Alto Bajo Brunch

We’re rounding the corner to the end of January, and as the dark winter days are now getting shorter, I thought I’d give you still a little more color for your breakfast or brunch. Alto Bajo is a restaurant in the new boutique Hi Lo Hotel (in fact, Alto Bajo is Spanish for High and Low) offering a blend of Northwest with Oaxacan cuisine for weekday breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and a weekend brunch. All of the seatings take reservations, including brunch.

The hotel and restaurant are new, so still seem a bit under the radar on the Portland scene. I really like their twist on brunch, so wanted to highlight it here for you. Otherwise, I’ve been here for drinks a couple times – getting drinks in the Hi Lo very cool lobby area is a classy way to start a night out downtown. Alto Bajo does not have its own bar, and so the drinks are shared between this lobby bar and the restaurant.

   

The Alto Bajo restaurant interior still echoes the openness of the lobby and simple modernist design.

 

As an aside before talking about the Alto Bajo brunch, Alto Bajo / Hi Lo hotel also has quite the beverage program. They have their own exclusive set of drinks made especially for them – including a Smith Teamaker Tea blend called Mayan Jamaica with hibiscus flowers, orange peek, cacao nibs, star anise, cassia, and licorice. This is great with soda water by the way. They also have Alto Bajo exclusive alcoholic beverages, such as cider from Reverend Nat’s called Sidra del Sol, a Red Ale special beer from Royale Brewing, and a red and white wine from Willamette Valley.

I’ve had all of those, but when I’ve come here I tend to order cocktails, especially since they have an interesting selection of tequila and mezcal. For instance, if you want something refreshing you could just get one of their housemade daily agua fresca (and add your choice of rum, tequila and mezcal if you want) – I happened to have the citrus agua fresca below.

Or if for refreshing flavors just a little kick at the end to jumpstart your morning, try the Alto Bajo cocktail of the Caipirinha al Fuego, with cachaca, kiwi, epazote, lime juice, and a cucumber habenero syrup.

For brunch, I recommend getting one particular appetizer that I order every time I’m here, even just to accompany my drinks: the Alto Bajo Bocadito (small plate) of Sikil Pak is vegan and gluten free. Sikil Pak is a Mayan pumpkin dip with habenro, garlic, grapefruit juice.

Here’s a look at the Alto Bajo brunch Plato Fuertes (large plate) of Pescado a la Poblana, a market fish with house pozole grits, poblano cream, conserva, trout roe, and masa crumble. Yes, this is a gorgeous plate and delicious too – a really elegant breakfast choice.

If you are vegetarian or vegan, go for the Poblano Chile Relleno with spinach, smoked goat cheese, apples, almonds, and cranberries (can be made vegan by leaving out the cheese). Seriously, another beautiful plate right?

The above two items are only available on weekend brunch, but fortunately you can get the Omelette a la Poblano on weekend brunch or weekday breakfast. The Omelette a la Poblano includes three egg omelette, cheese, corn, huitlacoche, local mushrooms, poblano cream sauce, breakfast potatoes, and choice of wheat or rye toast or English muffin (or as one friend did who is gluten free, swap to beans). During the weekends you can add on for extra cost wild boar chorizo or country ham, while weekdays offer the usual bacon, sausage, or housemade chorizo still.

Alto Bajo has been also holding Taco Fight Tuesdays pitting chefs against each other in a taco match, but I haven’t had a chance to attend – but sounds like a great way to celebrate Taco Tuesdays. The next Alto Bajo Taco Fight will take place on Tuesday, January 30. This round will see Alto Bajo’s Executive Chef Chip Barnes battle it out against Matt Fields, Executive Chef and Co-Owner of Stella Taco.

The taco fight will begin at 11 AM until they run out. For $12, guests will receive two tacos (one of each restaurant chefs taco candidate for the taco fight) and a margarita. Guests will be able to vote for their favorite taco and the winner of the fight will take home honors and a very fancy “El Luchador” inspired belt. Follow Alto Bajo PDX on Instagram to stay in the loop of all the Taco Fights they set up.

A post shared by Alto Bajo (@altobajopdx) on Dec 16, 2017 at 5:30pm PST

Have you heard of Alto Bajo before, for the restaurant or the bar? Do you like Mexican brunch?