For our 40th edition of this list, we’re celebrating the 40 mightiest new establishments from Maine to California that represent what it means to dine well in the U.S. right now.
Amid chaos, these Portland restaurants found a way to look forward — and thrive latimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from latimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The project started with
Angel Medina, the community-building owner of coffee shop La Perlita and champion of Mexican culture who wanted to start a talent incubator. Medina recruited two like-minded co-owners, chef
Lauro Romero and pastry chef
Olivia Bartruff. Together, they hand-selected some of the best talent in the city.
Doña Chapis makes tortillas and handles prep work,
Roberto Torres crafts menudo and pozole, and
Adriana Alvarez showcases mezcals and tequilas. Even in patio dining and takeout mode, República shape-shifts throughout the day: dishes like cochinita pibil tortas and quesadillas with Oaxacan-style stringy cheese and nutty salsa macha for lunch, cheese plates and wine from Mexican and Mexican-American winemakers in the afternoon, and cocktails and multicourse dinners in the evening.