Is it true? Is Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour Coming Back?

Drum roll please: three servers run to your table wearing old fashion vests, two are caring the Farrell's Zoo atop a wooden tray. The third lags behind bagging the ever famous Farrell's drum. What they put in front of you is nothing less then magic: a trough filled with five flavors of ice cream, three flavors of sherbet, five delicious toppings and whipped cream, cherries, nuts and bananas. Topped with little plastic zoo animals! Please tell me you remember this. Rumor has it that Farrell's, which used to sit on NE Weidler, will be returning . . .



After doing some ice cream research, this is what I found:

"In 1963, Robert "Bob" Farrell opened the first Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour in Portland, Oregon. It immediately became a huge success and by 1970 the company had grown to 58 restaurants. In 1971, Bob Farrell was approached by the Marriott Corporation who subsequently bought the company. He continued to work with Marriott as the company grew to 130 locations nationwide. Under his watchful eyes, Farrell's never experienced a restaurant failure.

Bob Farrell left the company just prior to its sale from Marriott to a San Francisco investment group in 1985. Bob became an author and motivational speaker. Now under new ownership, the Farrell’s concept was changed from a unique celebration restaurant to a traditional family style restaurant. By 1990 almost all Farrell's locations closed and the trademark reverted to Marriott who stopped development.

In 1996, a new company whose mission was to bring back the heydays of Farrell's past acquired Farrell's Ice Cream Parlours. From this purchase, a few legal tussles from 2003-2008 again stopped Farrell's development.

In 2009, now under the ownership of Orange County, California based, Parlour Enterprises Inc the company began moving ahead with the return of Farrell's. Their ongoing goal is to stay true to the philosophies upon which the original company was founded. Bob Farrell is providing input every step of the way as Parlour Enterprises brings Farrell's into the Twenty First Century.

Parlour Enterprises and Farrell's Pacific are dedicated to continue Farrell's legacy in the restaurant industry. You will once again step back in time over 100 years to see servers dressed in pin-striped vests, old fashioned ties, and cane hats. The restaurants feature the distinctive “old Farrell's” appearance of a century past ice cream parlor. The newspaper type menu, old fashioned candy and delicious food and ice cream will let you experience or re-experience what made Farrell's famous all across the U.S" (farrellsusa.com).



What it sounds like to me is that Farrell's may be making its way back up to its original city: Portland. I put a little message into the new company. If I were you, I would do the same--the more they know Portland wants Farrell's back, the better chances we have of eating troughs filled with goodness.

If you know any information about this email me: mangiapdx@gmail.com

Wingin' It

Wings, 18 for 15.95

You those nights that don’t go exactly as planned? When you anticipate a perfect dinner in your head, with a hefty wait that makes you more excited with each passing minute, candle lit tables and unpronounceable entree names. Sometimes those nights just don’t work out and you have to throw out the agenda and wing it.

This is exactly what happened Friday night. Hunger struck a little earlier then hoped and suddenly Fire on the Mountain was thrown into the horizon. Not a disappointing venture in the least. I used to hit up the original Fire on the Mountain, on N. Interstate—this was before they became a big deal; back when their menu was itsy bitsy and they had no dessert. The new Fire on the Mountain, on SE Burnside makes their other shop look like a BBQ shack. Nonetheless, their fancy location continues to uphold amazing wings, yummy grilled and crispy sandwiches, interesting chicken salads and now more choices!!! Being pro-choice, I really value my restaurant friends that allow me this freedom on a daily basis. Sorry to get political on you, but sometimes, I want something specific and when it’s not on the menu, I feel cheated in a way and then like a snob for ordering something off the menu. This isn’t the case at Fire on the Mountain—because they are dedicated to giving their customers many choices. This begins with their array of sauces.


You must be thinking, array of sauces? Isn’t this a BBQ joint? Isn’t there just one BBQ sauce? But no, there isn’t just one, or two or even three—Fire on the Mountain brings the customer 12, count em’ 12 sauces and I’m here to tell you they aren’t all BBQ sauces either! They have Raspberry Habanera, Bourbon Chipotle, El Jefe and even a Spicy Peanut. Now that is some choice.

Since we were wingin’ it, and being the laid back, casual, non-planner that I am, I even allowed my date to pick the sauce, since he claimed the Spicy Peanut sauce on the wings to be “the best.” And although I really doubted this choice—I decided to continue on with my “go with the flow” attitude and trusted that someone else for a change may be right.



And he was right!!! The Spicy Peanut Wings were absolutely delicious—they were a little sweet from the peanuts, perfectly spicy (about a medium) and then with a little added kick when dipped in their sharp blue cheese sauce. I would have never thought of putting a Thai spin on these wings, but it worked.


Next I want to try their new Emma Sandwich, which includes grilled chicken, blue cheese sauce, bacon and the works. And for good measure I think its necessary I try their fried Oreo’s as well.

However, although you will want to lay down after these wings, I will not compromise next time—this is not a to-go meal, you must eat here, allowing for finger lickin’ and all in front of the other patrons.

