Violetta, the soon-to-be restaurant in a cart, had me at "Grass-fed Beef Burger."
Parked at Director Park, a sprawling architectural urban landscape generous donated for public use, "Etta," as the bright yellow richly apointed cart is called, does not look out of place. She's what the out come would be if they had a show "Pimp My Cart." Serious bling.
But thankfully in this case no lack of substance.
Destined to one day soon take over the glass enclosure adjacent to it's current location, Violetta is an entire restaurant in a cart. No mere 7 or 8 offerings here, instead an intriguing menu of wide ranging choices, that almost distracted from my mission for grass fed beef.
What sounded good? Oh just the Brown Bag of Beignets, Grilled Egg & Cheese Sandwich, Oregon-Style Clam Chowder, Highland Oak Farm Beef Chili, Green Tea Soba Salad Bowl, Baked Broccolini Mac & Cheese, Vegetable Pot Pie, 1/2 Afton Field Farm Rotisserie Chicken, Hand-Dipped Corndog, Hand Cut Yukon Gold Potato Fries, Hand Cut Sweet Potato Fries, Oregonzola Fries, White Truffle Fries, Sea Salt-Choclate Dipped Pretzels, Caffe Vita Espresso-Chocolate Brownies, Individual Random Order Seasonal Pie, Ice Cream Sandiwich, BEER & WINE, and of course their much discussed Burgers.
(yeah, that didn't even include the Fried Chicken Biscuit special they had going)
I settled on the Oregon Blue Burger, Rogue Creamery Oregonzola, bacon, caramelized, onions & hazelnut bun. While I could of used a bit more char this was the first burger I've had in a long time that was a perfect medium rare (seriously scientifically provable spot on medium rare).
I admittedly don't recall a lot of the burger because I was enjoying a delightful discussion with the extremely affable park host (I never new such a job existed, very cool), but here's what I recall:
1. Perfect Medium rare (No, you're not crazy, I did already mention this)
2. Recylcable packaging
3. The pickle overpowered the other flavors
4. I wished I had gone for the 1/2 pound (the 1/3 pound is plenty of beef, but I wanted more)
5. It didn't taste or leave me feeling like I was clogging an artery.
6. The sweet potato fries were pretty awesome, flavorful, not over seasoned, cooked just right.
7. I'd eat another (though would find myself tempted by the above ridiculous list of other items)
While not cheap, I wouldn't label Violetta as over priced, I'd say it's a good value. Props to them for choosing top shelf ingredients, doing things sustainably (including the use of biodegradable cups), and paying attention to detail. In a city where it's easy to bash things that are "too nice," I think there's room for a place like this putting out serious food in a beautiful outdoor public setting.
Those things considered, if I'm not down at the pods, I'd definitely hit up this pimpin spot again (especially as an alternative to the stodgy old time over priced stand-bys and to chat with that way cool park host).
Violetta
877 SW Taylor
Portland, OR 97205
(503) 234-3278
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