Little Bird Bistro: Escape to Paris while in Portland

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For seven years Little Bird Bistro, Chef Gabriel Rucker’s sister restaurant to his better known restaurant Le Pigeon (which Portlanders continue to vote as their favorite restaurant year after year), has continued to offer inventive, fresh, yet all the while inspired French bistro fare.

A good friend of mine recommended the bistro, knowing me and what I love, she was confident I would enjoy myself. She was right – I did and so did my tastebuds.

Located in downtown Portland (discover all of TSLL’s City Guide recommendations for Portland here), the Little Bird‘s expansive tall ceilings, long red banquette seating and attentive, genial service encourage you to sit and lose track of time. I will admit, this was my first mistake – I had scheduled myself too well and wasn’t able to stay longer than an hour to enjoy all that I wanted (next time I will be enjoying one of their exquisite desserts – just take a glance at their Meyer Lemon Semifreddo below from their IG feed).

Case in point, you will feel as though you have stepping into a Paris bistro as the conviviality and the fare will transcend expectations. I enjoyed their Butternut Squash Crêpes which were cooked with caramelized apples along with the fried sage (see below and above), and my palette was doing cartwheels due to the symphonic flavor combination. Buttery, rich, warm and brilliant.

Needless to say, put Little Bird Bistro on your list of restaurants to dine at in the near future or when you visit the city for a wonderful lunch or dinner experience (and be sure to carve out an entire evening or afternoon to savor the experience). Then be sure to make reservations at the James Beard semi-finalist nominated Le Pigeon. That is next on my list to enjoy.