John Street Cafe (Grade A)

* Date November 2010
* Address  8338 North Lombard, Portland Oregon
* Phone Number 503-247-1066
* Hours:  Wed-Fri 7AM to 2:30PM; Sat 7:30 to NOON; Sunday 7:30AM to 2:30PM
* Comments of Decor:  very nice open space with REAL ART WORK on the walls!
* The Food Was:  Outstanding all around, not a giant menu, but everything is will prepared and nicely presented -- and of special note is the pancake with the figs in it -- I forget the name they gave it but it is the BEST pancake I've had. Go there an try it.. you will be glad you did.
* You Ought to Try The pancake with the figs in it
* The Service Was -- friendly and a bit laid back --not exactly professional but not annoyingly so
* * Of special note the art on the walls is appreciated
* We will go back? It is a little out of the way--but certainly if we are in the neighborhood during the limited hours they are open we would certainly stop
* Link

Besaw's Cafe (Grade B+)

* Date:  October 2010
* Address 2301 NW Savier Street, Portland, Oregon
* Phone Number  503-228-2619
* Hours:  Monday 7 am to 3PM;  Tuesday to Friday 7AM to 10 PM;  Sat AM to 10 PM;  Sunday 8AM to 3PM
* Comments on Decor:  crowded, indoor and outdoor seating--but it it is cool out the outdoor heaters don't do a good job. Pleasant..like going into an old but nicely renovated  'couch stop' eatery-- a place where you might expect to find rooms for rent upstairs and hearty fare served to the traveling public.. It feels like a fixture--and I am told it is one of the older eateries 
* The Food Was; just fine--in a city with so may outstanding breakfast places being JUST FINE is an accomplishment in itself. They have a nice variety to choose form on the menu--and the coffee was really good. 
* You Ought to Try -- no stand outs --good our bad -- all around satisfying
* The Service Was-- a little slow, but totally professional,
* * Of special note --a piece of Portland History so that makes it special
* We will go back? I bet we will
* Link

The Blue Pig (Grade B-)

* Date September 2010
* Address  5026 SE Division, Portland Oregon
* Phone Number 231-2775
* Hours M-F 8 to 3 & Sat & Sun 8-4

* Comments of Decor Nice open feel, not overcrowded. Enter one room and see the kitchen in action --to the next room where there are tables and chair --one wall is a bench seat --with tables that can be scooted along to make them tables for 2, or 4, or 6, etc. Colorful art adorns the walls --all  of it is for sale--it is done by local artists and we were told it changes regularly.  Lots of condiments on the table.

* The Food Was A LOT!  The servings are really big --we split our breakfast and nearly couldn't eat what was served as half size portions. We had make it you self scrambles and they were excellent--the potatoes were perfectly done--crispy but not overcooked.  We also split-at the table--a side order of their 'NY Cheese-Cake Pancakes with Blueberries" WoW --They Are Nice...but here is the down side--and it is not small downside in this town of coffee hounds--the coffee was weak and cold.   You can't have breakfast without good coffee, no matter how good the food is. 
* You Ought to Try --If you like pancakes you will be real happy with the NY Cheese Cake Blueberry Pancakes. Otherwise order something that includes the breakfast potatoes, you will be happy you did.
* The Service Was Very Nice, informal and efficient--just the way we like it
* * Of special note -- beware the tepid coffee
* We will go back?  We probably will but if the coffee is not improved that will be the end of our visits
* Link

Detour Cafe ( B+)

* Date  September 2010
* Address 30 35 SE Division, Portland, Oregon
* Phone Number  503 - 234-7499
* Hours 8 AM to 4 PM

* Comments of Decor  --small place, comfortable, counter at front window for singles, a few booths for two and a few tables for four --  the tables are all a bit small. Inviting Colors, serve your own coffee, very nice selection of  reading material on back wall.
* The Food Was --very good, fresh nicely prepared, served on square white dishes.
* You Ought to Try --THE DON EGG SANDWICH -- Two eggs, scrambled and baked, with portabella mushrooms, onions and feta. This is topped with Italian sausage, avocado, tomato and basil.  This is a very nice sandwich.   Or the Frittata -- and the skillet -- you get to choose the ingredients from a nice list of goodies --also The French Toast is tasty--made with cardamom bread, dipped in custard and toasted.
 * The Service Was Very Nice
* * Of special note  -- this is a sweet place with much better than average food, we are delighted to have fond it
* We will go back? We certainly will
* Link

