes. Their Chevre Chaud with Arugula salad is an amazingly delectable treat. A bed of fresh Arugula topped with a lightly toasted side of goat cheese.

Evoe is the type of restaurant that will leave you wondering why every neighborhood does not have one or two similar eateries. With food featuring local ingredients and affordable prices, Evoe represents the future of food by remaining firmly footed in traditional rustic cuisine.

HelloPortland Tip: Buy a bottle of wine next door at Pastaworks and you can enjoy it with your meal for a corkage fee of $5.

- by William Crane, Portland Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

William Crane

William Crane is an accomplished print and online journalist (http://www.william-crane.com) His work covers a variety of topics including features, local community news, sports, music, and political/social issues. Graduating from Seattle University with a B.A. in Journalism, William's writing has appeared in a variety of different publications including the Stranger, Capitol Hill Times, the Skanner, Backfire Magazine, and the Internationalist.