Monday Nights at the Produce Row Cafe
By Matthew DiTullo
Last night, on an impulse, we stopped at the newly revamped Produce Row Cafe located on SE Oak and 2nd in Portland. Unfortunately I wasn’t equipped with my camera, but I can offer shots from the press preview we attended along with our Brewpublic.com colleagues a couple of weeks ago. Now, I knew they used to do live jazz on Monday nights, and I wasn’t sure if this was going to continue with the newly dressed up space. After staying for just one set, we know now this must be a more common activity for us. Sipping beer and whiskey pairings, enjoying great food, and tapping to some bop standards is a pretty decent night.
Our barkeep was talkative, alert, on top of everything, and had a great sense of humor. And even though he didn’t know much about the brews offered (one feature Produce Row prides itself on), he made up for it with friendly conversations and quick wit. We got the sense that he was new, and for someone starting off, he didn’t get overwhelmed or flustered and was able to be a great support for the rest of the serving staff. He’s definitely a keeper there and we’ll look forward to having him deliver libations to us on future Monday nights. My only major gripe about Produce Row, no imperial pint glasses. Instead they use cheater, English looking imperial-like shaped glasses. With a decent head on a brew, you’re lucky to get 14 ounces. Please Produce Row, do the honest thing here.
Their food was amazing. Last night I had a pulled pork sandwich that stacked up with some of the best BBQ places in town. Also, at the press preview in the beginning of June, they offered treats like beet salads, nachos, reuben sandwiches, pork sliders. All made with exceptional quality, unique ingredients, and extremely tasty.
We also enjoyed a pour of the new Pro Row Pale Ale. This collaborative effort was brewed especially for Produce Row by Laurelwood, Walking Man, and Double Mountain. An above average brew that offered clean, floral and citrus hop flavors, with biscuity sweet malts for balance. I hope this gets brewed repetitively, because it’s worth the trip to Produce Row alone.
This maybe a sincere replacement for the Blue Monk (SE Belmont), which caved into the dart and billiards crowd and no longer offers live jazz on a regular basis. The house band started off, a piano trio. The highlight was when they played Bemsha Swing with a straight ahead, sort of hip hop drum rhythm. After about 45 minutes and four or five tunes, other players were welcomed to sit in. This allowed for a guitarist to be added and a new drummer with a totally different, a little more free flowing style, where as the other gentleman was very technical and precise.
The crowd at Produce Row was really mixed. Working class folk, hipsters, older couples, youngsters just stopping by for a burger. It was quite the collage of personalities. The best and most important thing though, was that everybody was enjoying the sounds. Stop by Monday nights, imbibe all evening while tunes begin at 9pm.
Read more from Matthew DiTullo and his exploration of jazz, artists, recordings, and life on his blog This Shape of Jazz.
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I am confused, are you saying they are using Cheater Pints? A 16oz pint glass is not a Cheater Pint.
I’m not sure how much they exactly hold, but you’re definitely not getting a full 16oz pour by the look of it. And with the curved ridge on the glassware, it implies the aesthetic of an English Imperial Pint, which often has 20oz volume.
That is just one shape of a typical pint glass. Pretty sure it is a 16oz glass. It may not be an imperial pint but it is definitely not a “cheater pint” by definition.
you’re not getting a full 160z… that’s the issue.
I fully understand the “Honest Pint” project and getting the full 16oz. I am just saying that is not a “cheater pint”. A cheater pint is a pint glass that does not even hold 16oz to the brim because it has more glass on the bottom. You can look that definition up. I just dont think that term should be thrown around for bars using a standard pint glass.
It’s funny that you’re focusing on such a small piece of the article Samurai – Sounds like the point of the post is that the new Pro Row is pretty damn cool. If you guys want to find out if they’re “honest” or not – go measure their glasses – do me a favor and tell them to stop chilling them while you’re at it.
Anna,
yes it is a small piece of the article but it is also saying they cheat. I mean it doesnt matter how small a part it is. If I write a post describing Saraveza as a great bar and then say they cheat customers it doesnt make it ok. And if Pro Row is cheating their customers with only 16oz pints then should we see them being called out along with most other establishments in town??
Ezra,
The fact is, If I expect a pint, and get less than 16oz in my pour, am I not getting cheated? Maybe by your text book definition, it is not a “cheater” pint. But who knows, have you been there? Have you seen the glassware? It seems by your argumentative posts that you are bringing a lot more attention than it’s worth about one or two sentences in the whole review here. I am not going around trying to spread anything, are post anything harmful or untrue about this establishment which I clearly am an advocate for. My whole point is, why not use honest imperial pints and do a quick plug for Jeff’s Honest Pint Project.
Many drinkers see those ridged pint glasses and instantly think it’s a 20oz container. It may not be cheater in the sense that it has thicker base to allow less liquid, in, but to a naive eye, they may assume they’re getting their full 16 when in actuality, head and all, they’re are getting far less.
I wrote this article for my own blog (which is a jazz blog, not a food and beverage source), and Brewpublic was gracious enough to host it here. If there were issues with any of the content I gave them full discloser to edit.
Bo,
I did not intend it to be a long debate. I honestly did not think it would be such an issue. I was merele suggesting you take out the word “cheater” and recommend they use Imperial Pints. And yes, I was at the Media Preview for Produce Row’s reopening right next to you guys.
I dont understand how anyone can say they are getting cheated by a 16oz pint glass, it is pretty much the standard and has been forever, if someone wants to say they are getting cheated I would like to see a post about all the beer bars and breweries using them and how they are getting cheating everyone. Somehow I think you would have a hard time walking into say Saraveza and telling them they are cheating you.
My original intention was to point out that it appears you are getting a 20oz imperial pint but the glassware is actually smaller than those you may find at Bailey’s Taproom or the Horse Brass. Not the “textbook” definition of what appears to be a 16oz glass but actually less, like what you may find in many dive bars.
If you believe the use of the word “cheater” is in the wrong, please contact Brewpublic’s admin to inquire about having it removed [ info@brewpublic.com ].
I know I’m late to this argument, but I’ve been out of town.
A picture is worth a thousand words. Here’s a picture comparing a cheater pint with a regular 16-ounce pint. A cheater pint with a head on it is the same as a 12 ounce bottle.