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Sellwood Italian house Assaggio has closed its second location in Beaverton. "We grew too fast," co-owner May Rhodes wrote customers. "It was a challenge to maintain...the 'Assaggio Experience' at two locations." We can't help thinkin' the news is bittersweet. Maybe now the original Assaggio's flagging kitchen will get the TLC it needs to return to its former luster. >> In a bizarre coincidence, Assaggio's original owners, Darryl and Sarah Joannides, have their own news. The couple will open Cork, an "unpretentious" wine shop focused on bottles from small wineries that dig sustainable agriculture, in early May at 2901 NE Alberta St. >> Dog walkers and good-natured drunks, rejoice! Lucky Labrador Brewing Company quietly opened its third local outpost last week, a new brewery and pub at 1945 NW Quimby St. The location, an old Freightliner warehouse in a gritty corner of Northwest Portland, is way under-the-radar, but a drive-by peek through its huge garage doors reveals a tall, welcoming wall of bright, Warhol-style Labrador doggie portraits happily pantin' back at-cha. The grand-opening party is set for this Friday, with cheap pints and live music.

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01.10.2007 at 01:55 Reply

Wolfgang Dempke

Dear WW editor:

I agree that Assagio apparently has grown too fast. Even at the Sellwood location food quality is spotty and what is worse is that neither the Chef nor the owner seem to care. After an unpleasant dining experience I sent the follwing letter to co-owner Kay Rhodes on 12-30 and dhave not heard anything from anybody, very disappointing,

Wolfgang Dempke, Portland

Copy of my letter:

12-30-2006

May Rhodes

Owner of Assaggio Restaurant

7742 SE 13th Ave.

Portland, OR 97202

Re: Feedback on Dinner Experience

Dear Ms. Rhodes:

I write to you to express my disappointment about a recent dinner experience at your restaurant. I am also very frustrated that your chef Mr. Jake Nelson does not bother to respond to my e-mail I sent a few day ago. Besides preparing a mediocre meal for me he apparently doesn�t care about a customer comment or complaint, not an encouraging sign for a well-known restaurant.

I am enclosing a copy of the e-mail I sent to Mr. Nelson and hope to hear from either you or Mr. Nelson to explain why

a) the dinner was so salty that I could barely eat it. As pointed out in my e-mail I should not have eaten it, but I did not want to tarnish the experience for our friends who have never been at Assaggio. I am surprised that nobody in the kitchen tasted food that had been prepared. I would also like to mention that a high salt content is not good for people with hypertension, like myself.

b) Why my e-mail was ignored. If your company is one of those who post an e-mail address on the web but never bother to check the mail or reply to messages I suggest taking this link off your website.

Sincerely,

W. Dempke

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