One of the neatest poolrooms that I service is Touché Pizza and
Pool at 1425 NW Glisan just off 405 in Portland. It has excellent
food, drinks and pool tables. The restaurant is on the first floor,
pool and drinks on the second floor at the top of a winding
staircase. Six 4 ½ x 9 Olhausen Pool tables with Simonis cloth
wait at the top of the staircase. There is plenty of space between
tables and no walls to hit with your cue.
The building is a story in itself. Engine #3 of the Portland Fire
Department roared out of the front door behind powerful horses. In
my early days in this business, there were many small stations
around the state and every one had a pool table. As the horses were
replaced by trucks, and the districts consolidated, the older
buildings were replaced by multi-units. This fine building went on
the block and in the 80's it became a restaurant. Dale Dollivars
first attempt led to failure and was taken over by Romos in 1991.
It was not a success either and a couple of very successful
Armenian restaurant owners from Eugene decided to give it a try.
Zareh Marashlian and Armen Kerrekian along with Frank Ernandes
decided to change everything in the building and open a
Mediterranean style, very well appointed restaurant. Zareh was
given the task of setting the tone.
The entire building was gutted and for 9 months Zareh oversaw each
detail of the work. A potbelly brick oven was sent over from Italy.
It is the center of every Italian Pizza Restaurant. It has a slate
bottom (excellent choice) with a special ceramic core and it does
Pizza and Cal zone like no other oven can. It is fired by hardwoods
in a precise blend to give the right aroma to the flamed crusts.
All the seating and fixtures were specially designed and installed.
The curved staircase to the second floor was redesigned and was
opened for a huge party for John Nicholas to which I was invited.
The booth and finishing touches were added as we sat outside. The
place was spectacular but was still not enough to make the magic
for a winner. After 2 ½ years the doors were again closed, Zareh
was sure that if they managed the place themselves and found the
right key it could work.
That key was pool. Zareh went back to Eugene and argued with the
other partners who had every reason not to go ahead. Finally they
said "Touché" to his sword like arguments and it was "Touché" back
to Portland and the poolroom addition was on and either Zareh or
Armen watched the business grow from then on. They watched every
detail from the menu to the club's involvement with the community.
The food and service improved and the pool tables were constantly
full. The fire in the oven burns constantly except to clean the flue.
The first Thursday every month they set out a feast of Tapa's or
Spanish appetizers at $3.50 a plate and they have Zareh's Gyros
from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM and 12:00 AM to 2:00 AM for $2.00. They
have a full menu. If you sit down to eat it takes time because
everything is made from scratch, but unless you go to the
Mediterranean you will not have a better meal.
The pool tables are covered with Simonis cloth every year and we
clean and shampoo them on a regular basis. Stop in and tell them Pat
sent you. You will enjoy the experience Touché.
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