Heathman (Sunday BRUNCH) - grade D munis

-- Review of SUNDAY BRUNCH --
* Date August 2010
* Address 1001 SW Broadway, Portland Oregon
* Phone Number 800-551-0011
* Hours - call to find out
* Comments of Decor -- casual elegance-- white table cloths, visible kitchen - big windows on the street
* The Food Was -- a big disappointment  --The crab cakes were bad-- they made with very OLD, mushy fish--with lots of filler -- no crab to be found.  The eggs were poached nicely--but the awful crabcakes dominated the plate. The child's bunny pancake was cute -- but it was a small single pancake that left our 7 year old hungry.  The omelet was so-so -- and we probably could have gotten a similar one at Denny's for a third the price.  The toast was cold.  Yes we got separate little jars of jam and fresh butter -- nice touch -- but not sufficient to make this an interesting meal. 
* You Ought to Try -- going somewhere else
* The Service Was -- nice
* Of special note -- for 3 people --two adults and a child-- we paid $50 for a substandard meal.
* We will go back? nope
* Link

The City State Diner

* Date of  last visit -- July 2010
* Address  128 NE 28th St, Portland, Oregon
* Phone Number (503) 517-0347
* Hours 8AM to 10 PM Daily

* Comments of Decor --simple, light open, almost diner like --nothing fancy and nothing annoying
* The Food Was  -- dry-- overcooked not too flavorful


* You Ought to Try -- dinner instead of breakfast --
* The Service Was  -- very friendly -- make you want to like the place
* Of special note -- we went there for dinner a week or two ago--and we like the dinner very much-- so we went back for breakfast--The coffee was good, but the consensus in our group was breakfast was only so-so. But we liked the folks so much we will probably go back at least one more time and see if the have an upward trending on the learning curve -- and we would go back for dinner, which was much better than the breakfast 
* We will go back?  -- for dinner for sure -- maybe we will give them another try for breakfast.
* Link

Sweetness Bakery & Cafe ( Grade B)

* Date July 2010
* Address  3524 SE 52nd Avenue, Portland, Oregon
* Phone Number: (503) 788-2177
* Hours  Opens at 7AM daily and closes after lunch --around 3 to 4PM

* Comments of Decor - really fun-- with all vintage mismatched kitchen tables and chairs (I love that)--and a bakery counter where you place your order. At first it looks like just a nice - funky bakery--but, oh, look they have a breakfast and a lunch menu too.   
* The Food Was -- very good -- the baked goods were all delicious, the Curry Scramble came with nicly roasted potato slices and fresh fruit and a muffin. They could have but enough curry into the scramble so it could live up to ist dname.  It was tast --but where was the curry?  EXCELLENT COFFEE!
* You Ought to Try the coffe is as good as it gets.. and the bakery items were delicious.  The Scramble was fine--but could have been amped up a little more
* The Service Was -- very friendly
* * Of special note  -- the bakery goods --just stop and pick some up if you are in the area and don't have time to stop for a meal
* We will go back? sure will
* Link

Kornblatts (Grade C)

* Date July 2010
* Address  628 NW 23rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97210-3209
* Phone (503) 242-0055
* Hours Open Mon-Thu 7am-8pm; Fri-Sat 7:30am-9pm; Sun 7:30am-8pm

* Comments of Decor -- Deli counter on one side and dark wood paneling all around, chairs and tables and bench seating along the wall. There is a TV playing sporting events over the top of the Deli Counter--so no one has to miss what ever game they are addicted to
* The Food Was  --OK overall. We had Vegetable Hash and we split an order of Cheese Blintz.  The Hash was good but it was also a little greasy-- It should be hard to make vegetables greasy --but hey, they did it.  The Blintz were the best we've had in Portland.. But, keep in mind we haven;t had many good blintz's in Portland.  The coffee was lacking--and we had to ask for a little pitcher of cream for the coffee. What they originally gave us was a saucer full of those little white plastic cups with 'coffee lightener' in them. The print on the caps of the cups was too small to read--but I doubt that 'lightener' would be as good as milk.
* You Ought to Try -- the Blintz
* The Service Was friendly. wait staff told us a very strange story about the Matzoh Brei-- she said people get very emotional about this dish-- they are looking for what their mom/or grandma made / and when the dish they serve does not resemble what they remember from their childhood they can become irate.  But then other people swoon over the dish--evidently becasue it does conjure up fond memories. Our waitress opined that it should be taken off the menu because it causes so much turmoil.
* * Of special note They have a split plate charge -- I hate that.   
* We will go back? I would not go out of my way to go there-but if I were in the neighborhood wanting breakfast I wouldn't turn my back on the place either

