"But a sliver of hope remained, as both spots hinted in their closing announcements that there would be some kind of revival down the line. While there hasn't yet been a follow-up to Gnarly's, Epif fans didn't have long to wait long: The restaurant is back, sporting the same name but a new concept. Rather than empanadas and pisco sours, diners will find a vegan brunch menu of pancakes, breakfast sandwiches, scrambles, and mimosas (and also a breakfast empanada)."
"And personally, we were ready for a change as well," says co-owner Nicolle Dirks. The two-month closure gave her and her husband and business partner, Epif's chef Jose "Pepe" Arancibia, time to evaluate what that change would look like. They had previously hosted a few brunch pop-ups and knew that there was a hunger for more vegan brunch options. So in early November, the couple reopened Epif in its new form."
Fall started with closures of Gnarly's and Epif, two beloved vegan restaurants. Epif closed briefly, then reopened with the same name but a new vegan brunch concept. Co-owners Nicolle Dirks and chef Jose "Pepe" Arancibia used a two-month closure to reassess the business and pivot after noticing dipping sales and demand from successful brunch pop-ups. The new menu features plant-based Benedicts, quiches, pancakes, breakfast sandwiches, scrambles, mimosas, and a breakfast empanada. Mung beans replace eggs in many dishes. The menu shifts away from South American influences to allow culinary flexibility. Epif now operates Friday through Sunday, 9am to 2pm.
Read at Portland Monthly
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