I was sad to see Portland Penny Diner go, but the Crown PDX, the pizza place that opened in the same space, admittedly gets even more business from me then PPD (which I loved and still miss their breakfast sandwiches). I go probably once a month now, though that is partially because since it’s only a couple blocks from my favorite beer bar (Bailey’s Taproom) that allows you to bring your own food, and I am often going to grab a slice or a whole pie to go with my beer. It’s now 50% Santeria + Bailey’s beer and 50% Crown PDX + Bailey’s beer.
Crown PDX is open late, which is a boon when you feel hungry a little later then the normal dinner hour after a beer share or a show. In fact, I think when it comes to late night / early morning Portland Eats, Crown PDX is among the best 3 in Portland. To be precise, last I checked they are open for lunch on weekdays (mid afternoon on the weekend) and then until 1 AM except Thursday Friday Saturday when they are open until 2:30 AM. 2:30 AM! So if you’re out late in downtown and looking for a bite, this is one of the best options to dine in or grab and go.
My favorite pizza from The Crown is this, the Imperial
The place is so pretty though – with custom wallpaper – that you might want to consider lingering and having a drink.
The Crown has some direction from Chef Vitaly Paley, but the day to day is executed perfectly by a third generation pizzaiolo Vinny Manna. The pizza is a combo of New York and Italy that is floppy enough to fold but not so thin it can’t hold up it’s toppings, and it has good chew. The dough uses a starter that is descended from Vinny’s grandmother starter in Naples.
The menu is limited to 4 classics and 4 signatures, with also specialty pizza combos of the day. You can buy pizza by slices (like the Meat Your Maker Pizza with sausage, salami, pepperoni, onions, olives below), as well as whole pies at sizes of 12″, 18″, or the Al Metro sized pizza you see held by Chef Paley, a 36 inch x 12 inch party pie which you can upgrade to 3 kinds of topping combos if you’d like.
If you’re vegetarian, look for the “You’re Basic” Cheese, Margherita, from the classic section or the Side Chick specialty pizza with cherry tomatoes, arugula pesto, and stracciatella fresh cheese.
My favorites though are the Imperial specialty pizza with fried chicken, pickles, ranch, honey, hot sauce. It sounds like a lot, but it all jives together perfectly with hot and cool and sweet and sour and perfectly cooked bites of crispy and tender fried chicken bites. If you see the Clam Pizza on special of the day, also don’t miss out on that – it’s probably the best in the city for your fix of New Haven style Clam Pizza.
They have pretty good cocktails as well while you’re waiting for your pizza. A Thai Stick Cooler cocktail offers lemongrass, lime leaf, galangal infused vodka, Thai tea, coconut, and lime.
To warm you up, a Banana Toddy is like a dessert with banana, rum, chantilly.
For something less sweet, go for the Tiger’s Tail cocktail with El Dorado 8 year rum, carpano, allspice dram, ginger, vanilla, scotch
Where is your favorite late night / early morning spot in Portland? Have you been to Crown Portland before?
I was sad to see Portland Penny Dinner go, too, but haven’t yet been to The Crown. Their pizzas look yummy!
Definitely The Crown has improved the pizza quality downtown
That place looks like a lot of fun!! And that Imperial specialty pizza with the fried chicken and pickles has my name written all over it!
It’s really a spectacular combo!