Aviv PDX

As I included in my Eater PDX round up of pop up restaurants, Aviv PDX is a new entry to the 2017 Portland scene, run with chefs Tal Caspi (Gonzo Falafel and Hummus food truck) and Sanjay Chandrasekaran (Sudra) collaborating together while front of the house is managed by Suzanne Prinsen (Little Bird, Biwa). Together, they offer traditional and twists on familiar and unfamiliar Israeli dishes, all completely vegan. At first their plan was to get to a biweekly popup basis at Sanjay’s Heart Bar on 1125 SE Division Street. However last week they announced they are turning Aviv PDX into the restaurant replacing Heart Bar, which opens May 3 and is open seven days a week 11AM – 10PM. Here’s a look at when they were initially popping up and I attended their second seating of the evening at 8PM.

Well, I say 8 PM seating but we were actually seated more around 8:45 PM as the service was running behind. Although the courses are served family style, it seemed the kitchen was in the weeds all night, although they also generously were putting out 10 dishes for its 5 courses. It was also very ambitious to to do two service on their first full house night of guests. As they struggled to keep up with service, servers didn’t have time to do much besides drop off dishes to the sold out restaurant with every communal seat occupied. Laffa bread, which would have been ideal with the first course, was gone even before the course was served eaten just with the pickles by some hungry diners. This meant I and most guests missed getting descriptions or being able to ask questions about the dishes as servers were more focuses on food distribution then explaining what was in dishes, and there was no time for the chefs to talk about food inspirations and choices for the meal.
 

But, they were open and communicative immediately that they were running late – and Beermongers next door or Double Dragon across the street are some options for a beer or cocktail while you wait. While waiting for courses, diners could also order beverages from the Heart Bar drink menu that included cocktails, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks. Despite the longer and later dinner then planned, I would attend again as I know they were very open to acknowledging their first night challenges and plan to do better. Hopefully these were just opening night kinks. Here’s a look at my dinner, which was themed on April 18 as “Greatest Hits TLV”

YALLA, LET’S GO

Mint water ‘mayim nana’, assortment of pickles and sauces and fresh laffa bread. I was in love with the tofu “feta” here and the various sauces were sooo good, the green especially had a nice burn from jalapeño and garlic while as a surprise the red pepper one was the milder one instead of the green one being milder.

RISHONA

//Aviv welcomes you with ha mezze shel TLV//
Beet salad with cashew labneh

Eggplant two-way of baba ganouj and roasted with sweet peppers, garlic, tomato

Morrocan carrots with harissa a la minute

SH’NIA

Falafel yarok with cilantro, parsley, garlic and hummus ‘Tal Hassan silky-style with jalapeno, lemon, sweet onion petals

SHLISHIYT

Israeli salad ‘Yotvata’ style with tomato, cucumber, red onion, non-dairy feta, sumac

Super tabbouleh haze with quinoa, hemp, parsley, tomato, lemon

A bonus course not on the menu of a baked sweet potato – but I’m not sure what else is going on here though it was comforting and tasty

REVIIT

Shawarma fries with hummus, fries, tahnini, amba, zhoug, harissa, soy curl shawarma, peperoncinis, pickled turnips. Very rich and sure to be a must not miss item on the regular menu for vegans and omnivores alike.

METUKAH

Amba coconut ice cream with halvah nest, pomegranate syrup, rose petal

You can get more previews of their dishes on the AvivPDX Instagram account. What do you think of these dishes? Are you a fan of Middle Eastern food?