Submarine Hospitality, owners of Ava Gene's and Tusk, are partnering with London-based hotel group The Hoxton to open a new restaurant and two bars in Old Town-Chinatown, the hotel announced Thursday.
The project was the talk of last night's Feast Portland kick-off party: Johnny Leach, last seen running the kitchen at the short-lived modern Mexican restaurant Chalino, will reprise that role at La Neta, an all-day "Mexican-inspired" restaurant anchoring the food and beverage program at The Hoxton.
Leach, who spent time at top New York City restaurants before returning to Oregon in 2014, plans to feature seasonal Northwest produce at La Neta. The restaurant will join other Portland-area restaurants including Xico and Little Conejo with its own in-house masa program for tortillas and more, created through a collaboration with heirloom corn distributor Masienda.
On the roof, new rooftop taqueria Tope will feature "the street food of Mexico City" alongside a mezcal-focused cocktail list. In the basement, Submarine is planning a subterranean cocktail bar with a menu of "sharable American-Chinese classics" such as kung pao chicken, beef and broccoli and egg rolls, all made with seasonal ingredients, that nods to the surrounding Chinatown neighborhood. Cocktails for all three projects were created by Submarine Bar Director Collin Nicholas.
Ceviche from chef Johnny Leach's previous project, Chalino (now home to Smallwares). Leach will run a new restaurant from Portland's Submarine Hospitality at The Hoxton, a new hotel in Old Town-Chinatown.
Opening in the East Burnside building formerly dubbed The Grove, The Hoxton Portland is the second North American hotel for the London-based company, coming hard on the heels of a Williamsburg, Brooklyn location. The hotel's first location opened in London's Shoreditch neighborhood in 2006. Plans call for future hotels in Los Angeles, Chicago, and London.
Look for the Portland hotel to open next month at 15 N.W. Fourth Ave. More information at thehoxton.com.
-- Michael Russell