Two longtime Portland residents, originally from South Louisiana, built Screen Door on a simple idea: take the Southern food they grew up loving and meet it with the Pacific Northwest's fresh, local, sustainable bounty.
The neighborhood asked for a Southern table. We brought the recipes; Oregon brought the produce.
Nicole and David Mouton, longtime Portland residents originally from South Louisiana, opened Screen Door Eastside in 2006 with the help of friends, family, and early employees. Their vision was to blend the rich traditions of Southern food with the fresh, local, and sustainable values of the Pacific Northwest.
This blend — a meeting place of "fried and fresh" — celebrates both Southern comfort food and the region's agricultural bounty, reflecting a deep passion for quality ingredients and thoughtful cooking. It's the buttermilk-battered fried chicken you remember, atop a waffle made with Pacific Northwest sweet potato. It's catfish dusted in cornmeal, paired with a beet and baby spinach salad from Sonnen Farm.
At the heart of Screen Door is a commitment to hospitality and the joy of sharing food and culture. For nearly two decades, Nicole and David have found immense fulfillment in welcoming guests into their restaurants, creating an experience that goes beyond just dining. Their love for Southern foodways, paired with Portland's vibrant food scene, continues to shape the mission: to bring people together over meals that honor both heritage and community.
This southerner approves. Many delicious options — definitely Gulf Coast inspired. You can never go wrong with anything praline or shrimp & grits.
Twenty years in and the same three things keep us coming back to work in the morning.
Southern foodways anchored in the agricultural bounty of the Pacific Northwest. We source locally, we cook from scratch, and we let both traditions speak.
A deep commitment to the joy of sharing food and culture. The welcome at the door is as much the meal as anything that arrives at the table.
Woman-owned, with over half of management positions held by women and members of the LGBTQ+ community. All restaurant revenue goes back into our team and the community.
Longtime Portland residents, originally from South Louisiana. Two decades ago they set out to open the kind of restaurant they wished existed in their adopted city — and built it with the help of friends, family, and the very first employees who walked through the door.
Today they lead a team across two locations, an in-house bakery, and a kitchen that turns out everything from chicken & waffles to seasonal vegetable hash, day in and day out.
Nicole and David open Screen Door at 2337 E Burnside St with help from friends, family, and the first crew of employees.
A second Screen Door opens on NW Couch Street in the Pearl District, bringing the same kitchen to the west side of the river.
The Screen Door bakery starts producing the cream-cheese cinnamon rolls, buttermilk biscuits, and Creole pecan pies that anchor the menu.
Happy Hour lands Monday through Friday, 4:30–5:30pm and again from 8pm to close.
Two kitchens. One bakery. Family-meal takeout. Private parties. The same recipes, served the same way, every day of the week.
We strive to maintain an equitable working environment for all our employees and are an equal opportunity employer. We are a woman-owned business with over half of our management positions held by women and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
All of the restaurant revenue goes straight back into the community — whether to our employees, our vendors, or supporting schools as well as local and national causes.
"We absolutely love this place — it is a Portland must visit. Screen Door brings southern food and service to the PNW. We eat here regularly but also love to hit them up for a special occasion."
"They make what is arguably the best fried chicken I've ever had. It's got a super flaky crust with just the right amount of crunch and the chicken is super tender and juicy. Atmosphere has a cozy southern vibe to it."
"This southerner approves! Many delicious options. Definitely Gulf Coast inspired. You can never go wrong with anything praline or shrimp & grits."
Brunch from 8:30am, dinner from 4:30pm, daily — at both Eastside and the Pearl District.