The ZED — Restaurant in Portland

This place is like the heartbeat of Lents. I think we come here at least once a week, sometimes more. I could rave about the great food and vibe, but probably the best thing I can say is this: this is the place where I go when I need a reminder of how much I love my neighborhood.

I’ve seen this place go through the evolution of Zoiglhaus to the community hub that it is now. I’ve been coming to The Zed since it opened and the only food option there was Sherpa Kitchen (which is to date my favorite restaurant in town), including when the pavilion was just a parking lot. I’ve seen it grow over the years, and now it has events, every food stall is filled, and it’s gone from being a place that I used to come to escape crowds since it was always so empty to a place where I can literally run into people I know since it’s just such a great community hub. So, it’s no longer an empty refuge, but instead it evolved into a community hub. It’s also evolved for me from a place to take first dates (and it’s great for that, lots of food options and the booths are a combination of spacious and intimate) to a place where I go with my partner and child (also great for this because there are games and lots of room for my little one to run around). It’s really rare to find a place that can still work in your various life stages; I no longer go to a lot of the bars I used to frequent in my 20s, and there were a lot of places that are really meant for kids at the expense of isolating the adults. This place is like a strong foundation though — it’s a fun meet up spot, a romantic date night spot, an easy way to grab to-go lunch, a place to get your kids out of the house, and a place to just unwind for a drink after a long day. And I’m sure there are other functions that I’m missing, too, but I’m just so grateful that this hub is in my...

Great spot with many options. Great with kids. It still holds on to the quirkiness of the old zoiglhaus though like forming a line at the bar when the bar is enormous and beautiful. With one person behind the bar it makes getting a beer a long process. Let us order at the bar. Also, it has the weirdest parking lot ever. Very nice brick layout but there's no lines and people are double parked everywhere which is confusing! Am I supposed to double park? I obviously don't but somebody is probably getting screwed here and there. (Update: they have clearly marked 'no double parking' signs now which seems to have fixed the issue) The lot is nice for farmers markets though. Be nice if they had some...

Man, The ZED is the spot! If you're looking for a place to unwind with a cold one, a Hazy IPA for just $9, and some amazing Hawaiian food, this is the place to be. The vibes are always on point with great music, and you’ll find yourself fully immersed in the atmosphere, whether you're hanging with friends or enjoying a casual evening with the family.

What really makes The ZED special is the mix of craft beer and the food vendors inside. Honestly, it's game over once you experience the combo. Every time I’m here, it feels like the perfect escape. I’ll definitely be back every Thursday evening to kick back and enjoy what this hidden gem...