Verdigris, located at 1315 NE Fremont St, is the epitome of a neighborhood gem. It’s an intimate bistro with less then 40 seats, and inside in the candlelight in the evening you dine seated in comfy and solid chairs at wooden tables with an open feel that you could imagine also inside a home next to a super well stocked and efficient home kitchen.The decor is simple, functional but elegant while still being warm, and the food is classic but with little touches of something new to keep it interesting.

For instance, it may seem like a modest restaurant, but you’ll be greeted with an amuse bouche and they make their own homemade mini bread rolls, really exemplifying of the attention to detail and extra care they put into your supper experience.

I know for me, coming in on the Wednesday night before December 8 Snowpocalypse part 1 and being a bit frozen on my fingers and nose, that creamy decadent sip of that creamy mushroom soup amuse bouche was the perfect way to warm me and welcome me to start my dinner at Verdigris.

It wasn’t not a surprise that since that amuse bouche sip of soup made me feel welcomed that an order of the Butternut Squash-Fuji Apple Soup with Amish Blue Cheese, Red Wine Gastrique, and Parsley would be an exponential dose of comfort. It combines the classic idea of a butternut squash soup you could imagine like the thick creamy potage in a snow dusted French cottage, but modernizes the presentation and adds more complexity of flavor with the Amish Blue Cheese and Red Wine Gastrique.

It’s cold out there and I’m wishing I had this thick creamy comforting soup right now: Verdigris @verdigrisrestaurant Butternut Squash-Fuji Apple Soup with Amish Blue Cheese, Red Wine Gastrique, and Parsley. Yes they are open today! . . . #pdx #portland #pdxeats #pdxfood #eatpdx #dinepdx #eeeeeats #huffposttaste #yahoofood #buzzfeast #buzzfeedfood #foodgram #instafood #instadelicious #yum #food #foodgram #f52gram #zomato #soup #comfortfood #butternutsquashsoup #wintereats #warmmeup #verdigrispdx

A video posted by Pechluck Laskey (@pechluck) on Dec 15, 2016 at 8:27am PST

Another first course dish  if you want a more substantial belly warmer is the Smithfield Ham & White Bean Cassoulet with 60 Minute Egg, Country Sausage, and Persillade. Seriously if I lived nearby I would walk through some snow and ice just to have this cassoulet because it would fortify me for the rest of a winterstorm weather warning day and the freezing temperatures.

In terms of Second options or the main entree dishes, the winter menu that I saw in December was full of more options that are hard not to love when the weather is frightful, including Potato Gnocchi with Butternut Squash, Sage, Hazelnuts, Orange, Parmesan; Braised Beef Bourguignon with Garlic Smashed Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts, House Bacon; and finally a meat to crispy skin ratio I can get behind serving of Smoked Tails & Trotters Pork Confit with Yukon Potatoes, Fuji Apples, Chestnuts, Mustard Jus.

Not pictured are other classic hearty entree options like Braised Pork & Beef Meatballs with Creamy Semolina and Broccolini, or Madeira Braised Lamb, or a Saffron Shellfish Stew, with lots of Mussels, Manila Clams, and Shrimp served with naturally, a French baguette.

One suggestion when ordering: if getting of the big beef or lamb dishes, consider ordering an additional First to come along with the dish of the Pommes Frites with Black Truffle Aioli to accompany that big protein. The dish is enough to share for four.

Also leave room for dessert: on my winter evening in December it was Fallen Chocolat Souffle Cake with homemade coffee ice cream and housemade chocolate sauce, Pumpkin Pie with chantily cream and nut streusel, and my surprise favorite of the three, Banana Bread Pudding with housemade caramel sauce and housemade caramel ice cream.

They also offer an option every night of having the Chef’s choice but you get three courses for just $35, your choice of meat or veggie, and the choices change daily.

Verdigris just celebrated their two year anniversary since opening, and may be doing some throwbacks in January to some of their initial opening menu in which they explored more modern touches to the dishes. They continue to offer dinner daily 5 – 9 PM and also serve a brunch (and you can make reservations!) Tues – Sun 9 AM – 2 PM.

Have you been to Verdigris? What is your favorite neighborhood gem by where you live?

Disclosure: I was invited with others to a complimentary dinner sampling, but I will always provide my honest opinion and assessment of all products and experiences I may be given. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own.