PORTLAND, Ore. (KPTV) – As residents prepare for New Year’s Eve outside of Covid-19 restrictions since the outbreak began, restaurants and businesses are doing the same.
“New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are our busiest,” said Hilda Diebe, owner of Nicholas’ Restaurant. “It’s a holiday and it’s generally very busy because everyone is gone.”
We met Debbie in the Southeast Madison area. She says they are preparing more food and bringing in more workers. They are open on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
“We start at 5 in the morning,” Dibe said. “We make the bread from scratch. We make hundreds of pita breads, baklava, tabouli salad, chop parsley, roll grape leaves. There’s a lot of preparation ahead of time. I think we’ll serve over 2,000 people over the next two days.”
In Northeast Portland, Mark Byrum, owner of Urban Renaissance Group, said crews have been busy preparing at several locations in Tualatin and Portland over the past month.
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“A lot of action, a lot of movement,” Byram said. “The staff is busy preparing for the many parties we’re preparing for the big night. Brix Tavern in Tualatin and downtown Portland both have four-course menus with a DJ on the property and dance floor. At the Metropolitan Tavern, we have a stand in the open ballroom, as well as a full service dinner.
There is still time for Byrum to respond, but tickets are selling fast.
“You can go online to any of the properties and buy tickets,” Byrum said. “We sell fast. That means everyone wants to go out and celebrate. The excitement and how many tickets we sold and how many dinner reservations we had, you can definitely tell the difference from the last couple of years. Plus, there will be thousands in our area. We see around 3,000.
All Urban Renaissance Group events in Portland and Tualatin:
- Brix Tavern South with DJ Steven: Learn more and buy tickets
- Metropolitan Tavern with DJ Vinny: Learn more and buy tickets
- Gordon’s Tavern with DJ Mike: Learn more and buy tickets
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In Southeast Portland, Quintrell is preparing a nine-course meal for New Year’s Eve. Chef Ryley Eckersley says people around town can tell they’re ready for the holidays this weekend.
“I feel like everybody’s excited,” Eckersley said. “I feel there is a buzz in the city. The concept behind the New Year’s Eve meal is good luck for the new year. All foods are good luck foods in different cultures around the world and in this country.
Chef Eckersley said the restaurant has been hosting New Year’s Eve dinners for the past four years and is pulling out all the stops for their customers.
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“You already have your oysters and scallops on the tasting menu,” Eckersley said. “You can get a little truffle, foie gras or caviar. On the New Year’s menu, I have two types of caviar, two ways, since it is all built-in New Year’s. why not?”
No matter where you’re celebrating New Year’s Eve, everyone we spoke to stressed safety ahead of the weekend’s festivities. In partnership with ODOT, TriMet is offering free rides on New Year’s Eve after 8 p.m. They will have long hours until 2 a.m.
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