* Link

La Provence Bakery & Bistro, (Grade B+)

* Date:  July 2010
* Address: 15964 Boones Ferry Road Lake Oswego, OR 97035-4361


 * Phone Number:  - (503) 635-4533

* Hours You had better call --

* Comments of Decor  -- The place has a sweet old cottage-look. When you enter you immediately encounter the bakery -- filled with temptations.  Go to the left, or go to the right and you'll find tables.  On the walls are white-boards with 'specials'. The tables could be a little further apart--but it is not terribly cramped.
* The Food Was -- very good all round -- to start off right we got coffee --it was excellent and strong and it came with real cream in a pitcher. Plus we asked for water and got nice big glasses of ice water.
We ordered the Brie Sausage Scramble (which is presented as and tastes like an omelet). It came with a nice slice of Brie on top--and was filled with fresh vegetables and flavorful chicken sausage. It was served on top of a delicious bread--the flavors combined were clear and present. But a scramble it was not.
Also ordered was the Meurette Benedict (containing Poached Eggs on a Croissant with caramelized onions, mushrooms and bacon) We were told it was outstanding.
Also the table shared an order of Oregon Berry Crepes--which was interesting. The crepes were not thin. They looked like pancakes but they had a strong egg flavor, which was perfect. And there was real whipped cream on top.
* You Ought to Try  ...the menu is rather small--but if what we had is a measure we would recommend exploring the menu. Not that we wouldn't recommend what we had--it was all very good--but the nemu looks like it would be worth exploring.
* The Service Was a little slow but friendly
* * Of special note  ...they also serve lunch
* We will go back? sure--we wan to go deeper into this menu--there may well be gold to be found
* Link

Bob's Red Mill Breakfast & Lunch Cafe (Grade D)

* Date: June 2010
* Address: 13521 SE Pheasant Court, Milwaukee, Oregon 97222
* Phone Number: 503-607-6455
* Hours: Monday - Friday Opens at 6AM; Sat opens at 7 AM

* Comments of Decor: this is a big red barn of a place with a working water wheel out front--you enter via a store with shelves packed full of grains and flour and a wonderful array of enticements. The room is BIG and open and inviting. There is counter to order food in the back: and you can choose to eat downstairs, upstairs (on a balcony overlooking the store) or outside (lovely setting!).  You get a number to place on your table and food is delivered to your table. There is a tour of the mill available on M_F between 10:00 - 11:00.  It is a worker's owned operation.  All very appealing.  
* The Food Was: not so good. We had the veggie omelet--and the veggies were steamed and not sauteed before they got into the omelet --so they were s little soggy and rather tasteless.  They claimed to have 3 eggs in the omelet--but they would have had to be very very small eggs if there really were three.  The same with the side potatoes, there was nothing interesting about them at all.  Best thing on the plate was there toast --home baked bread-- fresh and yummy.  We also got a Buttermilk Waffle on the side--it looked like and tasted like an Eggo frozen waffle.   The coffee was weak--and not worth a second cup
* You Ought to Try --walking around the place is fun- The fresh baked bread looked inviting and the toast with breakfast was good. So their fresh baked bread is probably worth a try. 
* The Service Was -- well-- they took our order and brought the food the to table -- but there was hardly any interaction with anyone worth making comment about
* Of special note -- we got some Steel Cut Oatmeal (a package) for about 1/4 the price of steel cut oatmeal in the local supermarket. W haven't tried but yet. But the prices on their flour's and grains were might good . Also, "Dave's Killer Bread" Factory store is across the street...and it is always a happy thing to stop and get a loaf of Dave's Bread.
* We will go back? -- not for breakfast .. but maybe we might try lunch (a fresh sandwich? ) when we go back for more steel cut oatmeal.  It is had to be hopeful when breakfast was so abysmal (not bad--but so not nearly as good as can be found elsewhere) but the grains they have are a magnet
* Link

FLAVOUR, Food Cart (B+)

* Date April 2010

* Address: Food Cart at the corner of NE Mississippi and Fremont

* Phone Number 503-282-YUMM

* Hours changes seasonally -- see photo for fall hours

* Comments of Decor --what decor?

