Flying Fish Company

Flying Fish Company is a sustainable seafood company which operates a fish market, restaurant, and food cart in Portland, Oregon.

Flying Fish Company
Restaurant information
Owner(s)Lyf Gildersleeve
Food typeSeafood
Street address3004 East Burnside Street
CityPortland
CountyMultnomah
StateOregon
Postal/ZIP Code97214
CountryUnited States
Coordinates45.5227°N 122.6347°W / 45.5227; -122.6347
Websiteflyingfishpdx.com

Description and history

Lyf Gildersleeve is the owner of Flying Fish Company, which began as a food cart on Division Street in southeast Portland c. 2010.[1][2] Following a relocation in 2011,[3] the business began serving fish, meats, and "other sustainably-sourced food products out of a small shack on Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard and a truck in Multnomah Village". In 2015, the company launched a Kickstarter campaign, seeking to raise $50,000 "for a bigger warehouse space in Southeast Portland and a small oyster bar and retail spot along Northeast Sandy Boulevard in the upcoming Providore Fine Foods".[4] The goal was achieved in August.[5] The company began operating an 8-seat oyster bar in 2016, initially serving three types of oysters, smoked salmon, soup (seafood and meat), bone broth, wine, microbrews, and cider.[6] The bar also served roasted whole chicken.[7]

The market's interior, 2022

In late 2019, Flying Fish announced plans to expand by opening a brick and mortar seafood market on East Burnside Street, in the southeast Portland part of the Kerns neighborhood. Gildersleeve said the company would be leaving Providore Fine Foods in late December. Michael Russell of The Oregonian wrote, "The fast-casual, family-friendly restaurant will serve a seasonal menu including fish and chips, fish sandwiches, grilled salmon salad, clam chowder, cioppino, steamed clams and mussels, Hawaiian-inspired poke, ceviche and freshly shucked oysters on the half shell to seats both indoors and out. A full-service bar will pour wine, beer, and spirits from the Pacific Northwest. Expect allergen-free dishes and gluten-free fish & chips as well as keto and paleo menu options."[1] In January 2020, the company announced an opening date of February 10.[8]

Exterior of the market, restaurant, and food cart ChefShack, 2022

The 17-seat restaurant has an outdoor fire pit and picnic tables.[3] According to Portland Monthly, "The restaurant was inspired by the hybrid seafood market and fish and chips shop his family owned when he was growing up in the late 80s and early 90s, taking bits and pieces from seafood restaurants he admired up and down the West Coast and around the world."[9] In January 2022, Gildersleeve opened a food cart on the Burnside restaurant's patio called ChefShack. Andi Prewitt of Willamette Week wrote, "The new kitchen is meant to complement the existing menu of cod, steelhead and salmon in everything from tacos to sandwiches to burgers—as well as the popular daily selection of shucked oysters. And in an unusual move, there will be a rotating cast of people helming the outdoor kitchen, the first of whom is Trever Gilbert (formerly of Departure and RingSide Fish House)." The menu includes ceviche, glass-noodle salad, carrots and cashews in yellow curry, oysters, and arroz con coco (sticky rice, raisins, chiles, and chocolate).[10]

Following "a few weeks of robust sales", the restaurant closed temporarily because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In November, six heaters were stolen.[11][12] In 2023, Flying Fish hosted a shucking competition in which members of the public could challenge staff.[13]

Reception

In 2022, Jenni Moore and Nathan Williams included Flying Fish in Eater Portland's overview of "Where to Find Stellar Seafood in Portland".[14]

See also

References
  1. Russell, Michael (2019-11-08). "Flying Fish Company to open seafood market, restaurant in former People's Pig space". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2022-01-16. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  2. Silberstein, Nina (2020-05-29). "Flying Fish Company". Southeast Examiner. Archived from the original on 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  3. Russell, Michael (2020-02-10). "Flying Fish Co. opens new Portland seafood market, restaurant". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2021-04-13. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  4. Bakall, Samantha (2015-08-15). "Portland sustainable seafood company Flying Fish heads to Kickstarter for new warehouse, oyster bar". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2021-04-22. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  5. Bamman, Mattie John (2015-08-20). "New Ruby Jewel; S'mores Come to NW 23rd; Flying Fish Declares Success". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2015-09-06. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  6. Bamman, Mattie John (2016-02-10). "Providore Fine Foods: A Comprehensive Guide to What to Eat". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2016-10-28. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  7. Korfhage, Matthew (2016-12-20). "Get Tipsy and Eat Oysters You've Never Seen Before in a Grocery-Store Fish Market". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  8. Frane, Alex (2019-11-08). "Flying Fish Company Will Open Its Oyster Bar and Seafood Market February 10 [Updated]". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2020-04-30. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  9. Hamilton, Katherine Chew (2021-02-10). "Flying Fish Company's Restaurant Turns 1". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2021-11-05. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  10. Prewitt, Andi (2022-01-11). "Flying Fish Will Open a Patio Food Cart Called ChefShack With a Rotating Lineup of Culinary Experts". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  11. Prewitt, Andi (2020-11-22). "Already-Struggling Restaurant Owners Are Now Facing an Added Challenge: Break-Ins and Thefts". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  12. Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (2020-11-23). "Someone Stole Six Outdoor Heaters from Flying Fish Company This Weekend". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-02-24. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  13. Wong, Janey (2023-08-18). "An Upcoming Pizzeria Hopes to Popularize Naples-Style Folded Pizza in Portland". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2023-08-18.
  14. Moore, Jenni (2018-02-06). "Where to Find Stellar Seafood in Portland". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-01-13. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
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