Belly Timber

Belly Timber’s name, always a source of curiosity for the first timer, is Victorian slang for food of all sorts. Housed in a lovingly restored old Victorian in the heart of the Hawthorne District, the restaurant has a classic, elegant ambiance, and the kitchen turns out refined small plates like the Roquefort mousse, strawberries agrodolce and basil, and grilled romaine with salt cod and piquillo pepper, and sophisticated locally-sourced entrees like the asparagus and porcini risotto with butter braised radishes, which comes in both half and full portions —a feature very much appreciated by a grazer such as myself.

A little cash goes a long way at Belly Timber, taking into consideration the quality and imagination of the food and the rich feel of the surroundings.

A little cash goes a long way at Belly Timber, taking into consideration the quality and imagination of the food and the rich feel of the surroundings. You’d expect to pay double for everything. Don’t bypass the house cured meats—Belly Timber is famous for its pigstrami, pork belly that’s cured like pastrami. Not to be outdone, the well-stocked and meticulously sourced bar serves up classics like the Sazerac and Corpse Reviver as well as classics-with-a-twist—bacon lovers must try the Uncle Victor’s Bacon Bourbon Old Fashioned.

Belly Timber is perfectly suited for Portland’s fickle weather—should it be dreary outside you can dine in one of the intimate old-fashioned dining rooms, and if the sun should grace you with its presence, you can eat out on the elevated front porch or the beautiful stone patio and watch the always-interesting Hawthorne foot traffic. Don’t forget about Belly Timber come Sunday morning, their Sunday Brunch is truly belly warming, with dishes like the sumptuous Belly Benedict–poached eggs, roasted pork belly and hollandaise and Bacon Bloody Marys that will put you right back under the covers following your meal.

Details

Cuisine: Regional

Executive Chef: David Siegel

Atmosphere: Old-fashioned Victorian elegance, dark woods, rich décor without being overdone, relaxed feeling, excellent service

Outdoor seating: Yes, small tables line the elevated front porch overlooking SE Hawthorne, or larger parties/acrophobics can opt to sit below on the stone patio, both are excellent options.

Best Seat: The front porch in fair weather, or inside at a table in the window

Noise Level: Normal

Dress Code: Casual, but you can dress up a little if you like, the setting warrants it

Bring the Kids: Yes

Bathrooms: Past the bar, towards the back of the restaurant by the stairs

Parking: Parking is free and fairly easy to find along Hawthorne or on surrounding side streets

Cocktails: A very good cocktail list ($6.50-$8) Menu

Beer: Yes

Wine: Excellent selection of sparklies, whites, roses and reds.

Corkage: $10 per 750 mL bottle

Coffee: Stumptown

Tea: Tazo

Ideal Meal: Mixed baby lettuces salad, crab cakes, porchetta with dandelion greens, Stumptown custard with caramel foam and a side of Candied Bacon

Vegetarian Friendly: Yes

Vegan Friendly: Yes

Good for the following occasions: Romantic Date, Family Meal, Out With Friends

Group/Private Party Details: You can rent out the whole restaurant on weeknights, and they also have a lovely private room that can seat up to 20 comfortably. Call for more info.

Reservations: Yes

Take-Out: No

Delivery: No