Sophisticated Women

Pour Wine Bar & Bistro: Pour Choice glass of red, $3.00 & Butternut Squash Ravioli with a Gorgonzola sauce, $8.00


Candle lit tables, windows frosted with steam, white walls and vinyl chairs, a glass of red wine and sultry background music—how sophisticated. The atmosphere at Pour is unmistakably sexy; perfect for two things: a date or drinks with the girls, to talk about dates. During their daily happy hour they offer $3.00 glasses of wine, which they call “Pour Choice.” You mustn’t be a wine snob for this though—because as stated, they choose the surprise pick for you, which changes daily and sometimes even from person to person. Did you hear that--$3.00 glasses of wine! I just want to reiterate what a steal that is and that Pour is a Wine Bar, meaning their livelihood is good wine.


How do more people not know about this? Supposedly this mod bistro sits quiet on most nights, perhaps because Pour is a polished bar, on an uninviting part of NE Broadway. It goes unnoticed and forgotten with little to no walking traffic.


I ordered the “Pour Choice” and was served a tasty Italian blend. Their food menu is small but offers something for everyone. We ordered the bread and Trio of Dips/Spreads—which includes a honey, blue cheese spread, white bean hummus and a salsa fresco. All three were tasteful and unique. They also offer a cheese plate, a few salads and escargot. They have three small plate entrees: Macaroni and Cheese, Risotto of the Day and Ravioli of the Day. For $8.00 each, these are great options and incredibly flavorful. My Butternut Squash Ravioli with Gorgonzola sauce was the perfect blend of sharp from the cheese and sweet from the squash and butter. The pasta was cooked as it should be, al dente. This meal could have easily cost $25 at any restaurant and the quality was superb. I want to go back to try the Macaroni or their Smoked Salmon Panini.



I have a motto: no drinking until its dark outside. Now that it’s dark at 5:30, I think Pour will be my new sexy retreat.

Mamma Maria Got Old and Now Smokes, But her Pizza is Still F*&$ing Good

Small House Combination Pizza, $13.00, split.

Caution: If you’re a vegetarian you might be offended by what I’m about to suggest to you, so you should probably stop reading right about now.

For all of you that don’t mind layers and layers of succulent meat, you must try Mamma Maria’s Combo. This pizza is legit, but not everyone can handle the offerings, which consist of medium thick crusty crust, with of course sauce and thin slices of Molinari salami, spicy pepperoni, and chunks of Italian sausage. The De Marco’s then add olives and the pizza is topped with whole pepperoncinis. Delicious.


Now for the difficult part; Mamma Maria’s is on 52nd and Powell. If that’s not discouraging, it’s also a very stinky, dingy, middle aged bar/restaurant. I’m sure you’re wondering where I came about this mouth watering pizza, in a dirty little bar. Well I’ll tell you. Mamma Maria’s used to sit as a simple, but cute restaurant on SE 21st and Powell. It was at this time that the youthful Don and Linda De Marco used to come for date night; splitting a large Mamma Maria Combo and beers. As Don and Linda got older, they had three children and I was one of one them. The whole family would come to the restaurant and eat this fabulous pizza, the children sipping sodas and Don and Linda now sipping vodka on the rocks.

Ignore the pineapple; the person I was with only eats pizza with pepperoni and pineapple, weird, I know.

Disaster strikes—Mamma Maria’s is forced to move and the De Marco’s pizza joint is moved up to 52nd and Powell and now turned into a shady bar. That didn’t stop them though; Linda would and still does get an inkling and drives across town to deliver the family their Mamma Maria’s combo. “Mamma, why can’t we go to Mamma Maria’s like we used to?” my brother would ask.


On Friday night, I found out why we always bought the pizza to-go. As I walked into Mamma Maria’s to order a pizza, the bar smelt like a smoked in retirement home. The restaurant on one side sat empty and three middle aged men sat drinking in the bar area. Duck paraphernalia scattered around the room, a fish tank behind one table and a non working radio behind the bar. The bathroom stall doors hold six inch spaces between the sides—allowing for little privacy (but who’s to worry, since no one is here?).

Check out the overload of pink. Not so appetizing.

As soon as our pizza was ready, we rushed out and grabbed some to-go drinks at the connected 7/11. The counterman saw our pizza. “AAAAhhh, you got pizza from next door? That place if F*&$ing bomb. It’s sick inside but that pizza is F*&$ing good. You wouldn’t F*&$ing know, but F*&#ing is!” If the locals like it, it must be good.

Once home, with my pizza in front of me, all was resurrected with one bite. The spicy salami and juice from the pepperoncinis and the crust that’s unmistakable, is all too good to be true.

The moral of the story: if you want a sketchy night with incredible pizza, go to Mamma Maria’s and eat there. If you want crazy good pizza and don’t want to wince at odd smells and middle aged men, then take your pizza to go.



5234 SE Powell Blvd
Portland, OR 97206-2950
(503) 788-4698