After more than five years in business in Portland’s East Bayside neighborhood, Middle Eastern eatery Baharat has announced plans to close its doors for good next month.
“To our friends and community, it has been a wild ride and it is time to turn the page and announce the permanent closure of Baharat,” according to an Aug. 25 Facebook post.
Clayton Norris and his wife, Jenna Friedman, started the business as a food truck before shifting to bricks and mortar in March 2017.
Baharat, named for a spice mixture used in Middle Eastern cuisine, features mezze dishes from deviled eggs to hummus, in what’s evolved into a trendy neighborhood for dining and drinking.
Located at 91 Anderson St., Baharat is across the street from Rising Tide Brewing Co., at 103 Fox St., and down the street from Coffee By Design’s roastery and coffee shop at 1 Diamond St.
While Baharat’s owners did not give a reason for closing their business, they indicated they were planning a new venture.
“It has been an incredible experience serving you and we look forward to sharing our new project when the time comes,” the owners said on Facebook.
“Thank you so much for joining us on our journey. We have been so lucky to have the support and love from this amazing community.”
The announcement prompted dozens of comments and laments over the loss of what some called their favorite restaurant in Portland.
The restaurant plans to continue to operate on Fridays and Saturdays from 4 to 9. p.m. through the end of September. Information about the number of employees to be affected by the upcoming closure was not immediately available.