Bumblekiss

Bumblekiss

* Date  Feb 2010

* Address 3517 NE 46th Ave., Portland, Oregon
* Phone Number  503-282-6313
* Hours 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM all day

* Comments of Decor --this is sort'a like a little playhouse in someone's oversize garage -- It is all done in bright colors with a nod toward an Atomic Cafe Style--but it is a nod that doesn't hit the mark. There certainly was no place that looked like this back in the Eames Era.  Bumblekiss is located just off Fremont-and you could easily miss it--even though it has been painted in a BRIGHT ORANGE color that hollers at you to notice it.  There is not much space inside--and the chairs are not inviting.  It has a mish-mash of decor: some black & white photography; some old bright-blue, molded plastic squares, strung together to make a faux room divider, pieces of mirrors cut in circles pasted all over one wall.  Standing on the tables are little home made collage's with sayings on them.  All around the decor is just off center.  But who cares, we are not there for the art work

* The Food Was --really very good. We all were delighted to find the option of a nicely priced 'choose it yourself' scramble.  Most every breakfast spot in the city offers up nice scrambles--each trying to find just the right mix to standout from the others. And while many are good--none are so good as to beat letting us say exactly which things we want in the mix.  And when we got our food we were delighted--the eggs were done to perfection. The ingredients were all fresh and if it is part of your order they actually DO caramelize the onions. Plus the jam for the toast was home made.  This place is a winner!

* You Ought to Try - the Blue Corn Pancakes! These are fabulous--full of pine nuts and flavor

* The Service Was -nice nice nice

* Of special note -- you may have to work a little to find the place--but it is worth it.  And while their decorating skills may be lacking they certainly make up for it is the quality of the food.

* We will go back? Yes --it is way out of our way but we could easily be convinced to make the trek to this special little place.

Cafe du Berry

* Date  July 2009
* Address 6439 SW Macadam Ave, Portland, Oregon
* Phone Number  503244-5551
* Hours M-F 7am to 3pm  -- Sat and Sun 8am to 3

* Comments of Decor --tiny, cramped, outdoor seating next to a busy road with a screen between you and the cars -- we arrived around 10am and the outdoor tables had not been cleaned yet when we sat down on the less than inviting plastic chairs  --but wait- as off putting as this is --the food is !!!
* The Food Was ... superb -- everything from the just right, nice and strong coffee to the ultra-fresh veggies in the omelet, and the Veggie Fritta could make you drool  -- the quality of the food and its preparation is top notch all the way around
* You Ought to Try the French Toast...it is probably the very best we have had anywhere in town --it is like custard with a touch of lemon
* The Service Was -- service?  well-- a guy showed up and took our order an dropped off out food and never came back. We had to wonder inside to find someone to give us our check--which came to a little more than most breakfasts --bit the food was a little-more-better than most restaurants too.

* Of special note -- it would be easy to miss this place--it is such a little hole-in-the-wall on a busy street, and the decor, service does not cause you to think it would be anywhere you would want to go--but really--hold on to your hat and gt the french toast, you'll be glad you did.
* We will go back? - yes--no questions about it --the French Toast calls to us in our dreams--I only wonder why we have not been back sooner!

Byway Cafe

* Date July 2009
* Address 1212 NW Glisan Street, Portland, Oregon
* Phone Number 503-221-0011
* Hours: Opens 7:00 Weekdays and 7:30 Weekends --closes mid day

* Comments of Decor--old style coffee shop with a neon sign out front. Not very big and a little bit of a crowded feeling --booths along the wall --tables--and do I remember a counter with stools? The place is decorated with 'Collector's Plates' from around the world..every wall --to the ceiling --provides displays spade for the plates.  We asked the server about them and we were told that loyal patrons bring them in--and add to the collection--so they are sort of an organic growth, representing the lover an travels of loyal followers.
* The Food Was -- fine--we like their scrambles, they are fresh and the eggs are cooked just right - but we had mixed responses to the Amaretto French Toast-tow of us said they liked it--two others called it so-so.
* You Ought to Try --the Amaretto French Toast and tell us what you think--some one needs to break the tie!
* The Service Was -- here and gone -- took our orders, dropped off the food and that was that

* Of special note the decor is homey and it has a comfy nostalgic feel, plus it is part of the City's History. -- That makes is special  but I would only go it there was no wait involved.

