FIVE THOUGHTS I HAD WHILE EATING AT YUM'S OF PDX
Portland’s New Brooklyn-Inspired Pizza Restaurant
After spotting Yum’s of PDX — a new Brooklyn-inspired pizza spot in Portland — on Instagram a few weeks ago, I finally got the chance to visit, and it turned out to be an experience worth talking about (and definitely one worth repeating). Here are five thoughts I had while eating there — from crust to cocktails, this is what stood out.
1. “YES! They still have some of their exclusive Sicilian-inspired pizza AND free bread!”
On Wednesdays, they serve free bread and olive oil — a charming nod to the days when nearly every restaurant did this. ALSO, I went in knowing that they have Sicilian pizza — thick crust in a rectangle shape — but knew it was pretty exclusive and hard to come by. Only available on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sunday, and in limited quantities. So I had low hopes of even being able to get one.
When the owner came over to our table to give us the lowdown on the menu and talk about her new business (apparently they had only been fully open for two months) she enthusiastically shared that there are still Sicilian crusts available!
We ordered the Jersey Girl Sicilian pizza — burrata, romano, tomato sauce, fresh garlic, oregano, cupped pepperoni, EVOO, basil, Mike's Hot Honey — and it was ICONIC. Everything I want in a thick crust pizza: crispy edges, spongy middle, and a saucy top.
2. “My friends are reading this long piece of paper with their backstory on it and look like they’re about to cry — I guess I should read it too.”
I’ve always been a slow reader, so I hate having to read things in front of people who also want to chat, because I take forever and they always think I’m done when I’ve barely gotten through the second sentence.
So when I saw my friends reading a pamphlet with the restaurant backstory and then gushing about the origin — saying it relates to the owner's mom but not divulging any other details — as I sit there nodding my head like I understood what they were talking about, I knew I was going to have to read that lengthy paper.
I tried to subtly grab the pamphlet from across the table (not successfully, because I had to reach in between my two friends) and attempted to read the story — but instead took a picture of it and read it when I got home and wasn’t being stared at to read it quickly.
3. “I wish I had also gotten their signature Neapolitan pizza.”
I walked in fully expecting to try both the Neapolitan and Sicilian pizzas — if the Sicilian one was available of course, which it was. Worried that there would be too many leftovers, my friends and I only got the Sicilian. And while it was unforgettable, I still wish I had gotten the Neapolitan to try and then eat the next day.
This 100% means I have to go back as soon as possible, because four days later I’m still thinking about what that would’ve tasted like and if that have would have been the moment I finally decide which type of pizza I like better — thin or thick crust?
Now, we’ll never know — or at least not know for a few more weeks.
4. “Dammit, they don’t have affogatos. **Five minutes later.** OMG these mini cannolis are the PERFECT size!”
Affogatos are my favorite dessert! Gelato with warm espresso poured over top. Making the perfect combination of cold and hot, icy and creamy.
I thought for sure that this type of pizza restaurant would have that specific dessert. While they did have gelato (which we got and it honestly wasn’t my favorite — the texture was too icy), they didn’t have an affogato.
So we got rainbow cookie cannolis (which for a second I thought were the same type of rainbow cookies that Ukrop’s sells — if you know, you know). Out came three mini cannolis, each a different flavor — lemon pistachio, marionberry chocolate chip, and Madagascar vanilla chocolate chip. Of which I had the latter.
This was the most perfect size cannoli I’ve ever had. I usually find cannolis too big with too much filling-to-shell ratio. But these cannolis had big flavor packed in a small size.
5. “That’s so cool they have drink pairings for their pizzas — I love that! I’ve only ever seen this at stuck-up fancy places.”
While looking at their cocktail menu, I was deciding between two drinks — One Classy Negroni: London Dry Gin, Campari, Cocchi Dry Vermouth Rosso; and Fernet Me Not: Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey, Fernet Branca, Rich Demerara Syrup, Angostura Bitters.
I usually go for gin drinks, but under Fernet Me Not I saw the tiny note: 'Pairs well with Jersey Girl' — the pizza we had just ordered! That was a done deal for me, and I did not regret it...or fernet it.
I love this little detail and that they took the time to pair their cocktails with their pizza. I usually only see this at fancy food places that I rarely go to and don’t have the budget for — but why should I be deprived of a good food and cocktail pairing because of that?
I certainly won’t be deprived at Yum’s of PDX! They thought through every detail to make eating here a full sensory experience.