I think "belly timber" is old slang for a full stomach. But it's still a terrible, terrible name. Apparently these owners never watch "Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares". He'd go off on them with more expletives for choosing that name than the reporter in the post above used after getting a bug in his mouth.

Just fuckin' Google it, Ned. "Belly timber" is 19th-century slang for food of any kind, according to a bunch of websites and the OED. And, yeah, it's about the worst restaurant name ever.

OH MY GOD. I was totally walking by this restaurant yesterday and did a quadruple-take.

I mean, historically, that location is already a tough spot for restaurants... that name does not help! I eagerly await a Belly Timber dining experience, though.

I don't know.

I'm kind of excited about Belly Timber.

I bet they'll have Flapjacks.

I know two people who went to the soft opening last night and waited one and a half hours for their food, hopefully not an indicator of the "hard" opening. Food was reportedly good, though. And there was a comment about the name -- there's still time to change it. The only restaurant with a worse name is Tosis.

SHUT IT DOWN!!!

I think the worst named place in town was (until it recently shut down) that Tibetan place on 47th & Sandy.

Lungta.

Mmmm, sounds real appetizing.

Yo, I was there last night and I had a mothaf--king steak! Red meat, that's what I'm talkin bout.

Belly timber, it's like food for lumberjacks. No pansy-ass-tofu-vegan-hippy-stinky grub at this place. Finally a place on Hawthorne that doesn't smell like patchouli.

Purple Tooth was my pick for worst restaurant name. R. Palate is pretty bad too.

Hawthorne needs a restaurant like Arby's. Quality food. Quality people.

i agree with @5. Tosis...what the fuck?

i also agree with the anti hippie comments.

on any post.

The worst restaurant name in Portland, hands down, is "Chinese Delicacy".

Yo Gordon,

Hawthorne had an Arbys. It got replaced by a day spa, an over-priced shoe store, and a restaurant called Noodlin' (now defunct, but talk about a bad name). All because the stinky hippies opposed a new McDonalds because it didn't fit the character of the neighborhood (like the day spa does!).

Dude, we need burgers, ribs, sausages, fried chicken-- real food, nomesane.

Down with patchouli!

If the proposed Mickey D's had Tibetan prayer flags flying out front it would have opened up.

Word, Chef.

Can I get a Mcnugget? One goddamn french fry, just one? No, I can get five different styles of Thai, I can get all my beading needs met, but just one little Mcrib sandwich... that's all I want.

Ned,

Going there for a media preview tonight, plus free cocktails from the head of the Oregon Bartenders Guild. I'll give you the straight beef tomorrow at the eds. meeting. Would you like me to relay your concerns about the name? I think that its proximity to Gold Dust Meridian might actually help this place out. Synergy, yo!
Oh yeah, and I'll post a blog about the affair tomorrow! Stay Tuned

Patrick...please don't forget to ask about the Flapjacks.

Thank you.

You're all wrong. The worst restaurant name in Portland is "Rumpspankers Beyond Broth". Combining an unappetizing sex (or violence) reference with a non sequitur that makes you think they have extremely low culinary standards. Why not Beyond Toast? Or Beyond Table Salt?

Actually, the Arby's on Hawthorne replaced the rare gem that was known as Arctic Circle.
I'd gladly stab a hippie in the eye with a fork to get my hands on a Ranch Burger and some fry sauce.

'tards,

It's Tosi's, not Tosis.

And the absolutely best named restaurant in town, without a doubt:

"Husky or Maltese, Whatever" on Powell.

I love the name Belly Timber. It sounds like you're going to get a good, hearty meal. Yummy!

there's a Chinese restaurant on Barbur Blvd named "Norm's Garden"

Eh, I don't want ANYTHING out of Norm's, um "Garden"

Sir Loins (deceased 82nd and Sandy) n'uff said

Frank, there's an Arctic Circle down in Gladstone, if you're craving it that badly.

#20

"Tosi's" apparently forgot the apostrophe on its sign. Who's the "'tard" now?

We all are the tard now.

"Belly timber" is a medieval term for 'food'. Imagine if your stomach were a fire -and it is, you know- well, what would feed its vital force? Wood! Hence, bellytimber; in the original usage, it was one word.

And yeah, shitty name for a restaurant. Tosis does indeed hit the shittier note by having a name that sounds like a food-borne ailment.

Rumpspankers takes the cake. Also, hippies and soup just makes me think of greasy dreadlocks soaked by accidental pot-dippings. Think about that-- dreadlocks soaked in rotten soup. Nassteeee.

My favorite is "Mexican Restaurant," which I think is way out on Sandy on the way to Cost Co.

I think Belly Timber is a decent name, actually. I just hope they'll last--that spot has been death so far for everyone who's tried to make a go of it.

Norm's Garden is awesome.

Fuck you, Autumn.