* The Food Was OUTSTANDING -- de-lisshhh

* You Ought to Try --anything and everything

* The Service Was -quick and friendly

* * Of special note -- not such good parking opportunities --but park down the block and walk--you will be glad you did
* We will go back?  For certain.

sez: says oh-oh-oh this is good. hurry over for a treat!

Gretchen's Kitchen (Grade D)

* Date: March 2010
* Address:  940 SE Morrison St., Portland, Oregon
* Phone Number: (503) 234-4086
* Hours
* Comments of Decor: Small place, with two front doors, one side is the kitchen with a deli-counter, and 3 tables that seat two. The other side is a coffee shop with a few booths, and a few more tables, and if you ask you can be served food from Gretchen's.  Nice and clean and really friendly
* The Food Was --ah oh way too greasy
* You Ought to Try --the coffee..and not the eggs cooked in sausage grease
* The Service Was Wonderful, Gretchen is a delight

* Of special note -- lots of people love this place, and we wanted to.. but all of us felt pretty bad after being overdosed on greasy eggs, sausage, bacon and potatoes cooked in the grease from the meat.
* We will go back? We might try it for lunch

Coffee Tiny's (Grade C+)

* Date: March 2010
* Address: 1412 SE 12th, Portland, Oregon
* Phone Number: 503-239-5859
* Hours opens at 6AM

* Comments on Decor - nice painting on the wall -- like a gallery -- bet they change the pictures from time to time. Paintings are for sale.  I wonder if they always have such nice art work. Open space, not at all crowded--plenty of room to move about.  Simple seating..not great but functional. Order at the counter --they will call you when your food is ready. Easy going place. Lots of folks sitting around with their laptops (yes it is a Wi-Fi Spot). 

* The Food Was -- they have a limited breakfast menu - various sandwiches with eggs.  Bread / bagels were super FRESH--sandwiches were nicely prepared.  Coffee was great...Stumptown, I believe--made with a French Press.

* You Ought to Try  -- the coffee for sure --and all their breakfast sandwiches were good --would have to say they were better than average --not exciting, or fabulous but down right good.

* The Service Was --behind the counter and friendly
* We will go back? good chance

Cameo Cafe

* Date: March 2010

* Address  8111 N E Sandy Blvd., Portland Oregon
* Phone Number  503-284-0401
* Hours  6:30 to 3:00 every day - breakfast served all day

Cameo Cafe

* Comments on Decor - WOW This place beats every where else, hands-down, in the STRANGE DECOR contest.  It gives meaning to the word unique.  This is where country kitchen meets the land of Shabby Chic tea pots and figurines, meets 1980s Asia,  then mix in an old fashioned photo galley of various Miss Americas, a pinch of the psychedelic1960s, a bow to mid-century modern,  then add lots of crystal chandeliers that have strange little things hanging from the bottoms of these light fixtures...and you've created the Cameo Cafe. It doesn't stop inside ...outside, at the front door, there is a chicken coop (hidden under a blanket for insulation)  And  all of that is just a start. You walk into a new world when you enter here. You can't help but notice it is unusual when you enter but as you sit and study the place, the details begin to overwhelm you -- but it is fun--and it is squeaky clean

* The Food Was -- ok --we had a Eggs Benedict and a half acre of blueberry pancakes --and a half acre is BIG.  The eggs were fine--but not special --and the pancake was bland. Not bad--but not particularly good either.  The coffee was not up to Portland standards

* You Ought to Try -- to go to see the decor if you are in that part of town-but don't go out of your way to do it.

* The Service Was -- ok

* Of special note -- did we mention the decor?

* We will go back? not likely

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.