Portland’s food scene is anything but bland; kitchens across the city are influenced by cuisine from around the world. There are the standards however. You can’t walk more than a few blocks without coming across an Indian, Thai or Vietnamese restaurant. And if you have a hankering for French crepes or Belgian waffles, the city has several different selections. Cafes and restaurants with Scandinavian food are however not so common.
Growing up with a Swedish mother and hence a very Scandinavian diet, I was therefore very happy to make my first visit to Broder this weekend, it felt less like a Sunday Portland brunch and more like a visit to some of my favorite casual restaurants in Stockholm.
Beyond a menu full of the best of Scandinavian fare — smoked trout, rye bread, meatballs and lots of lingonberry jam — the interior of Broder feels like a genuine Swedish restaurant. The design is simple but classy and standard colorful Swedish accessories — a blue and white vase, a red Dala horse, etc. — infuse the fresh atmosphere with a little bit of spunk.
The restaurant’s owner Peter Bro made a smart choice starting with a breakfast menu; Portlanders love their brunches. But instead of greasy omelettes and heavy French toast, Broder goes with the Scandinavian minimalist theme, offering sleeker and lighter options like salmon, rye crisps, yogurt with honey, and the standard Aebleskiver, Danish pancakes. You get a lighter meal without sacrificing taste.
Having recently returned to Portland, I thought the place was new (how else could I explain not knowing about such a venue) but I learned that it had been open since last July. Broder has been popular with the Portland crowd, and the restaurant recently extended its menu to include dinner. I’ll be back for that, thanks to our waiter who encouraged me to read the dinner menu; a wide selection of typical Scandinavian specialties is something I can’t pass up, and you shouldn’t either.
Location: 2508 SE Clinton
Article By Anna Brones, Intercrossings
