Apr 30, 2009
Bread & Butter: Machado Strikes Again
The Portland Tribune
Southeast Portland has been good to David Machado, who owns Lauro Kitchen, 3377 S.E. Division St., and Vindalho, just a few blocks away at 2038 S.E. Clinton St.
For his next venture, he's moving into the restaurant space inside the new-ish Hotel Modera (1408 S.W. Sixth Ave.) The name is Nel Centro, and the focus will be food from the Italian-French Riviera around Genoa and Nice, with dishes like salt cod croquettes, tuna carpaccio, and bouillabaisse.
The spot is under construction. Machado and his team have taken on the task of turning a yucky motel diner into an airy space that will sync up with the mod look of the hotel.
Machado has made the best of the stylish patio that leads from the street to the lobby of the hotel. Looking out, diners will see a row of firepits creating an effect that Machado calls "Fellini-esque."
There are raised coves in the ceiling and a big wrap-around bar. There are also two rows of deep booths, because, Machado says, one thing he's learned in his years as a restaurateur is that Portlanders love to sit in booths. They find it comforting, he says, and maybe they're less interested in being publicly seen than city-dwellers elsewhere.
