Hidden in the Hollywood district, in Portland, OR, a few blocks off the main drag, lies a chameleon.

Trees block some of the building, Chameleon Restaurant and Bar, from view.

A staple for 10 years, owner and chef Pat Jeung has created a haven that neighborhood fans visit frequently feeling as if they’ve walked into a dear friends home for a gourmet dinner.

Occupying a small building decked out with dark furniture and crisp white table linens - soft candlelight sheds a glow over it all and you feel as if you’ve stepped into an old haunt of Hemingway’s.
The bohemian crowd seems like an apt fit for this fine dining establishment - pushing the boundaries of “upper class” with phenomenal food and great service without a pretentious bone.

A comfort amidst elegance.

Consistent service, attention to detail and the best crème brulee in town make the Chameleon a favorite of this restaurant diva. During nine years as a patron of this restaurant, with visits sometimes being a year or more apart, Jeung always remembers me and that I’m a fan of the crème brulee.

I’ve had restaurants I’ve frequented every week and I’m lucky if they even remember I’m a regular. It’s the attention to customers that makes Chameleon a joy to visit.

Whether it’s staying open a little late so someone can enjoy a last minute dessert with a friend, or decorating a table with special details for a birthday dinner, these gestures endear Chameleon to all who frequent.

This type of service combined with a diverse and innovative menu that tantalizes taste buds are why Chameleon enjoys such a loyal following of regulars.

From Asian to Italian, the name Chameleon takes on a whole new meaning. A diversity in culinary experience that allows patrons to span the globe in a single evening with flawless execution and taste.

The Tom Yom soup is award winning - melding the essence of coconut, lime and lemongrass into a silky liquid that, when combined with all other ingredients, awakens and excites your taste buds. You find yourself wishing the bottom of the bowl would never appear.

From that corner of the world we travel to Italy where we find a homemade Butternut Squash Ravioli, which simply melts in your mouth, leaving lingering flavors of crispy leeks and rosemary. This is a comfort dish you cannot pass up; a crowd favorite that is always on the ever-evolving menu.

With Jeung just returning from a culinary exploration of South America there’s bound to be new menu items that will allow diners to experience yet another cuisine while ensuring the favorites remain.

Be assured of a combination of cuisines and flavors that will leave you satisfied, satiated and wanting to return to experience it again.

Chameleon Restaurant and Bar
2000 NE 40th Ave.
Portland, Oregon 97212
(503) 460-2682
www.chameleonpdx.com

- Review by Ana Brors (anbrors@yahoo.com)