* We will go back? If we were in the neighborhood--but I wouldn't go out of my way to go back

Doug Fir Lounge

* Date  July 2009
* Address 830 E Burnside, Portland, Oregon
* Phone Number  503-231-9663
* Hours: Breakfast served 7AM to 3PM Daily

* Comments of Decor --this building is soooo cool, all big logs and open space, booths and windows, clean and friendly -- a somewhat larger place than most breakfast joints but it is still a real 'feel good' northwest sort of space
* The Food Was-- good all round and so was the coffee
* You Ought to Try --we had Eggs Florentine that were fixed just right  with excellent hollandaise sauce. The French Toast is made with a Croissant (nice touch and it worked just fine). Sytoricon Scramble was particularly fresh --and one in our party was very happy with the English Muffin he got!  We didn't taste it but he seem to think it was really special
* The Service Was -- alert and friendly

* Of special note - I read that this place won a national contest -- being selected as one of the top 10 restaurants in the country  where food is secondary to the performances. That is not how it was worded--but that is the essence of the commendation.
* We will go back?  certainly

GREEK CUSINA

* Date  - July 2009
* Address 404 SW Washington, Portland, Oregon
* Phone Number 503-224-2288
* Hours closed

* Comments of Decor -- booths, empty in the morning, server wearing a very strange purple octopus hat.
* The Food Was  - not so good--we all felt sick to our stomach that afternoon.  We should have know when they could NOT get a hot cut of coffee to the table and SUGGESTED we go across the street and get a cup of coffee to-go from the coffee shop to have with our breakfast. We all ordered the- HALIBUT SCRAMBLE with Lemon Sauce -- which sounded interesting.  It came with undercooked potatoes.  

* You Ought to Try --to avoid this place for breakfast
* The Service Was -- slow, we were pretty much alone in the place and it took a long tiome for anyone to notice we were there. The servers hat was over the top weird....but the fella was nice enough, and eventually brought our foo. He said he had worked here for 20+ years and was quite loyal to the place.
* Of special note -- It seems to have been driven out of business by the fire marshalls. These is some controversy about it--but it isn't there now.
* We will go back? --nope

La Sorelle Cafe (CLOSING FEB 2010)

* Date Feb 2010

* Address: on Foster at 89th
* Hours closing the end of Feb

* Comments of Decor --open friendly and sparkling clean
* The Food Was -- delicious, fresh, well presented and tasty
* You Ought to Try --to go before they close down--it is a nice place with good food
* The Service Was --super nice woman who owns the place, sad to close, but boy oh boy she got the wrong neighborhood --had she opened closer in we believe she would have been a success.
* Of special note will have a going out of business party on Feb 26--all are invited to drop by.

Old Wives Tale

* Date: Feb 2010

* Address 1300  East Burnside, Portland, Oregon
* Phone Number  503-238-0470
* Hours: Open 8AM and breakfast is served all day

* Comments of Decor:  nice and spacious, feels like an old fashion restaurant-diner with booths and tables-not so much hip-Portland as practical get the job done sort of place.  There is also a super bonus for families--a big separate play area of children--with cool toys and a glass front so you can see what's up--but providing a place for the kids to romp about while adults get to eat on peace.

* The Food Was -- well--so so.  The menu is creative and everything sounds great, it is certainly not the standard fare.  But then the food shows up and sometimes, while it is good, it is not always as inspired as the menu makes it sound.  For instance the Sesame Yams sound fabulous but in reality they are rather bland.  We also had the Verde Omelet--and the sauce on the omelet--made with coriander--was great --and the omelet was cooked properly. But there wasn't enough sauce so it was sort of a disappointment. I'd rather have had the sauce on something where it flavored the entire meal--what we got was just enough to make you want more. Coffee was real good.

* You Ought to Try: The Baked Pancake is wonderful--and it is served with REAL 100% Maple Syrup.  It is well worth a visit just to partake in this delight.  
* The Service Was: Friendly and efficient
* Of special note: If you have young children you--and they--will most like appreciate the play area
* We will go back?  Good chance we would go again, just to get the baked pancake and maybe to try some of the other creative items on the menu. I'd certainly go if I had small children in tow.