A parish is a county.
According to co-owner Tobias Hogan, he and his business partner Ethan Powell called their Pearl District Cajun eatery The Parish (231 NW 11th Ave.) - one of the best places in town to enjoy oysters - because they wanted their guests to feel at home.
The pair operate two Cajun hotspots in Portland - The Parish and N. Williams contender EaT (Ethan and Tobias, get it?). Because they deal directly with suppliers up and down the coast, the oysters they serve at both establishments are always remarkably fresh. An added bonus is that they can supply other restaurants in town.
Stepping into The Parish is instantly relaxing. The décor is beautiful and cozy, yet the ambiance is casual (yes, it’s homey). They pickle vegetables (very Portlandia) and offer bottles of their house-made red and green hot sauces at each table. The Pete Krebs Trio are a part of The Parish brunch experience on Sundays from noon to 3 pm.
At happy hour, I enjoyed the crisp wedge salad, soft-boiled egg with candied bacon and Russian dressing (how do they get the yoke to be perfectly silky and runny, while the egg white is thoroughly cooked?!), squash with feta cheese and boiled peanuts as well as fried chicken wings (one of the tastiest happy hour dishes I have ever eaten - they were piping hot, spicy and perfectly crispy). This was all accompanied by Gabe’s Rum Conundrum, an Oleo Saccharum creation from their $6 happy hour cocktail menu.
For dinner you can try crawfish pie, frog legs, rabbit, wild boar gumbo, jambalaya or crispy soft shell crab. I’ve heard the fried chicken dinner is exceptional! Don’t forget accompaniments like fried okra or red beans and rice.
The Parish would be a perfect spot to enjoy a quiet repast for lunch, dinner, happy hour or brunch while taking advantage of some of the fabulous shopping in The Pearl District. Within close proximity to The Parish are Jack Spade, Popina, House of Lolo and West Elm, as well as the historic Gerding Theater at The Armory.
The Parish
231 NW 11th Ave.
Portland, OR 97209
503-227-2421
Hours:
Sunday - Thursday: Lunch 11:30 am - 2 pm, Dinner 5 - 10 pm
Friday and Saturday: Lunch 11:30 am - 2 pm, Dinner 5 - 11 pm
Daily Happy Hour 2 - 5 pm
Sunday Brunch: 10 am - 3 pm
Sunday Happy Hour: 3 - 5 pm
